A/N: Hello! Ah some time since last time. I will try to answer some of those burning questions from last time.
There was a guest review that seemed to misunderstand some things about how I do things. I will explain and try not to rant at the bottom (It will be made after the chapter to preserve a true chapter length)
Lets Go!
A Rise and A Fall
-0-
The old scientist came skirting around the side of the raised tube. "This is the prototype to my greatest masterpiece!" He scratched his head, "Donnie!….Donnie!? Where did I put the other tubes!?"
One of the solid walls opened up randomly. The small boy came through holding what looked like water and some medication. "Here father. Your medications."
Doctor Polentina grabbed the glass of water but not the medicine. "Bah, haven't taken the stuff in years yet you tell me every time you see me to take them. I don't need medication! I need answers!" The older man quickly chugged down the water. "Ah always good to stay hydrated….thats it! Note to self: Figure out a way to absorb water from natural humidity."
"Father"
"Ah Donnie. Glad to see you when did you get here. Who's watching the front!?"
"Father would you like some gummies?"
"Oh yes. Do we have any of the orange left? You know those are my favorite"
"Yes father." Donnie held up the same pills that the doctor just refused. The doctor grabbed them out of his hand and shoved them into his mouth and swallowed them.
"Ah orange, so good." He got a distant look on his face. "Donnie. Calculate the impact velocity of a fire dust round if instead of the normal pressure release valve, we replace it with a magnetic charge valve on the flagship."
Donnie looked up. Looked at Ruby who was standing there very confused about the Doctor's behavior, then back at his father. "Father the velocity would increase as well as the explosion radius. Likelihood of the charge making the dust explode in the chamber seventy-two point nine five percent.
"Set up an appointment for testing! That is much better odds than the last change by at least twenty percent!"
"Encrypted mail sent. Father you are ignoring your guest"
The doctor twisted to look at Ruby. Something in his body popped. He seemed to get mad at his wheelchair, then just stood up and walked over to Ruby. "Ah yes. The girl who knew….knows my daughter."
"Umm. About Penny." Ruby looked sad. Her wound hurt and the walk over here while not too bad took more out of her than she thought it would. Blake must have really got her good. "She fought to the end. She was a great person and she didn't deserve to go out like she did"
The old man smiled. "Just what I wanted to here! I built her to be strong. Keep that thought alive." He pulled a patch out of his front pocket and thwapt it onto Ruby's forehead. "We need just that! I created a new body. I fixed her core, but her body is a mixture of machine and aura. I can't figure out the personality fixtures. Stupid aura"
Ruby felt hope welling up in her. "Wait you can bring Penny back?!"
"Unfortunately no" Ruby deflated. "But you my dear, can" Ruby lite back up. The crazed scientist pointed to the duel small tubes at the side of the room. "Those were what created her. You put her in one side and Penny in the other. The machine takes some of your aura and memories and pushes it into Penny, bringing her to life"
Ruby remembered the talk with Jaune when he was in one of his slumps. He explained what happened to Pyrrha through gasps and tears. Ruby was wary.
Snapping back to reality Doctor Polentina was super close. "You recognize it...hmm that's not good. I told Ironwood to keep it secret! That's it he isn't invited to my lab anymore! Donnie! Put him on the 'kill on sight' list!"
"Sir that list is full"
"What? Who's on there?"
"All the names on the list are under Ironwood"
The doctor grimaced, "Well then cut one of the names out and add this one in!"
"Successfully supplemented sir"
He smiled, "Good! That will show him!" The man scratched his head as if something was annoying him. "Now back to my daughter. You can save her Ruby. I know you don't trust this machine of mine. Don't deny it! I can see it in your eyes." He grabbed Ruby by the arm and pulled her toward the machine, pointing out different items on the machine and how they work.
Ruby pushed him away after a few steps, pain from her wound and too many words to comprehend. "Wait, wait. Stop. Are you saying this thing can bring Penny back?"
"Have I been talking to a robot this entire time!? Open your eyes and see the possibilities, leave the finer details to..." The doctor looked over at the small boy. "Donnie! Why are you here!? Who is watching the front!?"
The boy's eyes dropped from the scolding. "Yes father" The boy walked to the wall going towards the front Ruby had just come through. When he was almost there a small door appeared in the wall just large enough for Donnie to walk through without stopping.
This left Ruby in the large laboratory with the doctor, which now frightened Ruby much more than she expected.
"So you knew my daughter" He sounded somber. Ruby nodded. "Good. I have researched you. Studied you. I am glad she has a genuine friend. I once never thought in terms of friendship. It was always numbers." Doctor Polentina went over towards where Penny laid. "I was told I could never have children. Never really wanted them, but I always wondered what it would be like..." He brushed his hand through her hair before lightly touching her cheek with the back of his hand. "She was...is my greatest creation. Please help bring her back to me."
Ruby saw a man on the verge of tears over his lost daughter. She didn't see someone crazy or someone that had lost some mere tool, but a father. It reminded her of her father's loss so long ago. He may be crazy, but under all that he has a good heart.
"We will get your daughter back. I promise you that. Anything that I have to do to get her back, I will"
The broken man looked at Ruby. "Thank you!" He looked around like he was confused for a second. "What's happening? When did I get back in the lab?"
And there goes the moment. "You brought me back here to talk about Penny and I just agreed to help you bring her back"
He suddenly looked excited. "You did! Ha! I told Donnie you would. Didn't I Donnie!?"
"You said the opposite sir" Donnie's voice said directly behind Ruby, making her jump. She immediately regretted that decision as pain wracked her body. Donnie noticed, but said nothing as the doctor ran in all directions grabbing different notes and equipment, one included a very long needle. Ruby did not like the look of that needle.
"Umm, so what will I have to do?" Ruby said hesitantly as the doctor was still holding the large dangerous looking medical apparatus.
The doctor smiled, "I need your soul to revive my daughter. Its that simple."
Ruby was even more unsure. "Is it really?"
"Bah! People always try to complicate things that are simple and simplify things that are complicated!"
"Won't I die if you take my soul?"
He waved off the question, "Only a tiny piece. Insignificant to you as one so young, but life-giving to Penny"
Ruby was unsure. She thought of the pain it might cause her. She thought of the fact that this doctor seems nuttier than a banana nut-muffin.
But then she thought of Penny. She may have been an android, but she was more human that some of the people Ruby had fought over the years. Penny genuinely cared about people and the state of the world. Seeing her again would mean so much. A vision of Penny's decapitation went through her mind causing Ruby to frown. Doing this just might make up for the time she has lost. Oh there will be so many stories to tell.
And now she was excited to see her again. Well the decision had been made...again…
With reluctance she agreed as the doctor came closer to her with the large needle. When he was right in front of her he smiled before throwing the needle over his shoulder. Ruby watched as hit the ground and shattered. "Great now all I need you to do is get into the left pod while I load Penny into the right one. The doctor walked back toward Penny while Ruby walked over to the pod. She held her wound. Besides it still hurting a dull constant pain, she was nervous which made her more aware of the wound itself.
She heard the doctor snap, "Oh and one more thing, you need to strip"
Ruby swore she heard wrong, but that didn't stop her face from heating up, "What?"
"In the prototype version for some reason clothing makes test subjects explode. I built the thing and even I can't tell you why. Donnie can help you unclothe"
Ruby looked down to Donnie, who still had this 'who cares about the world' expression. "It will take approximately twenty seconds for you to be completely exposed. Please do not resist."
Ruby reflexively covered herself, her face now beat red. "WHAT!?"
-0-
Chardonnay knew the ride out to her family home would be bumpy the closer they went, but she was so tired. Between paperwork and keeping people in their places she felt her eyes drooping. Easiest way was to opt for a driver so she could get some rest. Turns out being an Atlas superior of a base came with perks. As soon as she got into the backseat she was out.
Chardonnay was awoken by her head slamming into the jeep's door. "You! You will never see the light of day again! You hear me!?" the driver screamed out the window. Seeing Chardonnay scowling in the back of the jeep he started apologizing profusely.
They made it to the house. Chardonnay noticed that Sherry's truck wasn't there so she must have been gone. Sad I missed a great opportunity. The house looked normal so Chardonnay told the driver to wait with the Jeep as she took a look around. It looked just like she remembered it. The wooden house packed away in the valley between the mountains, close enough to get to town but far enough away that you had clean air and the sounds of nature.
She opted to look at the barn first, just to make sure Sherry hadn't messed something….when she opened the door she took one look at the family tractor and knew Sherry had been here. It was an old blue tractor with large back wheels and two small front ones. It was made for pulling out stumps and flattening piles of dirt. Sherry had somehow put the wheels on backwards, with the large ones in the front pushing the driver seat up at a forty-five degree angle. Chardonnay didn't even think it would run anymore, but one look beside the tractor where a marinade of parts, including several key components of the engine proved her case.
Chardonnay shook her head, but couldn't help but smile. She could see Sherry in her mind telling her that she did the best she could. That she would keep going until she got it right, all the while making it worse.
She moved from that to the actual house. She thought it would be easy but as she reached out towards the door handle Chardonnay felt a twinge of sadness and fear. The last time she had been on this porch was when she had stormed out, her mother pleading her not to go. She had bleached her hair white and told her mother she was leaving to join the Atlesian military. Her mother had cried and pleaded for her not to go, but she went anyway.
They had made up over the phone, but this was the first time she had been back. Her mother had kept it a secret that Chardonnay left that way. Asti was already at Haven and Sherry was working a second shift at her new job, so no one else knew.
She steeled herself and opened the door. Not much had changed in the furniture. The only difference seemed to be that Sherry had put a new rug down underneath the sofa. Pots and pans that used to be her mothers decorated the floor. More proof that Sherry had taken up residence in the house.
She went down the hall into the bedrooms. Sherry was still living in her own room as seen by the scattered clothes and for some reason papers, while Chardonnay and Asti's shared room laid unopened and untouched. The biggest change was their parents room. Lititia, their mother, had a sore spot for their father. He had left before Sherry was born. They were worried when he didn't return for her birth. Lititia resolved herself when they found out he was dead. Chardonnay remembered she took it hard.
Her father's old clothes were scattered all over the room. It looks like Asti wasn't joking about Sherry finding a man. If she remembered correctly her father was a large statured man, meaning if this guy fit into his old clothes, he must be as well.
Chardonnay still didn't like the idea that Sherry was living with a man. Sherry was an adult and could make her own decisions, but Sherry had always been a little immature, childlike. Chardonnay would find out who this was and do a thorough background check on him. Sherry was only going to have the best of the best! She deserved it! Someone to protect her and keep her safe in the chaos of the world around them.
She started walking back towards the living room. Still she felt another twinge. Jealousy? Why would she be jealous of her sister? Just because she was older and better at most things than her. More successful and with a body men could only dream of, yet Sherry got a man before herself.
A light red crept up her pale skin. I wonder what all experience Sherry has...Chardonnay ungracefully tripped over one of the pots that were on the floor. Thank the brothers for her aura. Thank the brothers nobody else saw that.
She was getting up when she noticed a hole in the floor. Her training told her it was a blade hole. Makes sense. Sherry had been home. She was sure if she checked the kitchen there would be small holes and indents everywhere...but this was closer to the living room than the kitchen. Her instincts told me something was wrong about this hole. Different. It wasn't from a kitchen knife, but a sword. What would Sherry be doing with a sword? Chardonnay touched the hole, analyzing it.
She jumped up and ran out of the house slamming the door behind her. Her glorified shoffur saw her haste and saluted her as she approached. "Hello Sir! Are you do-"
"Cut the formalities. The vehicle that ran us off the road, what did it look like?"
The man grimaced. "It was an old red Valean two door truck. I swear to you I will find out who was responsible and throw them into the deepest darkest pit I can find. Also we received a report from the base. A prisoner was just transported from Atlas."
Chardonnay shook her head. "We don't have time for that. That was my sister! She's in trouble!"
"Yes sir! Get in and we'll be off"
Screw that. Chardonnay grabbed the man and threw him into the jeep, jumping into the driver's seat before hitting the gas, flying out of the property.
Chardonnay knew there was always a risk. She was a specialist in the Atlas military. Asti was a top tier huntress that graduated valedictorian of her class with her team. Sherry never wanted to be any more than what she was, so they protected her from danger. But Chardonnay felt it. It was old but powerful.
Malicious aura. A huntsman's aura.
-0-
Yang had been chained to the walls of the bullhead that flew her towards Argus. They hadn't taken off the aura suppressors so she felt weak the entire time, tired. Over time she started feeling a little better, getting used to the new feel of her body.
What they had taken from her was the arm she got from Ironwood. She was once again a weakened cripple. It hurt her. She remembered the looks on her friends faces, the hatred of the Atlas citizens. She didn't see Ruby which was surprising, but she was glad. The last face she wanted to see was a look of disappointment, shock or fear on her sisters face.
They landed inside the Argus base. She remembered the hard time they had getting in here. Those big guards protecting the doors with unflinching dedication certainly did not help.
"Who is on patrol!?" One of her guards yelled out.
A small boy in atlas military garb came running over. "I am sir!"
The guard smirked and chuckled. "So the boy is playing soldier. Well whatever, we don't care. We just want to make it back so we can get drinks." Yang scowled as the guard unlocked the cuffs that locked her arm and legs to the bullhead. In the process he brushed his hand against her chest and legs. "Oops" He said smirking, "didn't mean to do that"
Yang saw red and knew that her eyes had changed. As soon as her arm was free she swung as the guards face. It was a good punch. She pushed all her meager strength into it.
It felt like hitting a brick wall.
The guard smiled as his aura took the blow. He grabbed Yang's arm and the back of her neck before slamming her face into the metal floor of the bullhead. "You all saw it. As soon as I uncuffed the prisoner for transport, she attacked me unprovoked."
"Come on guys" the boy said, "S-she should be respected. She may be a prisoner but she is still a girl"
"Isn't that grand" the guard holding Yang down said.
"A true gentleman" The other said.
The guard brought Yang up and practically threw her at the boy. "Take her then. She's your problem anyway. She's hot I'll give her that but she is a huntress prisoner. Shes attacked people, and I can guarantee you she's killed before" Both guards got back into the bullhead. "Good luck" Yang heard them laughing as the bullhead lifted off.
Yang glared over at her new captor.
"Umm. Well we already got the orders that Ironwood had for you. Though they have not been reviewed by our leader yet." The boy ushered Yang towards one of the gates off the landing field.
"Cordovin that busy?"
"Cordovin isn't in charge anymore. Specialist Chardonnay is in charge, though she is out today to visit family. She is so cool and commanding! Much better than Corodovin. A real specialist.
Yang rolled her eyes. "Great another Atlas elite that I have to deal with. Bet she grew up all comfy under one of the Atlas noble that bought her way into the military."
The boy seemed frustrated. "Did you not hear what I said before! She is here visiting family, not in Atlas! She apparently grew up around Argus. She was originally from Mistral!"
"Bet she's human though"
"She is! But that doesn't have anything to do with it. I know there are some Atlas stereotypes, but we are genuinely here to help people."
Yang couldn't believe this nonsense. What was this guy saying? "I bet you've never been to Atlas before have you"
The boy blushed a little and rubbed the back of his neck. "No but I was hoping that I would some day. I was born and raised in Argus. Here is where I did my training. And here is where I have stayed."
Yang had just about had enough. "Look just take me and lock me up like your supposed to! I am too pissed off to care about some stupid boy that doesn't know about how the world works yet!" Yang hit the corner of the wall with her boot which caused a surprising amount of pain. "And I hate not having aura!"
"Well I am actually older than you but you can't have you aura back until you have been re-evaluated"
That stopped Yang. There was a way of getting her aura back, that made sense. Technically all they would have to do is remove the aura suppressor and she would be good as new. Yang looked down at her arm...Well I'll be 70% good as new.
"So how do I get re-evaluated" Yang was surprised at this guy's ability to run his mouth.
The guard thought for a minute. "First you have to show you have regreted whatever action you took. That you have strove to make up for it, and gained the faith back of the one who sentenced you….which would be Ironwood….you might be waiting a while."
Ironwood wasn't the problem in that scenario, though he would be a factor. Yang will never regret what she did. Those councilmen were the worst people she has ever seen, and she has literally seen the face of a dark mistress that can control grimm. This was never going to work. She needed to figure out a new plan and fast.
She was never good at that.
Yang realized as they walked that they were heading towards the outer section of the base. That was odd because if anything she figured they would be going deeper into the base. They passed close to the outer walls of the base, going into a small building that said 'storage acquisition' on the top of it.
Yang felt a tiny voice telling her that she could bolt. Think about it. She may not have aura but this guy was puny. He probably wouldn't put up much of a fight. It kept rising up in her mind as they got to the building, but she kept going, mostly because even if she could overpower this guy what about the next? How would she get the gate open? There was no way.
The small building hadn't seen much use, Yang could tell. The small guard told her to wait in the front alone, which felt so much like a test. I mean come on! How long has this guy been a guard? Even Yang understood that you don't leave prisoners that can run away by themselves with no one to stop you.
"Okay. Your stuff came in just before you got here. You are authorized to see them and confirm that these item are yours. Usually we would also take measurements and pictures. You know height, weight and the lot before throwing you into the dungeon...but you seem to be a special case." The guard put Yang's scroll on the table along with several articles of clothing.
Yang was very suspicious. "How am I special?"
"Normally we would not care about if these are yours, but I am just following the directions in the letter"
"I thought you said it was never approved by your superior? Who was it….Chardonnay?"
"That's right. But in her absence it is still a letter with specified instructions from the head of the military. Really the 'review' is a formality."
There was a bag the young guard produced that he put the clothing into. He handed her the scroll. "This will be tracked...Oh and you don't need this." He took the aura suppressor off, but nothing happened. Yang did not feel the rush of her aura or anything.
"Why isn't my aura coming back!? What's going on!?" Yang yelled. Would she never get it back. What had they done to her that she couldn't use the power of her own soul?
"We are Atlas, the most technologically advanced power on Remnant. Don't you think the cuffs are a bit obvious? Yes, they do work, they are real cuffs, but like I said you are special. They put a chip into you that does the same thing the cuffs do. Its way smaller and way easier to handle."
"So the cuffs were a test?" She knew it! It was too easy. This was all to test her.
"Ehh, more like they had to keep appearances for everyone else."
"Then how do you know about it?"
"It was in the letter" The guard said with a shrug. He got done stuffing the bag with her clothes. "now come with me."
And off they were again. This time though they went to the main gate. He clicked a series of buttons on the wall next to it and the gate doors started to open. He threw the bag out of the gate and urged her forward. Yang was very confused, but whatever.
"Umm does this mean I am free to go?"
"All the letter said was that I should say 'We'll be in touch'" The guard straightened his back trying to deepen his voice to the best Ironwood presentation he could do. "Just don't leave Argus. If you do bad things will happen. The letter was vague, but it sounds like someone is coming to get you.
"Do I have somewhere to go? Money?"
"You have full access to your account through your scroll, so it is whatever you already had, so good luck."
Yang looked at her scroll as the guard shut the gate. She had been on this side of the gate before. Last time she was trying to get in. This time she thought she got out a little too easy. Something was up, and she wasn't sure what it was.
On her scroll she had some missed calls and messages. Mostly from the gang still in Atlas. Did they know she got her scroll back? Doubtful. They probably tried it as a long shot to reach her.
"Gah. Oh bobobo"
Yang looked up at the sudden noise to see a familiar sight looking back at her. Saphron arc and little Adrian. Adrian was making noises mixed with shrieks that Yang swore had to be a semblance of some kind.
"Hello Yang. Good to see you again. Jaune Jaune said you would be here, but wasn't sure if you were staying at the base or not, but he wanted me to go to the base and ask about you. Guess I don't have to anymore."
Yang scratched the top of her head with her arm. "Yea I am still confused. This was way too easy...though a guard did get handsy with me"
Saphron looked worried. "Are you okay? They didn't hurt you did they?"
"Besides my pride, no" Yang said deflating. Seriously she knew she had a smoking hot body. Why is it that idiots and molesters were the only guys she interacted with. Was there not one gentleman left in Remnant?
"Well lets get you back to my place. Get you settled down. They've been working Terra so much to try to fix systems after the attack that I haven't seem her in days. It would be good to have some company."
Yang looked around taking in the familiar sights of Argus as they headed back to the house. Something about the town felt...eerie? There were several people that she saw. The odd part was that last time she was here the people they encountered were mostly human. Everyone she saw on the street had prominent ears or tails. They wore them without cover ups. Some even had colors specifically around them to make them stand out. The groups of faunus whispered to each other as Yang and Saphron passed by. When Yang looked back at them they were gone.
"I don't want to sound racist, but last time I was here there weren't this many faunus around."
"You are correct" Saphron said with a smile. "I like the new diversity, some of the faunus are so nice. Isn't that right Adrian"
"Ga bo Boo"
"There has been a faunus guru that has been doing radio interviews and meditative sessions. He is really good. I think that is why the faunus population has risen so much." She frowned, "But the people here don't like it. Most humans that are bigots here have been spouting that its the end times. That faunus are taking over!"
There will always be those people Yang guessed. If only they could look past their own insecurities and give faunus a chance, they might not feel so worried.
"Here we are. Home sweet home. Stay as long as you need to. Any friend of Jaunes is a friend of mine"
Saphron's scroll started going off. Right after they got inside. She picked it up promptly. Her face grew more agitated and stressed before agreeing to something and hanging up.
"So this is a bit aqward but would you mid looking after Adrian for a while? I am being called back into my new job as a nurses assistant, at least until I get my license."
Yang smiled. She had taken care of Ruby from a young age. Not this young, but close enough. How hard could it be? "Do not worry. I got this. Go to work, its the least I can do to help you out"
"Thank you. I swear I will be back as soon as I can! Like a couple hours max" She frantically showed Yang where the basic baby supplies were kept before handing Adrian off to her. Yang supported Adrian with her one arm, using the stump of her other arm to balance him. "Be careful he can be a handful"
"I said not to worry. Even I can last a little while."
With that Saphron left and Yang was alone with a baby just learning to walk. "Okay baby", she said setting him down, "Do your worst"
He promptly looked around and not seeing his mother anymore, started wailing.
This was going to be interesting
-0-
One cat faunus woke up in a cell that was small with only one sheet and a bucket on the far side. The cell was made of cold concrete. Blake felt weak. She felt like she had no aura left. She was covered in a white and black shirt and pants that felt paper-thin and did nothing to stop her from shivering.
She heard screams coming from down the dark hallway that her cell was a part of. Screams to stop, that they would tell them everything they wanted, followed by wails and sounds of electric dust going off.
"Well well well." A guard said walking by, "looks like we've got a new faunus to play with boys" Two more guards rounded the corner.
"Big faunus thinks they can come up to Atlas and cause trouble."
"I think she needs to be taught about how things work around here"
The first one smirked as he unlocked her cage. The one barrier that separated them from her now shattered. He punched her in the head, which felt like getting hit with Nora's hammer. It knocked her to the ground.
The guard kicked her in the stomach with his boot while the other two smirked. "Welcome to your new home. Welcome to Atlas"
Blake never felt so helpless.
-0-
A/N: This is part 1 of probably 3 parts. Mostly because I don't want this thing to be huge like the last chapter I wrote. That one was a dusey.
This was supposed to be a rant, but I will summarize things into bullet points:
1. I don't care particularly about negative comments unless its constructive criticism
2. Ruby will NOT have a pairing in this fic
3. I prefer Blacksun over Bumblebee, but I use a Bumblebee dynamic because it gives more depth to their interactions (think what you want)
4. I am not a fan of WhiteRose