A/N Taking into account Kyras's comment's (which I do with all of them) Yeah, I kind of reworked how the next few chapters will proceed. But blame my writers block this one is still a little set up but I promise the last one. Bluurgh... I'm just making this up as I go along. But I might surprise you, I hope...
Other slight news I'm gonna use Scarlet and Sage's cannon weapons and go back to rewrite the chapter where I just made some shit up for them. Further proof that I'm not insane enough to write for any anime... Fucking Pirate... Flying collesium... Really?
Anyway, Review if you like as always, and in case you were wondering OC submission will close soon. Yes that's still a thing, shocking I know. But hey it's open now still.
If you are curious about your characters already donated I've had some time to think and you can just look back to the old message threads and reopen those if you're curious.
Any who, happy veterans day, and the next chapter might be a while. But after that I get to the parts I've been thinking about for a really long time, So I can probably pick up the pace.
Enjoy.
The hangar bay on the underside of the Atlas command ship was completely filled with gunships packed with waiting knights, and idling paladins. Personnel and pilots moved cargo and ordnance to their waiting stations or off from the smaller aircrafts. Every action had a purpose, the disciplined Atlesians took their craft of war very seriously.
The three girls in the approaching craft drank in the sight of this formidable waiting force over the shoulder of the pilot guiding them up to the command ship. These smaller vessels could approach from either side of the underbelly. But this was not their destination. They were headed towards another bay cut into the ship farther to the front. Reserved for more important guest, among other things.
The double floor and hangar doors closed beneath the craft. The loud scream of the jet turbines on the wing tips died and soon only the dull muffled hum of the ships power plant could be heard, through layers of decks and armor plating far away.
The rear ramp extended down as Winter led the way off. Hands clasped behind her back and head held high. Proud and composed. Unlike her sister and second guest.
Ruby couldn't help but smile at the whole experience of being on board one of the world's greatest technological marvels. She was practically bursting, wanting to ask questions about everything. But she managed to restrain herself aside from a few squeaks that managed to escape her lips.
Which did not go unnoticed by Weiss.
"Ruby!" The Heiress called,
Ruby yelped and threw her hands up in front of her face when her friend suddenly hissed at her. Weiss reached back and grabbed onto Ruby's left arm to keep them moving as she continued, "Come on the quicker we are the quicker we find Blake and Yang."
The double automatic doors they were walking towards slid open soundlessly. The two knight androids didn't need to snap back to attention. The automatons had been standing guard in exactly the way they had been left for many, many hours. Winter stopped and turned around just outside the door.
"This droid," She said pointing up to the right, "Will take Miss Rose to see Miss Polendina. Weiss, father wants to meet as soon as possible."
"Lead the way," The older Heiress answered curtly.
"We shouldn't be here…"
"You brought us here Raven…"
"But now we have no idea what we are walking into. Yang we should just go back."
They had come to far down into this black pit to turn back now. At least according to Yang who refused to listen to her supposed half-sister.
The three of them had tried to dig through more of the pit rubble looking for the little plastic data drive Raven had finally described to them. Containing all of the surveillance she had collected on this mystery group during the last three years.
Yang was ready to admit that the stuff was most probably lost by now. But know she was curious.
What had wiped out the White Fang like this?
Where were the bombs for the crates they found?
And where did this hole lead?
Yang groaned and continued down the slight rocky slope, "Fine go ahead, run away just like Mom did."
That term didn't feel right at all in her mouth, this whole little situation didn't feel right. But Yang knew using that word would probably have some effect on Raven.
Blake looked up from her crouching position at Raven cautiously. The dark Huntress didn't even flinch at Yang's shot across her bow. Just silently staring as Yang started slowly proceeded further into the dark.
Sharp echoes of their shoes and the stones kicked in front of them rang down the tunnel. Growing wider than most double lane roads, with the ceiling slowly fading to black over their heads.
They had to be getting close to something…
Ruby didn't want to stop and look out any of the windows for the breath taking view of Vale lest she lose sight of her automated tour guide and get lost in the bowels of the ship. When the droid turned its back to the wall next to a small door at the end of this outer hallway. Ruby figured that this was probably her destination and cautiously approached the door.
But the occupants on the other side already knew she was there. Sensors opened the door when she got within arm's reach. And a familiar ginger girl threw up a friendly salute and grin for her friend.
"Salutations," Penny greeted her friend,
Ruby smiled back, "Hi Pen- OOF!"
All her breath rushed out in an explosive gasp as Penny wrapped Ruby up in a bone crushing hug.
"It is so agreeable to see you!" The android exclaimed,
"Nice to… see you to, Penny" Ruby mumbled into her grey shirt in between shallow breaths. Penny released her death grip and pulled Ruby into the lab.
Inside several plain steel tables were organized in a two by two block in the center. One had several holographic display stations set up showing line after line of information. A turnabout scan of a plain blue male figure rotated prominently in several.
Another had what looked like a very low white uncovered smooth plastic bed taking up most of the space. Complete with thin robotic arms tipped with a number of devices. One more held a pair of Penny's swords side by side, having been removed for maintenance and modification.
On the last sat just one holographic computer station, at which the good doctor Penny's father was hunched over on a tall steel stool looking at a page of scans.
His grey beard and hair had gotten out of his control in the last couple of hectic days. Dr. Gepetto was still a busy man. Running multiple research projects for Atlas while at the same time caring for his chosen daughter. His white lab coat was wrinkled up exposing the green sweater he wore underneath.
Penny pulled her friend along towards the old man, "Father, my friend is here!"
The doctor huffed and sighed closing down whatever he was working on. He wasn't irritated at the girls. Just his lack of progress, he was grateful for the distraction.
"Dear little Ruby," He started warmly with a smile. "Welcome… My daughter's told me all about you."
Ruby tried to laugh, but just managed to produce and awkward chuckle scratching her head, "I… uhhh, certainly hope not. Sir," She tried to joke before going wide eyed at her choice of words, "Not that I've got anything to hide… I mean, just… cause the, the, the…"
He laughed a little and waved away her concerns, "I'm sure. Now if you'll excuse me."
Penny tugged on Ruby's black sleeve, guiding her over to the table with the swords and two other stools.
"So what's on your mind?" Ruby asked.
"Father said it would be a good idea for me to socialize," Penny said
"That sounds familiar," Ruby grumbled in a whisper.
The ginger girl didn't understand her tone but continued nonetheless, "He thinks that it will help during my next visit to Beacon."
"You're not still hung up about that are you?"
"No, not at all."
Across the tables the Doctor stated muttering to himself, Ruby barely caught his words.
"No, no that can't be right..."
She looked up to see him pause, tug his left arm close to his chest and brush his chin with the other while pondering the charts on his data screen.
Ruby looked to her friend, "What's he doing?"
Penny thought for a moment, "Ruby remember when I asked you to keep my secret."
"Of course," She nodded.
"What if I asked you to keep another?"
Even with how important Dr. Geppetto and his work were to the Atlesians, the little lab was hardly the grandest feature in the airship. That honor belonged to the long cathedral bridge that spanned the spine of the flying behemoth.
Technicians stood at their holographic consoles. Coordinating their forces down in Vale or in the air around them. Monitoring all the functions of the ship. Trying not to let their eyes wander to the large glass view-shield up at the front where General Ironwood and Mr. Schnee stood looking out over the skyline.
Weiss and Winter calmly walked up to the two men.
They could hear them quietly talking. Ironwood turned around first intent on greeting his guests. But the Schnee patriarch spoke first, "Give us some space James."
Not one to be casually dismissed, the general tried to turn back to the other man, but couldn't even get a word out.
"Now General," Jacques insisted,
One huff of indignation was all that escaped Ironwood in protest. The thick soles of his boots rang against the deck plating as he turned to go make the rounds among the bridge stations.
Jacques's expensive grey overcoat rustled as he uncrossed his hands behind his back and brought them up to press against his eyes briefly. Leaning back his head with a soft sigh.
Winter bowed smartly as their father finally decided to turn and have a look at his daughters. Weiss didn't copy her sister movements as she knew she should have. Taking this moment to try and steel herself for what she knew was coming.
Her father looked pale, even for one whose blood line could be traced back to the origins of the northern kingdom. But aside from his complexion everything else from his light grey tie to his polished black leather boots were in perfect order.
He smiled a little, 'I'm glad I didn't have to cancel your allowance this time to get you to come see me."
Weiss nodded, "No, Father," Her tone devoid of any emotion.
But the Schnee patriarch was a master of reading subtle, "Please my dear… I have a lot to try and say, and I would prefer we be open with each other... For at least once."
Trap.
All of Weiss's instincts were screaming that one thought right now.
Dubious as the roots of Weiss's personal habits were, one in particular had served her well.
That practice to never, ever, bet against someone's nature.
Her father had always made his intentions clear.
Learn respect, honor the family.
Be perfect.
Anything else could carry unthinkable consequences.
Weiss remained still as stone, focusing half on her father and half on the sky view behind him.
He laughed a little again, "Yes, I know what you're thinking…"
"Do you?" Weiss's normally polished tone took on a low and particularly icy edge.
"Do you really?" She repeated.
Winter shifted uncomfortably.
"I don't think you do, father."
Jacques's voice carried no anger, "Well then, enlighten me."
Weiss finally looked in his eyes, her piercing blue star hard and cold, "I know what you've made this family. I don't know if you see it too, what you've done… But... I've had a long time to think about how to make things right."
Still his tone was calm, "Beacon, learn to fight monsters."
"It's better than eventually becoming one."
Winter tried to speak up, worried about her sister accidentally upset him. "Father…"
"No," Jacques folded his hands behind his back and looked at his eldest child while he spoke to Winter, "Weiss, our family is all we have in this world."
"Well then, we have nothing…" Weiss told him, "Just all this shallow decadence and power… This face we've become to keep it... Is it really worth it?"
"I will not make excuses Weiss. I have done what I have done for the good of our family."
"Good job with that father…"
He paused, breathing deep. Emotion and hurt finally showing on his ice sculpted face.
"And I know..." Jacques said, "God almighty, I know it is not enough... And what makes it worse is... Is knowing how I failed you."
Weiss didn't know how to respond to that, but she set herself and refused to show him any reaction.
"I want to be the father you used to have," He stepped forward and held out his left hand. Shifting his gaze to look at Winter, stunned into silence, "To both of you."
Neither stepped forward, but Weiss sighed and hung her head. "I don't know if you can Father. You've made your choice… Now I have to make my own."
"Weiss come back with us to Atlas. Please, I can protect you there."
Shock and sad frustration turned to confusion on the Heiresses face, "What?"
Her father took his hand back and turned to the window, "That little stunt by the Fang was just for their propaganda. The real fight is coming."
She blinked trying to think, "How can you be sure?"
"Everything that has been happening, it's all just moves setup. There has been no pay off for their actions. Even with their recent success. General Ironwood knows that the final blow is yet to be struck and I don't want you here when it falls."
"Then we need to be here to," Weiss tried to object, "What is…"
Her father held up his hand again, "I know that's what you want Weiss. But I can't just let you stay here in harm's way. I'm sure headmaster Ozpin will accept you back in Beacon after this crisis is over with."
"Wait... Accept me back? What?"
"I'm sorry Weiss, but this is not a request. We will be flying back to Atlas. Tonight."
"Ooooohh…" Ruby smiled mischievously, "What type of secret are we talking about?"
"Please, I'm serious." Penny continued, "Only three people in the world would know this."
"Sounds serious," Ruby noted looking into her friend's solemn face, "Okay."
Penny looked to her right over at her father and the other tables, "I'm the first of my kind. Father spent years trying to bring his vision into reality." She looked back to Ruby, "In me. A synthetic person with an aura and soul."
"Yeah,"
"I'm the first... But that doesn't necessarily mean I'm the only one."
"What?" Ruby said, leaning back and scrunching her eyes confused.
"Come look at this," Penny asked, spinning back on her stool and tugging Ruby's right sleeve to follow her.
They walked over in between the tables to the one covered in holo stations, their backs to the doctor.
Penny pointed to a spinning blue scan of a man, "Here."
Of course Ruby didn't know what she was looking at, "Who is that?"
"You know him quite well." The ginger girl flicked her fingers and a video of an early tournament duel replaced the scan.
Ruby's understanding didn't improve at all when she finally recognized the bigger of the two fighters the video focused on.
Kad's single hand stopped the great sword dead in its tracks without even flinching. Yatsuhashi looked quite surprised as Kad pressed his attack. Not even bothering to reach for the sword of fire slung on his back.
"I don't get it…"
Penny switched back to the readings she had taken, one preliminary from when she had first glimpsed the giant. And the other more thorough one she had taken during the tournament.
"Neither do we," she continued, turning around to look at her father noticing the old man had sat up straight watching the two of them. Penny continued, "I can see a lot of things about people, performance evaluation scans, aura levels…"
"X-ray vision?" Ruby asked, half in joke. But Penny nodded.
"But just, nothing about him makes sense. His size, strength, all this," She waved her hand back at the data, "Doesn't make sense… Unless…"
She stopped, started rubbing her knuckles and looking down at the floor.
"Unless what?" Ruby asked again. Penny looked up to her father.
He took off his wide brimmed reading glasses, "Unless someone designed him this way."
Ruby looked back and forth, between her friend, the doctor, and all the other images.
"Are you saying that?... That?..." She stuttered a little bit. Dr. Geppetto spoke up.
"He's not human, at least not a natural born one."
"So you mean…"
Penny looked up, "I might not be alone." A little smile raised the corners of her mouth.
"Well do you know for sure?" Ruby asked,
"There is only one possible explanation, from what Penny has shown me." The doctor said. "But still…" He looked down on his daughter's friend, "Ruby we don't know where he's from or what he is doing here, so..."
"I understand... Secret."
The doctor smiled, "Good girl."
Gradually the echoes down the dark pathway began to grow quiet as more, and more space opened up around Blake, Yang and Raven. The two Beacon huntresses were on point, weapons at the ready. Raven kept sneaking nervous glances behind them as they walked. The tunnel was widening, large rocks littered the tunnel. Debris from whenever this place had been carved.
Raven cast her eyes around again as they wove through the rocks, "No tools,"
Yang was too focused to answer her. So was Blake, her ears kept flicking in response to the clicks of rock she heard all around them.
Out in the darkness Blake's eyes caught a small flash of color. Just a blink.
At first she thought it was just a trick, something reflecting what barely existing light they had just enough to catch her Faunus vision. Raven stopped and pointed to it to when the glint came again.
"Look, did you," She tried to start.
Blake was about to answer, but Yang strode ahead. "Yeah, I see it."
It wasn't just some flash in the shadows, the ready light on the Atlas made bomb embedded in the cave wall to their right was sending out a clear blip every few seconds. One signal that all of them easily recognized, and the black text beneath it froze their hearts.
Primed,
"Not good," Blake crouched for a closer look but was too afraid to touch anything.
"Not good at all," Her partner agreed. Yang pointed down at a cord plugged into the bomb running away into the darkness.
Another flash, down the tunnel caught their attention.
Another red blip on another bomb.
Raven squinted into the dark, "Oh shit shit shit…"
"More?" Yang asked,
"A lot more," Blake said after
Raven crouched next to the Faunus gently holding out her fingers to start marking things in her mind, "We've got to try and defuse it. Yang get your scroll and…"
"YOU WILL NOT INTERFERE FLESHLINGS!"
Most of the air traffic control around the Atlas command ship was done automatically, subroutines guided dropships and civilian transports to their appropriate lanes and monitored the whole mess for any irregularities to inform their Human handlers about.
It had been a simple thing to over write and adjust to Neo's whims.
The little criminal admired her technical work on the scroll across her lap as the Bullhead flier approached the floating warship hovering over the city.
She smiled watching the simple codes scan the ship and determine that in no way were they a threat. The massive threatening flak cannons didn't turn to target, no annoying warning lights blinked on to tell them that several smart missiles were coming to turn them into a fire ball.
Her pilot was completely calm as he adjusted their approach to the private hangar. Neo had only met him a few minutes ago. She didn't even know what the man looked like beneath his black assault suit and bug eyed mirror helmet.
Also, personally Neo didn't know any of the strike force Roman had finally managed to get into Vale on the day of the Breach. Although too they were too late to stop the disaster of that endeavor. The two dozen ex Hunters had proven useful to Neo since then.
And they would prove most useful in breaking her boss out today.
Blake thought she knew fear,
Crouching in waist high weeds waiting for her pursuers to lose her trail. Biting her tongue as they passed so close she could have reached out and touched them.
Adrenaline and shock as she realized that the knives on the arms of android guards weren't dull, weren't slow and really were coming to kill her.
She didn't even know if she should call what just reached her four ears a voice. The words scraped through the air like broken glass.
It was angry.
And she was terrified.
She couldn't see Yang's face, but the blonde wasn't moving. And it took quite a lot to get her to freeze. The air had taken on a sudden stillness, Raven was behind her and Blake didn't hear the other girl move.
Her heart hammered blood through her body. Blake couldn't breathe.
Caught by that voice,
Staring into the two crimson slashes that slowly opened down the tunnel.
"Our will be done, this game draws closed. Be honored children… You will be the first sacrificed this day!"
A ball of fire leapt to life and harsh red light below the demon eyes. The most evil screech Blake had ever heard stabbed into her ears as the blazing orb swept towards them.
Her vision filled with fire, the Faunus finally managed to draw in a breath, snapped out of the spell. But far too late to do anything.
A hand gripped her left shoulder.
Another shadow blocked the little glow of Yang's hair, Raven latched onto her sister as well, leaned back and pulled them all into the swirling abyss of the portal she conjured.
The voice howled in rage when they disappeared and its warp flame splashed harmlessly against the rock.
"Blasphemoussss, meddling prey… Fly, flee far away… No… None shall essscape... None shall escape the doom we bring this day!"