Chapter 20

The Darkness Within

Ruby was resting on her bed unable to fall asleep. She tried and tried but her case of sudden insomnia was winning. Frustrated and tired she gave up and decided to get something to eat. Grabbing her scroll, which had a convenient side use as a debit card on school grounds, she made her way to the cafeteria to get her favorite brand of cookies. Walking in she remembered her first real conversation with Cobalt. It made her miss him. When earlier that evening he helped her with her homework, which he was surprisingly good at, he seemed off. She knew he was worried about this talk he would have with Raphael but did not mention it. No use reminding him of what he was nervous about already. She did make sure to mention that she was there for him if he was ever in trouble a few times.

Ruby sat down at one of the tables to finish her cookies and check her scroll for news updates. Nothing much was going on. The biggest story they had was how the hunters and huntresses of the world were heading back to their own kingdoms tomorrow since the dust has settled with the riots. Scrolling through a few more stories, her scroll vibrated in her hand and scared her. She gasped and did so while eating a cookie only to result in a coughing fit. After the coughing fit she checked what it was. It was a message from Cobalt. Opening it as fast as it would allow she read his text and could feel her heart drop with each sentence.

"Hello Ruby. I'm going to be gone for a few days but I don't want you to worry about me. No, I'm not going drinking if that's what you're wondering. Raphael… Well… Dropped some pretty upsetting news. My childhood friend since around the age of nine, Norman, succumbed to his injuries and died earlier this week. I'm pretty shaken up by it and by the time you get this message I'll already be on my way to Atlas. I need some time alone to compose myself. No this is not the end of us and I will be returning within the week. I know that this must worry you and I am so sorry that I'm telling you through text instead of in person. Trust me when I say that this is best for me. I know you're not going to happy reading this and I fully expect you to punch me when I get back but I just want to say one last thing: I'm sorry."

A tear landed on the screen. Ruby could not help herself. She knew something bad was going to happen. She knew that she was there for him. She had made it perfectly clear that she was there for him. Yet with all that she did he just… Left. She lowered her head in resignation. She was helping him sure but was it enough? Enough that he would understand that people are there to help him. "Don't cry Ruby." She told herself. "Remember that you're a big girl. You drink milk." Ruby debated about whether or not to respond. As much as she wanted to she knew that it was very unlikely that he would reply. She looked back at her midnight snack of cookies having lost her appetite. Trashing the remaining ones she slowly walked back to her room.

She told herself over and over again that he would be alright, that he would come back with open arms and a smile on his face. That's what she really needed to see right now. One of his few rare genuine smiles. She could not help but feel deja vu as the moonlight shone through the windows at just the right angle. She half expected to look over her shoulder and see him following her, complaining about her cookie consumption. She made it back to her room and back into bed. Looking around the room she remembered to consider herself blessed that her team was together and safe. She was so fortunate to have such a wonderful and caring team. They were a family of sorts and she could not imagine what it would be like to lose one of them. She left a mental reminder to plan something fun for all of them to do in the coming days.

Ruby was feeling very sluggish. She did not get much sleep last night and the really heavy breakfast was not helping to energize her. She looked over down the table, happy to see the rest of her team and JNPR smiling on such a bright day. Just because she was down did not mean that they should be.

"Hey Rubes what's wrong?" Ruby looked over to see Yang's face of concern. She remembered what Cobalt said about her poker face. She must have been showing her tiredness.

"I'm just really tired. I didn't get a lot of sleep last night."

"Anything keeping you up?"

"I just got worried about a friend of mine. They're going through a pretty heavy loss and are taking it really badly." Ruby tried to hide just how upset she was but she could hear her voice give it away.

"Do you want to talk about it later?" Said Yang with her voice getting soft.

"Maybe." Ruby suddenly felt herself get lifted off of her seat and suspended in the air while Yang was giving her one other bear hugs. "Let me go!" Ruby yelled thrashing around like she was a beetle on her back.

"Not until I see that frown turn upside down!" Said Yang now rocking Ruby back and forth while holding her in the air.

"Yang! Let me go!" Said Ruby now banging her fists down on her sister's arms. If it was not embarrassing enough, now the entire table has turned their attention to the squirming sisterly love scene. "This is embarrassing!"

"That's the point. What else would my job be?"

They were interrupted by a loud high pitched noise that seemed to come from every direction. Ruby felt herself being dropped as Yang joined the rest of the student body in covering her ears. After about five seconds the sound disappeared with every scroll flipping open of its own accord. Even the holographic televisions they usually keep off turned on. Every screen gave off the sound of static with black and white dots flashing everywhere. Simultaneously they all flipped to a single video stream. Ruby joined her team in a single gasp as to who was on the screen.

There he was, sitting in front of an orange background with his recognizable black jackolantern insignia spread across it. Torchwick sat on a simple stool with his legs crossed and both hands resting on his cane. His mischievous smile sent shivers down her spine. He began to speak with a smooth sounding voice that held vile behind it.

"Hello people of the world! This is being broadcasted on all frequencies, all channels and all devices that are connected to the Cross Continental Transmit System. It's good to see you all again. I must say your performance in Vale earlier this week was exceptionally catastrophic. I had no idea that all of you cared so much for me. I'm flattered, really I am. I must also congratulate the government and hunters who joined together to fight the revolutionists. I mean what better way to deal with your people than to stomp out all hope of change when they try to speak their opinion. And you all blame me for it. While I would like to take credit, I must also give the government some as well. All I did was lift the veil held in front of the people's eyes. Speaking of which that is my next topic for today: what the governments of the kingdoms don't want you to know.

Today's episode is on Atlas. You know with all of their scientific advancements they're bound to have not released some sensitive information. Fortunately that's what I'm here for. They claim to have built this large military of theirs to fight the hordes of Grimm and protect the people. Well can someone please explain to me why they have made a weapon that does not work against the Grimm? One that has no effect upon them? See, something that I discovered during what you all called 'The Revelation of Torchwick' is that communication is the key. It is with communication that you all stood together to stand strong. So why is it that Atlas wants to take that from you? Why have they made and mass produced weapons that do nothing but short out communication systems?

I know what you're thinking. 'He's Roman Torchwick. He's just lying again to trick us.' I promise you I'm not. Which is why with the press of this button-" He said holding up a small hand sized box with a red button on it. "-their weapon will detonate and communications worldwide will be shut down for who knows how long. In fact, I'm really excited to find out. I wish you all the best of luck and hope to see you again soon. Goodbye." He said pushing the button before the screens returned to the static.

Ruby felt her blood run cold. He could not be serious could he? To be able to knock out communications worldwide? The idea was infeasible. She looked around to see the scared expressions on everyone's faces and could tell that they were thinking the same thing. "He can't actually do that can he?" Ruby asked to nobody in particular.

Ruby decided to test it. She took her scroll and called Cobalt. Even if he did not answer she would at least be able to tell if he had the capability to. After about a minute she heard the computer say "Sorry. Connection to Atlas is currently down for reasons unknown. Please try again later." Ruby looked up at the start of the shouting. Apparently others were having the same idea as her and were trying to contact their friends and families in other kingdoms and failing. Over the intercom Ruby heard Ozpin begin to speak which silenced everyone there.

"I regret to inform you all that Mr. Torchwick's message was not a lie. We do not currently know why but the Cross Continental Transit System tower located in Atlas has gone offline. We suspect that he has detonated some kind of electromagnetic pulse that has shorted out the system. Depending on the power of said blast we may be hit by aftershocks. If that is the case then it is no cause for worry. Nobody can be harmed by these waves. Expect some possible power outage and interference. If any of you have loved ones in other kingdoms I assure you that they are perfectly safe. Under no circumstances can they be harm-"

He was interrupted by what sounded like a low buzzing that created incomprehensible static. The lights shut off and all scrolls and electronic devices followed suit. Ruby turned towards the rest of her team to match their faces of shock. He had done it. Roman Torchwick with the press of a button brought down one of the most revolutionary instruments known to man. She knew that she had to do something. As team leader she could not stand weak in the face of evil. She had others who were counting on her to lead them to victory. She then remembered their promise they made after Blake revealed that Torchwick had escaped.

"I say we bring back the anti-Torchwick pact back into effect. Anyone else agree?" Her own troubles with Cobalt could wait. Now was the time to be strong.

"I will do whatever it takes to put him behind bars. Yes." Said Blake with fire in her eyes.

"He has crossed a point of no return. Yes." Said Weiss with her calm, formal attitude.

"I'm all for kicking his ass. Hell yes." Said Yang smashing her fists together.

"Actually can we get involved in this?" Ruby turned to see that it was Jaune who asked the question.

"It sounds like fun. The more the merrier right?" Joined in Pyrrha.

"I'm all for it." Said Ren quietly.

"Let's break his legs!" Yelled Nora with excitement.

Looking at everyone Ruby felt so proud and lucky to be surrounded by such good friends. Ruby jumped onto the table and "Alright then. Together we can take this man down and bring him to justice! We'll meet in our room later to discuss the details. Right now we need to find out as much as we can about him."

"All power is out in the city Ruby. We can't look anything up." Said Jaune.

"Then we'll do what our ancestors did. To the library!" Said Ruby with unwavering excitement.

"Class is about to start in a few minutes." Brought up Weiss.

"To the library on your free time then!" Ruby yelled with seemingly more enthusiasm than before. Ruby and the rest of her team as well as JNPR picked up their stuff to head to their classes. Fortunately they did not use electricity often in them and most classrooms had plenty of windows for lighting. On the way she began brainstorming how to organize this little pact of theirs. The last thought she had before Oobleck began his caffeinated lecture was that maybe, just maybe she would be able to convince Cobalt to participate in some way when he came back.