Volume 3, Chapter 20:
Inside the main dining room were the now council members of James Ironwood, Jacques Schnee, Sleet, and Camilla with the addition of Clover, Winter, Penny, and a unexpected Robyn Hill who dared not to make eye contact with James or his group. As Winter sat down, she noticed the bruised that remained on Jacques nose from the sucker punch he got from the Doctor in which she couldn't hide her smile.
Ironwood: Councilman Sleet, Councilwoman Camilla.
Robyn: Councilwoman Hill would have had a nice ring to it. Though I suppose I should just be grateful I got invited to the table.
Jacques: *chuckling* Miss Hill, that vigor of yours is precisely why we're grateful to have you with us tonight.
Ironwood: What is She doing here?
Jacques: What we're all doing here, James, addressing the concerns of our Kingdom, which means we have much to discuss. There's so many different topics we can begin with.
Ironwood: Indeed. I was hoping we could start by-
Jacques: Are we safe with her here, by the way? I do recall some confusion regarding her involvement with that horrific massacre.
Ironwood: *looks at Penny and glares at Jacques* As the official report stated, that footage was doctored. Penny is completely under my control.
Jacques: Which is concerning, I think. Let's talk about exactly what it is you control. The kingdom has been in conflict ever since you took over and the city of Mantle is in shambles. You have left the people hoping that there would be change coming, help to make things better but instead you haven't done any of that except promote your glamourous machines.
Sleet: The fact of the matter is, you've operated with a fair amount of autonomy for the past few years, James. But what we need now is for you to work with us.
Ironwood: Sir, I have-
Camilla: It's obvious that no kingdom intends to declare war on Atlas. We had no involvement in the incident at Haven, we have proof our drones weren't acting on orders at Beacon. At this point, the closure of Atlas borders is only serving to hurt our relations with the rest of the world.
Ironwood: I-
Robyn: The rest of the world? It's hurting us. The people of Atlas are suffering and they want to know why.
Jacques: Quite right, Ms. Hill. And I'm afraid there's more than just your choices that have brought harm to our citizens as of late. Have your forces found any additional evidence as to who is slaughtering innocent civilians down in Mantle?
Clover: THAT is an ongoing investigation, the details of which are classified, I'm afraid.
Jacques: *sighs* I'm afraid of the ever-growing list of classified information you seem to be keeping. I asked our fellow councilmen here to shed some light on your Amity Colosseum project and, as it turns out, they know about as much as I do.
Robyn: Even you don't know?
Ironwood: The Amity Project will help with all of the issues you've presented, but you have to understand that discretion is a top priority at this time.
Jacques: Are you saying you don't trust us?
Winter: *slams fist on the table* YOU CAN'T JUST BUY TRUST LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE; YOU HAVE TO EARN IT!
Jacques: *smiles* I couldn't have said it better myself. General, if I may be blunt, you have spent what little trust this Council had left in you. The hacker who turned Atlas drones against us was never captured, whoever's been murdering your critics is still at large, and now the people on their own and defenseless handling new threats that aren't Grimm. How are we supposed to give you our trust, when you've given us nothing as of late?
Winter: *gasps* That's not what-
Ironwood: Winter. That's enough.
Winter realized she was playing the fool in this trap by Jacques, and she lost to him once again because of her emotions. She stood up and excused herself from the room as Penny looked on before getting up as well and following her.
From the floor above the mansion, the Doctor and Weiss continued to make their walk towards the library section with Weiss pulling a book with no name on it, causing the entire shelf to open to the secret room of Willow Schnee as the two entered together and came across a busy Willow Schnee reading through some old UNIT files.
Weiss: *smiles* Mom! *Runs to her*
Willow: *looks up and smiles* Oh! My dear Weiss. *Stands up and hugs her* I'm so happy to see you again. Let me look at you, A Guardian Huntress.
Weiss: *Smiles more* I missed you mom. And I see that you've been busy.
Willow: I rather be in here pulling up old files while creating new ones than being down to your father's party. Doctor, did the process go through?
Weiss: What process?
Weiss's answer came at an instant when her scroll rang and opened it to reveal the same CLASSIFIED ENTRY text that her friends all got as she got access and revealed a new badge for her.
Weiss: Weiss Schnee, Certified UNIT Member?
The Doctor: I believe that answers your question Willow. Weiss, you remember how I mentioned that Remnant would be a part of the newly Shadow Proclamation. Well, there's more that with your mother bringing back a secret organization that good ol' Nicholas Schnee created back in the day.
Willow: The day we defeated the Slitheen and once you returned me back home, your grandfather began to work on creating an organization that revolves around alien threats and encounters that occur in Remnant. He decided on calling it the United Nations Intelligence Taskforce, but I decided to shorten it up to United Intelligence Taskforce.
The Doctor: Or UNIT for short. So now, as the new leader of the new and revived UNIT, Willow has been working hard in recruiting people and hoping to get it running. You, Me, Ruby, Blake, Yang, Team JNOR, Dalek Khan, and Marrow are the only UNIT members.
Willow: The Doctor was the last person in my father's version of UNIT to join in. He got to stay for a while and help us out a lot.
The Doctor: *looks at her confused* Did I?
Willow: *eyes widened* Uh sorry. Spoilers.
Weiss: Wow! This is...once again a lot to take in but all fantastic news. Huntsmen and Huntresses continue to deal with Grimm while UNIT handles the aliens and overall, we keep Remnant and the people safe.
The Doctor: Now you're getting it my Ice Queen.
Willow: My father was more of keeping UNIT in the shadows. But today, we're in a time where people know that there is life out there beyond anyone's expectations. They know that not all aliens like the Doctor will come in peace and our biggest priority is just like you and your friends, protecting our home.
The Doctor: Which is why we're here. And another reason as well.
Weiss: Father stole the election for himself with the help of Arthur Watts.
Willow: *sighs* I recall the Doctor mentioning this to me in his later days and my younger days.
Weiss: Huh?
The Doctor: Without trying to create ripples across time, it means that I told her and Nicholas about Arthur Watts. Only the closest people like Ironwood know about Arthur Watts faking his death and eventually, I tell your mother and grandfather.
Willow: Not long after he told us, the news broke out of him dying in a lab explosion. But we knew the truth.
The Doctor: So now, Watts helped Jacques rig this election and win it. I saw it all but he destroyed it with no chance of grabbing the evidence. But you Willow, you have access to all surveillance cameras across Remnant.
Weiss: If we could find any footage that shows Watts meeting with my father and discussing interfering, it'll be enough to remove the blame on Penny.
Willow: You are very much correct you two. I do have access to all the cameras, and we can begin to look through, but it could take a while.
The Doctor: I could speed up the process but giving a facial scan feature to only detect Arthur Watts and Jacques Schnee.
Willow: There's only one problem however, *looks at Weiss* If this works, you do realize your father may be arrested.
Weiss: *sighs* I know, but father has done many more things in his whole life than being a caring husband or father to any of us. I'd say it's time he paid his debts.
The Doctor: Right then, let's get to work.
As the trio got to work with the camera access across Remnant, back down outside the dining room, Winter stood alone laying back on the wall with her arms crossed trying to relax herself and going through some deep thoughts until a familiar friend approached her.
Penny: Are you okay?
Winter: I'll be fine. I just let my emotions get the better of me.
Penny: What do you mean?
Winter: You wouldn't understand.
Penny: Oh... *looks at myself* right...
Winter: *looks at her* N-No Penny, what I mean is, this place holds a lot of memories for me, specifically. I thought I was in control, but... you heard me. I sounded like a petulant child.
Penny: I thought you sounded fine. You were just speaking from your heart.
Winter: And that is precisely the problem. I should have just stayed in line. Opening myself a bit has...already brought me down.
Penny: I guess you're right, I don't understand. *Turns around and walks away*
Winter watched on wanting to reach out to Penny but held back with her thoughts still scrambling around. Back in the temporary UNIT room, The Doctor gave full access for facial scans to track any camera footage of Jacques and Arthur meeting dating back to a week before the election as he believed they may have prepared with time ahead. Weiss watched her Doctor do his thing while Willow gave out a small giggle.
Weiss: What is it mom?
Willow: Without trying to spoil anything regarding my past and your future, no matter how old he gets, The Doctor is still that electric madman.
Weiss: Oh! *giggles* Yeah, he never stops. He's always running and so on. You said he got older? Does that mean eventually he travels back to be with you and grandfather for a short time?
Willow: *nods* He was very much older than how he looks now. When UNIT was just getting started, The Doctor appeared, and my father recruited him. For a good time, we got to see more of the Doctor's actions and what he does. It amazed me just how incredible, how kind, and inspirational he can be.
Weiss: Must be quite a headache. You see him as the young man he is now then he goes on to look older, only to see him again young.
Willow: That type of timey wimey stuff is usually his department.
Weiss: *giggles more* You too huh?
Willow: It's catchy. Though your grandfather thought it was childish. *sighs* Sometimes I look at Whitley and I see your grandfather when he was young.
Weiss: It's a shame he ended up with the same cold heart as father.
Willow: Not by choice sweetie. You and Winter weren't around much for him, I tried but by that time, he was growing close with Jacques which is why he's become who he is now. Leaving him alone is what surrounded his heart with ice. No matter what happens, Weiss... please don't forget about your brother.
Weiss: *bites my lip and looks down in thought* I'll try...
The Doctor: You two! I got something!
The mother and daughter rushed over by the Doctor's side and noticed an archived footage that occurred a week before the Election, and it happened here in the Schnee Mansion to the shock of Weiss and Willow. The Doctor opened it and revealed the footage of Arthur Watts and Jacques having a conversation and the truth was now coming out.
The Doctor: Not so clever enough Arthur Watts.
Weiss: T-This is the entire thing...Doctor, can you transfer it to my scroll?
The Doctor: Just did!
Another ringing notification came from Weiss's scroll as she opened it and the file was now there. She knew what she needed to do as she gave a quick kiss on the cheek to the Doctor and a quick hug to her mother before running out, leaving the time lord and UNIT's head leader. Willow caught a glimpse of something in the corner of her eye however.
Willow: Doctor?
He turned around and noticed something going off wrong in Mantle. The power was going out, which included the heat that was keeping the people warm from the cold weather. But that wasn't the only thing he spotted, and his eyes locked in that was soon to be another ambush.
Camilla: General, since the day you were appointed Headmaster, there have been Atlesians who are skeptical of one man holding two Council seats.
Ironwood: Yes, which is exactly why we have checks and balances.
Sleet: We're supposed to, but lately you've been running roughshod all over them, making unilateral decisions without us.
Ironwood: Councilman, I never intended-
Sleet: What people intend and what they do aren't always the same, General. *Looks over* Councilman Schnee?
All eyes looked over to see Jacques whispering to one of his butlers and noticing the sudden change in his mood before noticing the others and trying to regain composure.
Jacques: Um... *clears throat* Yes, I, uh… agree with everything, everything that was, uh, just said. No, uh, no further questions.
Robyn: *looks at Ironwood* I'm not quite done yet. You're afraid of something, General. Aren't you?
Ironwood: I think that's pretty obvious, Miss Hill. I'm trying to prevent Atlas from becoming another Beacon, another Haven.
Robyn: Yet, you don't trust your own Council to help you? Operating in secret? These are the actions of somebody who's hiding something.
Ironwood: I'm not hiding anything.
Robyn: Let's put it to the test then. *Stands up* You're all aware of my Semblance. Let's settle it here and now, General Ironwood. Here and now.
Now all eyes were on James Ironwood as he looked at Robyn's hand in front of him and knew if there was no other way to stop this, he would need to give in. But before he could do anything, the doors slammed open to reveal Weiss Schnee marching in.
Weiss: WAIT! You've got the wrong man on trial. I know who's been framing Ironwood, who rigged the election. And my father does, too. He's been working with him.
Jacques began to look more panicked as Weiss displayed the scroll on the table and used her Sonic to expand the screen for everyone in the room to see it and they couldn't believe their very eyes to see Jacques speaking to Arthur Watts himself.
Camilla: Is that... Arthur Watts?
Sleet: That's impossible! Dr. Watts died in the Paladin Incident years ago.
Jacques: Wha- W-w-what is this?
Weiss glared at her father before looking at Ironwood waiting for his approval as he nodded in agreement and Weiss played the video for everyone to see as Jacques placed himself in a inner panic.
Jacques: That bastard is costing me more money every day with this embargo. I'd lay off every employee in Mantle if I wasn't trying to get their damn votes for this Council seat!
Watts: What if I said you could have your cake and eat it, too?
Jacques: What did you have in mind?
Watts: James Ironwood never recognized my genius. After everything I gave him, he still disgraced me. I simply wish to return the favor.
Jacques: What's in it for me?
Watts: A seat on the council. All I need is your login credentials for the Atlas network.
Watts: You promise to make Ironwood's life a waking nightmare, and I will guarantee you victory at the polls by giving the voters down in Mantle a little… "digital push", if you will.
Jacques: I always knew you were a good scientist, Arthur... but I never knew you were such a good salesman.
Ironwood: Enough.
Weiss stopped the video as Ironwood was right next to Jacques with a very pissed off look with Jacques frozen at the evidence that puts him as the ultimate culprit.
Jacques: That, that is- I-I can explain that. *Clears throat* That… isn't real.
Sleet: *angrily* Jacques, take your seat.
Jacques: *looks at Weiss* Weiss…
Weiss: Jacques Schnee, you're under arrest. *Looks at Ironwood* Can I do that?
Back in the UNIT room, The Doctor and Willow watched footage of the chaos ensuing in Mantle. This was worrying and out of control as people were scrambling around town, protesting, rioting to the point of destroying Atlas Knights.
The Doctor: We're going to need everyone to head down to Mantle and handle this situation.
Willow: Wait! There's people appearing in different camera feeds with city fires appearing to keep them warm.
The Doctor: *looks at them* Something doesn't feel right. It's like these fires were there before the heat went out.
They continued to watch until the Doctor caught a glimpse of someone being dragged away in the dark alleyway. He pointed at the spot as both observed with Willow enhancing the feed. They watched closely again and saw a horrifying sight of a Cyberman appearing and taking someone again in the dark alleyway.
Willow: CYBERMEN! IT'S AN AMBUSH- DOCTOR?
Willow turned around to see no sight of the Doctor at all but saw the entrance opened as she watched in concern at the situation knowing these people will only focus on getting warmed up but not realizing this is a trap. The Doctor ran through the mansion and ran through the staircase going to the dining room which Team RWBY, Team JNOR, and Ace-Ops noticed and put them on alert that something was wrong.
Ironwood: I knew you'd stoop low to get what you wanted, Jacques. But this?
Jacques: This is all a great leap, James.
Ironwood: No, it's quite simple really - now that I know Arthur Watts is alive. Working with a madman like Tyrian Callows, it would be easy for someone like him to coordinate an unthinkably heinous act like the one in that warehouse. Watts designed Mantle's entire security network. He used that access to hack the surveillance system and frame someone else for the job. All while stealing an election. And once you became a Councilman, your newly granted clearance gave him a backdoor into Atlas' secure network. But you probably hadn't even considered that, had you?
Robyn: The people that died that night, their blood is on your hands!
Sleet: Jacques Schnee must be tried, not only for treason, but as an accessory to murder.
Jacques: These are outrageous accusations! I only intended to win the election. I had nothing to do-
Robyn: ONLY?!
Camilla: What else will he be able to do with the access Jacques' given him?
Ironwood: With enough time…whatever he wants.
Suddenly, the scrolls of the council members rang an alarming notification as they each pulled out their scrolls and opened it to reveal the situation happening in Mantle with the heat going down, but they didn't know the actual situation.
Sleet: Wait…wait, what? Why has the heat has gone off?
Jacques: You have to believe me, I-I-I didn't know he was planning this.
The doors slammed open again with the Doctor running in followed by his friends and Ace-Ops which brought more concern to everyone especially if the Doctor is rushing in with a horrifying reaction.
Weiss: Doctor, what's-
The Doctor: WE NEED EVERYONE WHO CAN HELP DOWN THERE IN MANTLE! IT'S A TRAP!
Winter: W-What do you mean-
The Doctor: THE CYBERMEN! SOMEONE SHUT DOWN THE HEAT, LURED THE PEOPLE IN DIFFERENT BONFIRES FOR THE CYBERMEN KIDNAPPING THEM! WE NEED TO GO NOW!
The Doctor made a run for it with everyone else looking at each other before Team RWBY and Team JNOR made a run for it and followed the Doctor to the TARDIS while Ironwood gave the go ahead to Winter and Clover to lead the soldiers and Ace-Ops down to Mantle as well with Penny and Robyn joining them.
Jacques: What...have I...done...
Ironwood: *glares at him* I was thinking the same question about you as well, Jacques.
As the airships were just descending down to Mantle, the TARDIS had already arrived with the Doctor getting the coordinates to each bonfire where the Cybermen are secretly kidnapping people while other parts of the city are riots and protests then transferring to the scrolls of both teams.
The Doctor: Listen up cause we don't have much time! I sent you the coordinates to the bonfires. There's 5 of them across Mantle. Team RWBY will take one. Team JNOR will take the other. Khan and I will take the other two separately!
Oscar: How if our weapons aren't matched for Cybermen threats?
Dalek Khan: Nora, Ren, take these. They are energy bullets of what I use in my weaponry. Deadly enough to kill a Cybermen with one blast. Jaune and Oscar can lead the people out while you two try to fend off the Cybermen!
Nora: *smirks* Just what we need!
Ruby: Same goes for us then. We're already locked and ready.
Weiss: Doctor, are you sure you can do this on your own?
The Doctor: I have my ways, don't worry. But, if any of you happen to see Marrow when he arrives, lend him some of the Dalek bullets as well and have the others get the people to safety.
Everyone nodded as they walked out the doors and went their separate ways to protect the people and stop the Cybermen. As Winter, Penny, and Ace-Ops arrived with backup, they were held back by people throwing burning objects and gas bottles at the ships to display that they were not happy at all to see them. This caused more Cybermen to appear and drag a few people quietly into the dark.
The distractions by the riots or bonfire were the perfect trap to kidnap people all thanks to Arthur Watts who shut down the electricity completely. Ashad and Tyrian were right next to him as they watched the city in smoke and chaos created.
Ashad: Beautiful sight. It will not be long until the Doctor and his friends come to stop this.
Arthur Watts: We have already won and got what we needed, Ashad. This is just the aftermath. Best to enjoy it while it lasts, eventually more Grimm will come soon to create more problems. It's all coming to plan.
Alone in one of the bonfire coordinates, the Doctor arrived to see people warming themselves but noticed a good amount missing which triggered him as he looked around for a way to get the Cybermen without causing panic or harm to more people. He noticed a dangling wire from a utility pole and searched from where the Cybermen are hiding until he noticed a nearby puddle that was causing little ripples which are usually from heavy moment and there was only one heavy movement in this area.
The Doctor: EVERYONE MOVE NOW!
Everyone all heard and looked at the Doctor until the Cybermen appeared from the shadows causing massive panic as people scattered which is what the Doctor didn't want. He pointed his Sonic Screwdriver towards the dangling wire and gave it a small blast to drop it near the puddle, electrocuting the Cybermen and killing them before they could blast him.
The Doctor: FIND SHELTER AND STAY INSIDE! GO NOW!
The remaining people who didn't scatter yet heard the Doctor's instruction and made a run for any shelter to hide in. That was one bonfire trap down but three more to go as he hoped his friends were able to handle it. He looked for which group was nearby to head over and help out until-
CLANG!
CLANG!
CLANG!
CLANG!
The Doctor searched his surroundings for where that noise was coming from and readied his Sonic in case of oncoming threat. The clanging noise stopped for a moment as The Doctor stopped at where the clanging was happening and slowly approached until the clanging noise went off again but this time, in a familiar sync. He took a closer listen, and his eyes widened in horror at what the sync noise was.
DUN!DUN!DUN!DUN!
DUN!DUN!DUN!DUN!
DUN!DUN!DUN!DUN!
The heartbeat of the Time Lords. And in that moment, the Doctor knew who was causing this. He wasn't expecting HIM to be here as well and perhaps a part of this ambush as well as The Doctor made a run towards the clanging sync of the heartbeat knowing very well who was here...
The Master.
