Reaching the extraction point, we could see a giant mech through the tree line. It appeared to struggle against something, as if its arm was stuck. "This is your fault! Do you hear me?!" Cordovin yelled as we exited the trees to see that its arm was a mix of rock and ice, preventing it from moving.
"Ruby!" Yang called out as we ran over to rejoin the group.
"Yang! Blake! Dakota! Are you okay?" Ruby asked as we stopped just in front of her, with us keeping an eye on the disabled mech.
"What happened?" Blake asked, followed by a roar that shook the area.
"Was that a giant Grimm?" I asked, looking in the direction that it came from.
"Yes... and we just ruined the only thing capable of stopping it." Weiss said as we looked at the mech.
"The ships down, everything is de-powered!" Oscar said as I looked over at the downed ship.
"I can get it up and running." I said as I looked at the mech, then the direction of the loud roar. "Leaving Argus to deal with the giant Grimm... it's not right." I said as I looked at the others before going to the ship.
Climbing on top of it, I tore off the top and exposed the power circuits. Holding my hands out to the ship, I shout out lightning from my hands. Not getting result I wanted on the first try, I fave it another go, this time the engines fired up.
The group wasted no time boarding the aircraft, with me jumping off before entering as it begins to fly away. Ruby watches with pity as Cordovin continues to struggle to move the mech. "This is your fault!! YOUR FAULT!!!" Cordovin continued to yell, with me shaking my head as this wasn't right.
"I'm so sorry." Blake said, with me looking at her.
"Don't be. This isn't on you." Yang reassured as she wrapped an arm around Blake's shoulders.
"You're safe, that's all that matters." I said, stopping Blake from speaking up. Blake smiled, before leaning into the hug she was getting from Yang.
"I suppose I have to be the bad guy and say it, getting the lamp to Atlas is still our top priority, and right now we have the perfect opportunity to head straight for it. We may not get another chance like this." Maria said, with me snapping my head in her direction.
"No!" I said as I walked over to the exit of the ship, looking down at the mech. "We can't abandon the people of Argus... we made this mess, we clean it up." I said as I looked at the others. "Right now, they need a her, they need hope. If we leave, they wont have it." I said as I looked back at the mech.
"What are you thinking?" Weiss asked as she crossed her arms.
"It's like Maria said, a Huntress is supposed to protect others to the bitter end." Blake said as she and Yang stood up.
"We need to head for the Leviathan. Jaune, can you and Ren be ready to mask our ship?" Ruby said as she turned to dace them.
"I think we can manage." Ren said with a nod.
"Got a few ideas?" Jaune asked, with Ruby looking at me.
"Dakota has one." Ruby said, with me looking back at them.
"Ruby, trial by fire!" I said, with Maria looking at me, shocked. "Jaune, amplify Ren's aura. Yang, Nora, play distraction. Weiss, when the time is right, help Ruby." I said as I looked outside at the Mech. "I'm getting the big gun!" I said as I jumped out, where I landed on a white bee like Grimm. I remembered this from when Hazel was pulled back into the school, and it took me towards the Mech.
Landing on the head, I took my lightsaber and cut a hole into it, with me dropping down into the pilot's chambers. Seeing Cordovin looking at me, her eyes were wide in shock. "What are you doing here!?" Cordovin questioned as I walked ocer to the pilot seat and looked out at the arm.
"Saving the people of Argus with Atlesians Might!" I said as I pointes out the window. "Can you free that arm?" I asked, with her grunting.
"I've been trying!" She said as she pulled on the joystick but nothing happened.
"Then we get rid of the dead weight!" I said as Inwalked back over to the opening and jumped up. "Once I get it cut free, make your way towards the giant Grimm, you're our best chance of taking it out!" I called back down to her as I ran towards the arm.
Reaching the shoulder, I jumped over the large metal guard and landed on some of the rock formations. Looking up, I saw large tubes that held it together. Cutting it off wasn't going to work as it was too thick. Jumping back up, I landed on the shoulder guard. Looking back ar it, I frowned at this was going to be the heaviest thing I had ever attempted to lift.
"I need to pull it out of the ground... its massive." I said as I held my hands out and started pulling at it, with the mech shaking. "I am a Jedi, size doesn't matter. Lift it." I said to myself as I was pulled closer to the arm. Letting go, I backed up.
Firmly planting my feet, I closed my eyes as I reached out with the force. Feeling the arm moving, I opened my eyes as I watched as the entire arm was now held in the air. "W-what!?" Cordovin yelled in shock as the mech stood up.
Pushing the arm away from the body, I did the same with the mech, where rhe arm was ripped off and landed in the water with a heavy splash. Cordovin now had the mech standing at its full height, with me looking at the arm on the ground. "Can you lift up the arm with the other one or will it be too heavy!?" I called out to Cordovin, who used whatever movement it could to look at me.
"You're looking at causing more harm to the Colossus than good!" Cordovin said, with me looking at the pilot seat.
"Then get ready to throw me!" I yelled as I looked back at the arm and slowly lifted it outnof the water. "Better get a move on, I don't know how long I can hold this up for!?" I said as she started walking the mech towards the fight.
"By all means." She said as she grabbed me with her other arm, with me looking at her as I wasnt ready. "FLY!?" She yelled, tosssing me in the same direction. Pulling the arm with me, I saw it flying towards me at a faster rate than I flew.
Grabbing the arm with my hands, I looked behind me and saw the giant Grimm. Seeing as I wasnt going to make it, I started pulling on the arm with all my might. Seeing that I was in the middle of a fight between flying Grimm and Atlas military, I knew that they saw the large arm and moved out of the way, with the Grimm getting hit.
This was the plus. The main point of this was to throw the arm further into the air and hit my target. Seeing a bright lighf, I covered my eyes as it blinded me. Once I could see, I saw that the giant Grimm was turned to stone. Just then, the arm smacked into it, sending it into the water, but not finishing it.
Hitting something, I saw that I was on a ship. Seeing Blake pull herself on top, I started sliding off as she reached out to me while holding onto the edge. "No!" She called out as I fell off the other side, only for someone else to catch my arm.
"I gotcha kid!" Qrow called out as he was hanging out the ship with Yang holding onto his legs. "Pull!" He called out, where Jaune and Ren joined in, pulling us back into the ship.
Once inside, I stood up and looked outside at the giant Grimm. "You know." Yang said as she stood next to me. "When you said that you would bring the big gun, I didn't expect you to bring the BIG GUN!" Yang said as she elbowed me in the side, where I turned around and walked over to the other opening as Blake got back in.
"Thats wasn't the big gun." I said as I pointed off into the distance.
"I'll take it from here!!" We heard Cordovin, with everyone moving over to stand next to us as Maria moved us out of rhe way. Cordovin had shown up in the Colossus. Without the weight of the cannon, the Colossus begins to run toward the recovering Leviathan. "After all, I was sworn to protect the people!" Cordovin said as the Colossus' left hand then transforms into a giant drill. Cordovin uses the drill to destroy the Leviathan, causing it to dissipate.
Getting behind Runy, we watched as the The Colossus then walked over to her. Its cockpit opens up revealing Cordovin herself standing in a stern military manner.
"Thank you. And... I'm sorry." Ruby said honestly.
"The Atlas military can handle the stragglers." Cordovin said as she looked at me, then gave a quick nod and looked back at Ruby.
"What, uh... What are you saying?" Ruby said in shock, where I used the force to lift her up and pull her inside the ship.
"I'm saying I don't think anyone would notice if one more ship went missing in my lengthy report." Cordovin said with a smirk, looking away from us.
Ruby smiles back at Cordovin as she lands on her feet, who the mech turns around and runs off to join her men in taking down the remaining Grimm.
"We should have just enough fuel to make it." Maria said as she started taking off.
"Thanks, Miss Calavera." Ruby said to herself, thankful for Cordovin.
"Hey, Ruby. You did great out there today, kid. Just don't go giving me heart attacks like that again." Qrow said as he was about to take a drink from his flask, but ultimately decides not to. Ruby hugs her uncle, and she took notice that he didn't take a drink.
"I love you, too." Ruby said, where Blake gave me a hug, then pulled Yang into said hug.
"What's this about?" I asked as she was being more affectionate towards both Yang and I.
"Just happy to have you both here is all." She said as she reated her head on my shoulder.
"Cant say no to a good hug!" Yang said as she squeezed the both of us, popping my back in the process.
"I think I can!" I said as I tried to push away, but couldn't.
Later
Sitting down next to Blake and Yang, Weiss sat across from us. "I'm sorry you went through that nightmare. But, I'm glad Yang was there for you in time." Weiss said, after we had told everyone what had happened.
"It was only because Jedi here was able to project himself there to help stall." Yang said as she jerked her thumb at me. "Cool trick, hows it work?" She asked, with me looking at her.
"I focus on a place, or even a person, then I form a link between them and me, and while I'm still at that original location, I am also at the new location... though, its got a range to it." I said as I looked at Weiss. "I cant fet too far from my target or I dissipate, but thats with a person, I don't know about areas yet." I said, where I crossed my legs. "Give me a moment, I want to try reaching for Rika, to see where she is." I said as I closed my eyes.
"I don't think that is a good idea!" Ruby said as I toned everyone out.
"I guess that you're right... it really wore me out the first time I did it." I said as I leaned my head back as I would listen to her. "Besides... I would rather talk to her in person." I said, with me feeling a hand on my shoulder.
Opening my eyes, I saw Jaune kneeling before me, placing his hand on my shoulder." You sound like you want to forgive her for everything she has done to you." Jaune said, before looking away. "If I was you... I don't think I would be able to do that." He said, with Blake looking at me.
"When you fought against Adam... you said that you already forgive her... do you?" She asked, wirh me looking at her and then the others, seeing that everyone was interested in my answer.
"I did." I said as I lowered my head. "Rike is only in her current position because of her love for me... she made some bad choices... and it cost her a lot. There is still good inside her, no matter how much she pushes against it, its there." I said as I closed my eyes.
Everyone then looks to Ruby. "What?"She asked, confused.
"You petrified a Leviathan... after diving down the barrel of a cannon!" Ren said, with Ruby gasping.
"Don't act like you all haven't done crazy stuff before!" Ruby said as she pointed at me. "I mean, Dakota lifted a giant mechs arm that was covered in Ice and Rocks! Oh, and Oscar!! He made a successful crash landing! He's a fourteen-year-old farm hand!" She finished off as she pointed at Jaune.
"That was seriously impressive." I said with a smirk, wirh Jaune nodding his head.
"We'd have been stranded without you." Blake added, smiling at the boy.
"I... thanks, but... I've been meaning to tell you guys... I didn't land the ship on my own." Oscar said, with us losing our smiles.
"Ozpin took contro, didn't he?" I asked, with him leaning his head to the side. "I knew he was watching us... its not like he can go anywhere." I said as I shook my head. "The only way for him to do so is for Oscar to die, but we wont let that happen." I said as I looked him in the eyes.
"No, its more that he guided me... And then he was gone again..." Oscar informed, clearing up the idea fhat he took over.
"Hey, if you've never seen Atlas in person before, you don't wanna miss this." Qrow said as we all stood up and made our way to look out the front.
"Is it weird that I'm sorta nervous?" Ruby asked, looking on in aw.
"No, I'll believe we've made it to Atlas when I see it." Yang said with a smirk.
"Well... believe it." Weiss said as the airship comes out of the clouds, and the floating city of Atlas is seen coming into view.
"Wow!" Nora said as I crossed my arms at the sight that was before us, when I took notice to something.
"You know, you make the trip up to Atlas over and over, but you never get used to that view." Maria said as her prosthetic eyes start to act up again. "Oh, come on!" She said as she hit her head to fix them.
"Is that normal?" I asked Weiss, who took a step forward as she saw what I was looking at.
"Weiss, what is it?" Ruby asked as she looked between us.
Everyone looks up, and notice above the city of Atlas, was an army of Atlas Airships. "The Atlas air fleet." Weiss said as she look on in concern. "I knew all of our ships were called back, but-"
"They're set up like they're expecting an attack." Qrow finished, making me frown at this.
Suddenly, the radio turns on. "Manta 5-1, welcome home." The Radio called out, with me feeling Blake grab my sleeve, with me knowing that this was bad, whatever it was.
Rika's POV
Walking towards an airship, I stepped on the back of a crawling guard. Holding my hand out to her, she screamed in agony as her head was slowly ripped off and floated up to my hand. "Neo." I said as Inlooked back at her, with he walking over to me in her new outfit.
Neo sported Roman's hat still, as she wasn't going to get rid of someone who helped her become who she is today. Her outfit consisted of a chocolate brown jacket that starts just below her shoulders and above her chest and had a pink interior, two brown belt shoulder straps and twin gray button seams. She wore a gray scarf similar to Roman's, and a white three gray button-up vest style top that was strapless and cropped exposing her midriff. She also wore a pair of chocolate brown detached sleeves with puffy tops and pink trim alongside a pair of white funnel cuffed gloves with gray button detailing. She also wore skintight white belted leather-latex pants and black and white spat styled ankle boots with cutout detail just above the ankle. The back of Neo's jacket was shown to have a small, coned ice cream key chain that was usually covered by her hair.
"Camouflage the ship." I said as I turned around and walked away from it, tossing the head to the side. Off in the distance, we looked at the tower as it exploded. Not long after, Cinder flew down towards us in her new outfit as well.
Cinder dresses in a black, one-sleeved bodysuit with a gold zip on the right, and two gold notches and gold trim on its rounded, stand-up collar. Slung around her hips are two crisscrossing belts, one narrower and with gold trim while the other has a gold-trimmed pouch on the left buttock, with a third belt around her left thigh at an angle.
On her right arm, a black armband carries a small pouch with gold trim over bandages wrapped around her bicep, and there is a long, black wristband extending partway up her forearm. An opera-length glove on her left arm overlaps the sleeve of her bodysuit to completely cover her Shadow Hand. The glove is embellished with a gold line that encircles its slightly-flared upper cuff and transitions into a shape reminiscent of a downward-pointing arrowhead on the lateral side. Additionally, the glove appears to be made of an elastic material allowing it to stretch with the arm, and conform to its claws. She also wears black, thigh-high, lace-up, high-heeled boots with red soles and decorative cuffs resembling flowers. Her outfit is l mostly covered by a black shoulder cape with gold trim worn over her left arm and capable of slinging behind her back to allow for more mobility.
"I was about to make my way to help you." I said as I turned back to the airship. "Good thing I wasn't needed." I said as I followed Neo into the airship.
"Of course not." Cinder said under her breath, with me looking at her. "I pull my weight, and as long as you help me get the powers of the maidens, I am contempt to help you take down Salem." She said, with me nodding as that would do.
"Then lets go girls, we've got a long flight to Atlas ahead of us." I said as I got in the airship, where we took off as soon as Cinder got in.