Vol.2, Ch.4:
It was Dusk time as a large boat continued its smooth sail in the ocean. Walking on the boat as Blake Belladonna as she continued looking onto the view of the ocean. She heard laughter from behind and noticed a Faunus girl talking to Human boy on her scroll. Her heart felt twitchy in a painful way thinking of someone and held her hand close to her chest. Her thoughts about them ran through her head until she caught something off: A hooded figure.
Blake: Hey! Show yourself!
The hooded figure escapes as she was about to chase them, but the ship suddenly rocks aggressively startling Blake and the others on the ship. She got up fast and looked into the water to see a dark, long creature swimming around the boat. Soon, the alarms rang.
Crew Member 01: RED ALERT! RED ALERT!
The Captain comes out as well trying to search for the creature until it rises out of the water which stunned him and Blake sees the giant Grimm that has approached them.
Captain: By the Gods...
It was a large Sea Feilong, a serpent like dragon with red wings, short arms but sharp claws, and a taste to kill.
Captain: All hands to battle stations!
First Mate: Sir, we've never fought a Grimm this big!
Captain: We've never seen something this big! But we'll give 'er a fight nonetheless!
Before any of them can act, Blake speeds out and jumps out of the boat, lunging towards the creature. She launches her Gambol Shroud around the creature's neck and tries to pull it back while shooting at it as the Captain steers the ship away while his crew prepare the cannons.
Captain: FIRE! FIRE! FIRE!
Cannons were fired as the hits were ineffective to the creature and launches Blake back onto the boat but luckily landing on her feet. The creature lunges into the water once again and everything goes silent for a moment. Then it rises again releasing its wings as it roars back at the ship.
Captain: Heavy cannon, OPEN FIRE!
The heavy cannon shoots its most critical strike, but the creature dodges it and prepares its own strike as an electrical ball form from its mouth. Blake was ready to jump to the creature until the hooded figure used her as a jumping aid and lunged towards the Sea Feilong. She was about to complain until the hooded figure revealed itself to be Sun Wukong.
Blake: SUN?!
Sun activates his clones midair as they all fly towards the creature and land towards different parts of the head. Two of them on the tendrils and the original Sun grabbing from the creature's upper lip.
Sun: Not today pal!
Blake: What are you doing?!
Sun: Oh, uh, you know, just... hanging out!
The creature releases a small electrical charge which makes the Sun clones disappear and sends him falling back onto the boat until Blake catches him but very displeased that he's here.
Sun: *places hands on my heart* My hero!
Blake: You're not supposed to be here!
Sun: Yeah!? Well, it looks like you can use all the help you can get!
Blake: Ugh. *Rolls eyes and drops him* Just shut up and fight!
Sun: Oof! Yes ma'am!
The creature charges its electricity as Blake and Sun jump again towards it. From clashing against the creature to confronting the human machine. Dr. Merlot struggled trying to release himself from the hand of the Cyberman. The Cyberman was about to snap his neck until he noticed his robotic parts and released him as Dr. Merlot tried to catch his breath.
Ashad: You are different. A primitive but slightly modified.
Dr. Merlot: And you...*breathes* Are so much more.
The Cyberman ignored his response and walked towards the table that contained the silver liquid that's still reacting aggressively but once Ashad placed his hand on it, the silver liquid stopped.
Ashad: How did you retrieve the Cyberium?
Dr. Merlot: Is that what it is called? I only found it in uncharted undergrounds and captured it with that jar.
Ashad wasted no time breaking the jar which Dr. Merlot was about to complain about until he saw the Cyberium lunge towards Ashad as the machine grunts at first before absorbing the Cyberium as his weapon was now functional. Dr. Merlot was left fascinated by this.
Dr. Merlot: It has become a part of you...
Cyberium: THIS IS ONLY HALF OF IT! *Smashes the table* I must retrieve the other half of it!
Dr. Merlot: What does it do? Why are you obsessed with having it?
Ashad: *looks at him* It is the primary source of the creation of Cybermen. The knowledge and control of everything cyber like. With this, I can create my army.
Dr. Merlot: Army of what?
Ashad: The Resurrection of the Cybermen!
Dr. Merlot: More of your kind?
Ashad: Yes! But with only half of the Cyberium, I can only create a few. Once I retrieve the other half, I can make much more Cybermen.
Dr. Merlot: Well, you're looking at the right guy to assist you. Dr. James Merlot is my name. I am a scientist that has experimented with Grimm, the creatures you killed.
Ashad: This world is different. The primitives here aren't as weak or vulnerable as I imagined.
Dr. Merlot: The people here, most of them have a power source in them known as Semblance. A personal power with fascinating abilities and tricks.
Then the idea hit Dr. Merlot, all his work into evolving the Grimm and creating something more would always end in ruins whether by failure or by the hands of Huntsmen and Huntresses. But something entirely new like this machine, creating a full army of them. Perhaps this is what would be the key to completing his Grimm experiments, it hit him: Cyber Grimms and Cybermen with Semblance.
Dr. Merlot: I can show you documents and files of this world and what you must know before we find the other half of the Cyberium.
Ashad: You are sacrificing your own race to create mine.
Dr. Merlot: I am an outcast to all of them. An enemy, a mad man. I want nothing more than to see Remnant fall and evolve into something greater.
Ashad inspected the mad scientist as he observed his robotic parts and knew he would make a worthy Cyberman. For now, he would consider him as an ally but will not hesitate to kill Dr. Merlot if he plans something behind his back. Walking towards the computers, Dr. Merlot begins to pull out everything about Remnant for the Lone Cyberman to absorb. No one knows what was to come and this may be a much bigger threat to Remnant than Grimm.
Dr. Merlot: Once everything is recorded in your system, where do we start?
Ashad: *looks at him* Bodies. Dead or Alive.
First Mate: Starboard defenses are down, sir!
The battle at sea with the Sea Feilong has not met its end nor looks like it as the ship sustained damage and both Blake and Sun were running out of ideas on how to kill this Grimm.
Captain: We still got the heavy cannon?
Crew Member 02: Aye, but it's moving too fast! We can't land a hit!
Captain: Argh. How about the engines?
First Mate: Fully functional, Captain!
Captain: Well alright, then! HUNSTMEN! If you can clip its wings and draw it out towards the bow, we could take it!
Blake: *thinks and looks at Sun* Sun?
Sun: I mean, you're the one with the swords.
Blake: Ugh.
Sun: Now or never!
The final tactic that would see who will survive this battle, Sun creates his clones once again while Blake uses one of them to lunge towards the creature and slices through one of its wings. She falls back but Sun catches her bridal style in return which gave her a silly smile.
Sun: This is the part where you say it.
And that silly smile was now gone.
Blake: Ugh.
Sun: Okay, maybe later!
Both charge towards the creature as it continues to blast its electrical charge on the, but they keep dodging and give the creature a quick chase. Blake makes the ultimate jump which the creature follows and goes right after her until it feels something sharp in its chest and roars in pain. The Sea Feilong struck by the ship's bowsprit.
Captain: FIRE!
Heavy Cannons deployed as the creatures was shot to pieces and killed to finally end this horror at sea. The people alongside the crew celebrate in relief while Blake tries to catch her breath.
Sun: Ha-ha! *Lifts hand for high five* Up top!
Blake looked at him pissed and annoyed as he waited for the high five to be returned. He got his high five...just not on his hand. After relieving the people and returning to cruise back in the sea, Blake was finally resting near the rails where she was earlier but was approached by Sun.
Sun: You'd think they'd never seen a fight before.
Blake: What are you doing here, Sun?
Sun: Diggin' the new outfit, by the way! *Points to her ears* Never did like the bow.
Blake: Sun!
Sun: Geez!
Blake: Have you been following me?!
Sun: *rubs neck* I saw you run off. The night Beacon Tower fell. Once we landed in Vale, you made sure everyone was okay. And then you just took off, without saying anything. Also...it was the Doctor...who told me to continue going after you...he was very pissed.
Blake: *shivers then grunts* I don't care if he was angry. I had to. You wouldn't understand.
Sun: No, I get it! The moment you left, I knew exactly what you were doing!
Blake: *sighs and smiles* Thanks Sun.
Sun: You're going on a one-woman rampage against the White Fang!
Blake: *eyes widened* What?!
Sun: You always felt like the Fang was your fight. They show up, trash your school, hurt your friends. It makes perfect sense!
Blake: I can't believe you.
Sun: But there's no way I'm letting you do this alone! It's an honorable approach, for sure, but you're going to need someone to watch your back. And that's where I come in! *Puts my arm around her* Us Faunus got to stick together, after all.
Blake: UGH! You're wrong, Sun. You're so, so wrong. *Walks away*
Sun: What are you...
Blake: I'm not going anywhere near the White Fang. Not yet.
Sun: Seriously?
Blake: I need to sort some things out.
Sun: Then why not do it with your team? Your friends?
Blake: You're one to talk! Assuming Neptune, Sage, and Scarlet aren't hiding below deck!
Sun: You really think I could get Neptune on the ocean? They flew back to Mistral! I told them I'd catch up! It's not the first time I left them to take a boat! So, if you're not going after the White Fang, where are you going?
Blake: Home, to Menagerie.
Sun: Well, I'm coming with you. The Grimm are getting worse; you saw it yourself! Especially after what the Doctor did in Beacon. And just because you're not going after the Fang doesn't mean they won't be coming for you! Besides, I'm... kind of already on the boat.
Blake: There's really no stopping you?
Sun: Nope! This is going to be great! Never been in Menagerie before! It'll be a regular journey to the east! Yeah, I like the sound of that.
The Black Sun duo would relax and chatter on the rest of their journey to Menagerie but as always, trouble always follows. For Blake, it could become the turning point for her and it'll happen where it began. Beneath the night sky in Atlas, a butler sat on one of the balconies with a good cup of hot chocolate and a telescope. Behind him, was Weiss Schnee who approached him for another night of star gazing. Ever since Beacon, she loved looking at the stars and knowing there is more than meets the eye.
Weiss: Ahem! Permission to board ship, sir?
Klein: Permission granted. How was dinner with your mother?
Weiss: It was great. Got to spend some needed time with her and...it felt so amazing bonding with her after a while. You see anything up there?
Klein: Yeah, I've got Omega, the largest planet in our solar system. At least, that's what it says in my little book. Here, come and see. Come on.
Weiss smiles as Klein pulls up another chair which she sits on and looks inside the telescope.
Klein: Here you go. Right?
And there it was, the largest planet in their solar system known as Omega. Yellow planet with colored green clouds swirling on the surface. To say that watching planets and stars are boring would be a big wrong.
Weiss: So beautiful.
Klein: Indeed. Named after one of the early kings in Remnant.
Weiss: How far away is that?
Klein: Oh, it's about twenty six million miles. But we'll get there, one day. In a hundred years time we'll be striding out amongst the stars. Jiggling about with all them aliens. Just you wait.
Weiss: *giggles* You really believe in all that stuff, don't you?
Klein: It's all over the place these days. If I wait here long enough.
Klein was perhaps the most loose on keeping the secret of the Doctor's existence to Weiss from what Willow showed him in the letter. He was glad to know that at least watching the stars and planets wouldn't affect the young Schnee daughter.
Weiss: I feel like I had dreams where I was exploring the stars. Some felt like nightmares, but others felt like beautiful dreams you never want to wake up from.
Klein: Was "the sight" of the stars very beautiful in Beacon?
Weiss: They were. I think watching them and thinking about it is what gave me those kinds of dreams. If one day, man decides to finally take a trip to space, I want to be one of the first.
Klein chuckled as the poor girl didn't know she already did that. It pained him that she doesn't remember it but it's good to know that in some way she can feel it and enjoy it.
Weiss: I miss my friends. They brought so much more to me and made me live what I was missing out on. It's been a year since I got in any contact with them, and it does leave me worried.
Klein: Don't give up young lady. Do you know, I remember when you were about six years old and Winter was twelve, your father said no holiday this year. So off you two toddled, all on your own and you got on a plane to Mantle. Ha! We had our guards after you and everything. Ha, where they gone, then. Where's those girls, hey?
Weiss: *laughs* I remember that. I don't regret it despite being grounded by father. I'm sure Winter doesn't regret it either. Mom made sure that we would still get presents at midnight on Christmas Day to still have us believe Santa came.
Klein: Your mother, she loves you very much. She loves the three of you even if you are the only one who didn't leave her. It was her goal to be there and be the best mother she could be.
Weiss: *smiles* She already is Klein. I'm sure if things were different with Whitley and Winter, we would be the happiest family. With or without father. Maybe Grandpa too if he was still around.
Klein: I was a very young lad when I met your grandfather. A kind, soft spoken but focused man. He took me in when I was a broken man from war. His kindness and care was the most important aspect of him. As much as he did so much work for the Schnee Dust Company and being a leader for Mantle, his dedication and priority was to this family, and I saw it every day.
Everything Weiss was hearing felt so new to her and kept her wondering why she couldn't remember anything. She knew for a long time that her grandfather cared more about them than anything else in the world. Nonetheless, it brought her a warm feeling. She looked at the view of the sky and hoped that soon she could reunite with her friends. All she hoped was that it would be good timing and nothing bad happening. Back in Glenn Mountain, Ashad finally absorbed everything he needed to know about Remnant and knew about Salem as well. Now it was time to locate the other half of the Cyberium.
Dr. Merlot: Are you 100% caught up Ashad?
Ashad: Now we must begin locating the Cyberium to begin the ascension.
He released a small drop of the Cyberium onto the computer as it goes inside the systems and the computer begins to glitch. It took a couple of minutes to pinpoint the location before the liquid metal returned to Ashad and the other half of the Cyberium was found.
Ashad: Haven Academy. *Looks at Dr. Merlot* Do you have a transport to lead there?
Dr. Merlot: Unfortunately, not. We will need to hijack one and take our leave. We've had many soldiers come to Beacon after it was left in ruins so we could take one of theirs. But it is easier said than done.
Ashad: Primitives are ineffective to me. We must get to work first before we leave.
Dr. Merlot: W-What work?
The cameras alerted the machine and mad scientist as they looked onto the cameras to see Atlas soldiers approaching and investigating the area. Dr. Merlot didn't like this, but Ashad chuckled distorted.
Ashad: My soldiers. *disappears*
That white flash led to Ashad disappearing as Dr. Merlot watched through the cameras waiting to see what the Cyberman's plan was. The soldiers continued looking around for Grimm as the captain of the squad pulled out a signal to stop.
Squad Captain: Unknown detection approaching. Position for fire.
The soldiers readied their guns as well as the captain waiting for the unknown to come out. Suddenly, scans show that the detection is now behind the captain as the white flash blinded them for a moment before the Captain is grabbed by the neck and snapped like a twig. The other soldiers looked at their dead captain in the hands of Ashad.
Soldier #1: What the hell is that?
Soldier #2: OPEN FIRE!
The firing hit Ashad but it was to no effect as he watched in disappointment and waited for their guns to lose their loads. After a good minute, they all needed to reload, and Ashad wasted no time as he took on the squad with ease. With the Cyberium in him, his weapon was back to use and blasted a few soldiers while others tried to fight him. Dr. Merlot watched as the massacre happened in a span of a few minutes of blasting and breaking soldiers. The last soldier tried to escape but Ashad got to him and gave a full punch to the chest as the Cyberman heard a loud crunch coming from the chest of the soldier before falling to the ground dead. Ashad looked at the camera while Dr. Merlot did not how to react to all this. For this was beyond anything he had done.
Ashad: We will need to use your lab, Doctor.
After bringing in the bodies of the fallen soldiers, Dr. Merlot watched as Ashad brought out different equipment and pieces of metals. He pulled out a circular saw machine and looked at the bodies with a deadly grin.
Ashad: Do not be threatened my warriors. For you will be evolved and ascended.
Using the saw, he began the operation while Dr. Merlot watched in horror and disgust. This machine was no longer human for who knows how long and was fully adapted to being a Cyberman. He couldn't continue looking at this but all he could see before turning around were the brains being removed from the bodies.
Ashad: DOCTOR!
Dr. Merlot: Y-YES!
Ashad: I will need your pods. *Points to them* They are needed.
Dr. Merlot: O-On it!
Ashad released the Cyberium before Dr. Merlot could do anything and watched his pods transform into cyber-like pods. After finishing up the operation of the soldiers' bodies. The Cyberium absorbed all of it and transferred it to the pods as they all shut the doors while the Lone Cyberman and Dr. Merlot watched. The Cyberium returned to Ashad as well before grabbing the saw once again and opened one of the pods without Dr. Merlot getting a peek.
Ashad: You will no longer be weak. You will be resurrected. *Activates the saw*
Dr. Merlot covered his ears as he heard the saw clash with metal and heard distorted screaming coming from what was inside the pod. He continued listening every time Ashad opened a new pod and did the same process until all five pods were now entering the final process.
Dr. Merlot: W-What did you do?
Ashad: Emotions are weak, pitiful, vulnerable to Cyberman. These will not have any need of emotions. And it shall be like that when I create my army.
Before Dr. Merlot could say anything, the pods opened as Ashad grinned at the new sight of the future. Five bulk like machines similar to Ashad but slightly bigger came out of the pods (Cybus Cyberman Design) marching towards them.
Ashad: Cybermen, Our Ascension is UPON US! *Looks at Dr. Merlot* Now, we shall leave for Haven.
Dr. Merlot nodded without hesitation as Ashad walked out, leading his Cybermen soldiers behind him. Once he regains the other half of the Cyberium, Humanity will cease to exist on Remnant. Dr. Merlot soon realized that despite what he saw, this is how Remnant could evolve and a smirk soon appeared on his face. Everything went pitch black, nothing or no one was around except for one person: Yang Xiao Long.
Yang: H-Hello?
She gasped at a sight she couldn't believe; she had her arm back and both were loaded with her weapon. She looked up to her horror and saw Adam Taurus approaching her slowly. Out of fear and anger, she blasts Adam, but they all go through him as he gets closer. He prepares his sword as Yang tries again but this time, her weapons and her arm were gone which panicked her. Looking up again, Adam was right in front of her and pulled out his sword which caused her to wake up gasping. Her heart trembling nonstop and trying to catch her breath as she looked over to her table to see her robotic arm. She lays back down in bed to relax herself but hears laughter coming from downstairs. It caught her attention as she slowly heads downstairs and to her surprise, she sees Professor Port, Professor Oobleck, and her father all cracking up and having a good time.
Port: And, and, and then, in comes Qrow, wearing a skirt! I was just a TA, I-I didn't know what to do, so I just... I just left the room to laugh!
Taiyang: We told him it was a kilt! He'd never worn a uniform before, so he didn't know!
Oobleck: That is terrible! What is wrong with you!?
Taiyang: Hey! The girls all said he had nice legs! I did that jerk a favor! Besides, that's not even the best part! See, then we-
Port: *places leg on table* "Like what you see?"
The trio once again burst into laughter looking back at their young days at Beacon. Port loses balance and falls on the ground as the laughter continues until they all see Yang watching them. Even she couldn't hide a small smile. Both professors stand up embarrassed as Yang entered the kitchen.
Port: Oh, uh, Miss Xiao Long! Uh, please, join us.
Oobleck: Oh, yes, yes, pull up a chair. Please, pull up a chair.
Yang: I'm good. *Sits on the kitchen counter* So, what are you doing here?
Oobleck: Despite popular belief, teachers do have a life outside the classroom.
Port: Professor Goodwitch is working 'round the clock to restore Beacon to its former glory! But Mistral wasn't built in a day. And we all need rest from time to time.
Taiyang: Now look, let's not worry about that right now. So, there we were, standing in the auditorium, looking at Qrow, wearing a skirt. Then Oz tells everyone, "It's time to work on our landing strategy!"
Oobleck: The Branwen twins have always been... interesting, to say the least.
Port: That sure didn't seem to stop young Tai.
Taiyang: Hey, come on, man, she's right here.
Port: Oh, please! She's a mature young woman! If she can handle combat, she can handle a few jabs at her old man!
Taiyang: That's not the issue, Pete! And besides, she's still a teenager!
Yang: "She" is also in the room and can be directly spoken to. And I think I've been through enough to be considered an adult at this point.
Taiyang: *sighs* Adult or not, you've still got a long way to go before you're ready for the real world.
Yang: Oh my gosh! Does every father figure have the same three condescending phrases?
Taiyang: Yeah! But we only use them when we mean it!
Yang: Is that so?
Taiyang: As a matter of fact, it is so! If you honestly think that you're ready to go out there on your own, ha, well I guess you lost some brain cells along with that arm.
The room went quiet as Yang was left speechless as well as the professors who both almost choked on their drinks. All the stares went to Tai Yang as he may have begun to have second thoughts.
Yang: You... Jerk! *Punches him playfully and giggles*
Port: Oh, Miss Xiao L— Yang, if you don't mind me asking, why haven't you tried on the arm yet?
Oobleck: Oh, yes, yes! A piece of Atlas technology given out like that is rare indeed! Not to mention the effort it took to deliver it here. It seems a great many people want to see you returned to normal.
Yang: I'm... scared. Everyone keeps talking about me getting back to normal. And I appreciate it, but... this is normal now. *Closes eyes* It's just taking me a while to get used to it.
Taiyang: Well, normal is what you make of it. *Puts my hand on her shoulder*
Yang: What is that supposed to mean? Do you want me to just pretend like nothing happened? I lost a part of me. A piece of me is gone. And it's never coming back.
Taiyang: You're right. It's not coming back. But that doesn't have to stop you from becoming who you wanna be. You're Yang Xiao Long, my sunny little dragon. You can do whatever you put your mind to. So whenever you're ready to stop moping, and get back out there, I'll be there for you. *smiles*
Yang: I... I...
Port: Fear is like any other emotion. It comes and goes. It's all in how you handle it. Why, even I find myself wrestling with that emotion from time to time.
Yang: Pfft. Really? You?
Oobleck: *whispers* He's afraid of mice.
Port: *slams fist on the table* They bring only disease and famine!
Yang couldn't hold it in and lets out her laughter while Port rants about the creepiness and disgust of mice while Taiyang watches her. It's been such a long time since he saw her daughter like this, and it was helping. If only this could continue.
Port: And don't even get me started on their tails! So hairless, and simply unnatural!
Oobleck: Port, I assure you, you are safe. There are no mice here right now.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK
Everyone stopped laughing and looked at the door as more knocking was heard which confused everyone considering it was very late.
Taiyang: Who could be knocking at this hour?
Port: Probably Glynda ready to drag us back.
Yang: *giggles* Don't worry. I'm sure she wouldn't mind joining us. *Opens the door and eyes widened*
The three men noticed Yang going stiff as if she saw someone she wasn't expecting but they weren't able to get a look since she was blocking the view. And it was as Yang looked at the man in front of her, The Doctor.
The Doctor: Hello Yang...it's been a while.