Vol.2, Ch.31:
*FLASHBACK*
The Doctor: Jaune and I have gone over the plan. He planned it and I just made a few corrections. It's a one chance opportunity for all of you. I will be the backup should it go wrong which I hope it doesn't. If I'm very clever and I'm more than clever, I'm brilliant, we might just make this work. Or it goes horribly wrong forcing us to leave Remnant.
Ruby: *raises my hand* I'd go for the first one.
The Doctor: Me too. Now, Weiss I requested the ship as an escort to send you back to Atlas. Try to act like you actually mean it and had a change of heart...*flinches* Takes me back to the early days of Beacon.
Weiss: Don't worry, I got the act. *winks*
Jaune: You'll need this luggage for Maria to fit in. We got some holes for her to breathe while you carry it directly inside the ship.
Qrow: What about those twin guards?
Saphron: Leave it to me and Adrian on handling that! Ain't that right my little prince! *Snuggles Adrian*
Jaune: Once that happens and Weiss and Maria are on board, Dalek Khan has already installed our meeting location so as soon as you take off, the radar will send you to us.
The Doctor: Blake! Yang! The Bumbleby team! You two will be heading to the CCT Tower. Terra will be guiding the way and giving you the instructions needed. You both will need your sonic devices to separate all communications for the ship.
Terra: The radar box is separate from the rest of the communications equipment. So if you disconnect it properly, it won't take out comms for the rest of the city.
The Doctor: Yang can use her sonic sunglasses to separate all wires in different categories and you will be able to detect the one for the radar box. Once that's found, Blake will easily use her Sonic Screwdriver to fry it up!
Blake: Uh... one small change? *Looks at Yang* I'm gonna need your Sonic Sunglasses. I know ways to sneak in quicker and stealthier and get it done in a few minutes.
Yang: You don't think I got it to be stealthy like you? *Crosses arms* Or cause you're still trying to protect me?
Blake: N-No! It's not like that I swear-
Terra: *whispers* This got awkward fast!
Blake: I need you to be my eyes for the outer area and in case we get outnumbered or any other problems, we can do it together! *Whispers to Yang* Trust me, I know you can kick ass and I want a good view.
Yang: *blushes softly and sighs* Alright! We can do that!
Nora: So you two done flirting so we can get going with the plan?
Blake and Yang: *blushes red* NORA!
The Doctor: Khan and I will be inspecting the area and keeping an eye out for any outside interference.
Ruby: Wait, but you said you were going to continue investigating the threat out there?
Dalek Khan: We got more trouble here! I detected Cybermen nearby!
Everyone looked concerned as Dalek Khan displayed CCT Footage of Cybermen troops scattering through the forests of Argus which is bad news for this plan. They encountered them in Mistral and were lucky to outgain them but this time it's different.
The Doctor: Cybermen will try to come for anyone in Argus or target any of you. But that changes once they see me. I'll keep them far and Khan will try to destroy them.
Weiss: Don't do anything stupid!
Yang: We mean it!
The Doctor: Don't worry about me. Focus on the plan and let's get this handled. For today will mark the beginning of Salem's downfall.
*FLASHBACK ENDS*
It was all going so well for the entire team. The plan all started off exactly how it was supposed to go with little to no complications. Soon it got difficult when Blake was not able to shut down the CCT, which worried everyone and soon Weiss and Maria, despite gathering the rest of the gang, were caught by Cordovin. To make matters worse from both sides, Cordovin was confronting the rebellious team with a MECH! As for Blake, she had a much more difficult problem, and she was hoping it wouldn't be this.
Adam: It's nice to finally have time to ourselves. Don't you think?
Blake: Leave me alone! *Shoots bullets at him*
Adam: *blocks them* But I've waited so long, for you to be away from them.
Blake remembers the lecture the Doctor gave her after the Slitheen attack. It hurt her because it was true but now, she holds it in because he is also right and it's time to change that. It's time to let go of the past and to face her fear so she can finally continue to the future. Zipping down, she made a fast charge towards Adam as both clashed with their weapons.
Adam: Why did you have to come into my life and ruin everything?!
Blake: You stalked me across Anima! I don't want anything to do with your life!
Adam charged forward and clashed swords with Blake again as she jumped up and used her Semblance to land on the floor above. She looked all around and pointed her pistol down. Suddenly, Adam reappears from behind and grabs Blake by the throat, pushing her to the edge of the railing, but Blake grabs his foot, and both fall over the rail as the two crashes through multiple tree branches and back to the ground.
Blake: Let go of the past, Adam. Do it for yourself.
Adam: Just forget it all? Is that what you did to me?! You just threw our memories away?!
Blake: Adam!
Adam: I let you go once already, Blake. I'm never making that mistake again...
Back on the cliffside of Argus, Cordovin continues to try and stop the ship from escaping with the gang in it. Inspecting the MECH, Ruby decides to get an idea and Weiss already knew where this was going which displeased her.
Weiss: You're joking, right? You want to fight this thing?!
Ruby: We've fought giant monsters before. This is just a tiny old lady... with one very big robot.
Cordovin: You little spider-roaches thought you could creep your way to Atlas?! Well, let's see how your resolve holds out against the might of the Atlesian Military! SO BE IT!
Cordovin raises the weaponry up as everyone noticed and she releases a missile right towards the ship. Time was running out and they all needed to dive out of there fast. As everyone goes to dive out of the ship, the missile hits and destroys the airship in progress as Cordovin watches with an evil grin. But what she did not notice, escaping the fire of the explosion was the TARDIS flying out and landing back on the cliffside as everyone got out fast.
Nora: ITS BIGGER ON THE INSIDE!
Weiss: Not the time Nora!
The Doctor: That Mech...it would take all of our sonic devices to completely shut it down. But Blake and Yang not connecting back with us, we don't have the firepower to do so!
Jaune: Let's give her more targets to focus on.
Nora: You mean us, don't you?
Jaune: Look at that thing. It's not designed for small enemies. It's probably meant for giant Grimm that comes in from deeper waters. We can turn our size into an advantage. We just have to be smart.
The Doctor: Jaune's right! KHAN! Help them out in finding a way to shut that Mech down.
Oscar: Where are you going?
The Doctor: To find Blake and Yang so-
The TARDIS rings an alert from inside as the Doctor checks the screen panels and detects large, dark clouds slowly approaching Remnant. It didn't look like the Void but it still looked like bad news. TARDIS detects it'll take about 20 more minutes for the mysterious cloud to reach here which gives him time. Without saying anything else, the Doctor closes the TARDIS and heads off.
Weiss: That's not good...
Ruby: We gotta focus on this first! Once he finds Yang and Blake, we stop this, then we help him out! *Looks around and thinks* I got a plan!
Everyone nodded and positioned themselves as Cordovin was making her return to squash these little bugs out of her sight. Blake and Adam continued their fight throughout the forest with their blades clashing louder and louder. Blake then leaped and used her weapon to swing through the trees giving chase with Adam who is too enraged.
Adam: Can you do anything besides run?! I wouldn't have to be doing this if you just behaved!
Adam reaches Blake once again and clash against each other, landing by a waterfall. Adam quickly grabs his sword and continues to bash it against Blake's sword as she tries to fight back but the mad man of White Fang was not holding back and with an opening, he kicks her aggresively.
Adam: But you're SELFISH! You're a COWARD!
Adam knocks Blake out a few times and crashes her once again on the ground as she struggles to get up from the pain and exhaustion. She uses her sword to aid her in trying to stand up, but Adam used all his strength, anger, and semblance to break her sword in half which sends Blake crawling back and thinking what to do now.
Adam: People hurt me long before we met... All sorts of people in all sorts of ways... but no one hurt me quite like you... You didn't leave scars, you just left me alone. *grins* So... tell me, Blake... how does it feel to be alone?
Adam lifts his sword up and impales Blake in the abdomen once again. Only for Blake to be an illusion as she's much further back and slowly getting up when a faint noise gets louder and louder. The noise of a motorcycle.
Blake: I'm not alone.
From above the waterfall, Bumblebee flies out and falls right on Adam as he is thrown back from the impact of the bike. Slowly getting up from the heavy pain, he looks up to see Yang standing right in front of him and shielding Blake.
Adam: You...
Blake: Yang!
Yang: It's okay. Catch your breath for a second. I can hold him off.
Adam: Grr! She's right, Blake. It's okay, we have... unfinished business.
Yang and Adam stare down at each other with nothing more but hatred and anger. Both charge and fight as Yang dodges any slashes from Adam while she strikes him with a kick that sends him back a bit. But he quickly recovers and goes for more strikes while Yang tries to block and dodge. She fires at him, but he blocks and absorbs it in return and releasing another semblance attack on her.
Blake: His Semblance is like yours! He absorbs energy through his sword, stores it up and then sends it back when he's ready.
Yang: He gets to dish out damage without having to feel it? *grunts* That's just cheap...
The two trade more hits back and forth but Yang takes the advantage with a series of punches and kicks but Adam dodges one and kicks her back. He readies his semblance once again and lets out a full blow towards Yang causing heavy smoke to appear and Blake terrified of not seeing Yang. As they smoke clears, Yang is still standing with her robotic arm blocking the strike which angered Adam even more.
Yang: Leave. Us. Alone. This is your last chance.
Adam: Heh, do you really believe that? Or are you just trying to scare me away so you won't have to die trying to protect her?
Blake: She's not protecting me, Adam. And I'm not protecting her. We're protecting each other.
The two girls stood tall and holding each other's hands as they were prepared to finish this battle against Adam together and once and for all. Back on the cliffside, the team got a plan on stopping Cordovin's crazy MECH as Weiss activates Time Angel to get Cordovin's attention as she couldn't believe the rebel Schnee had powers. Dalek Khan followed causing the old woman to become even more frustrated. Unbeknownst to her or anyone else but Weiss, Ruby has flown inside of the arm cannon and waiting for it to build up Dust. Once it's ready and aimed at Weiss, Ruby shoots it and moves out from it using her semblance, causing a massive explosion of the arm cannon.
Cordovin: What?! No! NO!
Drained from the fight and her Aura running out, Ruby falls midway in the air but Weiss flies in to catch her on time and land back on the cliffside as everyone approached the White Rose duo.
Qrow: Ruby? Ruby!
Ruby:*opens eyes slowly and smiles* Told ya.
Cordovin: *screams in frustration* No! No, no, no, NO! You! You're never getting to Atlas! Do you hear me?! NEVER! *Presses a button on the controls* All forces converge on my position and eliminate these pests at once!
Atlas Soldier: Ma'am, we've been trying to reach you! Argus is in danger!
Cordovin: *eyes widened in horror* What?
Back at the Argus base, Atlas soldiers rush to their battle stations and getting on board for the oncoming threat. Slowly rising from the ocean, a towering Grimm can be seen walking towards Argus as it lets out a terrifying roar. It was followed by a massive group of Manticores and Sphinxs in the air above the city of Argus.
Atlas Soldier: It's a Leviathan! It began its approach during your battle! We need you!
Ruby: The MECH...was for that thing...and we just destroyed it...*eyes widened*
At around the same time of taking down the MECH, Blake and Yang were double teaming in fighting Adam as both took turns in hits and kicks while trying to strike him down, but he did not give up easily.
Adam: You knew you couldn't win two-on-one at Haven. What makes you so sure you can win now?
Blake: I don't have a choice. I have people who actually care about me, and I promised I'd never leave them again. So I'm not dying now.
Adam: You know, she made a promise to me once. That she'd always be at my side. Heh, and look how well she's kept it.
Yang: Did she make that promise to you? Or to the person you were pretending to be?
Adam: So I wasn't just good enough for you?
Blake: You know it's so much more than that.
Adam: I know you've made your choice... and I've made mine.
Yang: Blake!
Adam made a full charge ahead and the three continue their fight as Blake grabs the bottom half of her broken Gambol Shroud sword and aims it at Adam, but he dodges and throws it back at her. Yang noticed and grabbed the pistol and uses the ribbon to help swing Blake around. Adam notices and catches her as he sends her flying back where Blake hits the cliff-side of the waterfall leaving Yang and Adam.
Adam: Moment of truth, Yang. Do you think you're faster than you were at Beacon? *smirks* Me either. You're just a coward like her!
Adam was gaining the upper hand as Yang tried to find an opening and knock the soul out of him, but he was too fast and agile. Blake continued to crawl back up as she saw the fight and knew she needed to get there now or else Yang could get seriously hurt. Adam uses his semblance once again to release a full strike on Yang that sends her flying back and seriously hurt. Charging up once again, Adam readies and slowly walks to her to enjoy this execution. He makes one last strike with his semblance, but Yang grabs the blade with her prosthetic arm as her semblance activates with red eyes.
Yang: Gotcha... I may not be faster...but I'm smarter.
Yang pulls him in for a huge punch to his abdomen using Ember Celica. The brutal strike drains all of Adam's aura as he slowly gets up to fight back but notices Yang with his sword. Looking at it, she throws it off the cliff as he makes a run for it only for Blake to appear and uppercuts him in return. Out of option, drained of Aura, and his weapon gone, Adam was running out of patience and ideas until he saw the broken half of Gambol Shroud. Blake notices it as well and both make a run for it as Yang follows but with the other half of Gambol Shroud's blade. Blake grabs it on time as both girls surround Adam and impales him on the chest with both blade pieces.
Adam: Oh...
Blake and Yang pulled out the blades as blood began to drip heavily from both cuts and Adam slowly limping to the cliffside until he falls on his knees which causes him to fall off the cliff and into the river. It was finally over for Blake and Yang.
For Blake, the nightmare was over, and Adam Taurus is dead. Falling to her knees as well, she breaks down into tears as Yang hugged her in comfort. Blake returns the hug as well while still shedding tears.
Blake: *sobs* I... I am not going to break my promise, I swear.
Yang: I know you won't.
The two continue to embrace in comfort and place their foreheads together. Not far from above, a figure watched them both with a heavy sigh of relief. It was the Doctor who arrived when their fight was still ongoing and saw how it all came to an end. His scroll rang as he looked to see Weiss calling and asnwered immediately.
Weiss: Doctor! Did you find Blake and Yang? Are they okay? We need big help right now!
The Doctor: I found them and they're fine. We'll be on our way!
The Leviathan was still in the seas but quickly approaching Argus as the gang watched on in panic and concern. They all hear the TARDIS returning as Yang and Blake are the first to run out while the Doctor was looking at the panel to see the mysterious cloud approaching in 10 minutes.
Yang: Ruby!
Ruby: Yang! Blake! Are you okay?
Blake: What happened?
Yang: Is that a giant Grimm?
Weiss: Yes... and we just ruined the only thing capable of stopping it...
Cordovin: This is your fault! YOUR FAULT! This is...
Soldier: Ma'am, what's your status? We need an answer, over!
Cordovin: ... your fault...
Blake: I'm so sorry...
Yang: Don't be. This isn't on you.
Blake: But-
Ruby: You're safe, that's all that matters.
Maria: I suppose I have to be the bad guy and say it, getting the lamp to Atlas is still our top priority, and right now we have the perfect opportunity to head straight for it. We may not get another chance like this.
Yang: No way!
Weiss: We can't leave, not like this.
Blake: It's like you said, a Huntress is supposed to protect others to the bitter end.
Qrow: Eyes up, everybody!
The Doctor: There's a mysterious cloud like storm approaching Remnant's atmosphere within 10 minutes. We need to act fast!
Weiss: Could it be the same as what happened on the other planet?
The Doctor: Very much. Here is what we are going to do, there are Manticores and Sphinx approaching as well. Weiss, Khan, you two will go air mode and fight them off as much as you can! The rest of you will need to be ground support for those that arrive in the city. Ruby, you're coming with me!
Ruby: Same idea as mine?
The Doctor: You betcha! Now let's Go!
Everyone nodded in agreement and the plan to save Argus was now in motion with Weiss in her Time Angel mode and Dalek Khan flying off while the others ran off. Ruby and the Doctor enter the TARDIS as they go into liftoff. The ground group fended off any oncoming Grimm into Argus while Weiss and Dalek Khan would eliminate any Grimm trying to fly down or attack them. The TARDIS followed around the Leviathan which caught its attention but chose to ignore it.
The Doctor: What's your plan Captain Rose?
Ruby: Trial by fire! I did it at Beacon and at the farm, both against Grimm! I just need to concentrate and forget everything around me so my silver eyes can work!
The Doctor: Just make sure to strongly focus!
Ruby stands on the entrance of the TARDIS as she stands in front of the leviathan and closes her eyes to focus. She thinks of memories of her father and sister, her friends, the Doctor, Dalek Khan, Team JNPR, when Zwei first arrived at Beacon, the food fight, and when they got noodles after their victory in the Vytal Festival. Entering the TARDIS for the first time, travelling back in time. All good and important memories as her eyes were slowly glowing.
Except...
She then thinks of Penny Polendina, of Pyrrha... bad memories were entering her mind: When Jaune trained alone with a recording of Pyrrha, when she saw her friends defeated as Beacon was being evacuated, when Yang sank into depression over the loss of her arm, the deaths of both Pyrrha and Penny, the Void, the fall of Remnant... Suddenly, she opens her eyes in panic and notices the Leviathan looking straight at the TARDIS.
The Doctor: Ruby, Focus! Don't look into the bad!
Everyone watched and wondered what happened, why it didn't work as Ruby remembered she had the Relic of Knowledge putting her in more panic.
Ruby: No, no, no, no!
The Doctor: Ruby!
Yang: RUBY!
Ruby: J-JINN!
Everything and everyone around her except for the Doctor, Weiss, and Dalek Khan froze. Ruby takes a heavy breath as she slowly looks over to Jinn who looked back at her with a saddened look as the others approached her.
Jinn: Very interesting how except the person who summoned me; you three are not frozen in time.
The Doctor: The three of us have ways to not be affected by time stop. One of them has a small portion of time itself. *Looks at Weiss*
Weiss: Ruby, what happened?
Ruby: I'm sorry... I don't have a question for you. I just... I just needed a little more time...
Jinn: I know... and while you don't seek knowledge, just this once, I shall give it freely. I will not allow you to use me without a question again... *smiles* Even if this was clever.
Dalek Khan: Ruby, you are scared, and it is OK! Courage isn't just a matter of not being frightened, you know. It's being afraid and doing what you have to do anyway.
Weiss: We've come far, far from where we began, and we are still going on the road to our future. But you know what the best thing is, we keep getting better and the memories we have created.
Ruby: You're right...
The Doctor: Ruby, There's a lot of things you need to get across this universe. Warp drive, wormhole refractors. You know the thing you need most of all? The people most important to you. From the past, right now, and those you have yet to meet in the future. The bright future.
Jinn: And they are all correct Ruby. That's the fascination of life. Are you ready then?
Ruby nodded as everyone went back into position and time was slowly returning to normal. Ruby closed her eyes and focused once again and followed her friends advice. She thinks back to when Team RWBY decorated their dorm room, when Weiss and she began to bond, when Yang was training her before leaving for Beacon, when Team RWBY celebrated their victory after saving Vale, the Beacon Dance and Team JNPR again, when Qrow arrived at Beacon, talking with Oscar, then to Maria, Team RWBY meeting the 12th Doctor, Saving and restoring the universe with multiple TARDIS, and to Penny again...
And finally, Ruby thinks back to her mother, Summer Rose smiling back at her with her silver eyes as well before everything went white. Opening her eyes, a bright shining light rose from Ruby's eyes as the Levithan was hit and turned into complete stone. Ruby falls back feeling weak as the Doctor caught her while everyone including the military and people of Argus celebrated the defeat of the monster Grimm. Landing back on the ground, the TARDIS opens up for the gang to help Ruby out and celebrate as well while the Doctor gets another alert of the strange clouds approaching within minutes.
Maria: You mad girl you did it! It would seem I have taught you well.
Ruby: I wouldn't have done it if it wasn't for all of you.
The gang continues to celebrate as Cordovin drills the Leviathan into pieces until she receives another alert from the base. At the same time, the TARDIS releases an alert as it detects what's beneath the clouds entering the atmosphere.
Air Control: Commander, we are detecting an unknown aircraft entering...the atmosphere?...something from the great beyond is landing here!
The Doctor: It's not over...they're here...
Dalek Khan: SCANNING!...No...
Yang: What is it?
The Doctor noticed the sudden change in Dalek Khan's voice and ran back inside to look at the alert. He patches through the communications of Air Control to listen while the others approached the TARDIS to watch and listen as well but Ruby looked at her Dalek friend and knew something was terribly wrong.
Air Control: Commander, we are receiving a decoded message from the unknown aircraft.
Cordovin: Put it through, I'll hear it.
The message played and the horror sunk into the Doctor, Team RWBY, and Dalek Khan. The others knew it meant bad news but for the TARDIS team, it was what they hoped for and prayed that they would never come. The message was now being heard all over and it only had one word in the message:
EXTERMINATE!