"Salutations!" Penny yelled out.
"Dah!" Jaune yelled as he fell from his seat, landing in a pile.
"Ah, Jaune Arc, it's good to see you again," Penny said with a smile as she looked down at him, "I must have shut down by accident, sorry to scare you."
"How…what…how…" Jaune stammered before Penny cut him off.
"Mr. Arc, if you would be so kind, would you lead me to the nearest Atlas personal? I need to check in with my father." Penny asked with a smile as she attempted to walk forward, she frowned as she did not feel her leg move. The android looked down and screamed for she had no legs and her left arm was missing, she looked around in a panic.
"Penny, it's OK," Jaune said as he got to his feet, walking over to the girls torso, "You're not in danger, there was an accident. Do you remember anything?"
"I remember…oh yes, Mrs. Nikos and I were fighting in the tournament…she used her semblance on me and…oh my, where is Pyrrha? I must have startled her something fierce, please…bring her to me so I can apologize." Penny said as she calmed down, letting her logical side take over.
"Penny…Pyrrha's…Pyrrha's dead." Jaune whispered, looking down at the floor as he tried to hold back tears.
"I'm…I'm sorry, my internal hearing sensors must be damaged, and it sounded like you said that Pyrrha Nikos was dead." The android said, looking at Jaune with wide eyes.
"She's dead!" Jaune yelled, kicking his chair over, "She's dead Penny!"
"I'm…she…how?" Penny asked in a panicked voice.
"Do you remember Cinder?" The knight asked, his voice low.
"Cinder Fall? Yes, she and Ruby's friend Emerald were team members, correct?" The android replied, Jaune's head snapped up.
"Yes…her…that…bitch killed Pyrrha, she killed Pyrrha and then she raised a Grimm dragon and…and…" Jaune stammered our, tears falling down his face as he fell to his knees, "Beacon has fallen, everyone…everyone is gone. I can't find any of them."
"What about team RWBY?" Penny asked, concerned about her friends.
"They…they're gone, or might as well be," Jaune said with a laugh, "Weiss went back to Atlas, Blake's running around playing vigilante, Ruby and Yang are at their home in patch and…oh Dust…Yang."
"What happened to her?" The orange haired girl asked, her voice getting more concerned.
"A man named Adam Taurus…cut off her arm," Jaune said with venom, "He cut it off, and now he's running around like this cities his own fucking playground."
"Jaune…why did you bring me here?" Penny asked, trying to change the subject, "And, where is here?"
"This is an old Atlas bunker," Jaune said with a growl at the name, "They hid some technology here, I'm trying to open it. I'm trying to find something to help me fight back against Cinder and her master."
"Master?" Penny asked in a confused voice.
"Trust me…you don't want to know." Jaune said, hugging himself with his right arm and shuddering suddenly.
"OK," The android replied, noticing the spike in Jaune's vitals, "Then why am I here?"
"I thought…maybe if I looked inside your databanks, then I might be able to get access to this base's computer system." Jaune said as he looked at a nearby computer.
"Well…you ran power to me, causing me to reactivate…please…don't shut me down." Penny whispered suddenly, begging.
"What? Why would I do that?" Jaune asked back, more confused than earlier.
"You…you didn't need to reactivate me, what's to stop you from unplugging my power source?" Penny asked, her eye's wide.
"Penny," The knight whispered as he got up and put a hand on her head, "I wouldn't dream of it, if I had known that this would have brought you back…I would have done it."
"Thank you," Penny whispered, her voice quaking, "What do you intend to do now?"
"Penny…can you access Atlas databanks?" Jaune asked, his voice low.
"Yes, I can access any Atlas system, why?" The android asked, her brown raised in question.
"I'm going to offer you a deal, if I rebuild you…will you open this bunker's armory?" The knight asked, his voice still low.
"Yes, yes I will," Penny said with a grin before noticing something about Jaune, his left sleeve was pinned to his shirt, "Jaune…what happened to your arm?"
Jaune looked down at it as well before looking up with rage fueled eyes.
"Something I'd rather not talk about," The knight growled as a door opened behind him, he turned to the person entering, "Hey Neo."
"Who is that?" Penny asked as she looked over Jaune's shoulder.
"This is Neo, she's a friend, helped me out of a bad spot and we've been hanging out ever since," Jaune said as he looked at Neo, "Neo…we are going to repair Penny, I'm going to need your help with this, OK?"
The girl nodded as she walked over to a toolbox.
"Jaune?" Penny asked suddenly, making the knight turn.
"Yeah?" Jaune replied back, his voice curious.
"I'm sorry about Pyrrha…I wish I could have helped her." The android whispered back, her voice low.
"Yeah…I wish I could have helped too." Jaune answered back as he wiped the tears from his eyes.
Present day…
"So he just…repaired you?" Ironwood asked, looking over the girl.
"Well…he mainly brought me parts and I repaired myself, it wasn't hard. I have detailed schematics of myself stored away." Penny said with a grin to the entire room.
"Then where is your left arm?" Blake asked, gesturing to the still empty socket.
"Well…it happened a few days after my legs were fully functioning…" Penny began.
Flashback…
"Jaune…why don't you have a prosthetic?" Penny said as she looked at Jaune's stump, his lower arm completely missing.
"Didn't have access to one and I don't have the money," Jaune replied back as he looked over Penny's arm as well, lifting it up and down, making sure it didn't need oil, "This should be easy to repair, nothing's too broken."
"Jaune…would you like my arm?" Penny asked suddenly, making Jaune drop the arm in surprise.
"What? Why?" The knight stammered back, his voice raised in confusion.
"Well…it's an arm, I've seen your new sword," Penny answered, pointing at the huge blade across the room, "You need two hands to wield it."
"But…why yours? Why would you offer this?" Jaune asked as he looked at the arm again.
"Well…it's the least I could do for you after you spent so much time rebuilding me, I can rebuild you a little bit." Penny replied, Jaune looked at her in shock.
"But…don't you need it?" Jaune asked, keeping his voice down.
"I can get Atlas to make me a new one when I go back," The android said with a smile, "Besides…this arm is already Aura ready and, since I have the schematics, I can modify it for you."
"Well…OK, if you wish, I'll accept." Jaune said with a grin.
"OK, but before I get started on that, allow me to open that door for you." Penny said as she turned around and walked over to a terminal near the door, she typed in a code using one hand and the door opened in a few seconds.
"Wow…that was quick," Jaune said as he looked inside, the harsh white lights turning on, "Hey Neo, let's check this out."
The silent girl quickly ran in, followed by the knight.
"I'm pulling up the logs," Penny said, as the data came across the screen faster than a human could perceive it, "This was apparently an armory that only a few select people knew about, including Ozpin and Ironwood."
"Of course Ozpin knew about it," Jaune said as he spit on the ground, "What else can you tell me about this place?"
"Apparently, this is where they stored some of the weapons they deemed too dangerous for use." Penny replied as Jaune walked up to a crate, which he pried open. He reached in and pulled out a silver suitcase, opening it to reveal vials of black Dust.
"Beast Dust, any idea what that is?" Jaune yelled out.
"Beast Dust, also known as Berserk Dust, is a rare form of refining Dust that shuts off the nervous system, increases strength, and increases Aura levels with the cost of going into a feral state." The android replied back.
"Odd…wonder why this is here. Shouldn't this stuff be, I don't know, destroyed?" Jaune yelled back as he walked over to a clear tube with black armor in it, "What's this?"
"That is something called the Berserker armor, the Beast Dust goes with it…" Penny replied back.
Present Day…
"So that's how he got it," Goodwitch said as she looked at Ironwood, "What else did he take?"
"A flame thrower, but that's the only other thing," Penny said as she looked around, "Everything else, we took from other Hunter stores."
"So…this arm was once yours?" The doctor said as he held it up.
"Yes, albeit with a substantial upgrade to the armor," Penny said with a prideful grin, "It's powerful enough to withstand plasma rounds!"
"OK, as scary as that is," Yang said before turning to Ruby and Weiss, "Would you care to explain…WHERE THE HELL YOU TWO HAVE BEEN?"
"Yang…it's a bit complicated." Ruby said as she rubbed the back of her head.
Flashback…
Ruby awoke with a groan before her head snapped around, taking in her surroundings. She was in a dark room on a cot, the girl jumped to her feet as the door opened. A girl with pink and brown hair walked in with a tray, Ruby instantly remembered her from the train…this was the girl who beat Yang…the one who was with Torchwick when he tried to kill her on the airship. The girl looked shocked as Ruby suddenly raced past her, Ruby wasn't waiting to find out if the girl wanted revenge.
"Salutations Ruby!" Penny yelled, causing Ruby to trip and fall down.
"Penny!?" The reaper yelped as she landed, grabbing her head as she looked up, "You…how…what?"
"Jaune did it! He found and rebuilt me!" The android yelled as she picked the young girl off the ground.
"Jaune…Jaune!" Ruby yelled out as she remembered what happened a few days ago, "Where is he?"
"He's in there," Penny said as she pointed at a nearby door, "He's sharpening his sword and letting his body recover."
"Recover from what?" Ruby asked, a slight amount of concern coming into her voice.
"He'll have to explain it to you…it's complicated." The android said as she rubbed the back of her head. Ruby looked at the android, but, seeing that she wasn't going to get any answers, opened the door. The sound of a grind stone filled the air as she entered, heat blasting her face as well. Ruby could see a dark figure, his siluette illuminated by a fire, sparks flew off his blade.
"Jaune?" Ruby whispered as she neared him, the figures head snapped up as he whirled around. Jaune relaxed as he realized who it was who spoke, he gestured for her to come closer.
"Hey Ruby," Jaune said, his voice hoarse as the teen neared, "How's the head?"
"Better…Jaune…what's going on?" Ruby asked as she neared him, she got close enough to see his face, one that once was full and innocent, now dark and greasy, "What happened to your eye?"
"A gift from Mercury," Jaune growled as he grabbed a seat and pulled it up for Ruby, "One I intend to pay him back for, as for what's going on, I knocked you out and brought you here. Seems simple enough."
"Why did you kill Adam? Why did you bring me here?" Ruby fired off, clearly upset.
"Why? Adam needed to die," Jaune said, "The White Fang are in disarray, they're confused, they won't be a threat for a while, as for why I brought you here? That answer is simple…your eyes."
"What?" Ruby asked, confusion evident on her face.
"Your eyes…you stopped the dragon, you put a wrench in Cinder's plans…that makes you a target," Jaune said as he looked around the room with his one eye, "Everyone thinks you're dead, that includes Cinder. For now, you're safe."
"Everyone?" Ruby asked, her voice cracking.
"Well…in time they will, they need too," The blonde said as he rubbed his shoulder, "Ruby…I'm sorry about kidnapping you, but it's the only way to keep you safe."
"Jaune, that's…that's insane," The reaper replied, still in shock at what was happening, "We need to get out there, we need to find Goodwitch, she'll…"
"Did you not hear what I said?!" Jaune yelled, cutting her off, "As soon as you step outside, Cinder will know you're alive! Do you know what she'll do?!"
"I…" Ruby started before being cut off.
"She'll track down Yang, your father…Weiss, she'll drag them back here to lure you out! She'll torture them and kill them!" Jaune yelled as his eye widened with rage, "And you'll fall for it! Because that's what she does!"
Ruby visibly shrank at the harshness in his voice as he yelled, the knight, after panting heavily, looked at the reaper before taking a deep breath.
"Sorry," Jaune said as he walked to a chair, "The Dust is working its way out of my system, it does a number on me."
"What Dust?" Ruby asked, this time out of concern.
"Let me tell you about it…" Jaune answered, his voice dropping.
Present…
"That's when he told me about the armor," Ruby said as she looked over the crowd, "He also explained to me his plan, how he intended to bring team RWBY back together."
"He did succeed in that regard," Blake muttered before she turned to Weiss, "And what's your story?"
"Well…it's a bit awkward to talk about…" Weiss said as she looked at Yang.
Flashback…
Weiss awoke to a burning pain in her shoulder, the heiress looked over at said shoulder. It was wrapped in bandages and slathered with green gel, Aura booster, she believed it was called. She groaned as she turned her head to face the other way, coming face to face with a face she thought long dead. Ruby Rose was inches away from her, Weiss laughed as she drank in the image.
Yep…she was dead, she knew it. Weiss Schnee, the heiress to the Schnee Dynasty, had been killed by that idiot Jaune Arc. Well…if she was dead, she wasn't going to hold back. The Heiress reached out and grabbed the red head, who, squeaking in surprise, didn't offer any resistance as Weiss pulled her in for a kiss.
Weiss felt Ruby's hand go around her hair, pulling her closer, deepening the kiss. Weiss just held it there, finally tasting Ruby's sweet lips, when a knock on the door was heard. The heiress broke away from the kiss to see Jaune Arc standing there, looking haggard.
"If you're done," The knight said, "We've got something to discuss."
Weiss's eyes opened wide as she took in his form…yep, he looked exactly like he did when he stabbed her, but if he was here, did that mean he was dead as well? The pain in her shoulder resounded again, wait…if she was dead…why did her shoulder hurt? The reality hit her like a ton of bricks…she was alive, and she had just made out with Ruby…
"Ruby…I…" Weiss started before Ruby giggled as she hugged the heiress.
"I'm so happy you're here!" Ruby yelled as she squeezed the heiress tight.
"You…you…you're alive!" Weiss yelled in pure shock.
"Of course she is, did you really think I would kill Ruby? She's like one of my sisters." Jaune finished as he got up, gesturing for the Heiress to follow. She got up and followed up him, with Ruby following as well. He led them throughout the base, stopping at what appeared to be a kitchen. Food had been set out, Jaune gestured to Weiss to eat, which she greedily did.
"You eat and get your strength back, we'll talk later, I know you have questions," The blonde said as he walked out, "and I assume you might want to talk to Ruby alone."
The door closed behind Jaune, leaving Weiss to look over at Ruby awkwardly.
"Sorry." Weiss said abruptly, making Ruby jump.
"For what?" The reaper asked as she inched closer.
"For kissing you, it was unprofessional and uncouth, I'm sorry." Weiss answered, looking down.
"Weiss…" Ruby said as she moved in closer, "You know…after Beacon…do you want to know the thing that I missed the most?"
"The cookies?" Weiss answered, trying to ignore the heat rising to her cheeks as Ruby moved closer.
"Well…those and something else," Ruby said as she got inches away from Weiss, "I missed a certain someone, someone who called me a dolt but looked past that, someone who wore white, someone who always wanted her 'beauty sleep,' someone who tried to date a blue haired guy and made me jealous."
"Ruby, I think that you should…" Weiss stammered, only for Ruby grab the Heiress's hand and hold it tight.
"Weiss…I love you," Ruby whispered as she pulled the heiress close, "I don't ever want to see you leave again."
"Ruby…shut up and kiss me you dolt." Weiss replied back, allowing the reaper to kiss her once again.
Present…
"And that's how we got here," Weiss said, "He knew that Ironwood would set himself as bait and that the only way to keep up the ruse of him being unhinged was to fall for the trap, we just thought he could handle it. We didn't know that Nora or Ren were here."
"So, Jaune's been keeping an image of insanity as a ploy?" Ren asked, surprised at his leaders resourcefulness.
"Well…yes and no," Penny jumped in, "The armor does have a dramatic effect on his psyche when he is using it, especially after the Berserk Dust is used. It does increase his aggression levels as well as his depression, usually to extremes."
"Depression?" Blake chimed in, concern in her voice.
"Well…yes, surely you must have noticed that Jaune Arc is depressed about the death of Pyrrha," Penny said as she turned to face the cat faunas, "Usually the death of a loved one does that to someone."
"I mean, it makes sense," Yang said as she turned to face Blake, "I mean…I lost an arm, he lost Pyrrha."
"But his mood was greatly improved when Ruby, and later Weiss, joined him," The android chimed in again, "It seems being with his friends helped him."
"I only wish we could have been here sooner," Ren said with a sigh, "We didn't realize that Jaune would go so far."
"Yes, but seeing Ruby and Weiss demonstrate their affection for each other, it drastically affected his mood," Penny said with a grin, "Although…he didn't seem comfterble when they participated in coatis."
"What?!" Yang yelled as her eyes snapped towards the heiress.
"Penny…now is not the time for this…" Ruby tried to whisper to no avail.
"Ruby Weiss participated in sexual congress multiple times before our journey here," Penny said with a grin, "Jaune's biochemistry levels rose into a state of extreme anxiety…"
"You had sex with my sister?!" Yang and Winter screamed, both Weiss and Ruby backing away slowly.
"Yang, it was a mutual thing…" Ruby said as she stepped in front of Weiss, Yang's eyes turned red as she growled.
"You've got three minutes till I kick both of your asses." Yang growled, both Ruby and Weiss looked at each other, nodded…and took off as fast as they could. Yang and Winter walked out slowly, getting ready to pursue.
"Anxiety you say?" The doctor asked, his voice low and concerned.
"Yes, though he refused to acknowledge it, why?" Penny asked, her voice showing that she didn't realize had just happened with Ruby and Yang.
"Interesting," The doctor said as he turned to the general, "When I was examining Mr. Arc, I noticed some strange scarring on his thighs, posterior region, and groin."
"Are you saying that…" Sun started before the doctor raised his shoulders.
"I'm not suggesting anything, but we'll need to get a full psychological evaluation of Mr. Arc before we continue on." The doctor said as he took his leave.
"That can wait," Blake said as she started out the tent, "We've got to make sure Winter and Yang don't kill Ruby and Weiss."
A few hours later…
Yang stormed into the medical building, she had just gotten out of a lecture from Goodwitch about setting fire to personal property and she was kind of pissed. She needed to talk to Neo about everything, the quiet girl was really good at listening, but she was told that she had headed to the medical facility for Dust knows why.
"I'm looking for a girl, short, brown and pink hair, same color eyes, have you seen her?" The blonde asked the receptionist.
"Uh…yes, she just passed through, she is visiting room 3C. A patient by the name of…Jaune Arc, I believe." The woman answered before she turned to help another person. Yang looked at the woman with a slight amount of shock, sure, she remembered that Ruby had mentioned that Neo was with Jaune, but she had forgotten it in her rage about…things she'd rather not think about.
Why was Neo visiting Jaune right now? Yang quickly shook her head as she started down the hallway, she had some questions she needed to ask Jaune as well. The blonde moved her way past doctors and orderlies until she reached the door, the two guards outside stopped her before she could enter.
"Authorized personal only." One of the guards said gruffly.
"Did you let a girl in with brown hair and pink hair, same colored eyes, probably holding an umbrella?" The brawler asked.
"No, the only person who has entered is a nurse, she's been in there checking his vitals." The other guard replied, Yang groaned as she grabbed her head. Of course, Neo could create very effective illusions.
"Look, I've been authorized to enter, I'm his…psychological evaluator." Yang said, hoping the soldiers didn't know who she was.
"Yeah, and I'm a Grimm." One of the guards said with a laugh.
"She actually is," A voice rang out from behind her, the three all turned to face the doctor who was in the tent earlier, "She's just arrived a bit ahead of schedule, she's also dressed in a way to make the patient more comfterble."
"Sorry sir," The guard who spoke earlier said as he turned and opened the door, "Ma'me, sorry for the delay."
Yang nodded as she entered, a sheet had been set up so that no one could see Jaune, and they weren't risking Jaune seeing what they were going to inject him with. Yang slowly approached the sheet, hearing whispers as he got closer.
"…Neo, I'm sorry, but I can't stop. You know that." Jaune whispered, Yang slowly approached, peeking her head through. She saw Jaune with his hands on Neo's stomach, the girl making motions with her hand.
"You figured as much?" Jaune said with a slight amount of surprise, "Then why are you here?"
Neo made some more motions with her hands.
"Yeah…I guess that's fair," Jaune said with a laugh, "But…do you think you'll be safe? You and the baby?"
Neo laughed as she did a few more hand motions, followed by punching.
"Wait…you and Yang?" Jaune laughed as Neo nodded, "Hah! I told you that you would find someone else."
Yang saw Neo's shoulders move as she giggled, the brawler took a step back, knocking down a chair by accident. Both of the two snapped towards the sheet, Neo jumping through with a scalpel in hand. Her eyes widened as she saw the spy, the mute took a few steps back, allowing Yang to enter.
"So…you and her…" The brawler began but didn't finish.
"Yes…we did." Jaune said, lowering his head in shame.
"Well…was it before or after you met me?" Yang said, her voice cracking as she turned to face Neo.
"Before…" Jaune answered, his gaze lowering even more.
"Well…that clears things up a bit," Yang said as she approached the small girl, who looked down at the ground in shame. This was it, she had lost it. Neo was losing the woman she loved, "Neo…"
Neo didn't look up, until a gentle hand lifted her chin up. Neo looked deep into those purple eyes, only to be brought closer to them. Jaune groaned again as the two started making out.
"If you're gonna fuck each other, please leave the room," Jaune groaned out, "I feel like the general is going to ride my ass tomorrow to get answers."
"Sorry," Yang said with a laugh, "Hey…I need to ask you something, where did you get the sword?"
"It's not as grand as you think, it's a trophy from my great-grandfather's time in the war, took it off a opponent." Jaune answered, Yang nodded as she grabbed Neo and dragged her out. The knight looked over at the open window and sighed…
Flashback…
Jaune stared at the picture in his hands, of him and Pyrrha on the docks. It had just been a normal shopping trip but…Pyrrha had insisted they get a photo. The knight's eyes filled with tears as he continued to look at it, the memories of the past, the thoughts of what could have been filling his mind. He was too weak, he had always been too weak, the only one who had ever believe in him, the only one who had ever thought he could to it. Pyrrha's picture blurred as his tears fell on it, the glass protecting it from the water.
What should he do? What could he do? She was gone…and she wasn't coming back and yet Jaune felt something…something boiling underneath his skin. He figured it out a while back, it was rage. Rage that someone had done this, had let this happen, had told her that she was the only hope, had told her about the Maidens, had let loose an arrow through her heart.
All of them…they had doomed her, doomed Pyrrha to die. How stupid was he? He had ignored her attempts at infection, and what happened? Those bastards killed her before she actually realized that she needed to go all in, all of them…they needed to pay. Jaune looked at the picture…before punching it, shattering the glass, ignoring the glass tearing at his skin, he pulled out the photo.
He got to his feet, walking over and ripping open the door to his room. He stormed through the house, opening the basement door, walked up to a chest, and ripped it open. It was a big chest, one designed to hold a great treasure. Jaune grabbed the blade and, with a groan of effort, pulled it out. The knight grinned as he looked across its huge blade, yeah…this would too nicely.
Crocea Mors didn't fit for his task…this blade would do, this blade had killed men and Grimm, good and evil, this blade…Grimm-Slayer. Jaune got to his feet as he walked out of the basement, stopping at a door near him. He opened it to reveal a small girl, half his age. Her blonde hair shined in the pale moonlight, she woke to his entering.
"Brother…what time is it?" She asked as he approached.
"It's late, I just needed to tell you something," Jaune said as he patted her head, "Brothers going to be leaving soon…and I'm not coming back."
"What?" The girl asked, her eye widening as she suddenly grabbed Jaune's waist, "Don't go brother, please!"
"Shh," Jaune whispered as he pried her off of him, "It's OK, I needed to tell you something, remember Crocea Mors?"
"Yeah…" The girl asked as she wiped away tears.
"I need you to promise me something, when the time comes…do with it what you think is right." Jaune whispered.
"Brother…are you going to be a hero?" The girl asked, her eyes still full of tear.
"Yes, that's why I've got to go." The knight said as he kissed her head.
"I love you…" the girl said as Jaune turned around, the knight turned with a smile as well.
"I love you too." Jaune said as he set out, he would have his vengeance, even if it killed him.