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Beta(s) :
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"You're certain about this?" Roland asked once they'd landed and found somewhere private for… Well, for him to use her.
Which sounded dirty enough that the filthy alley they'd slipped into felt fitting, but then, this felt dirty to him. Taking her over, like a meat puppet- Or, well, a pseudo-meat puppet? She was synthetic, but the point stood regardless.
It appealed.
And that appalled him. Terrified him...
"We do not have a choice, and so I have no option but to be sure." The young woman said, sitting on a low crate entrenched by mush and grime and filth from the Mantle alley. She smiled up at the silent Spartan - at him, looking through the Spartan's camera system - and went on, "I already have the infrastructure for remote control as well. A safety measure of my father's, in case I were ever to be… Well, taken in a rather similar way as to this. Albeit without my consent."
"Still…"
"We have few options for getting you into Atlas, or Mantle's, systems." The Arbiter rumbled from nearer the end of the alleyway, where he was keeping watch on the city from under the heavy edge of his regal helmet. "Further, time does press…"
"I know, but…" Roland didn't have an argument and sighed, "Alright, alright. I just… Wanted to make sure she was sure."
"I appreciate your concern. It is… Comforting." A moment passed, and Penny let out a shaky breath. "Alright. I am... Open, now. Please, be quick."
He intended to do just that.
"Spartan, I need contact." The super-soldier only nodded in response, kneeling and reaching out to rest a hand on her shoulder.
The connection established, he reached out through the Spartan's systems to make contact with Penny's own. True to her word, the woman's mind and body offered no resistance as he slipped into her being, code spidering along strange branches of circuitry and programming. He felt her mind shudder as he overtook her, but Penny only withdrew, letting him seize one system after another.
A heartbeat passed, then, and he breathed-
He breathed, and tasted the cold, and the filth of the alleyway.
He could feel the Spartan's hand on his - her, their - shoulder, pressing down comfortingly. And the cold crate under their rear, sending chills into her thighs. They raised their hand, turning it in front of them, and then ran it through their hair. It was exhilarating- He could feel it all!
He nearly lost himself, until he felt Penny press her mind against him, "Roland…"
"Yeah." He sighed, aware that they were both speaking through her, and of the worried looks that got them. He heard Qrow grumble something from further in the alley but ignored it, "I'm sorry. It's just… A lot."
Sensation was…
Wonderful.
And not for him.
He reached out through Penny's connections, wirelessly accessing the nearest security node - conveniently located in a fenced off area at the back of this alley - and reached out, across Mantle's network. Nothing opposed him, and he spent minutes compiling a map of the security systems that spanned the entire city. Then he outlined the paths, alleys, roads and accesses that either never had security coverage, or where they had failed.
"Approximately twenty nine percent of the city is not covered properly by security systems." He said, speaking with Penny's voice and fighting to ignore the oddness of it. And his own want to make it not hers anymore. "I looked specifically for areas where these aligned into pathways, but that only brought it down to fifteen percent…"
"That's…" The Arbiter hummed, "Quite a lot of vulnerability."
"Atlas has never given a damn about Mantle." Qrow offered quietly, "So makes sense to me they'd have holes everywhere."
"Foolishness." The Arbiter chided, "To leave yourself so open… Why?"
"Because no one cares about Mantle." Qrow answered simply, "It's Atlas first. And everyone else whenever they decide to give a damn. Fuckin' jackboots..."
"Regardless, we need to find a way to narrow that list down." The Master Chief said, turning to the Arbiter and then back to Penny - to Roland - and adding, "Are you done with her?"
No, he wanted so much more from this body, but…
"Yeah. Yeah, I'm… Yeah." He forced himself to say instead, receding from Penny as she pushed forward and retook herself. He let her, jumping back into the Spartan's armor and using it to reconnect to the splinter of himself he'd left behind on the Black Sun. Safely back in his domain, he pushed the memories of sensation - real and proper sensation - into a box and hid it away, turning back to work. "We need to narrow that list down. But I don't know how to do it."
"Maybe ask the people that made the holes…?"
"And that would be?"
"Probably dissidents." The Spartan said, rising and turning away from Penny while she collected herself. Roland understood the need, and was just about to offer her an apology when she opened her mouth.
"I… May know some people who are likely to be involved, or at least, to know where the security holes are." Penny said quietly, standing on shaky leads and shaking her head a bit. "They may not wish to work with us, or, well, with me, but- But I do not care. I will convince them, somehow."
"How 'bout we start with who 'they' are, kiddo?"
"Ironwood's most disliked political rivals." Penny explained quietly, "An activist group known as the 'Happy Huntresses'."
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The Arbiter was used to being stared at by Humans, both on this world and off of it, and Mantle was no different. At least, bar for the fact that here on Remnant, there were also Faunus to stare at him. And stare they did, eyes running up and down his form. His armor. Lingering on the sword on his thigh, though he was certain none knew quite what it was. For how could they? It was an entirely foreign weapon to them.
He was not the only foreign thing upon which eyes lingered, though.
No, his Spartan ally drew almost as many lingering stares and curious whispers as Thel himself did. And murmurs as well, questioning who - and what - he was. Most seemed to land on Atlesian, though, scowling either at the Spartan or the ground as they made way for them. A few eyes were spared for Penny as well, and even for Branwen on the Arbiter's other side, but none lingered in the same way. Or held the same strength of emotion, either, save for a few of the young ones who watched both of the latter with awe and admiration.
Future warriors, perhaps?
There was no way for him to tell, but it brought warmth to his breast.
"We are here." Penny's words tugged him out of his thoughts as she came to a stop before him, turning a look over her shoulder. "I… Should warn you, however. The Huntresses do not exactly trust those of Atlas."
"Good, they shouldn't." Qrow grunted hotly, suntering past her and leaning against the light pole at the edge of the street-corner they were on. "Big warehouse, right across the street?"
"That is it, yes."
"It is…" Unremarkable, he started to say, and that was true. It was a simple front warehouse, similar to all of those that lined the other side of the street, bar for the armed woman standing by the door. Instead of the insult, though, he offered, "It is suitable enough, I suppose."
"Mhm." Qrow growled, "We're bein' watched, by the by…"
"May Marigold," Penny offered quietly, "Robyn Hill's right hand and legal consultant. She's Atlesian by birth, but… Well, she found more than a little of herself in Mantle, and has given the General no end of headaches in his efforts to curtail Robyn Hill's political ambitions."
"How political is she?" The Spartan asked warily, the hands on his rifle's grip flexing subtly.
"She is running for the seat as Mantle's Council. She has even purchased this building, and filed for a permit to host an election night gathering." Penny offered quietly, explaining after a moment, "It is one of four, two of which are held by General Ironwood. His other is that of the Commander in Chief of the Atlas Air-Fleet and Army, and Headmaster of the properly named Military Academy of Atlas."
"How is that a fair share of power?" Thel asked, the words rumbling free before he could catch them.
"It ain't." Qrow answered, waving a flippant hand skyward and then crossing his arms. "Jimmy ain't the most democratic kind o' man, you know."
"General Ironwood is…" Penny started to argue and then grimaced and turned to look ahead, "You are not wrong. But we should not tarry here, they will grow wary of us soon enough. And if they do, Miss Hill will leave."
"Why run if she's not a criminal?" The Demon asked quietly, "Which I'm assuming is the case, as she's running for office."
"Atlesian officers can arrest and detain a person for up to one week without charges." Penny answered quietly, "And the election is in two days."
"And…?"
"And if you are not present to accept the title and be sworn in the day after, you forfeit your seat to the second runner up." Penny finished quietly, "So she… May decide that is why we have come."
A moment of silence passed before the Spartan offered, lowly, "ONI would have appreciated that…"
Thel could not help the amused snort that broke free.
As they crossed the road, Penny made a show of spreading her empty hands to either side and Qrow, on seeing it, did the same with a roll of his eyes. Neither he nor the Spartan bothered to do the same, though. The former likely because he was a weapon in and of himself, and the latter because… Well, he doubted they would be focusing on his weapons for terribly long, with all things duly considered.
The woman was blue-haired and well-built, and brought her weapon around in front of her as they came. The moment Penny stepped onto the side-walk she snapped, "This is private property. Unless Atlas has a warrant, I'm going to need you to-"
"We- I am not here on behalf of Atlas, Miss Marigold." Penny cut her off, stepping a bit to the side and nodding ever so slightly at the three of them. "And they are not of Atlas, for that matter."
"Yeah, I figured from lookin' at him." The woman grumbled, eyeing Thel up as he stepped forward, heavy boots thudding as he did. He raised his head and stood to his full height, and the woman pursed her lips, "Grimm tits… What the hell even are you?"
"That," he chuckled, "is a rather long story. And one I have little time for. I need your people's aid."
"And we'd give it because…?"
"Because I am the Protector of Mantle." Penny answered quietly, "And my endorsement for the Council seat would bring over some of the Atlas loyalists to vote for Miss Hill. She has been having some difficulty with the patriot vote, no?"
"...Fuck." The Huntress grunted after a heartbeat. Turning for the door she snapped, "Wait here for a minute."
No one said anything against it and she slipped inside, her shout for Robyn cut off as the old door closed behind her. They were left out in the cold as minutes passed, Qrow pacing along behind him while Penny hummed a song. Eventually, he turned and looked out across the street where a crowd was slowly starting to gather. And watch them, as well. He could see the men and women - almost all sporting Faunus traits or rugged looking prosthetics - talking amongst each other.
He began to worry when more arrived, sporting tools as if they'd just come from a job.
"Troublesome…"
"Maybe." The Spartan grunted, "Penny. Civilians."
"Hm?" She hummed, stepping around the wall he and the Spartan had unconsciously made, standing shoulder to shoulder while Qrow paced anxiously in front of them. On seeing the crowd, Penny sighed and buzzed ahead and into the air with a murmur of, "Just stay here, I will speak to them."
"I do not believe that is-" She was gone before the Arbiter could finish, and he sighed and finished, "Wise."
She came down to land and the civilians parted, listening as she talked to them. One said something, gesturing at them across the street, and Penny smiled as she answered him. At last, whatever she was saying seemed to mollify the worst of the crowd's fears and, as most of them scattered back to whatever they had to be doing, she turned to jet back over to them.
"They feared we were here to arrest her, as I suggested Miss Marigold would fear earlier." Penny preempted his questions as she landed, straightening and trying to smile up at Thel. "Do not worry, though. I explained we were only here to speak with her and they agreed to trust me."
"You have much sway…"
"I've spent a long time, fighting for them. Defending them." Penny answered quietly, smiling softly and adding, "They believe in me."
"Hm." The Arbiter nodded, turning away and rumbling, "Good."
Finally, the door opened and a rather large example of the female side of the population stepped out, eyeing them all up and down and grunting as she stepped aside, "No one else has showed."
May came out next, followed by a short, waif of a thing with fluffy white hair who cocked a hip and crossed her arms. She spoke to Penny, ignoring the rest of them, "Robyn is busy, and not here, but she's willing to help you, Polendina. What's going on?"
"I need your help in finding where individuals who would rather not be found would hide, cross-referenced with a map if the Mantle camera and monitoring system." Penny explained quietly adding, when the woman's brows furrowed, "Someone… A very dear friend of mine, that is, has been kidnapped by a very dangerous individual."
"And their name is…?"
"Tyrian Callows." Qrow grunted, shouldering Penny aside. Or rather, trying to, and bouncing off her when she refused to move. Still, he stood next to her, growling quietly, "Real crazy fucker. Has a Semblance lets him cut right through Aura, too. And he has my niece off somewhere out there."
"I'm sorry for your loss-"
"Fuck your eyes, sorry for my loss." He snapped desperately, "Help me!"
"Branwen!" A heavy, Spartan hand grasped his shoulder and yanked him back, visor pressing close. "Control yourself."
"Hrgh."
"Forgive him, please." The Arbiter rumbled, bowing deeply as the Spartan pulled him further away and around, speaking to him lowly. Straightening, he met her narrow eyes and turned to pay the large woman and May, on the Faunus' other side, bows in turn before he spoke again. "Ruby is… Precious to him, and to me. To be taken by such a monster as I am assured he is… It is terrifying."
"I… Recognize the name." The woman murmured, eyes ficking as she stared into space for a long moment before they widened. "Oh, fuck…"
"Fiona?"
"Tyrian Callows, May." The woman, Fiona, murmured quietly. "I thought he was dead…"
"He most certainly is not, though I would quite enjoy rectifying that." The Arbiter growled, "Regardless, we need your help. He has not appeared on security systems, and so we compiled a list of areas not covered by them. But it is so large, and time is so short…"
"He's sent demands?"
"Ironwood has only given us a day." He answered, "Penny would be demanded back at his side. Among other… Issues."
"...Okay, we'll help." A voice spoke from around the door, before a fourth woman with dark skin and stark hair stepped into view. "But I get Polendina's support in the election. However I want that to come."
"I will gladly give a speech for you." The gynoid promised easily, "Anything for my dearest friend."
"And I want to know what you are, too." She added, pointing up at Thel. He pursed his mandibles and she added, "And don't worry about it bein' a long story, I have time."
"Very well." He sighed, "I suppose I have little choice. Though understand I do have some secrets."
His military career, she did not need to know as of yet. Once Ruby was safe, he would unveil that, but for now, the dishonor of deception was a smaller weight than her blood.
"Fine." She grunted, "Branwen's support, too."
"Mine?"
"You're a name, Branwen." She grunted when Qrow stepped back to the door. "Old Hunter like you will sway some of the patriot vote, too. And the Hunter vote."
"Ah, well…" The man grunted and shrugged, "Hell, you save Ruby, I'll kiss your boots on stage in front o' everyone."
"Last condition." Robyn said, flicking a look to Fiona and then turning back to them, "Fiona goes with you, as a minder and a guide. You start pushing any buttons? Poking your nose where it doesn't belong? Deal's off."
"Very well." The Arbiter rumbled, offering his hand in the customary Human gesture, "I am the Arbiter, Thel Vadam, the Slayer of Truth."
"Okay then, that's a name." She took his hand, small limb swallowed entirely by his own, and shook it with a nod. "Pleasure to meet you, hope we find your friend."
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Joe Cola :
Penny is fucking on FIRE, yeah. XD
Kpmh 2001 :
They're the same sorts of conflicts? Ironwood puts his job and appearances over doing what the cast needs, to varying amounts of reasonability. In this instance it's more or less 'I can't help you, the Grimm I let into the Kingdom by way of the wall I haven't been maintaining need my attention.' I dunno what to say, seems the same to me. *shrugs*
Atomic R4y :
Appreciate the input! XD
Smokey Panda :
Oh, don't get me wrong, there's plenty that can - and will - pierce Mjolnir. But getting into THAT context would, uh, be spoilers.
ODST rules :
I disagree.
Adam deserved to be arrested, disarmed, and left in a dark, unmonitored room with Yang for a few hours. And THEN to get shot in the chest.
Black Raptor 1 :
I'm glad you enjoy the story so much. Unfortunately, answering a lot of your questions would be spoilerific. However, I can say that this story takes place prior to Guardians.