Cold, stale air pressed against Dr. Polendina's aged cheeks as he swiftly made his way to a large white, sleek table.

The four chairs surrounding the conference table were all occupied by the most recognized and powerful men in Atlas. Jacques Schnee, James Ironwood, the invited guest of Dr. Watts and Dr. Polendina, a world renowned scientist in many subjects.

Clearing his throat, James swooned an arm out signaling the men to sit. Of course Polendina stood as this was his conference.

"Ruby Rose, Huntress. A girl barely alive. Gentlemen, we can rebuild her. We have the technology. We have the capability to build the world's first bionic Huntress. Ruby Rose will be that Huntress. Better than she was before. Better, stronger, faster!" Slamming his fist down upon the table for an emphasis.

"Ruby Rose? The fifteen year old?" Jacques questioned.

"Yes." Confirmed Dr. Polendina.

"Isn't she still a huntress in training?" Watts asked intrigued.

"Not, anymore, she will be a fully fledged Huntress and Atlas soldier." James answered.

"But why would we need such a...thing?" Watts inquired, extending his arms out, " Especially after what happened to the last little experiment."

James and Dr. Polendina both gritted their teeth but for different reasons. Ironwood was because of the feeling of failure. Dr. Polendina felt fury and distress on how they talked about his creation- no daughter!

"We are building-"

"For military use? A tool at disposal?" Jacques added, shrugging.

"I would personally like to use her for the Schnee Dust Company's advantage," James glared at Jacques, "Of course my company will be an asset to the protection of Atlas." Jaques quickly added, playing it off.

"Yes, unfortunately she will be," Dr. Polendina hated using such a word but it had to be said, "used for all of those things, a direct subordinate to James and by extension to you, Jacques."

"And what of me?" Watts crossed his arms, watching the display between the three grey haired men, mostly Jac and Polendina.

"Who invited you?" Jacques demanded, just noticing Watts' presence.

Watts's mustache twitched in irritation, having been completely insulted.

"I'm sorry for the inconvenience, but I do not recall inviting you." Dr. Polendina bowed politely, studying the man before him.

"It's quite alright, well then I'll take my leave." Leaving the three men in a state of confusion and embarrassment to some degree.

"Well I'm glad we didn't discuss the blueprints." James said trying to lighten things up.

"Indeed."

"Right." They all agreed for once in their life.

Beep,beep,beep,beep

Grunting, Ruby sat up on her bed already having a major head pain. Looking around she could tell she was in a hospital room, by the sound of the heart monitor and the whirring sounds of the oxygen provider. Her aural sense was fine but her vision was blurry.

Ruby could tell some big differences in how her body felt. It felt surprisingly lighter than she would have expected a hospital patient to be. The pain on her left arm was still there but as merely a dull ache.

Lifting her arm up, exposing her new arm to the cool air she could feel chills on the arm. Her arm hair rose up and created little goosebumps.

"No way." Gasped Ruby, examining the extraordinary piece of technology.

Flexing her hand and curling it in and out, made her artificial nails carve into her synthetic skin. She felt the nails against her skin...

Ironwood wasn't exaggerating..

Ruby gapped for as long as she had woken up until however long it took for Ironwood to come standing at the doorway.

"You're awake, Specialist Rose." Rhetorical question James.

"I-I don't know what to say sir, I-" Ruby's gratitude was cut off by Ironwood's own robotic hand.

"You won't be thanking me after this." Grimaced the General.

"I don't understand." Ruby furrowed her brows.

"That wasn't the only thing we replaced." Sighed Ironwood as he continued, ignoring the shocked and conflicted face Ruby was putting on. "We interchanged your whole skeletal structure and replaced it with our own T-SKEL02, our first," Ironwood purses his lips into a tight, firm line,"...didn't go as planned, unfortunately."

The old man pinched the bridge of his nose and huffed, "Look we...no, you-" James pointed at Ruby dead center at her chest, " accepted and now you have what you wanted but we also got what we wanted, it's a deal that benefited us both."

Silence hung heavy in the brightly lit room.

"I understand." Ruby said with a mix of displeasure and eerie calmness.

"Good to know we have a mutual understanding, Specialist Rose, now if you'll excuse me, I have other urgent business to attend." Ironwood dismissed himself, marching out at an even pace.

'Specialist Rose, it was brought to my attention that your heart rate has significantly gone up.' Informed a low pitched, stoic voice from Ruby's mind.

"What?! Who are you?!" Panicked Ruby, rolling off the bed, falling face first onto the floor.

'I am your personal assistant, H.A.D.E.S, I was assigned to you by Dr. Polendina. Are you well, master?'

Master? Wha-?! Hold on..

"Hades?"

'Yes, H.A.D.E.S stands for High Artificial Deity Empowered System, anymore questions master?'

"Why would I need you?" Inquired Ruby, slowly getting up to her feet, grunting.

'I would be needed in missions requiring high accuracy, secret intel, night vision, communication wise, and I am also a great companion!' Ruby swore she heard a bit of enthusiasm at Hades's last statement.

"Ah, alright." Awkward. "Um, could you contact Winter?" She said trying to fill in the awkwardness in the room.

'Yes, master.' Responded the AI back in her head.

Ruby had just suffered the most devastating time of her life trying to talk to her new "partner". Hades couldn't joke, couldn't laugh, couldn't cry, couldn't get angry, couldn't feel sadness, and that frustrated Ruby more than anything.

Right as she was going to open her mouth to make her problems clear, a soft knocking interrupted her.

"Come in."

Opening the sleek door and closing it behind her carefully was Winter, Ruby's idol and second mentor after Qrow.

"Greetings, Ruby." A small smile graced Winter's lips. The eyes that were tinted with sadness and regret were not missed by Ruby or Hades.

'I detect desolate emotions within miss Schnee.'

Acknowledging Hades words, Ruby shakily walked over to Winter and gave her a hug.

"Hi Winter! Did ya miss me? Did ya? Did ya?!" Ruby beamed at her, lighting things up instantly.

Winter's soft chuckle reached Ruby's ears, "Of course I did little one, who else would make the recruits tremble in fear like, oh so masterful Ruby here." The older girl sarcastically said.

The newly constructed girl joined in on the chorus of chuckles that came from Winter.

"Ahem."

Snapping her head towards the sound, Ruby spotted a short, snobby heiress with a bad attitude.

Ruby insinuated for Weiss to state her business which was well received.

"I-uh...I came to a-apologize." Weiss finished hanging her head low, inspecting the well kept floor.

"A Schnee?! Apologizing?! To a commoner!" Ruby mocked gasped at Weiss, placing a hand on her chest.

"You are a high ranking officer so you're technically not a com-" Winter wasn't done with her correction when Ruby slapped a hand over her mouth.

"Winter, shhhh!" Ruby hissed pulling a finger to her lips.

Weiss, luckily didn't hear any of the commotion. The younger, platinum haired teen, crossed her arms, stomping her feet. "A Schnee can apologize!" Weiss huffed.

Ruby turned to Winter and gave her a "Can you believe this girl" look before wrapping her arms around her midsection, busting out laughing. Winter, the cold hearted, ICE QUEEN, Winter started to laugh along with Ruby, her cheeks turning a healthy red.

Weiss was left gaping at her sister's antics and the red headed girl's oddness.

"W-Winter!"

"I-I apologize," Winter took a deep breath, holding up her pointer finger before clearing her throat in her fist, "I just couldn't help it, Weiss."

'Are you having fun, master?'

Ruby's smile stiffened at the sound of Hades's voice. Yeah I am.

'That's good.'

It was barely the next day and Ruby was already training. Training as in nonstop exercises with Crescent Rose or any physical activity as a matter of fact. She hadn't thought of Yang, her father or even the bow wearing cat. No, all she thought about was how she needs to get better and better than before.

"Ah, if it isn't my dearest child!" Jacques's voice echoed through the arena.

"Mr. Schnee?" Ruby was caught off guard by the old Schnee's behavior towards her.

"Please, call me Jacques." His mustache twitched up in a disturbing smile.

"U-uh okay Ja-"

"Or you can address me as Father!"

A shiver went down Ruby's spine.

"Jacques is more appropriate, sir." A tight smile came across Ruby's face.

"Oh alright." He answered playfully, which only he could tell it was fake.

"May I ask what was it you needed?"

"Can't a father just check up on who their children are calling sister?"

Yes, but your not one.

"Ah I see, well I was just training." Ruby nodded at the weapon in her hand.

"Hm," Jaq inspected Crescent Rose under a critical eye as he lowered down a bit, " I can give you a much better weapon, Ruby dear."

Her brows shot up to her hairline.

What, but I love my sweetheart!

"W-what would happen t-to Crescent Rose?" She whispered quietly.

"Whatever you want with it, dear, you can dispose of it if-"

"NO- I mean I would like to keep it." Ruby awkwardly shifted.

"Well of course, so I'm taking it that you are taking up on my offer?"

"Yes."

A:N/ I apologize for not updating recently and yeah, yeah I know short chapter and pretty sucky but eh.

btw the Dr. Polendina speech was inspired by TheFishKing.