"Penny?"

The female android jumped, concentrating at the owner of the voice.

"Oh, Salutations Leon!" She smiled.

Leon frowned, leaning against the door frame of Penny's room with both arms neatly folded before his chest. The driver noticed it, the amount of focus that twisted the expression of her face as she sat on the very edge of her bed.

One could say she was on edge.

She was definitely thinking, and whatever she is thinking, Leon was very certain that it revolved around the man that was pretending to be her brother.

Though, his intruding was effective enough to derail her thoughts before she notices certain details from her brother.

As much as he wants the truth to be known, he doesn't want to risk the mechanic emotion of Penny.

He was aware of her origins. And she was aware he knew of her origin.

"You seem busy."

"Busy?"

"Busy thinking."

"…Oh." Her mouth shaped into an 'o' in realization, followed by an awkward chuckle. "Yeah, I guess I am busy."

"Care to tell what you're so busy thinking about?" Leon entered, allowing the door to close with a swift downward motion.

"Well, I…"

"Come on, you can tell me." The driver took a seat near Penny, pushing his spine back so that he can lean forward. Pivoting his neck to his side, he looked at the emotions that were told by her façade of concentration. "I'm going to guess what you're thinking, alright?"

"But-"

"And if I get it correct, you'll have to tell me about it." He spoke with a firm tone, not a single spec of room left for an argument.

Penny knew keeping secrets is something she can't do, not when it's a person that she trusts who is asking. "…Okay."

"It's about your brother, isn't it?"

"…"

Penny's silence was enough of an answer for Leon. "…As I thought."

"How did you-"

"Penny, you're not really the thinking type and more of the go-with-flow type for all I know. To see you think deeply and carefully feels rather alien to be honest." He paused, snatching an intake air before resuming. "But, knowing you full well, you were probably thinking about someone you hold dear. And in this situation, I can only think of one person worth your pondering."

"…" Penny kept quiet.

"Is that enough of an explanation?"

"I-I guess."

Satisfied, he nodded. "Good."

"So, does that mean I have to explain it?" Penny hoped that was not the case.

To her disappointment, that was the case. "Yes."

"But… I don't want to." Said Penny, meekly, as she fell back on the soft mattress.

"Do word your reason." Leon flattened his back, his eyes still on that ginger mass of innocence.

She replied, in a tone which quite accurately portrayed the clash of doubts and trust within the space of her consciousness, "It… I-It just feels wrong to doubt your sibling."

"Doubt? First time I've heard of a machine doubting."

Penny's amusement took form of a small smile, eyeing the ceiling. "Heh, makes me all the more special, right?"

"You were already special the moment you were created, got that?"

"I know, I know." Leon's kind words persuaded Penny to chuckle, recounting a certain part of her past in Atlas. "I've heard my dad tell that to me for so many times that I think I've lost count!" Exclaimed Penny in joy as she broke into laughter.

Her memories with her father is one that she cherished with all her heart. She was, definitely and undeniably, the best thing that happened to the professor/father.

Leon's chuckle mixed with Penny's. "I'm well-aware of Professor Polendina's fatherly nature. The amount of concern he has for you probably surpasses the amount of huntsman that are made every year!"

The tune of laughter reverberated around the closed room as the two released their unrestrained humor. Some of the passing researchers would stop and gave the laughter-full room a short puzzled stare, before moving on into their respective businesses.

It was easy to say that the two gets along very well.

As the sounds of laughter finally faded into silence, Leon tried to catch his breath while Penny simply gazed at the ceiling with a happy smile

"I wish brother was here, he would be laughing with us right now if he was here."

At the mention of that stranger, Leon received the urge to frown but kept up his smile. "I do too."

"…And Leon…"

"Something the matter, Penny?"

"I know."

"Know what?"

"Professor Eizen told me that you and my brother don't get along well."

"…That is true, Penny." Leon allowed the frown he had been holding in to replace his smile. "Me and your brother tends to get into small fights, no more no less." Assured Leon, looking at Penny.

"But… You and him…"

"Hmm?"

"You and him were close friend back in the days right?"

Penny's blunt question stabbed him right in the heart, unbeknownst to the sweet and innocent girl/

She was right, he and the ``real`` Zachery was good friends back then.

Just like in Penny's case, he acted as the driver of Zachery. They chattered most of the times he was driving Zachery to his destination, and none of those conversations did not have at least one of them laughing from either of them cracking up a joke. He could easily tell when something was bothering the young scientist just by stealing a glimpse from his gray hues of his iris.

That was how close they've bonded. They spiritually brothers, at that point.

That was also the reason why he was able to see through the lies of the stranger earlier than anyone else. The aura that came forth from the stranger was FAR different than Zachery's.

Zachery had an aura that gave off more of a passive vibe, one that would make any nearby person feel at ease.

But, the stranger…

Everything about him, except the appearance, was wrong.

The passive aura that he was supposed was to be emitting was replaced by an aura of pure dejection and regret. In a sense, the vibe he was giving off is as powerful as Zach's. However, instead of curing, it poisons.

Poisons.

The weapon that embodies the cruelest of acts…

Betrayal.

Simply thinking about it gave Leon more reason to be anxious.

A stranger pop up, claims to be the same person as your friend, and proceeds to earn the trust of the sister of the person he claims to be.

Every damn thing about the situation spells "Doubt me".

"Leon, are you troubled?"

The driver ripped his gaze from the wall he was spacing out and to Penny. "I'm alright, don't worry." Leon's lips folded into an insincere smile, staring at her with eyes of fabricated assurance.

Penny, being Penny, fell for the façade of her driver and replied with a genuine smile of her own. "If you say so!"

"Say… Penny…"

"Yeah?"

"Do you plan on telling your brother about your true origin?"

"…" Leon's direct inquiry kicked Penny's mental gears into thinking mode. Each sides of the coin began to debate, whether or not she should reveal information that could potentially harm her sibling-hood with her brother.

In the end, it was the same answer as always.

"I-I don't know…"

Dissatisfied nor content, Leon accepted her answer without problem. "…I see." He paused, as he contemplated Penny's answer. He knew for a fact that she will have to pick out one out of the two possibilities that may happen.

Either she plays it safe and hide, or dive in with risks.

Knowing Penny, she would pick the former.

That was a choice Leon could live by. It's her life, after all, not his.

He cares for her, but that does not grant him the rights to treat her like a puppet.

"Leon, you're spacing out again."

"No, I wasn't."

"Yes, you were."

"Fine, I was."

He did not feel like getting into trivial arguments. With Penny, no less. He's not blinded by her innocence, for that same innocence is what drives her to be as stubborn and unmoving as a rock.

To win an argument with Penny means you either have A+ Charisma or that you're VERY close with her.

Like a certain white-haired ex-servant and a very innocent yet more deadly version of the Little Red Riding Hood.

And Leon doesn't want to bother getting and TRYING to win an argument with Penny, considering it a waste of time when he can just be there to guide her into her choices.

If she makes a choice, he'll respect it to the best of his abilities.

"Well, I guess that's that." Leon pulled himself up into a standing position. "If you want to talk to me, feel free to hit on the shooting range. I'll be there." He cupped both his hands over his nape, snatching one last glimpse at Penny from the corner of his eyes before walking off.

"Wait, Leon."

The door made a quick "Whoosh" as it made way for Leon. Yet, it only remained open for the driver that halted on his tracks. Twisting his neck to the side, he caught sight of Penny eyeing him with her emerald eyes.

"Is there something wrong, Penny?" Asked Leon, an eyebrow raised in mild curiosity.

"No. I just wanted to ask you something, will that be alright?"

"Sure, I'm all ears." Leon pressed his shoulder on the door frame, maintaining eye contact with the female android.

"What was your sister like?"

Penny's immediate and straightforward approach caught him off guard. But, that wasn't the topic he placed his focus on.

"My sister?"

"Yeah. Professor Eizen told me that you have an older sister."

Leon kept silent for the following seconds, just enough time for the hollow silence to grasp the air of their conversation.

Penny was starting to worry. Was she not supposed to inquire such confidential details regarding his personal life?

The answer was already in plain sight, yet she continued to bother herself with the question.

Her anxiety began to display itself through her small gestures, hiding her arms behind her back as she rubbed the skin of her arm in a futile attempt to distract herself from the tension. She wasn't the type who would always get into conversations. And when she does, she always avoided any tension in the air.

Now that she possibly pulled on Leon's strings of emotions, the anxiety was hefty.

"L-Leon-?"

"My sister was someone worth respecting."

Her driver's sudden response made her jump, but at the same, it made her feel eased that Leon didn't criticize her nosy antics. She did not bother to utter a single word afterwards, signaling Leon to continue.

The driver understood her silent request and resumed. "She was a brave and confident woman. Pride is the one that are always shining in her eyes. She was an ideal leader, one could say." Leon sighed, heavily.

Penny took it as a foreshadowing of the heavy past he had underwent. And for that, she tried to dismiss the topic as soon as possible. "I see, thank you Le-"

"But, one day, our father died while on his shift at a factory. And along that day, the confidence in her eyes also perished."

The change of atmosphere, from respect to sadness, made Penny frown despite predicting it. But, she kept quiet to make space for Leon's words.

She might as well hear him out since he so willingly started to narrate the story of his life.

"Our father was our only source of money, and upon his death, the money stopped coming. We went broke, forced to sell our furniture to gain even just a small loan of cash."

Penny nodded. Leon continued. "My grandparents reached out to us. But, in return, they wanted one of my mother's offspring. Either me, or my sister. Of course, I was absolutely angered when my sister and mother chose me to go… Not because they sacrificed me, but because I wanted my sister to have a much more luxurious life with our grandparents…"

The ginger-haired android couldn't help but smile. The story that Leon told might have been pitiful, but if there's one silver lining there, it was the care and concern that Leon directed to his supposed sister as he spoke. Even just remotely mentioning his older sister, Leon would treat it as if he was the courier and guardian of one of the rarest jewel in all of Remnant.

It was a heartwarming factor that touched her.

It was an ideal bond, a bond crafted from respect and care.

A bond which she hope she could maintain with her brother.

The thought itself served to be enough to sadden her, as her posture loosened and a dark shadow hid her lively emerald eyes.

Would her brother come into terms with her pasts and leave her? Was all the years he spent away from her enough to weaken their sibling-hood and rot away at the blood they share?

Leon was just about to resume his narration when a voice had cut him off. "Leon, it's alright now, you can stop."

The driver obeyed, moving his neck to his side to earn a much bearable view of Penny. He saw her smile, a smile which was as clear as an open book for him. "You don't seem alright, either."

As expected, she did not hold back the sorrow from tainting her smile, as her stare drifted into the floor. "I guess so."

"Thinking about your brother again?"

"Yeah."

Leon frowned. He made a mental note to slap some sense into the accursed stranger to keep better eyes on Penny if he wants the truth to remain a secret. "I'm certain that he looks at you just like how my older sister looked out for me." His lips shaped into a smile of reassurance. "I know that man more than anyone else, and trust me when I say that family is his number one priority. He'll never allow his work and all to be the focus of most of his attention. He's the type of person who would abandon a very important convention he needs to partake just to spend some quality time with his family."

The driver's smile only grew tenfold as the sorrow in Penny's facial mask was washed away by his words.

"I see." Penny nodded, getting the gist of things. "I do believe too, that my brother loves me—No, his family, with his entire heart." Her palms wandered over to her chest, on the exact spot where a human's heart would be located.

"Of course he does." With that said, Leon left as the door promptly closed.

Penny's mechanical senses allowed her to hear the fading footsteps of her driver. And if she remembers right...

The direction he was heading was not towards the Archery field.

Where was he going? That was a question that Penny did not think much on, simply assuming that maybe he just had to do something before he heads on over to the Archery field.

As the sigh that's been lurking within her mouth finally being freed, she fell back on her bed as the springs of the mattress held her up.

"Leon's such a nice guy. Even if he's always so serious, he still treats me with kindness." Penny remarked while she stared into the ceiling, the stature of her lips falling back to a neutral frown as her thoughts slowly carried her into a trance. "But now… I know now why he's always so serious. He went through a life of hardships that he did not deserve, and yet, he pulled through. It's… admirable to say the least. No matter what happened, he never turned his back on his family."

There was one word that caught her attention as she contemplated.

"Family…"

The word pulled her frown even more.

Her father has yet to contact her ever since she visited Vale, her brother may be looking out for her but it just doesn't feel the same as before.

And her mother…

She never had or needed a mother.

No matter how she thought about it nor how much people told her, she was never a real girl. She was different. Far different.

She was a machine. Instead of squishy guts and organs, she was made of gears and wires. Instead of the imperfect human brain, she had the intelligence of a computer. And instead of a beating heart, she had her core.

To her joy, that doesn't stop the people from around her to show her sympathy. Even if most were oblivious to her true nature, she was still glad for the concern they provided.

No matter how far she truly is from a real girl, that doesn't stop her from acting and being treated like the real deal.

She smiled, maybe she's just overthinking…

Roman Torchwick was simply annoyed, to put it in more understandable terms.

He was far from livid, but further from pleased, with the situation that transpired not too long ago at the docks.

His Dust Heist failed spectacularly, and to blame was a bunch of nosy kids that just gets weirder and weirder as time progresses.

First, his small Dust Robbery was foiled by a red kid that wields a damned scythe even taller than her! And to add up to it was the fact that the scythe also served to be a high-pressure Sniper Rifle.

…Not the most normal combination of weaponry a wannabe huntsman/huntress would want.

A strange preference, yet he shouldn't be surprised once he takes into consideration the age of that same girl he encountered on that fateful night. She didn't even look older than 15! And she was already swinging that scythe around like it didn't weight that much!

He doubted the true weight of her accursed weapon. Hell, if weighted, it would probably be as light or even lighter than his cane Melodic Cudgel for a petite-looking like her to wield that enormous scythe with shocking ease!

He didn't consider the girl all that peculiar in their first encounter. But now, that he was given he wanted to think, he realized how wrong he was in that night.

Of course, he wasn't all that bummed that his robbery failed and escaped with relative difficulty with the Huntress that abruptly popped up. If not for his ever-so reliable pilot taking care of the problem, the chances of escape would have been far slimmer. He even doubted he would have escaped in one piece if not for her assistance.

But, he escaped, and that was all that mattered. No point in dwelling on what's already been done.

His train of thoughts went to its next stop, the Dust Heist.

That night, he was once again forced to retreat as a group of nuisance stormed the docks. And with them was the same red-garbed girl from earlier. The group proceeded to take down the small army that the generous White Fang had lent whilst retrieving the stolen shipments of Dust, thus kicking his flight-instincts into fourth gear and he left with empty hands once more.

Normally, any other criminal would be absolutely seething from the turn of events.

Roman was an exception.

He was aware that with the jobs he do, failure is always a factor he always needed to keep a firm gaze on.

And last week showed just how much anything and everything can go wrong even with delicate planning.

Before his musing can further drag out, he was alarmed by the sound of commotion just behind him.

He ripped his eyes from the map of Vale he had been zoning out for a good a few minutes, pivoting to face the sight behind him.

White Fang underlings were currently busy with wheeling out the black crates from their respective Bullheads, containing possibly anything that can be fit in those confines. Mostly supplies meant for their next move.

However, that was not what caught his eye.

"Ah, she sent the kids again…" Roman mentally cursed at the without-notice arrival of the two figures that approached him.

"This place is as messy as ever…"

One of them was a girl with bob-cut light green hair with two long thick strands hidden behind her and ruby-like hues, clad in a white intricate top held together by black buttons just beneath her breast, a sleeveless pale green crop top with a small U-shaped curve in the middle to give view of her cleavage, white shorts fastened with a brown leather belt with dense brown stockings folding to a stop just beneath her knee as well as dark brown knee pads atop the stockings, attached to the belt is to brown holsters that overlapped one another into an x-formation, within said holsters were dual olive long-barrel pistol. With brown intricate heels to finish the set.

"Agreed."

To the girl's side was a boy, just the same age as her. He has grey slicked-back hair with a couple of loose bangs, and eyes with an identical gray hue. He was dressed in a typical scoundrel-like attire; a blue and black short-sleeved jacket with a zipper that stops at his midsection, black trousers, and black boots with thin white ammo shells wrapped around the ankle-section. Supposedly a part of the built-in feature of his boot, which doubles as his choice of weapon.

Emerald Sustrai and Mercury Black stopped to look at Roman, who simply made his way to the two and wrapped his arm around them like some father greeting his children.

"Should have told your pops you were passing by."

Emerald was having none of it, swatting away Roman's arm with Mercury doing the same albeit a bit gentler. "Enough, were not here for your petty antics."

The Criminal Mastermind complied, moving back to his initial position before his quiet musing was casually interrupted. "Oh, I'm well aware of what you've been doing in your spare time." He lift his hand for the two teens to see the card that was now in possession.

"W-What?" Emerald stuttered in disbelief, patting her pockets to find the card she was carrying had magically left her.

Roman internally gave himself a pat on the back for his outstanding move. "Take notes sweetie, it's not every day that the professional is willing to show you his moves." His tone was matched with plain pride. He immediately dropped his arrogant act as he placed his focus on a certain matter. "Now tell me, why do you have this address?"

"Cleaning up YOUR mess." Emerald shot back as she snatched back the card from Roman's grasp.

"I got that under control."

"The two tickets and the packed bags we saw doesn't seem to say the same, eh?" Mercury pointed out nonchalantly, arms folded over his chest and a look of disapproval in his face.

"Shut it kid." Roman went over to the boy, promptly leaning his head close to him in order to intimidate the teen. "If you continue on pestering my day with you and your friend, I swear I'll-"

"You'll do what exactly, Roman?"

The eyes of the three shifted to the figure that emerged from the shadows on the platform above, stepping into the light to finally give a proper view.

It was a woman, likely to be around the same age as Roman, with a pale skin, amber-gold eyes and black messy hair that slightly conceals her left eye as it continues to extend right until it reaches her left breast. She was wearing a shoulder-less short red dress with gold intricate designs outlining the sleeves as well as the upper section while the trim of the skirt is black, a barely noticeable golden earring with a small black gem in her right ear, a black choker, and ending her attire with a high heels.

Cinder Fall eyed the criminal with her menacing gold eyes.

Yet, there was another figure. Right beside her.

The entire figure was completely coated in black, just pure darkness and nothing more. The only detail that was any perceivable at all was the messy combed-back hair of the figure with a loose strand falling over its face, its masculine body build, and the spears that it held in both its grasp

Skeptical and surprised eyes was quick on focusing on the weird dark figure, narrowing in clear doubt. Any other human would react in a similar way, it's not every day your accomplice suddenly pops up with this strange dark man with her side and with no clue whatsoever on where it came from.

The entire circumstance was doubt-inducing.

"I was- totally not going to kill them?" Told Roman after he recovered from her and the figure's sudden appearance, chuckling nervously at her abrupt appearance, as Cinder and the figure that accompanied her descended on the platform before walking over to them.

"Cinder!" Emerald was beaming, as she sprinted over to Cinder.

"And you—"

Emerald stopped the moment she registered Cinder's sudden sharp tone.

"I thought I told you and Mercury to don't do anything reckless while were in Vale." Continued the woman, eyeing her disciple.

"But—"

"Didn't I made that clear?"

"…" Emerald tried to talk, to give her reason on why she did what she did. Yet, she couldn't bring it to herself to argue with her savior, nodding in submission instead. "Yes, Ma'am."

"And you, Roman."

"Yes?"

"Why did you take so long to get rid of that runaway?" Cinder spoke in more of an annoyed tone rather than being curious.

"Before I answer that, mind tell me what the hell is THAT behind you?" The criminal replied, sticking out a finger over Cinder's shoulder and into the suspicious entity.

"Oh, just a normal gift."

Roman's raised eyebrow was an obvious sign of his doubt. "A gift?"

Cinder took note of it, sighing a vexed sigh as she forced her eyes to look the other way. "A gift, yes, to help us out on our mission—"

The pieces were beginning to place itself into a clear picture, and the realization smacked his gut like a metal bat. As his eyes widened at the thought, the question in his mind semi-consciously took form of shocked words. "Don't tell me—"

His thoughts was quick on being answered. "Yes, Roman, it came from her."

The three were left quiet by the news.

HER?!

Since when was she even remotely generous enough to support their actions-?!

"Hold on, Hold on, Hold on." Roman waved away his disbelief, shaking his head to wash away the fog of fear that threatened to cloud his mind. "Just to make sure. Her, right? Her?"

After a sigh and a roll of her eyes, Cinder re-affirmed. "Yes, Roman, it's her. The one and only."

"…"

"…"

"…"

Mercury was silent out of confusion, being the one that does not have the slightest of clues on what Cinder and Roman were discussing about. Even Emerald got the gist of their conversation, as told by the look of shock that was mirrored by her facial mask.

Maybe this was what he got for skipping out on that one meeting that Cinder specifically told them that one time not too long ago.

Man, why must he be the odd one out?

As Roman and Emerald contemplated the turn of events while Cinder patiently waited for them to recover, Mercury foolishly sauntered towards the entity with his hands comfortable in his vacant pockets.

A loud clang, followed by a loud thud, fully knocked Emerald and Mercury them back into their senses.

With a sharp turn to their side, they saw Mercury down on the ground, his back pressed against the cold stone floor. The same figure that they have doubting earlier had his spear a breath's width away from the young man's neck, with a foot in his chest to keep him down.

Looking down, Emerald saw it.

One of Mercury's cybernetic legs were on the ground, torn straight from his body as the exposed circuits sparked.

Cinder was stupefied. "What—"

"Enough." Cinder commanded with a stern tone, as she approached the entity without any trace of fear at all.

The figure complied, twisting its head to its side to look at the woman.

After a short stare down, the spear reclaimed its initial spot in the entity's side as he pulled his feet off Mercury's body.

The male teen, as expected, found unavoidable difficulty trying to do a simple task as standing up with one of his prosthetic legs now useless in the ground. Emerald, out of her kind heart, assisted her accomplice as she wrapped her arm around his armpit and proceeded to pull him up with a bit more effort than she wanted.

"Mercury, what were you even thinking?"

Cinder was instant on criticizing Mercury's reckless move, furrowing her eyebrows as she awaited what was hopefully a passable reason for his actions.

Sadly, her expectations were misplaced. "I just wanted to get to know the man better, you know?"

The young woman did not even bother to constrict the sigh of annoyance that left her lips, rubbing her forehead in evident displeasure. Not that she cared for the boy, but with Mercury now one leg-less, it may prove to be a slight hindrance to their plans.

"You must have lost your brain with that leg of yours." Told Cinder, rolling her eyes.

"Since when was being friendly wrong?" Whined Mercury, mockingly.

Cinder was, however, not on the proper mood for jokes.

"Shut it, now go get yourself fixed before we leave."

Roman stepped up, his ears picking up one certain word that was worth being questioned.

"And by leave, what do you mean?"

Cinder faced Roman, her lips shaping into a small smirk. Strolling over the infamous mastermind and raising his chin with her finger, Cinder replied with a serious yet almost seductive-like tone.

Her amber-gold eyes glimmered as she worded her answer.

"Isn't it obvious? We're moving into phase two."

A/N : I'm so sorry for the late update—I decided to neglect the book for a period of time, considering the fact that summer vacation is almost over and I have taken it upon myself to make the best out of my remaining days.

As of the time I'm writing this note, summer vacation IS already over and school have already started not long ago. So, expect slower updates on the future. But I'll continue writing, no worries.