"Now wait here, and stay quiet."

Ruby watched as every single one of them nodded, gathering closer together in the tiny shed. It was certainly bigger than the closet, but being situated just outside of the garden gave them at least a little breathing room. With a nod, Ruby slowly shut the door, and stared back up at an open window way above.

According to the servants, the woman whose name they hadn't been told gave them stern instructions as to what to wait for. She then 'put everyone to sleep' as they said it, and seeing the motionless bodies on their way out, Ruby could safely assume them dead. That was just another crime by this point, but what was more interesting was that Monolith explicitly requested they leave the candle she'd seen during her break in right next to the window said break in took place by, not only knowing Ruby herself was coming, and that she'd notice the opening. Ruby wanted to question why, but that wasn't even the strangest of it. Once found, they were told to directly order her to head up towards the Grand Convergence: basically, it was the open garden used for debates between those who'd journeyed in search of a chance to worship the Embracer.

Supposedly, this was where the town's noblemen were holding the city's docks hostage; figures the faith had something to do with it - couldn't be trusted with power without having a good portion of greed to go along with it. Then again, for all she knew this could have been a debate about money, or a multitude of other minor convenience issues. Really, it didn't matter to her why the place was shut down, only that it was.

What worried Ruby most was the silence on her way up.

Again, it was telling, but with all the bloodshed in the streets, Ruby wondered what was worth so much chaos. Monolith was going to die, so why did she need to go through all this trouble? Coming up to the final floor, there was nothing else to do but try and piece together what way was best to off the thing. For a bit Ruby considered a quick bisection, or maybe she should stretch it out by breaking the monster's legs; Nora would have loved that.

There it was, that internal destructive spark, acting up again at even the barest taste of battle. Sometimes, Ruby questioned if she truly had the strength to carry the burden of Remnant, but the answer was always yes.

Strangely, the entrance she'd been instructed to look out for - a massive curtain of moss draping down a pair of steel doors, carved and painted with the image of a sprout - showed itself just along the end of a fairly open stretch. Ruby had stepped from what appeared to be the main building out onto a rampart of some kind, which spread wide enough to put a few of the dirt roads along the hills to shame. It reached out towards a lonely tower, and as she crossed it, she could see some discarded plate and mail cuirasses draped across the path.

The owners of said equipment were surely no more, but as to why they were left out? Ruby just assumed Monolith was taunting her by this point, and carried on as quickly down the path as she could without running.

Despite the large size of the structure, the Embracer easily out massed it, trouncing the tower as if it were a mere needle. From here, it appeared to be close, but that was more a trick of the eye. In reality, the Embracer was so massive it simply looked to be nearby. While its roots reached the town, the tree itself was far too large to climb. Gazing upon it as she approached, it felt as though the thing was watching her as she made her way up, until the face of the tower finally erased all images of the tree.

Stepping in, Ruby was greeted with a simple spiral, and as she made her way up, she was again welcomed with the dreadful silence of before. The winds had stopped by this point, and she couldn't even hear the battles in the streets anymore. Up top, there was one final door, so small and ordinary that it made obvious its own misplacement. She could tell from a glance it didn't belong, and was placed there not too long ago. It too was adrift, scantly, as if her adversary hadn't left enough hints of her location.

But unlike before, Ruby felt this... longing within the darkness thrashing her insides. It yearned to reach beyond the blockade for something… but she couldn't tell what.

The floor was painted with soil, and lush grass leveled at her ankles. There was no roof, which left nothing but the Embracer's image to stare down on everything, as an eternal guest to all who were invited into the holy place. A long, circular table ringed around the center, with a small garden of roots trapped between the oval wood. Decorative chairs surrounded it in council, however the participants of said council were instead flopped haphazardly onto the grounds around it all.

Every single one of them was pitch black, bearing withered skin: a sign all the life had been sucked from them.

"That wasn't so hard, now was it?"

And as expected, Monolith Chrome sat casually atop the table, looking up at the Embracer.

"You killed them." Ruby tossed out, not so much caring about the fact these people were dead, but more so the fact Monolith had done the deed.

"What of it?" A short hum accompanied the beast's retort. "You would have taken their lives yourself had you got here first... Of course, you were never going to make it here first anyway."

Ruby said nothing, merely beginning her final walk over. She made no attempt to hide her footsteps; there was no use hiding from the Grimm, especially carrying the darkness she did now. Before, her taint was hidden, controlled… However, it now spread out to the point she could feel it leaking from her very pores. She wasn't quite running on fumes, but pretty close to it.

"Why then?" That was the thing she couldn't understand, even with the creature's nature in mind. "Why go through all this trouble?"

"Because it's what you needed." Monolith never looked back, instead slumping more to relax. Its posture just ached with a visible fatigue, but Ruby knew better than to believe something so simple as appearances: the Grimm never tired - that was a limitation of those possessing mortality, and the shards of destruction bore none of that.

"You could have just let me kill you."

"It wouldn't have been enough." Monolith waved a wrist aloft. "Your body is like... a cloth. It soaks up negativity and violence without discrimination." A hoarse chuckle scraped against the night. "And like a cup, it must be filled before our uncle can properly drink from it. My death alone would not have been enough."

"..." Shutting her eyes, Ruby crossed her arms and breathed in. She stopped for a second, before taking in the view with slightly glowing eyes; her inner light would keep the destructive gnawing at bay. "All you've done is speed up the process. I would have accumulated my power regardless of your interference."

Monolith didn't respond immediately, and so Ruby began her trek again. It was only then the Grimm answered.

"I'm aware."

"So why?" Ruby came to a halt, now right behind the creature sitting cross-legged on the table, who continued to face away. "Was it your own urge for destruction? Did the thirst for negativity overwhelm you?"

"... You know... I could ask you the very same thing." Monolith shifted, not turning around, but... moving. "Your only goal is to complete the journey. You have no need to protect anyone, and yet you still do."

"If I change history too much-"

"No one survives." The beast in Human skin cut off, not angry, but certainly tense. It was a sort of whisper, but in a volume that was meant to be overheard. "Everyone and everything here is irrelevant. Right now, all the elements necessary for the era to come are in place: you made certain of this... even in regards to the little alterations you tossed in, those of which who had nothing to do with the initial plan, but were instead spur of the moment ideas to increase the chances of success in the boy's endeavor."

This wasn't right: Monolith couldn't have known that. The main plan, maybe, but the little things, not so much. And then, with this understanding suddenly cast into the air, Ruby brought forth an idea, one she knew the creature would speak openly on.

"The first of your brothers I'd faced was massive, calling forth many of your brethren to converge on the lonely island to the south." Ruby narrowed her eyes, continuing with, "the second made a home siphoning dreams in the icy wastes, and the third built a world within his stomach, catching wayward souls blinded by the sandstorms. One played with instinct, and the second subconscious, with the third taking perception."

"You're trying to guess my presumed individual quirk?" A little giggle came free, and Monolith added, "very well, then tell me: what do you believe I hold in my hands?"

"Recollection."

With everything seemingly lined up so perfectly, it felt as though Monolith could see the future, but that wasn't quite right. Its brothers' talents were empowered versions of traits originally owned by living beings, and while foresight wasn't a true trait of any one thing, memories were. Predicting events to come wasn't as impossible as it seemed, for those who remembered and focused on the past were able to see how events built up. Many of those events had causes, and would produce outcomes, but despite how varied said events were, those who looked and scrutinized them could often paint the image of what was to come with startling accuracy.

And with events so drastic and immense as theirs, Ruby was certain only one path awaited her when all was said and done.

"Well..." Monolith finally turned back, holding the lamp of knowledge within a stark grip. "You're not wrong… but you're not quite right either."

Ruby said nothing, instead slowly reaching for her weapon. Monolith never even so much as flinched when she took it out, instead holding up the lamp and seemingly admiring it. Its voice was fluttered with something akin to an echo, reverberating awkwardly, somehow ignoring the layout of the area. This was no surprise as the Grimm were well known for their various unnatural screeches and growls.

"She answers to all who invoke her name, regardless of their Humanity." The monster's slight admiration was broken away with a sneer. "But of course, she'd need to when dealing with the wretches here." The sudden start of its crawl down from the table almost had Ruby jump into action, but once she noticed Monolith wasn't headed towards her, and instead towards that of the corpses scattered about, she stilled. Coming to a stop before one of the husks, who's very skin was crumbled dry as a raisin, Monolith gave it a short flick with a boot, which turned it over onto its front. "When faced with the offer of foresight, no matter how illogical, they cave to their petty wants."

"So it was here all this time." Ruby originally suspected the lamp to be within the hands of the kingdom. But then again, that didn't do much to explain the rebellion, now did it? "So why go through all the trouble if you were just going to send it all up in flames? Why have me play agent, and have your armies try and take this castle? You could have spread death through any means."

"I could, but then you would have seen it coming far too soon." Monolith turned back, raising the lamp a little higher and meeting her eyes. "I needed to get you here, to find this." She shook the lamp. "But the petty children here weren't so keen to let go of their toy." Lowering it, she stared into the blue of the glass, running a finger along the gold decorating the handle and bottom. Shaped like a teardrop with two bladed wings, a soft fog glowed beyond the glass. "And I wouldn't blame them either; tis a beauty up close."

"But they had no clue of its true power, right?" Ruby lowered her weapon a little, but not fully. "And you wanted to take it, for me."

"Somewhat right, and somewhat wrong." She looked to hug the thing, although when she pressed the gold to her face, there was a slight hum; perhaps Jinn wasn't a fan of the creature's smothering proximity. "Being what I am, and with what I could do, I'd first crept inside to get my hands on it, after having seen it pop up in my mind, like all the other visions I've been gifted with over the years. Once I touched it though, I'd been granted the spirit's name, as if by right."

Ruby wanted to say she had no idea why that happened, but seeing as it was Monolith's purpose to die for her, she figured it was just a natural allowance; presumably this death involved Jinn to a degree. That didn't change the fact Monolith was very clearly claiming to have summoned the spirit.

"And she answered?"

"Yes." Monolith pulled back, although less enthusiastically this time. "Back then I was unsure why your name and image mattered so much in my mind..."

"So you asked her who I was." Ruby felt that was the optimal question, but the monster shot it down.

"I asked her how to complete my purpose." Monolith sighed. "I knew my uniqueness compared to the rest of my kind was no mere chance. However, at the sight of her it all came to me: the knowledge of why you mattered fluttered in, as if by schedule, along with the truth of my brothers. By a few choice telling's, I then knew to lure you here, once you inevitably arrived." Laughter came next, and while not overly rowdy, it was greater than the mellow speech before. "But right as she finished, and before she could vanish, one of the old coots walked in. The look of shock and fear expelled from him was, and I'm certain most of my kind would agree, intoxicating. Needless to say, some divine proclamation later and I had them bickering and buying for the right to summon the spirit of nature."

Spirit of nature? It was here the final piece clicked for Ruby.

"The disagreement holding everyone up-"

"Was over who got the right to pledge themselves and bask in the spirit's presence, yes." The chuckling was faint after, with a less mocking tune. "They knew nothing of her, only that I was the lone one worthy enough to be addressed directly; a thief seeking her next meal. I, from that point on, was their sole benefactor. And so, when I set this little war into motion and walked into their ignorant debate once again, they never thought twice when presenting me their offerings, oblivious as to the chaos reigning in the streets."

"And you killed them for it." Ruby tightened her grip on Crescent Rose, and thought it had lost most of its shine over the years, she still knew it carried within enough power to enact her will. "They knew nothing of a rebellion, or even you; just shirking all duties on the staff here. There deaths were pointless. What use was there in meeting with me alone?" She narrowed her vision, tightening her jaw in an attempt to keep the violent desires from leaking into her voice. "It's no different than your make believe rebellion: just a lie to cause chaos."

"And yet, you still came." Monolith walked over, taking a seat on the table again and looking into the lamp. "Like she said, you were drawn to the idea of it, unable to just leave things be when innocents were in danger. You came to the rebellion of your own free will, and with the promise of cleaning up a clog in both the docks and power structure, you involved yourself, even with full knowledge of my being. You took my tasks head on, wringing more discord from those who were previously unaffiliated, and by extension sucking in more negativity, further completing your evolution. It didn't matter what tasks I gave, so long as it brought about stress and dismay."

"All with the excuse that what I was doing mattered, for a goal that never was." It wasn't the first time she'd been duped, but really, she didn't much feel it; kind of hard to cry betrayal when you'd seen it coming from a mile away. "A rather short time to stir up rebellion... but I suppose your little game with Thorn does away with the question as to how."

"Please, I had no use for total control. I merely strengthened their own gripes a little, and they did the rest themselves, leaping at the chance for change and freedom."

"The bloodshed down there certainly isn't their own choice; anyone can tell that with a glance." Ruby hissed, with Monolith's grin stretching.

"I may have riled them up a little, and perhaps even dampened their limits."

"..." Ruby readied her scythe, not really in the mood to hide her burning need to kill anymore. "I've got enough negativity now. I can feel it ripping against the inside of my skin, doing its best to claw free from my soul."

"Of course, but more is always better."

"You think I'll let you live long enough to see that claim through?" She wouldn't need her silver eyes to deal with this foe, as her inner corruption salivated at the thought of murder, even against its own kin. "You said it best yourself: you'll die by my hand."

"I will. Monolith crossed her legs, now facing her head on. "You still haven't answered my question. Tell me why you continue to aid them, even though they'll just die anyway."

That she could oblige.

"Because I wanted to."

"Ah..." Monolith leered with a smirk. "I see. But there's more to it than that, no? The visions are not perfect, but they paint a much different woman than the one speaking to me now. She protected for the sake of what she believed was right, to experience the thrill of being... What do you Humans call it? Heroic?"

"No." Ruby swung her scythe back, breathing steady, and no longer fighting the dark raging within her for death; this was, perhaps, the only time she could fully cut loose and let it devour all in its path. "I do so out of greed. I save people because their lives matter to those close to me, and sometimes, to remind me of who I used to be. I did all this to keep up a semblance of normalcy, which by this point is quickly falling off. I'm far beyond pretending to be a hero. Heroes save others for the sake of what's right, but when I do it, I always have an ulterior motive."

It felt... disturbingly nice to admit, but she hadn't been all that much into heroism for quite a while now. Ruby knew the darkness was swaying her emotions and making her act up, but not all of it was from the corruption. She wasn't a hero, not anymore, and really, was she ever one? People liked to pretend intentions mattered, but at the end of the day, the only thing separating a hero and a villain was the results of their actions. With millions of innocents dead at her hands, both willingly and not, she was nothing short of the very monster before her.

Ruby Rose was not a hero. Ruby Rose was just Remnant's final chance at survival, much to its necessary detriment.

Sucking in a breath, Ruby offered one final, pitiful gaze, and said, "I act based on my own needy little desires, just as you do in your natural hunger for negativity."

That final claim had a much different effect on Monolith than Ruby previously expected, with the inhuman fake softly shaking its head and muttering, "Sorry, but that's where our understanding differs."

Curiously, it rose an arm upwards, clenching at the sky. Ruby questioned it for all of a second before the ground began to shake. So intense was it she stumbled to one knee, digging the barrel of her recreated relic into the dirt, and felt as the air above was pressed down on her. No, the air wasn't falling: they were rising. And it was then, as she looked up at Monolith again, where she saw the slight glow around the Embracer, and the peelings of gargantuan roots rise up as fingers around their exposed theater.

The tower was being lifted up by the roots themselves, and based on the action of Monolith, it was at her decree.

"Since when can you do this?!" Ruby shouted as she tried to remain upright, with Monolith showing no signs of struggle from the rapid shifting of the tower.

"Since the day I first crawled from the trunk of my birthplace, back when it was no larger than its peers." Monolith lowered her arm a little, reaching to the side where a root wormed its way from the dirt. She petted the thing like a dog, even scratching at its underside before it slicked back underground, and she rested her hand back on the lamp's surface. "But that was so long ago, long before your arrival in this era with the baby in your arms. For years hence, my only knowledge of you was a name. Upon your arrival though, I would see a scene, one which depicted you kissing the crying boy one final time before leaving it in the care of Thorn and his ilk. By that point though, the Human's had already taken to worshiping my home."

Monolith stood, but not before throwing its free arm to the side, and Ruby held back her shock as the Embracer split right down the middle from behind the mortal-worn creature, spreading apart with strand-like fibers keeping it from completely falling away. Between these pulled links and nearing the green of its leaves, Ruby could make out the shattered moon, who's previous shadowing by the holy display was now framed perfectly, darkening all that wasn't touched by its light, leaving the faces of the Embracer nothing but shadows to her eye.

The ancient's excitement was prudent in its voice.

"The Human's claimed my home a holy sign, and one of divinity. With its eternal link to me, who am I to say otherwise?"

Ruby growled, and soon the movement stopped. Standing to her feet once more, she raised her head to challenge her target. "Is this another stupid game? Are you really so desperate to extend my corruption that you'd go through all this effort?"

It shook its head again, pressing the lamp to its core.

"You still don't get it." Ruby was unsure what it meant by that, until it continued on with, "I see visions with every change you make, but that is not my deciding factor: my personal gift, the one which sets me above the rest of my kind and even my own brothers, is far beyond that." It then proceeded to press at the lamp, digging the very object through her clothing and ripping into the stomach. All wounds vanished as the very flesh itself stitched back together, followed by a moan. "You're right about one thing however: I don't need to go through all this trouble."

Ruby was about to ask, but never got the chance. The look of joy on its face wasn't unnatural, not in the slightest, but the way it licked at its lips petrified Ruby's actions.

"But I want to~" It took a step forward, offering a curt bow and adding, "since the day I met her, the spirit, I've wanted to know why it was father offered you his task. I yearned to learn why he made you his champion for this era: his chosen one~"

Ruby watched as Monolith's body hardened over, as if in a cocoon, only to fade a deep brown and split apart into a series of roots like the Embracer behind her, who were picked up in invisible winds and scattered into dust. But even without a body she spoke, as a fickle coo from all directions.

"My brothers may have been born to fulfill a divine purpose, but I see to my wants first and foremost: wants which are as strong as those of mortals." Ruby felt a body lean against her back, and the wetness of floral scents wafting past her right ear, carrying the monster's words. "I am not driven by instinct and divine purpose, not truly. I, unlike my brothers, was born with these emotions, and with them came my greatest gift of all..."

The final claim carried with Ruby, even as she dashed away.

"Choice~"

.

.

"Ah." Watts offered a respectful nod, even as he was being held at gunpoint by seemingly everybody in the room. This was, of course, by his own doing, and he'd fully expected this reaction upon strolling through their hidden back door. The vagabonds may have assumed themselves the only ones experienced with the abandoned complexes of outer Mantle, but Arthur had long since been sneaking around the kingdoms in his years of service to Salem, and knew most of these places by heart. "A pleasure to meet with you, Miss Hill."

"Who are you?" The guns drew closer, as did Robyn herself. "And how did you get in here?"

"You really should invest in better security." He heard their guns click, sighing to himself and ignoring the obvious scare tactic. "And perhaps better training. But to answer your question: I saw myself in."

"And who, if I might ask, gave you permission to do so?" Robyn stood firm, with a glare just as sharp as he'd expected from one with her... unique personality. Watts smiled, not overly concerned, and slowly raised both hands high, but not too high: he had a reputation to uphold, and this was merely a gesture of non-aggression.

"With how lax things were, I was halfway through assuming you let just about any charity case inside." Much to his own amusement, one of the guns was pressed into his chest, and Robyn was quick with her lip after.

"Watch yourself. I wouldn't exactly be making light of the ones holding your safety on the line."

Rolling his eyes, Arthur had to at least try to sound tired, if just to show he wasn't in a fighting mood. Honestly, he wanted to question why all these so called 'rebel groups' had to be so rude with their requests. Did they not know the ultimate sign of confidence was reservation and professionalism? Of course they didn't; he was being rather foolish himself just by considering such ideas. At the very least this meant their predictability was at its highest peak, which made his job here considerably easier.

"Oh?" Bowing slightly, and pushing the gun in his chest a bare bit deeper into his jacket, he began again with, "I was under the impression the Happy Huntresses were a group fighting for the freedom and wellbeing of Mantle: their voices and such. Would it be that I'm mistaken?"

The twitch of steel against his coat, though brief, proved he'd caught them by the tongue - although none of them made any show of it. It appeared they had control over their instinctual actions, with visible shock being kept on a tightly controlled leash. Still, his words struck a nerve, and Robyn continued to question him, however she did so with a slightly less hostile tongue.

"You're not, but seeing as you've snuck into our home, I don't exactly see a good reason as to why we should accommodate an intruder." Her expression eased up just a tad. "If you wished to speak with us regarding anything decent, you would have made a request at the door."

"Very true." He admitted, and slipped a curious tone into his words. "However I wouldn't be able to demonstrate how ill-prepared you are for any serious attempts by Atlas to infiltrate your abode."

"Yeah... Because that's exactly what a concerned citizen who has nothing to hide would do when attempting to get into contact with a popular organization known for going against current government decisions in a rebellious manner." Robyn wasn't all that amused, but Watts was: he was very, very amused.

"Yes yes." Rolling his eyes, he added, "I'm well aware of how suspicious my intrusion appears. But believe me, I do so with good intentions."

"Then you're doing a piss-poor job of showing it." Robyn slacked on one side, but it was a mirage; Watts had no trouble seeing the way her arm shifted, and the slight movements of the weapon hidden on her wrist.

While a crossbow wasn't exactly the type of tool he himself would employ, he was well aware of the symbolic nature the device granted. Robyn, despite how she portrayed herself, was far from subtle, and through his own methods he'd learned she chose to use regressive technologies when challenging Atlas, as a sort of rebellion against their ideas of endless mechanization.

In her opinion, she believed infinite advancement stripped Humanity from both the people, and the idea of hunters as a whole. Almost paradoxically, she understood how evolution and advancement would never cease, nor should it, and with this understanding she only wished for people to retain their sense of self. To her, people were unbreakably tied to nature, and to forgo their origins would only spell disaster; she would accept advancement and its benefits, so long as said changes never fully stripped away the individual within.

Well... she was right about one thing: evolution would not, and could not, cease.

"Then perhaps consider what I have to say, or better yet, what I wish for you to understand." When Robyn failed to respond, he took it as his chance, and started things off strong. "Are you aware of the STV parked so diligently close to one of your more... 'prominent' haunts?"

"We are, and I'm sure it's safe to assume you yourself had something to do with that?" At least she was paying attention, but that was what put her a tick above Cinder in his eyes: Robyn listened. While ignorant in her own crude sense of justice, Robyn Hill's quick wits were what made her such a dangerous adversary to have, and while her eyes could be blinded during stressful moments, such as anything involving Mantle, she was more than dangerous when she had even a mono crumb of control.

A fact he was all too eager to exploit.

"You noticed." He said with a smirk.

"You wanted us to, otherwise you wouldn't have mentioned it." Crossing her arms, her tone dipped down with, "which also means that, since you have a connection to it, you know what's inside."

"Guilty as charged." Watts was sure some of his sass was showing, but that implied he didn't see any reason to be worried, which would either convey he was dangerous, or foolish. No matter how they saw him, he would be treated the same, because this was the type of group he was dealing with: the wannabe heroes. "Although with good reason."

"There is nothing good about what you sent us." Robyn stepped up on him, mere inches away from his face. "You're lucky I'm willing to at least hear you out. Now explain to me why you sent us that!"

And they'd finally admitted their suspicions that he was not only involved, but gave the order to have it placed; good, now they could get down to business.

"I'd go into excruciating detail of how, but you don't want to hear that, do you? You want to know why I sent that obvious decoy your way."

Robyn scoffed. "Anyone who's actually willing to pay attention can tell the identification number on that thing belongs to Atlas, and not Jacques." She then rolled her neck, assumedly getting out the obvious kinks and admitting, "you did a good job hiding it otherwise. Most people only see a parked, or perhaps stolen, STV."

"While I thank you for the praise, I'm afraid it is not earned: the falsification was not my doing." A complete lie: he'd spent a good many years procuring decommissioned vehicles from both Atlas and S.D.C. alike; this just so happened to be a newer acquisition, purposely for this ploy. "I did, however, have a few trusted contacts of mine dispose of what is officially believed to be an unaffiliated counterfeit."

That looked to peak Robyn's interest just a little, as was shown with her voice tipping upwards a bare bit. "Oh, so I suppose this is where you give me your life's story, and whatever other nonsense there is?"

She didn't believe that claim, he could tell. In fact, it was clear from such a blatant assumption of what he'd do next that she was more than interested. Saying he'd used contacts to collect what was also presented as a psy-op against the S.D.C. had already instilled two conclusions in her mind. One: his contacts are high enough up in the Atlas pecking order to allow important changes and decisions over such operations. And two: Atlas still had access to, and presumably used - based on the content within the STV - such barbaric devices, despite their documented outlaw.

Both were lies... but then again he was not the one claiming such things, now was he? That was all Robyn's doing.

"No." Watts placed a hand to his chest, just below the barrel which was now a little ways away. "As I'm sure you've already concluded: I am an individual who's... less than pleased with how Atlas is handling much of its decision making."

"And you sent us that transport, because?"

"I came here because I wanted you to know how the general was handling the election." Internally, his smirk was bold, but externally, he bore a grim frown. "To ensure the election results, I have it on good authority that he's planning to tie both of you and Jacques Schnee together in a supposed plot against both Atlas and Mantle."

Robyn huffed, rolling her eyes as he himself had before, speaking through her smirk. "As if Mantle will believe any of that. I hate Jacques, and I hate the decisions Atlas has flung upon everyone in both halves of our home."

"Yes, but what if all of your deeds and bravado were merely a mask to cover up your true intentions." Arthur may have been known for being tech-savvy, but he had plenty of other skills in his hand, such as spreading doubt. The effectiveness of this being proven by Robyn's fading confidence. "Consider this: why would he fill up a fake STV with illegal, and rather heinous, cargo?"

Robyn never got a chance to answer; he didn't let her.

"Obviously, to frame Mr. Schnee for crimes against Atlas. However, he has yet to put that plan into motion; why?" Once more she tried, but he just kept going. "And, if my sources are right, he's invited the man to a meeting at the academy, supposedly to discuss topics related to the election."

"Personally?" Robyn was lightly losing her temper with each question, but Watts knew he could dig deeper.

"Oh no. Those same sources claim he's planning to invite you as well."

And, expertly timed with the man's schedule, Robyn's scroll rang. She locked up, not because it was on her personal number, but due to the fact Ironwood had said number on hold all this time. The man hadn't told anyone of course, but he did have such information stored away in his own personal storage within Atlas systems, as Watts' own personal excursions had revealed weeks ago. Cinder wasn't the only one at work, and so long as he had a connection to any local network, there wasn't a single thing Atlas could hide from him. Watts also knew this call for talk was being made personally for two reasons. One was to invite Robyn to their little meeting, and the other was to imply that Atlas could track her all this time.

That second point was about to ruin all chances the man had at winning the wildcard over, and Watts took joy in the predictability of it all.

"Go on." Watts insisted, waving his hand to her. "Answer him, and hear what he has to say."

Robyn grimaced, but her lips hardened into a line. She took out her scroll, which was supposed to be private info which only she and her cohorts knew about, and accepted the call. James Ironwood's voice echoed against the deafening silence, already eradicating any good will the quaint little gathering had for him.

"Robyn Hill, this is general James Ironwood speaking, although I'm certain you already know this."

"Yes." She bit down, hissing out the words, "Although I was under the impression that nobody had this number."

"You'll find Atlas has more than enough information to not only find you, but potentially follow your every move as well."

"If that's true, then why not put a stop to me yourself?" She was losing control of her ire, with the previously solid patience dribbling away. "Or are you afraid we'll out perform you?"

A heavy sigh came through the speaker.

"Despite our knowledge, any arrest attempts need to be made with undeniable proof, which to your credit, has evaded us so far. Listen to me Robyn, I'm not contacting you to start a fight, especially with the election on the line. I merely wish for you to attend a meeting I have set up within Atlas Academy."

"You're asking me, your opponent, to walk right into the center of your power, all for a chat?"

"I know how much this seems like a trap, but if I really wanted to catch you, I would have done so months ago." His voice eased up a little. "Despite our differences, I don't see you as an enemy."

"Yeah, well, with your unwavering grip over Mantle and the people's voices, I can't say I see things the same." She also didn't believe him, but that wasn't important for Watts; things were going swimmingly for him.

"Understandable, and that's one of the talking points I have planned for both you and Jacques. I wish to make everything in regards to my decisions clear."

"Jacques Schnee will be there?" Oh yes, her trust was falling faster than ever now.

"Correct. This isn't just a short meet-up; the media will be present as well. Everything we say and discuss will be before the eyes of both Atlas and Mantle, and it will be they who judge us and decide who's worthy of my second council seat."

All those eyes... the perfect time to make an accusation and present seemingly rock-solid proof; oh yes, Arthur did so enjoy when people dug their own graves. Robyn was no stranger to this thought either, as her eyes stretched wide enough to put saucers to shame, only to then narrow into dangerous valleys.

"Uh huh..." She eyed him, and Watts offered a steady nod. "Fine then. If everyone is watching, I don't suppose you'll be capable of any obvious tricks. When is it?"

"Midnight tonight. I know it's far too quick, but I've got my own schedule to uphold as well, and the faster all is said and done, the better. Will this be a problem?"

"No, not at all." A devious grin slipped over her face, and Watts knew he'd won. "I'll be there."

"Thank you. I'll see you soon; farewell."

Three beeps followed the call's end, and Watts opened up.

"It would seem my sources were, as they tend to be, correct."

"Apparently so." Robyn crossed her arms, now fired up into a simmering rage. "Anything else you want to point out?"

"There's just one more thing." Watts brushed off his chest, as by now all weapons were returned to their holsters, and morphed back into their melee states. "As you know, I had the STV delivered to your haunt, and this was not for no reason. I did so under... special circumstances."

"Okay, and what are these special circumstances?"

And now, the final nail in the coffin.

"Simply making an Atlas ship disappear would arouse endless suspicion, however my involvement would have occurred whether I was sympathetic to your cause, or not."

"What do you mean?"

Watts let his face fall dark once more. "I have power over where our ships are allowed to dock, but I don't do so without proper orders. I came to you, here and now, because it was Ironwood himself who had me send that ship down to you."

"What?" She almost stuttered there, and he subtly increased his volume.

"I am the overseer for where our transport is directed: I work for Atlas, and it is I who keeps their traffic running smoothly. I've come to you, here and now, because the general is planning to use photo evidence he has already taken of the ship, as well as some shots beforehand of what's inside, to present the idea you and Jacques are working together to fuel the underground slave trade beneath everyone's noses. He'll present the idea that Jacques Schnee is funding you to go out and collect 'products' to sell, and is providing the tools for you to use. The prime evidence of this accusation will be those photos, and he'll present all of this before Atlas and Mantle, during the very meeting he just invited you to."

That would have been enough, but Watts was - and he'd never admit it - having a bit of fun, and threw out a depressed sigh, finishing off with, "I… I cannot, and will not, stoop so low. I believed in him once upon a time, but ever since the fall of Beacon, he… he has slowly lost his mind. Nothing of him remains now… nothing but the very machines he's ensnared our home with."

And, right as Robyn would be going in under this belief, he would ensure said written plans were coincidentally present in Atlas's systems for when she finally made the claim; or, to be more specific, they would be found within his personal files, in the storage of his own office desk. Ironwood's natural confusion over such a brazen claim would have him demanding proof, at which point he would then, to prove such things false to everyone watching, allow his trusted allies to search the systems and his office... and wouldn't you know it, such ideas would be found.

Oh the chaos it would bring! Ironwood, at the discovery of the plan, would immediately suspect foul play; after all, he'd accepted the 'report' of the stolen STV without so much as a consideration it may have been false, so he was already under the belief Robyn was in league with it regardless - otherwise the whole 'meeting' wouldn't even be happening.

Sometimes, Arthur wondered if it was cheating to be as brilliant as he was.

"..." Robyn looked over hatefully, although it was draped with collected caution; apparently she could reign control back in when she wanted to. "What should I do?"

"Well." Asking for advice from the provider of your information was smart... considering she believed it wholeheartedly now. He wouldn't fault her for not picking up on his scheme, as not everyone shared his perfect intellect. "Seeing as this was more than a spur of the moment idea on his part, I'd say he's guaranteed to have his plot stowed away somewhere in his systems." Humming with a nod, Watts then proceeded to suggest, "when you feel he's about to pull the string, beat him to it: stake your claim. By that point, he'll have no choice but to allow a search of his personal files."

"And he'll have his trusted allies do it." Robyn countered with a snarl. "And they'll report back with nothing."

"On the contrary." Watts smiled softly. "I've met said allies myself, and believe me, they're nothing but bleeding hearts. I'm certain he hasn't shown them the truth, as they'd never accept it. He has them, along with all of Atlas and Mantle, under his deception... but that's where everything will fall for him. They're smart, so when - not if - they discover such transgressions, they'll bring it all to light, enacting justice upon him. With Ironwood outed and then arrested as a manipulative monster, who do you believe these individuals will fall back to? Jacques? The military?" He hit her with a solid laugh. "Jacques is hated by all but the most vile, and the military would have already proven themselves untrustworthy. No, Ironwood's closest allies will scatter, and the newer ones may even seek to side with you... if you'll take them."

None of this would happen, but Robyn believed it would, and as she fueled her delusions and the world turned against Ironwood, Watts would use the internal chaos to take control of Atlas's shields: making way for the queen's arrival in the days to come. Not only that, but along with the falsified plan being discovered, a separate document detailing another 'scheme' involving Jacques will come to light, and in the days following that, the 'plans' detailing his involvement with Robyn - of a separate variety, taken care of by Cinder's hand - will show from a search of the Schnee manor, or more specifically: Jacques Schnee's personal desk and files.

This will put even Robyn and her groupies out of commission.

Ah, the brisk thrill of the runaround and confusion; there was no better way to welcome the queen of darkness than with a kingdom already at each other's throats. His own personal vengeance was soon to be complete, and James will know then it was he who bested all of Atlas.

Author's note

…

A longer one this time, but that's mainly because I wanted to get Robyn and Watts done during this chapter. I could have waited, but it feels like it would flow better to have the main events of the meeting start with the next chapter.

And before you ask, no, the next chapters won't be as long as this; I'm tired just writing this note. Back to the usual length for these next ones, with a few choice pieces being larger if they need to.

This is it for now.

Until next time.