Last time on RWBY X Meta Runner: Worlds Collide…
Our heroes set course for Vale! Tari, Theo, Ozpin, and Qrow begin phase one of Roa-Nyn's battle plan. But as the wise Camylonian taught Ruby how to fight smart, he soon discovered that the silver-eyed warrior had gained a new power– her new prosthetic arm was somehow an electromagnet. Back at Vale, as the plan was unraveling, Braane-Strom escalated the battle by sending Vekk-Troopers at them, especially at the trio of Lamar, Sage, and Arma-Kade! This would transform the city into a warzone; as the robotic VekkTroopers swarm our heroes. Amidst the mayhem, a ship from another kingdom landed in the Vale docks. Out of it came Winter Schnee, who was looking for Penny and General Ironwood in the chaotic cityscape. As things started to look bleak for our heroes, a mysterious new figure who, much like Ruby, was a Huntress, appeared. Armed with her Multi Action Dust Rapier and newly acquired jetpack, which doubles as powerful cannons, she single-handedly caused the robotic armada to retreat; alongside Vekk-Torr, who was on the cusp of capturing Tari once again. However, this knight in shining, flying armor caught the attention of Lamar, Sage, and Arma-Kade. However, they had one question in mind—
Is this armored huntress a friend or foe? Stay tuned to find out!
Seconds ago, a mysterious figure ended the conflict between our heroes and Vekk-Torr's VekkTroopers. Currently, the figure is looking at the group of Lamar, Sage, and Arma-Kade.
"Hello, down there." She greeted.
"Hey, we can't hear you. Can you come closer?" Arma-Kade requested.
The two huntsmen nodded in agreement.
"You want me to come down? Very well." She responded.
As she began to hover slowly, her features were soon shown to the group. The young woman was pale-skinned with pale blue eyes and long white hair that is often pulled back into an off-center ponytail or braid on the right side and pinned with a silver, icicle-shaped tiara. She also has a scar that runs vertically down her left eye and face. She wore a pale blue sleeveless dress with a silver lining, a bow detail fixture, and two diamond-shaped pieces hanging from the corners of the hem over a silver diagonal hem strapless dress and a white low-cut long-sleeved blouse with neon blue lacing. Above it all, she wore a navy blue colored knight-like breastplate and trapezoidal high-tech pauldrons. On her back was her jetpack, which convert into two powerful cannons. On her arms were glove-like greaves, and the design was akin to an AK-200. She also wears long, silver wedge-heel boots with white frill detailing at the top at the front, alongside grayish blue coloring on the toes and navy blue wedged heels. As she touched the ground, she dipped her head and bowed to the trio.
"Glad to be of assistance," She said, "My name is-"
"Weiss Schnee!" Lamar concluded.
"Yeah, that." She stated. "And by the way, who are you?"
"Lamar Williams." He replied as he offered a handshake.
Weiss then gave him a confident look and accepted it.
"Very well, Lamar. It looks like we got to clean up this mess and beat the crap out of who was responsible for this." She proclaimed.
The group, along with Weiss, then walked toward the entrance to the hotel. As they manage to find and pick up their weapons, Lamar is unexpectedly interrupted by Tari, who reaches for the former's bow first. As they looked up, it was a surprise at first sight.
"Tari?" Lamar exclaimed.
"Lamar?! What are you doing here?" Tari asked.
"Well, it's a long story..." He responded.
As the two friends pick up the former's weapon, Weiss comes near the reunited duo.
"Sorry to interrupt, but we may need to find any survivors." She informed the group.
"She's right. We need to move on the double." Sage chimed in.
The duo nodded and the group then bolted to find any survivors. As they came across Ozpin, they immediately stopped.
"Why did we stop?" Sage questioned.
"Because I want to talk to Ozpin," Tari responded.
Ozpin looked at the group and paid attention to Weiss.
"Weiss Schnee, you look… different." He noticed.
"Honestly, it has to do with the cannons she has." Lamar joked.
The group then laughed at what Lamar said, even Weiss smirked at Lamar's joke. Suddenly, everyone else caught up with Tari and Ozpin. With a sigh of relief, Ozpin then let the group pass and joined their allies.
"Weiss?" Ruby asked the white-haired huntress.
The cheery huntress ran towards her and came across her. She examined her partner's new armor and realized that she was also changed after she emerged from her crystal cocoon.
"Weiss, you look like a one Huntsman army!" Ruby complimented.
As Weiss grabbed Ruby by her robotic arm, she began to examine it as well.
"Ruby," She questioned her leader. "What did the Grimm do to you?"
"I'll answer that question. It's what Vekk-Torr did to the Grimm." Tari interrupted.
Everyone paused at what Tari said. Ruby and Weiss paused and turned their attention to Tari.
"The Grimm?" Weiss asked. "What do those monsters have to do with our new looks?"
"Tari is right, Vekk-Torr made them a part of his army." Roa-Nyn chimed in. "He also made them stronger and more lethal, thanks to their cybernetic enhancements and his newly acquired magic."
"Thank you, whatever your name is," Weiss responded.
"Roa-Nyn." He replied. "It's a pleasure to fight by your side."
"Weiss Schnee. The honor is all mine." She greeted the Knight of the Core.
"Weiss, we need anyone with unrivaled power to blow that tinpot tyrant off the face of Remnant. With that suit of armor you have, you'll be perfect for the job." Ruby proposed.
Weiss turned to the duo of Qrow and Ozpin, who was in a conversation of their own.
"You speak like a leader. You are not the young girl that was a bit reckless when we arrived at Beacon. I always envied you when Ozpin made you the leader of Team RWBY. During my hibernation, I pondered why you were chosen to lead." Weiss retorted.
She then turned towards Ruby and Tari.
"Now, I know why. Alongside you, Tari, and that young hotshot mech pilot, you got a shot of beating this Vekk-Torr figure. But you three alone will not be enough to stop that monster. I will fight alongside you. And you'll soon see me as a reliable second in command." She accepted.
"And while you're at it, count me in as well." Lamar chimed in.
"Me too!" Sage blurted.
Ruby smirked and gave them a thumbs-up.
Back on his ship, Vekk-Torr is recovering from his recent defeat. As he was reassembling his damaged troops like Lego sets and giving them many new parts, he was pondering what had happened.
"How is it possible? I had her, but then missiles barraged us!" He confessed.
"Maybe you have underestimated our enemies, my liege." One of the soldiers stated.
The repaired soldiers turned around and see the sole brainwashed Faunus who came towards him.
"Velvet." He said. "Glad one of my prized recruits is still kicking."
"The one that befriended the one you call Tari was Ruby Rose. She is still fighting alongside her. But the one who attacked you was Weiss Schnee. They were two of the cocooned Huntsmen when your invasion occurred." She continued. "They weren't the only ones who emerged when you tried to destroy it. There were a total of eight who hatched from their cocoons. All of them are from Beacon. They were once normal huntsmen, but now, they are stronger than before. I recommend you to be cautious when trying to stop them."
"Relax!" The warlord scoffed. "I already swayed one of them to my side! All I need to do is find the rest."
"So?" She responded.
"We must find and capture them." He informed. "Get me Team BRNZ."
As the brainwashed Faunus left to find the team of Huntsmen Vekk-Torr asked for, the warlord himself was about to start a meeting with Braane-Strom and his Distortion bruiser. He sends a cryptic telepathic message to him, informing the former of the two that he would like to speak to the duo.
"Is there anyone who is a medic?" He asked the repaired soldiers.
"I am!" One blurted out.
"Good," He responded as he created robotic body parts. "You are in charge of fixing up my army."
"Lord Vekk-Torr, where will you be?" The medic questioned.
"I will be in a meeting. We are about to discuss the elephant in the room." He retorted.
He then walked away so the medic could begin his work. As he arrived in his quarters, he then created a chair to sit on and a large monitor so he could see the two in the meeting. As it went on, it revealed a live video meeting. As the duo turned on their cameras, they began to show themselves and start the meeting. Braane-Strom in Ozpin's office and his Distortion bruiser in her quarters. The bruiser revealed itself as a tall, fair-skinned young woman with lilac eyes and long, thick, wavy bright golden hair that fades to pale gold at the tips with a cowlick sticking out at the top. She wore a black trenchcoat with yellow and tan lining with the sleeves torn off, displaying her muscular physique, over an orange tank top with a black and yellow asymmetrical flame pattern that bares her hips and abs. Around her waist is a black belt with a golden buckle of her emblem covered by a pleated orange-and-yellow piece of material reaching from hip to hip around the back of her waist. She also wore fitted black pants, and her hair has been let down. She wears a pair of brown, knee-high boots with bronze caps over her heel and toe and yellow over-the-knee socks underneath her boots and pants, and a pair of black fingerless gloves with yellow striping. As she turned on her camera for the meeting, she then started posing for the two Camylonians. As the two groaned in her showboating, Vekk-Torr began starting to overheat, signaling that he is desperate to start the conversation.
"HEY, DISTORTION! This is a meeting, not a bodybuilding competition!" He screamed in anger.
By the time he yelled, the bruiser stopped posing.
"Okay, first, I have a name. And THAT is Yang Xiao Long!" She retorted as she sat down and crossed her arms.
"Okay, you two. There is a problem in Vale I need to address." He started. "As of now, there are five pests here in Vale that are making a ruckus. Each of them Distortions. Each afflicting my plan to destroy Remnant. With your combined powers, we can put an end to their charade."
He then revealed three images to the duo. Two of them were Tari and Theo, during their escape from Beacon, while the other was Lamar at Mistral Central Station.
"Exhibit A: Tari and her friends." He said.
"That small guy's name is Theo. The protagonist of the video game Ultra Jump Mania." Braane-Strom added.
"Yeah, I can see that. What's so special about them?" Yang asked.
"These two are the main source of trouble in Remnant. They were the ones who escaped Beacon alive." Vekk-Torr explained. "Lamar on the other hand was supposed to be bait for Tari, so I can take her. It was the attended goal until he managed to best Team SSSN."
"Sounds like they have stirred the Lancer's nest." Yang jested.
"Not only that, Tari and Theo have infiltrated my ship and freed the eight cocoons that would become my heralds for the next world I invade." Vekk-Torr continued as he showed pictures of Tari and Theo's escape from the warlord.
Yang then looked at the image of the cocoons and started to regain her memories.
"I… remember." She whispered.
"What is it Yang?" Braane-Strom asked.
"Nothing." She replied. "Can we go on?"
"Sure, as of now, these cocoons have recently hatched," Vekk-Torr stated. "And those individuals are already made scrap metal of my troops!"
He then showed an image of Ruby to the duo, and just as the duo was examining the photo of Ruby, someone else joined the video chat. It was the duo of Tri-El and Err-Yr.
"Hi, boss!" Tri-El greeted.
"What the?! Tri-El, Err-Yr, get out of my meeting!" Vekk-Torr ordered.
"Sorry to bother you, but we got an inside scoop on who attacked us!" Err-Yr informed.
Tri-El then showed an image of Weiss to the group.
"Uh… thanks," Vekk-Torr said.
Suddenly, Tri-El and Err-Yr left the meeting and it resumed with the images of both Ruby and Weiss being viewed by the group.
"Which now leads to Exhibit B: the Distortions. As it turns out, Tari has befriended these monsters." He resumed. "From one of my loyal Huntresses at Beacon, these two are identified as Ruby Rose and Weiss Schnee."
"I know how we can get them to you, Lord Vekk-Torr." Yang declared.
"And how?" He pondered.
"I have both of them in my contacts. When I text them, I would invite them to The Battleground, but bring Tari and her friends with them." She suggested.
The Camylonians were then immediately intrigued by Yang's plan.
"And how will you call them?" Vekk-Torr pondered.
Yang pulled out her Scroll and revealed her contacts, which had both Ruby and Weiss.
"Once they get the message, they will come to The Battleground. Once they all are tuckered out, those guys will feel… the… YANG!" She concluded.
"Sounds intriguing. I'll let you carry on with your plan." Vekk-Torr praised.
"Sir, I must confess. This has a 98.0969 percent chance of backfiring." Braane-Strom informed.
"Braane-Strom, I thought that you were smart." Yang refuted. "Besides, you need to relax."
The genius grumbled to her insult.
"You have this all under control, Yang. We cannot fail." Vek-Torr said.
"Sir." The genius interrupted.
"We cannot let them interfere with the end of Remnant." The warlord concluded.
"SIR!" Braane-Strom yelled.
"WHAT?!" Vekk-Torr screamed.
"What if her plan backfires?!" The genius asked.
"Well, get the calvary from Beacon to flog them!" Yang replied.
"Sounds like a plan. Once you fall, the huntsmen have a 88 percent chance of victory over Ruby, Tari, and her friends. Hope this goes quickly as possible." Braane-Strom agreed.
"Good luck, you two." Vekk-Torr declared.
As the meeting concluded, the monitors went off and the warlord got up from his chair. With his magic, he transformed it into a table, and it revealed a map of the city of Vale. He then saw the markers identifying his adversaries. As he was examining the map, Team BRNZ, or what remained of them, approached him.
"You rang?" Brawnz Ni, the team's leader inquired.
"Excellent. Despite Zedong going MIA, you all have arrived." Vekk-Torr replied.
"We're all that's left, but we can muscle through this." Roy Stallion added.
"What's the plan, boss?" Nolan Porfirio questioned.
"Boys, have I got a task for you." Vekk-Torr smiled.
Back in Vale, Lamar and Tari were having a nice, polite stroll. Despite, the thousands of Lien in damage.
"Lamar, how long has it been since I saved you and all of Silica City?" Tari pondered.
"Three months, and man, you were a hero." Lamar acknowledged.
Suddenly, a message came from Lamar's Meta Runner arm. As he saw who was calling him, the video feed from his computer in Silica City revealed to be the rest of MD-5, Lucinia included!
"Guys!" Tari exclaimed joyfully.
"Tari!" Sofia responded. "We missed you so much."
"We thought you are dead." Masa chimed in.
"In a way." Tari
"Anyway, stand back. We're trying to get Lamar back home." Sofia warned her.
Suddenly, in a matter of seconds, an aura was glowing around Lamar. Then in a flash of light, he vanished. As Ozpin, Qrow, and Weiss ran toward Tari, the three saw the hole in the asphalt.
"Tari, what happened here? And where is Lamar?" Weiss demanded.
"Well, I can explain," Tari confessed. "Teleportation."
"I have to agree, he's gone to Plaid!" Qrow wondered as he noticed a red, white, black, and yellow plaid pattern on the asphalt.
Back in Silica City, Lamar suddenly materialized into his normal self. As he looked around the hideout, he then saw the rest of MD-5. They all ran and immediately hugged him.
"Glad you made it back here safe and sound! We were worried sick!" Lucinia cheered.
"Please stop," Lamar grunted.
They immediately let go of their partner.
"Also, now that you are back, can you tell us what happened between you and your computer?" Masa pondered as he pointed at Lamar's computer.
"Oh yeah, that. As I was about to post our tournament win, I noticed that this game, RWBY World of Remnant, which was supposed to be released around Christmas, appeared on it out of nowhere." Lamar explained. "When I clicked on it, I got teleported into the game. Much like Tari."
"Oi, that is the most bizarre thing that has ever happened to someone and a game," Belle noted. "If you exclude Tari and Coconut Boy, that is."
"Then what happened when you were in the game?" Masa questioned.
"I somehow got teleported to Haven Academy, where the first thing I fought against wasn't Grimm. It was Huntsmen! Team SSSN to be more accurate. Somehow, all of them are currently serving this robot god named Vekk-Torr. But I managed to free one of them from his control." Lamar continued. "It wouldn't be possible without the help of Arma-Kade. My new robot centipede companion who is currently in the game."
"I gotta see these 'Vekk-Torr' and 'Arma-Kade' figures for myself." Masa marveled.
"But that's not all. As we got into Vale, the new big bad in town's troops were all over us. That was until we were rescued by Weiss Schnee. Not to mention Tari and Theo were there too, and they brought along Ruby." Lamar added. "Also they are taking down Vekk-Torr."
"I gotta say, I want to join in," Masa offered.
Lamar then raised an eyebrow.
"Well, your wish is my command." He consoled.
"Goddamit, Lamar! Sof got you out of there! We cannot lose you again!" Belle rebuked.
"Relax, Belle. It's going to be 'in and out'." Masa said.
"It better be." She replied.
As Lamar clicked on the recently obtained game, Masa put his left hand on the other's right shoulder. Suddenly, they were getting teleported at supersonic speeds to Remnant. However, black electricity began to cover Lamar. Masa began to notice this and began to hold on to his right hand.
"It's Vekk-Torr. He's trying to reel me in!" Lamar screamed.
"I got an idea!" Masa yelled.
He then grabbed onto him and made the electricity cling to him rather than his friend.
"What the hell are you doing?" Lamar demanded.
"Listen, they need you more than me," Masa explained as he kicked Lamar aside making him go to Remnant.
"No, NO! MASAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" Lamar screamed as Masa gravitated towards Vekk-Torr's ship.
As the two Meta Runners go their separate ways, Lamar began to grow weary of Masa. Every meter they were separated, Lamar began to feel nervous about what Vekk-Torr might to do him. In the trophy room of Vekk-Torr's ship, Masa fell flat on the ground face first. As he got up, he dusted himself off and saw his new attire in Remnant. He wore black khaki shorts with a matching belt and red leather pants with crimson shoes with metal toes. On his chest, he wore a red, white, and black overcoat based on Izanami, the Japanese god of death, with black cuffs and a matching cape on top with a black long-sleeve shirt with his insignia on its right, and silver cuffs underneath. His attire is complete with black fingerless gloves and a Joseon dynasty-styled shoulder pad on his right shoulder and layered shoulder armor on his left, both matching his attire. He then exited the room he was teleported to. and as he entered the hallway, he saw the elevator.
"Finally, a way out!" He praised.
Just as he was about to head there, Vekk-Torr exited his quarters and saw the Meta Runner in front of him.
"Well, well. Look who made it here." He said.
"So, you're Vekk-Torr. I have heard from Lamar that you are a god." Masa growled.
"A 'God'? Really? A 'God'? I have killed pantheons!" Vekk-Torr bellowed. "Not only that, I have slaughtered numerous worlds, realities, dimensions, universes, and multiverses! If that's not enough, no matter who tried to stop me, they fell to me, just like Remnant is about to!"
"Is that so? Prove it to me by how many notable heroes you have slain!" Masa hissed.
"I'm glad you asked that," Vekk-Torr replied. "Let's go through the list, shall we? The Avengers? I crushed them! The Justice League? I smoked them! The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles? They're turtle soup, now! Spawn? He's now my rug! Goku? I wiped him out faster than the dinosaurs! The Bloodline? More like 'The Footnote'! The Autobots, the Power Rangers, Voltron, He-Man, the Decepticons, The Legion of Doom, The Suicide Squad, The NWO, Overwatch, Valorant, name any hero and villain, and I can assure you, I have defeated them all, Mr. Shimamoto!"
"How do you know my name?" Masa demanded.
"A little birdie I came across." Vekk-Torr exposed.
"Tari…" Masa whispered.
"Correct." Vekk-Torr chortled.
"You won't get away with this!" Masa said as he ran toward the elevator.
As he managed to do so, he immediately got snared by the warlord's technomancy. He then walked up to the trapped Meta Runner.
"You know, I always HATE survivors. Isn't that right, Lin-Noir?" He questioned.
"Now that you mention it, I have to agree." A voice from the shadows responded.
Suddenly, a robotic raven with a golden beak and feet with silver talons and two crimson-red optics flew and landed on the warlord's shoulder.
"Sir, the new bioweapon is ready for use." The raven, named Lin-Noir, informed.
"Excellent. Now Masa, you will be the first to test this power for yourself. With it, you will serve me." Vekk-Torr explained as he revealed a black techno-organic orb emitting a purple flame in his left hand to Masa.
"You bastards! I will never serve you!" Masa yelled.
"Is that so?" He responded as he looked at the flaming orb and then back at Masa. "I have met many who rebel against my servitude. But with this bioweapon, you will never be swayed by anyone. Especially Tari!"
He immediately got closer to Masa, as he got in front of his face, the warlord was about to plant the orb into Masa.
"Whatever you're planning to do with that thing, do your worst." Masa taunted.
"Funny thing that you brought it up. This is Nevermore Energy. A combination of dark magic, Lord Vekk-Torr's technomancy, and the liquid of the Grimm pools." Lin-Noir explained.
"Thank you. Now, you said earlier 'Do your worst', right? Well, I will." Vekk-Torr said.
He then shoved the orb straight into his chest like a stake. Masa screamed in pain as the Nevermore Energy began to infuse into his body. Soon, the purple flames began to light from his fingertips, and the snare holding him began to loosen. By the time Vekk-Torr was finished plunging the orb into Masa's chest, the latter then fell onto his knees.
"Rise, my herald," Vekk-Torr demanded
Masa then stood up on his own.
"What is your plan, my liege?" He inquired.
What sick plan does Vekk-Torr have for Masa?
How will Lamar recover from losing Masa on the way back to Remnant?
Will Ruby, Tari, and company walk into a trap by Yang?
Be here for when all of those questions get answered in Chapter 7: Villains of the Storm!