Chapter 33: Out of Time

XXXXX

The sound of the farthest wall erupting into a thousand fragments of rubble woke the unconscious Adam Branwen from his not-exactly peaceful rest. The dazed Faunus stood up and began to gather his bearings. Upon seeing his now enraged brother, he attempted to parley.

"Fjord! Stop! It's me, Adam! This is all a big misunderstanding… I can explai-", Adam cried out and was instantly silenced as Fjord Taurus charged at him.

"You're not Adam. Adam is dead! You wear his clothes and speak with his voice, but he's dead. You're not my brother. Not anymore. You betayed us…", Fjord growled.

The larger Faunus began to charge again, this time Rhames shoving Adam out of the way and deflecting the blow.

"Stop! We need to get out of the city before more Grimm come. This nice little garden was a good place to regroup, but there are innocents in danger here!", Pyrrha cried out as Fjord crashed into the far wall.

"Good plan. Where?", Rhames asked as he dusted himself off again.

"Cliff sides! Yang and I were up there earlier, there's an old tower up there for communications!", Blake shouted.

"Follow the road out towards the harbor and then up the coastlines!", Yang added.

"Good great. Pandora, I guess stay here and try to protect the locals? You've got that big statue to use. Uhh, Ren and Nora cover us as we leave and then join up in the rear. Team RWBY, take point and we'll take the middle ground.", Jaune proposed. It was a good plan.

Fjord Taurus climbed out of the rubble of the far wall and stood up again. He growled and began to ready for another charge. Ren and Nora added suppressing fire to distract the Bull Faunus as Pandora swung the lamppost around and hammered the Bull into low-earth orbit. Fjord flew out of the park and into the distance.

Pandora simply gave a nod to Pyrrha and climbed onto the shoulders of the giant statue. Jaune chuckled silently to himself. Now there were two giant 'robots'. If he survived long enough, he was going to make a movie about this battle. Perhaps 'Pacific Grimm' as a title. The group began to head towards the cliffs. It would be a long and hard road out of Argus.

XXXXX

Far outside of the city, Cinder Grimm had to step aside as a screaming ball of rage impacted the ground next to her. She just turned around to stare at the bewildered Faunus.

"Who… How?", she growled.

"The little red bitch. Thought you were supposed to be dead; guess not. I'm Fjord Taurus…", Fjord announced.

Cinder Grimm just stared at him for a moment before deciding not to question it. She did have something slightly more important to worry about, like finding and eating some humanoid icecream, stealing a bowler hat from a freshly severed head, and the imminent destruction of rose gardens, ice flowers and bumblebees. There was also something else, a usurper and a man with no name.

"Stay out of my way…", Cinder growled before turning back to the city.

Despite her apparent control over the local Grimm, Cinder's forces were falling to the little group that's always been and always will continue to thwart her plans until the end. No longer a Maiden or even entirely human for that matter, she could now sense strong Auras. She pinpointed a specific one, a large one, possibly belonging to a god and began to track it. It was heading towards the cliffs. A perfect place for an ambush. She jumped down from her perch and began to head into the forests. A loud crash and the sounds of falling trees behind her signaled that Fjord Taurus was also hot on her heels.

Cinder Grimm ran through the forests outside of Argus. With her new form, she was graceful as she leapt around trees and rocks. Fjord Taurus behind her wasn't. He ran full-tilt into trees, rocks and everything else. He cut a trench through the countryside like a runaway steam train. If their opposition didn't know where they were, they certainly did now. They'd just have to follow the trail of broken ground and snapped trees.

Cinder Grimm just sighed and continued onwards. She'd have to deal with this imbecile in due time.

XXXXX

Farther outside of the city itself, Team RWBYJNPRR with Sun Wukong and Adam Branwen ran along the cliffsides. They could all see Cordovin and Cherno-Beta back towards the city, the huge battle machine still slowly lumbering towards the Grimm infested shoreline. The Grimm for the most part had decided to follow them instead of concentrating on the city itself. The were currently being chased by a pack of Beowolves.

Ren and Nora both aimed shots backwards into their pursuers. Sun Wukong and his Faunus Friends picked off any stragglers and those that tried to intercept them. Blake and Sun pirouetted in the air and shot off any Grimm that dared to oppose them.

The group was approaching the end of the cliffs outside of Argus. A large group of trees exploded outwards, and a very angry Bull Faunus stood in front of them.

"Miss me?", Fjord raged.

"Aww crap.", Jaune sighed as he laid eyes upon his new adversary.

An inhuman roar suddenly filled the groups ears as a horrible creature emerged just behind Fjord. It was half-human and half-Grimm. Deep black cracks in ivory white skin. Double jointed knees that bent backwards like a satyr ending in huge pointed claws. It had a familiar face that now had a split jaw revealing hundreds of pointed sharp teeth.

"Did… You… Miss… Me… Too?", the monstrosity snarled.

"Cinder…", Ruby whimpered.

"Little… Red…", Cinder Grimm growled, bearing her new teeth; her orange eyes scanning her prey.

"You're outnumbered, Cinder. You can take us all!", Jaune shouted.

"You… Who… are you?", Cinder asked.

"Oh for fuu…. I'm Jaune! Jaune Arc, your worst nightmare for forgetting my name again!", Jaune raged. He drew Unforgiven and fired a shot. Cinder caught the bullet in mid-air and just gave the blond haired boy a loathsome look.

Cinder let loose another inhuman roar, halfway between a woman's wail and primal growl. The Huntsmen collection suddenly became aware of several dozen Ursa Majors, Beringel and other truly massive Grimm surrounding them. Maybe she could take them after all…

"Jaune… This looks bad.", Pyrrha noted as several dozen Grimm began to surround them. The little group that's always been and always will be until the end was now pressed against a sheer drop into some very painful looking rocks and a hoard of Grimm.

"I know… Hold on. I've got this.", Jaune said as he held out his hand. He was going to jump them back again. The longest jump he'd ever tried.

Pyrrha took his hand and waited. Time began to slow for a moment. A massive Beringel lunged at her, its huge fists coming ever closer to her skull in a crushing blow. She turned for a moment, hand still clenched and attempted to shield herself from the incoming blow as time ground to a halt.

"Just hold on… Just hold on a little longer…", Jaune strained.

Pyrrha just nodded and gave Jaune a little nudge of Maiden power. Perhaps that was a bad idea, as the little bump turned into a full on 100 shot of nitrous to Jaune's Semblance. She felt a sudden and abrupt shudder as time broke. Her vision blurred and shattered into fragments. After images of possible events crashed through her mind like waves against the shore. A vision of another world just for a moment. And she let go of Jaune's hand for just a second before grabbing it again.

X

"Look out!", a voice shouted.

Pyrrha had been dropped somewhere else and barely had enough time to react as a huge metal wall crashed into her. She stood her ground and caught the wall, sliding a few feet backwards before giving the metal wall a huge push with her Semblance, now fully amplified by her Maiden powers. The wall was actually a large metal hand and that hand belonged to a similar but not quite the same robot that Cordovin had piloted. The hand and arm spun backwards tossing the large robot off balance and into the waters below.

"P-Pyrrha?", a voice stammered.

Pyrrha turned around and saw a blond haired boy. Jaune. But not her Jaune, a different one. He was softer and seemed a bit more innocent. He seemed sad for some reason. And surprised. She recognized his voice.

"Hello again, Jaune.", Pyrrha said.

Jaune couldn't believe his eyes. Pyrrha was alive. She was okay. She wore different armor, but still had her circlet. He noticed that her new armor was made from parts of her old weapons and slowly drew his own conclusions. This wasn't his Pyrrha. He took notice of the glow around her eyes and made his own realizations.

"Pyrrha… You… I missed you so much. I…", Jaune stuttered.

"I know. But it wasn't your fault. I did what had to be done. Nobody else could. Don't blame yourself for what happened to me. You have to let me go.", Pyrrha said. She hoped she wasn't breaking Jaune's heart. She knew her time in this world might be brief; reality was beginning to fracture.

The sounds of footsteps and people landing nearby announced the arrival of Pyrrha's alternate teammates. This was the world Jaune had briefly encountered. His Semblance was breaking the laws of time and space.

"Pyrrrrhaaa! You're okay! I thought I saw you di-", Ruby rose was cut off.

"Nope, she's alive! Nothing bad ever happened!", Nora cut in.

"No… That's not… I'm not…", Pyrrha stuttered. It was strange seeing alternate versions of your own teammates in a world where you were dead.

A muffled cry from the incapacitated robot drew their attention for a moment. It was recovering. Whatever her teammates had done to piss off Cordovin was incomprehensible. Pyrrha just turned and looked at the robot for a moment before using her Semblance and Maiden powers to sever one of its arms, particularly the one with the cannon on it, and toss it farther back into the waters.

"Geez, kid. How the hell did you do that!?", a gruff voice asked. It was Qrow.

Pyrrha just turned and nodded to him. He stepped back in shock as he noticed the flames emanating off her brow.

"I… I'm a Maiden now… I don't know how long I'm going to be able to help you. It's so hard to keep this form. I'm made of pure energy. Please, remember me for who I was. And who I will always be.", Pyrrha lied. She knew that coming back to this one specific reality was an impossibility. But maybe…

"Pyrrha… I love you.", Jaune said quietly.

"I know…", Pyrrha added. Her vision was beginning to blur again. Time seemed to slow down.

"Don't forget me…", She added as her vision shattered into fragments. She was back in her own time now. Hand in hand with her Jaune, time still flowing backwards.

X

Jaune Arc and his team stood on the cliffside. Cordovin and her mech had been downed, one arm missing. A huge battle against Atlas' military avoided. Jaune just watched sadly as Pyrrha seemed to flicker and fade before her image disintegrated into fragments of dust in the wind again. His team would never forget their lost friend.

X

"Pyrrha? You still there? I thought I lost you for a second.", Jaune noted.

"Nope… Just… just saw something for a moment. I panicked. I'm here now.", Pyrrha added.

The two of them were still flying backwards in time. The after-images of themselves and teammates blurred before time began to slow again. Their vision shattered again and they were back a few minutes. Sun Wukong and Blake pirouetted over their heads, shooting down Grimm left and right.

"What happened? You let go for a second. I didn't think you'd be able to come back with me…", Jaune said.

"I… Maybe there's something to your Semblance after all… I went to an alternate world, one where I died… It was strange… and sad.", Pyrrha murmured. "I hope they're okay."

"Oh. Yeah… That place… I'm sure they're fine.", Jaune mused.

A grouping to trees exploded outwards. Fjord Taurus in all of his enraged glory was beheld to the group of friends.

"Miss me?", Fjord growled.

"Yep! But I didn't miss your friend!", Jaune noted as he fired Unforgiven into the nearby trees.

He picked the third chamber of his weapon and fired a round directly into Cinder Grimm's throat, halting her inhuman growl and turning it into a choking gasp. Cinder Grimm stumbled into the clearing clutching her throat. Not even a bullet to the neck could kill her, but it had interrupted her call to arms.

"Kkhh… You…", Cinder gasped.

"Yes, me! I'm Jaune! If you've forgotten!", Jaune said gleefully. Pyrrha glared at him.

Jaune fired again, this time striking Cinder Grimm in her chest, the blow knocking her back. He spun the chamber again, this time the gun clicked and cocked into a new chamber that had rather suddenly materialized in the weapon, a 7th chamber. He fired again and hit the Cinder Grimm in the leg and knocked her to the ground.

"Graauughggg…", Cinder growled. She couldn't call her army of Grimm. It was just her and her stupid Faunus.

"Okay team! Grimm might be coming from the woods. Keep an eye on them. Probably Ursas. Take them down first. Concentrate fire on the Cinder-thingy. Fjord is an afterthought.", Jaune commanded.

Ren scanned the treeline. Nora brandished her hammer in expectance. Ruby Rose and her teammates formed a circle and stood at the ready. Fjord Taurus just began to charge himself up. He wasn't going to fail. Rhames and Adam stood opposed to him.

"I am a Branwen. An heir to bastards and thieves.", Rhames noted.

"And you are not my brother, Fjord. You're a farce.", Adam noted, as he drew Exagora.

Rhames clenched his fist and conjured the powers of the Ring. Adam stood ready, sword half sheathed.

Fjord charged, this momentum amplified by his own Semblance. Adam blocked and abosrbed the staggering blow. Rhames turned and conjured a morningstar, swinging and hitting the enraged Bull Faunus and knocking him backwards.

"It's me. Really. Fjord, please stop this!", Adam asked.

"You're not him! You're everything he swore not to be! You're a shadow!", Fjord yelled.

"I'm not. You're right. I'm Adam Branwen. Our father is a corrupt tyrant. I saw what he's been doing to us and I had to do something! He's wrong. Only we are truly in control!", Adam pleaded.

"You're a fool. Adam Taurus is dead. And you… I don't know what you are!", Fjord raged as he ran towards them. A blink and a fade. Blake swept in and grabbed Adam, tossing him clear before leaving a shadow-clone. Fjord hit the clone head on and stumbled. He'd stupidly been led to the cliff side.

Yang nodded to Blake as they pulled Gambol Shroud's Ribbon taut, tripping the Bull Faunus. Fjord Taurus tumbled off the cliff side into the rocks below. A cry of agony announced his impact with the rocks below. Adam looked over the edge and turned back.

"He'll be back. Eventually….", he sighed. Blake came to his side and helped him up.

"Hey kiddos! Jaune here! Just wanted to remind you that there's an angry Cinder-shaped Grimm trying to kill us!", Jaune shouted.

Cinder Grimm, now as voiceless as Neo chomped at the flying rose petals as Ruby seemingly teleported around the battlefield. Nora fired off shots that did nothing and Ren peppered her with fire. Pyrrha blasted Cinder with a shot of flame equaling her own namesake.

"You… Cannot… Win!", Cinder growled. She was staggered, and unable to move too much. No Grimm ambush and her own ridiculous Faunus falling, literally falling, in combat meant a failure. She couldn't take another failure.

"Ruby! Do it! Back-blast clear!", Jaune shouted.

Ruby Rose took her initiative and engaged Rose Iuniperorum. A devastating attack that used her Silver Eyes and the help of her teammates. A blast of white light bathed Cinder Grimm, the opponent reeling back in agony. The blast of Silver light seemed to pierce through Cinder's Grimm form; bits of white bony plates disintegrated leaving only a slowly disintegrating black hulk left. Cinder Grimm's remains didn't move.

Jaune rather calmy walked over to Cinder Grimm's prone form. The villain formerly known as Cinder was still in one piece, smoking like an ashed cigar and unmoving. Even the power of Love and Silver Eyes couldn't truly kill a being made of pure unadulterated rage and spite. He couldn't tell if Cinder was breathing or not. He didn't even know if Grimm needed to breathe.

"Ehh… I think she's dead. Welp, one for safety!", Jaune noted as he shot Cinder Grimm again. He couldn't be too sure.

"I think that was unnecessary, Jaune.", Pyrrha chided.

"Yeah, you're right.", Jaune agreed, before shooting Cinder again.

"Jaune!", Pyrrha exclaimed.

"What?", Jaune asked as he shot Cinder again.

Pyrrha just turned around and threw her arms in the air as she walked back towards Argus. She was fairly sure that Cinder was dead. There wasn't any real need to abuse her corpse. Ren and Nora followed behind her. Rhames scanned the treeline and followed back as well. The Faunus Friends and Yang covered their retreat. Jaune shot Cinder again.

X

The group continued back to Argus. It was quieter, the sounds of battle were beginning to wane. They could see Cordovin and her mech fighting some kind of massive Grimm on the shoreline, a bronze Pyrrha stood beside her and flanked her target. On occasion, a volley of rockets fired from the street impacted the massive Grimm; it seemed that Junior Xiong had survived the battle as well and offered his support.

"Hey, look down there!", Yang shouted. She could see the shape of a bowler hat on a prone shape atop a nearby building. The wearer was offering sniper support and a small flash of shattering glass on the streets heralded Mr. Torchwick and Neo offering their support as well.

"Heh, seems like we missed a fun battle.", Jaune noted.

"We did. I'm picking up a message from the Knightshade.", Blake said, pulling out her Scroll.

"…Let them huddle in fear, knowing that we defended Haven. We few Faunus, alone with one purpose. Let the people know that we are coming to Argus to aid them against the forces of evil. Let them stare to the mountain tops at the newly formed Ivory Fang and their ten thousand troops commanding thirty-thousand free Faunus. Let us free the city of Argus from evil and tyranny as we remember Blake Belladonna and the Battle of Haven. Let us usher in freedom for all! To victory!...", the message concluded.

"Hm. Seems like little Ilia did well for herself. I'm glad you were there for her.", Adam noted.

"That was sorta anti-climactic. I was expecting fire and flames and death and destruction! Cinder Grimm wasn't very hard to beat.", Rhames noted. He wasn't wrong. There really hadn't been any kind of heartbreaking fight on a cliffside with a waterfall and drama. For once, everybody lived and nobody died. Haven had been a better battlefield.

The group continued back into Argus. The Grimm threat had mostly been neutralized. A few stragglers and not much more. Cordovin and Cherno-Beta and Bronze Pyrrha had done most of the heavy lifting. Junior Xiong and Roman Torchwick lifted glasses of emerald wine to each-other and then to Team RWBYJNPRRSA as they entered. Neo waved at them happily.

The battle was technically over, but the war had just begun. They couldn't forget that. Argus had been ravaged thoroughly. Faunus troops stood side by side with Atlesian soldiers offering aid to those that had been injured in the fight. The Ivory Fang was present and offering aid to everyone. Ruby began to think about something for a moment.

"Uhh guys. What happened to Qrow, Oscar, Maria and Weiss?", Ruby asked nonchalantly.

"Oh… right. Them. Well, I guess we didn't need Plan W anyways. I guess they're all back at the Atlas Base. Haha…", Jaune noted awkwardly.

"Plan W?", Blake asked.

"Well, err… It's the plan where we stow Weiss into the crates to be loaded onto a cargo airship and then they commandeer it, taking us to Atlas under Cordovin's nose.", Jaune added.

"So wait. Has Weiss been locked in a box this whole time!?", Yang asked incredulously.

"Oh uh, I hope not. Qrow was supposed to abort the plan the moment I told him everything was fine.", Jaune said.

"Did you tell him?", Yang asked.

"Nope, I totally forgot until just now. So probably… yeah.", Jaune noted. He frantically dialed Qrow's number on his Scroll.

"Uhh hey… Jaune. What's up?", Qrow slurred. He was drunk.

"Abort Plan W. Unlock the box you put Weiss into.", Jaune commanded.

"Yeah, we didn't do Plan W. It was too much effort…", Qrow slurred.

"So what did you do?", Jaune asked.

"We got drunk off Weiss' Atlesian Brandy and played Parcheesi. Oh and Oscar can hold his liquor real well for a teenage boy.", Qrow trailed off.

Jaune hung up abruptly.

"So what happened? Is Weiss okay?", Ruby asked.

"Nope, Weiss died. She suffocated to death inside the crate and then Qrow and Ozpin got drunk and played Parcheesi while we fought for our lives.", Jaune noted.

"R… Really?", Ruby asked on the verge of tears.

"Nope. Weiss, Qrow and Ozpin got drunk and then they all played Parcheesi while we were out fighting for our lives.", Jaune noted.

"I don't know which to believe. They got drunk or they played board games while we were fighting. Weiss probably isn't dead either.", Yang said.

Pyrrha had been toning out her teams banter for while. This whole conversation had gotten weird all of a sudden. She turned back to them.

"Maybe we should just go back to the base and find out for ourselves.", Pyrrha noted.

The team agreed and decided to make haste for the Atlas Base. Cordovin and Cherno-Beta were waiting for them on the small island. Bronze Pyrrha also stood, lamppost in hand next to the giant robot. Cordovin and Pandora were having a pleasant conversation.

"…A woman like you should be in charge. With this final battle, I may finally be able to file for early retirement. You should take my place, you have truly shown your abilities!", Cordovin said.

"Well, I was only doing what was right. My daughter would've done the same.", Pandora noted quietly.

"Mom?", Pyrrha asked.

"Oh, Pyrrha! Hello, again! Cordovin was just asking me if I wanted to take over the Atlas base when she retires. I think I just might!", Pandora beamed.

"Well, that's good. We were heading to Atlas right now. If you take over the base, we'll get to see each-other more often…", Pyrrha noted.

"Well, I'm definitely taking the offer then, Ms. Cordovin.", Pandora said.

"I'm sure you'll enjoy it. I'll be filing my papers as soon as Mr. Arc and his friends leave. Then I'm headed for some nice tropical land where nothing ever happens and that's not a euphemism for a hospice!", Cordovin concluded.

"I'll miss you, Auntie Cordovin.", Jaune said.

"Hehehe… Hahahaaaa…. Yes. I'll miss you too, Jaune.", Cordovin added.

The group headed farther into the base. As it turned out; Qrow, Ozcar and Weiss weren't playing Parcheesi after all. They were playing Remnant: The Game, Weiss was winning, and they were all drunk off of Atlesian Brandy. Several nubuck guards were passed out in drunken stupor around them, having celebrated victory a little too hard. Ilia Amitola stood in the corner watching various security feeds.

"Ilia? Hey… I… I want you to meet… Adam Branwen.", Blake said hesitantly.

Ilia turned around slowly and laid eyes upon someone that she used to know. Someone that she used to look up to. But now, it seemed like she didn't know him anymore. This man looked sad, as if a thousand lies forged his fate and a thousand suns had shown him the light. A man with the burdens of living in the dark, as dark had made him who he was, but now in the light he was something different.

"Adam Taurus?", Ilia asked, she wasn't sure. He looked like Adam, and he sounded like Adam, but he didn't act like the indomitable Adam Taurus.

"No. Adam Branwen. Adam Taurus is… dead. I killed him. He was a monster, he cared only for himself and his self righteous cause. He didn't care. He didn't care about anyone but himself! He's gone. For good.", Adam said half in rage and half in sadness.

"But you… You're Adam Taurus, or you were…", Ilia noted.

"I was… But, I changed. I'm not him. I'm me. I'm better now and I'm sorry for everything I've done. I used your hate against you. I used everyone's hate to fuel my own. I have done some many wrongs I can't ever redeem myself. My only wish now is to see the Faunus succeed. For them to live. If they're happy, I'm happy. It's all I need to know.", Adam mused.

"Blake, what happened to Adam Taurus?", Ilia asked in confusion.

"Adam… Adam Taurus died. He's gone. That's all I can say. I can't explain it. Something happened and it changed him…", Blake mused.

"The Ivory Fang is all I'd ever dreamed of. True justice. True equality. You're doing well. I couldn't be more proud of you. Keep moving forwards, Ilia. Forever and always.", Adam concluded.

Ilia was more than confused. She didn't know what had happened after the Battle of Haven. She'd seen the rage in Adam Taurus, but now that had gone cold. And in the place of rage, a deep sadness had grown. She had nothing to fear anymore, but she still cared for the now broken leader of the once feared White Fang.

While Team RWBY talked with their friends, Ilia, Qrow and Ozpin, Jaune and Pyrrha shared a moment alone. Jaune's powers were growing. Things were beginning to happen that were going to change both of their Fates for good or worse. Pyrrha had some questions and Jaune wasn't sure he had the answers for them.

"Jaune. Your Semblance can split worlds. It's tripping between realities. What is it really? What are you doing?", Pyrrha asked.

"I'm not sure anymore. I thought it was just time manipulation, slow down, stop and reverse. I think it's more. The dreams, Pyrrha. Have you been having the dreams?", Jaune asked.

"The dreams? The dreams of different worlds? Like the one I just visited where I was dead?", Pyrrha noted.

"Yeah, those. I don't think they're dreams. What if my Semblance is creating new worlds? What if every time we might've died, we did, but I created one where we didn't? What if you were supposed to die and we're the alternative? I don't know…", Jaune mused.

"Could you use your Semblance to go back to those worlds? Maybe temporarily? I let go of your hand when you were… Reversing time… I went to one of those worlds, only for a few moments…", Pyrrha mused.

"I don't know… Do you want to try it? I've only seen the worlds between worlds when I've used it for long jumps. Maybe you're just a passenger? You came right back to me when you grabbed my hand again… Is it like a portal? Can we just think of a moment and you'll just zip back there?", Jaune theorized.

"We won't know until we try it. I let go for a second… Can you use it now? Just jump us back a few moments?", Pyrrha asked.

"No… I can't… I don't want to lose you forever. I don't know the extent of this. I need to practice this a bit more… Alone…", Jaune concluded.

Pyrrha wasn't going to get her answer right now. Jaune might be capable of jumping through more than just time. Perhaps he could jump between worlds as well. It was becoming a weirder and weirder place. Testing her theory right now was counter-productive. However, that sad world she'd been to… She did want to go back to it… She would be godlike in it. And that made her feel happy…

Chapter End. Worlds between Worlds. More to come. I guess. I've been playing other games, Witcher trilogy and the Outer Worlds. Vol. 7 awaits…