Searching Evil Through the Streets of Vale
The three teams have gather together as they are readying themselves for the investigation on the White Fang and Roman, while most are wearing their usual combat clothing, team RWBY have changed into different outfits.
"Okay, everybody ready?" Ruby asked.
"Totally, I'm so pump to beat up some bad guys!" Mika excited.
"Uh, we're only going out to find information, not fighting. Right?" Scarlet asked making sure he got the plan right.
"That's right, we have to avoid fighting as much as possible while acting like we're just walking around the city." Weiss answered.
"But if the bad guys just happen to attack us first?" Yang asked.
"Then you can defend yourself." Weiss exclaimed.
"That's what I like to hear." Yang smirked.
"I'm glad to see we're taking this so seriously." Weiss said sarcastically.
"Hey, we've got a plan! That's... moderately serious." Yang shrugged.
"I'm sure is just making sure we don't screw this up, we don't want to get in trouble by the Hunters and the teachers." Neptune pointed out.
"Don't worry, I already told Chun-Li about the plan and she agrees to help us." Sun mentioned.
"At least that feels reassuring." Elena said.
"Right! Everyone remember their roles?" Ruby asked.
"You and I along with Neptune, Sage, Ibuki, and Elena will head to the CCT and check the Schnee records for any other Dust robberies or inconsistencies. Seeing as I'm in the family, it shouldn't be a problem." Weiss explained her team's role.
"The White Fang has regular faction meetings to hand out orders and recruit new members. The ones who will be joining me are Sun and Mika. Hopefully we'll find out what they're planning if we can get in." Blake mentioned.
"I have an old friend on the shady side of town that typically knows everything going on in Vale. Getting information out of him shouldn't be too hard... Oh, there is also Scarlet and Menat joining me." Yang said.
"I believe we got everything covered." Ibuki smirked.
"Great, now it's time we get going." Scarlet said.
"And since the White Fang rally doesn't start until night, we can hang out at Chun-Li's place." Sun said.
"I'm not so sure about taking advantage of her generosity like this." Blake worried.
"It's totally fine, she said we can use her place for the day as long as we're being careful and let her know if something happens." Sun mentioned.
Then they heard knocking on the door, Sun quickly went to see that it's Jaune.
"Hey Sun, you ready for investigation?" Jaune asked.
"Sun, you told Jaune?" Blake shocked.
"And his team, I'm a good judge of character and I believe team JNPR can be trusted with this while keeping a lookout in the school." Sun explained.
"Just in case the staff check if we are in our rooms?" Scarlet guessed.
"Exactly." Sun nodded.
"Ren and Nora have already gone to your rooms, that just leaves me and Pyrrha in ours." Jaune informed.
"Oh, alone with the champion woman." Sun teased.
"I-It's nothing like that! Anyway, good luck and be careful." Jaune said.
"We will, now time to hit the city!" Ruby declared.
(Vale City, CCT)
Ruby's group are walking toward the CCT as the red-hooded girl becomes amaze of the tall building.
"Woooow! I forget how big the Transmit tower looks up close!" Ruby said.
"It is, indeed." Sage nodded.
"I always thought the CCT tower back in Mistral was big, and now I see we have another one." Elena giggled.
"You should see the one in Atlas." Weiss mentioned.
"That was the first one, right?" Ruby asked.
"You got it, red. Atlas developed the Cross Continental Transmit System to allow the four kingdoms to communicate with one another. It was their gift to the world after the Great War." Neptune explained.
"Very well done, Neptune. That was how I would've explained." Weiss impressed.
"I'm glad you are please, Snow Angel." Neptune smiled making Weiss blush.
"Oh, get a room you two. We're here to get the information about the White Fang, not get all romance." Ibuki reminded them of the mission.
"Of course, we know, the only reason we're here is because Ruby like the tower so much! We could have just as easily made a call from the library!" Weiss pointed out.
"I know, but it's so coool! Ooh, I'm going to take a picture!" Ruby took out her Scroll.
"Oh, I would like to take part in it!" Elena wanted to join in on the picture taking.
"I see you also have a teammate who gets all childish sometimes." Ibuki exclaimed to Weiss.
"Try most of the time." Weiss sighed.
But before Ruby could press the button to take the picture with Elena, she Scroll suddenly slips out of her finger and tries to catch it in her hand only to be bouncing off and fell on the ground next to someone picks it up.
"You drop this." The girl said holding up Ruby's Scroll.
"Penny!" Ruby shocked.
"Penny, who's that?" Ibuki asked.
"A friend that Ruby made before they were involve in the dock incident, she can be very strange but doesn't mean any harm. Though it was strange that she disappeared on us before the robbery was stop." Weiss mentioned.
"Where have you been? We haven't seen you since that night at the docks!" Ruby asked concern.
"S-Sorry. I think you're confused." Penny said before she suddenly hiccup. "Uh… I got to go." She walked away.
"It would seem that Penny is trying to prevent that she doesn't know you at all." Elena said as she can tell with her Semblance.
"But why?" Ruby asked.
"I do not know; my Semblance cannot read minds." Elena said.
"Well, whatever is going on with her, I'm going to find out." Ruby determined to help her troubled friend.
"You go make your call! I'll meet up with you later!" Ruby said to Weiss as she runs after Penny.
"Wait!" Weiss tried to stop.
"I will go with her!" Elena volunteered.
"Sage, you better go with them just in case." Neptune suggested.
"Right." Sage nodded and went after the girls.
"Damn it, what ever happen to taking this seriously?" Weiss annoyed.
"Well, it's not like this going to stop our plan right now. Let just go in and hope those two won't get in any trouble." Ibuki stated.
"She's right, Weiss. And they'll call us if there is any trouble hopefully after you made the Neptune added.
"Fine, at least you two are more mature to know that." Weiss said as she walks to the CCT with Neptune and Ibuki behind her.
Meanwhile, Ruby and the other two have caught up with Penny.
"Penny! Where have you been? It's been weeks!" Ruby asked worry.
"There seems to be a... misunderstanding." Penny tried to move away from Ruby, but she is stop by Elena.
"Hello Penny, my name is Elena, and the tall guy is Sage. I can sense you are feeling hurt for lying to Ruby that you don't know her and only doing it to keep her safe, but I believe you should come clean on what's going on because you will hurt Ruby even more." Elena pointed out.
Penny looks back at Ruby with the concern look in her eyes and a small smile nodding her head, the orange hair girl knew she couldn't leave her friend hurt like this. She quickly pulls them close to her.
"It isn't safe to talk here." Penny whispered as they confuse.
(With Weiss, Neptune, and Ibuki)
"Fancy place." Ibuki commented as they walk out the elevator.
"Guess that's one way to put it, I kind of hope they added a little decoration though." Neptune said.
"I'm sure they only do that for special occasions and such." Weiss said.
They soon make their way to the front desk and a holographic secretary woman appears sitting at the desk.
"Welcome to the Beacon Cross Continental Transmit center. How may I help you?" CCT AI asked the visitors.
"I need to make a call to Schnee Company World Headquarters in Atlas." Weiss requested.
"Absolutely!" The CCY AI nodded and deeps for a second. "If you could head over to Terminal 3, I'll patch you through."
"Thank you." Weiss thanked and they walk over to Terminal 3.
Neptune and Ibuki just sit next to her from both sides as they will wait for the results, he notices Weiss is looking sad for a moment and took a breath before putting on a smile.
"Are you okay?" Neptune asked.
"Of course, why wouldn't I be?" Weiss asked back then the screen shows a SDC Operator.
"Thank you for calling the Atlas- Oh! Miss Schnee! Good afternoon! Would you like me to patch you through to your father? I think your sister Winter might be here as well." SDC Operator said.
"No, thank you! I was actually wondering if you could find some files for me. I've compiled a short list." Weiss plugged her Scroll for the operator to see.
"I see. If you don't mind... what may I ask is this for?" SDC Operator asked.
"School project." Weiss answered.
"Um... There are some sensitive documents on this list, ma'am." SDC Operator concerned.
"Well, then, I'll be sure to treat them with care." Weiss promised.
"Right... Very well. The data is being transferred to your Scroll now." The woman said.
"Wonderful! That will be all, then." Weiss smiled.
"Are you sure you wouldn't like me to patch you through to your father before you go?" SDC Operator asked which made Weiss lose her smile before getting it back.
"Yes, I'm sure." Weiss answered.
"Well, then... Have a nice day!" She said before hanging up, and Weiss's happy act drop.
"Yep, definitely daddy trust issues." Ibuki figured out.
"Don't worry, we won't ask you about if you're feeling uncomfortable." Neptune placed a hand on Weiss's shoulder.
"Thank you." Weiss said softly.
(With Ruby's Group and Penny)
"I wish I could help you, Ruby, but I don't know anything about those men." Penny said to Ruby.
"Well, what happened to you that night? We were all together, and then you just disappeared! Were you kidnapped?" Ruby asked.
"Oh, no! Nothing like that." Penny assured.
"Then where did you go?" Ruby asked again.
"I've never been to another kingdom before. My father asked me not to venture out too far, but... You have to understand, my father loves me very much; he just worries a lot." Penny explained.
"Believe me, I know the feeling." Ruby recalled her overprotective dad. Elena and Sage are also thinking about their dads as well then Elena spoke.
"So, how come you didn't let Ruby know you were okay?" Elena asked.
"I... was asked not to talk to Ruby. Or Weiss. Or Blake. Or Yang. Anybody, really." Penny answered nervously.
"Was your dad that upset?" Ruby worried.
"No, it wasn't my father…" Penny said.
Before Penny could continue, they hear a bunch of people gather in one place and see them standing in front of a hologram Ironwood and AK-130 Androids.
"The AK-130 has been a standard security model of Remnant for several years, and they have done a fine job. Wouldn't you agree? Wouldn't you agree? But... the kingdom of Atlas is a kingdom of innovation, and 'fine'... Well, that's just not good enough, is it? Presenting... the Atlesian Knight-200!" Ironwood announced as the metal doors open revealing the new robots marching out.
"Smarter, sleeker, and admittedly, a little less scary. These models will become active later this year, but they won't be alone! Now, the Atlesian Military has always supported the idea of removing men from the dangers of the battlefield. However, there are still many situations that will undoubtedly require... a human touch." Ironwood explained.
"Oh!" Ruby amazed of the robots, but Penny is being a little scared.
"So, our kingdom's greatest minds, in cooperation with the Schnee Dust Company, are proud to introduce... the Atlesian Paladin!" Ironwood announced again and a hologram of the big robot suit is shown.
"Okay, now that is awesome!" Ruby squealed a little.
"Penny, is everything okay?" Elena asked noticing Penny is backing away.
"Friends, maybe we should go somewhere else." Penny suggested.
"Why?" Sage puzzled of Penny's scared expression.
But Penny didn't answer as she saw two Atlas guards spotted her and made a quick dash away into an alleyway.
"Penny! Wait! Where are you going?" Ruby called out.
"Let's go after her! She is clearly scared of being in big trouble!" Elena said worry for Penny.
The three chases after Penny as Ruby and Sage realizes the situation as they notice the two Atlas guards are also chasing Penny, then Ruby saw a flimsy support stand holding up some boxes high next to a wall. Ruby easily cuts it with her Crescent Rose and the boxes fell in front of the Atlas guards blocking their path.
Seeing Penny is too far ahead, Ruby jumps and runs on the wall for a moment and ricocheting off to grab Penny around the middle.
"This way!" Ruby said before using her speed Semblance to dash them through a path. Elena and Sage are trying their best to catch up to Ruby and Penny hoping nothing goes wrong for them.
But the strain of carrying another person is too great for Ruby as they land on the ground and Ruby rolls on the street.
Ruby only had time to hear the honking sound of a truck horn and turns around seeing it coming at her, but Penny quickly pushes her out of the way and stop the truck with her own two hands as the impact made the truck go in the air a bit before getting back down on the ground. There are even cracks under Penny's feet and the ground crumbles into pieces from this.
Elena and Sage arrive just in time to see what Penny just did with the truck saving Ruby's life as she and the two are shock.
"Are you okay?" Penny asked the truck driver who nods in respond.
Penny backs away seeing the frightening and shock expression on Ruby, Elena, and Sage's face and they weren't the only ones who saw this as dozens of people have seen the pink bow wearing girl stopped a truck all by herself. This made Penny worry and afraid of what the people just saw and look down at her hands becoming scared, she ran away again as the Atlas Soldiers are still chasing her, but the crowd is blocking their path.
"Penny, wait!" Ruby called out as they chase her again.
Penny stops once she got out of the alleyway and looking at her hands again before hiding them under her armpits, and Ruby's small group finally caught up to her.
"Penny, are you okay?" Elena asked worry.
"Yeah, what's the fuck is going on?! Why are you running? How did you do that?!" Ruby asked panicking a little.
"I-I can't! Everything's fine!" Penny hiccupped through each lie. "I-I don't want to talk about it!"
"Penny, if you can just tell us what's wrong, we can help you!" Ruby said.
"No! No, no! You wouldn't understand..." Penny refused to tell as she doesn't want to get them in trouble.
"Penny, me and Sage may not know you like Ruby has but remember what I said earlier. The longer you hold yourself back, the more it will hurt you on the inside and I can grantee that we will always be your friends no matter!" Elena said with a cheerfully smile and Sage nods with a strong smile of his own.
"You're my friends, right? You promise you're my friends?!" Penny asked Ruby.
"We promise." Ruby nodded.
"Okay, guys… I'm not a real girl." Penny revealed the palms of her hands to be metal as parts of them are ripped away from the impact of the truck.
This causes Ruby, Elena, and Sage's eyes to widen of shock to see that Penny isn't who or what she appears to be.
KO a new chapter is done and hope you all enjoy it!
Well, the investigation has begun and Ruby's group have found out some interesting things about Penny as she will reveal her secret to them that she is not entirely human. Next up will check on how Sun and Blake's group are chilling at Chun-Li's apartment before they go to the White Fang rally and get some interesting interaction from them too.
KO comment, favorite, and follow through of how this story will go!