"We're almost to Atlas Mr. Yin!"
The pilot of the bullhead shouts over the noise of the wind. Chris looks out the window, seeing Atlas in all it's glory.
"Wow..."
Soon after, they arrive into the landing area, where Ironwood, Winter, and the Ace Ops are waiting.
"Christopher. It's great to see you." Ironwood offers a handshake, which Chris accepts.
"I've heard about you from James. He's done nothing but sing your praises." Winter smiles, half-cautiously and the other half genuinely.
"At ease." Ironwood calls to the Ace Ops and Winter. They salute before following the order.
"This is the kid who gave you all those Dust crystals?" Clover looks him over.
'Ohhhhh... right. I forgot that Ironwood doesn't tell them about the real threats until after Beacon falls. I guess this time he doesn't need to.' Chris remembers, before nodding to Clover's question.
"Wanna see some more?" grinning, pulls a few out of thin air.
"That's... awesome." Marrow grins back, unable to stop his tail from wagging.
"Please don't get any ideas." Vine sighs, the energy of his teammate was always exasperating.
Harriet laughs, always amused by Marrow.
"Welcome to Atlas. Any ally of the General is an ally of ours."
"Thank you for letting me be here." Chris nods to everyone.
"It's nice to meet you!"
Elm reaches for a handshake, using a little more force than necessary. Chris chuckles slightly pained, which leads to the rest of the group (besides Vine) laughing.
"Elm. I think you're crushing his hand." Winter chimes in with a small smile.
"Huh? Oh! I'm sorry!" Elm lets go, looking apologetic at not controlling her strength better.
"It's alright..." Chris used a bit of healing magic to make the ache go away, which makes Clover's eyebrow raise.
"Now that introductions have been made, you said you had a few reasons to be here on the phone but wanted to say them in person?" Ironwood directs his full attention with seriousness. The others become serious as well.
"Let's talk inside. Where we can't be overheard."
They go up to Ironwood's office, closing the doors and sealing the place shut.
"Now... there are a few things that need to be addressed."
Ironwood waits.
"The security system in Atlas is said to be state of the art yes?"
"The best that any country in the world has." Ironwood nods, slightly proud of that fact. Chris frowns.
"Have you updated the security on Mantle?"
Ironwood frowns back, thinking about it.
"We haven't in a while... we need to do that. Winter, give the order to the communication and security divisions to update Mantle to our newest generation."
"Understood sir." Winter salutes before walking out.
"I'm glad you understand how big of a security breach that could be. Who knows if Atlas tech can be hacked from Mantle?"
"An excellent point. I don't want to find out." Ironwood looks relieved he pointed out a potential blind spot.
Chris nods in understanding, knowing he had an extremely hard job.
"Anyway, there are a few other things that concern me in Atlas. One of them being Penny."
Ironwood and the Ace Ops raise an eyebrow.
"I know that her father is the one who gave her Aura... that it's killing him slowly to keep replenishing it." sighing, he looks into Ironwood's eyes with a firm gaze.
"I might have a way to heal him."
That bombshell makes Ironwood smile very widely.
"Please. If you can. That man is brilliant and deserves to live with his daughter."
The Ace Ops stare wide eyed in disbelief at Chris's claim, looking amongst themselves.
"I might be able to fix his other health problems too. In fact, that leads me to one of the other reasons I'm here. Do you have any sick or injured huntsmen?"
Ironwood thinks about it.
"Permanent or temporary? We have a few people crippled and a lot more incapacitated from missions."
"Both. I'll offer my services as repayment for the trip later then." Chris states before slightly looking down, embarrassed.
"The last two reasons I'm here are... well, personal."
Winter walks back in, saluting Ironwood.
"Both divisions are working to secure Mantle sir."
Ironwood nods, pleased.
"Thank you Winter. Anyway, what were you saying Christopher?"
"... fuck it. Winter, I'm dating Weiss."
Chris blurts it out, most of the Ace Ops snickering afterwards as Winter soaks in the information, blank look disappearing and a cold anger replacing it.
"What?"
Chris sighs, expecting this.
"Look, I like her. A lot."
Winter slowly digests this, staring at his face for any trace of a lie or deceit but finding none.
"You know her father has arranged a marriage for Weiss?"
Chris sneers at that.
"I do. That disgusting creep you call a father will not ruin her happiness." matter of factly stating.
Winter can't help the twitch of her lips upwards.
"My father is a powerful man. How do you intend to break the contract?"
Chris hums in thought.
"Option A: Break into his mansion and threaten him with castration, pain and death. Or Option B: I show him why I am the better option for his daughter and trick him into liking me." no hesitation in his admittance, Winter and Ironwood both snort.
"You've certainly got guts." Winter smiles genuinely, staring with more respect than before.
"While Option A would be satisfying, I think you'll have to go with Option B." Ironwood chimes in.
"Otherwise, we'd be forced to arrest you."
Chris snorts.
"As if you could."
The Ace Ops raise a brow.
"I doubt you could take us kid." Clover says confidently.
Chris grins back.
"Oh Leprechaun... Ironwood didn't tell you what I can do, did he?"
Clover and the others look towards him confused. Ironwood just shakes his head in a amusement.
"Christopher already beat Qrow Branwen in a straight fight in less than half a minute. Same with Glynda Goodwitch and every other Beacon professor."
"What the hell...?" The collective confusion of the Ace Ops makes them all say the same thing.
Chris laughs his ass off.
The door opens after a knock.
"Oh! I've been expecting you Mr. Yin. Please, come in."
"Thank you Mr. Polendina."
Pietro Polendina, renowned scientist of Atlas and father of Penny, lets Chris into his home. Pietro looks excited.
"From what I heard from James... you have a way to help my Aura?"
"I think so. I've already healed an Aura fracture in Qrow before."
"Amazing!" Pietro is ecstatic, anything that could help him be with Penny longer he would not pass the chance up for.
Chris asks Pietro to flare his Aura, immediately spotting that his seemed slightly empty as opposed to broken.
"Hmm... I think this will be easier to fix than Qrow's was."
"Really? Fascinating."
Chris closes his eyes in concentration, casting healing magic while feeding Aura into him. Slowly, the total reserve that Pietro could hold expanded back to normal levels and became a little stronger.
"Did it work?"
Pietro inspects himself at Chris's question. He felt better than he had in years. A few tears coming to his eyes, he chokes out his gratitude. Chris smiles and accepts it.
"Doctor... check your legs please." Chris had healed his body as well, Pietro feels his legs in slight confusion, not feeling the numbness from before and paling.
"Did you... you can't have..." with slow movements, he attempts to stand up. He can stand, albeit shakily due to the loss of most of his muscles from lack of use. Overjoyed, he crushes Chris in a hug.
"You don't know how much this means to me... how much it will mean to Penny."
Chris hugs back, understanding the overwhelming emotion the man was feeling.
"You two deserve happiness. Well, more than you already had." chuckling.
"I can't... repay this." Pietro was a proud man, he wouldn't accept such kindness without giving something in return.
"If you ever need anything, just call me." gives Chris his contact information, with a firm nod.
"You don't have to Doctor. I appreciate it though, maybe I'll stop by someday. I'll tell Penny you say hello when I get back to Vale." Chris nods, needing to go somewhere now. Pietro is slightly disappointed but smiles all the same.
"Treat her well Christopher! She's my everything!"
Chris chuckles, waving behind him as he leaves.