To newcomers, welcome! To people coming from the previous iteration of this fic, nice to meet you again!

I couldn't help but notice a ton of interesting parallels between Arknights and RWBY. For instance, Originium is a wonder material, just as Dust is. Both worlds have their technology powered by said wonder material. And both worlds have people with animal traits.

For those of you who have not played Arknights, the bottom of the chapters will contain a small section explaining details about Terra, the world of Arknights. The first couple sections will contain general details, but I'm thinking of eventually adding in explanations for important people and operators.

For those of you who came from the previous version of the fic, there are already two changes: Kal'tsit is present, and Sussurro does the Doctor's checkup instead of Warfarin (cause no way in heck would Kal'tsit forget about Warfarin's... 'fixation' and leave her anywhere near the Doctor without supervision).

The less talkative Doctor is intended to emulate the in-game Doctor's tendency to say very little.

*spoiler alert* I'm assuming Ch'en stays at Rhodes after the events of chapter 8, given certain details in her profile, such as her E2 promotion record saying "she'll be back." That said, I'm going to avoid having her in the story until it's verified.*spoiler alert end*

This was... weirdly short. Only three thousand words? I mean, I did move some stuff from this chapter to chapter 2, and cut some stuff out, but I didn't expect it to shrink so much.

"Beep beep! Coming through!"

It was with chaos and fanfare that the enormous machine made its way through the Rhodes Island loading deck and into the hangar. While Texas calmly inputted instructions into the moving platform carrying the machine, Exusiai ran forward, calling out to anyone in the way. Operators scrambled out of the way of the massive monstrosity.

The machine itself was shaped like an enormous cannon with a giant scope attached to the side of it. Stretching at a height of around 12 meters, it towered over the various vehicles that littered the deck. As it approached the hangar doors, there was a pause and then a loud clanking sound as the barrel lowered, pointing horizontally.

Amiya watched the proceedings through a window located on the second floor of Rhodes Island with a clipboard in her hands. She wore a jacket, a white blouse, and a skirt, and as a Cautus, possessed a set of rabbit ears. Despite her young appearance, she was the leader of Rhodes Island. While everyone hustled around the hangar, she stood in the relative calm of an observation room.

"Is there a reason we're storing something that looks like it could be a weapon of mass destruction?" A voice from her left reminded her that she was not alone, and she turned to face the speaker.

The Doctor, as everyone called him, was dressed in the same uniform as always. Between the long pants, hooded coat, and metal mask, there was nothing that revealed what the person inside the clothes looked like. Some other operators liked to joke that perhaps under the clothes, the Doctor was a woman, though the rumor was neither confirmed nor denied.

"Because I believe it can help us pursue our mission," Kal'tsit answered from Amiya's right. Stern and strict, Amiya's other advisor continued to watch the cannon look-alike with her hands clasped behind her back. She was dressed in her standard lab coat and green dress, her lynx ears poking out of her green hair.

"How?"

"I spent some time working with Ursus." There was a loud crash as the platform carrying the machine was apparently unable to handle the weight, one of the wheels having broken.

As they watched, two operators - Popukar and Shaw - rushed over to the damaged wheel and lifted up the platform while a robot replaced the wheel. A little farther away, a third operator - Saria - raised her hand, and a soft glow covered the two heavy-lifters.

Popukar and Shaw were strong for their size, but even their arms would give out if Saria wasn't strengthening their bones with her own abilities. Amiya smiled. That display was representative of what Rhodes Island was - they were a ragtag bunch of individuals that trusted and relied on one another. If it weren't for the various armbands and ribbons with the Rhodes Island logo that many of the operators wore, one would never realize they worked for the same group.

Viewing the proceedings with a detached gaze, Kal'tsit continued, "The Rift Reactor was excavated by Ursus alongside the Sarcophagus. For many years, the Ursus government sought to make use of the Rift Reactor. I spoke frequently with the group in charge of investigating the Rift Reactor after it was excavated. They often spoke of how the Rift Reactor could be the ultimate weapon for Ursus. They were quite boastful of how once activated, it could make anything vanish. From their tests, it could, in theory, wipe out an entire mobile city. But what I am interested in is it's ability to produce... extraordinary items."

"Extraordinary items?"

"Originium infused with Arts, toxins that ignore immunities, plants that don't exist," Amiya listed. At their questioning gazes, she flushed. "Ah, I read Dr. Kal'tsit's report once, as some recreational reading."

Reading research papers as recreational reading?

"While I have my doubts whether the Rift Reactor is capable of providing us a cure for Oripathy," Kal'tsit continued, causing the Doctor to drop the question, "It is still worth trying. At worst, it may be used to provide materials and perhaps inspiration."

"If the Ursus had such a weapon, how have they not taken over the world?" the Doctor asked. Ursus was a warlike nation bent on world conquest, and would not have been able to resist using their weapon.

"They were unable to make the Rift Reactor activate consistently," Amiya answered, "The machine would activate at seemingly random times. The only thing the scientists were able to control was whether it would destroy something or create something, and where it was targeted."

"And after the fall of Chernobog, where it was held, it is now in our hands," Kal'tsit said, "There isn't any worry about it destroying Rhodes Island; I instructed the extraction team to disconnect the power source."

They continued to watch for a while when there was a loud beep and a voice came over the intercom. "Alert, Catastrophe north of Rhodes Island, 1000 miles. Prepare for Rhodes Island to begin moving."

After a brief pause, the room began to shake as the landship began to move.

Wordlessly, Kal'tsit turned away from the glass to exit the room. Suddenly, the entire building shook as the lights began to flicker. Amiya and the Doctor stumbled a few steps forward before they caught themselves, while Kal'tsit grabbed onto the door frame.

"I doubt that was due to turning," she commented.

"The Reactor," the Doctor said, drawing their attention to the events unfolding beyond the window.

The previously inert machine had come to life. Rings along its barrel spun and glowed, and lines resembling circuits lit up. Then the entire barrel began to spin like a machine gun ready to fire, as the stand upon which the cannon-shaped cylinder gave off a loud hum. Even as the lights flickered, the glow of the Rift Reactor was constant. And then, something began to glow from within the barrel.

Kal'tsit let out a hiss. "Who reconnected the power supply?!"

"Doctor!" Amiya tackled him to the ground just as there was a flash of light, and then silence.

"Ugh..."

The Doctor cracked an eye open, only to shut it immediately when something bright entered his vision. He tried again, this time allowing his eyes to open slowly.

The first thing he saw was the ceiling light that had blinded him seconds ago. Then he realized he was in a bed - a hospital bed, if the white sheets and curtains were anything to go by. Sitting on a table beside him was his mask - from the pressure he could feel around his forehead, it had been removed to apply a bandage. Slumped over his sheets was Amiya in a chair, fast asleep.

He must have been knocked out in the explosion and brought to Rhodes Island's medical wing. Or rather, one of its many medical wings. Amiya must have been worried about him.

Due to amnesia, he couldn't remember the first time the two of them had ever met. All he knew was that when he first woke up from a cryogenic sleep, she had been the first face to greet him. When his fingers were still stiff and his hands still numb, she had been the one to offer her warm hand. This little girl had been with him since the beginning, hadn't she?

Quietly, he raised a hand and softly patted the sleeping girl on the head, between her rabbit ears. He froze when she moved slightly, but then relaxed when she simply snuggled closer. Once again, he reached out -

He paused, and removed his gloves first, revealing thin fingers that were pale from lack of exposure to the sun. With the fabric removed, he once again reached out and placed his hand on her head again. She let out a murmur of contentment. Her hair was soft to the touch.

Whichever medic was currently on duty would probably ask to give him a quick look-over, something that Amiya didn't really need to be there for. Amiya worked herself too hard. She could use the rest.

He slowly retracted his hand and slipped out of the bed, careful not to disturb the sleeping girl. Fortunately, whoever treated him had left him in most of his clothes, so all he had to do was slip on his shoes and don his mask once more, and the Doctor of Rhodes Island was back.

Slipping past a few other beds with unconscious operators and exiting the ward, he himself in an empty hallway. One of the doors leading to the offices of the medics was open, and there was the soft scratchy sound of someone writing. He made his way over, and although the door was already open, rapped his knuckles softly on the door to get the occupant's attention.

Sitting behind the metal-and-plastic desk in the middle of the room was a young girl who could possibly look older than 20. She was dressed in a skirt and light zip-up jacket with a white lab coat draped over her shoulders, and a pair of fox ears peeked out of her short, pale pink hair. A splotch of crystals on her collar revealed her status as an Infected.

Despite her short stature and youthful appearance, this was Sussurro, a graduate of Siracusa-Palermo Medical Academy. Although new to the medical field, she was a full-fledged doctor under the employ of Rhodes Island.

At his knocking, the girl looked up from the papers she was writing. "Doctor?!" She immediately stood and rounded the table. "You're up? Please wait a moment, I have to make sure you're cleared of any injuries." She exited the room and soon returned with a cart with several tools on it.

"Alright, alright, there's no need to push," the Doctor protested as Sussurro tried to make him sit in one of the chairs by her desk. Unfortunately for her, her small size meant that she would was largely unsuccessful until the Doctor sat down of his own volition. She pouted but began the examination.

As she took his blood pressure, the Doctor decided to ask a question. "What happened while I was unconscious?" he asked, "Does anyone know what caused the Reactor to activate? Or how it was even capable of activating? Didn't Kal'tsit say that its power was cut off?"

Sussurro shook her head. "We don't know what caused it to activate, but as for how it was capable of activating..." Sussurro let out a dry chuckle. "Apparently, it had a backup power supply. Dr. Kal'tsit didn't realize, because the Sarcophagus doesn't have one - I think she assumed the Reactor would be the same. While you were unconscious, some Rhodes Island researchers have already begun looking into the Reactor." She then raised three fingers. "How many fingers am I holding up?"

"Three. Who else was knocked out by the Reactor?" He recalled the other beds with operators on them. "And how long was I out?"

"Quite a few people. Rangers, Adnachiel, Mint, Radian, Durin - well, with Durin, we couldn't be certain if she was sleeping or just taking a nap, but she was brought in just in case. Everyone who was on watch duty was knocked out. People farther away from the Reactor were more likely to be knocked out. You and Popukar were the only ones near the Reactor to fall unconscious, and Popukar was cleared just ten minutes ago. It's only been around two hours since the fiasco." As she spoke, she guided the Doctor to a scale, which he obediently stepped on. She jotted down his weight and height as he sat back down.

"What exactly did the Rift Reactor do?"

"Wouldn't we all like to know?" Sussurro sighed, "All we know is that the Rift Reactor transported Rhodes Island somewhere and caused a lot of damage. Several sections of the landship are damaged, including the tracks that allow Rhodes to move, so Amiya has declared that Rhodes Island is under lock-down and that most of our resources go to tending anyone that was injured and repairing what we can. The Reactor itself was damaged, but is nevertheless under constant watch for any activity. There's more, of course, but I think she wants to tell you herself."

"I do."

The Doctor turned in his seat to find Amiya standing in the doorway. Her hair was somewhat messy and her clothes ruffled, and she was still rubbing her eyes, but she was clearly awake. So much for not bothering her.

Sussurro took his distracted state as an opportunity to stick a thermometer in his mouth.

"Doctor," Amiya said, "there's a lot we have to talk about."

"Go right ahead," Sussurro said as she removed the thermometer from his mouth, "I'll just be doing my own thing."

Amiya blinked, then shook her head and continued. "Right. Um, to begin with, how much has Sussurro told you?"

"Just about how Rhodes Island was damaged and our mobility is ruined," the Doctor answered, "And that you've ordered a complex-wide lockdown."

"Yes, well," Amiya drew closer, but seeing as the only unoccupied seat was Sussurro's, she instead chose to sit on the desk, "It's true that Rhodes Island was damaged, but not only that, the Rift Reactor also seems to have transported us somewhere else. Our Catastrophe Messengers are doing their best to identify our location but haven't been successful. There also seem to be hostile creatures with bone masks outside our walls, so I ordered the lockdown to keep the operators safe."

"I see... have you tried communicating with them?" he asked.

"Yeah," Amiya answered, "Warfarin, Dr. Kal'tsit, and I went to speak with the creatures, but they attacked us on sight. We were forced to kill a few when we retreated, and they've been circling Rhodes Island ever since."

"Did they talk back?" It was important to verify that the creatures were monsters and not intelligent beings.

"They growled at us, but didn't seem to communicate with each other at all. They bore a striking likeness to wolves," Amiya confirmed.

The Doctor took a moment to consider that information.

"Ah, by the way," Amiya spoke up, "We've been getting signals - some kind of message - but the connection is too poor for us to decipher the message. Likewise, we can't get in touch with anyone. Rhodes Island's central computer is still functioning and receiving transmissions, but we can't get a solid enough connection to actually communicate."

"At least we know there are people out there."

Amiya nodded to that. "True. Dr. Kal'tsit said the same thing. But she also mentioned that we don't know if they're friendly or not." She pursed her lips. "After all, they could be like the creatures outside our walls."

"I see. We still have enough Originium to keep Rhodes Island running, right?" Originium was a material that powered all of their technology. If they ran out, everything would shut down.

"We have enough for about two weeks, but our sensors haven't detected any Originium nearby. There's a chance we won't be able to refill our stores," Amiya admitted, "That said, we did find several crystals that are very similar to Originium. With some modifications, we can change most of our devices to use the new crystals as a substitute. There are differences though, so we would need to study these crystals. And to do that, we'll need to retrieve some samples, which means we'll have to-"

"-go outside," the Doctor finished, "Where the creatures are lurking."

Amiya nodded. "We'd have to shut down most of Rhode Island while the changes are being made too." There was a pause, and then Amiya spoke up again. "We don't need to make a decision just yet. I just want you to get caught up with how things are going. We'll talk to Dr. Kal'tsit after your check up to come up with a plan going forward. Is that okay?"

"Yeah."

"Hey!" Sussurro made her presence known. "Doctor, please lean down a bit so I can check your bandage. And take that mask off."

"What? Oh." Huh. He'd forgotten about the bandage wrapped around his forehead.

He removed his mask and leaned forward so that Sussurro could easily reach his forehead. Gently, she removed the bandage and checked his skin. She hummed for a bit as she thought, then said, "The bleeding has stopped. I'll rebandage the cut, but you're mostly cleared. Check in with a medic if you experience dizziness or nausea later. You're free to go."

"Thank you, Sussurro." Amiya gave the diminutive Vulpo a smile.

"Just doing my job."

Amiya held the door open as she and the Doctor left the room, gently closing it behind them. Together, they headed for the control center. Passing operators gave them nods and hellos as they made their way through the halls of Rhodes Island, and more than once Amiya paused to talk to people and explain that yes, Rhodes Island was fine, and no, it was not the end of the world.

Finally, a pair of metal doors opened before them, showing rows of desks, each with a computer, and a single large screen connected to a raised platform at the back of the room.

This was the control center of Rhodes Island, where orders and announcements were issued from. Standing at the platform was Dr. Kal'tsit, seemingly engrossed in the screen before her. Yet as they approached, she turned to face them.

"Dr. Kal'tsit, I've brought the Doctor!"

Kal'tsit scrutinized him. "So I see." With a few taps and clicks, she closed the screen she was working on. Briefly glancing at Amiya, she spoke, "I assume Amiya has explained out situation so far?"

He nodded.

"Unfortunately, we do not have enough information to approach the situation yet." She crossed her arms. "Fortunately, you've woken up just in time. We need you to form a team to investigate the extent of the external damage Rhodes Island has taken. This is piece of information is key for determining how long-"

"Wait, a moment, Dr. Kal'tsit," Amiya protested, "The Doctor has just woken up. He probably needs some time to recover."

"If he can take command of a squad moments after waking up from cryogenic sleep and lead them through a battlefield, then he can lead a simple excursion around Rhodes Island."

"But..."

He patted Amiya on the head. "Don't worry. I'll do it. Just give me some time to form the team."

Rhodes Island Files

Catastrophe

A naturally occurring disaster. Catastrophes have plagued the land of Terra for centuries, and can take any form - a volcano eruption, an earthquake, a tornado, etc. What separates a Catastrophe from a regular disaster, however, is the presence of Originium (see Originium, pg. 2). While Originium is a precious resource, and Catastrophes are the only way it can be obtained, direct exposure can lead to a variety of health issues (see Oripathy, pg. 3).

Catastrophes are dangerous enough that large cities have become mobile. In an effort to escape the destruction of a Catastrophe, cities move from place to place. Of course, not all can afford to live in a mobile city, as space is limited. Some of these people are nomads, wanderers who travel along the road both to avoid Catastrophes and to seek better lives. Others, instead, choose to live in small villages, in areas where Catastrophes rarely strike.

Fortunately, there are often signs of Catastrophes before they hit. Different Catastrophes have different signs, but they all share one: unnaturally high Originium concentration in the air preceding the Catastrophe. In order to predict Catastrophes in advance, some people choose to become Catastrophe Messengers.

Catastrophe Messengers are many things. They are the ones to monitor the land, to forecast if a Catastrophe will hit. They are the ones to sound the alarm in the case of an impending Catastrophe. And after a Catastrophe hits, they are also the relief workers, rescuing anyone they come across - most of whom will have become Infected (see Oripathy, pg. 3).