Chapter 18: Investigation

Location: Beacon Academy, Vale Year: Unknown

As usual, I was mostly lost in thought in Professor Port's class, remembering the fun moments while in the Wasteland. Also, Yang said she got me something and said she'll show me in Vale, so that was itching my mind, trying to figure out what could it be. But then class ended and it was time for team RWBY and I to begin the investigation.

Minutes later, when I arrived in my dorm, I switched to my NCR Veteran Ranger Combat Armor, switching things up a bit, and switched to my Ranger Sequoia and waited for a little for team RWBY to get ready. Afterward, I came to RWBY's dorm and knocked on there door.

I then heard Ruby's voice, "Uh... who is it?"

"It's Edward, Ruby."

"Alright, come on in."

As I entered, both Weiss and Ruby were stunned at my armor while Yang and Blake smirked.

"Wow... it looks like your original oufit, Eddie." Ruby said.

Weiss added, "Yeah, but a little intimidating than the other. Not that it is a bad thing, of course."

Then Blake commented, "You're finally wearing your old NCR uniform, Edd."

Yang gave me a thumbs up and quoted, "Now you're rockin'!"

I nodded and replied, "Thanks! I haven't wore this for a long while."

After a long, awkward silence, I then I asked, "Uhm... do you guys even have a plan or are you going to make it up as you go?"

Yang answered, "Yeah, we've got a plan that's... moderately serious."

Ruby followed up, "Right, everyone remember their roles?"

Weiss answers, "You and I will head to the CCT and check the Schnee records for any other Dust Robberies, or inconsistencies. Seeing as I'm in the family, it shouldn't be a problem."

Then 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 they're planning."

Then Yang says, "I, along with Edward, will visit an old friend of mine on the shady side of town that typically knows everything going on. Getting information out of him shouldn't be too hard."

Ruby replies, "Great, we'll meet up tonight near Yang to go over what we've found. Let's do this!"

Then we heard someone shouted, "Yeah!" outside the window and saw that it was Sun, hanging from a tree.

Then we jumped back and Yang asks, "Sun! How did you get up there?"

"Ah, it's easy, I do it all the time." Sun answered.

"You do what!?" Weiss shouted.

"I climb trees all the time!" Sun replied.

Then Sun jumps in and asks, "So... are we finally getting back at that Torchwick guy?"

Blake answers, "WE are going to investigate the situation... as a team."

Then Ruby said, "Sorry Sun, we don't want to get friends involved if we don't have to."

"Pfft, that's dumb. You should always get friends involved. That's why I brought Neptune." Sun replied.

'Wait, what?!' I thought to myself as we looked out the window and see Neptune on the edge.

Neptune casually said, "'Sup."

I asked him, "How in the Hell did you even get up here?"

"I have my ways... seriously though, can I come in. We're like, really high up right now." Neptune replied.

After a few minutes of re-explaining the plan, Ruby began, "Alright. I'll go with Weiss. Sun, you can go with Blake. And Neptune, you go with Yang and Edward. Everyone good?"

Weiss began, "Actually Ruby, why don't you go with Yang, heh. After all, she is your sister."

"But Weiss, who would go with you then?" Ruby asks.

"Well, I guess Neptune could come with me." Weiss responded.

'Wait? Did I hear her right? She wants to go with a guy she just met?' I thought to myself in confusion.

Ruby started to laugh and replied, "Nah!"

Then Ruby began to drag Weiss, who was saying, "But! But!"

XXXXXX

'3rd POV...'

"Wow! I forgot how big the transmit tower looks so close!" Ruby replied as her and Weiss headed to the said building.

Weiss replies, "You should see the one in Atlas."

"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."

Then Ruby intimidate Weiss, "Ooo look at me, my name is Weiss, Iknow facts, I'm rich!" Then she giggled.

"Don't be a pest. Besides, the only reason we're here is because you like the tower so much. We could've just as easily made a call from the library." Weiss replied back.

"I know, but it's so cool! Oh! I'm going to take a picture!" Ruby said as she stumbled with her Scroll.

She then dropped it and someone picked it up, "Oh! You dropped this."

"Penny?!" Ruby said.

Penny looked surprised and said, "Uhh..."

"Where have you been?! We haven't seen you since the night at the docks." Ruby said.

Penny tried to confuse them, "S-sorry. I think you're confused."

Then Penny hiccuped and gave Ruby her Scroll, then 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 to chase after Penny.

"W-wait!" Weiss shouted to Ruby as she left. "Ugh."

As Ruby caught up with Penny, Ruby began to question, "Penny! Where have you been? It's been weeks!"

"There seems to be a misunderstanding." Penny replies.

"What?! Penny... is everything okay?" 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, and Ruby said, "I need you to tell me what happened to you that night, please... as a friend."

Penny sighed and looked around her, and she whispers to Ruby, "It isn't safe to talk here."

Nearby, Weiss enters the tower and she enters the elevator. Then a voice from the intercom asks, "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 and walks up to and there, sat a holographic figure of a woman, who replies, "Welcome to the Beacon Cross-Continental Transmit Center. How may I help you?"

"I need to make a call to the Schnee Company World Headquarters in Atlas." Weiss replies.

"Absolutely. If you could head over to Terminal 3, I'll patch you through."

"Thank you." Weiss thanked.

Then Weiss heads over to the terminal and sat down. Weiss sighed and then an image of another woman, who said, "Thank you for calling the Atlas- oh, Miss Schnee! Good afternoon! Would you like me to patch you through to your father? I think your sister, Winter, might be here as well."

Weiss replies, "No thank you, I was actually wondering if you could find some files for me." Then she pulled up her Scroll and inserted the data, "I've compiled a short list."

"I see... If you don't mind... What may I ask is this for?"

"School project." Weiss answered

"Um, there are some sensitive documents on this list, ma'am."

"Well then, I'll be sure to treat them with care." Weiss replied back.

"Right... Very well. The data is being transferred to your Scroll now."

"Wonderful. That will be all then." Weiss said as she took back her Scroll.

But then, the woman asks, "Are you sure you wouldn't like me to patch you through to you father before you go?"

"Yes, I'm sure." Weiss replies.

"Well then, have a nice day." the woman said as she disappeared. Weiss frowned afterward and then she got up and left.

Somewhere else in Vale, Ruby and Penny were talking...

"I wish I could help you, Ruby, but I don't know anything about those men." Penny said.

Ruby asks, "Well, what happen to you that night? We were all together and then you just disappeared. Though, Edward thought you just went home for the night, since it was an eventful night for us, but I know you wouldn't leave without saying goodbye."

"My father asked me not to venture too far, but, oh you have to understand, my father loves me very much. He just worries a lot." Penny replies.

"Heh, believe me, I know the feeling, so does Edward, even though he lost his father at the age of thirteen."

Penny was shocked and asks, "That's terrible! What about his mother?"

Ruby sighed and answered, "He said that his mother died when he was born. You also have to understand that he was born underground in a bunker in a wasteland. Over there, it's so dangerous that he says, in quote, 'not even the creatures of Grimm dare to tread.' He's a vigilante, Penny. He risks his own life more times than you think to protect the innocent. That's why he's attending at Beacon; to help the people and make his parents proud, since his family believes in an afterlife."

Penny was speechless on Ruby's answer, but she nodded.

Then Ruby asks, "But, why not let us know you were okay?"

Penny answered, "I, was asked, not to talk to you. Or Weiss... or Blake... or Yang. Anybody really."

"Was your dad that upset?" Ruby asked.

"No, it wasn't my father." Penny said.

Before Ruby can ask, a voice came out, "The AK130 has been a standard security model of Remnant for several years. And they have done a fine job, would't you agree? Wouldn't you agree?"

After the whole introduction (Because I'm a little lazy at the moment :| ), Then, these two Atlesian soldiers noticed them and Penny ran off, with Ruby following behind.

XXXXXX

'Edward's POV...'

We arrived at where Yang took us, but not to meet her old friend, but for the surprise.

"What is this surprise?! It's driving me insane, here!" I asked, irritated.

Yang smirked as we walked up to a cloth sheet covering up something. She then said, "Well, you ARE going to be driving, for sure."

Neptune and I looked at each other and I looked back at her and asked, "Huh?"

She then pulled the sheet and revealed a retro-style motorcycle, which almost looks exactly like the ones, known as the Lone Wanderer Motorcycles, back in the Wasteland.(From Fallout 4)

Then Yang shouted, "Say hello to your new ride, Eddie!"

I was speechless here. Here I am, staring at the bike, which is matted black, retro-style tires, and, in fact, even has the name, 'Lone Wanderer' on the fuel tank.

"H-how...? W-wha...?" I stuttered.

I then looked at Yang and asked, "How did you get the money for this?"

"Actually, my dad insisted on getting you a ride, as thanks for protecting Ruby AND being a great mentor to us!" Yang answered.

"You told him, didn't you?" I asked Yang.

"Well... he did asked me and Ruby about you at one point when we got in contact with him, and we told him about you, your accomplishments, and the like." Yang shrugged.

I hopped on my new ride, started up the engine, and listen to it, how Yang would say, 'purr'.

I laughed internally and then turned to Yang and said, "Thank you, so much, Yang. Also, tell your father that I thanked him."

Yang smiled and said, "Of course, Eddie!"

Then she and Neptun hooped on her 'Bumblebee' and then Yang smirked and teased, "And might I say, you're looking fine on her." as she giggled.

"DANGIT YANG!" I yelled.

To be Continued...