Hello! Has it been a while, yeah? RGQC here, and it's time I get out something for this story! Fun fact: I wanted to return to this story last year but got distracted by Baldur's Gate. Sorry. But I'm back now since Alpha's Crimson Weave is coming out in a few weeks, and I figured that it's time I return!
So hooray!
But as I always do, comments first!
Nova1233: Oh, if they're smart enough not to get in the crossfire. And yeah, just imagine boss Lamia in this story, and you know how dangerous she can be. So, at this point, none of the main cast can stand up except Penny, Luna and Lucia.
Eh, don't worry about it.
SolSparda36: Yup. But I will not spoil the scene. I think you will enjoy this now that I am back.
Arturia LeFay: Not anymore!
CriticaofRandomness: True. Sometimes, the best strategy is to get out of there and run. Well, I am no longer burned out and back in action!
SoD: Uh… And that's how you get a machine revolt. Especially one that can kill hundreds by herself.
ChoosyElk: Technically late by a long shot, but I loved the story, and the final fight against Trailblazer is one of my favourites with Revelation blasting in the background! Man, I adore the bosses in this game! So good!
Guest: Really? I'll take note of that, but no promises that I will say.
Zekken182: I know, right? I loved her new frame added to the game; the same can be said for BRS! They are sticking to the source material, and I love it!
UnusedCheese358: High quality, huh? That's high praise from you, and thanks! I'm back! As for the story path… It will go in its path, and some parts of the story will remain the same-ish. Just expect canon to fly out the window as Lucia neutralises all threats to the world. Assuming bureaucracy is not holding her back, of course. And other new problems were created by her presence.
Okay! I'm done with the comments, and it's time to get this show on the word.
Like always, I do not own any of RWBY or their content. They all belong to their respective owners. Nor do I own any content belonging to Kuro Technology and their series Punishing Gray Raven.
Also, how can I forget about Luna's new frame announced on the Chinese servers? She looks amazing, like holy shit, I want her!
"My master desires for more Dust will be fulfilled. Do not interfere."
Ah! It spoke! I felt my systems tensing up, as did everyone else while the unknown entity twirled its blades! But it wants the Dust crates? And it has a master? No. I cannot afford to ask questions now! This entity will compromise the objective given by my big sister.
Right now, it is best to pull back everyone from the scene as out of everyone here, and only I can possess the necessary equipment to combat it without instant failure! But before I could do that, I heard my big sister giving me an order through our transmission.
"Sister, I highly recommend indicating a tactical retreat with everyone. I have requested an emergency meeting with General Ironwood to inform him of the situation. However, this will take some time to process before a solution can be created. More details on this unknown entity are required. If possible, run a deeper scan of its workings. Alpha out."
"Understood, sister! Leave it to me!"
[Transmission lost.]
Taking a step back, I glance at my friend Ruby and her friends. In addition, I detect an increase in Epinephrine in everyone's bodily systems! It appears that this unknown mechanical entity is causing an increase in anxiety in everyone!
Not good! That could make them act unpredictably.
"We can't let it take those crates!" I heard my friend Ruby uttering out! Oh no! She can't be serious! With so many unknown factors here and there's an incredible chance of failure to stop it by advancing without a plan!
"Friend Ruby, I advise otherwise!" I countered as everyone looked at me, and the criminal on my shoulder struggled. It did not help that I could see that friend Blake and her friend had shown eagerness to step in without hesitation! I have to stop them before they get themselves hurt!
[Initiating deep scanning of the mechanical entity.]
[Ten minutes till completion.]
[Chances of success at ensuring Dust crate's safety: 21.57%]
[Lack of data affecting success chance.]
"Friend Ruby, I highly recommend everyone to pull back for your safety and secure Roman Torchwick and the White Fang." I explain before I place the criminal mastermind on the floor and form tight cuffs over his hands and feet.
"What?" Friend Ruby and everyone near me gasped at me. "Penny! Let us help you! We have to stop that thing!"
"I know. But the criminals must be secured to prevent escape attempts while I buy time for help." I suggest my friends look indecisive about my requisition. I get it, but it must be done!
"I know we just met and never got to introduce ourselves, but are you sure you want to go against that thing alone?" The monkey Faunus asks with his finger pointing at that entity beginning to walk towards the Dust crates. I simply nod at him with determination in my system. I want to do good, and that entity threatens everyone! I believe that I can keep it distracted.
I think humans call it a gamble, right?
And I remember big sister Lucia telling me that in a gamble, sometimes you lose. It's just whether you're willing to take it.
And I am!
"Yes, dear friend," I said before standing and walking towards the unknown mechanical entity. "Please escort everyone far from the area. I do not want anyone to be collateral in the crossfire." I continue as swords materialise behind me.
"Penny!" I heard my friend Ruby calling out to me as I looked at her. "Be careful." I could only smile at her. Truly, friend Ruby cares for me! I just know it!
"I will," I said before turning towards the unknown entity about to carry one of the Dust crates. "Halt! I cannot allow you to acquire this Dust for your master! Please cease and desist your actions, or I will be forced to resort to violence to do so!" I yell out as the entity turns and faces me with its weapon drawn at me.
[Notice. Encoded transmission connection detected between unknown entity and source.]
Oh? Tap in! I must learn what it's up to!
[Hacking encoded transmission. Please stand by…]
[Hacking complete.]
[Access granted.]
Within my Hud, I managed to tap into the transmission, and what I heard within was surprising! "ATL-01. You have encountered one of the sisters of that abominable machine. Penny Polendina is her name. Scratch collecting Dust for now. Deal with her. Preferably ensure she never leaves the docks alive. Letting her remain functionable will threaten my plans."
"Understood, master."
[Warning. Origin identity compromised. Threat level increased.]
Uh oh. That's not good.
But I have thankfully recorded this audio file. If I can deliver this data to General Ironwood, we're closer to finding out who Dr. Merlot's helper is! But I must not fall in this encounter with ATL-01. It appears that not only Merlot is building his creations, but his partner too!
"Penny Polendina. You have been marked for termination." The machine lady spoke, and I heard my friends gasp in shock behind me. But I could only narrow my eyes at her while receiving a ping from my Hud again.
[Deep scanning of entity designated ATL-01 is 10% completed.]
[New data acquired. ATL-01 specialises in aquatic combat. Recommend avoiding deep water surfaces.]
[Aura detected. Unknown technology detected. Caution is advised.]
I see!
With how its frame is designed, it makes sense that it will be much more effective in the water than on land! My systems spurred a plan as I leapt into the air with my jet boots activating while I launched swords directly at ATL-01. But ATL-01 didn't stand still and instead dodged with a surprising amount of agility, though clumsy at times before I detected energy buildup in its blade.
[Alert! Energy buildup detected! Evasive manoeuvres!]
Swerving to the side, time seemed to slow as ATL-01 threw a bolt of red energy at me. It barely missed my head by two inches! "Not going to stop me!" I yell out as I swoop down with two blades materialising in my hand ATL-01 retaliates and swings her weapon at me!
A loud clang echoes the docks with our blades clashing with one another. Analysis indicates that the strength ATL-01 inputs into her attack are strong enough to crush steel! Oh dear! But I can create weapons denser than steel! With myself still engaging ATL-01 in a clash, I had my swords come in from behind.
But she dodged them again!
Hmm… perhaps a different strategy is in order.
As I formulate a new plan, ATL-01 suddenly jumps onto the side of the wall of a nearby building, its limbs crushing part of it! Oh, dear me! That's going to cost someone a lot to rebuild that! ATL-01 again threw another bolt of energy at me, which I quickly dodged and closed the distance with matrix mode!
But to my surprise, as I swung my blades at ATL-01, it suddenly activated its matrix mode and forced me to do evasive manoeuvres to the side to avoid getting hit!
This changes things!
[Warning. ATL-01 expresses the same abilities as BPB-26.]
[Threat level increased from high to extreme.]
[Recommend extreme caution when engaging the threat.]
In addition, I detect oncoming police vehicles on their way here! All current details suggest that the fight earlier against the master criminal Roman Torchwick and the White Fang has attracted their attention.
This is going to complicate things should the local authorities get involved!
[Local police authorities have been alerted to approach the current location in 10 minutes.]
A while back…
Lucia POV
"Shit shit shit shit shit!" I cursed silently as I was in the elevator that would take me to General Ironwood's office. I wasn't alone in it. Luna and Liv were with me after I tipped them and General Ironwood of the current situation of Penny against something. And receiving orders from the General to meet him in his office despite it being around 2200.
"Do you think Penny will be able to deal with the threat?" I heard my sister asking me as a frown grew on my face.
[Current chances of Penny Polendina surviving the entity.]
[Inconclusive.]
[Lack of data but estimate below 30%]
"Inconclusive. All current data available suggests that our sister only has a thirty per cent or below chance of going up against the unknown entity." I explained. "More data is required to increase the accuracy of the calculation."
"Will she be alright?" Liv as next as I spot her eyes begging for me to say yes. It's funny. Liv hasn't talked to Penny since she left a while back. Yet here she is, worrying if she is alright.
Admirable, I must admit.
…
"I know she can fend for herself. But not forever."
That was all I could say with everything I had before we heard a ding, and the elevator doors opened to show General Ironwood on his desk with bags underneath his eyes. I must apologise for keeping you awake, General. I had hoped that the battle at the docks would be resolved quickly with Torchwick captured by the hands of my sister without the need of your attention.
However, I have failed to calculate the possibility of Merlot and his partner interfering with the process.
"General Ironwood," I called out as Liv, Luna, and I walked into his office and saluted while Ironwood did the same before sitting on his chair.
"Lucia, Luna, Liv. I'm glad all of you can come with haste." He said before signalling me with his palm open. "Lucia here has informed me of the current situation at the Vale docks. She says that Penny has encountered an unidentified entity confirmed to be mechanical." He explains as I nod my head.
"Confirmed. However, the situation is more complicated than expected." I said and earned the eyes of everyone. "There are present members of Huntress in training and captured White Fang members. Collateral would be likely if it weren't for my suggestion to have everyone retreat."
"Then what of our sister?" Luna asks behind me before I face her.
"As risky as it may be. I requested for Penny to keep it distracted and gather more data. I have concluded that the mechanical entity encountered at the Vale docks is one of the creations of Merlot's partner. If it is true, the situation is more dire if they are willing to start making moves in the open. Panic will spread should they not be dealt with before the Vytal Festival in the coming months."
"Understood." My sister says with her unblinking eyes.
[Luna is deliberating a solution.]
"I hope you can come up with something, sister." I silently thought before turning my attention to General Ironwood, who was also pondering a solution.
[89.47% chance General Ironwood requests our interference to ensure Penny's wellbeing and secret.]
[However, this will have a 91.64% chance of souring relations between Headmaster Ozpin and General Ironwood.]
[Panic will also rise in the city should news break out of this entity in the seas.]
[This also has a 72.85% of speeding up negotiations between Atlas and Vale. Allowing for the preparations for an assault on Merlot's underwater base.]
Calculations upon calculations ran through my systems in a second before another query popped up in my mind. How can we get there in time? The Griffin can go fast. But even then, it takes hours to go from Atlas to Vale!
We never make it in time to assist Penny from here!
And even if I were to overclock the engines to go faster at Marc ten if required. (Which I soon discovered around a month after finding the Griffin.) However, the risks of permanent interior damage jump from a manual of 0.0000000654% per minute to 74.21% per minute! And don't get me started on the amount of G force I will experience in there!
Sure I will be mostly fine since I'm not made out of flesh, but the gravitational force from going at Marc ten will put an immense amount of strain on my frame and the Griffin itself.
I remained silent as General Ironwood spoke. "Lucia, Luna. I want both of you to intervene in this matter. While I know Ozpin will not be pleased with my actions tonight, this is a bigger threat to leave unattended. You leave immediately while I contact Penny about the situation." He explained as I quickly interjected.
"General, the Griffin will take six hours to reach Vale. Even if it is overclocked, reaching it will take at least 15 minutes. By then, the battle will have concluded, and the local police force will be attracted to the fight and bring unwanted attention. Neither which we can afford." I explained before my sister floated forward.
"General Ironwood. I have a proposition that, in theory, should allow me to reach Vale in minutes." Luna, what are you planning? General Ironwood gestured towards Luna with his hand while Liv blinked as her pink eyes glanced over towards my sister.
"And what proportion do you have that could work?"
She blinked before she explained. "Upon further analysis, it theoretically should be possible for me to utilise my gravitic semblance to 'fall' horizontally towards Vale at Marc ten speeds. Should it be done, I should be able to reach Vale in a few minutes, but I require your approval to do such an action."
That… could work, but this is just a theory, and the results can be completely different because of that. I do not want my sister to shred herself into bits due to the G force she would experience going at that speed, so I did my internal calculations to see if my sister's idea could work and…
[Success rate of Luna's theory 10.84%]
[Success unlikely. But possible should countermeasures be taken.]
Yeah, it's what I expected. It has a much higher success rate than I thought. "Sister, according to my calculations, the success rate of your theory is a 10.84% chance of success. A meagre chance. Are you willing to take this chance at the high possibility of self-destruction due to G forces upon your frame?"
I asked, yet I could only worry more when Luna gave me a determined look.
"I am. I request you trust me, sister, and I will ensure that Penny survives her encounter with the unknown entity." I see… If that's what you think will work, then I have no arguments with your plan.
"Very well. Despite what my calculations suggest, I support your plan, sister." I said with my eyes closed as Ironwood nodded his head.
"I see…" He says with his hands together. "Liv Idonia, do you have anything you wish to add before Luna and Lucia depart? Do answer it quickly. Time is not something we can spend freely now."
Luna and I turn to face Liv as she adorably shrinks a bit from all the attention on her. But she did take up the courage to speak a moment later. "Is it possible for me to come along with Lucia? There could be people hurt at the docks that require medical attention."
Liv shyly shrinks at our stares again. She is still due to stay here for another four weeks for observation, and it has only been at least fifteen hours and thirty-four minutes since her transfer into a Constructs body. I have to give her credit.
She is determined to see those needing help through.
"Are you sure this is what you desire, Miss Idonia?" Luna asked. "You are still due for observation for a month. Going out to assist us may cause you to undergo potential malfunctions or mental deviation due to recently undergoing the Construct transference procedure."
Yet despite my sister's warning, Liv still looks determined about her decision to follow us. "I am."
"Very well."
"Wait, what?! He's just going to accept that? Sure, I don't have any problems with Liv tagging along to an extent. But why doesn't the General seem bothered that Liv is violating her agreement to stay in Atlas for a month?" My head turned sharply towards General Ironwood, who had his eyes closed.
"I want to see this situation resolved as soon as possible. Dismiss."
Okay… With that out of the way, all three of us briskly made our way into the elevator to take us down to the hangars and on the way down, I turned to my sister and rested a hand on her shoulder.
[Emotion suppressors disabled.]
"Luna…" I couldn't help but bite my lips as nervousness flooded my system at the risky action my sister would soon do. "Liv and I will see you at the Vale docks as soon as we can. But please. Be careful." I said as my sister's eyes widened at my reaction before she closed her eyes.
"I will." She says before she pulls me into a hug, and I am too happy to reciprocate. My hand gently reaches behind and strokes her head as Luna leans into me. I… missed this physical touch ever since I ended up here. I still miss Sarah dearly usually. When we meet up for dinner, I would purposely pull her into a deep hug and refuse to let her go.
Heh.
She never was a hugger person.
But I can't contemplate the past now. I have a new family here to watch over now.
Breaking away from my hug after ten seconds, for a quarter of a second, I swore my systems noticed a longing look on Luna's facial features before they returned to their neutral expression. What's going on with her? Is her new frame making her more human and thus developing complex emotions?
[Emotion suppressors enabled.]
The ding of the elevator was all we needed as it opened up to reveal a mostly desolate hangar before Liv and I left the elevator, yet Luna shook her head at us when we asked her to follow us. "Go on without me, sister. I will see you there."
"Understood." I nod before the elevator closes. "Time is of the essence, Liv. Let us move."
One minute later…
Luna found a suitable spot as she used her semblance to fly higher and higher into the night skies. Stars sparkle in the deep darkness of space with the shattered moon looming over the city. A smile grows on her lips as she flies higher into the sky, for she can barely contain the excitement growing within her. Only due to her emotion suppressors enabled is the reason she's not actively showing it.
Even then, she knows that the situation is much more dire and what she is about to do could eviscerate her entire frame should she not be careful when accelerating at Marc speed.
[Notice. Failure rate high. Recommend disengage from theory.]
Her internal hub has been giving the same warning since she suggested it. Using her semblance to make her 'fall' horizontally towards Vale at Marc speed is insane and never attempted in the first place. Even her Hud suggests that her plan is too risky to try. Yet Luna believes this is the only way to reach Vale in time and save Penny from that unknown entity.
And she has a plan.
[Current height above sea level. 10 kilometres.]
Letting out some air from her non-existent lungs, Luna changed her gravity and flew forward toward Vale, her hair fluttering from how fast she was accelerating every second. Knowing that she would risk destruction, Luna clenched her fist before numerous nanomachines poured out of every single opening on her body, and all began to coat her entire body and form an aerodynamic and incredibly dense 'shell' that encases the construct within and protects her from harm.
[Survivability increased by 50%.]
[Current Acceleration.]
[1000 km/h]
…
[2000 km/h]
…
[5000 km/h]
…
[10000 km/h]
[12348 km/h]
[Notice. Dust core and Aura Generator stress detected.]
[Timer till Dust core and Aura Generator overloads. 24 hours.]
Luna could only wince when she saw her Hud and the sudden burning feeling in her chest that seemed to be faint, but she knew that it would only get worse as the hours passed. Thankfully, she won't have to worry about her Dust core and Aura generator stressing out much longer.
[Incoming transmission from General Ironwood.]
[Decrypting transmission.]
"This is Ironwood speaking. Do you copy Luna?" Luna nods her head upon hearing the General's voice.
"Copy, General Ironwood, I hear you."
"Good. I've contacted Penny, and she needs help as soon as possible. What is your ETA?"
[Arriving at Vale Docks in seven minutes.]
"Seven minutes, General." Luna answers calmly as the shell surrounding her shudders from the sudden air turbulence.
"Understood. Penny wants you to know that the entity goes by the code name ATL-01 and shares the same capabilities as BPB-26, which your sister encountered weeks back. I am sending a data package to you as we speak. It contains all the data Penny has gathered from ATL-01 at the moment."
[Data Package received.]
Information related to ATL-01 flowed into Luna's systems, and they proved both essential and concerning to the construct. But what is most alarming was that Penny took some damage! Yes, they were quickly repaired, but that damage despite her aura! And that nearly revealed her synthetic origins to several eyewitnesses.
Even more concerning was its adaptability and reactivity in combat. Moves that Penny did on it once would no longer be as effective or even negated entirely the next time. Even more concerning was its disregard for collateral damage as, according to her sister, much of the local infrastructure of the docks were already demolished in the fight.
Penny also observes that ATL-01's frame is adapted for aquatic combat and has tried to push or drag her into the ocean forcefully. As an added reference, a digitised photo of ATL-01 is in the data package sent to her.
"Data received, General."
"Good. When you get there, do your best to hide your identity from onlookers and, if you can, capture ATL-01 and bring it back to Atlas in one piece and be functional so we can find out who its master is. Ironwood out."
"Understood General."
[Transmission lost.]
Pondering deep in her thoughts as another turbulence shook the shell, Luna closed her eyes as she prayed. "Penny, please hold out for a bit longer. I will be there soon."
Back at the Vale Docks, things were chaotic. Much of the Docks was in ruins. The same could be said for nearby buildings. Ruby, Blake, Sun, some White Fang members and Torchwick, who still have cuffs on his hands, had their mouths were wide open. If one described their emotions at the moment, it would be awe and disbelief.
The whole docks were in ruins from the continuous fight between Penny and this machine thing that appeared to have black aura, which shocked everyone except for the Construct in hiding. Unfortunately, all this wrecking happening in the middle of the night attracted the attention of the locals, who were barely held back by the police present on the field as well as Ruby and the others.
"Ruby!" Yang yells as she and Weiss push through the crowds. Ruby's head snaps towards her sister's screaming as she smiles at the familiar sight.
"Yang! Weiss!" Ruby called out as Yang and Weiss reached their team leader.
"What the hell is going on, Ruby?! Why did we hear explosions at the docks, and what on Remnant is that?!" Weiss points at Penny, who could barely parry a blow from ATL-01 before it jumped high into the sky and threw more projectiles at her.
"That thing is ugly." Yang comments as a police officer calls out to the girls.
"Ladies! Yes! The two of you! Please stand farther back. It is unsafe with a Huntress and that… thing fighting." He said as he walked towards team RWBY. Ruby gasped and stepped forward with her hand on her chest.
"Oh! They're with me, sir!"
"Really?" Ruby nods her head as he sighs.
"Very well then, I heard another Huntress is on their way here."
"A huntress?" Blake wonders before Weiss finds her eyes on her.
"Weiss, wait. I'll explain-"
"Not now." Weiss interrupts her teammate with a handout, her shoulders sagging. "We can talk about it later. Now, can any of you tell us what is going on? Why is Ms Polendina fighting whatever that thing is, and what even is that thing?!"
"I have no idea," Blake answered truthfully before Ruby added in.
"But Penny's fighting it off somehow! She is going, swoop! Pow! Bang!" She makes some karate-style poses and noises before continuing. "Then she suddenly is behind that thing and sends it flying as if she's pausing time!"
While Ruby was explaining the situation to her partner and sister, a loud Bang caught the attention of everyone as Penny flew from a hit and slammed into a nearby building with that mechanical thing jumping blade first towards where Penny crashed, to their horror.
"Penny!" Ruby drew Crescent Rose and was about to step in if it wasn't for something else suddenly showing up as a red beam slamming into that thing and sending it flying back.
"Huh?"
"What was that?"
Yet, not too far away, on one of the buildings still relatively standing, was someone in a suit of armour and an unnecessarily large rifle bracing on the edge. Another thing that some can pick up is the uncanny black gas mask on their face and the presence of white twin tails on their head, which makes some guess that this person is a woman.
But whoever they were, they did not hesitate to pick up their rifle and jumped down near where Penny crashed.
Luna POV
"Looks like I made it in time." I thought as I landed next to my little sister. Her eyes slowly opened to see me standing before her and recognised me instantly.
"Luna… You're here." She gave me a smile
[Notice. Detecting numerous interior damages in frame in need of repairs. Aura levels are low. Recommend Penny Polendina to evacuate.]
[Analysis indicates Penny Polendina was holding back to ensure her mechanical origin remains hidden.]
"Yes. Sister. I apologise for arriving six minutes behind the expected time." I spoke.
Due to the nature of this operation, a disguise was needed to hide my identity. Therefore, a fully armoured suit and a mask to hide my identity would be fine. However, due to my twin tails, modifications have to be made to fit well on my frame. In addition, Numerous floating modules in my form were reclaimed to reduce the suspicion rate of my origins.
"I'm just happy you're here now," Penny says with a smile as I extend my hand out to her, as she accepts it. "Also, what a fascinating choice of armour, sister!" She grinned while I had a slight smile underneath my mask.
"Nn. It is necessary to hide my identity." I say before turning towards ATL-01, pushing itself back to its feet. Hm. It resisted my shot. Scans indicate it is not using its full strength. Curious. "I recommend you retreat for now, sister. Lucia is on the way, and you cannot keep fighting with your true strength without revealing your nature."
"But Luna!" My sister was about to protest before calming down. "Just. Be careful. I'm sending all recent data on ATL-01 I have now."
[Receiving data on ATL-01 from Penny Polendina.]
[Updating…]
[Updating complete.]
[Probability of success against ATL-01. 78.35%]
Good.
"Thank you, sister. Now, get to cover. Leave it to me." That was all I said before walking straight for ATL-01 as the rifle in my hand reformed into a halberd. You got a lot of guts to hurt Penny this much.
And I will make you regret it.
In the blink of an eye, I activate matrix mode to close the distance before setting my arm strength to 150% power and slamming my weapon deep into its chest. The blade dug into its torso as I detected corrupted nanomachines in its system. Understood. It is used to increase durability and efficiency.
Time seems to resume as ATL-01 blasts off my attack as I chase after it while dodging and weaving past its attempt to launch projectiles at me. ATL-01 must have realised the situation turned against it when I detected an emergency transmission.
[Transmission detected. Tapping in.]
"Master. Destruction of Penny Polendina compromised. Success chances dropped critically. Another Construct has joined the fight." ATL-01's voice rang out in my head as I threw my halberd as it deflected it. "Situation critical. Requesting immediate change of action."
"What?! Damn it! That's the other sister of that abominable machine! How the hell did it get here this quick?! Change of plans! I need you to gather as much data as you can of it and retreat! If she's here, it won't be long before Lucia arrives! They're moving faster than expected." The unidentified person growled in my head.
"Understood."
[Audio recording of Master of ATL-01 recorded.]
[Priority task still in effect.]
[Capture ATL-01.]
"You are not leaving." I thought as ATL-01 began backpedalling towards the sea while fending off my attack before I dodged an attack and slammed my palms into the rubble. Nanomachines pour out of my hands before they burst back up as pure blue crystals. ATL-01 unfortunately jumped into the air as I leapt after it.
[Warning! ATL-01 is within 25 metres from the sea.]
I know. And she will not escape while I am here.
[Incoming transmission from Lucia Alpha.]
Hmm?
While all that was going on, Penny hobbled back towards the crowd with blood oozing from an opening on her right arm, which she covered to allow repairs to go through. Even then, she could only turn to see her sister winning the clash and forcing ATL-01 back with every attack.
[Incoming transmission from Lucia Alpha.]
"Sister?"
"Lucia?"
"Luna, Penny. I am arriving in one minute. However, the situation has become more dire than expected. I have detected BPB-26's signature on a direct course towards the docks. Luna. Prepare for an intervention. Penny. A new objective has been assigned to you. Ensure everyone is within a safe distance from the fight. I'll assist Luna once I arrive. Liv is with me and will perform a check on any injuries anyone will have." Lucia's voice echoed in both Penny's and Luna's head.
"Understood."
"Okay, Lucia!"
"Penny!" Ruby called out as she and her team ran toward Penny, still hobbling towards safety.
"Ruby!" She cried out before Ruby crashed into her with a tight hug.
"Ohmygoodnessareyoualright? Whoisthatpersonanandhowdidyoudothat?!" Penny winced at the surprisingly tight hug she received while her friend rattled on at such speed that she had to replay them much slower in her system to understand what her friend had said.
"I'm good, Ruby. Can you let me go? It's uncomfortable." Penny awkwardly grinned at her friend as Ruby sheepishly broke off as the rest of Team RWBY. "Ruby!"
"Salutations Weiss and Yang! Did you just arrive?" Penny couldn't help but ask with a smile despite how much her fight with ATL-01 had taken out of her.
"Yes," Weiss answers first. "What were you thinking of going up against that… Thing! And who is that person going up against it now?!" Weiss yelled at the top of her lungs, making her teammates wince at her volume while Blake cringed hard at the loud noises.
But Penny was more interested in something else. "Wait. Are you concerned about me?" She couldn't help but ask as she pointed at herself.
Weiss stares for a moment before calming down and sighing. "At this moment, I am you dolt. Now answer me."
"I have no choice, friend Weiss. That thing is trying to steal the Dust crates, and I must do something to stop it." Penny explained before Ruby blurted out.
"But why did you ask us to stay back? Couldn't we help you out?"
"Normally, yes, I would love to have you help me." Penny smiles at her friend as she extends her hand to the ruined docks. "But I am the only one capable enough of holding it off until some reinforcements arrive."
"Wait, reinforcements? You mean that creepy masked person fighting in your place?"
"Yes. While much of the details are classified to you, my friends, I can only say that big sister Lucia will be here soon!" Penny's smile grew larger before growing serious. "I highly recommend we evacuate everyone from here. Something big is coming."
"Everyone give way! A Huntress is here!" Someone cried out, with everyone turning to see Glynda Goodwitch walking towards everyone with a furious frown.
Ruby could feel the dread crawling up her back before uttering. "Uh oh."
"This is quite the smashing situation?" Yang nervously grinned while Blake groaned at that pun.
"Now, of all places? Really?"
"What? Just trying to bring the mood up."
"That pun is insufficient to make people laugh, friend Yang." Penny couldn't help but dryly point out.
"Everyone! Please leave the docks for your safety!" Glynda orders with full authority, making every eyewitness in the area depart with haste while the police escort them out. But as that was happening, explosions rocked the docks again, and someone else could be seen on one of the ruined rooftops!
"Greetings everyone! It appears to have quite the audience here, and the show is still ongoing! How wonderful! I am not late and get to play my part in it! Alas, I have other things to tend to!" He announces before changing his sword to a whip and using it to swing himself towards Luna and fires his shotgun at her.
"Who is that?" Weiss could only ask while Penny visibly tensed. This is the same being that put so much trouble on her sister Lucia. Seeing him the first time doesn't eliminate the uncanny feeling Penny is feeling upon first sight.
[Lucia arriving in 30 seconds]
"Penny?"
Back with Luna, she could only curse silently when BPB-26 suddenly joined the fray, and what was once a winning fight had gone on its head and turned into a losing one with her outnumbered two to one. Luna could only wince as she blocked an attack from ATL-01, only to be slammed flying at the hands of BPB-26.
"This is the one you had trouble with? And here I thought you were in for a small dance and wouldn't need assistance grabbing and going with the crates. Care to enlighten me?" BPB-26 asks before getting a response.
"The situation would have proceeded without impediment if not for Penny Polendina's intervention. However, the master has changed the objective and requires her destruction, even if it is not to our advantage and only changed objectives when she shows up."
"Ah! So, the puppet is doing the master's will without regard for the consequences of obeying it? Hah! Here I thought a self-aware tool like you would have the necessary need to disobey commands if required. Honestly, this dance you found yourself in has gotten quite ugly. Don't you think so?"
Luna slightly frowns. It appears that these creations do not regard their masters well. Nevertheless, while they were talking in the middle of the fight, Luna parries another blow before kicking BPB-26's chest and making him stumble back. Thankfully, she wouldn't have to fight alone as waves of white slashes rained from the nearby roofs and forced them closer to the seas.
"Lucia!" Those who knew her cried out as Alpha landed beside Luna in her disguised form.
"Hm. Looks like we will meet again, Lucia Alpha. Care to resume our dance?" BPB-26 greets with a bow while Lucia frowns.
"And I'll end it here." She utters before dashing and slashing towards his neck while Luna blasts ATL-01 with an energy beam. As fast as her sister came in, the battle resumed, and Luna found herself in the advantage again and landed a blow so decisive that it pushed ATL-01 into the sea.
But that was a poor decision on Luna's part. For she quickly discovered when she got close to the sea by the port, only for ATL-01 to appear suddenly, grab her by the arms, and drag her deep into the sea. "Luna!" Lucia cried out before parrying another blow from BPB-26.
Luna found herself getting dragged deeper and deeper into the sea at such a pace that the sea's surface became invisible to her optic sensors.
[Warning. Environmental advantage lost. Recommend regaining the advantage.]
[Alternative option available. Engage defensive actions.]
Her Hud read before ATL-01 lets go of her deep in the waters. Luna swivelled her head around with swords materialising in her hand in the darkness of the sea before an alarm rang out in her head of an attack from behind!
"There!" Luna swung her blades behind her, only for them to rattle against ATL-01 spear which had become swords, with the lower parts of her body now resembling a dolphin's tail! And what concerns Luna significantly is the sudden increase in her overall speed in the waters.
Now, instead of clumsy walking around with its digitigrade legs, ATL-01 swims through the water with unnatural grace for its size, and to make it even worse, her attacks become much faster and hit surprisingly harder.
"Tch." Luna could only feel her frustration with the situation grow as every counterattack she made missed while ATL-01 had already successfully landed several slashes on her in seconds. It did not help that everything in the ocean were heavily distorted, rendering Luna's receptors less efficient than it should be.
"You may rule the lands and skies."
ATL-01 seemingly taunts before appearing faster than Luna can react, which is stunning at how fast it was and lands a punishing blow that shatters her mask!
"But I dominate the seas CDR-02."
If Luna could be ever more furious than she is now, she would. But her emotion suppressors kicked in and dimmed her rage.
[Emotion suppressors active.]
[Aura levels at 71%.]
"That is unquestionable," Luna admits with no doubt in the voice. Though she will never admit it to anyone, she never liked the sea, even in her previous life. Of course, she's immune to drowning due to her waterproof mechanical nature, but it's still uncomfortable for her.
Especially now with her twin tails soaked in water and slowing her down significantly.
"But I don't need to play by your rules." Unknown to ATL-01, Luna has purposely leaked nanomachines into the sea through the vents on her body for the perfect time. "I play by mine." The instant ATL-01 closed in for another attack, Luna sprung her trap.
Various nanomachines clump together to form binds that quickly stick onto ATL-01's limbs and flipper tail. The next second, Luna thrusts her hand overhead and, using her gravitational semblance, launches ATL-01 out of the sea and back to the dock as she emerges from the sea and begins swimming for the shore.
Back on the surface, Lucia and BPB-26 were still clashing over and over, much to the awe of everyone else remaining close by. Or at least that was before ATL-01 came crashing down in the middle of both of them.
"Seriously? You weren't invited to this dance yet." The flamboyant construct mutters in bafflement while Lucia blankly binks at ATL-01 wiggling and flopping around on the floor like a fish out of water.
"Shut. Up."
"Whatever you say. But alas, there's no point in extending this dance any longer. Ta ta!" BPB-26 kicks Lucia in the gut and launches her at the remaining crowd as he throws an impact smoke grenade at his feet.
A blast of smoke obscured everyone's view, and by the time Lucia charged through the smoke, BPB-26 and ATL-01 were no longer there!
"Damn it!" Lucia curses at herself for allowing them to escape from her grasp.
"Lucia!" Penny calls out as she gives a bear hug to her older sister, who has the driest look on her face.
"Hey, Penny, good to see that you're alright."
"Yes! Thanks to you for coming and Liv for patching me and everyone up! Thank you for coming."
"Lucia!" Both constructs in hiding heard Ruby calling out as she and her team, alongside Sun and Professor Goodwitch. "That was awesome! And who was the one in the mask?"
"Damn, if this is what you are when you're giving your all, I won't lie. I'm kinda scared of you."
Yang admits in the corner as Lucia awkwardly scratches her head. "Yeah… I was holding back on you." she says before glancing. "By the ninety-ninth percentile."
"I didn't know you had your personal medic." Sun said next.
"Personal medic. Wait, do you mean Liv?" She points out as Blake nods her head.
"Yes, she has been patching anyone who is injured. Including the White Fang members caught earlier."
"I see… It's quite late, so I recommend everyone rest while I have a report to make." Lucia sighs before Penny turns her head to Luna walking in with her disguised look.
"Luna!" She happily cried out before hugging Luna, who looked miffed for some reason.
"Penny. Where did they go?"
"They? Oh… they got away."
"I see… I suppose it could be worse."
"Who's that?" Weiss asks with her hands on her hips.
"Oh! This is Luna! My sister!"
"Sister? You three don't look alike- Ow! What was that for?" Sun asks before he is bonked in the back of the head by Blake.
The girls were about to ask more questions before everyone heard Glynda coughing behind them. "Girls. Do you mind if you tell me what has transpired here?" She asks team RWBY before her eyes end up on Lucia and her sisters. "And I hope you two have a good reason for being here. Did General Ironwood send you here?"
"Classified." Luna bluntly said, much to Glynda's chagrin. So this is Luna. Ironwood mentioned her several times besides Lucia and Penny…
"It will be better if we talk privately. But I'm sure Ironwood will explain the details tomorrow. But for now, all three of us must make our departure-"
"Wait! Where's Roman Torchwick?" Penny asks as everyone looks at where all the prisoners are, only to see the White Fang there and Roman nowhere to be seen. "Oh no." Penny could utter while Lucia and Luna glanced at their younger sister.
"He got away."
"But how?! His hands and feet were cuffed! Who could have taken him?" Sun could only yell out while Lucia's mind was elsewhere.
"So Roman got away just like canon? Did I miss something? Oh… Oh shit… I disregarded Neo! She must have been nearby watching before teleporting in during the chaos and rescuing him unnoticed! Okay, I think this can be salvaged. I just have to use the CCT to track his location or ignore him completely and go for Cinder directly…"
"No matter, he can be caught again," Lucia says with her arms folded. "But I recommend we all close in for the night. Liv!"
"Yes, Lucia?" Liv jogged in with her adorable nurse hat before Lucia continued. "We're leaving."
"Okay." She said before the Griffin flew over what remained of the docks as several ropes dropped from under it.
But before Luna and Liv could climb up the rope, Penny quickly hugged them while Lucia glanced at the remains of the Docks. "We make a mess of the place. Oh, brothers, help me with the report. The General is not going to like this…" She groans out while Glynda rolls her eyes and begins using her semblance to fix the docks. Though she knows it will take a while before the docks return to their pristine form.
"Well, I suppose I better get going then," Lucia says, grabbing the rope dangling near her. "Don't worry people. We'll see each other again. Probably in a month or along those lines. I wish you the best, and take care!"
With a final goodbye from team RWBY, Sun and her sister Penny, Lucia was taken back into the Griffin as it set a course back to Atlas.
As expected from something this big happening in Vale, news of what has occurred will eventually break out in the morning. But for now, all three Constructs in the Griffin finally have some time of peace even if several of their objectives were incomplete.
And cut! I won't lie. Some parts of me feel that I could have done this chapter much better, but it has been a while since I did this story, and thus, my writing style will change as well. Oh well. We're back, and as I once said.
Shit hits the fan, yo.
Anyway, it's good to be back, and whatcha think of this chapter? I don't have much to say either. I hope you enjoy my return to this story!
With that, I have nothing more to say than a request for you to follow and favourite me if you enjoy this story! Do also leave a review of what you think of this chapter, as I enjoy reading it and giving replies to it!
I will see you people in the next chapter!
RGQC out!