The Reviews!

.

Phantom117a: What golden king?

X3runner: She can't feel physical pain just yet, but the mental pain she felt did stick with her.

Reader: Thank you!

Theorix Deadwood: Understandable, please have a good day!

Nihatclodra: You're right on the money, but the question is, how many can he steal/copy?

.

.

.

.

.

.

Across the sea and far from Vale, Hades managed to arrive back in Atlas, and in a certain part of the city, Hades looked over the stolen blueprints of the Penny unit, which he managed to steal from the AMR lab. As he looked over the anatomy of the female robot, he realized that this was indeed some advanced tech, much more advanced than when he was Headmaster.

Hades let out a sigh, "Damn," He muttered, "I thought I could figure this out myself, but it appears that I need Dr. Polendina,"

He grabbed his scroll and dialed Erick.

[Sir?] Erick answered

"Erick, it appears we'll need Dr. Polendina," Hades told him, "I don't want to try myself in fear I may damage the unit, and I fear without his help and his knowledge, our goal will not be complete,"

[Understood sir,] Erick said, [However, may I give some advice?]

Hades nodded his head, "Yes," He replied.

[We should lay low for a bit, sir,] Erick replied, [With Betty recognizing you, She's informed the rest of them, and I'm sure Ironwood will send the dogs after us, no doubt he's already done so, which is why I suggest we should wait a day or two before we capture the good doctor,] Erick finished.

"Hmm, very well, but we can't wait any longer," Hades said, "The sooner we finish the mission, the sooner the world will be safe," He told Erick.

[Of course, sir,] Erick replied.

The call ended and set his scroll on the desk, and he turned away from the blueprints and he turned to Penny, who was strapped down on another table, her arm was next to her but still remained unattached, and she was still unconscious.

Hades smiled down at her, "You don't know just how important you are," He told her, "You'll give way to a whole new era for the entire world,"

Meanwhile, back in Vale, Jaune was in the infirmary, mostly healed due to his own aura and Professor Peach's help (Though Favnear took most of the credit due to his Highspeed regeneration), however, the same could not be said for both Fox and Velvet. Fox had to stay in the infirmary due to the wound he sustained from Hades, Peach said that if he was cut any deeper, the damage would be more severe, and Velvet... the attack she sustained from Hades actually broke two of her ribs.

Seeing them laying in the cots of the infirmary pissed him off. It angered him that he didn't even hit Hades, he couldn't even protect his friends, and he let Penny get captured and Hades escaped with her, all of it pissed him off.

He was completely useless.

"That's what she wants you to believe, but all she's done is fooled you all," The man said, "The reason she was created was to study human behavior and blend in with us to fool us, so she could spy on all of you,"

Penny shook her head rapidly, "NO! That's not true!" Penny cried.

"That's not what Ironwood and your father told you, but that is your true purpose," The man said.

Penny was in shock and she fell to her knees due to her disbelief, "No... M-My father wouldn't lie to me..." Penny muttered to herself sadly.

the man grabbed Penny by the arm and with incredible force and strength, tore her arm off, much to the shock of Ciel, Fox, and Jaune.

"PEEEENNNNYYYYY!" Ciel cried in horror.

However, no blood seeped out of the girl's arm, all that was exposed was fake muscles, wires, and electricity, revealing the truth that Jaune and Ciel refused to have believed before.

Penny was shocked and stood there in shock and fear, meanwhile, the man then waved Penny's arm like it was a pool noodle and smiled wickedly at Ciel.

"See? I told the truth, did I not?" He said.

Remembering what Hades did to Penny angered Jaune greatly, and his hand tightened up into a fist. He hurt her, and he mocked them about it.

The man turned to Jaune and smiled, "How does it feel to not be able to do anything, young man? To feel so helpless?" The man asked, he then pointed his pointer finger down at Fox and a red glow appeared at the point of his finger, but his head was still turned to Jaune with a smile, "To know that your friend is about to die, and you can't do anything to stop me?"

Hades stopped and turned his head back to Jaune. "Remember this feeling, young Arc, because that despair you feel is what you'll be feeling while I take apart your little friend," Hades said with a chuckle and turned back to walk toward Penny.

'He's gonna pay,' Jaune told himself

Jaune walked away and made his way down the hall, but as he did, he saw General Ironwood and Professor Goodwitch walking toward the infirmary.

Glynda looked at Jaune, "Mr. Arc, I am glad-"

However, Jaune ran up to Ironwood and grabbed the general by the coat collar, much to his and Glynda's shock.

James quickly regained his composure and looked to the teen. "Mr. Arc, I suggest that you let me go," Ironwood told him.

Jaune looked at him with a glare, "Is it true!? What he said about Penny!?" Jaune asked.

"I don't know-"

"Don't screw with me!" Jaune yelled, "He said Penny was a robot, and yeah I saw it myself! But then he told me why you and some doctor built her! Is she really a spy!?"

"Mr. Arc-"

"DON'T LIE TO ME!" Jaune cried, "IS SHE REALLY A SPY!? WAS EVERYTHING SHE DID! EVERYTHING SHE SAID IS ALL JUST A LIE!?"

Ironwood looked at him with a blank expression, and he slowly managed to remove Jaune's hand from his collar. "This doesn't concern you, Mr. Arc," Ironwood told him, "Ms. Polendina is Atlas' concern, so I suggest you leave it to us," Ironwood said.

Jaune glared at him and walked away, and both James and Glynda watched as he walked away.

Glynda looked away from Jaune's direction and turned to James. "I'm surprised he didn't punch you," Glynda told James.

Ironwood nodded, "So was I," Ironwood said, "I knew he and Penny were friends, but he cares very much for her,"

"He's like his father," Glynda said, "You should have told us, James,"

Ironwood sighed, "It was supposed to be a secret, Glynda, only Atlas Personal was on a need-to-know," he told her.

"But not us?" Glynda asked.

James looked back at Glynda, "It was wrong of me, yes, but if word got out that Penny was a living machine, the world, our enemies, would want someone like Ms. Polendina,"

Glyda looked at him with a peered glare, "But someone did find out, someone just as powerful and dangerous as Ozpin and Betty, and they hurt my student's, James," Glynda told him.

James nodded with a sigh, "I know, but the question is how he found out," James said. "The only people that knew were I and the council, Dr. Polendina of course, and Winter,"

"You need to look into it and find out how he knew," Glynda said. "You think she has anything to do with this?"

James shook his head, "I doubt it, her focus is Beacon, not Atlas at the moment," James told her, "Hades found out about Penny somehow, and I'll find out how he did,"

As Jaune was walking down the hall he failed to notice Neptune running up behind him. "Jaune!" Neptune cried

Jaune turned around and looked at Neptune, who had a bandage around his head. "Nep? Should you really be out of bed?" Jaune asked.

Neptune just gave him a grin, "Trust me, dude, I've got a hard head," he replied, "So what's the plan?" he asked.

Jaune looked at him confused, "The plan?" he asked.

Neptune nodded, "Yeah man! We're going after them right?" he asked.

Jaune looked at him with a sad look, "Ironwood said it's Atlas's problem, and even if we went after Hades, what could we do?" Jaune asked, "We did nothing to him, and he destroyed us,"

Neptune was a bit baffled at him, "So what man?" Neptune said, "It doesn't matter if we didn't do anything to him, what matters is if you're really ok with Penny being in that monster's hands?" Neptune asked

Jaune's fist balled up and he shook his head, "No... I'm not but-"

"But nothing!" Neptune told him, "You're the freaking Hero of Vale! You've faced Grimm twice your size! Took on an Atlas Mech! Fought Roman Torchwick and Adam Taurus and lived! Saved Vale from a mad scientist! Hell, you're part Grimm now! Everyone thought those things were impossible, but you! You've made those things come true! Are you really gonna let one loss set you back!?"

Jaune looked down in shame. Neptune was right, he accomplished so much and here he was depressed about losing to someone who was stronger than him, it was so stupid. Jaune shook his head, "No! No way am I gonna let this get me down!" Jaune said.

Neptune smiled, "Alright!" He said, "So, we're going after them, right?" Neptune said.

"Going after who, might I ask?"

Both boys jumped back as they turned to see Ozpin with his cane and his cup of coffee.

"Oh! Uh, Headmaster Ozpin... what's up?" Neptune asked, trying to act normal.

Ozpin didn't reply as he took a sip of the coffee and had a soft smile as he looked at the two boys, "If you're going to go and rescue Ms. Polendina, then you might want to know who you're facing when you arrive there," Ozpin told them.

Both of the teen boys were shocked by Ozpin just letting them go along with their plan to chase after Hades and rescue Penny.

Jaune realized what his headmaster had just told him, "Wait, you know Hades, Headmaster Ozpin?" Jaune asked.

Ozpin nodded, "Indeed, as does your grandmother," He told Jaune.

aune realized he was right as Jaune remembered that when his Granda jumped into the fight, the interaction between her and Hades did make them seem acquainted.

"Who is he?" Neptune asked.

"His name is Henry Hades, and he is the Ex-Headmaster of Atlas Academy, he's also a soldier from the F.R. War," Ozpin said, "Before joining the Military he had huntsmen training, he's an excellent fighter and he's just as strong as I and your grandmother, after all, he did earn the Headmaster Rank, though, I'm afraid I know very little about his weapon or his semblance, even when he was still Headmaster, he was a bit secretive," Ozpin concluded.

Neptune and Jaune took in the information and when they realized who they were up against, they both were shocked, however, they still didn't falter in thinking of facing him once they made it to Atlas. However, the lack of information about his weapon and Semblance worried them since it meant they were both going in blind.

"Thank you, Headmaster Ozpin," Jaune replied, "But... should you really be telling us this? You know that to get to Atlas, we're gonna have to steal a Bullhead,"

"Steal?" Ozpin asked with a raised brow and a smile, "No, no, no, Mr. Arc, stealing is such a harsh word, I'm simply letting you "borrow" one," he said as he took another sip from his mug.

Jaune and Neptune looked at each other before they smiled back at the Headmaster, and gave him a quick nod, before running down the hallway to their dorm, and Ozpin watched with a smile.

"You know that James isn't gonna like you sending Jaune to fix his mistakes,"

Appearing from around the corner, Betty looked at Ozpin as he faced away from her.

Ozpin turned his head as he looked at her still with a soft smile on his face, "I'm sure James will come to realize this is for the best, and if he does have problems with me sending Mr. Arc and Mr. Visilias to rescue Ms. Polendina, then he can take it up with me, I have enough information to stop him from lashing out,"

Betty smiled at Ozpin, "You'd really use the dirt you just discovered to blackmail James into having no problem with your plan?" Betty asked, "You've gotten more serious, Oz," Betty said.

"I have to be, now more than ever," Ozpin said.

Betty wondered what he meant, "Something you're not telling me Oz?" Betty asked.

Ozpin's smile disappeared as he fully turned around to look at her, "I may not have as much time as I thought," Ozpin said.

Betty was stunned to hear this and she looked at him with a studied gaze, "What do you mean?"

"Salem wants to destroy I and beacon first before trying to get her hands on the Relic, I don't know who and I know not when, but I fear the I may die when Salem's pawn makes their final move," Ozpin told Betty, "And who knows when I'll reincarnate again... I need Jaune to be the silver lining should the worse come to pass, because the people need a hero to look up to and follow," Ozpin said.

Betty understood where he was coming from, she knew that Ozpin wasn't going to stick around forever and his death was very important to Salem and her plans, but she wasn't going to let it happen too easily. "Well, don't think I'll let you die so soon, I'll fight to make sure you live as long as you can," Betty said.

Ozpin's smile reappeared on his face, "Thank you, Betty," He replied.

"Don't mention it," Betty said with a chuckle

.

.

.

In the dead of night, both Jaune and Neptune made their way to the Bullhead docks, packing only the clothes on their back and their weapons, however, they still had to be careful due to the Atlast guards being on guard due to Hades' attack, and so Jaune and Neptune hid behind one of the Bullheads as a guard walked past them.

Neptune watched the guard walk away and let out a small sigh, "I really hope we don't have to knock out one of the pilots for one," Neptune said.

Jaune nodded in agreement and gestured to keep moving forward, and they kept looking for a bullhead a bit far from the port and the rest of the guards, and after a few minutes of running and hiding, they managed to find one, and with smiles, they quickly ran toward it.

However, just as they were getting close, they saw a rainbow streak zoom right around them.

"Wh-What the-!?" Neptune began but was then cut of when he and Jaune were blasted away by what sounded like a trumpet.

Neptune and Jaune fell to the ground and they quickly looked back to where they stood only to see a man wearing a dark vest over an untucked white dress shirt, with a loose tie wrapped around the collar, and completing his attire is a pair of dark dress pants, silver dress shoes, and a dark glove on his left hand.

the dash of the rainbow was seen before stopping right next to the man, and it was revealed to be a girl. She wore a light blue cropped tank top over a dark purple bra, showing her upper cleavage, she also wore dark purple short shorts under a pink combat mini-skirt and a white belt with a yellow winking smiley face on the buckle. Two buttons are fixed to her tank top over her right breast, one purple with a cat design and another green one with a heart. Her hair was done up in two pigtails.

Jaune groaned, "Who are you two?" He asked.

The guy looked at Jaune as he fixed his shades, "Flynt Coal, and this is my partner, Neon Katt, we're members of team FNKI," Flynt told them, "We're the strongest 1st-year team in Atlas,"

Jaune and Neptune stood back up and both glared at the two.

"Look, we don't want to fight, but we're getting to that bullhead, so... we can do this the easy way or the hard way," Jaune said.

Neptune nodded in agreement, "We've got a very important mission and we need you to move out of the way," Neptune told them

Neon smiled, "What a pain!" She cried with annoyance, "Sorry boys, but we've got our own mission," She said with a smile.

Jaune Unsheathed Crocea Mors and Neptune quickly activated his spear and took a fighting stance.

"Guess we're going to have to do this the hard way then dude," Neptune said.

Neon smiled and in a moment she charged at them, and Neptune's eyes widened at her speed, but Jaune wasn't fazed as he waited till she got closer and when she did, he bashed her with his shield and sent her back on her butt.

Neon was a bit dazed and Flynt was a bit surprised to see Neon stopped in her tracks. 'So this is what Vale's Hero is capable of, tough guy, for sure,' He thought

Neon looked up at Jaune with a confused look, "How did you stop me?" she asked.

"One of my Aura techniques allows me to see movements in slow motion," Jaune told her, "Doesn't matter if you're a speedster, I can see where you go and what you're about to do, even if you blind me I can track your aura, so bring it on, because I'm getting a Bullhead!" Jaune finished.

Neon smiled as she got back up and prepared to fight, as did Flynt as he prepared to blow his trumpet, and Jaune and Neptune prepared themselves once more, but before either side could fight, a voice broke the tension.

"What's going on here?"

Hearing those words, all of them turned to the direction where the voice was coming from, and both Jaune and Neptune's eyes widened, as they saw Ciel standing there with a packed bag strapped on her shoulder.

"C-Ciel?" Jaune asked.

Ciel was surprised to see both Jaune and Neptune there, "What are you two doing here?"

Jaune looked at her with a confused look, "I could ask you the same question," Jaune said, "Don't tell me you're doing the same as us,"

"Hold on," Flynt said s he looked at Jaune. "You guys are heading to Atlas for the same reason Ciel is?"

Neptune nodded, "Yeah man, what did you think we were doing?" He asked.

"We thought you guys were trying to stop her," Neon said, "But you're telling me you guys were going to Atlas to save Penny?"

Jaune nodded, "Yeah, and to settle a score with the guy who took her," Jaune said with a firm tone.

Ciel looked at them, "Then it looks like we've got a common goal," Ciel said, "And if that's the case, I'd like you two to come with me,"

Jaune and Neptune looked at her but quickly nodded, and Flynt and Neon looked at Ciel as she gave them a nod back.

Ciel then turned to both Flynt and Neon, "Thank you both for covering for me, however, I-"

"Oh no! I'm coming with!" Neon cried.

Ciel looked shocked.

Flynt looked at his partner with a smile, "Neon," he muttered.

"Neon, you don't need-"

Neon ran over to her with normal speed and looked at her, "I owe Penny, and what kind of person would I be if I stood by and didn't try to return the favor?" She asked.

"But your team-" Ciel began

"Will do just fine without her for a bit," Flynt interrupted, "Neon's always gone with the beat of her own drum, besides, my team woes Penny a lot, so we can lend Neon to you for a bit," he said with a smile.

Ciel turned to Flynt and gave him a soft smile, "Alright then," Ciel said, she then turned to the others, "We better get going, before the other soldiers know we're here," she said.

Jaune nodded and he, Neptune, and Neon quickly got on the Bullhead, and Ciel look at Flynt and gave him a quick nod, "I'll bring her back safe,"

"You better," Flynt told her with a smirk.

With that said, Ciel boarded the Bullhead, and both she and Neon took over as pilots and quickly took off and flew toward Atlas, and back down on the Docks, Flynt smiled as he watched them fly away, a hopeful look on his face.

Flynt turned to walk away, still smiling, "If anyone can save that girl, it's you Ciel, and with the Hero of Vale with ya, you got this in the bag," he said as he walked away.

.

.

.

Ciel and the others are on their way to save Penny and beat Hades! But can they really face someone who's on the same level as Betty and Ozpin!? What is Hades' plan and why does he need Penny and Pietro!? And will Ironwood really leave things in the hands of Jaune and his friends!?

Anyway! Here's what to expect in Chapter 36!

Hades' goal is revealed by Ironwood and Pietro is kept under watch by Winter and Elm! Ciel, Jaune, Neptune, and Neon arrive in Atlas! However, Hades decided to attack and things don't go as planned!