The day went on as normal Alex sat in professor port's class as he told them about one of his great adventures as a young man, Alex stared at the digital clock on his scroll as the minutes ticked by 'God if your listening please make this end'
The bell signifying the end of class rang Alex stood up it was time to begin the investigation with team RWBY. minutes after getting dressed Alex walked along the hallway to RWBY's dorm, before knocking.
"Who is it?" came ruby's voice from the other side
"It's Alex, you guy's ready?" He asked
"Yea, come in" Ruby said
Alex walked in and stood before the girl's each with a new set of attires
Ruby wore a grey long sleeved shirt with cuffs at the end. she wore a black pinafore with red stitching her usual black skirt was replaced by a red one with a black rose on it, with her usual combat boots and red cloak.
Weiss wore a pure white dress with black edging, inside her dress was black frills however the dress was attached to an over coat with four black buttons and outlines. Weiss snow flake emblem was present on her back, with thigh high stockings and white boot's.
Blake wore a white V-neck zip-up that stopped at her stomach. It had a collar and long sleeves. she kept her black ribbons wrapped around her forearms. she also wore black pants with a belt and some fabric that hung out on the right side. she had black high heeled boots with buckles that stopped half way up her calves.
Yang was wearing a collard cream top over a black shirt, with mid length sleeves which are gold at the end of them. she is also wearing thigh high stockings and boots, along with a belt with golden accents on it. her gauntlets were locked and loaded around her wrist.
"So... what's the plan or are we just going to wing-it?" Alex asked
" Yeah we've got a plan that's...moderately serious" Yang said
"Let's hear it" Alex said
"Right everyone remembers their roles?" Ruby followed up
Weiss answered " You and I will head to the CCT and check the Schnee records for an y other dust store robberies, or inconsistency's. Seeing as I'm in the family it shouldn't be a problem."
Blake answers, "The White Fang has regular faction meetings to hand out orders and recruit new members. If I can get in I can hopefully find out what their planning and Alex is going with me as backup in case anything happens"
Then yang says "I have an old friend on the shady side of town that typically knows everything going on in Vale. Getting information out of him shouldn't be too hard"
"Great we'll meet up with yang later tonight to go over what we've found. Let's do this!" Ruby said pumping her fist
"Yeah" Sun yelled from outside the window
The five of them jumped back in shock "Sun, how did you get up there?"
"Ah it's easy I do it all the time" Sun said
"You do what?" Weiss yelled
"I climb tree's all the time "Sun replied
Sun then jumps into the room "So... are we finally getting back at that Torchwick guy."
"We" Blake said with emphasis "Are going to investigate the situation" Sun gives a blank stare "As a team"
"Sorry Sun" ruby said with a small shrug "We don't want to get friends involved if we don't have to"
"Pfft, that's dumb" Sun said with a wave of his hand "You should always get friends involved. That's why Alex called us "
"Us?" Weiss asked
"Yeah me, Neptune and Koan" Sun pointed his thumb out the window
The girl looked out their window totem pole style seeing the blue haired Huntsmen pressed up against the wall of the building
"Sup" Neptune casually said
"uhhh where's Koan?" Yang asked
the sound of someone clearing their throat caused them to spin around Koan stood in the doorway "I used the door" He said
"Can I come in now...like seriously we are really high up right now!" Neptune called form the ledge
With the new arrivals now present they Ruby begins pairing them off "All right" Ruby began "I'll go with Weiss. Sun, you can go with Blake and Alex, Neptune and Koan you guys go with yang. Everyone good?"
Weiss then said" Actually Ruby, why don't you go with Yang and Koan, heh. after all, she is your sister"
"But Weiss, who would go with you then?" Ruby asked
"Well, I guess Neptune could come with me" Weiss responded
'huh, sounds like Ice Queen has a crush' Alex thought
Ruby started laughing and replied "Nah!"
Ruby began to drag Weiss out of the room. "But, But"
XXXXX
"Wow, I forgot how big the transmit tower looks up close" Ruby said in awe as she and Weiss headed towards said building
"You should see the one in Atlas" Weiss responded
"That was the first one right " Ruby asked
"Correct. Atlas developed the cross-continental transmit system to allow the four kingdoms to communicate with one another. It was their gift to the world after the great war." Weiss said
Then Ruby tried to impersonate Weiss "Ooo look at me, my names Weiss, I know facts. I'm rich." Ruby Giggled
"Don't be a pest. Besides, the only real reason we're here is because you like the tower so much. We could've just easily made a call from the library." Weiss replied
"I know, but it's so cool! Oh! I'm going to take a picture!" Ruby said fumbling with her scroll dropping it, a familiar person picking it up
"Oh! you dropped this" Penny said
"Penny?!" Ruby said
Penny looked surprised "Uhh"
"Where have you been?! We haven't seen you since that night at the docks" Ruby said
Penny tried to confuse them "S-sorry I think your confused?"
Penny hiccupped before quickly handing ruby back her scroll the left saying "Uh, I've got to go"
"What was that about?" Weiss asked
"I don't know, but I'm going to find out. you go make your call, I'll meet up with you later!" Ruby said as she started chasing after penny
"W-wait!" Weiss shouted as Ruby left "Ugh!"
As ruby caught up with Penny, she began to question her "Penny, where have you been? it's been week's"
"There, seems to be a misunderstanding. "Penny replied as she kept walking
"What!? Penny... is everything ok"Ruby asked but penny kept going
"Penny, please stop! Look, I don't know what's wrong, but you have to listen to me. those guys we fought at the docks, we think they're up to something big, something bad! "Ruby said
Penny continued to stare at the ground, Ruby then said, "I need you to tell me what happened to you that night, Please... as a friend"
Penny sighed before looking around her, before whispering to Ruby "It isn't safe to talk here"
XXXXX
Weiss entered the CCT tower elevator. A voice spoke up from the intercom "Welcome to the CCT how may I help you"
"I'd like to go to the communications room, please. "Weiss responded
"Absolutely. Could you please place your scroll on the terminal to verify your identity."
Weiss pulls out her scroll and the terminal scans it
"Perfect. Thank you, Miss Schnee"
After a few moments in the elevator, Weiss walks out into the communications room, there sat the holographic figure of a woman who said "Welcome to the Beacon cross-continental transmit center. How may I help you?"
"I need to make a call to Schnee company world headquarters in Atlas." Weiss said
"Absolutely. If you could head over to terminal 3, I'll patch you through"
"Thank you "Weiss said
Weiss then headed over to the terminal and sat down. Weiss sighed then the image of a woman came up " Thank you for calling the Atlas-oh, Miss Schnee! Good afternoon would you like me to patch you through to your farther? I think your sister Winter might be here as well."
"No thank you, I was actually wondering if you could find some files for me." Weiss then pulled out her scroll inserting it into the console" I've comprised a short list"
The woman raised an eyebrow before saying "I see... if you don't mind... what may I ask is this for?"
" School project" Weiss answered with a shrug
"Um, there are some sensitive documents on this list ma'am."
"Well then I'll be sure to treat them with care." Weiss said
"Right... very well. The data is being transferred to your scroll now."
"Wonderful. that will be all then. "Weiss said
"Are you sure you wouldn't like me to patch you through to your farther before you go?"
"Yes, I'm sure" Weiss said
"Well then, have a nice day." The woman said before she diapered Weiss frowns before she got up and left.
XXXXX
Ruby and Penny continued their conversation as they walked down the street " I wish I could help you Ruby. But I don't know anything about those men." Penny said
Ruby then asked "Well, what happened to you that night? We were all together then you just disappeared. Were you kidnapped?"
"Oh, no Nothing like that!" Penny responded
"We'll then where did you go?" Ruby asked
"I've never been to another kingdom before. My farther asked me not to venture out to far, but, oh you have to understand, my farther loves me very much. He just worries allot." Penny answered
"Believe me I know the feeling" Ruby said" But, why not let us know you were ok?"
"I, was asked, not to talk to you. Or Weiss... or Blake... or Yang. Anybody really" Penny said
"Was your dad that upset?" Ruby asked
"No, it wasn't my farther."
Before Ruby could ask " The AK130 has been the standard security model in remnant for several years. And they've done a fine job wouldn't you agree? wouldn't you agree? "The AK130's did a small bow before the hologram of Ironwood continued " But, the kingdom of Atlas is a kingdom of innovation. And fine, well that's just not good, enough is it?"
The containers behind the Ak130 opened to reveal six rather sleeker and more well armored androids "Presenting the Atlesian knight 200" the crowd watching the display began to applaud "Smarter, sleeker and admittedly, a little less scary." The knights struck various poses" These models will become active later this year but they won't be alone. Now, the Atlesian military has always supported the idea of removing men from the danger of the battlefield. However, there are still many situations that undoubtedly require, a human touch."
"Ruby..." Penny said
"So, our kingdoms greatest minds, in corporation with the Schnee dust company are proud to introduce, The Atlesian Paladin!" a hologram of a large weaponize suit appeared in all its glory.
"Now we couldn't have them here for you today. but these mechanized battle suits will be seen defending the borders of our kingdom within the year" Ironwood said
"Whoa..." ruby awed
"Ruby maybe we should go somewhere else..." Then two Atlesian soldiers noticed penny who then darted of in the opposite direction
"Wait where are you going!?" Ruby yelled before noticing the soldiers were chasing her, ruby quickly turned and went after her.
Ruby rounded the corner of the alley close behind penny with the two soldiers hot on their heels "Down here, she went this way" one of them yelled, narrowly avoiding being hit by a car before resuming the chase.
holding a pile of crates, acting quickly Ruby deployed crescent rose slicing off one of the supports for the scaffold the falling debris blocking the soldiers path behind them using her speed semblance Ruby quickly caught up with her friend
"This way!" She said wrapping her arms around penny and launching her and the girl down a side alley only to find she weighed a literal tone. the two slammed into the pavement Ruby landing in the path of an oncoming truck.
Suddenly penny threw her aside stopping the truck with such force it lifts off the ground for a moment. The ground beneath penny gave way sending concrete and tarmac flying
The shop keeper had a look of terror and shock while Ruby only stared at her friend "Penny..."
"Are you okay?" she asked the driver
The shop keeper nods his head "Uh huh." penny lets go of the truck Ruby just stared concerned for her friend.
"Umm...uhh" was all she could say as a crowd began to gather around.
"Did you see that?"
"How did that happen?"
"Is she okay?"
"What's going on"
Penny panicked running off again, bumping shoulders with Ruby "Penny! come back!" Ruby cried giving chase
Penny kept running until she reached a dead end. "Umm... Uhh..." she said as she tried to find a way out. giving ruby time to catch up.
"Penny" Penny turned around to face Ruby, scared out of her mind "Please, what is going on?" Ruby pleaded "why are you running? how did you do that?!"
"I-I can't everything's fine!" Penny replied before she hiccupped. She crossed her arms and looked away "I-I don't want to talk about it!" she hiccupped again.
"Penny if you just tell me what's going on I can help you!" Ruby pleaded
"No" Penny replied turning away "No, no you wouldn't understand."
"Let me try" Ruby replied "you can trust me." Penny walked up to Ruby looking her straight in the eye
"You're my friend, right? you promise you're my friend?" Penny asked
"I promise," Ruby answered
"Ruby..." Penny looked down at her hands. before showing them to ruby instead of flesh and blood she was met with something completely different "I'm not a real girl" Penny's skin had been scraped off reviling robotic hands underneath.
Ruby just stared at Penny's hands all she ruby could say was. "Oh..."
'To be continued'