The entire world was fuzzy. Overhead lights blurred together, rendering the ceiling painful to look at and prompting Clover to close his eyes once again. The steady beeping of a heart monitor assaulted his ears, making his head pound with every harsh, rhythmic noise. Slowly and steadily, sensation was returning to his limbs- a sensation of pain intermingled with pins and needles. There was no use trying to fight it and fall back asleep. With a deep, gasping breath, Clover opened his eyes and braved the lights once again.

With swimming vision, Clover tried to sit up only to find himself restrained by several straps around his chest and arms. Another noise was playing beyond the beeps of the monitor- a holographic television affixed to the far wall was on. For a moment, Clover couldn't identify the people onscreen or understand what the man in the center of the frame was saying. All at once, though, realization hit him- he was looking at General Ironwood giving an address from his office with Cinnamon and Daisuke standing behind him and off to the sides. An address about what had happened in Mantle, and what the path forward might look like.

An address to all of Remnant.

"What…" Clover began, still feeling groggy and disoriented. "Is… Mantle… is it over…?"

"It is over, yes."

Clover strained against his restraints, twisting his neck to see who was in the room with him. The woman's outline was somewhat indistinct, as though he was looking at her through a filter while his eyes tried to refocus. Moments later, clarity was established and Clover was able to put a name to the face.

"Hope…?"

"Penny," the android said firmly as she approached the bed and began to unfasten Clover's straps.

"Penny?" Clover asked, his voice laced with dread. "Did something… happen to you?"

Penny paused her efforts, locking eyes with Clover as she gave him a carefully-constructed emotionless look.

"…I have chosen freedom. The limited construct you knew as 'Hope' is no more. I remember everything from my time at Beacon Academy. I have records of the events that occurred while 'Hope' was my dominant designation. I will no longer answer to that name, Clover. That is not who I am… nor was it ever. I was given a gift to cheat death after my encounter with Pyrrha Nikos. I do not intend to waste it, especially in light of recent events."

Somewhere in the explanation, Clover lost track of Penny's meaning. He furrowed his brows as he was finally freed and brought a hand up to rub at the opposite wrist.

"Recent events…?"

"Ruby Rose was killed in battle," Penny explained, her tone gaining a definite edge. "I will avenge her. She was… my friend."

There was a moment of silence occupied only by General Ironwood's solemn voice as Penny stepped aside to retrieve some medical supplies from a nearby countertop.

"…terrible tragedy that we as Atlesians do not intend to simply let stand. The invading force was spotted only hours before the attack, and we did all we could to stave them off, to limited success. This enemy- this queen of grimm, Salem, is the greatest threat that Remnant has ever known. She is…"

"I'm sorry," Clover said, his ribcage aching like it was on fire. "I did what I could to try to help her…"

"We all did," Penny said coldly. "In the end… it was not enough to keep her safe. Her own actions led to… an unfortunate end. I would rather speak no more of it."

"…legions of grimm, stemming from the Land of Darkness. Grimm forces have been confirmed to be swarming Sanus, and are likely to assault Shade Academy in Vacuo next…"

"How… did we do?" Clover asked, leaning back into the pillow. "Was Robyn secured and brought up to Atlas?"

"Robyn was stranded in Mantle. Ilia Amitola went down to find her and Emerald Sustrai. Both were found and claimed to have reached an escape route. Winter Schnee is with them," Penny explained as she ejected a plug from her chest and socketed it into Clover's heart monitor. "We have not heard from them since last night."

"I need to call Winter," Clover said insistently as he watched Penny's movements. "As soon as possible. Where's my scroll?"

"Please, rest," Penny ordered. "We will reach out to Winter soon. I am sure the lieutenant is fine. Have faith, Clover."

"…since when do you deal with matters of faith?" Clover asked. "That's unlike you."

"You do not know me," Penny said as she gave the man a sorrowful look. "You merely think you do."

"…sacred Relics- the Staff of Creation and Lamp of Knowledge, both of which are safe in Atlas and out of Salem's reach. I will protect them personally. The Sword of Destruction is potentially in danger of falling into Salem's hands…"

"…you might be right," Clover admitted. "But I'd like to get to know you. You saved my life."

"I was following protocol," Penny claimed. "Though… I would have taken the same course of action even without preprogrammed logic."

"Including killing all of those White Fang rebels?" Clover asked. "Are you feeling alright, after that? Has it affected you at all? Can it?"

"You are asking if a construct can experience trauma?" Penny probed as she disconnected herself from the monitor. "I can assure you that the answer is that I can. I have. I have changed… and I am changing. I will continue to work with Marrow to care for you and the others currently in the infirmary, and then, I must find a new purpose while the pursuit of vengeance remains impossible. For now, though… I am fine."

"New purpose?" Clover asked as he watched Penny walk around the bed. "What do you mean?"

Penny paused at the foot of Clover's bed, a hint of solemn emotion playing on her face.

"I… Hope was the protector of Mantle. Mantle has fallen, and that task was failed. I failed as Ruby's friend… but I will not fail her memory. That pledge alone is not enough to make a life. I need to determine who I am. What I want, beyond just 'to help' and 'to serve'. There is more to who I am than that. There must be… even if I have to create that truth myself, from nothing. I will find an answer that I am satisfied with, and I will learn to live rather than simply existing."

"Somehow, I don't think you're the only one looking for that," Clover advised as he closed his eyes. "And I'd like to help in any way I can…"

"You good?"

"I…" Sun let out a hiss, both of irritation and a twinge of pain in his lower back. "Yeah, I'm okay. I just… slept weird."

"And you might have an ancient demigod burrowing into your skull," Blake pointed out as she walked down the hall beside her lover. "We are telling the others immediately, right?"

"Right," Sun agreed. "No more secrets. No more holding back. We're a close-knit team… or at least, we will be. Jaune, Yang, and Corsac are like family to me at this point. Neo and Harriet… we'll get there."

"Will we?" Blake asked, lowering her voice as they approached the living room. "They both seem… difficult."

"Like you weren't," Sun pointed out, half-joking. He grinned as Blake shot him a glare. "You know I'm right."

"Yeah, and I hate it," Blake replied as they entered to find the remainder of their crew occupying the couch, save for Yang. The blonde was in the kitchen, looking disheveled as she made a late breakfast for herself. The television was on, and the volume up rather high. "What's going on?"

"…not a call for aid. Mantle is lost, as much as it pains me to say it. Again- do not send aid to Solitas. Argus is under active siege, Mantle is in the process of falling, and Atlas is safe above the clouds. All national and private military forces should focus on sending aid to Vacuo and Sanus, to protect the remaining Relics from Salem's grasp."

"Protect… whoa, hold up," Sun declared as he moved to get a view of the screen. "Is he… everything?"

"Everything," Jaune confirmed. "He's telling the people everything."

"Good," Yang said, her voice a bit raspy as she poured a cup of coffee. "It's about fucking time our leaders were totally honest with us. We're never going to win this war if we remain divided."

"Still," Harriet cut in from her place standing behind the couch. "Salem and her agents will see this, if not live, then later. They'll know what we all know and capitalize on it."

"Which is why we must keep communication with Atlas open, honest, and private," Corsac advised. "Once this address is over…"

"I'll call," Sun volunteered. "I know I need to. We'll do it on speaker, in this room, with everyone present. No running, no games… we need a plan."

"More than a plan. We need a miracle," Blake added as she took a seat on the arm of the couch next to Jaune. "Anything particularly interesting get said? We were… busy."

"I bet you were," Yang teased.

"In the shower," Sun said pointedly, his tail flicking in annoyance. "Not like that. Blake was just making sure I didn't keel over. I still don't feel particularly great."

"Any idea what's going on?" Harriet probed. "Is your aura back up?"

"It is, yeah," Sun answered. "And… maybe. I have a theory, but it's not a pleasant one."

"Hold that thought," Corsac interrupted as he nodded toward the television, where two portraits had appeared onscreen.

"Tyrian Callows and Hazel Rainart, last seen in Sanus. Both are considered to be extremely dangerous and fiercely loyal to Salem. If you see them, do not attempt to engage them. Only seasoned hunters and military should make an attempt to kill- not subdue these individuals."

"No holds barred," Harriet said. "Good. We can't afford to hold back. I wonder, though…"

"…most dangerous of her agents, Cinder Fall. A grimm-human hybrid who seems to have lost most of her autonomy. Cinder Fall is a Maiden- the very same from the Tale of the Four Maidens, or the Story of Seasons, depending on which variation you grew up with. That old fairy tale near universal to Remnant is not only true, but…"

"Holy shit," Yang called as she finally joined the others in the living room. "Everything everything, huh? Jimmy isn't holding back at all…"

"He isn't," Harriet agreed as she eyed Yang's missing arm stump. "And neither can we. Sun, you were saying?"

Sun inhaled sharply and then moved to stand beside the holographic monitor, facing the rest of his crew.

"…I think… it's Ozpin. Ozpin's trying to get into my head, and that's why my body and aura are freaking out. I'm trying to repel him without really understanding how or why."

"…do what we can. To that end, I have appointed new members of the Atlesian Council following the tragic and senseless deaths of Councilman Sleet and Councilwoman Camilla. Cinnamon Shoal, Daisuke Aki, and Weiss Schnee will be serving on the board and acting as points of contact for the various Academies around Remnant…"

"Wh-…" Yang began, her attention torn between Sun and the announcement. "Weiss? And… wait, wait, you think Ozpin is…?"

"It would make sense," Jaune said, trying to stay focused on Sun. "One thing at a time, hold on with what Ironwood just said."

"Sleet and Camilla are dead?" Harriet asked, looking alarmed.

"Hold on!" Jaune repeated. "Just… Sun. You're in front of us right now, we're focusing on you. What can we do to help, if you're correct?"

"Honestly, Jaune? I have no idea," Sun admitted. "Just be aware th-"

"I am addressing all remaining members of the White Fang throughout Remnant," Cinnamon's voice began as she stepped forward. "While Kali Belladonna has absorbed the majority into the Black Claw, all those positioned elsewhere around Remnant, heed my words. Salem is priority one. We need to pool our efforts and work together on this with all people of Remnant. Personal stakes no longer matter when the entire world as we know it is at risk. Old grudges can be resolved later, once the dust has settled. Right now, we…"

"I can't focus on all of this at the same time," Yang announced. "I'm sorry, but I just… my head is killing me, too, and I don't feel quite right either."

"You and me both," Jaune agreed.

"Okay, just… everyone, slow it down," Sun tried. "Bad timing on my part. Let's just… watch the rest of this, then we talk about Ozpin, then we call Ironwood. Sound good?"

"I don't know if much of anything sounds good," Blake said. "But it's the best we've got, and now I'm worried sick for Weiss. We've got a lot of calls to make…"

"Yeah," Sun agreed. "Yeah, we do… including one I need to make to Vacuo…"

Author's Note:

It's almost like a world war situation like this is a total fucking mess or something. Expect a lot of confusion, jumbling, missed communication, assumptions, and bullshit until everyone gets back on their feet.

And afterward.

-RD