Chapter 16:
Exploring Mantle 40 years in the past was something Team RWBY never expected and yet here they are because of the Doctor. After taking tour of the city and writing down notes and taking pictures, the gang decided to rest up for a bit before continuing their journey.
Blake: I never thought I would ever see this. Even though it's only in Mantle, I can't believe I'm seeing humans and faunus together with no incidents at all.
The Doctor: Weiss's grandfather wanted to make sure everyone is equal, and he worked hard for that. Shame what becomes of it years later but for the time being, it's been a peaceful time.
Weiss: He may have not been a perfect businessman but he sure was a great and kind person. *Gets an idea* Doctor?
The Doctor: Yes?
Weiss: Would time itself be affected if I had the opportunity of meeting my grandfather even though I wasn't born yet in this time.
The Doctor: Hmm, no not really but you can't tell your name at all. You need to different name, all of you.
Weiss: Shouldn't be too hard then cause I would like to meet my grandfather and maybe ask him some questions.
The Doctor: We certainly can because I do believe he's around town today.
Yang: Hell yeah! This is your chance Weiss!
Weiss: Do you guys wanna join as well?
Team RBY: Yeah!
The Doctor smiles until the group hears screaming which startles them. Looking at each other, they all headed in the direction of the scream to investigate. When they got there, Team RWBY couldn't believe their eyes while the Doctor observed the corpse of the teen left on the ground as a Faunus officer approach them
Faunus Officer: Sorry kids, this is a crime scene. Might be best to head back home.
The Doctor: Oh, I'm actually the Doctor. Doctor William Smith, if I can officer, I could try and see what happened.
The officer looked at the Doctor questioning its appearance before the Doctor pulled out his wallet to show a doctor's license which gets the approval by the officer. Observing the body, the Doctor knew this was something out of the ordinary as he pulled out his sonic screwdriver. Collecting the data needed, he talks with the officer for a couple of minutes before heading back to Team RWBY.
Weiss: So? Doctor William Smith it is.
The Doctor: I'll use that as my code name when we travel back in time. *Shows the badge* Nothing better than a badge that can disguise into anything you want.
Team RWBY looked surprised as nothing showed on the badge before noticing it copies into a doctor license. Weiss couldn't stop admiring this man while Ruby, Blake, and Yang couldn't believe just how prepared the Doctor is.
Blake: So, what did you find?
The Doctor: This teenager death was something that's not normal. His body decayed in matter of seconds and left in a mummified state, someone or something is here that shouldn't be.
Yang: Like a soul sucker then like Shang Tsung from Mortal Kombat!
The Doctor: Something like that and I fear it's already on a killing spree. The officer said this is the third death they find a body like this with a specific target in mind.
The Doctor would show the poster piece of Nicholas Schnee which startled Weiss. This murder was going after her grandfather next which was slowly causing her to panic.
Weiss: We have to find him! W-We gotta protect him!
The Doctor: We will, we need to find him and-
Nicholas: What's going on here? Oh my word...
Team RWBY and the Doctor, especially Weiss, couldn't believe their eyes. She saw her grandfather in person when he was still young and healthy, it was the first time since she was 6 years old when she saw him.
Faunus Officer: A third victim of this murder spree sir. It once again left a warning for you; I suggest you and your family go into hiding immediately.
Nicholas: I will not put the people of Mantle in more danger. Have you already contacted the Doctors to take this body.
Faunus Officer: Not yet sir, we did have a doctor come check up on the body. He also claims this is something not normal. *Points to the Doctor*
Nicholas looked over to the Doctor and Team RWBY as he began walking towards them which made Weiss nervous, not knowing how to properly react.
Nicholas: Are you the Doctor?
The Doctor: I am, Doctor William Smith. *Shakes Nicholas hand*
Nicholas: Good to meet you Doctor, I am Nicholas Schnee. Are these your friends?
The Doctor: Ah yes and they are my coworkers as well. We were travelling here since we are from Vale.
Nicholas: I see now. And you ladies are?
Ruby: O-Oh, I'm Donna Noble.
Blake: Tegan Jovanka
Yang: Susan Foreman
Weiss: *takes out hand* Sarah Jane Smith. It's an honor meeting you sir.
Nicholas: Please, just call me Nicholas. So then Doctor, what's the situation?
The Doctor: Whoever or whatever it is, the way these people are dying seems off. And by the looks of it, it's coming for you.
Nicholas: Yes, I have noticed. Why don't we further discuss back at my place?
The Doctor agreed as he and Team RWBY follow Nicholas Schnee back to his place which was already too familiar for Weiss. The Doctor sent a message to Dalek Khan as well to lock the TARDIS until further notice. When they arrive at the castle, they are greeted as Nicholas makes sure security is around the place.
Nicholas: I apologize for the massive security, with this situation ongoing I fear the worst which is my family being attacked.
Blake: I noticed you have both human security and Faunus security.
Nicholas: I imagine that in Vale, things with Faunus aren't so well Ms. Jovanka?
Blake: Unfortunately, no. The issue is still ongoing and just seeing how it is here in Mantle with seeing human and Faunus together gives me a sign of safety.
Nicholas: We are all the same. Just because some people have different traits doesn't mean they should be treated differently. It was a long process that took quite a while, but I was able to make this city a place of unity and safety.
As they continued walking to Nicholas's office, they noticed a little girl of 5 years old running to her father as he picked her up and hugged her back in return.
Willow: Welcome home Daddy!
Nicholas: My little Willow! Your hugs always are the best things of every day. *chuckles*
Weiss couldn't believe it and she tried to maintain her emotions as Ruby comforted her.
Ruby: *whispers* Weiss, is that?
Weiss: Mom...
It felt so weird yet emotional seeing her mother as a little girl not knowing the pain the future will bring her.
Nicholas: This is my little princess, Willow. Sweetie, these are good friends of Daddy.
Willow: Hello! *waves*
Team RWBY: Hi Willow!
The Doctor: Nice to meet you little one.
Nicholas: Please enter my office while I take her back with her mother.
The group inside the room as the Doctor begins to investigate and look around for any clues about the recent events in Mantle. Meanwhile, Weiss was looking around her grandfather's room to see a more comfortable room than her father's. Even though he was old and still alive for a few more years when she was born, seeing him young and a kindhearted person warmed her heart.
Nicholas: Apologies once again.
The Doctor: No need Nicholas. So, you've been trying to investigate as well with all this.
Nicholas: I have but not even our own best scientists and investigators could figure out this phenomenon.
The Doctor: That's because it's something supernatural. A being to steal souls of lives and decompose their bodies into a mummified state, the question I'm wondering is why is it coming after you?
Nicholas: That's what I've been wondering as well.
The Doctor: Do you recall any incidents or people who could possibly be apart of this?
Nicholas: Not really.
Blake: What about the cameras? Are there any chance you have access to the cameras and see what exactly occurred.
Nicholas: We did; however, this creature would always jam them to leave no piece of evidence. We are rock bottom in this case, and we always need to replace them with new ones.
The Doctor: Not for long, where do you usually keep the jammed cameras?
Nicholas: We always throw them away when they're not functioning anymore or broken, but the ones this creature jammed we have them here trying to fix it.
The Doctor: Bring me the one from today's incident.
After a bit of finding, Nicholas brings the camera with its wires ripped as the Doctor tries to think how to reconnect them. Nicholas noticed the Doctor pull out his screwdriver to his confusion.
Nicholas: What is that Mr. Smith?
The Doctor: This...is what'll give us access to the cameras.
Weiss: It's his thing. He's no ordinary Doctor grand- I MEAN Nicholas.
As the Doctor began his work while RBY and Nicholas watched, Weiss walked observing the room and looking at her grandfather's pictures. It makes her happy to know she is the granddaughter of a hero and a good man.
Nicholas: Are you looking for something Ms. Smith?
Weiss: U-Uh no! No thank you, just looking around. You have quite a history.
Nicholas: Indeed I do, started working in the mines with my father late nights. It was never easy but he taught me how to keep going forward and pushing to my goal.
Weiss: You are indeed the one in charge of the Schnee Dust Company.
Nicholas: Yes, but I am not great in that position. A hard worker and union man I am but a businessman I'm not. Especially now being a father, it's more work for me.
Weiss: I feel you on that level, where I'm from my family have high expectations for me and it does get heavy.
Nicholas: Well on a personal level between you and me, I would say don't waste your life trying to do the things you don't want to do. Instead go for what you desire.
Weiss never thought she hear the same words from the Doctor come out from her grandfather. All those times the Doctor has told her about not being perfect and going for what she wants was finally catching up to her.
The Doctor: OH! I'm brilliant!
Finally activating his sonic screwdriver, the camera begins to work as RBY and Nicholas remains surprised.
Nicholas: But how in the name of the Gods did you do that?!
Weiss: He's the Doctor after all. Always finding ways to fix things and saving people.
Ruby: Look! Timestamp shows this was from few hours ago.
Yang: It was when we arrived as well.
The entire group watches as the footage reveals when the teens were vandalizing a Faunus owned shop to the disapprove look from everyone, but they spot the dark figure approaching them and when it killed one of the teens leaving a horrified reaction from everyone. They notice the figure turn more human before looking at the camera and attacking it cutting the feed.
The Doctor: That explains almost everything we have been trying to look for. This person is absorbing the souls of people to regain its appearance.
Nicholas: I know him...
Blake: You do? Who is it?
Nicholas: Dr. Idris Pavel, a former scientist from my company who I fired after...
The Doctor: After what?
Nicholas: After experimenting on merging dust with Grimms.
Ruby: What?!...
Nicholas: He was a very mad person. Believed that Grimms could be under our control if we merged our dust with it. Never! I made sure it was shut down but before it could, he committed suicide with the grimms and dusts in there causing a massive chain reaction. The Mantle Dust Incident.
Weiss: We learned about that recently! But...it said there was a lab accident that caused the explosion.
Nicholas: A cover up to never reveal the dark truth. I knew the consequences of this incident, but I knew there was going to be more risk if the truth was out.
The Doctor: That's why he's coming after you. For revenge.
Nicholas: It would now seem that's the case.
Suddenly, the alarm began to ring which scared everyone as Nicholas looked through the security cameras only to see the horror in his eyes. It was Dr. Pavel attacking his security guards and absorbing their souls before turning into black mist and attacking others.
Nicholas: It's him...
Yang: We need to get you to safety first sir!
Nicholas: I need to get my wife and child first! *Runs out of the room*
The Doctor: NICHOLAS NO!
Weiss: We have to get him before this creature kills him!
The Doctor: Team RWBY go after him, bring him back to this room, and BE CAREFUL!
Blake: What about you?
The Doctor: Don't worry about me, just GO!
Team RWBY ran off to follow Nicholas as the Doctor ran off the other way to possibly stall the creature.
Ruby: Nicholas? Where you go?
Yang: Damnit Weiss, why does your mansion gotta be so big!
Weiss: You haven't seen my place in today's time.
Blake: Guys over there!
RWBY spots Nicholas and his wife as they approach them but with a panic expression.
Blake: What's wrong?
Nicholas: OUR CHILD, WE CAN'T FIND HER!
Ruby: This is bad...
Weiss: You three take them back, I'll look for her.
Blake: What?! No way! We're not leaving you!
Yang: Wei- Sarah! That's too risky even with the Doctor not around!
Weiss: Just trust me you guys. I'll meet you back there and I promise to bring Willow.
A little bit of hesitation but the trio agree and run off with the couple as Weiss goes on to search for the little girl who would one day be her mother. Her teammates taking her grandparents to safety and the Doctor off to handle the entity of a mad scientist. She finally realized what she wanted to do now after so much thinking.
Weiss: That's it! No more Miss Perfect Huntress, I'm Weiss Schnee and I want to save people just like my grandfather, my team, and the Doctor!