Volume 3, Chapter 13:
It has been 3 days since the Serptuix incident and the arrest of the Doctor at the hands of Winter Schnee despite the time lord being the reason the Serptuix was defeated. The outrage was very loud and clear from the Doctor's friends and those who have heard from little birds around Atlas Academy after Winter has declared for this arrest to not be public until after election night. When Ironwood returned to Atlas Academy, he was surprised to see the Doctor in a cell while being met by a furious Team RWBY and Team JNOR.
Ironwood: I can understand your anger and believe me, I truly believe all of you in what Winter did for the Doctor was unreasonable. But unless she decides to overturn the arrest or it goes to court to decide his fate, there's not much I can do even if I'm at higher power.
Yang: Okay, maybe she'll listen to Weiss!-
Ironwood: I've placed Winter on a immediate day off to cool herself as well. She was getting too heated and it was also affecting her as well. You'll have to wait til tomorrow. *sighs* I'm with you all, I truly am...but there isn't much that can be done. What I can do is give you access to visit him and if you wish to take books for him, that is acceptable as well.
Ruby: *sighs in frustration* I guess it's better than not having any access to see him like the last few days.
Ironwood: That was another reason to give Winter a day off. Can't imagine what the Doctor's feeling with no one to chat with.
Nora: I think it's boredom. Time is bonkers for him so either it's going fast or going slow.
Blake: I'd say we do get some books from the TARDIS and take it to him. Maybe some food as well.
Ironwood: Team RWBY, you don't have patrol until later afternoon, so you are welcome to spend this time with the Doctor. Team JNOR, you four will be off on a checkpoint mission to secure everything is looking good for Amity Communication Tower. There appears to be some interferences, and we have not been able to hear back from the technician team.
The two teams nodded in agreement as Ironwood dismissed them both with Weiss being the first to leave the room as everyone watched her with concern.
Jaune: How is she?...
Ruby: Distraught. Lost. Sad. Confused. Pretty much any negative emotion. To see what went down between Winter and the Doctor took a toll on her.
Yang: Winter has tried to approach her and talk things out, but Weiss has refused.
Ren: Where is the TARDIS anyway?
Blake: It's hidden somewhere in the city of Atlas. We've been down there to keep the TARDIS company.
Oscar: Do you think there will be a way to change Winter's mind?
Yang: It'll have to take the Doctor saving her ass to actually change her mind unless someone can actually talk her through.
Jaune: At least you'll finally see him so enjoy your time with him and tell him we said hi!
Nora: And we'll break him out soon!
Ren: Nora!
Team RWBY bid goodbye and best of luck to Team JNOR on their mission. A few minutes later, they were now off by road to the snowy mountains with the reports of signal disturbance and they all know very well its Grimm...or so they think?
Jaune: I'm just glad we can finally do some Grimm action instead of patrol. I don't think I could handle more casseroles.
Nora: That haircut suuuuure got a lot of attention. *Elbows him*
The good laughs come to sudden halt when the transport stops immediately, leaving the others to wonder if they arrived but as they look outside, they are met with a group of huntresses and one familiar face across Mantle and Atlas, Robyn Hill.
Robyn Hill: This is the second time this week that we have had trespassers approaching! We can do this the easy way and tell us what exactly Ironwood is doing, or we can do this the hard way.
Everyone hoped out of the transport and slowly walked towards Robyn Hill and her team with their weapons placed away to show they didn't mean any harm. Appearing behind Robyn were three more partners of her team, Fiona Thyme, May Marigold and Joanna Greenleaf
Robyn Hill: More young huntsmen and a huntress.
May: How many of you kids are even playing in the big fields?
Nora: Excuse me?
Jaune: We're sorry about that! We were just asked to do some exploring for any Grimm activity.
Joanna: If there was Grimm activity, we already handled it. It's more of a waste of time for all of us being here.
Oscar: Okay look, we're not really here for Grimm activity...we have a group of three people from Atlas that have gone missing, and their last location was in these mountains before they disappeared. We...were assigned to find any clues and find them.
The Happy Huntresses looked at each other as they thought about it deeply but the look on Oscar's face clearly states that this is a serious situation. The three huntresses looked at Robyn who thought a little more before nodding at the girls then looking back at Team JNOR.
Robyn Hill: Very well then, you have access to come across and search for the missing folks.
Oscar: *sighs in relief* Thank you so much! We-
Robyn Hill: On one condition however, we will accompany you as well. If we find out that you are lying, there will be problems, especially with James Ironwood.
Oscar: I- *sighs* Understood ma'am.
Robyn Hill: Just call me Robyn. As for my team, May, Fiona, and Joanna.
Jaune: Right! Nice to meet you all, shall we get moving then?
The two teams began their walk to the mountains with Team JNOR hoping this mission goes as a success without being caught that they lied to the Happy Huntresses. About 30 minutes have passed and nothing has occurred during the search of the "missing people" which was beginning to raise some eyebrows from the Happy Huntresses.
Robyn Hill: Let's not jump to conclusions yet ladies. They could have been lost anywhere here and we never suspected.
Fiona: Soooo, where exactly are you guys from?
Jaune: Well, Ren, Nora, and I were actually students from Beacon Academy. Oscar was actually from the farmlands in Mistral.
Robyn Hill: My condolences for what occurred at Beacon Academy. It was a very tragic and unforeseeable event. Can't imagine how much of the city is left after that Grimm attack.
Nora: To be honest with you, it would have been so much worse. Many more lives would have been taken and perhaps the city would be in all ruins.
May: You say that as if there wasn't much casualities.
Ren: There was. But we were able to evacuate most of the townspeople just in time as all evacuations were clearing out.
Joanna: You all stayed behind to fight those creatures off and rescue the people? My respect has grown for you.
Jaune: Wasn't easy actually. Not without the help of...a really good man they call the Doctor.
Robyn Hill: You...
Jaune: *turns around* W-What is it?
Robyn Hill: You know him? The Doctor?
Fiona: The mysterious man with his blue police box!
Nora: *sighs and giggles* Know him? We're good friends with him!
May: Well, I'll be damned.
Oscar: Just to be clear, is it good or bad that we know the Doctor?
Robyn Hill: It's...actually very good. We have high respect for him for what he did at Beacon and what he did at Argus. He actually came by at one point to destroy a fleet of Grimm nearby. Not much is known about him which makes it more interesting.
Jaune: We were there with him during the Fall of Beacon and the Invasion at Argus.
Nora: Everyone including us always see him as this mysterious hero that came out of nowhere one day and changed so many things. But when you get to know him and become his friend, he's so kind and always carries that energy of light.
Joanna: We see him more as a vigilante. Defying the order of government and handling the situations in his own way to bring good, hope, and light.
Ren: Unfortunately...he was recently arrested by Winter Schnee despite that he helped us handle a very difficult situation.
May: WHAT?!
Fiona: J-Just for helping?!
Robyn Hill: This is why you can't trust people like Ironwood or that Schnee general. They'll still go for people who are trying to do good but don't do it the "authority" way.
Oscar: Is that why you're running in the election? To make a change?
Robyn Hill: After how everything has gone after the Fall of Beacon, the trust towards the government has been...mixed. I want to try and start a fire in bringing change around the kingdoms. The people matter first and always should be.
Oscar: Well, what happens on Election Night...best of luck.
Jaune: Guys?...
Everyone heard Jaune's voice sounding concerned as they walked towards where he was looking and noticed a cave. It looked deep as everyone looked at each other knowing that the missing people could be inside this cave or worse...they're stuck in there.
Oscar: Okay, what's the plan?
Robyn Hill: Best to be very careful and approach the cave with caution. We're the only ones here and calling for help will be a waste of short time. Best to be ready however in case there are Grimm in there.
Team JNOR and the Happy Huntresses pulled out their weapons and slowly walked inside the cave with none of them knowing what was to be shown ahead. As they continued to walk and search, Nora had a funny thought come to her mind which gave away to everyone.
May: What's so funny?
Nora: *giggles* I'm sorry. Just thought of how the entrance towards the cave looked normal for anyone to enter then inside it's completely big. Bigger on the inside like the TARDIS. *Giggles more*
Fiona: The TARDIS?
Ren: It's the actual name for the police box of the Doctor. If I'm right, it's an acronym for Time and Relative Dimension in Space.
Joanna: He's really out of this world huh?
Jaune: You have Nooooo idea.
About 10 minutes passed with no sign of the missing crew but the two teams were starting to feel suspicious that the cave is deeper than usual. They came to a stop momentarily when Jaune signaled to stop and picked up what looked to be a dented hammer
Jaune: It looks like they were defending themselves against something.
Robyn Hill: I presume Grimm but the hammer being dented looks like they were trying to hit deep but couldn't.
*CLANG!*
Everyone raised their weapons after being startled by that noise. It came from deeper within the cave as Robyn signaled all of them to go quiet and carefully walk through. Team JNOR looked at each worried but proceeded forward. The metal clash noise got louder as they got closer until they saw a small light shining through one end of the cave. The two teams got closer to the light until Team JNOR heard a familiar noise that terrified them as the Happy Huntresses got a peek of what the noise is and their eyes turned horror at the sight below.
...Cybermen!
Multiple of them marching through and working on what looks to be some kind of lab with multiple pods and an area for creating weapons. The giant, soulless soldiers were secretly hiding within this cave which explains the interferences and the sudden disappearance of the technician crew as Jaune looked at the dented hammer with a horrified realization.
May: What...are they...
Nora: Cybermen...humans turned into monsters of steel with no emotions or soul at all. Contains a human's living brain jammed inside a cybernetic body, with a heart of steel...
Joanna: And how do you know this?
Ren: We've encountered them. Fought them alongside our friends. They're hard to beat...our weapons could only do little to no damage.
Fiona: Someone else is coming!
They watched with Team JNOR getting to look down as well and thankfully the spot they are in hides them well from being seen. Team JNOR felt their hearts beating fast when they saw who was approaching the army of Cybermen, the one who began it all, the one who came and created them as the "evolution" of Remnant. The Lone Cyberman, Ashad.
Robyn Hill: That must be the leader...
Jaune: If I remember correctly...his name is Ashad. The first Cyberman to arrive in Remnant and started all of this...
Joanna: We should go now before they know we're here. If our weapons are useless against...those things, what chance do we have?
Oscar: Guys...
The teams looked towards where Oscar was pointing at specifically and noticed one of the pods opening up with a lot of steam in the way. A loud growl was heard as it slowly appeared from the mist as Ashad welcomed it while the teams watched in horror. Half Cybernetic. Half Grimm. It was another Cyber Beast like the one spotted in Argus.
Ren: That's... *eyes widened* The same one that appeared during the Daleks invasion.
They continued to watch and listen as the Cyber Controller formerly known as Dr. Merlot approached Ashad while he placed his hand on the Cyber Beast to welcome it and recognize its creators.
Cyber Controller: The experiment of merging the Grimm with the Cyberium has been successful. We now have the perfect formula to expand and create more Cyber Grimm.
Ashad: This planet...and its inferior creatures will soon evolve to become like us. To become the perfect organism. Humans. Grimms. They are all the same. What about the human factory?
Cyber Controller: Fully functional. The soldiers have come across those robotic soldiers from the different kingdoms. We have brought them in to experiment as well.
Ashad: And the result?
Cyber Controller: We have our Cyber Beasts. Our Cybermen. And now we have our Cyber Virus, they can access technology and worldwide data across this planet.
Ashad: *grins and chuckles* The advantage is in our hands now Dr. Merlot. It will only be a matter of time until Remnant is converged into the Cybermen's new home. FOR VICTORY!
Cybermen: FOR VICTORY!
Ashad: FOR THE ACENSION!
Cybermen: FOR THE ACENSION!
Ashad: FOR THE END...of Remnant.
Cybermen: FOR THE END OF REMNANT!
Team JNOR and the Happy Huntresses heard everything and were terrified to the core. They couldn't even imagine how the Doctor wasn't scared of confronting them. Now they knew it was time to make their leave as everyone got up quietly and proceeded to slowly walk back to where they came from until...
Ashad: Where are you going?
Their blood frozen solid just like their bodies while their hearts beat fast as Oscar slowly turned around to see the entire Cybermen army and Ashad looking up at them. Ashad stopped petting his Cyber Beast as it began to growl.
Oscar: RUUUUUUUUUUN!
Everyone made a run for it as Ren and Nora did a combo move to block the entrance with boulders. Ashad nodded at the Cyber Beast and it began its chase to find the humans. It ran fast and crawled in a matter of seconds before crashing through the blocked entrance. It sniffed then tracked the trail of where the humans ran before speeding off.
Jaune: You think we blocked the entrance well!
Oscar: Doesn't matter! Keep running and call Team RWBY!
Just as the group made a turn, the Cyber Beast appeared and crashed on a wall from its speed startling everyone as it got closer to them. They shot their weapons at the cyber-Grimm only for no effect at all. Nora looked around and thought of a quick way to hold the creature down momentarily.
Nora: Ren! Robyn! Throw me up!
Robyn Hill: WHAT?!
Nora: JUST DO IT!
The two nodded as they grabbed Nora by her feet then launched her in the air. She pulled out her Manghild transforming into hammer form as she kicked herself from the upper part of the cave and lunged the hammer headfirst onto the Cyber Beast as it crashed on the ground.
May: Did it work?!
Nora: It'll give us about a minute to run more!
Jaune: Running won't do much if its following all of us! Robyn, do you know another exit from this cave?
Robyn Hill: Straight ahead then a left.
Jaune: You and your team go that way! We'll have the Cyber Beast come after us!
Joanna: That's suicide!
Fiona: We can help as well!
Their talks were cut short when metallic stomps were heard which meant the Cybermen were coming for them as well then, the Cyber Beast was beginning to activate once again.
Ren: There's no time! We'll be fine, it's you four who needs to get to safety and out here before they find you!
The Happy Huntresses had second thoughts but trusted their instincts on Team JNOR's plan.
Robyn Hill: I hope to see you four alive the next time I see you!
Nora: *salutes* Noooo promises!
May: *giggles* I like her a lot!
Robyn Hill: Let's move girls! And...thank you Team JNOR!
And with that, both teams go their own separate ways as the Cyber Beast is fully awake and roars before giving chase once again to Team JNOR. Ren and Nora continued to blast the roof of the cave to slow the Cyber Beast down while Jaune grabs his scroll and calls Team RWBY.
Meanwhile, back in Atlas Academy, Team RWBY just returned from doing their daily patrol which was a boring and tiring day but to spend time with the Doctor after not seeing him for three days was enough to keep this day as a good day. They brought him books, his guitar, and a chalkboard with Weiss bringing some delicious food she made for him to have as lunch and dinner. As they all began to rest on their beds, all their scrolls rang which startled all of them.
Weiss: Grimm?!
Ruby: No! It's Jaune. *answers* Hello?
Jaune: RUBY!
Ruby: J-Jaune? What's going on?
Jaune: WE NEED RESCUE! WE'RE BEING CHASED BY THE CYBER BEAST! WE FOUND A CAVE THAT HAS A CYBERMEN FACTORY INSIDE!
Blake: Cybermen!
Weiss: Where are you?
Jaune: NORTHERN MOUNTAINS OF ATLAS NEAR THE LAUNCH SITE!
Weiss: We'll be there shortly!
Jaune: HURRY!
The call ends as the four girls got up, grabbed their weapons, and ran out of the room while Ruby called for Dalek Khan to bring the TARDIS. Others watched them as to wondering what was going on but the Doctor felt it. He felt something wrong and dangerous. He just hoped Team RWBY could get there on time.
Back in the mountains, the chase continued as the Cyber Beast was getting closer and closer to them until it was able to claw on the back of Ren causing him to groan in pain but continue to run with all his strength. Nora saw this and was very pissed off as her semblance charged to High Voltage.
Nora: NO ONE HURTS MY REN! HYAAAAAAAAA!
Nora made a full turn with her hammer fully charged and whacked the Cyber Beast far back which caused it to have a damaged face now just like its creator. The cyber creature struggled to get up while Nora used her remaining energy to slam the hammer onto the ground causing more boulders to fall on top of the Cyber Beast, trapping it.
Nora: Ren! *Checks on him*
Ren: *groans and chuckles softly* Looks like I'll be needing your service again nurse.
Nora: No time for jokes. Jaune help me out! Oscar lead the way!
Oscar: *nods* Let's go!
Jaune and Nora put all their strength and energy to help Ren while also making a run towards the exit. A few more minutes of running and gasping for air while Jaune tried to use his semblance to amp up Ren's Aura, they finally made it out of the cave to their relief. The next part was difficult which was finding a way back downhill.
Oscar: Okay, now what?
Ruby: JUMP!
Team JNOR heard that familiar voice and saw the TARDIS dematerializing while remaining on air. The doors opened to reveal all of Team RWBY ready to catch them. Team JNOR knew this way the only way but were also nervous to jump until that same roar of the Cyber Beast was heard as they turned around to see it there once again. But it wasn't alone anymore as Cybermen appeared next to it and targeted their weapons towards Team JNOR.
Ruby: JUMP YOU GUYS!
Jaune: Ruby! Get ready to fire!
Oscar: Now or Never!
Nora: GERONIMO!
The four jumped off the cliff of the mountain as the Cyber Beast as well ran towards them and lunged at them as well. Everything felt slow and time froze during this intense moment. Weiss, Blake, and Yang had a net while Ruby loaded Crescent Rose with the special bullets given from Dalek Khan. The Cyber Beast was right on them until Ruby placed her target on it and...
*BANG!*
The Dalek Bullet came out, flying between Jaune and Ren, and right through the head of the Cyber Beast, killing it at last. It fell into the lower depths of the mountain while Team JNOR successfully made inside the TARDIS and was caught by the girls. They all panted from stress, exhaustion, and relief as Dalek Khan goes on to check Ren's wounds. The TARDIS rang its alarm however as Weiss looked outside to see the Cybermen shooting the TARDIS.
Closing her eyes, she activated her Time Angel powers to fly up and face the Cybermen before releasing a massive energy pulse causing the Cybermen to glitch out and shake violently until their heads exploded, finishing them off as well. And watching her from the entrance was Ashad who had a stoic stare looking at Weiss as she looked back at him before flying back down to the TARDIS and dematerializing, ending this close call.
Ashad: Prepare all pods and systems to transfer to the next base. We still have work to do. And contact Salem that we need to talk!
Back at Atlas Academy, Team JNOR specifically Ren, were being treated from the hits they took today, and the serious gash Ren took from the Cyber Beast's claws while Team RWBY watched and heard everything that happened to them. The Cybermen getting ahead was a very bad sign.
Yang: So that thing that attacked the Daleks in Argus was indeed from the Cybermen. The question is how many they have created that they probably haven't released yet.
Ruby: That's the part that worries me. *Closes eyes and breathes shakily* I feel like I'm gonna throw up knowing they have already harvested people and converting them into Cybermen.
Weiss: We can't blame ourselves Ruby. We didn't know anything about all of this until now.
Blake: The Cybermen went in the dark after a good portion of them were destroyed by the Daleks. They went right to work and now things are getting more complicated.
Jaune: What do we do though? Do we tell General Ironwood?
Weiss: *thinks* Not yet. The first person that needs to know about this is the Doctor. He may be in the cell but telling him could help us in figuring what to do next. Then, we can tell Ironwood.
Oscar: Problem is they are going to be gone by the time Ironwood sends his soldiers to investigate. And they'll take everything with nothing left behind.
This put both teams into stressful thinking as to what to do next after what happened today. After thinking it through, they went with the safe and best option as standing in front of the cell room was Team RWBY with Jaune and Oscar as Nora stayed behind to take care of Ren. As they entered, they were met with a worried Doctor who knew very well that something went wrong.
Weiss: We need to talk...
The Doctor: I know...it's the Cybermen...and they are coming...