Chapter 12
Day 3: Evening
Atlas
Yang, Blake, and Jaune slowed to a walk as they came into Schnee manor's main hall and trotted down the stairs. They approached the dining room and the security guards posted at the door let them in with a nod. Their friends and allies were gathered around or seated at the giant table, a commotion going on by the large windows. The three of them moved to stand by Marrow.
"I assure you James, I have no idea what is going on." Jacques Schnee was saying.
"I was just told that your credentials were used to do it." Ironwood retorted, "How am I supposed to believe you had nothing to do with it?"
"What did we miss?" Blake whispered quietly in Marrow's ear.
"The heat was just turned off in Mantle," he replied quietly, "and Jacques' credentials were used to do it. Of course he's denying that it was him.." Marrow rolled his eyes, his disbelief in the councilman's innocence evident in his face.
Blake's thoughts turned back to a few minutes ago, when Willow had voiced her suspicions of her husband to them. She also realized that she couldn't say anything about it without revealing where they'd been.
"-Possible reason would I have to freeze my constituents?" Jacques was saying as Blake refocused on the proceedings, "I have never-"
Ironwood held up a finger silencing him; the General stared intently at his scroll as text rapidly flowed across it. "Whoever is in the system is locking us out…" he muttered, "all of us. We can't turn it back on from here."
"Any idea who's doing it?" Robyn asked him.
Ironwood shook his head and studied the scrolling data for a few more moments. He suddenly frowned, staring even more intently, "They're navigating the system like…" he murmured so quietly Blake could barely hear him; His eyes widened, realization dawning on his face, "Like he designed it." he finished loudly. "Order a search of the facial recognition system." he snapped at Clover, "Check for Arthur Watts. Any in the last several weeks."
Quiet exclamations of surprise came from everyone in the room except the young Huntsmen.
"Sir?" Clover asked, looking at the General quizzically.
"Quick!" Ironwood snapped, "Before he locks us out of that too."
Clover nodded and began to relay the information to the control center.
Robyn strode up to Ironwood, a look of anger on her face, "Facial recognition surveillance? You've gone too far this time. This is-"
"Robyn I don't have time for your moralizing right now. It's a necessity to-"
"Who the hell is Arthur Watts?" Yang wondered aloud as the General and Robyn argued.
Blake shrugged, just as lost as Yang was, but Marrow leaned over, having overheard her question. "Disgraced scientist," he said quietly, "He designed many of the city's security systems. The funny thing is…he's supposed to be dead."
Both Yang and Blake's eyebrows shot up.
"Yeah." Marrow said, "That's why everyone gasped a minute ago. Supposedly he died in an explosion years ago but obviously-"
"Got a hit sir. Cameras spotted him down in Mantle." Clover said, drawing all attention in the room to him, "It's from an hour ago, he's been too busy to cover his tracks, or he just doesn't care."
Ironwood nodded, his suspicions confirmed. "Arthur Watts is still alive and is likely working with Tyrian Callows."
"Ok whoa," Robyn said, rubbing her temples, "How do a not-deceased scientist and a vanished serial killer even meet? And what exactly do they have to do with the comms tower?"
"You know?" Ironwood said, his eyes widening in surprise, "How?"
"Not important." she replied quickly, "We all need to know what we're up against here."
Ironwood sat down heavily in his chair, Yang could see the General's world beginning to crumble around him.
Oscar put a hand on the older man's shoulder, "General, they can help us fight," he said, gesturing to the crowd at large, "but you have to tell them the truth." he said gently.
Yang scoffed to herself, truth had been in awful short supply lately, especially when it came to Ironwood.
"It could ruin everything." Ironwood said quietly, looking at Oscar.
"Everything is already falling apart." Oscar replied, "The only way we can get this under control is by working together. They have to know."
Ironwood was quiet for a moment, then he stood and opened his mouth, but stopped and put his finger to his ear, as did Clover.
"There's Grimm swarming into Mantle." Clover said, his voice tight, "They need us down there."
Ironwood nodded, "All of you get down there." he said addressing the Ace Ops and Huntsmen, "help where you can."
"I've already called a transport." Winter said as she strode towards the door.
"Alright Huntsmen, Let's make it happen!" Clover said as he ran out the door, the rest following behind him.
"Councilors, Ms. Hill," Yang heard Ironwood saying as she went out the door, "There's a lot to catch you up on and not a lot of time, so let's-" the door closed behind them.
"Yang! Wait up!" She heard a voice yell as she ran through the entrance hall. She slowed and Oscar ran up.
"What's up?" She asked as Blake doubled back to join them.
He frowned for a moment, "I think he needs to know." He said finally, looking her in the eyes.
"Needs to know what?" Blake asked.
"About Salem." Oscar replied, "Everything we learned from Jinn. He's finally opening up to telling the truth, if we don't tell him now then we might lose him to fear again."
A frown creased Blake's face, "I don't know…Ruby wasn't sure if we could trust him, and after what's happened the past few days, I can't say my trust in him is very high."
"Let's go guys!" Marrow called from the door.
Yang thought for a moment. "He doesn't trust us either. We can't keep lying to him if we want the trust to be mutual." She nodded at him, "Tell him. I think Ruby would agree with you if she was here."
Oscar nodded, his face even more grim at the mention of Ruby. He ran back into the dining room to deliver the dire news to the General as Yang and Blake joined the rest on the manta Winter had summoned.
They strapped themselves into the seats as the Manta lifted off the ground and soared into the sky. Blake saw Yang's foot tapping against the floor in the same nervous beat as when they were in the truck waiting to ambush Robyn. She slipped her hand into Yang's and the tapping slowed and eventually stopped, Yang smiled gratefully. Blake was certain Yang was feeling the same way she did. She knew that this fight was going to be hard, and it was made even harder, knowing that Ruby and Weiss weren't there to fight alongside them. Yang squeezed her hand and her smile grew more confident. Blake got her meaning, 'We'll get through this. Together.'
They both lurched against their restraints as a giant, flying Grimm slammed into their craft. They lurched again as Harriet began evasive maneuvers, trying to shake the creature off but it clung tight, clawing its way over to the right engine and tearing a chunk out of it. From the few glimpses she got of it, Yang thought it might be a Teryx, but it was difficult to tell from inside. Another Grimm slammed into the other wing and the craft shuddered; it was very clear it was not going to stay airborne for much longer.
"Time to go." Qrow said. Yang and Blake were already undoing their seat belts.
"You all have your team assignments." Clover said, opening the door.
"Come on, Vomit Boy." Yang said, punching a very green looking Jaune in the arm, "We've got Grimm to kill."
He nodded and they all launched themselves from the plummeting Manta. Yang aimed right for a giant Beowolf, crushing its spine on impact. She launched herself at the rest of the pack as Blake swung in from above and sank her blade into the neck of one of the Grimm closing in on Yang's back.
They spent the next several hours working together with the Ace Ops and JNR clearing out Grimm and escorting civilians to safe zones. As they began to tear through a small swarm of lancers that was harassing a group of families, they heard Robyn and Ironwood's voices echoing off the buildings, telling the populace the truth about Salem and Amity. Yang looked at Blake in confusion as Robyn deliberately mentioned that she'd be down to help in sector 17. Blake shrugged, she trusted that Robyn knew what she was doing, and refocused on slaying Grimm.
An hour later, Penny's bright voice came through their earpieces, "There is a very large Goliath that seems to be making its way towards an evacuation point! I appreciate assistance from anyone close by!"
Yang glanced up and spotted the green streak that was their robotic friend flying through the air a short distance away. "Be right there Penny, we're only a block from you."
They made their way towards the street; as they approached they could feel the ground shake beneath their feet. They came to the intersection and the massive beast blew right past them, Penny in hot pursuit behind it. They quickly sprinted after the monster, quickly pulling alongside and began firing their weapons into its flank. They knew they had to bring it down before it could turn the corner at the end of the street and hit the evacuation zone.
Penny hammered quick, but ultimately useless, blasts of energy against the Goliath's thick hide. "Friends, I cannot penetrate its armor unless I have time to charge up my energy cannon!" She said.
"We have to slow it down!" Yang said loudly to Blake.
"I'm open to suggestions!" she yelled back.
Yang thought for a moment before a sly grin spread across her face, "You ever see the second Hoth Wars movie?"
Blake frowned for a moment before her eyebrows shot up and she looked down at Gambol Shroud and its attached ribbon. "Ok I think I see where you're going but-"
"Penny?" Yang called, "Got an idea, drop us off by that street lamp and get yourself to the end of the street and start charging up."
"Affirmative!" the robotic girl cheerfully responded. She broke off her attack and picked up the two girls quite easily, quickly zooming ahead of the still charging Goliath.
"Ok Blake," Yang said, talking quickly as they flew towards the indicated lamp, "You're going to tie off at that post, and then…" she paused for dramatic effect, " I'm going to throw you." Blake's eyes widened, but she quickly grasped what Yang was getting at.
"Here's your stop, friends!" Penny said, dropping them at the streetlight and zooming off down the street.
The second her feet hit the ground, Blake quickly ran up and slammed the blade of Gambol shroud into the lamp post, wrapping the ribbon around it twice for good measure. Yang looked down the street at the beast barreling towards them and let out a nervous breath, hoping that her plan would work. "Ok let's do this." she slammed her fists together and her hair was suddenly ablaze. Out of the corner of her eye, Yang could see a green glow building at the end of the street. She held out her hand to Blake.
"Just like we practiced at Beacon?" Blake asked.
"Just like that." Yang replied somewhat nervously, "Just with more of a chance of getting trampled if my aim is off this time."
Blake tucked Gambol Shroud into her belt and grasped Yang's wrists as Yang's fingers grabbed hers. They gazed into each other's eyes for a moment. "I trust you." Blake said quietly, "Ready when you are."
A slight blush on her cheeks, Yang began to spin, easily pulling Blake off the ground on the second rotation. She spun three more times before letting go, sending Blake hurling across the street.
Blake reorientated herself as she passed just in front of the Goliath's massive legs; she hit the pavement just in front of the lamp post, landing gracefully on her feet. She quickly wrapped the trailing ribbon around the other pole, tugging to make sure it was secure.
She quickly whipped around and began to dash back across the street, bouncing off a few of her shadow clones to gain some speed. She weaved the ribbon around and between the massive Grimm's two front legs, being careful not to get trampled. She reached Yang safely and the two yanked hard on the ribbon, just as the Goliath pulled it taut.
The light poles bent under the massive weight suddenly put on them, but didn't buckle. Its legs suddenly pulled out from under it, the monster slammed chin first into the ground; it skidded to a stop twenty feet from Penny. The beast let out an angry bellow and began to slowly rise to its feet, but it was too late: a bright green line erupted from the mechanical girl's whirling blades, bisecting the Grimm. It fell into two halves, and immediately began to dissolve into clouds of black ash.
Yang let out the breath she'd been holding; grinning, she held her fist up to her partner. Blake smiled back and tapped her knuckles against Yang's. They both cried out in surprise as they were scooped up in a rocket-powered hug.
"That was amazing, friends!" Penny exclaimed as she held the two aloft.
"Not bad yourself!" Yang said, slapping Penny on the back as the robotic girl set them back down, "Wish I had one of those laser things-"
Their comms came to life and Clover's voice came through their earpieces. *General, Qrow, Robyn and I have captured Tyrian and are making our way to the pickup point.*
The three girls looked at each other with elated smiles on their faces. With all the bad news lately, they were extremely glad to get two wins in a row.
*James,* Qrow's voice broke in, *he was babbling at us while we fought…he said something about Ruby. I think he knows something about what happened to them.*
The elated expressions rapidly dropped off of the girl's faces, replaced by dawning horror. They all came to the same conclusion: if Tyrian knew about Ruby and Weiss then it wasn't just a simple crash, Salem was probably involved. Fears of the worst flashed through all of their minds.
*It's probably just the ramblings of a lunatic,* Clover said, *but I think it's worth looking into. We'll bring him in for questioning.*
There was a long moment of silence before Ironwood finally responded, *Acknowledged. Get him locked up, then contact Winter and see where else you're needed. Watts is approaching Amity, all this should be wrapped up in under an hour. Excellent work everyone.*
The transmission cut off and Yang looked at her two friends, their worried expressions matched her own perfectly.
"They'll find them." Penny said after a moment, her voice wavering with emotion, "They have to." She triggered her rockets; just before she zoomed off into the sky Yang could swear she heard Penny murmur "They have to find her."
Yang sighed and shared a wordless look with Blake, both of them now even more worried. The two girls ran to the evacuation point, determined to distract themselves from worrying about the fate of their missing family.
Thankfully, there was more than enough to keep them busy. The sector coordinator had assigned them and a few soldiers to escort groups of civilians from a crowded block to the evacuation point. And they were doing a damn good job if Yang said so herself as this was their third group in the past half hour. Of course their job was made all the easier by the Ace Ops who had already swept through this area and cleared out all but a few Grimm; it kept their charges calm and they didn't have to expend excessive amounts of their dwindling ammo supplies.
Clover's voice once again came over the comms, the transmission laced with static, *All points, Tyrian brought our ship down just outside Mantle. We tried to stop him but he overpowered us and escaped.* he paused, sounding like he was trying to catch his breath, *Qrow and Robyn are both injured, but it's nothing that will require immediate medical attention. Can you send us a pickup?*
*Copy that.* Winter's voice said, *I'm sending a Manta to your location. ETA is unfortunately thirty minutes.*
*Disappointing.* Ironwood responded, *At least this mission won't be a total loss. I have captured Watts and am escorting him back to base.*
*Good to hear sir.* Clover replied. *Sir we fought Tyrian briefly after the crash,* he continued hesitantly, *He definitely knows something about Rose and Schnee. He even-*
*We'll tell you about it when we get back.* Qrow said gruffly, cutting Clover off.
*Well, hopefully we'll be able to get something out of Watts then.* The General said, his voice strained as if in pain, *Ironwood out.*
"Oh come on!" Yang shouted frustratedly, startling the citizens walking close to them, "Everyone is learning about what happened to Ruby and Weiss but us!"
Blake put a calming hand on Yang's shoulder, "We're almost done." She said softly. "I'm sure Ironwood will tell us everything once we're back in Atlas."
"I know…" Yang said, sighing, "I just feel so helpless. Ruby's somewhere out there in the cold and there's nothing I can do to bring her home."
Blake slipped her hand into Yang's and gave a gentle squeeze, "I know, I'm worried about them too." The corners of her mouth turned up in a small smile, "You know what comforts me a little?" Yang tilted her head slightly, "I remember that it's Ruby and Weiss we're talking about. Those two will fight tooth and nail to keep each other safe." Blake squeezed Yang's hand again, "Weiss will make sure Ruby gets home to us."
Yang smiled slightly, "Yeah, you're right." She said, returning the affectionate squeeze, "Still can't help but worry about them a bit." Blake nodded knowingly.
Thirty minutes later, they escorted their fifth and final group of civilians into the evacuation point; they hung back a little ways, checking for any stragglers that might have lagged behind as Jaune showed the new arrivals where they needed to go. Suddenly Ironwood's voice once again cut into their comm channel.
*If you are receiving this transmission drop what you're doing and get to the pickup coordinates I'm sending you ASAP.* Their scrolls chimed as they received a message. He continued, *I'm recalling all of you to Atlas. Report to my office IMMEDIATELY once you touch down. Ironwood out.*
The two girls made eye contact with Jaune who shrugged, just as confused as they were. Shortly afterwards, the two of them plus the Ace Ops and JNR were packed into a Manta that was making a beeline straight for the academy landing pads.
Sorry its been so long since the last update! The chapter turned out longer than I thought and the holidays weren't particularly productive. To make up for it, I'll be posting another chapter at this time next week as well! (I can promise this because I already have it typed). Apologies if some of the dialogue seems short, I'm trying to keep identical conversations from the show to a minimum. Also, Happy 6 month anniversary of this story! Next time will be another Yang and Blake chapter finishing up Day 3, Ruby and Weiss will be back in chapter 14. As always, Thanks to V for being my Beta and thanks to YOU for reading! Leave a comment telling me what you thought!