The streets of Mantle were in a blaze of war. As the combined might of the Champions of Atlas, the White Fang, and the Happy Huntresses pushed the Grimm back. Many of the bystanders took the opportunity to heed the commands of Joanna and headed for the crater. Yang took notice of this and felt a surge of joy.

"They're making it to the crater!" she shouted. Jaune and Ren, who were nearby, followed her gaze, and they too felt relieved. However, Yang could not feel more relieved than when she face the front lines of the battle. As expected, Julius and Adam had thrown themselves right into the thick of it, tearing the monsters apart with his various weapons and magic (thought Julius did the latter). Hector and Ilia were also fighting side by side, and judging by the way they seemed to fight in such excellent sync, Yang could tell the two had some kind of sibling sense going on between them.

"I gotta say" Adam admitted as he decaptiated another zombieman, "I was a little doubtful when you said we had a common enemy back at the cliffs."

"And now?" Julius asked.

Adam chuckled. "Now...I'm actually glad I listened."

Julius couldn't help but smile as the two continued pushing through the creatures. Occasionally, Julius would fire or send magic at Adam's sword, allowing him to charge up faster to unleash his Semblance.

Slowly but surely, the horde were being pushed back. However, that wasn't the only action going on. In fact, Atlas was about to see some action of its own...

...

After he had left Ironwood's command, Watts had established his own facility underneath Atlas, keeping his work secret as head of the Untied Aerospace Corporation, or UAC. Here, he and his associate, Olivia Pierce, researched and constructed the mechanized demons that had just begun to plague our heroes. But it wasn't as secret as he had hoped.

In the hallways, just as a few UAC scientists turned a corner and left the hall empty, a metal grate opened up in the ceiling as a single figure dropped in, shrouded by illusionary shadow. Standing back up, Neo brushed her self off and stretched her arms out; that crawl through the vents was a little tighter than she had hoped. No matter now, there was work to be done. Taking out her scroll, Neo moved down the halls, following the directions VEGA was relaying to her.

...

Some time earlier...

Hayden stood in his office, watching the battle in Mantle play out. So far, everything seemed to be going well. He then turned his attention to the other matter at hand. In a tube-like containment chamber lay the unconscious form of Cinder herself. Khione and the sisters had brought her in earlier and Hayden deemed it fit to keep her in the pod for now as, even though she was magic, the argent energy powering the pod could contain her. Cinder was still unconscious right now, but Hayden knew it wouldn't be much longer before she woke up. Khione stood next to the pod, staring at Cinder's form as well.

Hayden noticed her grim expression. "Something bothers you?"

Khione sighed. "I almost pity her."

"Cinder?"

Khione nodded. "I could sense her thoughts. She never truly wanted this; there was always something else involved. At least with her."

Hayden became curious. "What is it?"

"I don't know, I didn't see much." Khione replied, her tone remaining grim, "I just know she originally wanted to save someone. However, she's been at this for so long, that the desire for power had transformed her mind into what it is now. She's just another of Salem's victims."

Hayden wasn't quite sure what to think of this, but he did feel a twinge of pity for Cinder himself. "All will be restored. The barrier is down, and the Slayer is free. It's only a matter of time now before he shows himself."

Suddenly, the door to the room opened as someone walked in, and without a word, placed a piece of tech on the table nearby.

Hayden recognized the newcomer immediately; only one person makes an entrance without a word.

"I was wondering when you'd show" Hayden said, turning to see Neo, slightly battered and spattered with blood, standing there. He then noticed the part she had brought; it looked like it was ripped off of something organic as it was broken and sprinkled with blood.

Khione looked with mild disgust. "What is that?"

Neo signed out her answer, and fortunately, Hayden could understand. Pulled this off of some robot demon. Thought you could help figure out where it came from, but a lot of other demons got in my way when I tried to get here.

Hayden stroked his chin. "Then it must be important."

Grabbing the piece, Hayden brought it over to one of his scanners and placed it under it.

"VEGA" Hayden said, "Can you identify this?"

There were a few moments of silence before VEGA responded. "The blood is akin to the Hell Knight, but the metal here comes from an alloy found only underneath Atlas's surface."

Khione looked tense. "Ironwood?"

"No" Hayden replied, "He's blinded by his Semblance as if right now, but even he knows better than to attempt to control the demons. This is Watts's doing."

"He must have a lab nearby" Khione conclueded.

"Actually." VEGA said, "I have just conducted a proximity scan of Atlas and it appears that there is some sort of man-made structure underneath the city. I'm also detecting various electric and argent surges coming from this area."

"That must be it." Hayden said.

Khione drew her weapon. "We must destroy it."

Hayden grabbed her arm to restrain her. "No. I have a better idea."

He then turned to Neo. "How would you like to sneak around Watt's lab?"

Neo thought for a few moments, but then got a mischievous glint in her eyes and smirked.

After that, it wasn't long before VEGA directed her through the vents and into the hidden lab.

...

Presently...

Neo made sure to keep in the shadows as she made her way down the hall. Instinctively, she felt her back pocket for a USB that Hayden had given her. She ducked behind a wall to avoid another UAC scientist before continuing on. The hallways were slightly dark, but there wasn't much to see aside from the occasional UAC logo and some motivational posters that Neo didn't bother reading; they were probably full of shit anyways. Finally, she came to a large set of doors; according to VEGA, this was the control room.

Neo reached for the control pad when suddenly, a beeping was heard as the doors opened. Panicking, Neo used her semblance to blend in with the wall, hiding just in time as Dr. Pierce and Watts walked out.

"It seems the Doom Hunter was a failure." Pierce said.

"Tell me something I don't already know, Pierce" Watts snapped, his tone harsh.

"The new Cyberdemon and Tyrants are ready for deployment" Pierce warily continued, "We should send them out to deal with the Champions!"

"What? And fully reveal to Ironwood what we're doing here?! We already risked that with the Hunter! Besides, Salem wants the Cyberdemon on the field only when she arrives, and I have no intention of disobeying her now with us so close to victory."

"Of course." was all Olivia was able to say. Meanwhile, Neo had ducked inside the room before the doors could close. Inside, dispelling her illusion, she could see various control panels and a large window that showed a sort of factory room beyond. Oddly enough, the room was empty of any other people. Looking out the window, Neo could see all kinds of cybernetic hybrid demons being constructed and ressurected. Corpses patrolled on the catwalks above, and Neo could even see multiple Doom Hunters being created. It all made her feel dread in her heart.

"Now is the time" Hayden's voice came over her scroll, "Use the drive."

Neo wasted no time; she took out the USB and looked around for the port. After a few minuted, she found it on the side of the center console and plugged it in, allowing VEGA to access all the systems.

"The integration will take a few minutes." Hayden said, "Hold tight."

Neo nodded an ducked into a corner of the room and knelt down in the shadow. There was silence in the room as Neo waited, save for the whirring of machinery in the factory line outside. Neo twiddled her thumbs as she waited, then started twirling her parasol around in random juggling tricks that went on for a comedic few moments.

Suddenly, the door to the lab opened, and Neo immediately hid again as Olivia Pierce walked in. Neo began to worry, the upload wasn't yet complete, and Neo prayed that Olivia would not notice the drive for one final precious minute.

Olivia gazed out into the factory, muttering something to herself before looking at the screens on the consoles. Neo decided that she couldn't take any more chances and slowly crept up behind her, disguising her self with an illusion.

Pierce didn't notice her, and typed a few things on the center console. Suddenly, as she tried to calibrate the tech on her suit (she suffered from a disease that rendered her legs near useless), a glint of metal caught her eye, and she finally noticed the drive sticking out of the port, the Atlas symbol glowing on it.

Olivia narrowed her eyes. "What is- GKK!"

Neo removed the sash around her neck, wrapped it around Pierce's neck, and tightened. Pierce flailed about, trying to dislodge the attacker, but Neo was younger and stronger, and the sash only tightened. Eventually, without enough oxygen, Pierce began to slow down. Here, Neo loosened the sash and whipped her around to face her. With a final smug look and a wink, Neo drove her fist into Pierce's face, knowing her to the ground and stunning her.

"Upload complete!" VEGA announced. Relieved, Neo grabbed the drive and ran out of the room, disguised as a scientist. She eventually reached the hole in the ceiling she had come in and jumped in, closing the hole once again.

...

Hayden waited patiently in his lab as Vega began showing him all the information he was taking from Watt's system. Khione stood next to him and growled in disgust as she saw the blueprints for the cybernetic demons.

"Monster..." she hissed.

Just then, the door to the lab opened as Neo proudly walked in, twirling the drive in her fingers and with a smug look on her face.

"Well done, Neo" Hayden told her, "I'll be sure to tell Roman what you've done here."

Khione nodded in agreement. "We may need you for something else soon."

Neo suddenly pointed to the screen showing the fight in Mantle before slamming her fists together; she wanted to get back in the fight.

Hayden thought for a few moments. "I don't think we'll be able to get you into Mantle. However, I've just received word that Amity has finally been given the green light to launch, and I fear that the enemy may try and stop it. However, they may find that task difficult of someone was there to guard it."

Neo slumped in disappointment, but thought it wasn't the worst place to be, so she then simply shrugged and signed. "Why not?"

"Good" Hayden said. Just then, he saw a portal open nearby as Ruby and her team walked through, accompanied by Novus and the Ace Ops.

"Everything's ready, Doc!" Nora proudly announced before seeing Neo and waving. "Oh, hey, you're back!"

Neo smiled and waved back before looking warily at the Ace Ops.

"Don't worry" Novus reassured, "They're with us now."

"Well, most of them" Katrina corrected, seeing a still unconscious Harriet slung over Elm's shoulder.

Ruby looked at Hayden. "What now?"

"The tables have turned in our favor" Hayden said, gesturing to the screens showing the battle, "It's time we see to it that it stays that way."

It was time to launch Amity.

Let me know what you think so far!