div id="djs-foo" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"In the grand probability of endless potential and opportunity, there exists a timeline where everything goes right, rather than wrong. A timeline where events play out as close to the current one, yet key subtle differences alter and change the fates of those touched. Within the endless reaches of time, space and opportunity, we find ourselves on the Schnee Estate courtyard, where Penny is succumbing to the virus implanted in her by Arthur Watts. "I can no longer be delayed"/div
div id="djs-7gols" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"Ruby saw her try to get away, so she blasted forwards, petals scattering as she sped up until she stood before Penny, holding her arms to try and slow her down. No way she could actively stop her, after all, she had been tossed into a dumpster by Penny's strength, once upon a time. "Penny please!"/div
div id="djs-kek8" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Must open the vault….I do not want…Ruby..stop me!", Penny said, the emotion in her voice vanishing when Watts' virus took full control. Ruby hated this! Just like when Pietro 'tapped in' from afar during their incursion. It felt wrong. A violation of Penny's free will. SHe acted on instinct and wrapped her arms around Penny's belly, holding tight, pressing her head against Penny, yet she was a machine with a soul, her body was cold and tough. "I must open the vault…and self terminate"/div
div id="djs-5dnk4" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Blake use Gambol, NOW!", Jaune barked as Penny's jet legs began firing up. Acting with practiced expertise, the Faunus girl threw her pistol hook blade out and managed to snatch Penny's right hand. Blake was pulled forwards, causing Yang and Jaune to hold on to her and anchor her, Polendina's trajectory was pulled off kelter and she flew back towards the courtyard. Soon after Lie Ren also shot one of Stormflower's blades and snatched Penny's other wrist. With Oscar he didn't have the strength to hold her down, but Nora, she was strong and powerful! All pulling and trying to keep the rogue Protector from running off. Weiss joined in with Gravity Dust, truly rooting Penny to the ground. "I've got her!"/div
div id="djs-4k8is" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""What do we do!?", Nora's plea wasn't even uttered or a massive gale of arctic wind bit into everyone's Aura. Solitas winds were already dangerous, but the Winter Maiden had even stronger gales who's bite wasn't cold, but icy. The cascading winds broke Weiss' focus, breaking the gravimetric hold of her Glyph, Penny rose up from the ground, slowly breaking higher and higher altitude, there wasn't any stopping her. Slowly, like a spilling drink, she would get away. "I must…OPEN..THE VAULT"/div
div id="djs-4j9j8" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"Another set of blades slung over her shoulders and pulled her down. Emerald, the one who had ran from Salem, terrified of the world to come should she succeed, stepped in to try and help. Proving to some of the group, that she was indeed not out to hurt them. Perhaps even feel sorry for Beacon's fall. She pulled and yanked, hard as she could, throwing her eyes at Jaune: "DO SOMETHING!"/div
div id="djs-er9hd" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"Jaune released his hand from the cluster of Blake and Yang, rushed over towards Weiss and put his hand on her shoulder, boosting her to make the Glyph fire on double strength, instantly pulling Penny down and rooting her to her knees on the floor. Even a Maiden was no match for the force of reality that is gravity. Ruby's eyes were fighting back rivers. She would give Yang more ammo after this. She'd fail once more and she'd take the blame for it. Unable to think of anything, she just clutched on to Penny more and begged her; "Penny…tell me how to help you!"/div
div id="djs-7j397" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Kill me. SO that I can give the power to you…kill me Ruby. PLEASE! I cannot fight it!", Ruby's eyes broke in shock as she felt tears stream down her cheeks. Suicide?! No Penny that's never the answer! Never mind the writers who thought that line was socially acceptable! No, there's got to be a way. She's a cybernetic person. Someone who had nuts and bolts instead of squishy guts but still a person!/div
div id="djs-79cin" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Yes you can! It's only a part of you! Don't let it control you! You're not a machine!", Not a machine! Yes she has a soul! That means: "JAUNE BOOST HER AURA!"/div
div id="djs-be535" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"Jaune rushed forwards, putting his hands on Penny's. And focused. Boosting the thing that made Penny a person and not a mindless machine. The mistake that Ironwood had made, the mistake many people had made, was that they thought her to be a machine. But she was a girl. A real girl! When the Aura overrode the mechanical parts, Penny stopped moving and slowly cracked a smile. Ruby let her tears flow as she pulled herself against Penny, Nora joining her soon after. Yang walked closer, but she could see and feel that Ruby wouldn't want her to touch her, after all she'd recoiled every single time in the last half hour. So they merely watched as Ruby, Penny and Nora hugged and smiled. Ruby hiding her tears with a very fake laugh, even if she was glad her friend was back!/div
div id="djs-514k9" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Did I do it, stop the virus?"/div
div id="djs-eqk36" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""No…it's still there…but at the back of my head. Like an itch"/div
div id="djs-evpb4" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Because that's what you are Penny, not a machine. But our friend! Our dear friend!"/div
div id="djs-dqnln" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;" /div
div id="djs-cbv11" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""I think you're wrong by the way…", everyone turned to see Emerald, who sat on her butt and looked at them all. She had been quietly watching this all and understood that she had been wrong, even at Beacon. It wasn't the happiness that made her angry at them. It was their comradery. Belonging, being friends. Something she thought Cinder had for her, but she was gone now and Aschen or Salem didn't care for her. "You're not in the same place you were before. I mean yeah you've been getting your asses kicked, some of that…kinda my fault, but that's war. You wanted to know why I switched sides. Well it's because Cinder's dead. I don't have a place to call a home anymore. And if Salem wins, I will never ever get a home…what you all share…that's what I want"/div
div id="djs-3jqj4" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Switch sides huh?", Oscar said with a smirk. Emerald blushed and saw Yang and the others laugh at that, all except Ruby, who simply gave her a watery smile, and a nod. Maybe she misjudged that brat back in Beacon. Emerald however didn't wanna show she was moved and just turned away, "whatever!"/div
div id="djs-fnf4l" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"Oscar offered her a hand, smiling as he pulled her to her feet. Then he turned, his face sullen. "I..think Oz would like to say a few words…if you'd let him"/div
div id="djs-7gakf" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"A moment it was quiet. Mostly because Ruby wasn't looking at Oscar or Yang, simply holding Penny's hand and breathing heavily. Yang was saying enough with her eyes. Her fury was clearly visible. Yet before she could, Jaune turned towards Oscar. "go ahead"/div
div id="djs-bd35m" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""I was recently reminded…", Oscar's voice changed. Deeper, different sentence building, after he had closed his eyes and waited for a second too long to open them. Ozpin was indeed back, "of an old fairy tale. A young girl flees her choices and consequences to a magical place, and spreads them even further, rather than learn from them. Spreading the failure further."/div
div id="djs-d00h2" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""The Girl who Fell Through The World", Blake, Yang and Ruby say in unison./div
div id="djs-fv3fr" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""I failed…all of you. I should have trusted you with the truth, and not ran the day you discovered it", another moment it was quiet. Then Ruby spoke up. "It makes sense"/div
div id="djs-2nknc" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""After everything that happened in Atlas, especially the last forty eight hours…", Blake started, before Weiss finished; "trust is a risk. And we weren't the first. Leonardo broke your trust. And even before that there was…"/div
div id="djs-126mp" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""There was my mom", Yang said, her eyes flickering between lilac and red. She turned her face towards Ozpin, the memory of what Salem said lingering. "Do you know…what happened?"/div
div id="djs-akrmd" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Sadly, miss Xiao Long, I don't…whatever happened to Lady Summer Rose…wasn't with my go ahead", Ozpin answered. A moment Yang blinked, because she had meant Raven, not Summer. Yet she was satisfied with that answer, if but a moment. However a cold shiver ran through Ruby's spine that went unnoticed. Your mom? Summer was MY mom. "Well…Raven told me to distrust you…why would I stop now?"/div
div id="djs-31g0v" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""All I can do, is hope you'd all take that risk on me again", Ozpin said, downtrodden. Once more there was only silence. Until Ruby stood up and looked Ozpin dead in the eye. Before she nodded./div
div id="djs-83c1k" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;" /div
div id="djs-babd6" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"…/div
div id="djs-atisl" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;" /div
div id="djs-c3fht" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Neopolitan…was it? Now's not the time to hold grudges"/div
div id="djs-7kcc4" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""I disagree. It's always the time for grudges. She holds one for Ruby yet my stupidity in that master of yours is why she hasn't gotten her revenge yet. After all, it's little Red's fault that the hatguy is dead", Aschen said, vile spewing of her truth, working her magic as she needed it to. After all, Salem would rightfully kill me if I don't bring back the lamp. Neopolitan gave an angry glare as she held up her parasole and threw a venomous glare at her. "You want the girl, hand over the lamp and then let me ask it a question"/div
div id="djs-kl8t" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""What for? What purpose do we have with that magical tricket", Watt asked as he turned towards Aschen. Who kept her eyes primed on Neo, if only to further enter her mind. Her words were soft, but the intent oozed with bile. "Because I can ask it what the girl is planning and we can counter accordingly. Cheating at the card table"/div
div id="djs-2fhvu" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Rather deviously clever. One should always stack the game in their favor", Arthur agreed. Aschen smirked. That's right doctor, keep listening to my words. Neo rolled her eyes and took off her hat with a twirl, before she pulled the Lamp from it, like a street thug magician. As Aschen reached for it, Neo's hands tightened. Aschen returned it with a smirking glare. "Let go…obedience will be rewarded"/div
div id="djs-beulf" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"And just like that, Neopolitan felt her self of self be pushed from her mind. Like watching a movie on your Scroll, she watched as her body relinquished the hold of the Lamp and simply stood there. Like a puppet. Neo flashed every single obscene finger motion she knew, but Aschen didn't see it at all. She merely smirked at Neopolitan's frozen body. "Good girl…"/div
div id="djs-5g0tj" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""I'm almost afraid to ask, but are you using that same trick with the soldiers on her and myself?"/div
div id="djs-b5ure" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Would it matter, doctor?", Aschen smirked as she turned to the Lamp. "Jinn…"/div
div id="djs-8h97k" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"The world froze to a standstill as Aschen and Watts were greeted with the Spirit of the Lamp. Appearing in her flamboyant self, Jinn looked at the scene and instantly recognised a Maiden standing before her. "My…a Maiden..with a question?"/div
div id="djs-ogs" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Yes…tell me what-"/div
div id="djs-8nq4s" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Sorry dear…but I have no more answers for the next couple decades. Sorry, but I can't help you", Jinn said with a radiant smile before she vanished in a puff of smoke. Aschen's confidence wavered for a moment. What?! The question was gone!? The world came back to life around her, Aschen hissing in anger as Watts began laughing with pure utter joy, the pleasure of someone's misery. Aschen glared at him, yet he didn't care, prompting her to hiss: "stop laughing!"/div
div id="djs-dueco" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"And like a muted screen, he stopped laughing, making him realize that she was already controlling him. She then turned to Neo and smiled, "now forget I ordered you, but obey my every command"/div
div id="djs-5t2gc" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"Neo stood there for a moment, before she shook her head, as if waking from a day dream. Aschen then turned to Arthur, "well we can always just head to the Atlas command center. You once wanted to burn down Atlas…why not further that challenge?"/div
div id="djs-ecejm" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;" /div
div id="djs-e4qg6" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"…/div
div id="djs-4675a" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;" /div
div id="djs-2djtl" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""What are you doing?"/div
div id="djs-3cai" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""What I should have done ages ago, getting in touch with my sister. AND STOP PEAKING in on people!", Winter said as she snapped at Marrow, before the door opens and they stood face to face with the most unlikely good fortune. "Speaking of help!"/div
div id="djs-3hl3m" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Oh great, the ice queen…more problems", Qrow groaned as he lowered his blade before smirking at Winter, messing with her was always fun!/div
div id="djs-euqsp" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""If you want help, we might as well get him", Marrow pointed towards the weapon's lab, where two drones were being cussed out for all their worth. Winter smirked, having a weaponsmith accompany them might indeed be clever! Quickly they take out the Knights and enter the laboratory, coming face to face with Coal, who looked terrible./div
div id="djs-4pb89" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Oh great, two escaped convicts, a chained dog and Marrow", Coal groaned as he kicked a chair aside. His anger was focused on the loss of his second best worker. Coal pulled his revolver out and pointed it at Winter, before he was frozen, the 'stay' still ringing in his ears./div
div id="djs-9hg4m" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""We're not trying to hurt you", Robyn said, her eyes scanning the room. "Wait…is this…"/div
div id="djs-2j7n9" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""This is where Rouge…Crimson…worked on your weapons, yes", Coal sighed, his anger fading as the four before him seemingly looked trustworthy. "So, finally seeing reason, Schnee?"/div
div id="djs-75h9r" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Yeah make your jokes Coal…", Winter sighed, rubbing her nose bridge before looking at him. "Is there…anything we should know about Ironwood's chances?"/div
div id="djs-b8p1b" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Depends, what's the plan?", Coal wondered./div
div id="djs-2kdvn" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Still working that out", Qrow sighed./div
div id="djs-880bk" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Well, if what I heard is true, be careful for that girl…Penny. You see, the general has trust issues, even back when Pietro was creating her…", Coal said as she ruffled through a big stack of papers. Muttering curses under his breath, about how unorganized Rouge was. Winter in particular seemed horrified by that. "What..does that mean?"/div
div id="djs-8oq3c" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""He had a trust issue with Pietro. Especially after the chaos that Arthur left in his wake. Ironwood became paranoid with a way to keep Penny under his control. Mostly by keeping Pietro close by. But after the fall of Beacon, he turned to me, with a weapon design…for an energy cannon", Coal took out an old diagram. One that housed a huge design with two pistol slots, familiar looking pistols. Due Process. "This thing. And I was stupid enough to make it. It takes the power of both his pistols, channels it into a battery that unleashes a beam that's specifically designed to destroy Penny. Because the General hates betrayal, as you might have noticed. And he'd rather have a failsafe to kill Penny, than risk her falling into the hands of his enemies…like what happens now", Coal said as he looked at all four of them./div
div id="djs-cv00n" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Why are you helping us?", Robyn wondered, for Coal to throw the stack of papers and books to the floor and roared in anger. "He KILLED ROUGE!"/div
div id="djs-a7gee" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;" /div
div id="djs-a7cmu" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"…/div
div id="djs-77ic6" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;" /div
div id="djs-dte6e" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"As James was taken down as shown in the show proper, the unleashed animal in Adam had reached the Academy. Sneaking his way in wasn't an option. But it also wasn't needed. Dead and bloodied corpses lead into a side entrance. Someone else was causing damage to Atlas. Not that Adam cared. He was only interested in finding Jacques Schnee. Having been told by Blake what happened, he knew he was incarcerated somewhere in the Academy. So now it was just a matter of finding them. If only he knew that the dead bodies lead to the nervous center of the Atlas army, where Neopolitan, Watts and Aschen were heading to. The inside hangar bay looked chaotic as well. Qrow and Robyn who were fighting their way through the Knights and having caused an intense racket to draw the Ace Ops towards them, stood amidst the scrapped and spare parts of several ruined automaton soldiers. When the remaining three special ops appeared, Qrow smirked and turned towards them. "Ahh, the specially challenged operatives. Sorry we're not here to fight you"/div
div id="djs-a4dni" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""We didn't wanna drop Atlas either, but we've all had to make some tough calls, huh?", Robyn said as she walked up towards the Ace Ops, they all usually had some form of restraining tools. Harriet growled, "What does that mean…?"/div
div id="djs-bea0l" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""What do you think, stupid? The Staff of Creation to deal with a problem YOUR boss created!", Qrow said, holding Elm's hands behind her back as Robyn put the binders on her. "They're using the staff?! They'll destroy the kingdom!"/div
div id="djs-7ssou" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""What do you think a kingdom is? The people? Or just a chunk of land they live on?", Robyn said, stomping her boot as if to say she was right. Qrow smirked at that, before addressing the elephant in the room, "Either way, throwing a bomb on half the population is the exact same as destroying Atlas. But then I shouldn't be surprised a set of idiot children would understand"/div
div id="djs-aig2k" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""WHo're you calling children!?", Harriet barked, only for Qrow to shoot her down, "You! The idiot who somehow thinks throwing bombs on defenseless people is somehow a good order of business! You ought to feel ashamed of yourse-"/div
div id="djs-8m6oa" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"The conversation fell silent when everyone saw an Atlesian Knight walk in. For a moment it just looked at them. As if trying to analyze things. But then it's visor display turned from blue to red. Oh no, this is Beacon all over again!? And while it came at them, Marrow took the blow, to save his allies and friends. Harriet breaks free and along with Vine they both fly a ship off into the morning sky./div
div id="djs-cbj93" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""You know how to fly one of those!?", Qrow asked, desperation driving his actions as he stood up and rushed for the nearest Manta, slowly the city was plummeting down. Robyn nodded, but before she moved she looked back, at Elm and the unconscious Marrow. Qrow, already at the airship, rolled his eyes but groaned as he rushed back towards them, "get that bird flying!"/div
div id="djs-1e4f6" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Let go of me!", Elm said, confused as both her friends left her bound on the floor, with Marrow having saved her life from the exploding drone, also out cold. Qrow helped her to her feet and removed her cuffs. "Shut it! This place is coming down. Don't you understand I'm trying to help?!"/div
div id="djs-4e1eh" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"Qrow leapt for Marrow and pulled him up, holding him over his shoulder as he began walking towards the Manta, who's engines were starting to hum to life! He wasn't gonna make it, not carrying Amin. He huffed and groaned, until suddenly the weight of Marrow was lifted off his shoulders, moving faster than him even when carrying Marrow, Elm Ederne went bounding for the vessel. Qrow smirked, finally they were starting to listen! As the three of them boarded, Robyn took off in pursuit of Harriet and Vine. Qrow turned to Elm and nodded at her. "Thanks…"/div
div id="djs-2o9qg" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Didn't do it for you. Marrow is a friend. I won't let my friends die, not after Clover", Elm said, anger in her voice before she mellowed out and looked at Qrow, "Sorry we made life difficult for you. We know you weren't responsible for CLover's death…Operative Bree…Harriet…"/div
div id="djs-567nu" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Is in mourning. I get it. But if she won't listen to reason…we might have to put that rabid lunatic down", Qrow said, standing up and sheathing Harbinger on his back. Elm hesitated a moment, before looking up at the seasoned Huntsman with a look of determination and worry; "we'll cross that bridge when we get there"/div
div id="djs-bm98b" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;" /div
div id="djs-89tq2" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"It didn't take Robyn long to catch up to the vessel piloted by Bree. The autopilot and discussion from Harriet and Vine and Bree's talk happened the same except instead of saying Clover was wrong as well, he mentions that Clover wouldn't risk the lives of innocent people. Before Robyn smashed her Manta into the other ship. Her proximity alert goes off when she sees Vine Zeki dangling at a dangerous altitude and decides to reel back, turning her attention to saving his life. Qrow, seeing that, decides it's time for a final showdown and becomes a bird, not caring if Robyn saw him transform as he escapes through a hatch and flies over towards the ship. As he transforms back and crashes into the cockpit, pinning the rabid rabbit to the wall, he groans and looks her dead in the eye. "Looks like you'll be getting that fight after all!"/div
div id="djs-aaae1" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"Harriet screams in anger and kicks him off herself, Qrow is flung through the access hatch into the cargo bay with Bree speeding behind him. But Qrow's Semblance is a better match up here. As she skips a few of the ladder bars, her foot slips, causing her to tumble and fall, right into Qrow's heavy swing of Harbinger! Yet fighting in this small area with a big sword, especially with a massive bomb in their possession, wasn't an ideal situation. From afar, Watts observes this transaction and smiles to himself as he cracks his fingers. "No more interference from you, corvidae headache!"/div
div id="djs-balll" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"The ship began buckling, adjusting and changing trajectory, making it impossible for Qrow to truly get a foothold in this fight. While Harbinger was the bigger threat, the limited range of motion and less mobility wasn't doing him any favors either. Harriet knew what she was doing. Going small when in a corner, using the verticality of her speed Semblance to get out of danger, using her powerful arm enhancers to brute force her way through what little Qrow had as a guard. She was in her element and Qrow was rusty from spending time in lock up. Lesson learned, next time no pouting and brooding, but maintaining and cultivating your skillset. And he did have one skill for this situation. With his sword being longer and less mobile, he reached for the middle section and began half swording. A trick he picked up when in Mistral's underground. Putting his left hand on the back of Harbinger's spine, blocking the punch Harriet threw, raising the hilt and slammed it into her chin. She backed off as the bomb continued to tick away. Qrow put his foot against the wall of the ship, waited for her to attack again and pushed forwards, slicing his weapon, by using his left hand, the tip of Harbinger functioned as a dagger! Slicing across her Aura before he swung the heavy blade around, aiming to bring the pommel against her diaphragm but he had to raise the flat side of his sword up as Harriet threw a lightning fast jab! The impact sounded heavy, but neither of them moved. "You're making a mistake, IDIOT!"/div
div id="djs-57roo" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""SHUT UP!", thrown off balance by his words, she drop kicked him. Her shoes pushing the weapon against Qrow and knock the air from his breath, banging his head as the force overtook his guard. Harriet rushed forwards. She wasn't gonna listen to reason, but he had to try something. She dashed forwards. Qrow needed a plan. He smiled at her, and vanished. Harriet's eyes turned to shock as she saw a bird appear right where Qrow had stood. He became a bird. Just like that. In a snap of a finger. Like how she'd always tricked Marrow by taking his sodas during mess hall food runs. Just one second, replaced the next. Harriet almost smacked into the wall before Qrow reappeared behind her, slamming the flat side of Harbinger against her head. Her Aura shimmered, but the blow still rang her head like a bell./div
div id="djs-9otq6" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""You think Clover would bomb innocent people?!", he yelled at her as he advanced. Once more his Semblance kicked in and made her put too much force into the punch. As she overshoots, tripping, Qrow spins in place and pushes her down to the floor. As he does, he pushes the blade against her left hand and groans. Harriet screamed, anger overtaking her rational behavior. "He would follow that order, the principle!"/div
div id="djs-1dicb" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Listen to yourself! You're risking the lives of innocent people and-"/div
div id="djs-d28nk" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Hare…don't do this!", Elm's voice came as she, rooting herself to the roof of Robyn's Manta, held on tight to Zeki who's Aura Vines shot out and held the cargo ramp. Zeki's expression wasn't as zen as he had been before, "Please listen to reason Hare. This course is no longer the right one!"/div
div id="djs-8ffrq" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Let me just do my job!", Harriet pulled herself up, Qrow still held on as best as he can as she crawled to a strap in the floor and undid it, now the bomb only had one strap ready. Qrow saw she wasn't listening to reason. So he made a tough call. "Mission always comes fir-", a loud snap followed by a pained scream as Qrow did the unthinkable and pulled Harriet's left arm back, using Harbinger to keep her elbow straight, yet kept applying the pressure until he popped the joint free. Harriet gave a loud wail as she fell to the floor in intense pain as Qrow lifted her up and threw her towards her friends. "I'm sorry about that, but tough calls are needed"/div
div id="djs-2n84u" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"Elm, who still held Vine, threw him a look. He had not taken her life, so in a way he'd made a better choice than he did before. She sighed and gave him a nod. A popped elbow could be healed, a dead friend wasn't in Elm's to-do list for the day. Vine wrapped her up gingerly and they looked at Qrow. Right then, the other strap snapped and the bomb slid towards the loading ramp. Qrow rushed forwards to try and block it from sliding out, but it was too heavy for him to do so. It slid and knocked him to the side. He gasped. Was it my Semblance again that made it snap? He did feel terrible having to interact so harshly. Especially since he had once thought he'd kill that Hare. He sighed and reached into his pocket. Well Clover, I sure could use some good luck…friend. There was a moment of silence. And then…the thing snatched on a small kink in the floor. A kink that appeared from him and Harriet fighting. He looked at the pin. And felt an oddly optimistic sensation was over him. Was that the key to controlling his Semblance? Could…could I also bring forth good fortune? He snapped to it. This bomb still needed a place to go. And since Mantle was going to be destroyed by Atlas' fall anyway. Why not put it there. Qrow rushed up the ladder, recalibrated the auto pilot, jumped out of the ship and flew as a bird back to Robyn's ship. They watched as the ship crashed and the explosion wiped out half of Mantle. He appeared at the other ship, Marrow, Elm, Vine and Harriet all gazing at the aftermath of the explosion. Realization that they almost aided a madman's plan for mass extinction. Qrow sighed. Some good luck. Now all they had to do was…a shadow covered Qrow's face as he looked to see why the sun was covered./div
div id="djs-1n9cr" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;" /div
div id="djs-4asso" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Atlas…is touching down..", Robyn appeared next to him as the heavy mass crashed into the Crater and wiped out what had remained of Mantle. Qrow gasped, reached for his ear piece and screamed Ruby's name into the communication device. But all he heard was static. He sighed. They were in Vacuo. With a soft nod he looked at the others and smiled. "well…lets find our friends in Vacuo. It'll be a day's journey in flight. So we best get going", the positive energy in his mind, which would survive the harsh truth that awaited him once they touched down in Vacuo, would not lessen the blow. When he heard from Winter that Ruby had died during their mission. Even if along the way they encountered the Amity Colosseum with Pietro and Maria. Another heavy surprise awaiting the humble and kind cybernetic expert and father of Penny Polendina./div
div id="djs-3troc" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;" /div
div id="djs-8sfkn" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"…/div
div id="djs-6l1in" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;" /div
div id="djs-dmosk" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""He killed Rouge. This is the right thing to do", Coal said as he walked through the Academy. He was going to do it, put the barrel of his revolver to the head of James Ironwood and shoot it off! Coal's revenge need was high! Yet before he could, he found dead bodies. Scattered all around the hallway leading towards the nerve center of the military subbase of the Academy. Someone was in here. And they were hunting. That's when Coal's mind snapped back from madness to reason. "Where's Will!?"/div
div id="djs-cicao" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"Quickly the weapon builder reached for his Scroll and tried to call Will Scarlatina. He had turned it off after an emergency broadcast had been beeping, after all he didn't wanna see James, not anymore other than to shoot him. But now all he was hit by, was a 'no signal' image. This wasn't right. On the way he saw two drones, their visors blue so he simply walked towards them. But then they turned red. Coal's reaction wasn't as fast as he'd liked. Those things were going to blow up. He ran for a bulkhead and shot the controls, forcing it to close as he slipped through the closing doors and heard the Knights blow up. He cussed violently as he put two and two together. No communication and machines turning against everyone. Arthur Watts was alive and destroying Atlas just as he had wanted to do so many years ago. Coal checked his revolver, enough bullets to shoot Arthur, James and three others that got in his way! Alright let's get some payback for Rouge! Along the way to the control center, he had to shoot three other mechanical bombs in the head and clear a path. By then he was almost there. As he approached the center room, where a dozen of staff were running critical systems for all of Atlas, he stopped. He heard a voice. A female voice. As he slowly cocked the hammer and peaked around the corner, with only one eye./div
div id="djs-3ruhe" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""You deserve this..Arthur", he could see two females. One was short, but probably older. The second one was taller, yet dressed like an angsty teen, hood up and everything, he waited. He had seen the footage of her, making three soldiers shoot themselves. Don't need a bullet aspirin for my headache, thanks. "Wel'l be back"/div
div id="djs-eiiug" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Well he won't be alive for you to come back to", Coal said to himself as he slowly walked from the hiding place he was, snuck up towards the control center of Atlas and peeked inside. He had to gag himself with his left hand to prevent himself from gasping. Dead bodies. So many slaughtered! Had Watts done all this with the other two? Coal had never seen this level of manslaughter, aside from Rouge's execution. And as gruesome as that had been, it hadn't broken him, fully. But this?! He felt his stomach tighten and the urge to throw up was just as intense as kicking the door down and blasting Watts in the back of the head. However, he did see that Watts had a rifle nearby. Would I justify killing Arthur over James? Can't run the risk of him fighting back. Coal's thoughts were interrupted by Watt's voice. A second Argent thought he was caught. "No more interference from you, corvidae headache!"/div
div id="djs-9fhgo" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"Corvidae? What does the family of corvids have to do with any of this? Does Arthur have a thing against ravens and crows?! Oh no stupid idiot! Coal slapped his forehead! Crow… QROW! Acting on instinct, he kicked the door open and shot the rifle, preemptively. And a good thing he did, because Watts reached for it. The bullet impacted the rifle, Arthur raised it at Coal before the thing blew up and violently tore into Arthur until his Aura shattered. The benefit of having made these weapons, is knowing where to shoot them for maximum effect./div
div id="djs-fl6oj" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Well well well. If it isn't Arthur Watts", Coal said, his gun still pointed at the good doctor's head. The man however just sat back and smiled. Coal stopped, walked back to the door and locked it with his personal code, before slowly advancing on the man once more./div
div id="djs-2d1lg" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""I'd say pleasure but that'd be lying. How's Rouge by the way?", Watts' mustache curled upwards in a very sneering grin. Coal kept his cool./div
div id="djs-aqv2k" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""So you WERE the one to expose him. Should have killed you, before James forced you to work for him", Coal was closer, almost in range to grab him. "Guessing you're the reason I can't find Will?"/div
div id="djs-5fqn" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Don't flatter yourself. It was obvious what I was doing. That you figured it out doesn't speak of your intelligence but more of my inability to better hide what I'm doing", Watts boasts. He feels in control. Even now?! Does he have a mech suit in his pocket or something?/div
div id="djs-1k6il" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""You really are a pain in the ass", Coal hisses as he pistol whips him, grabbing Arthur by the scruff of his coat and push him on the desk, resting the barrel, smoking from firing, against his head, the heated metal slowly burning a mark into Watts' skin./div
div id="djs-1k21o" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""You can't threaten me like a common thug!", he groans as Coal sighs./div
div id="djs-b4f85" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""You're not a common thug, Arthur. You're an errand boy…", a loud bang splattered blood all over the console as the lifeless body of Arthur flopped on the floor. For a moment Coal stood tall. Then he sank to his knees and threw up! Taking a life is hard! I'm gonna be sick. After a moment, gathering himself and shaking the nausea of having brain matter splattered over his silver coat, Coal Argent tried to undo the damage that Arthur Watts had done, yet he wasn't a techwiz, so all he could do was accept that blood and technology don't mix well. With a bit of luck he manages to reinstate the communication network, yet as he tries to call Will Scarlatina, a Scroll begins buzzing inside the pile of corpses. A mug rolled next to it. Coal sat there paralyzed…unable to grasp that everyone he knew and worked with, died in Atlas. He was so broken mentally, that he barely registered when Atlas crashed into Mantle and he died at the heart of the Academy's nervous center./div
div id="djs-a9de2" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;" /div
div id="djs-9g4rj" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"…/div
div id="djs-bho09" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;" /div
div id="djs-6rpv2" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Sure thing…", a snake knows when to go in for the kill. When to stalk and harass prey. When to play dead and when it was life or death. As the green beam of intense power blasted into the Hard Light cell wall, Jacques Schnee, born Gelé, dodged the intensity of the weapon and managed to brush off the attack. Due to the intensity of the attack, part of the ceiling gave way and almost crushed him, as he screamed in anguish, his foot catching under it and breaking. James took no joy in it, but with the scream and smoke decided not to check the body, thinking the man who had been a thorn in his side was dead. In truth however, Jacques had survived. Huffing and coughing, he crawled away from the cell doors and limped towards the exit. He wasn't sure what to do. After all, no one was in sight, Atlas was falling and his daughters were not to be seen. "I suppose I shouldn't be surprised…they never were thankful of my fatherhood"/div
div id="djs-6lt4h" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"Why he was talking to himself, wasn't known. Perhaps he liked the sound of his own voice so much. Regardless, it did help a single person to find him in the prison. A dangerous entity had walked through countless Drones and defenses. His intent was to kill the General for his threat of the Faunus in the Crater, as well as the friends he had lived with since coming to Solitas. Beneath all that rage, under all the hatred, he had learned to bond with humans. Fiona had been the first sure, but then came Joanna. And even Robyn. Perhaps his Gakusei turned Sensei had the right idea after all. Taking a moment to vow to make it back to her and learn more from her, he entered the School. Trying not to kill students this time, yet most were evacuated elsewhere. The hallways were, however, layered with the dead staff and destroyed machines. His focus was concentrated on finding his way towards James. But wandering the maze that was the Atlas Academy grounds, blind and low on Aura to grant vision, Adam stumbled and wandered, trapped. Taurus in the Maze./div
div id="djs-a8fr7" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Maybe I won't lose after all. I just have to get home", the voice Adam picked up wasn't hard to identify. Especially blind, hearing that vile tone and condescending tone, an image of a long forgotten memory popped to his mind. It would be, since it was the last time he saw from his left eye. His mother, a frail and weak bodied Faunus, her tail tucked between her legs. Held by the hand by a man with white hair and cold blue eyes, nodding at an enforcer who had a snowflake on his jacket. SDC security detail. Adam was only eight years, held down by more human butchers. As the blue eyes turned from him to his mother. "Maybe you won't lose your life after all…", the hand let go of his mother, who skulked away and refused to watch as the hot prong was pressed against the pre-teen's eye. Adam's scream of pain was high pitched and intense. Just as the years that followed in the Dust Mines. By running in circles Adam had found his way back to the entry hall of the Academy. And sure enough, there he stood./div
div id="djs-r2t7" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"His Aura shape was the same as his body shape. The colour was dark. Like a body of water at the depths of the sea. Cold, isolating, deep dark navy blue. Adam drew his sword as he saw the man standing and, despite being sure of his senses, decided to test it. "Are you Jacques Schnee?"/div
div id="djs-51c7" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""What do you think, mutt? Are you blind?", Adam smiled, yeah that was him! He walked closer and reached for his cowl, taking it off with a grin. "As a matter of fact, thanks to you"/div
div id="djs-ebpd7" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""What are you on about? I don't have money and there's more important…", Adam figured he'd finally seen the brand on his destroyed left eye. A smile crawled on his face as he walked towards him, a predator cornering the weak and defenseless prey, "Remember me now?"/div
div id="djs-aav1m" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Look, friend, why don't we get out of here first?! Atlas is falling! We don't have ti-", Adam slapped the man! For the love of Grimm, have some dignity you shameless miserable serpent. "I'm not your friend. I'm your executioner…because you ARE going to die for what you did to me. Even if you don't remember"/div
div id="djs-bji6v" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Wait, wait, WAIT!", Jacques said, holding his hands up and thinking fast. Given the mark on his face, he wouldn't be listening to bribes. He needed a different approach. "Look I get it. I wronged you terribly, and you probably have every right to be mad at me. But let's get out of here first! We're in terrible danger!"/div
div id="djs-9bb7n" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"Adam heard the words but was well aware there wasn't anything in there. He recovered a small droplet of Aura again and pinpointed the location, with his location pulse. His smile dropped. Seeing the hands up position, he drew Rebellion and slashed at the man's hands! Cutting deep into flesh and severing fingers! The pain squeals of the man were pathetic and sad. Adam drew a single breath and sliced at the man's neck. Jacques dove down and crawled like a wounded mutt. Adam's smile was vile and filled with joy, seeing this monster on his knees. "You branded me…"/div
div id="djs-b2kt3" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"Adam kicked the crawling defenseless abuser in his guts, making him cough and fall on his sides. "...took my freedom…"/div
div id="djs-b2191" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"He kicked Jacques Schnee in the face, who spat blood out as the blow tore his lips open. "...made me work like a slave…"/div
div id="djs-88e0p" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"Adam raised his sword and made an attempt to drive it through Jacques, who's live began flashing before his eyes. "Your mother sold you to me!"/div
div id="djs-5kc7q" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"There was a pause. Adam looked down at him and rolled his dead eyes. I know that you idiot; "and that's supposed to save you…how?"/div
div id="djs-3s0f1" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""You were my property! And tha-", the voice cut out as Adam ran Jacques Schnee through with Rebellion. Pinning him to the floor, cutting into the lungs and slowly drowning him in his own blood. At first Jacques merely coughed the red liquid out, but when breathing became harder and harder, Adam just glared at the body, he might not be able to see what was happening, he did not care. Hearing Jacques Schnee die was all he needed! "Die..Faunus slaving sorry sack of sh-"/div
div id="djs-7old2" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"Adam stopped. He turned his head left and right. Something felt wrong. He extended his Aura as far as he could, unable to see the magical door that lead to the In Between area, unable to sense or even hear anything other than the dying Jacques on the floor beneath him. Yet in his heart, something felt horribly wrong! He could feel some part of him that vanished. Like a sense. He looked around, unable to see anything as his heart felt a truth that made no sense: Blake was gone…/div
div id="djs-a5ek1" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"The sensation wasn't science. It was just a feeling. He had taught her since they formed a bond in the Fang. He and her had fought together and forged a friendship only soldiers could understand. Yet now that bond was gone. He couldn't explain it, but he knew in his heart that something was wrong. Adam was stunned in his moment of confused shock, even the shockwave of Atlas slamming into Mantle didn't wake him up. He had lost a piece of himself. And as the water took him in an ice cold embrace, Adam's life came to an end. Having achieved his vengeance on the Schnee. And in turn feeling empty and broken when Blake fell through the World./div
div id="djs-7gols" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"Ruby saw her try to get away, so she blasted forwards, petals scattering as she sped up until she stood before Penny, holding her arms to try and slow her down. No way she could actively stop her, after all, she had been tossed into a dumpster by Penny's strength, once upon a time. "Penny please!"/div
div id="djs-kek8" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Must open the vault….I do not want…Ruby..stop me!", Penny said, the emotion in her voice vanishing when Watts' virus took full control. Ruby hated this! Just like when Pietro 'tapped in' from afar during their incursion. It felt wrong. A violation of Penny's free will. SHe acted on instinct and wrapped her arms around Penny's belly, holding tight, pressing her head against Penny, yet she was a machine with a soul, her body was cold and tough. "I must open the vault…and self terminate"/div
div id="djs-5dnk4" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Blake use Gambol, NOW!", Jaune barked as Penny's jet legs began firing up. Acting with practiced expertise, the Faunus girl threw her pistol hook blade out and managed to snatch Penny's right hand. Blake was pulled forwards, causing Yang and Jaune to hold on to her and anchor her, Polendina's trajectory was pulled off kelter and she flew back towards the courtyard. Soon after Lie Ren also shot one of Stormflower's blades and snatched Penny's other wrist. With Oscar he didn't have the strength to hold her down, but Nora, she was strong and powerful! All pulling and trying to keep the rogue Protector from running off. Weiss joined in with Gravity Dust, truly rooting Penny to the ground. "I've got her!"/div
div id="djs-4k8is" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""What do we do!?", Nora's plea wasn't even uttered or a massive gale of arctic wind bit into everyone's Aura. Solitas winds were already dangerous, but the Winter Maiden had even stronger gales who's bite wasn't cold, but icy. The cascading winds broke Weiss' focus, breaking the gravimetric hold of her Glyph, Penny rose up from the ground, slowly breaking higher and higher altitude, there wasn't any stopping her. Slowly, like a spilling drink, she would get away. "I must…OPEN..THE VAULT"/div
div id="djs-4j9j8" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"Another set of blades slung over her shoulders and pulled her down. Emerald, the one who had ran from Salem, terrified of the world to come should she succeed, stepped in to try and help. Proving to some of the group, that she was indeed not out to hurt them. Perhaps even feel sorry for Beacon's fall. She pulled and yanked, hard as she could, throwing her eyes at Jaune: "DO SOMETHING!"/div
div id="djs-er9hd" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"Jaune released his hand from the cluster of Blake and Yang, rushed over towards Weiss and put his hand on her shoulder, boosting her to make the Glyph fire on double strength, instantly pulling Penny down and rooting her to her knees on the floor. Even a Maiden was no match for the force of reality that is gravity. Ruby's eyes were fighting back rivers. She would give Yang more ammo after this. She'd fail once more and she'd take the blame for it. Unable to think of anything, she just clutched on to Penny more and begged her; "Penny…tell me how to help you!"/div
div id="djs-7j397" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Kill me. SO that I can give the power to you…kill me Ruby. PLEASE! I cannot fight it!", Ruby's eyes broke in shock as she felt tears stream down her cheeks. Suicide?! No Penny that's never the answer! Never mind the writers who thought that line was socially acceptable! No, there's got to be a way. She's a cybernetic person. Someone who had nuts and bolts instead of squishy guts but still a person!/div
div id="djs-79cin" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Yes you can! It's only a part of you! Don't let it control you! You're not a machine!", Not a machine! Yes she has a soul! That means: "JAUNE BOOST HER AURA!"/div
div id="djs-be535" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"Jaune rushed forwards, putting his hands on Penny's. And focused. Boosting the thing that made Penny a person and not a mindless machine. The mistake that Ironwood had made, the mistake many people had made, was that they thought her to be a machine. But she was a girl. A real girl! When the Aura overrode the mechanical parts, Penny stopped moving and slowly cracked a smile. Ruby let her tears flow as she pulled herself against Penny, Nora joining her soon after. Yang walked closer, but she could see and feel that Ruby wouldn't want her to touch her, after all she'd recoiled every single time in the last half hour. So they merely watched as Ruby, Penny and Nora hugged and smiled. Ruby hiding her tears with a very fake laugh, even if she was glad her friend was back!/div
div id="djs-514k9" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Did I do it, stop the virus?"/div
div id="djs-eqk36" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""No…it's still there…but at the back of my head. Like an itch"/div
div id="djs-evpb4" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Because that's what you are Penny, not a machine. But our friend! Our dear friend!"/div
div id="djs-dqnln" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;" /div
div id="djs-cbv11" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""I think you're wrong by the way…", everyone turned to see Emerald, who sat on her butt and looked at them all. She had been quietly watching this all and understood that she had been wrong, even at Beacon. It wasn't the happiness that made her angry at them. It was their comradery. Belonging, being friends. Something she thought Cinder had for her, but she was gone now and Aschen or Salem didn't care for her. "You're not in the same place you were before. I mean yeah you've been getting your asses kicked, some of that…kinda my fault, but that's war. You wanted to know why I switched sides. Well it's because Cinder's dead. I don't have a place to call a home anymore. And if Salem wins, I will never ever get a home…what you all share…that's what I want"/div
div id="djs-3jqj4" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Switch sides huh?", Oscar said with a smirk. Emerald blushed and saw Yang and the others laugh at that, all except Ruby, who simply gave her a watery smile, and a nod. Maybe she misjudged that brat back in Beacon. Emerald however didn't wanna show she was moved and just turned away, "whatever!"/div
div id="djs-fnf4l" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"Oscar offered her a hand, smiling as he pulled her to her feet. Then he turned, his face sullen. "I..think Oz would like to say a few words…if you'd let him"/div
div id="djs-7gakf" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"A moment it was quiet. Mostly because Ruby wasn't looking at Oscar or Yang, simply holding Penny's hand and breathing heavily. Yang was saying enough with her eyes. Her fury was clearly visible. Yet before she could, Jaune turned towards Oscar. "go ahead"/div
div id="djs-bd35m" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""I was recently reminded…", Oscar's voice changed. Deeper, different sentence building, after he had closed his eyes and waited for a second too long to open them. Ozpin was indeed back, "of an old fairy tale. A young girl flees her choices and consequences to a magical place, and spreads them even further, rather than learn from them. Spreading the failure further."/div
div id="djs-d00h2" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""The Girl who Fell Through The World", Blake, Yang and Ruby say in unison./div
div id="djs-fv3fr" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""I failed…all of you. I should have trusted you with the truth, and not ran the day you discovered it", another moment it was quiet. Then Ruby spoke up. "It makes sense"/div
div id="djs-2nknc" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""After everything that happened in Atlas, especially the last forty eight hours…", Blake started, before Weiss finished; "trust is a risk. And we weren't the first. Leonardo broke your trust. And even before that there was…"/div
div id="djs-126mp" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""There was my mom", Yang said, her eyes flickering between lilac and red. She turned her face towards Ozpin, the memory of what Salem said lingering. "Do you know…what happened?"/div
div id="djs-akrmd" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Sadly, miss Xiao Long, I don't…whatever happened to Lady Summer Rose…wasn't with my go ahead", Ozpin answered. A moment Yang blinked, because she had meant Raven, not Summer. Yet she was satisfied with that answer, if but a moment. However a cold shiver ran through Ruby's spine that went unnoticed. Your mom? Summer was MY mom. "Well…Raven told me to distrust you…why would I stop now?"/div
div id="djs-31g0v" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""All I can do, is hope you'd all take that risk on me again", Ozpin said, downtrodden. Once more there was only silence. Until Ruby stood up and looked Ozpin dead in the eye. Before she nodded./div
div id="djs-83c1k" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;" /div
div id="djs-babd6" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"…/div
div id="djs-atisl" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;" /div
div id="djs-c3fht" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Neopolitan…was it? Now's not the time to hold grudges"/div
div id="djs-7kcc4" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""I disagree. It's always the time for grudges. She holds one for Ruby yet my stupidity in that master of yours is why she hasn't gotten her revenge yet. After all, it's little Red's fault that the hatguy is dead", Aschen said, vile spewing of her truth, working her magic as she needed it to. After all, Salem would rightfully kill me if I don't bring back the lamp. Neopolitan gave an angry glare as she held up her parasole and threw a venomous glare at her. "You want the girl, hand over the lamp and then let me ask it a question"/div
div id="djs-kl8t" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""What for? What purpose do we have with that magical tricket", Watt asked as he turned towards Aschen. Who kept her eyes primed on Neo, if only to further enter her mind. Her words were soft, but the intent oozed with bile. "Because I can ask it what the girl is planning and we can counter accordingly. Cheating at the card table"/div
div id="djs-2fhvu" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Rather deviously clever. One should always stack the game in their favor", Arthur agreed. Aschen smirked. That's right doctor, keep listening to my words. Neo rolled her eyes and took off her hat with a twirl, before she pulled the Lamp from it, like a street thug magician. As Aschen reached for it, Neo's hands tightened. Aschen returned it with a smirking glare. "Let go…obedience will be rewarded"/div
div id="djs-beulf" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"And just like that, Neopolitan felt her self of self be pushed from her mind. Like watching a movie on your Scroll, she watched as her body relinquished the hold of the Lamp and simply stood there. Like a puppet. Neo flashed every single obscene finger motion she knew, but Aschen didn't see it at all. She merely smirked at Neopolitan's frozen body. "Good girl…"/div
div id="djs-5g0tj" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""I'm almost afraid to ask, but are you using that same trick with the soldiers on her and myself?"/div
div id="djs-b5ure" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Would it matter, doctor?", Aschen smirked as she turned to the Lamp. "Jinn…"/div
div id="djs-8h97k" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"The world froze to a standstill as Aschen and Watts were greeted with the Spirit of the Lamp. Appearing in her flamboyant self, Jinn looked at the scene and instantly recognised a Maiden standing before her. "My…a Maiden..with a question?"/div
div id="djs-ogs" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Yes…tell me what-"/div
div id="djs-8nq4s" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Sorry dear…but I have no more answers for the next couple decades. Sorry, but I can't help you", Jinn said with a radiant smile before she vanished in a puff of smoke. Aschen's confidence wavered for a moment. What?! The question was gone!? The world came back to life around her, Aschen hissing in anger as Watts began laughing with pure utter joy, the pleasure of someone's misery. Aschen glared at him, yet he didn't care, prompting her to hiss: "stop laughing!"/div
div id="djs-dueco" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"And like a muted screen, he stopped laughing, making him realize that she was already controlling him. She then turned to Neo and smiled, "now forget I ordered you, but obey my every command"/div
div id="djs-5t2gc" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"Neo stood there for a moment, before she shook her head, as if waking from a day dream. Aschen then turned to Arthur, "well we can always just head to the Atlas command center. You once wanted to burn down Atlas…why not further that challenge?"/div
div id="djs-ecejm" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;" /div
div id="djs-e4qg6" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"…/div
div id="djs-4675a" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;" /div
div id="djs-2djtl" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""What are you doing?"/div
div id="djs-3cai" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""What I should have done ages ago, getting in touch with my sister. AND STOP PEAKING in on people!", Winter said as she snapped at Marrow, before the door opens and they stood face to face with the most unlikely good fortune. "Speaking of help!"/div
div id="djs-3hl3m" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Oh great, the ice queen…more problems", Qrow groaned as he lowered his blade before smirking at Winter, messing with her was always fun!/div
div id="djs-euqsp" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""If you want help, we might as well get him", Marrow pointed towards the weapon's lab, where two drones were being cussed out for all their worth. Winter smirked, having a weaponsmith accompany them might indeed be clever! Quickly they take out the Knights and enter the laboratory, coming face to face with Coal, who looked terrible./div
div id="djs-4pb89" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Oh great, two escaped convicts, a chained dog and Marrow", Coal groaned as he kicked a chair aside. His anger was focused on the loss of his second best worker. Coal pulled his revolver out and pointed it at Winter, before he was frozen, the 'stay' still ringing in his ears./div
div id="djs-9hg4m" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""We're not trying to hurt you", Robyn said, her eyes scanning the room. "Wait…is this…"/div
div id="djs-2j7n9" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""This is where Rouge…Crimson…worked on your weapons, yes", Coal sighed, his anger fading as the four before him seemingly looked trustworthy. "So, finally seeing reason, Schnee?"/div
div id="djs-75h9r" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Yeah make your jokes Coal…", Winter sighed, rubbing her nose bridge before looking at him. "Is there…anything we should know about Ironwood's chances?"/div
div id="djs-b8p1b" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Depends, what's the plan?", Coal wondered./div
div id="djs-2kdvn" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Still working that out", Qrow sighed./div
div id="djs-880bk" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Well, if what I heard is true, be careful for that girl…Penny. You see, the general has trust issues, even back when Pietro was creating her…", Coal said as she ruffled through a big stack of papers. Muttering curses under his breath, about how unorganized Rouge was. Winter in particular seemed horrified by that. "What..does that mean?"/div
div id="djs-8oq3c" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""He had a trust issue with Pietro. Especially after the chaos that Arthur left in his wake. Ironwood became paranoid with a way to keep Penny under his control. Mostly by keeping Pietro close by. But after the fall of Beacon, he turned to me, with a weapon design…for an energy cannon", Coal took out an old diagram. One that housed a huge design with two pistol slots, familiar looking pistols. Due Process. "This thing. And I was stupid enough to make it. It takes the power of both his pistols, channels it into a battery that unleashes a beam that's specifically designed to destroy Penny. Because the General hates betrayal, as you might have noticed. And he'd rather have a failsafe to kill Penny, than risk her falling into the hands of his enemies…like what happens now", Coal said as he looked at all four of them./div
div id="djs-cv00n" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Why are you helping us?", Robyn wondered, for Coal to throw the stack of papers and books to the floor and roared in anger. "He KILLED ROUGE!"/div
div id="djs-a7gee" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;" /div
div id="djs-a7cmu" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"…/div
div id="djs-77ic6" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;" /div
div id="djs-dte6e" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"As James was taken down as shown in the show proper, the unleashed animal in Adam had reached the Academy. Sneaking his way in wasn't an option. But it also wasn't needed. Dead and bloodied corpses lead into a side entrance. Someone else was causing damage to Atlas. Not that Adam cared. He was only interested in finding Jacques Schnee. Having been told by Blake what happened, he knew he was incarcerated somewhere in the Academy. So now it was just a matter of finding them. If only he knew that the dead bodies lead to the nervous center of the Atlas army, where Neopolitan, Watts and Aschen were heading to. The inside hangar bay looked chaotic as well. Qrow and Robyn who were fighting their way through the Knights and having caused an intense racket to draw the Ace Ops towards them, stood amidst the scrapped and spare parts of several ruined automaton soldiers. When the remaining three special ops appeared, Qrow smirked and turned towards them. "Ahh, the specially challenged operatives. Sorry we're not here to fight you"/div
div id="djs-a4dni" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""We didn't wanna drop Atlas either, but we've all had to make some tough calls, huh?", Robyn said as she walked up towards the Ace Ops, they all usually had some form of restraining tools. Harriet growled, "What does that mean…?"/div
div id="djs-bea0l" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""What do you think, stupid? The Staff of Creation to deal with a problem YOUR boss created!", Qrow said, holding Elm's hands behind her back as Robyn put the binders on her. "They're using the staff?! They'll destroy the kingdom!"/div
div id="djs-7ssou" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""What do you think a kingdom is? The people? Or just a chunk of land they live on?", Robyn said, stomping her boot as if to say she was right. Qrow smirked at that, before addressing the elephant in the room, "Either way, throwing a bomb on half the population is the exact same as destroying Atlas. But then I shouldn't be surprised a set of idiot children would understand"/div
div id="djs-aig2k" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""WHo're you calling children!?", Harriet barked, only for Qrow to shoot her down, "You! The idiot who somehow thinks throwing bombs on defenseless people is somehow a good order of business! You ought to feel ashamed of yourse-"/div
div id="djs-8m6oa" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"The conversation fell silent when everyone saw an Atlesian Knight walk in. For a moment it just looked at them. As if trying to analyze things. But then it's visor display turned from blue to red. Oh no, this is Beacon all over again!? And while it came at them, Marrow took the blow, to save his allies and friends. Harriet breaks free and along with Vine they both fly a ship off into the morning sky./div
div id="djs-cbj93" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""You know how to fly one of those!?", Qrow asked, desperation driving his actions as he stood up and rushed for the nearest Manta, slowly the city was plummeting down. Robyn nodded, but before she moved she looked back, at Elm and the unconscious Marrow. Qrow, already at the airship, rolled his eyes but groaned as he rushed back towards them, "get that bird flying!"/div
div id="djs-1e4f6" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Let go of me!", Elm said, confused as both her friends left her bound on the floor, with Marrow having saved her life from the exploding drone, also out cold. Qrow helped her to her feet and removed her cuffs. "Shut it! This place is coming down. Don't you understand I'm trying to help?!"/div
div id="djs-4e1eh" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"Qrow leapt for Marrow and pulled him up, holding him over his shoulder as he began walking towards the Manta, who's engines were starting to hum to life! He wasn't gonna make it, not carrying Amin. He huffed and groaned, until suddenly the weight of Marrow was lifted off his shoulders, moving faster than him even when carrying Marrow, Elm Ederne went bounding for the vessel. Qrow smirked, finally they were starting to listen! As the three of them boarded, Robyn took off in pursuit of Harriet and Vine. Qrow turned to Elm and nodded at her. "Thanks…"/div
div id="djs-2o9qg" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Didn't do it for you. Marrow is a friend. I won't let my friends die, not after Clover", Elm said, anger in her voice before she mellowed out and looked at Qrow, "Sorry we made life difficult for you. We know you weren't responsible for CLover's death…Operative Bree…Harriet…"/div
div id="djs-567nu" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Is in mourning. I get it. But if she won't listen to reason…we might have to put that rabid lunatic down", Qrow said, standing up and sheathing Harbinger on his back. Elm hesitated a moment, before looking up at the seasoned Huntsman with a look of determination and worry; "we'll cross that bridge when we get there"/div
div id="djs-bm98b" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;" /div
div id="djs-89tq2" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"It didn't take Robyn long to catch up to the vessel piloted by Bree. The autopilot and discussion from Harriet and Vine and Bree's talk happened the same except instead of saying Clover was wrong as well, he mentions that Clover wouldn't risk the lives of innocent people. Before Robyn smashed her Manta into the other ship. Her proximity alert goes off when she sees Vine Zeki dangling at a dangerous altitude and decides to reel back, turning her attention to saving his life. Qrow, seeing that, decides it's time for a final showdown and becomes a bird, not caring if Robyn saw him transform as he escapes through a hatch and flies over towards the ship. As he transforms back and crashes into the cockpit, pinning the rabid rabbit to the wall, he groans and looks her dead in the eye. "Looks like you'll be getting that fight after all!"/div
div id="djs-aaae1" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"Harriet screams in anger and kicks him off herself, Qrow is flung through the access hatch into the cargo bay with Bree speeding behind him. But Qrow's Semblance is a better match up here. As she skips a few of the ladder bars, her foot slips, causing her to tumble and fall, right into Qrow's heavy swing of Harbinger! Yet fighting in this small area with a big sword, especially with a massive bomb in their possession, wasn't an ideal situation. From afar, Watts observes this transaction and smiles to himself as he cracks his fingers. "No more interference from you, corvidae headache!"/div
div id="djs-balll" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"The ship began buckling, adjusting and changing trajectory, making it impossible for Qrow to truly get a foothold in this fight. While Harbinger was the bigger threat, the limited range of motion and less mobility wasn't doing him any favors either. Harriet knew what she was doing. Going small when in a corner, using the verticality of her speed Semblance to get out of danger, using her powerful arm enhancers to brute force her way through what little Qrow had as a guard. She was in her element and Qrow was rusty from spending time in lock up. Lesson learned, next time no pouting and brooding, but maintaining and cultivating your skillset. And he did have one skill for this situation. With his sword being longer and less mobile, he reached for the middle section and began half swording. A trick he picked up when in Mistral's underground. Putting his left hand on the back of Harbinger's spine, blocking the punch Harriet threw, raising the hilt and slammed it into her chin. She backed off as the bomb continued to tick away. Qrow put his foot against the wall of the ship, waited for her to attack again and pushed forwards, slicing his weapon, by using his left hand, the tip of Harbinger functioned as a dagger! Slicing across her Aura before he swung the heavy blade around, aiming to bring the pommel against her diaphragm but he had to raise the flat side of his sword up as Harriet threw a lightning fast jab! The impact sounded heavy, but neither of them moved. "You're making a mistake, IDIOT!"/div
div id="djs-57roo" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""SHUT UP!", thrown off balance by his words, she drop kicked him. Her shoes pushing the weapon against Qrow and knock the air from his breath, banging his head as the force overtook his guard. Harriet rushed forwards. She wasn't gonna listen to reason, but he had to try something. She dashed forwards. Qrow needed a plan. He smiled at her, and vanished. Harriet's eyes turned to shock as she saw a bird appear right where Qrow had stood. He became a bird. Just like that. In a snap of a finger. Like how she'd always tricked Marrow by taking his sodas during mess hall food runs. Just one second, replaced the next. Harriet almost smacked into the wall before Qrow reappeared behind her, slamming the flat side of Harbinger against her head. Her Aura shimmered, but the blow still rang her head like a bell./div
div id="djs-9otq6" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""You think Clover would bomb innocent people?!", he yelled at her as he advanced. Once more his Semblance kicked in and made her put too much force into the punch. As she overshoots, tripping, Qrow spins in place and pushes her down to the floor. As he does, he pushes the blade against her left hand and groans. Harriet screamed, anger overtaking her rational behavior. "He would follow that order, the principle!"/div
div id="djs-1dicb" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Listen to yourself! You're risking the lives of innocent people and-"/div
div id="djs-d28nk" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Hare…don't do this!", Elm's voice came as she, rooting herself to the roof of Robyn's Manta, held on tight to Zeki who's Aura Vines shot out and held the cargo ramp. Zeki's expression wasn't as zen as he had been before, "Please listen to reason Hare. This course is no longer the right one!"/div
div id="djs-8ffrq" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Let me just do my job!", Harriet pulled herself up, Qrow still held on as best as he can as she crawled to a strap in the floor and undid it, now the bomb only had one strap ready. Qrow saw she wasn't listening to reason. So he made a tough call. "Mission always comes fir-", a loud snap followed by a pained scream as Qrow did the unthinkable and pulled Harriet's left arm back, using Harbinger to keep her elbow straight, yet kept applying the pressure until he popped the joint free. Harriet gave a loud wail as she fell to the floor in intense pain as Qrow lifted her up and threw her towards her friends. "I'm sorry about that, but tough calls are needed"/div
div id="djs-2n84u" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"Elm, who still held Vine, threw him a look. He had not taken her life, so in a way he'd made a better choice than he did before. She sighed and gave him a nod. A popped elbow could be healed, a dead friend wasn't in Elm's to-do list for the day. Vine wrapped her up gingerly and they looked at Qrow. Right then, the other strap snapped and the bomb slid towards the loading ramp. Qrow rushed forwards to try and block it from sliding out, but it was too heavy for him to do so. It slid and knocked him to the side. He gasped. Was it my Semblance again that made it snap? He did feel terrible having to interact so harshly. Especially since he had once thought he'd kill that Hare. He sighed and reached into his pocket. Well Clover, I sure could use some good luck…friend. There was a moment of silence. And then…the thing snatched on a small kink in the floor. A kink that appeared from him and Harriet fighting. He looked at the pin. And felt an oddly optimistic sensation was over him. Was that the key to controlling his Semblance? Could…could I also bring forth good fortune? He snapped to it. This bomb still needed a place to go. And since Mantle was going to be destroyed by Atlas' fall anyway. Why not put it there. Qrow rushed up the ladder, recalibrated the auto pilot, jumped out of the ship and flew as a bird back to Robyn's ship. They watched as the ship crashed and the explosion wiped out half of Mantle. He appeared at the other ship, Marrow, Elm, Vine and Harriet all gazing at the aftermath of the explosion. Realization that they almost aided a madman's plan for mass extinction. Qrow sighed. Some good luck. Now all they had to do was…a shadow covered Qrow's face as he looked to see why the sun was covered./div
div id="djs-1n9cr" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;" /div
div id="djs-4asso" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Atlas…is touching down..", Robyn appeared next to him as the heavy mass crashed into the Crater and wiped out what had remained of Mantle. Qrow gasped, reached for his ear piece and screamed Ruby's name into the communication device. But all he heard was static. He sighed. They were in Vacuo. With a soft nod he looked at the others and smiled. "well…lets find our friends in Vacuo. It'll be a day's journey in flight. So we best get going", the positive energy in his mind, which would survive the harsh truth that awaited him once they touched down in Vacuo, would not lessen the blow. When he heard from Winter that Ruby had died during their mission. Even if along the way they encountered the Amity Colosseum with Pietro and Maria. Another heavy surprise awaiting the humble and kind cybernetic expert and father of Penny Polendina./div
div id="djs-3troc" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;" /div
div id="djs-8sfkn" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"…/div
div id="djs-6l1in" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;" /div
div id="djs-dmosk" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""He killed Rouge. This is the right thing to do", Coal said as he walked through the Academy. He was going to do it, put the barrel of his revolver to the head of James Ironwood and shoot it off! Coal's revenge need was high! Yet before he could, he found dead bodies. Scattered all around the hallway leading towards the nerve center of the military subbase of the Academy. Someone was in here. And they were hunting. That's when Coal's mind snapped back from madness to reason. "Where's Will!?"/div
div id="djs-cicao" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"Quickly the weapon builder reached for his Scroll and tried to call Will Scarlatina. He had turned it off after an emergency broadcast had been beeping, after all he didn't wanna see James, not anymore other than to shoot him. But now all he was hit by, was a 'no signal' image. This wasn't right. On the way he saw two drones, their visors blue so he simply walked towards them. But then they turned red. Coal's reaction wasn't as fast as he'd liked. Those things were going to blow up. He ran for a bulkhead and shot the controls, forcing it to close as he slipped through the closing doors and heard the Knights blow up. He cussed violently as he put two and two together. No communication and machines turning against everyone. Arthur Watts was alive and destroying Atlas just as he had wanted to do so many years ago. Coal checked his revolver, enough bullets to shoot Arthur, James and three others that got in his way! Alright let's get some payback for Rouge! Along the way to the control center, he had to shoot three other mechanical bombs in the head and clear a path. By then he was almost there. As he approached the center room, where a dozen of staff were running critical systems for all of Atlas, he stopped. He heard a voice. A female voice. As he slowly cocked the hammer and peaked around the corner, with only one eye./div
div id="djs-3ruhe" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""You deserve this..Arthur", he could see two females. One was short, but probably older. The second one was taller, yet dressed like an angsty teen, hood up and everything, he waited. He had seen the footage of her, making three soldiers shoot themselves. Don't need a bullet aspirin for my headache, thanks. "Wel'l be back"/div
div id="djs-eiiug" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Well he won't be alive for you to come back to", Coal said to himself as he slowly walked from the hiding place he was, snuck up towards the control center of Atlas and peeked inside. He had to gag himself with his left hand to prevent himself from gasping. Dead bodies. So many slaughtered! Had Watts done all this with the other two? Coal had never seen this level of manslaughter, aside from Rouge's execution. And as gruesome as that had been, it hadn't broken him, fully. But this?! He felt his stomach tighten and the urge to throw up was just as intense as kicking the door down and blasting Watts in the back of the head. However, he did see that Watts had a rifle nearby. Would I justify killing Arthur over James? Can't run the risk of him fighting back. Coal's thoughts were interrupted by Watt's voice. A second Argent thought he was caught. "No more interference from you, corvidae headache!"/div
div id="djs-9fhgo" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"Corvidae? What does the family of corvids have to do with any of this? Does Arthur have a thing against ravens and crows?! Oh no stupid idiot! Coal slapped his forehead! Crow… QROW! Acting on instinct, he kicked the door open and shot the rifle, preemptively. And a good thing he did, because Watts reached for it. The bullet impacted the rifle, Arthur raised it at Coal before the thing blew up and violently tore into Arthur until his Aura shattered. The benefit of having made these weapons, is knowing where to shoot them for maximum effect./div
div id="djs-fl6oj" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Well well well. If it isn't Arthur Watts", Coal said, his gun still pointed at the good doctor's head. The man however just sat back and smiled. Coal stopped, walked back to the door and locked it with his personal code, before slowly advancing on the man once more./div
div id="djs-2d1lg" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""I'd say pleasure but that'd be lying. How's Rouge by the way?", Watts' mustache curled upwards in a very sneering grin. Coal kept his cool./div
div id="djs-aqv2k" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""So you WERE the one to expose him. Should have killed you, before James forced you to work for him", Coal was closer, almost in range to grab him. "Guessing you're the reason I can't find Will?"/div
div id="djs-5fqn" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Don't flatter yourself. It was obvious what I was doing. That you figured it out doesn't speak of your intelligence but more of my inability to better hide what I'm doing", Watts boasts. He feels in control. Even now?! Does he have a mech suit in his pocket or something?/div
div id="djs-1k6il" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""You really are a pain in the ass", Coal hisses as he pistol whips him, grabbing Arthur by the scruff of his coat and push him on the desk, resting the barrel, smoking from firing, against his head, the heated metal slowly burning a mark into Watts' skin./div
div id="djs-1k21o" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""You can't threaten me like a common thug!", he groans as Coal sighs./div
div id="djs-b4f85" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""You're not a common thug, Arthur. You're an errand boy…", a loud bang splattered blood all over the console as the lifeless body of Arthur flopped on the floor. For a moment Coal stood tall. Then he sank to his knees and threw up! Taking a life is hard! I'm gonna be sick. After a moment, gathering himself and shaking the nausea of having brain matter splattered over his silver coat, Coal Argent tried to undo the damage that Arthur Watts had done, yet he wasn't a techwiz, so all he could do was accept that blood and technology don't mix well. With a bit of luck he manages to reinstate the communication network, yet as he tries to call Will Scarlatina, a Scroll begins buzzing inside the pile of corpses. A mug rolled next to it. Coal sat there paralyzed…unable to grasp that everyone he knew and worked with, died in Atlas. He was so broken mentally, that he barely registered when Atlas crashed into Mantle and he died at the heart of the Academy's nervous center./div
div id="djs-a9de2" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;" /div
div id="djs-9g4rj" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"…/div
div id="djs-bho09" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;" /div
div id="djs-6rpv2" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Sure thing…", a snake knows when to go in for the kill. When to stalk and harass prey. When to play dead and when it was life or death. As the green beam of intense power blasted into the Hard Light cell wall, Jacques Schnee, born Gelé, dodged the intensity of the weapon and managed to brush off the attack. Due to the intensity of the attack, part of the ceiling gave way and almost crushed him, as he screamed in anguish, his foot catching under it and breaking. James took no joy in it, but with the scream and smoke decided not to check the body, thinking the man who had been a thorn in his side was dead. In truth however, Jacques had survived. Huffing and coughing, he crawled away from the cell doors and limped towards the exit. He wasn't sure what to do. After all, no one was in sight, Atlas was falling and his daughters were not to be seen. "I suppose I shouldn't be surprised…they never were thankful of my fatherhood"/div
div id="djs-6lt4h" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"Why he was talking to himself, wasn't known. Perhaps he liked the sound of his own voice so much. Regardless, it did help a single person to find him in the prison. A dangerous entity had walked through countless Drones and defenses. His intent was to kill the General for his threat of the Faunus in the Crater, as well as the friends he had lived with since coming to Solitas. Beneath all that rage, under all the hatred, he had learned to bond with humans. Fiona had been the first sure, but then came Joanna. And even Robyn. Perhaps his Gakusei turned Sensei had the right idea after all. Taking a moment to vow to make it back to her and learn more from her, he entered the School. Trying not to kill students this time, yet most were evacuated elsewhere. The hallways were, however, layered with the dead staff and destroyed machines. His focus was concentrated on finding his way towards James. But wandering the maze that was the Atlas Academy grounds, blind and low on Aura to grant vision, Adam stumbled and wandered, trapped. Taurus in the Maze./div
div id="djs-a8fr7" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Maybe I won't lose after all. I just have to get home", the voice Adam picked up wasn't hard to identify. Especially blind, hearing that vile tone and condescending tone, an image of a long forgotten memory popped to his mind. It would be, since it was the last time he saw from his left eye. His mother, a frail and weak bodied Faunus, her tail tucked between her legs. Held by the hand by a man with white hair and cold blue eyes, nodding at an enforcer who had a snowflake on his jacket. SDC security detail. Adam was only eight years, held down by more human butchers. As the blue eyes turned from him to his mother. "Maybe you won't lose your life after all…", the hand let go of his mother, who skulked away and refused to watch as the hot prong was pressed against the pre-teen's eye. Adam's scream of pain was high pitched and intense. Just as the years that followed in the Dust Mines. By running in circles Adam had found his way back to the entry hall of the Academy. And sure enough, there he stood./div
div id="djs-r2t7" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"His Aura shape was the same as his body shape. The colour was dark. Like a body of water at the depths of the sea. Cold, isolating, deep dark navy blue. Adam drew his sword as he saw the man standing and, despite being sure of his senses, decided to test it. "Are you Jacques Schnee?"/div
div id="djs-51c7" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""What do you think, mutt? Are you blind?", Adam smiled, yeah that was him! He walked closer and reached for his cowl, taking it off with a grin. "As a matter of fact, thanks to you"/div
div id="djs-ebpd7" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""What are you on about? I don't have money and there's more important…", Adam figured he'd finally seen the brand on his destroyed left eye. A smile crawled on his face as he walked towards him, a predator cornering the weak and defenseless prey, "Remember me now?"/div
div id="djs-aav1m" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Look, friend, why don't we get out of here first?! Atlas is falling! We don't have ti-", Adam slapped the man! For the love of Grimm, have some dignity you shameless miserable serpent. "I'm not your friend. I'm your executioner…because you ARE going to die for what you did to me. Even if you don't remember"/div
div id="djs-bji6v" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Wait, wait, WAIT!", Jacques said, holding his hands up and thinking fast. Given the mark on his face, he wouldn't be listening to bribes. He needed a different approach. "Look I get it. I wronged you terribly, and you probably have every right to be mad at me. But let's get out of here first! We're in terrible danger!"/div
div id="djs-9bb7n" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"Adam heard the words but was well aware there wasn't anything in there. He recovered a small droplet of Aura again and pinpointed the location, with his location pulse. His smile dropped. Seeing the hands up position, he drew Rebellion and slashed at the man's hands! Cutting deep into flesh and severing fingers! The pain squeals of the man were pathetic and sad. Adam drew a single breath and sliced at the man's neck. Jacques dove down and crawled like a wounded mutt. Adam's smile was vile and filled with joy, seeing this monster on his knees. "You branded me…"/div
div id="djs-b2kt3" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"Adam kicked the crawling defenseless abuser in his guts, making him cough and fall on his sides. "...took my freedom…"/div
div id="djs-b2191" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"He kicked Jacques Schnee in the face, who spat blood out as the blow tore his lips open. "...made me work like a slave…"/div
div id="djs-88e0p" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"Adam raised his sword and made an attempt to drive it through Jacques, who's live began flashing before his eyes. "Your mother sold you to me!"/div
div id="djs-5kc7q" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"There was a pause. Adam looked down at him and rolled his dead eyes. I know that you idiot; "and that's supposed to save you…how?"/div
div id="djs-3s0f1" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""You were my property! And tha-", the voice cut out as Adam ran Jacques Schnee through with Rebellion. Pinning him to the floor, cutting into the lungs and slowly drowning him in his own blood. At first Jacques merely coughed the red liquid out, but when breathing became harder and harder, Adam just glared at the body, he might not be able to see what was happening, he did not care. Hearing Jacques Schnee die was all he needed! "Die..Faunus slaving sorry sack of sh-"/div
div id="djs-7old2" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"Adam stopped. He turned his head left and right. Something felt wrong. He extended his Aura as far as he could, unable to see the magical door that lead to the In Between area, unable to sense or even hear anything other than the dying Jacques on the floor beneath him. Yet in his heart, something felt horribly wrong! He could feel some part of him that vanished. Like a sense. He looked around, unable to see anything as his heart felt a truth that made no sense: Blake was gone…/div
div id="djs-a5ek1" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"The sensation wasn't science. It was just a feeling. He had taught her since they formed a bond in the Fang. He and her had fought together and forged a friendship only soldiers could understand. Yet now that bond was gone. He couldn't explain it, but he knew in his heart that something was wrong. Adam was stunned in his moment of confused shock, even the shockwave of Atlas slamming into Mantle didn't wake him up. He had lost a piece of himself. And as the water took him in an ice cold embrace, Adam's life came to an end. Having achieved his vengeance on the Schnee. And in turn feeling empty and broken when Blake fell through the World./div