RWBY: Silver Eyes

by Kurama Arashi

After their Mom mysteriously disappeared, Yang with Ruby in tow went out to look for Yang's biological Mother and were attacked by Grimm before their Uncle Qrow saved them. But, what if he didn't make it there just in time? What if Ruby discovered what it meant to have Silver Eyes?

21. Chapter 20: Mysteries

RWBY: Silver Eyes

Volume 2: Arc 1: Atlas & Reconnaissance

Chapter 20: Mysteries

"Legends. Stories scattered through time. Mankind has grown quite fond of recounting the exploits of heroes and villains, forgetting so easily that we are remnants, byproducts, of a forgotten past."

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---

First day of classes this new semester weren't spectacularly interesting. It was mostly spent with the teachers introducing the class' expectations for the semester as well as welcoming the exchange students to Beacon. And they say 'mostly' since Professor Port decided to kick things off with one of his infamous stories; at least he was kind enough to not give the exchange students false expectations of his class. Team RWBY mercifully slept through that class; Jaune seemed slightly disappointed afterwards.

The most memorable moment of that class for everyone was when Ruby suddenly jumped up into awakeness in the middle of class yelling, "That's it!"

The class just looked at her weirdly, whether they were from Beacon or not was irrelevant. Unfortunately for justice, Ruby's comment made perfect sense to Professor Port and so got away with a warning to remember her inside voice.

When the now awake Weiss asked what that was all about, Ruby revealed, "I was dreaming about my designs for that. I think I have an idea on how to finally improve that problem I mentioned."

Weiss had nodded, keeping that in mind for later.

Immediately after classes were over for the day, team RWBY made their way back to dorms to change into combat gear. The plan was to meet with willing members of team JNPR (and maybe Sun and co) in the library to discuss the plan as they know it for investigating the link between Roman Torchwick and the White Fang.

Ruby was wearing her gear which would have her recognized as the 'Red Death' when she goes into the Criminal District. The rest of RWBY had changed into outfits that looked casual, but were simultaneously designed for ease of movement in combat.*

That was one of two strategies of armored combat particularly used against Grimm, either be mobile enough to not be hit or wear armor to tank damage without losing aura. Mobility was generally proven to be preferred. Ruby, however, pondered that Yang in particular could pull off some armor since she was the tank of the group. Something to consider for the future.

It was right as they finished changing that they heard an interestingly polite knocking on the door. The group looked at each other in confusion, since their room wasn't the meeting place and they weren't expecting anyone. Weiss shrugged, and being the closest one to the door, went to open it.

Her eyes widened in surprise and recognition, "Winter! It's so good to see you! You're here?" She started excited and finished with a question, curious.

Ruby looked over Weiss' shoulder, "And Penny too?"

Penny smiled and waved, "Hello Ruby and team!"

"Who is this?" Yang asked as Blake checked that her bow was tight.

"Right!" Weiss lightly hopped in place as she turned to her team, "This is my elder sister, Winter, she's a Huntress Specialist in Atlas."

Winter nodded, stepping into the room, "Indeed. It's… interesting being here at Beacon again, it's been some time since I last visited."

"So," Weiss began, "what does bring you to Beacon? I thought you would be helping out at Atlas or on… another mission."

"Classified." Winter suddenly and coldly replied before flinching so subtly Ruby would have missed it if she wasn't a few feet away. "But let's leave work at work, shall we? I'm here as your elder sister not a Huntress." Winter recovered.

Blake narrowed her eyes, not buying Winter's recovering statement, while Ruby didn't visibly show her similar opinion.

Weiss, however, did not but regardless was suspicious, "This is a treat then! Normally you have been too busy with work to visit, even when I was back home."

"Ironwood is a very demanding commanding officer, and he does so to bring out the best in his agents." Winter so casually recited you would have thought that she read off of a card. "Regardless, you have yet to introduce me to your… friends here?" She finished with a question, unsure as whether to call Weiss' team-mates her friends as well.

Weiss' eyes widened, "Of course! This is…" But she was interrupted by…

"I'm Yang, Yang Xiao Long. Ruby's elder sister. Nice to meet ya!" Said blond offered her hand for a handshake.

A beat passed in tense silence.

Winter took the handshake and smirked as she felt Yang's grip, "Well met."

Winter then released her grip and had turned to Ruby, "And you must be Ruby Rose. The Leader. Weiss has mentioned you in her letters."

Ruby glanced at Weiss who gave a motion as if saying 'nothing specific'. She looked back at Winter, "That's right. I hope only good things had been mentioned!" She finished with a smile.

"Weiss was initially jealous of your position as leader," Winter informed bluntly – simultaneously causing Weiss to blush and otherwise look incredulous. "I was glad to see her get over that minor detail and grow stronger for it."

Ruby glanced and noted Weiss' continued blush, the younger Schnee clearly appreciated the praise of her elder.

Ruby looked back and commented to Winter, "Weiss is really talented and determined. We are glad to have her." Ruby hid her enjoyment as Weiss' blush increased at the praise.

Any tension that would have left the room from Winter's sudden appearance was crushed when the last member of their team spoke up blandly, "I'm Blake, if we are doing introductions."

Ruby spotted how Winter's eyes darted to Blake's bow and then back to eye contact. She was sure Blake saw it too. "Indeed, a pleasure to meet you Blake."

Blake nodded, ending introductions on a somewhat awkward note.

Winter moved her hands from behind to, to grasping each other in front of her, "Well, to 'business' then. As you all can imagine, I am here to visit and spend time with my sister here. I am not… adverse to having her team members join us. However, Penny here was particularly interested in speaking to you Ruby; you two are acquainted correct?"

"Yeah," Ruby answered, "Penny's my friend." Ruby glanced over to her team members, Weiss looked happy at the chance to spend time with her sister, but also worried – remembering they had plans already that were very important. Blake and Yang also looked worried, again their focus being on the plans they had scheduled.

Thankfully, Ruby was a quick thinker, "We wouldn't want to interrupt your family visit, besides we have a project we need to work on. We can catch Weiss up tomorrow. And I don't mind Penny tagging along with us, it'll still be fun." She assured at the end.

Winter nodded, as if trying to determine if Ruby was lying or not, but let it drop, "Very well, is that alright with you all? Weiss?"

Blake and Yang nodded, though Yang looked a little confused. Weiss, a little confused as well, conceded, "Of course, that's fine with me."

Winter nodded to herself, "Excellent, we best get going then, we need to head back before your curfew."

And with that Winter quickly ushered herself and Weiss out the door, which closed behind them after Penny slinked into the room.

As soon as that door closed, Ruby lifted the Quantum Communicator and began typing into it.

Penny questioned, "What are you doing, Ruby?"

Ruby answered immediately, "Texting Weiss her task. I'm sure being all serious and investigating the increased activities of the White Fang might impress her older sister. And if Weiss doesn't trust Winter enough to do it in her company then she at least knows what we all need of her so she can be prepared to do so later."

Blake gave Ruby a dissatisfied look, which Ruby instantly translated and responded to, "Yes, Winter is a Schnee - so much so that is painfully obvious, yes. But if Weiss wants to trust her then I will too and so should you."

Blake looked ready to protest, but then just as quickly deflated, "I'll… trust Weiss' judgment."

Ruby smiled at her, while Yang put a hand on Blake's shoulder with a smile of her own.

Ruby then addressed seriously, "Alright, so do you guys remember what we talked about earlier?"

Blake started, "The White Fang has regular faction meetings to hand out orders and recruit new members. I will be infiltrating one of these major White Fang rallies near the border of the Criminal District. If I can get in, I can hopefully find out what they're planning."

Ruby raised an eyebrow, "And?"

Blake blushed, "The Covenant has been growing faster than I expected. I think people have been spreading my speech around; though most of them are untrained teenagers. Regardless, a few of the older members – some of which are ex-White Fang – plan on interrupting another of the major rallies to vocally protest against White Fang aggression and hate speech." It wouldn't accomplish much, but it was a step.

The Fort and its settlement of Red-Fang had been growing quickly over the past two weeks. To be fair, there are plenty of settlements throughout the District and many miles of land with buildings that were far from decrepit. However, there was still plenty of gang and interpersonal violence, and with a gang war starting in the District, many were fleeing to places of sanctuary and the traditional settlements can't handle the 'refugees'.

Yang spoke up next, "I have a few contacts near the District border – Junior's bar in particular. Getting information out of him shouldn't be too hard. And frankly, considering what you did to him last time you were there, it would be best if you, Ruby, were not there. He'd clam up too much."

Ruby nodded sagely, "Fair enough." She then spoke aloud for clarifications sake, "I, and Penny too, have experience in the District and know a lot of its layout and generally where the gangs like to move and operate. I, under my alternate persona, can easily move through the more dangerous parts of the District." The fact this was due to her semblance and fear/awe of said persona was left unsaid.

Ruby continued, "I will talk with the local settlements and see if they know anything about the White Fang and Torchwick's movement in the region. If we can find Torchwick's hideout, we can get Ozpin and actual Huntsmen to raid the base and stop Torchwick before his plans even get the chance to be executed."

Blake smirked, "And?"

Ruby coughed, "And I can use the opportunity to negotiate trade deals between the individual settlements and the Fort. There is plenty of debris and materials in the District's more damaged regions; the settlements salvage through them on a regular basis for supplies and building materials and they have plenty of experience scavenging. If I can work out a deal, the Fort can then trade the materials to companies that produce building materials; giving the factories in the Fort raw material with which to build things. A portion, for example, could be used to building robots or turrets with which to trade to the settlements; they could always use more protection against the gangs and other raiding groups."

Something to understand about the population of the District - the environment did one of two things to the populous. It either breaks them, causing them to either live in poverty and despair or to embrace violence in the form of the gangs or the White Fang. Or it forces them to grow stronger; in most cases this was combat skill, but there were many who used their experiences to learn how to build things – whether it be shelter or how to jury-rig a gun or turret together - or how to get computers in abandoned building to unlock sealed doors and so on and so forth.

With the surge of people joining the Red-Fang settlement in the Fort that meant Ruby had a source of qualified enough engineers to get the factory equipment running. It was an odd situation, admittedly. The Fort, built to be an autonomous facility that didn't need government aid, required a team of engineers to maintain the equipment. The factory machinery could build just about anything given the right instructions, but would degrade without a steady supply of spare parts and tender care. Apparently the General that build the facility believed in keeping his soldiers as busy as possible. Maybe that's why the facility was abandoned.

"I see!" Penny spoke up, reminding everyone she was there and heard all of that; causing Blake and Yang to blink. Penny told Ruby, "I would not mind accompanying you! That's fine with you, right Ruby?"

Ruby blinked, having honestly forgot Penny was there when mentioning everything about the Fort and the Covenant. She then smiled and told Penny, "I would appreciate it."

"Spectacular!" Penny exclaimed in excitement, "Lead the way, and I will follow!"

Ruby nodded to her and then looked at the remainder of her team, "Meet up, and talk with JNPR and anyone else with them in the library and then work on your objectives. I'll send a message with suggestions for them to investigate if they are up to it."

Yang mock saluted while Blake nodded hesitantly. Blake herself was unsure of it being wise to involve Jaune or Nora in any of this; Jaune due to his obvious lack of skill or mental fortitude and Nora due to her eccentrics.

Ruby guessed the later correctly, "Don't worry, Nora knows how to be serious… it's just not obvious sometimes."

Blake rolled her eyes as she went to the door with Yang in tow, "Right. Talk to you later."

Ruby watched as the two closed the door behind them and then moved over to the window and opened it. Ruby smirked over at Penny, "Who needs doors and stairs when there is a perfectly good window right here, am I right?"

Penny giggled, "It is good exercise for Landing Stratagem Protocols."

Ruby waved Penny over, "Come on, I'd like to at least pretend that we can get back before curfew. You wouldn't get in too much trouble would you? I mean, it would be just an accident."

Penny looked mischievous as she approached the window, "Oh dear, my Scroll's battery ran out of charge and I lost track of the time. Oh dear, oh dear."

Ruby snickered, "I'm a bad influence, I've been around you for almost a month and you are forgetting to charge your Scroll? What a shame."

Penny giggled as she leaned over the window's edge, "You seem to be forgetting the part where your influence is having me jump out a window a story or two upwards."

Ruby faked as if she were going to push Penny over the edge, causing the other girl to squeal. "Details, details. You'll live."

Penny reached out and grabbed Ruby's hand, "I believe the term is, 'while the night is young'?"

Ruby's eyes widened in disbelief as Penny started leaning dangerously over the window while still holding onto her hand with a death grip, "You wouldn't."

Penny's smile was as bright as the sun, "Let's live!"

And so Penny acquiesced to Ruby's suggesting of jumping out the window, pulling Ruby along with her. Ruby yelled in surprise while Penny laughed joyfully, a sword launching out of her backpack and sticking into a tall tree in the below courtyard. The end result being an intertwined mess of limbs of the two girls and a comical amount of leaves.

Ruby mumbled into Penny's chest, a bit dazed, "We are going to need to work on that 'landing strategy'."

Penny giggled, "I said it was an important exercise."

Ruby sighed, "Now is that my left or right leg?"

---

As the sun began to set, engines roared and the clanking of metal stopped in front of a very familiar bar.

Yang took off her helmet, and casually dismounted Bumblebee, smirking proudly at the dazed look of Neptune.

"So," Yang began, addressing their third member, "Nora, how and why do you have a metal horse and where can I get one?"

Nora, atop said metal and armored horse, laughed, "I gave Ruby most of my construction allowance to build this for me last semester." Beacon allotted a set amount of supplies its students could access – typically for weapons and weapon maintenance; this was particularly done to get people like Ruby to tinker and create new gadgets. This sort of fulfilled that purpose, horses are good for multi-terrain. This mechanical one only needed to swap in an appropriate Dust crystal for power for maintenance excluding usual repairs.

Nora continued, "Your horse might be a motorbike, but my motorbike is a horse."

Yang nodded slowly, "Fair enough."

Yang's attention was brought back to the 'Bar' when she heard the sound of the bouncers barricading themselves inside the building. Yang smirked, 'Silly guards.' Like a measly door was going to stop Yang Xiao Long from entering a building.

The group, under Yang's lead went over to the door. Yang motioned to Nora, "Care to do the honors?"

Nora grinned back, "On it!"

---

"Boss!"

Junior had been having a bad few weeks. His reputation was shot thanks to the failed invasion of the Fort and if the gangs weren't busy fighting each other they would have paid him an unpleasant visit. Thankfully, with the violence came an opportunity to play both sides and keep in the intelligence game. However, that required him to keep some sort of semblance of calm in his fine establishment.

His idiotic guards yelling for him wasn't a good sign.

Junior sighed, setting a glass down, "What is it?"

"It's her!" One of them exclaimed.

"She's back!" The other explained unhelpfully.

Junior panicked, "Which one?!"

"The yellow one!"

Junior grimaced, "Fuck." At least the red one didn't cause massive property damage.

Junior took a deep breath, "Alright. It's ok. Everyone calm down. I prepared for this."

He pointed over at the door, which from the inside was clearly thickly armored and reinforced, "You all see that there door?"

A cacophony of, "Yeah, Boss," responded to him.

"It's going to take more than common Dust rounds and explosives to pierce armor that thick. How thick is it?" Junior chuckled, "Well, half as thick as my dick. So thick you'd need military-grade grenades to even think of denting it."

And of course it was at that moment that the door exploded.

Yang waved through the dust and debris from behind Nora, "Helloooo!"

The Nora in question was in front of the door with Magnhild in its grenade launcher form.

Junior, in a strangely calm voice, commented, "Fuck, that's a military-grade grenade launcher." He then yelled, "HOLY FUCK, that's a military-grade grenade launcher!"

Nora's eye twinkled, "Haven't you heard? Bitches love cannons!" And with she fired a single grenade into the bar, not close enough to hurt anyone, but enough to cause collateral damage and harmlessly knock a few guards to the ground.

"Fuck, fuck! Alright! Calm down, jeez!" Junior angrily begged, his words encouraging other guards to lower their weapons.

Yang nodded to Nora, who nodded back before holstering her weapon.

"So," Junior began as they entered the bar, himself still behind the counter, "Blondie, you are here. Trashing my bar... again… why?"

Yang sat down at the bar stool, with her comrades flanking her on both sides, smirking all the while, "Let's have a chat, Junior."

---

About an hour after having left the others, Weiss and Winter could be found leaving a tea shop/café a few blocks away from Vale's Main CCT Tower. It was thanks to this tower that all of Vale, and Vale City in particular, could easily communicate with itself and the other Kingdoms of Remnant.

The Main Tower was particularly specialized for communicating (and thus transferring data) over long distances; meaning it was particularly good at communicating with the Central Towers in the other Kingdoms. Communication within the Kingdoms still relied on these Central CCT Towers, but communications between and within cities were typically carried out through local (and smaller) towers and receivers/transceivers. For example, the reason communications blacked out in the Forever Fall Forest was because the Local Tower in a nearby city was hacked - the Main Tower was still running, but the connection to the local tower was interrupted.

And so the capital city of Vale had plenty of smaller towers and receivers throughout it; one was in Beacon's library after all. However, for the more sensitive and long distance transmission Weiss was intending it would be safer and faster if done in the Main Tower.

Not that Weiss was thinking about that in particular all that much; her dinner with her elder sister was… surprisingly awkward. Winter had always been harsh -no, intense is a better word – but she seemed distant, as if she was still at work which bothered Weiss greatly.

---

They had hardly sat down at the café before Winter started asking questions, "How has Beacon been treating you?"

"Ah," Weiss stuttered slightly, unprepared for the question, "It's been pleasant, fantastic even. The weather is nice, though it rains too much for my tastes. Other students are generally amicable. The teachers are brilliant… for the most part." Weiss muttered the last bit to herself, apparently Winter didn't catch it.

Winter smiled, but it looked strained, "Any hobbies?"

"I still sing occasionally," Weiss admitted, "it's been by myself, however. I haven't had the time or equipment to play the piano since coming here. I've been continuing my personal research into Dust combinations and a few other…" Weiss thought of her and Ruby as well as the others of her team, "projects." She finished.

"Understandable about the piano," Winter noted and then probed, "I take it you are focusing on your studies then? How are your grades?"

"Correct." Weiss answered, telling a half-truth and a little surprised at how engaging Winter was being, "I am within the top five of all of my classes, leader in Dust Studies, of course."

"Really? That's splendid news." Winter congratulated.

'Here it comes.' Weiss lamented internally, 'she is going to comment if my grades are so good then surely I have progressed with my summoning. Sorry if your vague advice on making it work isn't helpful in the slightest!'

"I'm surprised there are other students giving you trouble," Winter instead commented, making Weiss' eyes widen slightly in surprise. Winter continued, "Who are they, how do you feel about them? Do they make your experience here difficult?"

Weiss almost narrowed her eyes at that last question. That was an oddly specific question. She put a pin in it and answered Winter, "I actually happen to know most of them quite well. They are my… friends even. To varying extents." Weiss admitted at the end, she didn't much like Jaune's affections and Nora's energy got on her nerves.

Winter almost seemed… displeased at that revelation; as if being friends with her 'competitors' was something that bothered her. "… I see." Winter commented hesitantly.

Weiss actually frowned at this. Normally, Winter had been encouraging Weiss to make some friends, albeit Winter's suggestions ended up being individuals with influence or money (though to be fair that was generally the case in Atlas regardless). So for Winter to be suddenly conflicted about her making friends was unusual behavior.

Weiss, however, put this thought to the side and hid her expression under a smile perfected thanks to the environment her father created.

---

'For one,' Weiss noted worriedly – back in the present - as she glanced at Winter, 'I think Atlas is changing her.' Atlas was a city of splendor, a city of the elite. As such, it was a nest of cold, cunning, ambition. A place that either bred snakes or shepherded sheep. It's touch doesn't leave you, and that may not be a bad thing, but it made Weiss wonder if her Father helped create the Atlas she knew or if it was Atlas that changed her Father. Regardless, Weiss found herself glad to be away from the place. How had she not noticed the changes to her sister? Was she blind, or did being away from Atlas give her new perspective?

"So," Winter began, "why again is it that you feel the need to go to the CCT Tower now?"

"As dismissive as Ruby was," Weiss began her answer, "the project she mentioned in particular is rather important and would be better completed on as short a time table as possible."

"Oh?" Winter questioned, an eyebrow raised inquisitively, "What is this project about then?"

"It's something I feel you can appreciate, especially since General Ironwood decided to visit Vale as he has in preparation for the Vytal Festival." Weiss answered, partially in riddle.

Winter narrowed her eyes, "Weiss…"

"No," Weiss interrupted, feeling brave, "time is not my ally. Criminals and terrorists are on the rise, Vale is hosting the Vytal Festival, and the General comes along bringing a small army? I'm not an idiot, Winter! None of my friends are!"

Weiss took a second to contemplate if Jaune, Nora, and Yang should be included on that list before continuing… okay, Yang was on the list.

Weiss continued walking into the CTT with determination as Winter kept pace, "Something is going on, and it's going to be big. If me and my friends can do something to stop things before they get out of control, then we will act! And I won't have anyone stand in my way… not even you!"

The too stopped inside of the elevator, ignoring the occasional look they were getting as the entered the building.

Winter stared down at Weiss, "And what of Father?"

Weiss glared back with determination, and then smirked, "This life is mine. But I'm not idiotic enough to play the game and show my hand too."

Weiss would remember that moment between her and Winter for years to come. Because that was the first time she saw Winter look at her with shock and pride.

---

Yang's eye twitched, "You have nothing?!"

"Torchwick is the best of the best!" Junior protested, "He's Vale's Most Wanted for a reason. He's gotten away with his Dust spree for a reason. He somehow has the White Fang in his pocket. He knows how the gangs operate, he knows how I operate, and he unfortunately knows how badly my boys operate." He looks over at said boys for emphasis, "Which is something I can relate to!"

Yang facepalmed and sighed, frustrated. She then looked up at Junior and glared, "This has to be bullshit. I know you deal information for the whole District! Roman Torchwick is just one man. How can you know nothing!?"

"I don't know!" Junior protested, "No one who has seen him has bloody told me! The 'Red Death' has nearly shattered my reputation! If anyone has seen him they won't tell me! And the last I spoke to him was before you ever came here! He hired some of my boys - paid upfront - and they never came back!"

Neptune interjected, "Not even your 'boys'?"

Junior seemed offended, "All arrested! My sources told me they got taken out by some little girl! An occurrence I am more frequently having to deal with!"

Yang glared, causing Junior to pause and gulp.

Yang then sighed, "What a complete waste of time."

"Not a complete waste!" Nora commented before anyone could begin to move, "At least we know for sure that we don't know how to know what we need to know!"

Yang and Neptune blinked, having lost the train of thought with Nora's frequent usage of 'know'. "Uh…"

"Now then!" Nora continued, patting Magnhild like it was a puppy, "How about you tell us everything you know!"

Junior blinked, "Are you crazy or just retarded? I just said-"

Nora interrupted, "Everything else I mean, silly!" Nora's feral grin make the nickname a bit creepy, "If you can't tell us how Torchwick moves… tell us how the gangs move."

Yang's expression lit up at that suggestion, and Neptune brightened since Yang did. Knowing where the gangs moved was to know where Torchwick did NOT move. Because if they did know, there is no way that information would be so hard to find - the advantage/disadvantage of rivalries.

Junior, however, gulped. 'Time to get started on making those plans for bolting. If the gangs learn about this conversation…'

Junior gave them want they asked.

---

Weiss led Winter back out of the CTT Tower, still bearing a small smirk on her face. Though, to be honest, her overall mood was tempered when she had to awkwardly ask for Winter to not be close enough to be detected in the transmission.

But it was worth it. For now she held records on Dust shipments, transactions, and thefts that had been recorded by the Schnee Dust Company from all over Remnant over the last year – plenty of carry over time before Roman Torchwick hit the news in Vale.

It took a little for it to be safely encrypted and transmitted to her location in Vale from the Schnee servers in Atlas – but that's what the CTT Towers were there for. She didn't even need to lie to the IT clerk that questioned why she wanted it.

"I am personally worried about the loss of my families' product and image, what with this Roman Torchwick character stealing so much of our hard-earned goods. I want to personally view this information to ensure that this is an isolated crisis rather than a growing trend." She had said, "I am heiress to this company, it should come as no surprise to Father that I want to ensure that things continue to operate efficiently and profitably; and if the company needs to adjust for newfound threats, then it is best we do something as soon as possible. I will not tolerate this damage to the Schnee brand to continue."

Winter had been deep in thought since, and only spoke up then as they had exited the tower, "That conversation with the clerk… you rehearsed that."

Weiss rolled her eyes to herself, "Of course, that entire call was probably recorded; so Father would definitely hear about it eventually. If I lied about it being for some school project, he would call bullshit as fast as random Faunus flinch when they see me."

Did that sound slightly bitter?

"Besides," Weiss continued, "just because it was rehearsed, doesn't mean it was a lie. Dust is important for not just Remnant's economy, but it's society. A world where some guy in a top-hat can steal so much of it is clearly a problem that requires new solutions. Like how the family business could be run with much… better problem solving skills."

Winter's eyes flashed with intrigue at the implication, "I see. That's what you are doing… If that is the path you want to take, I will not stop you. Just… be careful. You may find yourself walking a fine line when you play with sharks."

Weiss commented as she fished for her Scroll out of her pocket, "I will not let old, racist men influence me. I just know that to make a better Schnee Dust Company will take time and influence."

Winter hummed at that and regarded Weiss' Scroll, "Anything else on your itinerary? I'll admit, this trip had been more… immersive than I was expecting."

"I'd like your input on something, since you are a fully trained Huntress." Weiss began, slightly derailing the conversation. Technically, Winter had only been a Huntress Specialist for Atlas since Weiss had started Beacon, but that still meant Winter was in an entirely different league and had much more experience than Weiss herself had.

Weiss showed her Scroll to Winter, it featured a few different but similar designs for a forearm to wrist-worn device; some were more bulky than others.

"And what am I looking at?" Winter asked curiously.

"These," Weiss pointed out, "are a few designs for what is basically a Scroll worn on the wrist and forearm. The smaller models are intended for commercial settings, with features like different colors and attachable accessories; specifically an add-on to essentially make it a portable gaming device. The larger models are intended for Huntsmen and Huntresses."

Winter raised an eyebrow, "And where did these designs come from and what advice are you looking for?" Winter wasn't really a mechanic; she knew her weapons and little else.

"Ruby designed these." Weiss answered, "And the girls and I are running a startup; we call it RWBY Industries. Ruby noted that unless you wear ear-buds all the time, there wasn't an easy way to communicate across a battlefield. It wasn't a Remnant shattering idea to realize that the chances of dropping a Scroll was extremely high. Meanwhile even being able to get it out of your pocket in the middle of combat, for that matter, would be almost impossible."

Weiss pointed to the designs, "This device - which Ruby calls PIP, is short for Personal Intelligent Processor, and a working title - would allow for easier communication in battle as well as some added protection for a worthwhile cost."

Winter nodded to herself, seeing the appeal, "That does sound useful. What is the microphone strength?"

"I don't know specifics." Weiss admitted, "But it should cancel out background noise and easily receive audio input from the user when their arm is resting by their sides."

"And you say it provides protection." Winter continued, "How?"

"The material for commercial PIPs would be similar to normal Scrolls." Weiss explained, "But the Hunter variants would feature a common aluminum alloy for increased durability."

Winter frowned, "A Grimm would rip right through a common aluminum alloy. It's durable and light enough so most Hunters wouldn't mind, but you can't market it as being protective off of that alone."

Weiss nodded, "Indeed, this is why the Hunter variant is so much thicker, and thus bigger, than the commercial version. It internally houses a Dust-Aura shielding system."

Winter sharply looked at Weiss, "What."

"It's currently a prototype." Weiss explained, not catching the sharpness in Winter's tone, "It takes advantage of Aura's Property of Kinetic Energy and the Property of Movement(1) to move aura and generate a field of energy resembling the Aura shielding we Hunter's can make. The problem we currently have is it uses something Ruby calls a 'Trizyrium Crystal'. After so much use, the crystal degrades and Ruby isn't willing to market the crystal on the market for changing this system's 'batteries'."

Weiss grumbled, "She's recently let me study the crystal, but only while she is present. The fiend." She muttered at the end.

Weiss then rolled her eyes, "Ruby insists there is a way to make the crystals more durable, that she knows there is a way but not how. That girl makes no sense sometimes."

Weiss then noted how Winter had been looking at her unblinkingly, "W-winter?"

"Atlas," Winter began slowly, "has been trying and failing to put a shield generator on something as small as our airships. And your friend has made a prototype small enough to fit on someone's wrist?"(2)

Weiss' eyes widened in surprise, "W-what?!" When Ruby had mentioned that feature, she treated it like it was no big deal!

Ruby had told her, 'It came to me in a dream.' She had then said to Weiss, 'Arrange a few crystals here, follow common power models there, and take advantage of the crystal's absorption features interacting with Aura's properties to make a localized energy field. Easy. Once I can figure out how to upgrade Trizyrium crystals like my journal suggests they can, and we have a neigh permanent shield powered on radiating aura people waste on a regular basis and never miss.'

"Weiss," Winter woke Weiss up from her reverie, "This Trizyrium Crystal, what is it made up of?"

"I-I can't just tell you how it's made!" Weiss immediately protested, and then paused, "The process, I promised to keep secret, but it does involve all naturally occurring Dust types and oddly enough a drop of blood at the end."

Winter's face went from hardened to horrified as a drop of blood became mentioned.

"What?" Weiss questioned, not seeing the problem, "It's not as if she's infusing herself with Dust, it's more like the opposite really."

"Exactly…" Winter whispered in horror, "Weiss… Don't ever mention what those crystals are made of to anyone."

"Umm, okay~" Weiss responded, confused and worried, "Why are you telling me this though?"

"I can't say," Winter answered quietly, "it's classified."

Part of Weiss realized something, and she didn't know how she knew, but she knew that she had stepped onto something immense and was none the wiser as to how.

Another part of Weiss felt like there was irony going on here she would understand later.

Winter finalized, "I would urge you to reconsider using those crystals… despite the apparent benefits of this technology."

Weiss nodded unsurely, "I'll be sure to let Ruby know." Ruby would probably be more interested in the confirmation of it being a good product rather than worry over Winter's mysterious warning.

It was then Weiss' Scroll ringed. She looked at the message and sighed. "Here we go again…"

Winter raised an eyebrow, "I'm sorry?"

Weiss pulled up a map, "Trouble."

---

Sun grumbled, "I can't show my abs. I had to dye my hair brown. I had to hide my abs. I had to dye my tail brown… I have to hide my abs. This sucks."

Blake flicked him in the forehead, "Whining is unbecoming of you."

Blake decided it was best not to tempt fate and go to the White Fang Rally in disguise; and since Sun was seen with her fighting the White Fang and had such a memorable appearance he had to be in disguise as well.

It was a necessary evil to hide those abs. Sun was able to keep the rest of his outfit, however.

Blake had dyed her own hair and (more annoying/time-consumingly) her ears brown as well. She was confident her black and white outfit would blend in enough considering the White Fang uniforms used those colors as well.

Blake noted the three claw-like marks on the wall, "We're here." She handed him a mask, "Put this on."

"Creepy." Sun commented, but obeyed.

Blake hesitated, hers being more damaged and worn, and then equipped hers.

"I don't get it." Sun commented, "If you believe what you're doing is right, why hide who you are?"

"Symbolically," Blake explained, "Humanity wanted to make monsters out of us, so we chose to don the faces of monsters."

"But Grimm masks?" Sun questioned, incredulous, "That's.. kinda dark."

"So was the man that started it." Blake quipped bitterly, and then added, "Practically, it's to hide your identity so you aren't arrested for being a violent terrorist. To keep your political self separate from the public self."

"...Oh." Sun replied, feeling a little foolish.

"Come on." Blake dismissed, for which Sun felt thankful for, "Remember to act natural. We are disenfranchised, curious, and malleable teens. I've been around, but not particularly active, and am introducing you."

"Right." Sun confirmed, finding the cloak and dagger business to be amusing, and then followed her lead.

The grunt guarding the entrance to the rally let them in with little resistance - particularly at the sight of Blake's more worn mask. Something that simultaneously pleased and disturbed her; she chose to focus on the fact it was to her advantage.

They were both quickly ushered to where the new recruits were gathered for the rally - Sun because of his appearance and Blake because she was clearly his chaperone. The recruits were mostly teenagers to young adults; just ripe for indoctrination and old enough to understand their inequality and dire straits.

The rally didn't start immediately, so Blake and Sun kept to themselves; Blake herself having a quiet yet audible conversation with Sun to suggest she was showing him the ropes and explaining basic concepts - playing the part of the role she chose to disguise them. Sun didn't play along as well as he could have, unable to tell sometimes when Blake was playing her part - but his confusion still worked in their favor for any experienced and eavesdropping members would know it is easier to fill an empty head rather than a full one.

It wasn't long for a large and more decorated member of the White Fang to enter - voices quieting as he took to the stage. He gave a short welcome and started the rally, "Thank you all for coming. For those of you who are joining us for the first time tonight, allow me to introduce a very special comrade of ours! I can assure you, he is the key to obtaining what we have fought for for so long!"

Blake's jaw dropped in disbelief as Roman Fucking Torchwick did the last thing anyone ever expected of the racist and walked onto the stage of a White Fucking Fang Rally. It was so incredulous the normally composed Blake was throwing f-bombs around, albeit internally..

The crowd agreed with her, whether because it was Torchwick or because he was a Human was hard to tell, but sure enough they boo'ed him onto the stage. Blake would have joined the booing if her jaw wasn't touching the floor.

Torchwick didn't let the crowds opinion bother him and he waved back mockingly, "Thank you, thank you!"

Blake was conscious enough to notice he had a pink and brown haired girl flanking him from the shadows.

Roman continued, "Please, hold your applause!"

There were many dissenting voices at that point, all along the lines of, "What's a human doing here?!"

Roman answered the collective question, "I'm glad you asked, "Deerie"! Now, I'll be the first to admit, humans... are the worst." He then saluted, as if gentlemanly enough to be honest about himself, "Case in point. So, I understand why you would like to see us all locked away, or, better yet, killed!"

Sun couldn't help commenting, "Is he going somewhere with this?" Blake didn't have an answer, still surprised at the turn of events; she was hoping to get information about Torchwick and the White Fang but never imagined she would get to hear it out of his own bloody mouth. 'I know this was a major rally, but is just ridiculous!'

"But, before the claws come out," Roman continued, "I'd like to mention the fact that you and I all have a common enemy: the ones in control, the people pulling the strings, the dirty, rotten humans that run our kingdoms!"

That struck a chord with the crowd, they of course knew their side of the story and Roman was infamous enough for his side to be known.

"Government, military, even the schools: they're all to blame for your lot in life!" Roman continues his speech as the crowd begins to cheer in approval. "And they're all pests that need to be dealt with! Fortunately, I'm the best exterminator around... No offense to any rodents in the room."

Blake was sure that if they weren't eating up Torchwick's silver tongue they would have been very offended.

Roman then snapped his fingers, and the mysterious object that had escaped their notice at the back of the stage was revealed. I was a mech that compared to a person was massive. Easily as tall as three people, it was clearly covered in top of the line military-grade weaponry.

The crowd roared at the sight, relishing in the White Fang logo emblazoned on the mech - that Blake and Sun would later know to be the Atlesian Paladin-290.

Sun commented, "Whoa, that's a big robot…"

Blake just took in the sight in dejected awe.

"As some of you may have heard, this right here…" Roman continued, tapping the mech, "...is Atlas' newest defense against all the scary things in the world. And thanks to my 'employer', we've managed to snag a few before they, uh, 'hit the shelves'. Now, many of your brothers have already moved down to our new operation in the southeast. If you'd rather stay within the city, that's fine... But if you're truly ready to fight for what you believe in, this is the arsenal I can provide you. Any questions?"

The ensuing roar of the crowd told everyone his answer.

Blake frowned grimly, unsure what to do now. Roman Torchwick was right there, trying to capture him in the midst of this crowd would be impossible. If she caused a ruckus that might make the intelligence she just gathered potentially worthless. And this didn't necessarily tell her where Torchwick would be just where the White Fang would be. Should she stay and try and learn more or leave now? Could she even get away quietly?

A small, dark part of Blake wondered if she could get away with shooting him right then and there. Blake clenched her eyes, 'No, that would be murder!' Roman had committed many crimes against Vale and has caused hundreds - no, thousands - to suffer, Vale's citizens wouldn't be satisfied with an assassination, nevermind Blake's own feelings.

That dark part of her whispered, 'You've done it before…'

Blake denied, 'No, that was self-defense, protecting Ruby! Completely different.'

'You could stop him right now.' Blake promised herself.

Blake looked at Torchwick hard… and sighed, she didn't have the hate to do it.

Blake then suddenly realized Torchwick was looking right back at her. "What?" she whispered.

"I think he sees us…" Sun commented.

Blake looked at her temporary partner and gasped, "When did you unbutton your shirt?!"

"Hiding these abs is cruel and unusual punishment!" Sun protested.

Blake resisted the urge to facepalm. They were spotted because Sun couldn't continue to hide his admittedly gorgeous abs!

Blake quickly reached to her waist and grabbed three cylinders out of her pouch. "Watch your eyes, we're leaving!" Blake pulled three pins at once, threw the grenades into the crowd and grabbed Sun's arm as she turned to run.

Blake's minute amount of worrying was for nothing. One of the things Ruby had been doing in her free time the past couple of weeks was designing new weapons and gadgets. She hadn't gotten far with most and had a few theoretical designs; this was the only one Ruby had actually made so far: a concussive, blinding throwable. Ruby called it a flashbang - they apparently existed already, which was why Ruby was able to build some so quickly.

They worked as intended, the room behind them flashed white like staring into the sun accompanied by a large bang behind them. The crowd screamed in surprise while the command, "Don't let them get away!" was audible behind them over the ringing.

Blake had hoped that was enough of a distraction for them to get away.

The sound of a wall collapsing and large mechanical noises dashed her hopes.

'I hope things are going better for everyone else right about now!'

---

The thing about White Fang Rallies is that they were typically pretty orderly. Part of this is necessity, the rallies aren't exactly officially places of protest and gathering and are thus illegal in the eyes of Vale's government. Thus, it's important to keep these large meetings spread out and quiet.

The other reason they tend to be quiet, and partially due to the secrecy in the first part, is that there isn't anyone who speaks out against the White Fang since most who go to the meetings in the first place are partial to the ideology. And, of course, because being the opposing opinion in the midst of a violent terrorist group isn't typically a sane idea. So people don't interrupt White Fang rallies.

So the White Fang lieutenant was shocked into silence when a group dressed in hooded red cloaks just waltzed onto the stage after he began introductions.

The group in red seemed to be led by a doe Faunus who was in her forties or fifties. She had a vertical scar over one of her brown eyes, signifying a past in combat. Her's was the only hood down as antlers didn't go well with headwear.

The woman addressed the confused crowd, "Greetings. My name is Feluscia. And I stand before you not as a member of the White Fang, but as a sister and a mother and a wife; titles that I lost in the Revolution and the violence afterwards."

Obviously, not declaring herself a member of the White Fang got the audience frowning in confusion and anger, but the implication that she fought in the Faunus Revolution as well as her implied losses during it was enough to calm the crowd and hear her out.

Feluscia continued, "I was born in a small village in Mistral, and my family moved to Vale during my childhood for better communal and job opportunities. They had falsely believed the image that Vale projects to the world, that it is the epitome of the values that ended the Great War. They projected the idea of liberalism and equality amongst all. And as you all and I personally know, this was a lie."

Many in the crowd muttered in agreement, waiting to see where this was going.

"I was a young woman when Vale's Council voted in favor of forcibly resettling our people to The Kingdom." Feluscia told her tale, referring to Menagerie when she mentioned 'the Kingdom'. "And with that vote, it was like my eyes were opened - like I woke up from a dream for the first time in years. And wished I could close my eyes and go back to that dream."

Feluscia traced the scar over her eye, "When the call to fight came I answered. I fought with Ghira Belladonna - current Chieftain of the Kingdom. I've walked the fields of Mistral and traversed Vale's forests and trudged through Vacuo's deserts. I lost my sister during the fighting at Fort Castle. I lost my husband at the Battle of Telos - otherwise known as the Telos Massacre; and I would have presumably died there on those bloody fields as well if I was not giving birth to my still-born child."

Many in the crowd flinched at the mention of the Telos Massacre. Almost the entire crowd looked uncomfortable at the mention of her child being still-born.

Feluscia grinned, but it was out of pain, "I died that day. No, I fell asleep, I couldn't take the pain any longer. I thought I knew hate before then, I was wrong, so incredibly wrong. So when the fighting ended, and humanity's governments once again broke their words, I answered Ghira Belladonna's call and joined the White Fang."

This final statement was what had calmed the White Fang officials, who had until then been bothering the other red-cloaked members into getting her off the stage.

Feluscia gave a dismissive wave over the crowd, "You all know how that went at first. When leadership in the Fang changed I was sad that Ghira left us, but I too was excited to make humanity pay for its sins - with blood if necessary." She chuckled bitterly, "After all, it wouldn't have been the first time we enacted our vengeance that way."

Feluscia pulled out a worn and f amiliar White Fang mask from her cloak, "I did my duty faithfully, I followed every order, and after years of service sans the Revolution I killed one hundred and eighteen racists and bigots and cheaters and liers. And I did so without flinching."

The White Fang leaders began to look at Feluscia with respect. Some of the young and new recruits looked slightly ill - is this what they were signing up for?

Feluscia took a deep breath, "One day, I had an experience that opened my eyes to what I had become. I was sent to a village within Vale's Territory; the town was under White Fang protection and had been prospering thanks to the teachers and warriors and funds the White Fang provided them. But one of the shops, one that existed before the White Fang's arrival, was run by a human who refused to sell his products to Faunus despite our growing presence and influence. He had transgressed too far, I was sent to silence him."

The crowd continued to listen, enraptured with her speech.

"Despite his size," Feluscia recounted, "he was pitiful and untrained in combat; he was subdued easily. Despite his injuries he continued to resist and threaten me. It was incredulous to me. I thought to myself then 'I get humans are beyond idiotic, but this one here defies me despite being so easily and rightly suppressed!' I couldn't let his rebelliousness inspire others, so I demanded to know why he dared defy my so."

Feluscia sighed as if exasperated, "He looked at me. His face, his eyes, they were strangely familiar to me. The hate, the anger, the rage. I didn't realize it yet, but it was the same look in my eyes I've seen in the mirror for years. He told me that he hated us Faunus and called us all monsters and scum of Remnant."

Naturally, the crowd was upset at having this human in the story insult them so.

Feluscia continued, "Of course, I demanded he explain his slander… and he told something to me that shocked my core."

The crowd quieted, unsure of what she meant, but felt the weight of the air around them.

"He said to me, 'My son died fighting so you beasts could have your 'revolution'. My wife died starving, fleeing from towns you animals burned to the ground. My brother fell to the Grimm that pursued us because of the violence you spawned! You White Fang scum preach equality for all, that things are different now, but they are not! Nothing has changed! You are all murderers and monsters and I will never forgive you for taking them from me!'"

While the White Fang leaders were now back to trying to get Feluscia off the stage, the younger members and initiates had taken pause - seeing the similarity between the man and the speaker. Silently they wondered if the man had a point.

Feluscia continued, knowing she had little time left on stage, "I might as well of been looking in a mirror. This man was just like me. Living in an unjust society, oppressed by the Other, and their loved ones lost to a cold, uncaring war. He was right, nothing had changed, Faunus may still be oppressed by Humans, but now Humans were being oppressed by Faunus. Was it really all that different? No. It's not."

Feluscia suddenly ducked as a shot flew by where her head was but a moment ago; causing most of the crowd to scream.

The White Fang leadership was not about to let this speech continue any longer and began brawling with those in red cloaks.

Feluscia stood back up, noticing that her comrades were occupying the White Fang officers, but more would be coming soon. She didn't flinch as three people fell from the ceiling around her.

"D-defensive positions!" Jaune proclaimed, joined by Pyrrha and Ren. "Ren cover us with suppressive fire if more start shooting!"

Ren nodded, "Acknowledged."

Pyrrha commanded Feluscia, "Please finish quickly, hostile reinforcements are enroute. We need to leave before more violence breaks out."

Feluscia nodded and then addressed the crowd, "We are still walking the same path since the dawn of civilization! How much longer will we blindly believe violence will solve our problems!? Have we learned nothing from the violence of the Revolution!? Have we learned nothing from the violence forced on us by human oppression!? I refuse to walk the path of insanity any longer!"

Feluscia raised her White Fang mask above her head, "I am here representing the Covenant of the Fang and we are trail blazing the path of cooperation, understanding, and peace! There is another way! Remember this! Remember my story! For I will not, can not, allow my heart to plagued with darkness and hate any longer!" And with that, she broke the mask in two, "I will no longer be shackled by these chains of hate!"

With that, Feluscia dropped the mask pieces and regarded the huntsmen-in-training, whispering,"I'm done... let's go."

As if inviting the bouncers that are about to kick you out, armed Faunus guards entered the room and started shooting at the stage - causing those in red cloaks to start dispersing.

Pyrrha and Jaune blocked a few with their shields as Ren opened fire.

Jaune ordered, "E-evacuate the Covenant members! Watch your fire, there are still civilians!"

Ren and Pyrrha nodded, "Understood."

Pyrrha transitioned Miló into it's rifle mode and began firing at the White Fang guards as she moved to cover the Covenant members. Jaune went to go cover the Covenant members on the other side of the stage, while Ren covered Feluscia's retreat. The civilians and recruits pushed their way out of the building screaming.

The officers fighting with the dispersing Covenant members were barely able to resist against the present members of team JNPR. Later censored and hidden news reports on the violence of the rally noted many injuries and several members of the crowd being killed by White Fang members assuming their victims were from this 'Covenant' or were Covenant sympathizers. A split was starting in the White Fang, but it was just a start. (3)

---

Ruby stepped out another settlement's 'city hall' and sighed, Penny not far behind her.

Sometimes in the settlements it was hard to know that you were in a poorer section of Vale. The Buildings were pristine and well cared for, the people were dressed in clothes that - while a bit worn - were still of good quality, and everyone seemed content. They looked like normal people. Except when you looked in their eyes; there was a hardness in them, the signs of one who has seen things and suffered for it. Ruby recognized that hardness, she saw it from her Uncle Qrow. She could remember it in her Father's eyes when he thought no one was watching him. She even saw glimpses of it from Weiss and Blake.

Of course, these differences reminded you of where you were. A wall made of metal and debris could be seen in the near distance, impromptu towers made of scaffolding and makeshift defenses. And everyone aside from children and the occasional elder were armed.

Settlements like this were small communities of those who worked together to make something out of the decrepit and abandoned section that was the Criminal/Slum District. This particular settlement was close to Vale proper, which attributed to it's larger than average size of about 7,000 people.

Thankfully, Ruby's intuition regarding the needs of the settlements was on target; the things the settlements need the most is physical security and secure sources of food.

Since the settlements have to fortify and since the gangs are more than happy to raid anything unprotected, these settlements are limited in how much food they can produce; rationing is typical for them as it isn't really possible to just buy food from ale proper like the gangs can do.

And since they have to fortify against the gangs, there is always a demand for more physical security for their settlements themselves as well as for trade between settlements.

So, establishing trade deals for food and robots in exchange for raw supplies and contracting deals was easy, especially since settlements were keen on the idea of trading with 'The Red Death'.

One might ask why Ruby would want contracting deals. By this, Ruby hopes to get some experienced help in building homes within the Fort. There is plenty of open space in order to expand housing as well as commercial structures within the Fort. While there is enough space in the dormitories to house thousands of people, it wasn't very private, and so tall communal, apartment-like structures would allow for greater standards of living in the Fort for the residents.

The trade deals was the extent of the good news. The settlements were too concerned with their own affairs to being with, and now there was an escalating gang war raging through the streets. So they all were much more focused on the movements of the gangs than of Torchwick.

'At least it means that Torchwick is no where near the fighting, but that is something I could have guessed anyway.' Ruby noted, knowing that Torchwick preferred to leave before the authorities even arrived on scene - a rational decision in all fairness.

Ruby looked back at her companion, "I don't think we are going to accomplish much more tonight, and I hit all the settlements I wanted to anyway. Let's start heading back."

Penny nodded hesitantly, "R-right."

Ruby regarded her with an odd expression, but started moving.

Ruby had noticed that Penny had been getting increasingly… anxious over the course of the day. Something had clearly been bothering her, but Penny didn't look like she wanted to share. However, Ruby was about out of patience - the looks Penny was giving her was starting to bother Ruby. Penny's expression came off to Ruby almost as if Penny was guilty of something.

Ruby felt like she had kicked a puppy and she hadn't even done anything.

By then, they had made there way out of the village and unto the roofs. But before they could continue, Ruby decided to question her companion.

"Hold up, Penny."

"Ah," Penny began, looking around, "Yes?"

"Is something bothering you?" Ruby began, "You were so excited earlier, and now you look as if you kicked a puppy."

Penny seemed to wilt at that, realizing that her change in demeanor had been noticed, "I…"

Ruby decided to give the girl an out if she really wanted one, "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to."

Penny shook her head a little violently and took a deep breath, "No… I need to do this. I'm just… scared." Penny whispered the last bit.

"Scared?" Ruby questioned, confused. "What do you mean?" Ruby went and stood closer to Penny.

"I…" Penny gulped, "I've been lying to you."

"Penny…" Ruby began and sighed, "I know you were probably sent to spy on me."

Penny jumped in place in shock, "W-what?!"

"I happen to know that I am a.. person of special interest." Ruby explained, "Your appearance before the rest of Atlas' contingent was a fairly obvious coincidence."

"T-then," Penny protested, "why did you let me go with you?! Why did you say you wanted to be my friend?! Why did you keep on inviting me?!"

"At first," Ruby admitted, "I was distressed, and didn't care about the information I was leaking to a government about my Huntress abilities. And since I was going into the Criminal District I knew I could use the backup."

Penny blinked.

"And then" Ruby continued, "I noticed your means of information gathering was just to observe me, which is something anyone could do. And then… I realized you were pretty fun."

Penny's jaw dropped slightly.

"And so," Ruby finished, as if it was that simple, "I decided to befriend you and see when you confirmed my suspicions. After all, you could have just been trying hard to win the Vytal Tournament and I can't blame you too much for that."

Penny looked to be trying to find the right words before replying, "...so what now?"

Ruby answered, "We continue as is, as friends. If that's what you want."

Penny looked as if she was about to cry, "Y-yes!" She then suddenly held herself back and deflated. "There is just… one more thing."

Ruby blinked, "Uh… alright."

To Ruby's confusion, Penny started to undo the buttons at the top of her blouse.

Ruby hoped this wasn't Penny's attempt at coming out of the closet - she wouldn't mind or judge but there were better ways.

Penny rubbed her fingers over the space above and between her breasts. Ruby found the deliberate motion to be perplexing - especially since Penny still hadn't said anything. It was when a fine line like a cut appeared there that Ruby realized something was up.

Ruby watched in wonder and awe as that small part of Penny's chest opened like a cabinet drawer. This inhuman action revealed a metallic inside and a gemstone glowing a deep crimson. Part of her was surprised it wasn't green.

Oddly, Ruby's next thought was to note that the gemstone looked much like the one in the cross given to her by her mother - expect it wasn't glowing like Penny's.

"I…" Penny began, not looking at Ruby, "am not a real girl."

Ruby gaped slightly, "Wha~?" That wasn't a confession one regularly received, ever.

Penny smiled slightly, "Most girls are born, but I was made. I'm the world's first synthetic person capable of generating an Aura. My mind, generated from revolutionary AI technology." Penny looked back to the side, "I'm not real."

Ruby looked at Penny for a moment, then reached out and grabbed her hands, "Of course you are." Ruby continued as Penny looked back up at her, "What makes you think that being made with nuts and bolts makes you any different from someone made with squishy organs and flesh?"

Penny tried to protest, "B-but…"

"Nope!" Ruby denied, "You are beautiful. A marvel!" Ruby took in Penny, drooling slightly, "Like man born of Dust, a woman more than machine. You're amazing."

Penny began to blush at Ruby's praise, "Do you mean that?"

"Of course I do!" Ruby exclaimed, "No wonder you are so quirky and awesome! You are a Wonder, you are real, and don't let anyone tell you any different!"

Ruby's awestruck smile faltered at Penny's blank look. The combination of Penny's growing blush yet expressionless face wasn't something Ruby had seen before. Ruby would only later discover what she had done in that moment.

Penny then suddenly smiled as tears of joy came down, "Oh Ruby!" Penny proceeded to bridge the small gap and glomp Ruby with as much of her body as possible (her view of her 'heart' closed in that motion); Ruby returned the impromptu hug. Ruby absently noted that it was impossible from the outside to tell Penny had metal insides, Penny's mammary glands sure felt real.

Penny continued, "You're the best friend anyone could have!"

Penny unknowingly was increasing the strength of her hold, and Ruby definitely noticed but had decided to give the other girl a few more moments. Ruby smiled, somewhat painfully, "A-anytime."

Penny loosened her hold slightly, pulling her head from Ruby's side to look Ruby directly in the eyes; their noses barely an inch apart. Ruby looked back at Penny, looking right back at those green eyes as if it was a staring contest.

After about thirty seconds, Ruby began to think this hug had gotten uncomfortably long, but the look Penny was giving her prevented her from saying anything. Ruby wasn't sure how to describe it and felt it should be familiar.

"Ruby?" Penny asked, that expression and smile still on her face.

"Uh, yes?" Ruby replied a little sheepishly.

Penny then asked, "Does this count as a date?"

Ruby mouth dropped, "Uh...!"

Penny giggled. "I believe the phrase is 'just kidding'." Penny hiccupped.

Ruby ignored the heat in her face as the heat of the setting sun, "R-right."

It was then that Ruby got a call, which she sheepishly answered as Penny let her go. "Group call…" Ruby noted.

"Big robot, very big robot!" Sun frantically yelled.

Blake spoke next, "Pinging my location now! The rally got hot! We're being pursued by some large robot! We're about to cross back into Vale proper and it isn't stopping! Civilian lives in danger, requesting reinforcements!"

A message shot across the top of Ruby's screen, it was from Weiss, "Received. En route now. Keep pinging."

Yang spoke from her end, "We're nearby! Moving now, we're done here! Be there in a sec!"

Ruby decided it was her turn, "Received. Unit JPR is still pinging Busy. Penny and I are en route. Keep pinging, Blake. We'll get to you ASAP."

Blake confirmed, in a rushed tone, "Hurry, thanks, bye!" An explosion and gunfire was audible before the line disconnected.

Ruby looked to Penny, who nodded determined, and they both ran. Trouble indeed.

---

There was a reason Huntsmen and Huntresses were humanity's greatest warriors. Even their ability to move was enough to make normal people gape in awe. It was because of this that Blake was particularly frustrated that a large, clunky robot was fast enough to keep up with her and Sun.

Blake also knew from basic common sense that going to a public highway while being pursued by a battle robot was asking for property damage and injuries. But the easiest way out of the Criminal District were those highways, as they simply went over the walls separating the Criminal District from Vale proper.

Climbing a wall while being shot at by a large robot seemed like a bad idea.

Blake would be a little ashamed to later admit she valued the added speed of being atop a car than the risk of getting shot by simply running along the raised highway. Thankfully, it was for that enhanced mobility the robot didn't bother shooting at them anymore, content to easily shove cars out of the way as it closed in on them. Blake hypothesized that it was only because of the flat road that the robot was able to go so fast in the first place; or, she would hypothesize that when she had the time to bother pondering such a thing.

Blake yelled to Sun, assisted by Scroll communications, "We've passed over the wall! We need to get that robot away from the people!"

Yang spoke up on the re-opened channel, "Did someone order a distraction?"

Blake glanced behind her as she jumped to another car, seeing beams of ice come from what was clearly Bumblebee from a distance. Yang with Neptune and what looked to be Nora were trying to catch up, but the robot was comically fast. "Thanks!" Sun yelled back.

"Uh, save the thanks for after the robot stops thrashing the highway." Neptune spoke over the sounds of his own rifle.

"Yeah, right." Sun deadpanned, slapping his hands together and then glowing gold. Two ethereal clones of Sun formed by him and began running back at the robot while Sun himself remained still. The clones ran themselves into the robot with the force of the weight of their creator one after the other, but it barely stopped the robot's charge. Deciding the robot needed a more personal touch, Sun extended Ruyi Jingo Bang into its staff form and launched himself at the now very close machine.

The robot didn't let Sun finish his attack, slapping him aside mid-air and over the highway. Due to the speeds, right as Sun went below the highway, Bumblebee passed by and Neptune jumped off. He yelled behind him, "Shit! I'll catch him guys!" An uncontrolled fall from their height could be deadly even to a Huntsman-in-training.

Yang growled, "That robot is throwing too many cars around, I can't take a hand off to shoot!"

"I could…" Nora informed, "but my babies pack too much of a punch with all these people around."

Blake took a deep breath, panting slightly from all the car jumping, and unleashed a barrage back at the robot, "I might as well be throwing rocks at it!"

A large boom echoed at the same time a tiny explosion hit the robot, which almost made it fall over. A second boom coincided with another explosion, this time successfully knocking the robot over the edge of the highway.

"And that right there," Ruby announced over the coms, "is one of many reasons why my baby scares people."

Blake could see why people would think that. She even knew which way the bullets came from, but she couldn't see where Ruby actually was; Ruby was sniping from quite the distance.

"Penny recognizes that machine." Ruby notified over the coms and then ordered, "That's an Atlesian Paladin. It's a manned mecha. Let's return Atlas' property shall we? Neutralize the mech and capture the pilot."

Yang spoke up, "Roger that! Blake, hop on!"

Blake watched as Yang matched the speed of the car she was on. Without much effort, Blake jumped over to Yang's bike, sat down, and put her arms around Yang in one motion. Nora flanked them as they took an exit that would take them to the surface where the mech fell.

---

Ruby looked away from her scope as the three went down the highway exit. She regarded Penny, "Let's meet up with them. They could use the backup."

"Ruby…" Penny warned worriedly, "My sensors are picking up motion from multiple nearby sources. We're being surrounded."

"What? Damnit!" Ruby cursed, raising her hood. 'Are they after me, 'Red Death', or are they just pursuing White Fang members?' Ruby doubted it was the later, and didn't appreciate the timing of the former.

"Follow me!" Ruby ordered, moving in the direction of the others by rooftop, "Our objective isn't to engage bounty hunters, we'll outrun them!"

As if that statement tested fate, bullets began to fly past them.

Penny commented worriedly, "I think they want to engage more than we want to flee!"

Ruby growled, and as she jumped used her semblance to speed upwards. Looking through the scope of Crescent Rose in it's rifle mode revealed familiar adversaries, "Jade Clones!"

Indeed, four clones of Jade and of varying age were pursuing them. Two of them were dressed like in those she meet in the hanger. The last two, however…

"Aren't those the girls from Junior's?" Ruby questioned to herself as she shot once at them before landing and continuing her stride.

"Penny!" Ruby yelled over the wind and bullets, "The two in the dresses, are they familiar?"

Penny span in place, running backwards as she began to spin her swords for an impromptu shield. "Analyzing… Yes! Those are indeed the girls from Junior's Bar. My battle assessment suggests they followed your sister here and were attracted by your signature weapon."

"Troublesome…" Ruby grumbled, "I can see it now. They hid their ears in their long hair and the makeup was enough to conceal their facial structure." Ruby had to admit, that was impressive, her ability to steal and infiltrate was warranted.

"Last time we met Jade clones…" Ruby began before dodging a barrage, "they ran since they weren't prepared. I guess they want to cash in my bounty now and avenge their partner."

"Vengeance?" Penny questioned, "Doesn't that mean they are-"

Ruby interrupted, "Determined to kill me, yes. Running isn't going to work, prepare for combat!"

Penny stopped running and grinned, "I'm combat ready!"

Ruby stopped by her, kneeled, aimed at the quartet, and warned "Stop and surrender or we will be forced to fight back with lethal force!"

The Jade clones stopped, and the two bar girls snorted and glared as they interrupted each other, "You killed Saffron-"

"-our other half-"

"-our husband and lover. What makes you think -"

"-we would ever stop hunting you?"

Ruby protested, "He tried to kill me?" It ended as a question, Ruby figured it wasn't a strong argument.

The two without masks sneered, "I don't like killing-"

"-never liked him doing it either-"

"-because life is precious, a gift,-"

"-for you, however, we can afford to make an exception-"

"-for taking him from me!"

With that, the clones with masks began to raise their guns while the younger bar girls whipped out their claws and heels.

Ruby reacted with less than a thought.

A boom echoed as one of the clone's armor chest pieces exploded - the clone's aura instantly depleting from taking a Fire Dust Round at (for a material rifle) point blank range. The chestpiece shattered into pieces, some flying from her but most digging deep into her flesh. The clone collapsed, moaning and squirming in deep pain.

The clones gasped, grasping at their chests for a moment before glaring at Ruby and Penny. (4)

Penny decided to engage, leaping at the bar girls, the one with large claws intercepting her. At the same time, the older, armored, and masked clone jumped at Ruby.

Penny's blades followed each other in perfect synchronization, a single attempt to block felt like being hammered over and over again - something the two clones quickly learned to avoid. Penny pressed her attack, and was surprised to see to two work together so fluidly in dodging her attacks.

Penny saw an opening, and struck at Heel-Jade's back, but without looking Heel-Jade cartwheeled - blocking the initial attack and thus dodging the centrifugal attack.

Penny quickly looked to her side, the Claw-Jade having watched the encounter as she took her turn to attack. Several claw swipes were deflected by Penny's swords, ending in their weapons locking against one another.

Penny heard clicking behind her, and shot two more swords out of her back as Heel-Jade tried and failed to flank her.. The unexpected attack connected with Heel-Jade, damaging her aura as she was sent backwards.

Penny abruptly ended the sword lock by pushing Claw-Jade away, "Your teamwork is impressive, but you are clearly used to working with a larger team to overwhelm your opponents."

Claw-Jade flinched at that observation.

"So I'm right…" Penny murmured, 'If she can make clones of herself, why isn't she replenishing her number though? Is Ruby wrong about her semblance? Or is there some limitation?'

"Regardless," Penny commented, "I am the worst opponent you can have, please surrender."

Claw-Jade glared at her, so was Heel-Jade from Penny's peripheral, "Stay out of this, child. We only want that monster."

Penny froze at that last word.

Freak.

Abomination.

Fake!

Monster!

She shook herself and then glared, "Y-you, how dare you talk about my friend that way! If anyone's the monster here…" Penny's eyes turned red like blood, like the crystal in her chest and on Ruby's necklace - her clothing's green accents following suit, "...it's me."

The Jades hesitated, feeling the girl's aura spike unnaturally high. "W-Why do I feel-"

"-as if I should recognize this?" The Jades murmured frighteningly to each other.

Faster than they could react, Penny launched her swords at the Claw-Jade before her - the blades lightly impaling her before she could even dodge - the number of sudden impacts instantly depleting her aura. The wounds were deep enough that when Penny summoned the swords back, Claw-Jade was dragged back.

Penny grabbed the front of Claw-Jade's dress as she sent some swords at Heel-jade who dodged, "An attack on Ruby is an attack on me!" Penny promised and threatened as Claw-Jade squirmed in pain.

Claw-Jade managed a glare, "Y-you wou-ld deny m-me my ri-right?! She k-killed my husband, s-she deserves to daih!" She gurgled at the end, intending to say 'die', blood filling her mouth.

"Like you loved your spouse," Penny acquiesced, "I love her, the first to acknowledge and cherish my existence besides my father. What makes you think I would ever stop protecting her?"

Claw-Jade glared as her own words were thrown back at her, this time twisted to apply to Penny's perspective. "Don't p-presume to und-understand me! Your l-l-love walks while m-mine is co… col… cold…"

Penny looked at the body sadly, pitying Jade, 'Perhaps I don't understand you… but I don't plan on learning anytime soon if it means I become you.'

"Don't forget about me!" Heel-Jade yelled, right as she attacked Penny with a flying heel kick. The impact connected with Penny's aura - which glittered red - before passing right through. "Not done!" Heel-Jade yelled again as she continued her momentum with a series of stabbing kicks against Penny's undefended back. The final kick sending Penny landing on another nearby building.

Penny got up almost immediately and faced her opponent, wincing at the stabbing pain in her back - if she were human she'd be bleeding from multiple stab wounds, "I have more aura than ten people. How are you getting around my shielding?! … huh?" Penny stumbled at the end, her sensors detected that Heel-Jade's aura capacity had increased - her aura levels were the same, but somehow her 'measurable' capacity had suddenly changed. That doesn't happen normally.

Heel-Jade growled, "The last secret Saffron gave me. An artificial Dust crystal and powder that absorbs Aura at obscene rates. Your aura can't protect you from me!"

Penny's eyes widened, "Y-you! It's just like…" Penny paused and then frowned, "You are playing with dangerous forces. I can at least watch over Ruby's usage, I can't let you walk away with that kind of power."

Heel-Jade raised an eye at the mention of Ruby, "What? Never mind, I don't care. Try and stop me little girl."

"Gladly!" Penny yelled, throwing a salvo of her swords at her opponent.

Heel-Jade stood her ground, kicking away the swords meant for her and ignoring the feints that sailed by her. Penny's eyes widened as Heel-Jade suddenly appeared before her, successfully landing several strikes against Penny's chest and arms directly. Penny roughly shoved her away, Penny's robotic strength sending Heel-Jade skidding back.

Heel-Jade suddenly gasped, grabbing at her upper chest. Penny again sensed an increase in Heel-Jade's aura capacity, except the increase was logarithmically larger.

Heel-Jade bellowed in rage, "Neopolitan-teme! You bitch!"

Heel-Jade addressed Penny, clearly in a sudden hurry, "I can't afford to stick around, until next time Penny-san."

Penny ran at the other girl, "If you think I'm going to-"

"Later!" Heel-Jade fled in a sudden explosion of smoke, interrupting Penny's attempt to stop her.

Penny grunted in frustration, her sensors picked up Heel-Jade's escape path, but Ruby might need her…

"Huh?" Penny looked at the nearby roof tops, and had no sight of Ruby, Mask2-Jade, or this 'Neopolitan-teme'.

Penny regarded the corpse of Claw-Jade, "...Well at least you are still-" She was interrupted as the corpse caught fire, a Dust Crystal remotely detonated.

Penny's eye twitched, "I'm going to just go back to the more important task of finding where Ruby went in all of this."

A quick look around the nearby rooftops revealed signs of combat, as well as the burning corpse of what looked to be Mask2-Jade. Penny was able to see enough about the corpse to determine that Mask2-Jade was stabbed by a fine pointed weapon from behind. Considering it was much too big for Ruby's Quantum Defender, it was probably done by this 'Neopolitan-teme'.

Aside from shell casings from Crescent Rose, there was no sign of Ruby or 'Neapolitan-teme'. Which left a very obvious conclusion as to what Neapolitan was and where Ruby was. Ruby did have a bounty on her head as 'the Red Death'.

Penny began attempts to track Ruby's devices as she commented, "...Fudge."

---

"Shit!" Roman Torchwick cursed as the mech crashed into the ground. The fall didn't really damage the mech all that much, but it threw him around inside it which was reason enough for him to curse.

Thankfully, the mech was designed to be able to reorient itself, in case 'Grimm' managed to knock it over. Right as he got the mech up off of the ground, however, he noticed those brats approaching on their own transportation.

"How nice of them to check up on me after I fell." Roman quipped, "I know! I should give them a present!" Rockets flew out of the mech at their targets.

Thankfully, the three girls were far away enough to evade the missiles and the debris.

"Nora!" Blake yelled into the coms, "Keep moving! Hit him hard! Me and Yang will go in after your barrage!"

"Roger, roger!" Nora confirmed, firing grenade after grenade at the much less mobile mecha.

Explosions rocked on and around the mech, denting metal but not piercing it. The mech's attempts to launch more rockets at Nora failed as she dodged at the last moments.

"Gah!" Roman grunted, the systems glaring red at him for taking multiple hits. He heard a barrage of little bangs against the hull, looking out it was revealed to be Blake firing while Yang circled Bumblebee around the mech.

Roman chuckled, "That's not going to do anything sweetheart. Let me show you a real machine gun!"

Yang and Blake's pupils shrunk slightly as the mech's arm pointed at them. Without thinking, they both abandoned Bumblebee, right as it was ripped apart by enough rounds to turn apples into applesauce.

Right after Yang caught herself, she looked at the remains of Bumblebee, shattered. Yang glared at the mech and couldn't help but complain, "You bastard! I hope you have insurance!"

Yang was roughly pushed out of the way as more bullets narrowly missed.

"Focus!" Blake chastised, and commanded in the coms, "We've confirmed its armor is thick and sturdy. Nora, focus on it's leg joints. Me and Yang will keep him off you."

Nora requested as the mech started advancing toward them, "Keep him still for me? My baby isn't a precision weapon unless I get close and personal."

Yang confirmed as the mech punched the ground she just backpedaled from, "On it!"

Yang fired a small volley as the mech retracted it's arm, the explosions giving Yang time to get some space.

"Yang, catch!" yelled Blake as she threw on end of her long ribbon to Yang.

Yang caught it effortlessly and knew where Blake was going with this, "Wrapping presents a little early for me, but on it!"

Yang and Blake ran as fast as they could to the mech, and proceeded to run circles around the mech, attempting to tangle it's leg in the ribbon. However, the mech was willing to shoot at the ground closer to itself than Blake calculated. An energy blast from both arms knocking both the girls back - dealing massive damage to their aura in the process. The mech, not completely tangled, snapped the ribbon.

'It'll take forever to weave a new ribbon with Earth Dust.' Blake grumbled as she flew, there was a reason said ribbon was so strong. Blake, however, was surprised to find that instead of hitting the hard ground or a highway pillar she was caught by someone… someone bigger than Nora.

Blake looked up to see…

"Having fun I see?" Winter commented with a raised eye.

"Uh… thanks." Blake replied, not expecting the elder Schnee.

"Thanks, Weiss!" Blake heard Yang over the coms.

"Weiss," Winter called out as the mech aimed at them, "let's finish what they started shall we? Prepare to freeze it's legs. The General was wondering where these went." Glyphs appeared around Winter as she spoke.

"Right!" Weiss confirmed, preparing herself for a large enough spell to freeze a presumably, incredibly strong machine.

It was then that a pack of white and blue beowolves appeared out of the glyphs around Winter and began charging the mech.

About to shoot the group, the mech quickly changed its target onto the summoned 'Grimm'. It fired missiles at the incoming 'Grimm', scoring direct hits against the mindless summons - sending them back to the aether from which they came.

But it was enough.

Weiss launched her spells from Myrtenaster, streaks of white energy shot forth striking against the mech's arms and legs. The mech was immobilized as large formations of ice formed from where the spells made contact.

With speed that blurred her appearance, Winter ran and jumped onto the mech. Brandishing her dueling saber, she cut into the mech's pilot window and in a single motion forced it open. She reached in without hesitation and forcibly threw the pilot out of the mech - revealing Torchwick as its pilot.

Roman grunted as he fell to the ground and got on his feet, "Damn! It's not fun to be on the receiving end of that…" Thankfully, he managed to grab his cane as he flew out, and he picked it up from the ground where it fell.

Winter jumped down from the mech, pointing her saber at Torchwick as the rest of the girls formed a semicircle around him. "Keep him contained." Blake ordered over the coms, "Don't let him escape. Let Winter handle him."

Winter warned with authority, "Roman Torchwick, you are under arrest for multiple cases of murder, theft, and parking violations. Surrender yourself peacefully, or I will be forced to respond with violence."

"Parking violations?!" Roman protested, "You have no proof!"

Winter motioned toward the 'parked' mech.

Roman blinked, "Fair enough, but my response to your demands is going to have to be a no~."

Winter's eyes narrowed, "Arrogance," she chided as she formed a glyph behind her. Courtesy of Weiss, a yellow glyph formed beneath Winter, further enhancing Winter's speed and reaction time.

Roman Torchwick, surprisingly, smirked and held his ground. He gave the 'come at me' sign with one hand, the other brandishing his cane.

Winter's eye twitched at the defiance and she launched herself off of her glyph at high speeds. But when she struck at Torchwick mid-air, he shattered like a pane of glass. Winter's eyes widened in shock, 'An illusion?!' Winter ducked and rolled, looking for where Torchwick had gone like the rest of the girls.

It didn't take long. The sound of a Bullhead roaring it's engines was plain as day, a rising Bullhead revealing Torchwick's escape and escort - a short girl with brown and pink hair. Winter and the Huntresses-in-training gasped as they noticed an unconscious Ruby in the escaping Bullhead.

Torchwick taunted over the engines, "Sorry for having to leave so suddenly ladies... and Ice Queens, but I'm going to have to take my order to go. See you never!" And with that the Bullhead accelerated and made it's escape.

"Ruby!" Yang yelled out, furious and hysterical, eyes flickering red.

Blake ran over and stopped Yang before she could run off, "Don't! Slow down!"

"Don't tell me to stop!" Yang growled, glaring at her partner, "That bastard has my sister!"

Blake didn't let Yang's fury make her hesitate or flinch (much), "And my leader, but we need to be smart about this."

"Smart!?" Yang yelled, incredulous, "They're getting away! We should be chasing them before Torchwick vanishes with my sister!"

"The same sister whose location we can ping with our scrolls as long as she is within CCT range?" Blake said slowly, eyebrow raised.

Yang was about to yell a reply back and then paused, her expression mellowing slightly, "...oh."

By this time the others had gathered close enough to speak without coms. Weiss chipped in, "We couldn't just shoot the Bullhead down despite being in range with Ruby being aboard. We still can't, she's aboard and unconscious."

"So we can just follow Ruby's location and counter-attack?" Nora queried, "What else is there to talk about?"

"Time is still of the essence," Winter warned, "Roman is a smart enough criminal, he will attempt to block incoming signals while not making an obvious gap in CCT coverage. Shortly after he lands, we might lose that signal of yours. We should move, together."

"Together?" Weiss questioned, surprised that Winter was inviting them on a spontaneous mission.

"Normally, I'd prefer to do this alone or with other Hunters." Winter answered, "But time is of the essence, and Torchwick has more help than he usually would."

'Ah,' Weiss understood, 'We're to keep the White Fang busy if it comes to that.'

Blake pulled out her scroll, and pinged Ruby's location, "They're moving back into the Criminal District."

"Then let's go!" Yang said hurriedly, but willing to stay with the group.

And so they went to pursue. Bumblebee forgotten for the moment, and Nora's mount began trotting back towards Beacon.

---

Date published: 10/31/17

Author's Notes:

Welp, Ruby got captured. The fact it is so sudden is on purpose, cause that's how kidnappings go. But it's easy to see how it happened if you know Neo's semblance of illusions, which is again demonstrated with Roman's escape. There isn't much of a defense against illusion users… yet. Something this encounter will change thanks to Ruby the engineer.

I have given the twins from Junior's bar purpose. They were originally designed as early models for some of the characters we know and love; but were reused when fans asked for a set of twins for cosplay purposes. Now, they have actual purpose, they were clones sent by Jade at Saffron's request to spy on the events of the Criminal District - with Junior's reputation in shambles, Jade figured she could shed that position.

Winter has shown up, and is clearly assigned by Ironwood to get closer to Weiss and Ruby to recruit them; though Winter is trusting Penny to focus on Ruby for the most part - not knowing Penny's loyalty to Atlas is dwindling.

Where Blake, Yang, and Nora were struggling slightly to get a plan to work against the mech, Winter casually does it like it's no big deal. to be fair, she probably knows of its weak points, but still. And hey! Winter has a sense of humor! Who knew?

RWBY Industries is basically Ruby's plan on making money, by building her designs and selling them to both the Hunter and civilian markets - with appropriate safeguards for civilians. Step 1? Wrist mounted scrolls, much more practical than a handheld device. *Flashbacks to Mercury shooting Ruby's scroll in V3* It's also a way for me to have her invent things for more than a 'because I like building things' reason. Weiss, having knowledge on business, practical will be running it while Ruby designs what it makes. Yang? Primary designated guinea pig. Blake? Testing with the Covenant.

So Penny turned red like the crystal that powers her when she gets upset. Cool. What's up with red crystals? Why did Ruby's Trizyrium Crystals freak Winter out? Why does Atlas know about something Summer Rose originally invented? Why does it require blood to work? And Jade has been bypassing aura shields with a Dust powder that absorbs aura drastically… where have we heard that before? ...Didn't the White Fang weapons in the Battle of the Fort do that too? What is up with these crystals? What is Dust anyway? Take a guess while you wait to figure out.

Penny and Ruby are particularly violent against the Jade clones, since to them they are more clone than person.

Feluscia's story is my way of giving more information on what the Faunus War was and was like as well as how Faunus lose themselves to hate. She could appear again, but probably not, we'll see.

Damn son, me-thinks Penny has fallen for our protagonist. How does this make you feel? I think it's adorable.

Next chapter will continue immediately from Ruby's kidnapping and we'll just have to see where it goes from there. Until next time!

Happy Birthday Ruby!

(1) What I am calling the 'properties' of aura are rules that I use to explain how aura works and behaves since that is something that is ignored by the show proper. I will explain these in further detail in a later chapter.

(2) Winter is referencing the fact that the Amity Colosseum has a shield generator, seen in canon when the Nevermore tries to get in the stadium, but it is for the whole stadium and is thus the generator is huge, too big to put on a conventional airship. Atlas, of course, is trying to miniaturize this technology and lower it's Dust usage - as it requires a lot of fuel to run, making it not viable for small towns and the like. Not that Atlas probably thought of giving such generators to towns anyway.

(3) Vale's Council has been censoring the specifics of violence in the Criminal District. Which is mainly why none of Vale's students has noted Ruby is similar to the 'Red Death'. Ozpin, of course, has been told of such things first hand. The growing gang war and the violence at the Fort were also censored from being on the news.

(4) This confrontation is executed poorly on Jade's part on purpose. Call it evidence that suggests that Jade was only particularly covert and tactical when doing something initiated by Saffron. Which is why she can successfully hide clones in Junior's Bar but can't hunt someone efficiently. Not to forget to mention that she is clearly blinded by emotion in her tactical decisions. Who explains they way they bypass aura shielding so casually? One whose smarts is for the technical not the practical.