A Night Off.

The morning after Jacques closed the Schnee Dust Company's nonessential facilities, the Mantle rioters are sitting on sidewalks and in police airships with their wrists bound by bolases. The Drunk Mann who the teams met after they arrived stands in line with other Mantle citizens outside a polling station. As he gets to the booth, he decides whether he will vote for Robyn, Jacques, Ivy Brown, or Pearl Wistier. The outside walls have campaign posters for both Jacques and Robyn, and Jacques' posters have been spray painted over.

"Although rioting in Mantle is finally under control, how does it feel to know that the majority of those involved were your supporters?" A reporter asked Robyn.

"I don't condone rioting, especially when our city is being denied aid for the hardships we've already had to go through, but Jacques Schnee's latest stunt is holding the city hostage for his own political gain. So I understand their anger, but ask that they show it not in the streets but at the polls today" Robyn answered.


In the Atlas Academy training room, Blake uses her Semblance and jumps from pillar to pillar while Yang follows and attempts to catch her.

Below Blake and Yang, Winter sends her Beowolf Summon to attack Weiss, who creates black glyphs above, below, and to the left and right of it. Weiss then uses the glyphs to throw the Beowolf Summon around, slamming it against the glyphs. She creates a white glyph in front of her and uses it to send the Summon back toward Winter, who creates her own white glyph to stop it. However, Winter suddenly winces in pain and drops to one knee. She then discovers that a small version of Weiss' Arma Gigas Summon snuck up to her and cut her ankle with its sword. The Arma Gigas strikes a pose with its sword on its shoulder, and Winter glares at Weiss, who gives a smug smirk in return and giggles.

Behind Weiss, Jaune is using his shield to deflect a rubber ball, while Nora keeps hitting it toward him with her hammer. Nora activates Magnhild's upgrade, charging herself up with electricity. She swings Magnhild around and sends the ball rocketing toward Jaune, who blocks it and slides backwards several feet before dropping to one knee. The emblem on his shield glows cyan while he blocks, and the ball eventually turns to ash.

Nearby, Oscar is using his Scroll to keep track of Jaune's Aura, which has been reduced to approximately 65%. Jaune sits up and takes a deep breath, his Aura glowing for a moment, and Oscar watches Jaune's Aura increase to approximately 95%.

"Nice, your recovery is getting faster" Oscar said.

Nora walks over to Jaune, who gives a cheerful thumbs up. Nora then gives him a heavy pat on the back, still using her Semblance, which knocks him onto the ground, reducing his Aura to approximately 64%. Ruby Rose zooms past with her Semblance, heading straight toward Lie Ren who is meditating in front of a pillar. She splits into three red blurs, which all go around Ren and the pillar, before merging into one blur and becoming Ruby again.

"Have you always been able to do that?" Oscar asked.

Ruby peeks out at him from behind the pillar and then walks over to him panting "I don't know. I don't normally think it through that much".

They looked to the side as they saw Genji dodge some of Fareeha's rockets before kicking one out of the air. He then dashes forward and Fareeha blocks his sword with her rocket launcher and kicks him back, making him slide on his feet before coming to a halt. He was panting a little before straightening himself up and put his blade away.

"Your counters are getting better" He said.

"Sure is nice being able to train again" Fareeha said.

Genji nods before looking to the side and saw Hana helping Lena over to them "You two seem tired".

"Lena has been working on maintaining her time clones for a bit longer. But it drains her aura very quickly" Hana said.

"I need to find a way to use them without running myself in to the ground all the time" Lena said.

"Practice makes perfect, Lena. Just don't overdo it" Genji said.

"You guys are evolving and I still don't have my Semblance" Oscar said.

"Well, I bet we'll all be jealous when you do" Ruby assured.

Ren continues meditating, deep in a state where he has blocked out everyone around him. There is a ringing sound, followed by the sound of the training room door opening, and Ren opens his eyes and looks toward the door.

"Clover wasn't kidding. You're really giving this your all" Ironwood said.

"Well, we have to with the way things are going" Ruby said.

Ironwood takes out his Scroll, which projects a screen depicting the live election results. Currently, Jacques has 30% of the vote, while Robyn has 70% "They're not going well, are they?".

"Better Robyn than Jacques Schnee" Yang said as she rests her arm on Oscar's shoulder, taking him by surprise.

"Oh, I suppose so. Either way, this election doesn't bode well for our stability" Ironwood said.

Ironwood putts his Scroll away "The likelihood of that working-".

"She's right, you have to do something about Mantle. If you could get Robyn to trust you..." Nora said.

"I bet if you opened up to her she'd understand that you're being framed" Jaune added.

Ironwood sighs" Perhaps... but it will only work if she's open too".

"He has a point. I've met Robyn, and while her heart seems to be in the right place, she also seems to be the kind of person who will do whatever it takes to get what she wants. Even if it means resorting to criminal acts" Genji said.

"Still, she is more trustworthy than Jacques, right?" Lena said.

"From what we can see, yes. But we never know what is behind that kindness of her. It's not like this would be the first time we've been tricked by a friendly smile" Genji reminded, and his team had nothing to argue with that.

Nora starts to say something, but Ren steps forward and interrupts her, earning a look from both her and Jaune "I take it you're here for new mission assignments?".

"You could say that. The General and I want you to take the rest of the day to recuperate" Clover said.

"You're giving us a night off?" Blake asked.

Ironwood smiled "Ordering it. After tonight's election, we'll be waking up to a very different Atlas tomorrow. I need you rested and ready for whatever that may bring".

Ruby starts thinking to herself, looking uncertain.


In Team GHLF's room, the team were resting up a little after training. Since they finally had a night of, they decided to take advantage of that. Still, there were some thoughts running through their minds about this whole situation.

"It just don't make sence. Why would Jacques do something that stupid the day before the election? He must have known he would lose the voting for sure" Fareeha said.

"I've been asking the same question ever since I learned the news. Though it did resort to some of Robyn's supporters being arrested. So their chances of voting is slim now" Genji said before shaking his head "But this move may have made Jacques lose what little support he might have had. No matter how we look at it, this was a dumb move that should doom all his chances".

"Should?" Hana asked.

"I simply can't believe he would do something that stupid at such a bad time. I can't shake the feeling he has something planed" Genji said.

Lena thinks for a moment "You think he is planing to cheat?".

"That is certainly a possibility" Genji said.

Then they heard a knock on the door before Blake and Yang opened it up, with the blonde girl speaking "Alright, me and Blake are heading out on a party. And at least Genji and Fareeha are coming with us".

"As fun as that would be, I don't celebrate in advance" Genji said.

Blake walked up to him "Come on Genji, we haven't had the time to have fun together for so long. Please, for me?".

Genji looked at her before he sighed "Alright, but only for you".

Blake smiled and pulled him up "Then it's time to go".

"Come on Fareeha, you're coming with us too" Yang said.

"Do I have a choice?" Fareeha asked.

"Nope!" Yang said before dragging Fareeha with her.

Lena smiled, and after learning that Ruby was going to the Robyn's victory party. While a party seemed premature, she still went with them if only to spend more time with Ruby. Hana decided to join Jaune, Oscar and Weiss who were going to the movies. Tonight, would change everything.


Later, after the sun has set, Lena, Ruby, Nora and Ren are walking in Mantle, on their way to Robyn's victory party. A truck drives down the street, honking its horn, with people standing in the bed holding signs, which say "HILL IS HERE" and "HILL 4 COUNCIL".

"I understand Weiss' point though. A victory party does seem a bit premature" Ren said.

"Aw, let them have one sure thing" Nora said.

"Probably the last sure thing before Amity Tower goes up and every learns about… what we're fighting" Ruby said.

They walk past a group of people watching the live election results on a TV screen. Jacques has 33% of the vote, and Robyn has 67%.

"We spent so much time worrying about how Ironwood will react to the truth about her, but have any of us considered how we're even going to beat her if we manage to work past that?" Ren asked.

"Jinn said she can't be beaten" Nora reminded.

"She told Oz that he couldn't destroy her" Ruby said.

Nora looks at Ruby "But maybe someone else could?".

"I don't know" Ruby said.

"Ruby, Salem is more grimm than human now. Maybe your silver eyes could be the one thing that can stop her? I mean that would explain why she seemed to be targeting people with silver eyes, like Maria" Lena suggested.

"Maybe... I don't know" Ruby said looking down. Lena put a reassuring hand on her shoulder and Ruby smiled at her.

"We should be training right now" Ren said.

Nora looked annoyed "We've trained enough! Take some time to-".

"We don't have time!" Ren all but snapped.

Lena and Ruby slows down and watches as Ren and Nora angrily walk on ahead. They shared a look, having no clue what got them so worked up all of a sudden.

A large crowd of people have gathered inside a small auditorium for Robyn's victory party. Wires have been taped up along the walls, and there are Robyn Hill campaign posters decorating the walls. Above the stage is a giant hologram screen showing the live election results. Jacques has 36% of the vote, while Robyn has 64%. A pair of camera drones float around the room, one of which has a "Kick Me" sign taped to the back of it and the other of which has a gift ribbon stuck to it. While Ruby, Nora and Ren enter the building, the vote percentage shifts to 37% for Jacques and 63% for Robyn.

Penny makes her way through the crowd and sees her friends " Ruby, Lena, Nora, Ren!".

Ruby smiled "Hey, Penny".

"I am so glad you made it. It's just Marrow and I tonight, so more friends means more fun. Where are the others?" Penny asked.

"Weiss and Hana is out with the boys, and Genji, Blake, Yang and Fareeha are off doing their own thing... again" Nora answered, still in a bad mode.

Lena cleared her throat "In short, movie night and a double date. So, Penny, is everything alright here?".

"Everything is perfect, Lena! I am making sure of that" Penny said proudly.

Penny gets communications from Marrow through her ear piece "Penny, where'd you go?".

"Care if we tag along?" Lena asked, both her and Ruby wanted to get away from the tension between Ren and Nora.

"Of course!" Penny said as they go backstage together to meet up with Marrow.

"Oh hey, what-what're you two doing here?" Marrow asked.

"Just, uh, hangin' out with a friend while she's on the job" Ruby casually holds out her fist for a fist bump.

Recognizing the gesture, Penny gasps, her eyes wide and shining with excitement. She makes a fist, closes one eye, sticks her tongue out and lines it up. She pulls back her fist and then slams it into Ruby's with a big smile. There's a dull ding noise, and Ruby gains an expression of deadpan shock, her hand throbbing with pain. Penny turns to Marrow with an innocent smile, and Ruby cradles her hand, groaning quietly in pain, Lena couldn't help but to giggle in amusement.

Marrow was not that amused "Yeah, real cute. Look, try not to be too much of a distraction. We need to be vigilant in case-".

May suddenly approaches Marrow, setting the tip of her weapon to the floor "In case what?".

Marrow looked at her "In case someone tries to start trouble".

May smirked "Oh, funny, that's why we're here. So feel free to take a hike".

Marrow glared at her "Listen, the General's trying to help, all right? Just 'cause you can't understand-".

"What's going on here, Wags?" Robyn has suddenly entered the backstage area next to Lena, Ruby and Penny. She notices Ruby "Oh, and the pipsqueak is back" Ruby gives a slight glare, growling a little, then Robyn looked at Lena "I don't think we've met though".

"Lena Oxton at your service... Umm, would you hold it against me if I said you looked like a super model?" Lena asked with a blush.

Robyn blinked before smiling "Well, that is sweet of you to say. Maybe a modeling career would've been nice. Sadly it dosen't really help anyone".

"Yes, of course" Lena said, before noticing Ruby glaring at her and she held up her hands in surrender.

Marrow scoffs "We're concerned about security risks, ma'am. The General doesn't want any surprises tonight".

May smirks in amusement as Joanna is now standing next to her. Robyn walks over to Marrow "Fine, but stay out of the way" She then walks over to stand with May and Joanna, the former of whom gasps in surprise and confusion "If I get elected tonight, we'll all have to learn how to get along".

"Well, wouldn't that be nice?" Came an familiar old and rough voice.

Robyn looked surprised "Jack?".

Jack walked up, wearing his mask and his weapon was on his back "Hello little rebel".

Robyn smiled before she walked up and hugged him "It's so good to see you again, old man. I heard you were back in Atlas, but you sure took your sweet time stopping by to say hi".

Jack patted her back "Well, when a General keeps hitting you over the head with work, it leaves little time for anything else".

"Well, if I win the election, I will try to make sure you get some time of" Robyn said as she stepped out of the hug.

Jack chuckled "Good luck with that, this old dog is not ready to lay down just yet".

"I am aware. But what are you doing here anyway? I doubt you came here just to see me" Robyn said.

"I just had a bad hunch. Something smells foul about this whole election process. And I'd like to be around incase something happens" Jack answered.

"Well, with you here, I doubt there is any need for worry. I need to get ready. Meet up for some cofee later?" Robyn asked.

"Sure thing, little rebel" Jack said.

Robyn smiled and walked away with her friends.

Fiona taps on the microphone, causing loud feedback, much to the crowd's displeasure "Ha-ha, well, that worked".

The live election results now show that Robyn's vote percentage is 57%. Joanna walks away, and Marrow groans in annoyance and walks away toward Penny and Ruby. The crowd begins chanting "Robyn".

"Scram kids, we've got a job to do" Marrow exits the backstage area, and Ruby hops out and blows a raspberry at him, which Lena and Penny giggles at. Lena, Ruby and Penny wave to each other, as Ruby walks away into the crowd with Lena. Ruby's smile fades when she sees that Nora and Ren are still arguing. The live election results now say that Jacques has 41% of the vote, while Robyn has 59%.

"I want to thank everyone for going to the polls today. This is Mantle's moment. I know that, like me, you're all thrilled that we chose Robyn as our voice in Atlas. No one has fought harder for Mantle than she has. And…" Fiona covers her mouth, trying not to cry, and then wipes a tear from her eye with her palm "I know Robyn will continue that fight on the Council. Will you share a few words?".

She turns to look at Robyn, who is off stage, and the crowd begins chanting Robyn's name again. Robyn walks onto the stage, causing the crowd to cheer. She takes the microphone, and Fiona excitedly talks to her for a few moments, before walking off stage "I've never been much for public speaking, probably wasn't my best idea ever to go into politics. Thank you so much, everyone, for choosing me. You said you believe in me. But I'm the one who believes in all of you. You've proven to me that as individuals, we are strong. But together, we're unstoppable. So no matter what happens tonight, win or lose, we will continue to fight for our city, because it is this city that brings us together".

Lena smiled "She sure knows what to say".

Jack looked around the crowd, the bad feeling in his gut was growing by the moment. Something was going to happen... and he had no idea what it was.

Somewhere else, in a room filled with Schnee Dust Company crates, Watts is watching live drone footage of the party on a screen projected from his Scroll. Beside the live drone feed is a recorded video of Penny fighting Sabyrs in the streets of Mantle. In windows behind the live and recorded footage, there is a Mantle election map and the live election results screen with the numbers erased. Watts taps the screens of an array of Scrolls laid out in front of them, and the screens light up. He adjusts one of his rings, and all eight of them light up.

He strikes a pose with his hands in the air "You ready, Tyrian?".

Tyrian is standing among the crowd at Robyn's party, with the hood of his jacket obscuring his face, he chuckles "Always".

The count down began, and it looked like Robyn was about to win. Ruby notices Tyrian's prosthetic tail slither out from the crowd as he begins walking away. Ruby moves and leans into the crowd to look for the owner of the robotic scorpion tail, her eyes widening in panic. Tyrian chuckles maniacally and looks at Ruby.

"Watch out!" Ruby shouts before the power is cut of.

The crowd murmurs in confusion. May and Joanna are leaning against the wall opposite from the stage, looking up at the lights. Ren and Nora hold onto each other, looking around with confusion and worry. Robyn drops the microphone onto the stage, and there is a faint sound of blood spatter, followed by a woman screaming. In a panic, someone elbows Ruby, knocking her down and causing her to hit her head against the side of the stage. Tyrian begins swiftly moving through the crowd, kicking people's legs from under them and slashing them with his blades. He stabs one person in the torso and continues his rampage, running and spinning through the air. Penny activates her night vision and looks at Ruby, who is sitting with her back against the stage, trying not to be trampled. Penny turns and looks at the main area of the building, to see Tyrian slash another civilian with his weapon and then impale yet another with his stinger. He drops the civilian and straightens up, licking his lips.

Penny draws her Floating Array and points the blades at Tyrian "Put down your weapon and surrender!".

Tyrian looks at her and then vanishes into the crowd as two civilians run past between them. Penny looks around for him. Lena looked around, pulling out her pistols. She then turned around... only to come face to face with Tyrian who smirks at her.

Lena froze on the spot as pure terror took a hold over her body. She began shaking and could barely even breath as Tyrian began to move past her while whispering "Don't worry, I will finish what I started with you soon enough".

As he moved on Lena ended up falling to her knees, being to scared to even try to stop the lunatic.

Robyn and Fiona stand back to back on the stage, weapons drawn "Huntresses, to me!".

Fiona looks back at Robyn, unaware that Tyrian has ascended the stairs and begun running toward her on the stage "Come on, we've gotta get you outta here!".

She turns and looks just in time to see Tyrian charging toward her. His right arm begins glowing purple with Aura, and his eyes glow purple, as well. But before he could hit her, Jack blocked him with his rifle and kicked him back before aiming at him.

"There you are you son of a bitch! Should've known it would be you!" Jack growled out.

"Robyn! What is happening!" Yuna, who had just arrived, asked as she ran in.

"GET BACK!" Jack shouts, but it was to late.

Tyrian charged at her, drags his fingers across her chest, causing her Aura to dissipate from that area, as if he ripped it open. Immediately afterward, he swings his left arm, cutting Yuna with his weapon. Yuna cries out in pain and falls down. Hearing Yuna's scream, Penny turns to the stage.

"Robyn!" Penny activates her jets and flies toward the stage.

Tyrian rises up behind Robyn, giggling to himself, and Penny tackles Robyn out of the way. Tyrian leaps up into the air with Jack trying to shoot him down, but he quickly lost track of him.

"Damn it!" Jack growled out.

Tyrian leaps away, and the power comes back on, momentarily blinding Robyn. Once her eyes adjust, Robyn sees Penny standing in front of her with swords drawn. Penny looks around, upset and confused. Behind her, the giant screen displays a photograph of Jacques, with the word "VICTORY!" below it "And the winner of the Atlas Council election is… Jacques Schnee!".

"What?!" Jack asked out loud.

Penny stares out at the bloodied civilians lying on the floor. The rest of the crowd is standing back from the massacre, crying and yelling hysterically. Ruby looks around at the scene in horror, while Marrow looks at the bodies in shock. One of the citizens, who is putting pressure on a fallen civilian's wound, points at Penny "It's Ironwood's robot!".

Robyn looked at Jack "What just happened!? Who did this!?".

"Tyrian Callows. He must have been the bad feeling I had" Jack answered.

"Then why didn't you stop him!? Why did you let this happen!?" Robyn demanded.

"I didn't know it was him, it was just a hunch" Jack said.

Robyn looked at him for a moment before noticing Ruby trying to stop Yuna's bleeding "Fine, I believe you, but only because I know you better than this. Just get out of here".

Jack nods "Thank you".

He jumps of the stage and picks Lena up, along with her weapons, who still hadn't stopped shaking yet. However, the crowd was not as trusting as Robyn, and charged at them. Forcing Marrow to use his semblance to stop them, buying the precious time they needed to get out of there.

Later they are all standing in an alleyway. Penny is standing apart from the group. Ren still has his weapons drawn, and Marrow has his hand to his face. Penny was sitting against the wall, shaking from her encounter with Tyrian, with Ruby making sure she was OK. Ruby turns and looks at Penny, who is staring into the distance, her eyes glimmering from the shock and despair. Ruby reaches her bloodied hand out to Penny, but then stops and looks at the blood.

Marrow turns to Penny "Penny, you need to get to Atlas. Backup's on the way" Penny does not answer "Penny?".

Penny turns a little, as if to look back at him, but then flies away into the sky and disappears behind a building. In the distance, Grimm roar and more sounds of people screaming are heard.

"Grimm" Ruby said.

Marrow sighs, drawing his weapon "We've got a long night ahead".

"Lena, come on... we need to help the people" Ruby told her girlfriend.

Lena looks at her before standing up "Right... let's go".

The run out of the alley to face the Manticores that have begun invading Mantle. The giant screens in the city broadcast a live feed of Jacques' acceptance speech, while Mantle's security sirens begin blaring and the street lights turn red "And as the newest member of the Council, I pledge to serve each and every citizen of Mantle and Atlas".

"You lying bastard!" Jack growled before joining the rest. A massacre and Jacques somehow winning despite all odds being against him, and no next to no one even liked him. This was no coincidence, and Jack planed on getting to the bottom of this. One way or the other.

This night couldn't have gone more wrong... or so he thought.

On a roof top a hooded large man and a hooded woman was watching the chaos.

"Well, looks like we arrived at a bad time" The woman said.

"On the contrary. I think we arrived at the perfect time" The man said before holding up his fist... showing an all to familiar gauntlet.

This night got worse indeed.

.

Tell me what you think.