Lord of Gifts in the Forgotten Realm

by Djoklecjan

After his defeat, as the last act of defiance, Sauron strikes a deal with his former Master, and finds himself in the Forsaken World, which is set for a downfall. Will Annatar change Remnant's future for the better? Or Sauron will make it even worse? Or, perhaps, Mairon will change some of his views?

29. Chapter 21: Shield, not a Sword

Shield, Not a Sword.

Drones disguised as birds floated above the commercial district of Vale, following movements of two girls escaping their pursuers, gaining noticeable distance, and three oval, metallic heads – one in the center had green eyes, one on the left had red eyes, and one on the right had blue - stared at the screen, calculating.

"Deploying additional terminators around the area." Blue-eyed head spoke and very quickly, ten separate limbs pressed dozens of command buttons. "Sending the Support and an Assault Droid as a reserve."

"This unit questions the potential use of Assault droid." Second oval head with red eyes looked at the head in the middle. "Deployment of Assault droids will increase public's attention to this operation from 24,45% to 56,78%. Their design is untested, chance of collateral damage increase from 13,67% to 77,99%.Directive number 9 – To not bring too much attention to our operations. – Is still active."

"Counterpoint." Green eyes flared up. "Promethius project fulfillment – Top priority – overrides Directive number 9 - Current chance of objective escaping – 37,67% - deployment of Assault droids equals decreasing the chance of escape to 15,41%. Acceptable risk."

"Sending support droids in reserve." Blue-eyed head spoke again. "Activating more terminators…"

"This unit requests deployment of mutants" Green-eyed head spoke to the blue head "Decrease a chance of escaping from 37,67% to 00,01%."

"Objection level = ABSOLUTE" Red eyed head protested. "Chance of irreparably damaging the objective increase from 29,87% to 95,77%. Increase in public's attention to our operations from 24,45% to 99,99%. Potential Huntsmen involvement increase from 17,32% to CERTAIN." Red eyes darkened for a bit as it calculated…

"This unit suggests deploying additional jammers and TCS interrupters to decrease the increase of public's attention to 34,65%, to comply with directive number 9, as well as lower the chance of escape further down to 10,01%." Red eyed head finally spoke, and green one calculated it's suggestion.

"Suggestion – Accepted."

"Deploying countermeasures." Blue head pressed few more control buttons.

'

"Who are these guys!?" Yang shouted as Peny sprinted, navigating the narrow streets with surprising speed and agility.

"I don't know!" Penny replied, scanning the way forward, quickly noticing few enemy droids on the primary path, so she jumped into another back street."

"Why are they chasing you?!"

"I don't know!" Penny replied once again.

"Slow down Penny!" Yang shouted, wanting to finally stand on her own two feet. "I think we lost them!"

Penny dug her heels into the ground, gradually slowing down, and leaving a long, smoking trail behind her, until she stopped on an abandoned parking lot.

"I don't think we lost them for long." Penny commented as she scanned the area, enemies slowly closing on them.

"Long enough for me too…" Yang tried to use her scroll and call in a locker with Ember Celica, but her scroll refused her command. "What the heck?"

"They are jamming us!" Penny briefly explained and Yang raised her brows.

"How do you know that?"

"I tried to contact my caretaker." Penny answered, and she wasn't lying – she had built-in communication system, so she don't have to rely on scroll, but for Yang, it sounded like Penny was somehow able to use her scroll as she was running at the speed of a car.

But Yang quickly brushed off her suspicions, she had far more pending matters on hand, like bunch of murder-robots wanting to kill them.

"So that's how they want to play huh? Alright then." Yang sat on the ground and quickly removed one of her brown shoes, while Penny stared at her in confusion. "Let's show them how we do it on Patch!"

"Why are you removing your footwear?" Penny questioned as Yang removed one of her yellow socks.

"If we can't fight fairly we fight dirty!" Yang replied and started filling her sock with rocks, chunk of metal and even a brick. "Here!" she handed it to Penny, and android eyed the sock in her hands with curiosity.

"It's a sock with rocks inside." Penny said while Yang put back her shoe on. "What am I supposed to do with it?"

"Simple, when a tin can gets too close, spin it and strike his ass down!" Yang answered as she approached nearby trash bins. "You would be surprised how many suckers were knocked out by a sock with sand!"

"…But these are robots, not humans."

"Then, let's hope it will work on them too." Yang picked up the cover of the trash bin. "Shoo, shoo!" She scared away few possums hidden inside the trash bin, earning few angry hisses in return.

"What about you?" Penny questioned further as Yang effortlessly ripped out the trash bin's cover handle, then picked up another and did the same. "You won't use sock with rocks to defend yourself?"

"Nah, I prefer more direct approach." She said, bent two metal handles, making improvised knuckle-dusters, and Penny couldn't help but be impressed by Yang's improvisation skills, making the discussion she had with Annatar return to her.

"Anything can be a weapon."

The rhythmic sounds of droids approaching brought Penny out of her thoughts while Yang raised her guard.

"Just stay behind me Penny." She took a step forward as red droids appeared at the end of the alley.

"I can fight too!" Penny said, but Yang shook her head.

"Just cover my back." She said as her stare narrowed at two approaching red robots.

She wouldn't forgive herself if something happened to Penny, she reminded her too much of Ruby. And if these asshats wanted to take her, they would have to go through the Golden Dragon first.

First red droid thrusted it's glaive forth, Yang dodged to the side, pounced forth and swung her fist from the right.

Machine's head cracked, sparks escaping from its head, but quickly another two androids stepped forth, synchronizing their attack.

Yang ducked under the first glaive swipe, jumped above the next and threw a punch against the nearest droid, but it blocked her strike, metal cracked but not broke.

It swiped the glaive, forcing Yang to back away and the third droid jumped forth, trying to kick Yang in her stomach, but she caught it's leg.

"Don't lose your footing!" She spun in place, swinging the machine like a mallet to crush two red droids against the wall.

"That's more like it!" As soon as she have said that, a blue bolt grazed her arm, forcing her to jump back.

White droid with ranged weaponry fired at Yang once again, this time missing her head , and before it could fire another shot, new wave of red droids stepped into its firing line.

"They really want to play it rough huh?" Yang grabbed one of the large trash cans and kicked it at the approaching droids, blocking the path for now.

"Look out!" Penny warned and pushed Yang away, just in time to dodge a glaive coming from Xiao Long's blind spot as the droid broke through the brick wall like a bulldozer.

Before it could go for another swipe, Penny's spun the sock in her right hand and struck the machine's head, ripping it off its torso.

"Phew, that was a close call, thanks!" Yang got up and watched how droids are slicing through the trash can, their glaives leaving red markings all over it. "But since they try to surround us, we should get going!" Yang looked at Penny, and only now she realized that the girl was not moving.

With wide open eyes Penny watched the headless body lying on top of a pile bricks, then at her hand.

If it was a human, the result would be the same, even with sock filled with rocks.

"Why dad made me like this?"

"HELP ME!"

"Penny! Snap out of…" Yang tried to shake her out of it, but she got struck directly by a large blue bolt, sending her tumbling few meters back.

"No!" Penny turned to Yang as white and red robots broke through the barricade, she wanted to run up to her friend, but something grabbed her leg.

She fell on the ground and before she could get up, a metal knee pinned her back to the ground, she tried to turn around, but as she was turning her head, metal head pinned it too.

The headless robot, now with red dot in the middle of its chest, kept her down while more droids swarmed the area.

She heard Yang's angry shouts, the sound of fists cracking the steel and steel striking Yang's aura.

"Objective secured." Machine above her said. "Eliminate the other."

"NO!" Penny tried to wiggle out of the machine's grasp, but to no avail while Yang struck down another red robot.

"Come on then tin cans!" She roared as she dodged another glaive and took another blue shot on her arm. "Your mother was fridge with light turned on!" She shouted as she tore out a sword with red arm still attached to it and threw it at one of the ranged androids, but the machine dodged out of the way.

And as Yang was slowly getting overwhelmed by the red robots, Penny looked away.

"It's my fault. They will hurt Yang because of me!" She tried to struggle out of the machine's grasp, activate her weaponry, but she found herself unable to do anything, an itchy in her head preventing her…

"Why I am malfunctioning?"

Yang tore out another red droid's limb and smacked the arm's previous owner, crushing his head, then she noticed that Penny is pinned to the ground, and white droids are approaching.

"Hands off her clankers!" Yang rushed towards Penny, but quickly, red droids started to block her way.

She slid under the swipe of the first glaive, punched the next machine in its knee and breaking it, but the machine collapsed on her.

"Get off!" Yang tried to push the red android off her, but it's weight and the fact that it wrapped it's arms around Yang didn't help, giving the rest of the red droids chance to quickly pile on Yang, swiftly pinning her legs and arms despite her struggles.

When she headbutted another machine, breaking its head, one robot stepped on her throat, and raised its glaive for a decapitating strike.

Yang closed her eyes, clenched her teeth and prepared for the strike. It won't break her aura, but it sure as heck will be painful.

Then, the gunshot rung in her ears…

Stonewall prison

Elevator to the Special Security stopped at level –50 with a loud thud.

"Move." Four-armed hoplite, less-sophisticated than SDC designed robots, built similar to a large mining mechs than a security droid, pushed cuffed faunus forward with one of its two grabbing arms, and when faunus started walking, the lumbering machine walked right beside him, holding it's round hoplon up with its third arm while the fourth arm carried a heavy duty shocker-gun had it pointed at Larian at all times.

"Well well well!" One of the guards on duty laughed seeing a newcomer. "Another to join the herd, aye?" He looked at another Hoplite standing right beside him, the guard looked like a child in comparison.

"Affirmative." Machine replied bluntly.

"Where are we sending this sunshine?" Guard with fishy eyes asked as he routinely scanned faunus from head to toe.

"Cell one-hundred-fifty-six." Robot replied and guard whistled.

"Hazel's? You are for a fun ride mate!" He turned back to the guard post. "Izaac! Hazel is going to have a company!"

"What?!" Another, skinner guard quickly run out, fixing his cap. "I wage fifty lien that he will cry to be let out after ten minutes!"

"Isn't that too long for this small-fry? I wage one hundred that he won't last thirty seconds." He pat faunus's shoulder in seemingly friendly manner. "Come, Fresh meat, let's not keep that old bastard waiting!"

They pushed him forward and he begrudgingly walked, fighting the urge to headbutt the guard with the fishy eyes.

He walked down the large tunnel, tall enough for tall Hoplite's to move without issues, and from long lines of reinforced doors he heard…nothing, all of the convicts eyes just followed his movement with curiosity of a wolf, ready to pounce at any moment. Most dangerous men and women in the Kingdom of Vale – terrorist, rouge Huntsmen, Murderers and some more.

And only now it occurred to him that he is about to spend some time in a closed cell with one of them.

For the second time in the while, he felt genuine fear.

"When I bring Reinart the message, he won't kill me, right?" He thought, hair on his nape standing, something which two guards quickly noticed.

"Look Richie, he already pissing his pants!" Guard known as Izaac laughed.

"As he should be!" Richie said. "Considering what he did to the last guy, tsk tsk, tsk." This comment made Larian hold his breath.

"Yeah, that was a mess." Izaac continued. "We had to scrape him from the cell for weeks!" Faunus's eyes went wide, and he stopped briefly, only to get another kick in the ass. "Keep moving!"

"Don't worry, we are just messing with ya!" Richie said, again in a seemingly friendly manner. "Hazel is strong, but he is usually really docile."

"Until he isn't!" Both guards laughed until they finally stepped before the dreaded cell 156. "Alright, in you go! Your home for next…" Izaac looked at his watch. "How many hours are in two weeks?"

"Damn lot!' Richie said, then looked inside the cell. "Hazel, you have a new roommate! Turn around, far away from the cell door!"

Guard then scanned the keycard and heavy door opened before them, while the Hoplite put off the handcuffs from faunus's hands.

"Chop chop!" Izaac gestured for Lion Faunus to step inside, but Larian's legs refused his brain, so a hoplite violently pushed him into the cell.

Faunus painfully tumbled on the rocky surface, and just as the cell door shut, he raised his head.

From the dark corner of the room, a tall man in orange prison suit stepped forth, his face unshaven and his hair long and messy, and Larian felt like he was staring directly at the Father of all cave bears on Remnant – his hands were large enough to encircle his arm with no effort, even taking into account Larian's huge posture, his legs bulky, and his torso muscular, he was built like a brothersdamn tank.

Reinart looked like some barbarian king of the old, capable of tearing Ursai with his bare hands. And considering his reputation, he was certainly capable of doing that.

Monster of a Men.

Larian found himself merely staring at Hazel as he slowly walked up to him, like a tiny mammal staring at the dragon.

Hazel Reinart, the one who six months ago, nearly assassinated the Beacon's Headmaster during the grand opening of the Kingdom's new natural museum. Most say that only a timely intervention of Glynda Goodwitch, and most of Beacon Professors saved Ozpin from certain death, but not after the fierce fight that turned the newly opened museum into rubble.

Huntsmen are afraid of him, mafia bosses actively bribed him to not go after them, and mercenaries put in their contracts that they won't take any job that involves going after Reinart

And now, he was locked in the same cell as him.

Hazel grabbed faunus by his shoulders and effortlessly lifted him up, and lion faunus stared right into the pair of hazel-colored eyes. And surprisingly, they seemed… tired.

"What did you do to go down here?" He simply asked, and Larian frowned. "You look young, so what heinous crime you have committed huh? Certainly not pickpocketing."

Larian tried to lift his hands to gesture, but Hazel's steel grip prevented him from lifting them high enough.

What's worse, Hazel misinterpreted this attempt.

Larian's body made a loud and painful thud as Hazel slammed him against the floor, not strong enough to break anything, but it surely pained as hell, while hazel's eyes stared him down.

"If you hurt kids, I will rip your throat out." Reinart said, and Larian knew that this man is not joking, but if he won't be able to lift his hands… There was only one option.

"Gre…tchen." He wheezed through his teeth, and at first Reinart frowned, the his stare narrowed back.

"Who told you that?" He asked as Larian tried to not cough profusely, feeling his mouth filling with saliva, and in a desperate bid, Larian turned to his right hand, hoping that Hazel will do the same, and luckily for him, he did so.

Although it was quite difficult to relay the message with the only one hand, slowly faunus gestured the message Roman told him:

A friend of Gretchen wants to speak with you.

Only then, faunus left a sigh of relief.

Too early.

Hazel picked him up and now pinned him against the wall, Larian nearly yelped feeling the pressure put on his back, and looked at Hazel with terrified eyes.

"Please don't kill me, please don't kill me, please don't…" He begged internally as Hazel raised his right fist, easily holding him, his throat unable to vocalize, human's stare remained cold, however, there was a new, little spark shining in them.

Fist struck right besides Larian's head, cracking the rocks, and faunus looked at the man with mixture of relief and confusion. Then, he heard chuckles coming from behind the wall, and Larian's fear first turned into shock, then anger. These bastards were watching them this whole time?!

"Told you Reinart is playing with his food like usual!" He heard Richie's muffled voice. "That poor mutt will soon knock at the door, I tell you!"

"Yeah, yeah, but…"

"Just leave them for now, so once that terrorist stats knocking, we can pretend that we didn't hear a thing!" Faunus felt his face going more red out of rage. "Besides, I want to cash my lien, then to have a drink!" Lion faunus heard muffled steps of guards walking away.

"When?" Hazel asked, and at first Larian looked at him, not understanding what exactly he meant, but after getting another look at Hazel's face, he quickly realized that this "Show" is over.

They knocked the wall three times, and Hazel's stone-like face contorted into a smile.

"I almost thought they forgot about me." Man said as he dropped faunus to the ground, and Larian fell on his knees, breathing heavily. "Took them long enough."

Larian tried to stand up, but he still didn't recover his composure. He thought that he was way too close to death!

"By the Brothers, I really pissed myself." He thought and then raised his head and noticed Reinart's hand reaching to him.

"Sorry for that stunt, but if I did nothing, they would smell that something is fishy." Hazel helped the faunus stand up, and now he could see that Reinart is a head taller than him. "Piss-hole is in that corner, your bed is there…" Hazel pointed his thumb there and there. "…Make yourself a home." He said and walked up to his bed. "Not for long, but still."

Faunus pat Hazel's back, and when he turned, faunus quickly gestured.

"Actually, they will help in busting us out from the prison proper, but from the Special Security, we will have to break out on our own." Man frowned his brows.

"And how the hell…" He wanted to ask, but before he could finish, Faunus opened his mouth, lifted his tongue and underneath it, there were two pills, covered in some sort of material that wouldn't be dissolved by saliva, each containing small, red dust crystals.

Hazel snickered seeing this. "Those will keep me for maybe a minute or two." He remarked when faunus closed his mouth.

"If that helps, Hoplite's cores are containing lightning dust crystals." Larian gestured, and Hazel raised his brow, non-verbally asking how does he know this. "I am kinda passionate about mechs in general." Faunus explained, and Hazel's nodded his head.

"That means all we have to do now is wait." Hazel left a dry chuckle. "Strange, isn't it? When you just lay down in your cell, days pass by, but when you look forward to something, you can hear each passing second."

"Do you want to play tick tack toe to pass time?" Reinart shrugged his arms, then picked up two small pebbles, handed one to the faunus and started drawing on the ground.

"Anything I suppose. Oh, and last thing." He pointed at the door cell as he put an 'X'. "Once we deal with these robots, Richie is mine."

"Guy with fishy eyes?" Larian gestures, then put an 'O' while Reinart nodded in confirmation. "What he did to you?"

"I am sure he spew to my soup." Hazel put another 'X'

"Are you going to pound him into the ground like a previous guy?" Larian put another 'O'

"He deserved that, end of discussion." Hazel replied after putting third X, and when Larain finally felt this change in the atmosphere, his muscles finally loosened. For now, it seems that Hazel is not as scary as they painted him.

"Maybe it won't be that bad." He though after adding another 'O'"

Vale, Commercial district.

Gunshot rung in Yang's ears, and when she opened her eyes she saw the red droid staring at the gaping maw in its chest.

"Clear the area!"

"Engaging hostiles!" Yang heard someone's voice, and the parking lot became a kill zone for the robots, well-aimed bullets fired from above tore their limbs apart. White machines tried to retaliate, but with quick, near automatic sound, a sniper rifle destroyed them one by one.

"Dusted that one!" Yang heard as she tried to turn her head to see what is going on, and more importantly, if her unknown saviors aren't just another enemies.

Three armored men jumped off the buildings roofs, and while mid-fall, they still managed to lay down devastating fire at the gathered robots, who were completely taken off-guard.

"Four-o, secure the Objective, six-two, help the civ!" Man in white Atleasian armor with orange markings quickly gave commands as he charged at the red androids.

"Copy that Boss." Man wearing similar armor, this time with green markings run towards Penny and her captors, firing at them and downing one white android before going into close quarter combat with them.

"Roger!" The third member of the group, one with yellow markings rushed towards Yang, taking a yellow canister from his belt, he dodged the downward strike coming from one of the red droids, fired burst into machine's torso with his right hand, while his left unpinned the grenade.

"Fire in the hole!" He yelled as the grenade flew above the machine's heads, and when it was directly above the droids, lightning dust stored within sent a powerful discharge, frying the droids circuits.

No longer feeling the pressure of androids firmly keeping her down, Yang pushed off the pile of what was now basically a scrap metal, and got up on her two feet.

"Congratulations, you are being rescued!" Man in white yellow armor said in a friendly manner, but Yang quickly raised her guard, suspecting the worst. "Please do not resist!"

"Who are you guys?!" Commando immediately lowered his gun and raised his hand to show her that he means her no harm.

"Ace Ops Delta six-two, in the field folks call me Scorch." He introduced himself, and pointed to the side of his helmet, written in yellow: AOD-62, all the while the skirmish raged on, two other Ace Ops dismantling the androids up close, supported by a sniper fire. "This stoic guy up there is Delta four-o…" He gestured at the commando in green armor, who ducked under the strike of the headless torso, and struck the machine's chest with the wrist-blade, shutting it out for good. "…Guy missing all the fun on top is Delta eight-four…" Yang briefly glanced at the fourth commando, his armor with purple markings. "And the last one…"

"Chat later six two!" Commando in orange armor parried the strike of the glaive, rammed his wristblade into machine's torso, right in a gap between the armored plates, ripped the glaive of its weakened grasp and tossed it like a javelin, pinning a range droid to the wall, then firing burst from his smg into more incoming androids. "We need an explosive solution!"

"Copy that Boss!" Scorch quickly dismantled his gun, replacing the rifle part with what appeared to be… a grenade launcher?

Commando fired a high-explosive impact grenade in a high trajectory, right into the incoming androids, and with a loud explosion, machine parts went flying in every direction. That, and the sniper overwatch coming from the rooftop finally prompted the machines to withdraw, at least, for now.

"Rubes would love this thingy." Yang watched with astonishment how the commando is putting his gun back into an smg while the commando on the rooftop followed the retreating droids through his scope.

"Secure the area!" Boss commanded, and Scorch quickly went to overwatch one of the back alleys "Eight-four, keep an eye for more hostiles." Boss added as he approached Yang. "Are you wounded?"

"Just a wounded pride." Yang remarked and she kicked the destroyed android's head. "Who are these guys anyway?"

"I know as much as you do. How did you found yourself here with Penny Polendina? As short as possible." Boss questioned.

"We were just spending time in bar before these guys jumped on us!" Yang answered, then eyed Boss closer, then pointed at Scorch. "Wait, he said Ace Ops? Isn't it a name for Huntsmen in Atlas?"

"Elite Huntsmen I might add." Scorch called out to her from the other side of the parking lot, but Yang brushed off this comment.

"What are you guys doing in Vale?"

"Classified." Boss ended the discussion, but before Yang could vocalize her frustration, commando in green gestured to the boss to come.

"Penny!" Yang realized that her new friend is laying on the ground unresponsive, while the commando in green put out the scanner. "What did they do to her!?"

"Fixer?" Boss looked at his teammate as the green commando shook his head.

"She is unresponsive sir, I exhausted all of the field solutions, even the override command." He stood up, turning to the squad leader "Without contact with the HQ, we won't be able to fix her on the field."

"Ugh, figures." Scorch grumbled. "They never make our jobs easier."

"Don't treat her like she is some sort of a robot!" Yang angrily interrupted and knelt beside Penny, checking her heartbeat, then her breath. "…She is unconscious, but she should be fine." She breathed a sigh of relief, softly holding Penny's hand while Boss and Fixer shared looks, but Yang's attention returned back to the Atleasians, her stare once again firm. "And you better explain this James Rond shit that is going on right now."

"Boss, we have a problem." Fourth commando spoke through comms, and Boss answered, ignoring Yang whatsoever.

"What kind of problem?"

"Armored kind."

Purple commando watched through his scope as few white vans stopped on the road nearby, some deploying long racks full of droids with smaller frames than the previous one, while from one, large hauler, a large black ball of the size of the small truck rolled off onto the road.

And more of them were certainly on their way.

"Form up Deltas! We move to extraction zone Theta!" Boss commanded, and Fixer, Scorch quickly run up to him while eight-four fired a green flare into the sky, then jumped off the building to join them. "Fixer, you will…" Boss wanted to say, but Yang was quicker as she gently picked up Penny from the ground.

"I got you." Yang gave unconscious Penny a soft smile. Even though they just met, Penny's innocent, kind and little clueless personality already stole her heart. She turned to the Commandos who found themselves just staring at her.

"We gotta move right?" She remarked. "But our talk ain't over."

Boss slightly nodded his head.

"Delta squad, take offensive formation, make every shot count!" He ordered and both he and Fixer started running first, eight-four and Scorch being a rearguard while Yang and Penny were in the middle.

"Congrats! You were prompted to "Ace Ops Delta- Penny carrier!" Scorch joked as they were running, Yang paid him a glance and grinned.

"Oh, so you are the pun guy of the group? Ace-right, game's on!"

"Quick chatting with the civs six-two!"

'

Green-eyed head looked at the monitor of the running group, analyzing the data.

"Enemies identified as: Atleasian Commandos. – Unexpected."

"Chance of that happening – 27,98%" Red eyed head said. "Calculating potential unknown factors…"

"Assault Droid deployed." Blue-eyed head performed it's job in a meantime. "Support units deployed."

"This unit demands additional units." Green eyed head said, and blue-eyed head nodded.

"Request granted, more support units on their way." It quickly pressed more command buttons, activating more droids.

"This unit disapproves current course of action - Costs of this operation = the risk taken unable to count unknown factors." Red head finally spoke up. "This unit suggests aborting the mission."

"Request = DENIED" Green eyed head retorted "Strategic value = ABSOLUTE. High-probability chance of success" Green-eyed head outright rejected the idea.

"Deploying deterrents to cover the operation from the authorities." Blue-eyed head continued, pressing multiple buttons as the two heads argued.

"This operation = unnecessary attention." Red-eyed head continued. "Potential involvement of Atleasian military raise from 22,65 to 85,64% in all of Doctor's future operations."

"Counterpoint – Fulfillment of Promethius project = No more future operations."

"Deploying drop droids." Blue-head added, uninterested in the argument.

"Chance that the current objective will match the role = 78,92%"

"Probability – Acceptable – Continuing the Operation." Green-eyed head said, and the red-head finally relented.

"Predicting all Commandos potential escape routes to ensure success." Red-head started its calculations, while the green head followed the group on the monitor, formulating the strategy to capture the objective and dispose of the witnesses…

Brodytown, the Kingdom of Vale

Car stopped right before the large, clearly renovated Gym Hall right near the , door opened, and Sauron stepped out of the vehicle, still in his Smith's attire.

"Boss!" One of his men standing outside run up to him.

"Is everyone I invited present?" Sauron started walking into the school, his worker right beside him.

"Yes boss, everyone except Nathan and that biker guy from earlier." Worker said. "Should we wait for them?"

"No. My herald has other duties." Sauron remarked as he entered the warehouse, his men greeted him with a salute.

Inside the warehouse, in the center of this vast, empty space, there were many tables and chairs, around which many people and faunus gathered, and to say that this group was varied was an understatement

There were young leaders of smaller gangs of hooligans, whose only choice for a living was either to become gangsters, or make a living by being street musicians or chase career in sport.

There old men, with successful career, to whom life became a boring routine, lacking excitement, and now they search for a thrill all sorts of activities.

Then, there were retired police officers, who either resigned willingly, after becoming disillusioned that the true nature of their job is often not protecting citizens from the criminals, but protecting the government officials from the disgruntled citizens, or who were forced to resign by their corrupt chiefs or by infighting the structures for not selling their morals.

"Pardon me for this delay." Annatar announced his presence, and all eyes were now laid on him. "I had a surprise guest in my forge that took an hour of my time."

"Sure thing, most of us here have jobs, while some just cause ruckus." An retired police officer shot daggers from his eyes at a young man with a tattoo on his neck, and in response youngster flipped a bird.

"Please, everyone, I gathered you here for purpose greater than petty insults." Sauron said with encouraging smile as he walked up to the center of the Hall. "After all, we all share a common goal."

"Common goal?" Someone asked as Sauron stepped onto the stage.

"Indeed – We all want to take responsibility back into our hands."

Gathered people watched as Annatar raised his hands high.

"For far too long, we refused to see the obvious, we turned our eyes from the truth, believing in the lie that someone above us will protect our lives, our homes, our families." He looked at them. "And when the time came to for the institutions to step in and stop the atrocities, how did they fare?"

"Badly." Someone said.

"Underwhelming." Said other person.

"Indeed." Sauron continued, his voice raising. "The very institutions that were created to be our shield, proved to be full of holes. How many of us White Fang's raid left with nothing but a pair of boots? How many lost their life's savings when Fangs barged to our homes, our business, our lives? How many of us still await help that won't come?"

"So it's anti-Fang meeting, right?" A young leader of the gang raised from his seat, his eyes ignited, voicing everyone's thoughts. "We will go after them, right?"

"No." Sauron said, much to gathered people's confusion. "We must take the other lesson from these events."

"What exactly?" Sauron gave that person a confident smiled before responding.

"That we, as a people of Vale, are unprepared. And when the next disaster arrives, that being the White Fang, other criminals, or maybe even Grimm, the result will be far worse." He paused, so his words would properly sink in. "Next time, if nothing changes, the next disaster will be of such magnitude, that we won't be able to recover for years to come, and our leaders are like old elephants – they can trample and react, but slowly, their tusks are falling off."

Gathered man imagined the worst case scenarios – families torn apart, whole areas on fire, mobs of murders or Grimm running rampant…

"That's why we must ensure that the change will happen." Sauron drew them out of his thoughts. "That's we, as a community, no, as a nation, have to step in and ensure that the next calamity won't find us wanting!"

They nodded their heads, Annatar's words appealing to them.

"So today, I wanted to create something that would strengthen us all! I wanted to reinstate the Valeian Guard!"

"Wait a sec, that was the army's name during the great war!" Someone pointed out, and Sauron nodded.

"I won't lie, I was inspired by Vale's history, about how these noble heroes of the old took the night and the monsters lurking within it before the Huntsmen took over that position completely, for better or worse." Sauron thought about his next sentence briefly, and carefully. "In my opinion, traditions like this should be cherished and upheld, not pushed into the pages of history. Plus, it will draw people together in these times of disconnection."

"You want us to create an army?" Older rasped voice called form the crowd, his owner, older man looked directly at Sauron. "I am not going to lie, I would like to relive some of my memories of being a solider." He breath more air to finish his sentence. "There were many good memories from army times, but also many grim ones, friends taken by the violence, wounds taken lost. Nation agreed to disarm not without the cause."

"Very good point sir Rechard." Annatar said with soothing calmness in his voice. "The people that sacrificed themselves for our feature wished for us to not have to fight anymore, but I fear this is not going to happen, at least not yet."

He looked over gathered people trying to take in their emotions. How did these 'heroes' always had right words for encouraging the crowds? He prepared for this meeting exceedingly, but he felt that he was not able to catch their spirits. He had to find a way to do it. And he had to do it quickly.

"Police failed us, hunters did it as well, maybe we should try ourselves this time?"

That wasn't it, he could feel their interest fading. He could use his charm to encourage them to follow him, but sooner rather than later, they would slip away from his influence and whole project would fail. Making it into anti-faunus rally, an easy option, was out ofa question - Faunus made around forty-five percent of industrial district population, it would harm him more than help.

What would Celebrimbor said in this situation? Olorin? He wasn't able to think about anything. They were too far to him.

Why they don't want to form up!? It would only be good for them!

Maybe it is the wrong question. He got stunned on that thought. It can't be why…

"I understand your hesitation." He tried, all eyes again focused on him. "You fear the army, everyone here know someone affected by the Great War. But in reality you don't fear what can happen to you." He let the air out. "You fear becoming the sword."

The crowd got confused on this words. Be a sword…?

"You know what atrocities happened in the past and don't want to repeat them, you fear becoming this monster form your grandparents histories." Annatar could see that this words hit their mark. Maybe not consciously, but those people feared what could happen if they started to fight. Would they become this monsters that killed so many?

"But it is not about if you will or won't use this Sword." Annatar continued. "It's if you will be able to use it or won't." All people looked at him, like they were in the trance, but he knew they were not, not this time. "Times are changing, great obstacles are before us, the only people that will be able to defeat them are not hunters but we ourselves." I am not asking you to go there and take the justice in your own hands, but to prepare and train. For when the dark hour comes it won't ask if you are ready or not."

"Then, maybe instead we can be a Shield?" Someone said, and Annatar raised his brow. "I mean, organizing ourselves is not a bad idea, especially in times like this, but we don't have to go full military like some loonies!'

"Like… a militia?" Another person asked.

"People's militia…" Sauron scratched his chin. "This might work even better."

"But, it is prohibited by law." Retired police officer pointed out, but an old faunus raise his hand.

"My old man was there, when King Callahan signed the Treaty of Vytal, and he couldn't stop talking about it, how it brought peace, equality yada-yada. But he mentioned an interesting fact – according to the treaty, citizens of the Kingdoms can form militias to protect the community in case of unjust war."

"But we are not at war!"

"What was the Fangs raid if not a declaration of one?" Sauron said, and after few seconds of consideration, everyone had to agree.

"But, government has no say about it?" Retired officer pressed this issue.

"They have." Faunus nodded. "After a month deadline, we would have to go to the local authority and the governor would either recognize us or order us to disband."

"But we don't have a big fish in the office! For like, next two months" Another man added. "What's in that case?"

"Then, right after new government official takes the office, we must immediately ask for his approval or disapproval."

"So we can do all of the heavy work, and some peacock will just say 'Nah"?"

"Don't be so pessimistic my fellow, we still have a lot of time." Sauron spoke. "In two months, we can make presence known and much appreciated, which will give the new elect no other choice. And besides, I have a hunch that the potential candidate might not be as against us as you may think…" Sauron raised his hand high. "So, are you willing to try?"

"Heck yeah!"

"Why not?"

Sauron smiled because of this small victory. It wasn't exactly what he wanted to achieve here, but it was the best he could get, but more importantly, he learnt that, even though he has knowledge about being a leader, putting it into practice is whole different story.

However, he is very good at organizing and logistics – knowledge that will be crucial.

"Then, let's spend the rest of this day planning our first move."

SDPS Base, Vale.

Rittermeister Nick Harrigan finished eating his canned beans, angry over the fact that the previous food shipment from HQ was lost because of the Grimm, forcing the entire base to ration their stashes of beans.

Even if he is just a low-rank officer he still deserved some proper food! But noo, after the allegations that SDC provoked the Fang to attack the city, no company wanted to make deals with them, restaurants refuse to serve them and, you guessed it, they could only deliver food from their far away storage depots, for local suppliers either outright refuse them, or put an enormous price tag.

"Damn abhumans." He muttered. "When I get my hands on them…"

"Ritter!" One of his man walked into his room and saluted. "You have a call!"

"From whom?" He asked.

"I'm not permitted to tell Sir, but it is really important." Harrigan rolled his eyes.

"Patch him through." He grumbled, fully intending that if it someone below him, he will just end the call right there and there, and if it someone higher…

A Hologram appeared before him, and Harrigan gulped in surprise, nearly falling off his chair.

"Hello Ratling." Sepp Urgan said, and with amused grin he watched how the Rittermester recollects himself, fixes up his cap, uniform, push the remaining beans of the desk, then saluted.

"Commander Urgan! I didn't know you will…" Harrigan tried to say, but Urgan raised his hand to quiet him.

"I have a task, just for you." SDPS Commander said.

"For me? But Sir, I thought the Lieutenant…" Nick tried to ask, but upon seeing the stern gaze of the one-eyed Commander, he shut his mouth once again.

"The lieutenant has… too soft heart." Sepp partially answered the question. "That's why you are most suited for this task."

Nick Harrigan remained silent, not wanting to inquire his Commander's rage, he already saw what happened to those who stepped out of line…

"I await your orders, Sir."

"That's more like it." Sepp's smile raised in the corners of his mouth, enjoying his position fully. "In next few days, You will go to the Stonewall prison and retrieve some of the prisoners for interrogation."

Smal man blinked few times in shock.

"Stonewall… Sir?"

"These fat roosters from PR can't stop nagging me about Company's reputation being flushed down the toilet because of the Fangs." Sepp said, rolling his eye. "If we got our hands on some of these mutts and… persuaded them to talk, we could not only turn the narrative in our favor, but also gain locations of their bases in Vale. They are currently hiding like cockroaches, but since Stonewall recently opened a zoo…"

"Sir…" Nick Harrigan decided to speak. "What if they…"

"Refuse you?" Sepp interrupted. "Don't worry, everything is already arranged, all you need to do is go there and take some of the exhibits."

"And what if they… fight back?" Ritter continued, for in those past few weeks, his confidence took a major hit.

"Right… I almost forgot you lost against two teenagers." Urgan mocked, but Harrigan, instead of lowering his head and accepting the scolding, decided to defend himself.

"One of them was Taurus's girl, I swear…!"

"Quiet!" Sepp raised his voice, veins on his forehead became visible, even though the hologram. "I will check if Belladonna is alive myself." He snarled, and Harrigan's eyes widened.

"You… are flying here Sir?"

"Fortunate, isn't it? I may even congratulate you personally for job well done Ratling. However, if you fail…" Sepp left a deep chuckle, which unsettled Harrigan even more. "But you have a point, Oberst."

"Oberst?" Harrigan's eyes flashed.

"You are being temporarily promoted to the rank of Oberst, after you successfully fulfill the assignment, this rank will be permanent." Sepp said. "And with the rank comes benefits…"

The call has ended, and right a second later, One of SDPS grenadiers came.

"Sir, Manta is landing!" He said, and Harrigan wasted no time, running to the landing pad.

A heavy-duty transport Manta, Bullhead's heavier and way bulkier cousin landed, then dropped the ramp down, and from it, a large group of twenty people walked out onto the landing pad.

Sixteen of them wore grey armor with white accents on their shoulders, helmets covering their faces, and visors glowing green. Every soldier carried a large backpack, or something looking like it, and aside of gauntlets possessing hidden weaponry like wrist-blades and electric whips, they carried in their hands a long, low-recoilless storm rifles.

Four other people walking down the ramp wore Mark III, black-painted power armors, a suits filled to the brim with devastating firepower, produced by SDC primarly for Atleasian military, but a dreaded "Man in Iron" found great use in ranks of Schnee Dust Protection Service.

"Stosstrupp." Grenadiers whispered in hushed tones between each other as these men and women stopped, formed a line before Harrigan, who looked like a child in comparison to the newcomers.

"Attention!" One of the Stosstrupp with red markings on his chest ordered, and his fireteam stood straight and saluted while he approached Harrigan. "Sturm-fuhrer Arnold Kalderberg, at your orders Oberst!" He saluted, and seeing such firepower at his disposal, his arrogant confidence returned and grew tenfold.

He couldn't help himself but laugh.

Commercial district, Vale.

„Contact right!" Fixer fired down the alley at the group of approaching droids, immediately downing two of them.

"Clankers left!" Scorch covered his teammate's back, firing at another group of droids that walked from behind a corner.

"Targets in range" One of the droids said and their weapons rattled and a stream bullets poured forward, Commandos briefly took cover behind the brick walls, and when bullets passed them they swiftly reengaged.

"Reloading!" Scorch moved to the back of the formation, and Eight-four, who now Yang knew as "Rookie" took his place and fired at the droids while Scorch reloaded his gun.

"More hostiles on the right!" Rookie warned and fired a burst, destroying two smaller droids and damaging the larger one. "How many are there!?" He mumbled as few bolts grazed his helmet.

"Still a breeze compared to Prosecutor!" Scorch remarked. "Therm up!" He warned and tossed a grenade.

"What happened on the Prosecutor?!" Yang shouted, but amidst the gunfight, her voice wasn't that loud, enough for Commandos to understand her.

"Classified." Boss said and fired an anti-tank grenade at the group of droids, destroying them all in one powerful blast.

"Hostiles neutralized!" Fixer announced as he downed last of the approaching droids, and when Boss heard that, he didn't have to say anything - with a single gesture of his hand, they were once again on the move.

So far, their teamwork was on point – they moved as a unit, from cover to cover, engaging the enemy to then swiftly changing positions, to avoid being encircled, all the while at least one of them covered her and Penny at all times. Sometimes Boss didn't even need to say a command for the team to move forward to hold or to disengage.

"It feels like they read each other's minds." She thought to herself as Rookie quickly checked a corner, gestured something with his left and team kept running forward.

Truth be told, part of her wanted to jump at the nearest group of droid and tear them to pieces, but that would mean she would have to drop Penny, and slow down the Delta's.

"Just who are you?" Yang briefly stared at unconscious Penny before she heard gunshots from behind.

"Engaging enemy targets." Larger group of "grunts" as Yang started to call the smaller framed, gun only droids emerged some distance away behind them and opened fire, but Boss put himself between them and Yang, tanking few shots on his personal shield, which flickered upon taking few bullets.

"Turn right!" He ordered and on the next turn they started running along the long, brick wall, Fixer and Rookie on the front while Scorch remained slightly behind, attaching something to the wall while Boss fired quick burst of his gun, then both Commandos rejoined their squad.

"Fixer, is there any way to Extraction zone that avoids main roads?" Boss quickly asked while Fixer displayed a holographic map of the area.

"Negative Sir." He replied. "Giant shopping mall is blocking our path. We are going to make a run."

"Oh great." Scorch remarked with sour. "I always wanted to be a shooting star."

"Clankers will shoot at us from every direction." Eight-four shook his head. "We won't be able to ensure the safety of Penny and the civilian."

"I can handle myself, thank you very much." Yang remarked while a thought circled in the back of her head, trying to catch her attention.

In the distance they heard Scorch's mine going off, destroying some of the droids chasing after them, but not all.

"Running through the shopping mall will put even more people in danger." Boss said as he raised his gun. "Prepare hardlight dust shields..."

"Hold on a sec!" Yang spoke up, taking Delta's attention. "No one should be at the Shopping mall right now!"

"How do you know?"

"Because it's Lauela Trading Center! They closed it a year ago for renovation, and they wanted to host the grand opening next week!" Yang explained, knowing it because she wanted to take both her team and her friends there.

"I guess they are going to reschedule that." Scorch snickered as Boss reconsidered his options.

"I'm not able to confirm or deny this intel boss." Fixer said.

"Droids incoming!" Eight-four fired a burst, downing first of the droids, but the white, better armored machines stepped forth and started firing, some of the blue bolts hitting Commando's personal energy shield.

"Change of plans, we are going through that Shopping Mall!" Boss ordered and immediately, they were all running again. "Eight four, watch our back!, Fixer, find a weak spot in the wall, Scorch, prepare for some spontaneous redecoration."

"Copy that."

"Roger."

"Yes Sir!"

While they navigated through the labyrinth of narrow alleys, droids relentlessly attacked from all directions in the attempt to encircle them, some even busting through the walls to get closer.

In a shower of bricks and stone, red droid lunged from the wall right at Penny and Yang, it's long arms stretched forward, and before any of the commandos could react, Yang swiftly sidestepped and kicked the robot right in its midsection, sending it flying sky-high.

"Wheeee!" Scorch laughed as robot started to slow down. "He would have thought that clankers can fly?"

"Flying is easy my guy!" Yang replied as red machine reached the highest point of its flight. "But landing…."

Few seconds later, red android shattered upon the impact with the ground.

"…is harder." Yang finished and Scorch couldn't help, but chuckle.

"Oh, my teammate would…" He paused, and Yang felt that she accidently stepped on a touchy subject.

"Focus Deltas!" Boss ordered as he fired a burst of his smg. "Scorch, the wall!" He pointed at the long brick wall of the Lauela trading center.

"Yes Sir!" Scorch run up to the wall, pulled some device, certainly a portable bomb and attached it to the wall. "…Was it 'red green red' or 'green red red'?" He wondered out loud.

"And he is supposed to be your demolition expert?" Yang asked Rookie, and he fired his sniper rifle into incoming androids.

"He does this stunt all the time since I joined." He replied before a torrent of bullets screamed above them, some of them grazing his arm, and Eight-four switched the configuration back into an smg and fired at the incoming robots.

"Six-two, don't take too long!" Fixer said as he tossed a grenade at yet another group of droids and terminators.

"Done!" Scorch quickly backed from the explosive and jumped behind cover. "All yours boss!"

"Get clear!" Boss pressed a remote detonator, and part of the wall exploded, making a gaping hole in it. "Move out! Cover Polendina!" All four commandos activated hard-light dust shields, and quickly moved forward right into crossfire, Yang being right in the middle, and with amazement she watched how bullets bounce harmlessly from Ace Ops shields. She tried to went through the list of all the dust she learnt about during classes, and there was brief mention of Hardlight – as an experimental kind of fusion, only used by the Atleasian military and selected Huntsmen.

She will try to scoop some for Rubes after that.

Whole team jumped through the hole in the wall, and on the other side Scorch, Fixer and Boss deactivated their hardlight dust shields while Rookie used his to plug the hole.

"It should keep them occupied for a while."

"Not for long, move it move!" The group resumed their escape, running right in the middle of the Shopping Center, whole place filled with smell of fresh paint, new furniture and many products, from toys to luxurious goods on the shelves in many shops.

Meanwhile, as all of the action around her took place, Penny in a state of deep sleep searched her memory banks, going back months, even years, all to answer the burning question:

"What is my true purpose?"

In order to 'move on', Penny figured out that she first have to 'come to terms with what she did', and, as importantly – with herself. But the more she thought about it, the more apparent paradox became more and more visible.

All the combat capabilities she had – strength, agility, the Floating Array – It all pointed at that, that her goal was to be a weapon against the creatures of the Grimm, just like knights, champions and paladins were.

And yet, dad gave her this appearance, taught her everything he knew about empathy, kindness, trying to teach her "to be a human". But that contradicts with the previous goal, hinders her combat readiness, as she saw during her training, and when androids attacked Yang…

"Why all this?" She thought. "Why am I thought to feel, if it only prevents me from taking action?"

As she scanned her memories, Annatar's words kept returning to her:

"If being a weapon is part of your nature, then you should just accept it and move on."

"Maybe he is right?" She said to herself. "Maybe I should stop…"

She defiantly clenched her fists. She knew her dad, he was the best dad in the world! He would not set her on this apparently conflicting task without a reason. And there must be a reason aside of "You need to learn how to live among humans and faunus", because most Atleasian androids are capable of operating in a 'pacifist mode'.

That's why she searched deeper and deeper, down her memory lane, reviewing all the lessons Dad, Ciel, General, the Scientist, Judges, all those she considered friends gave her through her life. Until she reached the very first memory.

The day when she called her dad "Dad" for the first time, and he called her 'A Little Star'. It was right after she was 'born', and she thought fondly of this memory, except, something was strange.

Dad appeared to be crying.

For a long time, she didn't understood this reaction – crying meant that the person is sad or hurt. "Why was he crying? Wasn't he happy to see her?" - That's what she thought until recently, and now she understood – Dad was happy, and when he embraced her for the first time, tears streamed down on her shoulders, but these weren't the tears of sadness, but of joy.

"Not everything is black or white, zero or one." She said as she replayed the memory again and again. "Some of human reactions are… mixed."

"Can my fist be a weapon?" Another line from Annatar came back to her.

"Of course it can, but… it's not it's primary function."

"But it is capable of doing something evil right? Does that mean a part of my body is objectively evil?"

She blinked few times. It wasn't what Annatar had said, but it started to make sense. Although she disagreed with the second part, she now started to understand the first.

"Something being a weapon does not mean it is evil." She said to herself. "All that matters is how you use it."

Then she noticed something that looked like a red envelope on the shelf. Strange, she didn't remember that.

She picked it up, and a large message appeared before her:

"Type a password." She frowned. Password? What kind of password.

She started through all of the usual military passwords, but none worked as she had hoped for. So she went through other passwords, her curiosity preventing her from searching.

"Who would put an encoded message in my memory banks? General? No. Ciel? No. Dad? Dad!" This narrowed her search to the codes Pietro Polendina used, but none of them seemed to work.

"Maybe it's something he said to me?" She wanted to go through all of her memories once again, but then looked back at the first memory. "Dad wouldn't put it here without a reason, right?" She rewinded the memory once again, second by second, and the only words he spoke to her were.

"My Little Star." She said out loud and when she typed "Little Star", the envelope opened and she was washed by a green light…

Meanwhile Yang and the Ace Ops were running as fast they could through the shopping area, trying to get as far away from the pursuing droids as possible.

"Extraction point Theta should be at the very end!" Fixer said. "Trying to contact the pilot…"

"Pick up the pace Deltas! Six-two, make sure civilian keeps up!"

"Relax Bossman, form me it's just a little jog…" She wanted to say before they heard a hoovering sound passing above them.

"Enemies dropping out of the skyline!" Rookie warned and fired at the blue and red androids dropping from some sort of dropship onto the Shopping center's roof, then right at the floors above the fleeing Delta's.

"These guys just don't know when to quit!" Yang shouted as she put her own body between the incoming bolt so it wouldn't strike Penny, and getting directly hit in her back.

"Took it right out of my mouth!" Scorch fired an anti-tank grenade at the droids above them, explosion disintegrating at least two and breaking three more.

"Boss, communication established!" Fixer shouted. "Transferring the connection to you!"

"Delta squad, this is Vulture-03, I am approaching your location, ETA five minutes, what's your status?"

"This is Ace Ops Delta three-eight, we have multiple hostiles all around the area, battle androids of unknown origin, but mostly light firearms. We need immediate evac now!"

"Copy that."

"Don't stop now Squad, we are almost there!" Boss commanded and they kept running at full speed, firing their weapons while trying to reach the door at the very end.

Suddenly, a large black ball broke through the wall at full speed, stopping at least one hundred meters of them and blocking their escape route.

"That's new." Rookie said as he and boss fired at the large ball, but their shots dinged harmlessly of its armor, and then it opened its shell, revealing a Red eye in a shape of 'M' and started gathering energy in its large red eye.

"I don't like the sound it makes!" Yang said with worry as the eye looked directly at them, getting redder and redder.

"Fixer, alternative route now!" Boss fired and anti-tank grenade, but the machine turned it's armor towards the incoming projectile, and an explosive shell did no damage at all.

"Through the bathrooms quick!" Fixer pointed at the tunnel leading to the bathrooms, few meters behind them, Commandos and Yang made run for it as the Assault droid unleashed it's weaponry.

A wall of semi-circular energy sliced through the air like a giant saw, cutting through the catwalk and few droids standing on it like knife through butter, melting metal and shattering glass, making its way directly towards Yang.

Just when she was about to brace for impact, someone's hand pushed her, making her tumble and drop Penny on the floor.

"Eight-four!" She heard Fixer call out his teammate, and like in slow-motion, she watched how the laser struck the commando in his back, how it first shattered the armor's personal shield, then his aura, and still managed to crack the armor like an egg and threw the commando crashing into the wall.

Boss run up to his teammate as Rookie tumbled painfully on the floor, a sound of cracking metal echoing through the tunnel.

"We got a Man down!" Fixer told to Scorch who was slightly ahead of them.

"Frack! Godsdamnit!"

Yang run up to the wounded commando and leant him a shoulder while Boss helped him get up.

"My personal shield is down, my aura…" Rookie said with a groan of pain. "…And most of the armor's integral systems are down too."

"Can you run?" Boss asked, and purple commando groaned in pain.

"Not fast enough for that droid to reposition and cut us off again." He said, while the Assault droid locked it's shell and started slowly rolling towards the bathrooms. "I should stay behind and hold…"

"We are NOT abandoning our own!" Scorch immediately protested. "Never again!"

"We might not have another choice Sir." Fixer said, trying to sound detached, while the metallic rumbling and footsteps served as grim reminder of the severity of the situation.

Boss remained silent, starring at his teammate, ever stoic man once again faced with the harsh reality. He still didn't forgive himself for what happened, how he can do something like this again?

Suddenly, a flash of blond run past him, he looked after it and…

"Just run!" Yang run out right in the open. "Hey ugly! Wanna a piece off me?!"

"The Hell are you doing!? Get back here, that's an order!" Boss called out to her while assault's droids sensors scanned Yang, deciding the best course of action.

Yang smirked towards Boss.

"So much for being a civ huh? we will meet outside!" She started running deeper into the Shopping center. "Catch me if you can!" She taunted the machine.

Assault droid's computer wasn't as sophisticated as the ones of the terminators – it's only purpose was to destroy everything in its path, so it came as no surprise it started chasing chase after the blond girl, leaving the task of eliminating the rest of targets to the already deployed support units.

It started to roll down the hallway, following Yang like a giant bowling ball in a bowling alley, picking up more and more speed.

"Move out, quick!" Boss ordered as Fixer took Penny into his arms.

"Sir…" Scorch said as he helped Rookie move. "We are not going to leave her, right?"

But Boss didn't answer that, instead he locked at the water leaking from the walls due to the laser ray's strike.

"We are all going to reach the extraction zone." He looked at Fixer and pointed at water.

Soon, four members of the Delta Squad were once again on the move, Eight-four carrying Penny in his arms, while the droids resumed their pursuit.

Beacon Academy

Jaune was sitting on top of the CCTS tower, looking at the slowly darkening sky, trying to make sense of it all.

First, not sure how and why but he did hurt Nora during the exercise, and now, Ren tried to pickpocket him and in response, so Jaune disrupted Oobleck's lecture. And it all seemed connected to one thing.

He took out the Ring and stared at it for a while.

"Did I make mistake?" He wondered out loud.

Of course I didn't!

"Ever since I got you, things seem to turn from bad to worse." Arc said out loud, having an urge to throw it away, as far he can, and everything would come back to what they were.

Right, I would love to return to being a laughing stock, a burden to my 'friends', a pushover with no spine. Morgoth mocked and Jaune slowly retracted his hand. To give up all of my dreams because some people are envious of my power.

"Not some people!" Arc countered. "They are my…"

If they were really my friends to begin with, they would understand that me getting stronger than them will change the dynamic and cause some issues at the beginning. Maybe, after the long period of time, they will understand the error of their ways, and if they don't well… that means they were never my friends."

Jaune put the Ring back into his pocket and wrapped his hands around his knees.

"Maybe I should take a step back, let the things cool off." He said, and Morgoth leant back to his left ear.

I should give them as much time as they need to make up their minds, to let them choose if they are with me, or against…

Jaune heard a footsteps approaching him from behind and quickly turned his head back.

"Hi." Pyrrha shyly waved her hand, giving Juane an apologetic look. "Sorry for scaring you, bit you didn't answer..."

"How did you find me here?" Jaune asked in surprise.

Tell her to leave!

Pyrrha pulled out a scroll, on its screen Arc saw his position marked down on the map.

"Oh." He said as Pyrrha approached him.

"May I?" She asked, and with an approving nod of his head, she sat right beside him, Morgoth watching her movements carefully.

"You know, everyone is looking for you." She said. "Ruby, Weiss, and Ren are looking for you everywhere."

"Really?" Jaune said, something inside of him overjoyed by the fact that his friends were looking for him, but Morgoth quickly leant to Jaune's left ear again.

I should be careful, she might be trying to lull me into a false sense of security.

"It's Pyrrha!" Jaune argued as Pyrrha was now sitting in silence, watching the sky. "She would never…!"

Just like Lie wouldn't betray my trust? Take a look – she is judging me already, thinking that I am at fault!"

Afarid to look her in the eyes, Jaune turned his head before speaking.

"I know what you are thinking." He said, and could feel that Pyrrha turned to him. "But… I didn't want to any of it I swear!" He stumbled on his words. "I didn't know that…"

"Jaune, look at me, please." She told him.

Don't follow her command!

With a hint of hesitation Jaune turned towards his partner, fully expecting either accusatory stare or that she stares at him with pity, instead, Pyrrha gave him calm, yet warm look.

"Listen, I…" He wanted to resume his speech, but Pyrrha raised her hand to interrupt.

"Deep breaths. Inhale…" She took a deep breath into her lungs with her nose, raised her hands up. "hold it…then exhale." As she said that, she breathed out the air through her mouth, while at the same time she lowered her hands down. "Try it." She encouraged, and, little surprised, Jaune took a deep breath through his mouth…

"Through your nose first." Pyrrha spoke up. "Inhale through your nose, hold it, exhale through your mouth, then repeat. Treat it like a cycle."

Waste of time! It serves no purpose!

"How many times?" Juane asked in between as he and Pyrrha now were performing this exercise.

"Until you feel your nerves have calmed down." She replied, and both were now sitting like this, synchronizing their breaths while Morgoth just stared, not understanding what purpose this activity served.

I shouldn't take it seriously! Like breathing could somehow… Flabbergasted, Morgoth realized that Arc deafened, no worse, ignored his thoughts, his head empty and calm like a sea after a hurricane.

After a while, Jaune felt like his muscles weren't tense anymore, his body finally rested, the dark clouds in his mind dissipating.

"Wow." He said and looked at Pyrrha. "Who have taught you this?"

"My first manager, he told me that controlling your breath both helps in combat, as well as relief stress." She chuckled a bit. 'Right at the very beginning I had problems with controlling my emotions."

"You?" Jaune said with disbelief.

Liar!

"I wasn't winning a lot at the beginning!" Pyrrha said, reminiscing about her past. "Back then, I was losing. Quite a lot actually."

"But you didn't give up." Jaune concluded, and Pyrrha nodded her head.

"I never did." She looked at Jaune with a warm smile. "Feeling better?"

"Yeah." Jaune said, for the first time in weeks feeling light like a feather, then as he left another breath, he spoke. " I will apologize to both Nora and Ren. I didn't want to hurt her like that, I didn't know that my semblance would react like it…"

"Hey." Pyrrha put her hand on Jaune's back. "I don't think Nora is holding a grudge or anything like it. She knows that you wouldn't do something like that willingly."

She can't know that!

"How are you…"

"Because I saw the letter she wrote to you." Pyrrha answered, and Morgoth recoiled, angry that she didn't try to spin the truth in any way. "Do you want to know how I discovered my semblance?"

Jaune thought about it for a moment.

"… I guess during some tournament, right?" Pyrrha laughed in response.

"I sometimes wish that was the case, but in truth, when I was three years old, one night accidently dropped Mister Duck from my bed..."

"Mister Duck?" Jaune frowned and Pyrrha looked away to hide her embarrassment.

"I was once on some local festival with my parents, and someone gave it to me. It helped me sleep at night." She replied, omitting the fact that her parents still keep mister duck back home. "When I tried to reach for him, I unknowingly activated my semblance and summoned every fork, knife and spoon at home."

"Ouch!" Jaune commented, imagining the whole ordeal while Pyrrha chuckled. "I hope nothing bad happened to you, or Mister Duck."

"Everyone was fine! But the bed had to be replaced."

Jaune looked away, and even laughed a bit, the atmosphere around them being more… relaxed.

Much to Morgoth's anger.

I can't let her fool me like that. He whispered. She has an ulterior motive, I am sure of it! I should call out her pitiful ploy!

Jaune left a heavy sigh.

"You didn't come up here to only cheer me up, did you?" For a moment, Pyrrha went silent, then slowly nodded her head.

"There is something I want to ask you." She said, and gleeful, never patient Morgoth leant to Jaune's ear.

Just watch, she will ask me about my strength. She will demand to know the source of it. Jaune did his best to not look at his pocket, waiting with a hint of anxiety for Pyrrha's question, and she read his silence as an approval.

"Back when we fought the White Fang…" Pyrrha started, and Jaune gulped, while Morgoth cheered.

"Not you too…" Jaune lamented internally.

SEE!?

"…Right before you fell of the trucks, you said something that just don't make any sense to me." Jaune raised his brows, taken aback a little, for he fully expected a different question, while Pyrrha continued. "You told me you are a Liar."

Jaune had to recall the exact memory and indeed, he told her that.

He broke at the time, thought that he shouldn't be here, that he is just a burden for his team and…

"I wanted to ask after we calmed down a little." Pyrrha continued, pulling her legs up and wrapping her hands around them. "But when I saw you finally being genuinely happy, I disregarded it, thinking that everything is fine now. But now I see it was a mistake."

"No no, you have nothing to apologize for!" Jaune said, but Pyrrha shook her head.

"I am your partner Jaune, I should be there for you no matter what. If only I have asked earlier, maybe nothing would happen today."

Who does she think she is?

"You think if you talked to me about what I said that something would change?"

"No, if only I have allowed you to speak about it, to explain. Because I know you Jaune." She took a hold of his hand, much to his surprise. "You are the most sincere person I have ever met, you never treated anyone better or worse because of who they are, you were always there if me, Nora or Ren needed a helping hand! You are kind, thoughtful, you put everything you can into everything you do, and sure, you are clumsy sometimes and deny help, even if that harms you, but I would NEVER call you a liar." She said, her green irises staring into his blue. "So I won't stand by and watch how you berate yourself for nothing."

Jaune pulled away his hand.

"Promise you won't tell anyone?" He asked.

Tell her nothing! She will use this leverage against me!

"Without your permission, not a word." She put her hand on her chest. "I swear it."

Her words mean nothing to me! - But meant a world for Jaune.

He took a deep breath, and in one go, he said:

"I cheated my way to Beacon." Pyrrha blinked in surprise while Morgoth backed away in disbelief. "I forged a transcript, submitted it and boom – here I am, without passing any tests, without going to a combat school, anything. I didn't earn my place in here."

When he said it, it felt like a large boulder was removed from his heart.

"Why?" Pyrrha asked, softly

FOOL! Morgoth bellowed

"It's because… I wanted to be a hero! Like my father, grandfather, great grandfather – they were all warriors, they didn't hide behind the walls, they were all warriors!" His voice got higher as he spoke. "I didn't want to be an embarrassing black sheep of the family!" Jaune looked away again. "I didn't want to be Jaune 'Nobody' Arc. And, back on these trucks, when you fought…" His voice lowered, nearly broke. "I felt like a total failure."

Pyrrha thought about her answer in silence while Morgoth raged over the fact that he lost his advantage.

You absolute moron! Now you have done it! Now she views me as an absolute filth right when I was about to achieve my goals! She will…

"Do you believe in destiny Jaune?" Pyrrha asked, surprising Jaune a bit, who fully expected a harsh words while Morgoth just shut up.

"I… guess?" He said after a while. "I mean, whole my life I thought that I must be a hero, so yeah?"

"When I think of destiny, I don't think of a predetermined fate you can't escape. But rather... some sort of final goal, something you work towards your entire life." She explained. "You put effort and push yourself forward to achieve it. That's why, when I say that my destiny is to be Huntress one day, I don't mean that it is fate, but…"

"…That's something you want to be." Jaune finished and Pyrrha nodded her head while Morgoth snarled in anger.

"So, even though I can't approve of what you did, I can't say I don't understand. Besides…" Jaune looked at her and she smiled to him. "… it doesn't matter to me."

"What?" He mumbled.

"During the initiation, when we fought against the Death Stalker and that Nevermore, I met a brave guy, who put his own life at stake for people he just met, who took a lead in a crucial moment and led his newfound friends to victory against the odds."

"Who?" Jaune asked.

"You, dummy!" She gently punched his arm and laughed. "So, I don't really care about how you got into Beacon, because I saw who you really are Jaune, and you are more than enough."

Jaune froze, unable to utter a word - instead of a contempt from Pyrrha, something he had nightmares about in those past months, he found acceptance, reassurance, that someone genuinely believed in him.

Both turned towards the sun, feeling it's heat on their faces, and Jaune couldn't help but smile as well, Pyrrha's happy expression being near contagious.

Such weak, pathetic view! Morgoth tried to spill his poison yet again. Destiny is something you own, and if others dare to deny your claims, you take it regardless! Destiny is…

"You, know, about your view of destiny." Jaune said.

"Hm?"

"I like it a lot." Arc spoke, his voice genuine.

"Really?"

"Yeah. After all, it allowed us to meet." And when he said that, in Pyrrha's eyes, his joyful face felt like it radiated its own light, his blue eyes felt like an ocean she could go swimming and not drown…

That was the Jaune she knew. That genuine happiness and honesty – that who he truly was.

When she felt her cheeks getting redder, she turned her head away, but both didn't realize that they hold each other's hands.

You dare interrupt me…! Morgoth tried to pounce on Pyrrha just like he did with Ren, but he found himself… powerless in this moment, pushed back.

He had no way to attack the Champion like he did Valkyrie and Lie.

But before he could rage any further, Jaune suddenly spoke up.

"There is something else I wanted to show you." He let go of her hand and reached for his right pocket.

In that moment, Morgoth's heart sunk, his face went pale, and for the first time in ages, he felt fear.

Don't show her the Ring! He screamed as Jaune's hand reached for it.

Fallen Vala knew what would happen if Arc did it.

In span of just a second Morgoth threw every possible argument to persuade Arc from

She will demand us to give it to her! Ineffective. She will spread this knowledge to everyone! Hardly believable. She will betray me!

None of this was working, only putting shadows of a doubts in Arc's mind, and his fingers lingered closer to the metal, Morgoth panicked, and plead.

Don't do this! First I told her I am Liar, and NOW am I going to reveal that I am also a trickster?! She put her everything into achieving her goal, what would she think of someone who tried to shortcut his way!?

Jaune paused in that moment, and Morgoth quickly pressed on.

I should not tell her everything in one day! She will quickly lose all resemblance of respect to me if she learns that I am worse than Winchester!

Jaune hesitated, his hand still unsure if to retract or to grab the ring.

If I tell her now, I will appear as a cowardly scum, truly unworthy to stand beside her! She is not ready for it to hear that not only I didn't earn my strength, but also that I broke my promise to the Smith!

That's right, he promised to give back the Ring, and yet, he kept it.

He wasn't ready to tell her just yet, so instead, he grabbed two tickets and pulled them out. "Take a look."

"Concert tickets?" Pyrrha asked in confusion, then her eyes widened. "Wait, really?"

"I told you I will get them!" Arc said proudly. "Free of press and tabloids attention! Just like I promised." He looked at his partner in anticipation. "What do you think? Do you want to go with me for a concert?"

And, just like Jaune hoped for, Pyrrha smiled happily, but her happiness was so bright that Jaune felt his heart skip a bit.

"Of course I…!" She answered in almost squeaky voice, but quickly cleared her throat "I mean, I would love to!" She tried to sound cool, and as they have returned to watching the setting sun, she leant her head on his shoulder. "I would really love to…" She repeated with soft, overjoyed voice.

And as the fourth witness of this moment silently backed away, Morgoth's fear and anxiety subsisted, allowing rage to take hold.

No, it wasn't rage, what he felt was something more than that. More sophisticated, toxic and corroding.

How dare she hinder my progress!? He bellowed, feeling pushed into sidelines while trying to pierce Pyrrha with his venomous glare. How dare she slow down my plan!?

The feeling the Fallen Vala felt at that moment was a total opposite of what Arc currently felt, and while in Jaune's heart the feeling for Pyrrha only slowly budded up now, not even fully realized yet, Morgoth's emotion erupted like a toxic fume from a volcano.

I hate you I hate you I hate you I hate you I hate you Ihate youI hateyou Ihate youI hateyou Ihateyou Ihateyou Ihateyou IhateyouIhateyouIhateyouIhateyouhateou hateyouhateyouhateyouhateouhateouhateuhateuhatehatehatehatehatehatehatehatehatehateHAARARAGGAGGAAGGAH!

Commercial district, Vale

Yang rolled to the side as the laser wall passed right by her.

"You can't hit a broad side of the barn!" She taunted as the droid closed its shell once again. "Maybe you should visit an eye doctor cyclops!?"

Robot started rolling towards her, once again crushing everything it's path and picking up speed while Yang sprinted down the hallway.

"Rubes semblance would really come in hand." She thought as she tried to outrun the machine.

She quickly learnt few crucial facts about the robot chasing her – First, the 'death ray' hits like a truck but loads really slow and it's relatively easy to both predict and dodge.

Second – it's shell is really sturdy, basically impenetrable for her, heck, probably Crescent Rose or Magnhild would struggle to make a dent in it.

And then, there is a third.

A group of droids dropped from the skyline right before her and started firing at her, one even tried to grab her but she slid between its leg without losing speed, got back on her feet and kept running, and when the droids turned to chase after her, the rumbling assault droids slammed into them few moments after, crushing the androids underneath it's shell.

"Have anyone told you that you are a bad team player!?" Yang shouted back, but Machine just kept chasing after her faster and faster, shortening the distance between them. She was aware that in straight-up run, the bowling ball will certainly catch her sooner than later, and it reaching as much speed as possible was exactly what Yang had hoped for.

For there is yet another fact regarding this droid.

Hearing it right behind her nearly scratching her boots, Yang reached for a metal poll on her right, and used it to swing herself to the other hallway, while the machine rolled mere inches past her, unable to stop.

It crushed into a shop full of expensive clothing, and from the sounds coming from the inside, Yang could already guess that many fashion designers will weep.

"Your brakes suck huh?!" She resumed her run, wanting to gain as much distance as she could, then take turn to the right and meet with that Commandos. Unless they ditched her, which means she will have to find another way out.

As she was thinking about that, a bullet struck her forehead, bouncing of her aura.

"Engaging hostile targets."

"Roger roger." A horde of droids slowly walked towards her from the front and firing with all of their weaponry, forcing Yang to dodge while running towards them, wanting to reach the hallway on her right, which was still few dozen meters away before the droids get there first.

At the same time, Assault droid rolled out of the shop, turned towards running Yang, opened its shell and started gathering energy.

"Okay, right after third pulse jump to the righ…" She briefly looked back and noticed that the Red "M" turned sideways, and this time, the laser ray went horizontally. "Oh shit!" Yang jumped to a prone position, painfully sliding on her abdomen and knees, and only thanks to that Laser passed above her instead of slicing her in half.

"Oh oh." Lead droid said before the laser ray sliced it and it's companions in half.

"Ha! Great save buddy!" Yang gave the Assault droid a thumbs up and the machine once again closed its shell and started rolling towards her.

She turned right and with an exit far away, Yang hoped that she will reach it before the bowling ball manage to catch her.

Suddenly, a hand grabbed her and pulled her into the one of the shops, she immediately raised her fist and wanted to strike her assailant, only to look into familiar visor of Boss.

"Shh!" Scorch raised his finger and Yang lowered her fist, then she turned around and in the opposite shop she noticed Fixer clenching his fist, Rookie barely standing beside Penny, and… her?

An image of Yang run into the hallway and sprinted, and with a loud rumbling, Assault droid rolled past them chasing fake Yang.

Fake Yang tried to swing to the left, but the droid caught up to her and rolled over her, leaving a large puddle of water on the floor, and slamming into the wall, sending cracks all over it.

Boss quickly pressed his remote detonator, one of the columns exploded and fell down on the robot, covering it in a thick layer of rubble.

"That should do it." He commented.

"For a moment I really thought you ditched me guys!" Yang commented as Commandos regrouped in the Hallway.

"We are not abandoning our own." Boss remarked.

"Yep! Even interns!" Scorch added with glee, and Yang giggled.

"Aww, stop, you are going to make me cry!" She said, wiping an imaginary tear out of her eye. "Wanna hug?"

"Don't push it." Fixer said as he carried Penny to Yang, and Xiao Long carefully took her.

"Now, we should get to the extraction zone. Move out squad!" A group run past the rubble while Boss activated his comm. "This is Delta three-eight to vulture, do you copy?"

"Delta leader, this is vulture-03 hearing you loud and clear, extraction zone in sight."

"I need to land on the rooftop of the Lauela Trading Center!" Boss ordered as the group was now running up the staircase.

"On the rooftop?"

"Just do it! And we need immediate medical assistance, we have a causality!"

"Copy that Delta leader."

"Honestly, I am surprised they gave up so easily." Yang commented as they nearly reached the roof, and just as she said that, few blue bolts flew right before her nose.

At least sixteen white androids took up positions and started firing at Delta squad merging from the staircase and taking cover.

"Anything more clever to say?" Fixer remarked as he fired his gun, but androids were well-covered.

"Where is our damn evac?!" For the first time Yang could hear irritation in Boss's voice.

Scorch threw a red grenade high, right between two white androids, the explosion tore them to large chunks of disfigured metal.

"Look!" Yang pointed at the sky, and the roar of the engines became louder than the sounds of the gunfight.

Manta unleashed it's anti-personnel guns, decimating the remaining androids from the roof, then turned around and opened the ramp for Deltas.

"Did someone called for a ride?" Pilot said through the comms while the co-pilot stood on a ramp.

"Hurry up!" He shouted, and both Commandos and Yang didn't want to keep them waiting for long.

"All aboard!" Scorch cheered as he jumped onto the ramp. "I won't go shopping for months after this one!"

"All I know is that I will occupy dorm's shower for quite some time!" Yang added, feeling her clothes soaked with sweat, and her hair in a total mess. For what felt like a whole day, she fought, run, fought again and run some more.

Soon, all members of the Delta squad made it onto Manta, co-pilot helping Rookie get on the ship, right where the medical android waited.

"Is the second passenger alright?" It asked, pointing at Penny still in Yang's hands.

"She is just unconscious, that's all." Yang reassured with a tried smile as Manta slowly lifted the ramp and Yang couldn't help herself but lean against the Manta's wall.

The worst part was about to come as she didn't know how to tell Ruby what happened. Because what she is going to say exactly? "Hey Rubes, so I met a girl in a bar, and some bad guys sent a whole army of androids after us, but Ace Ops swooped in?" It's just too unbelievable.

As the Manta slowly lifted into the air, Boss and Fixer refilled their ammunition while android tended to Rookie's wounds.

"Hey." Scorch sat beside Yang. "Great work back there."

"Nah, it was…" She wanted to say, but suddenly, the vehicle was struck by something form the outside, throwing everyone around.

"Shields are down!" Co-Pilot yelled. "Engine two not responding!"

"We are going to make an emergency landing!" Pilot pulled the controls hard, trying to land his wounded vehicle on the road, not a neighboring buildings. "Brace for impact!"

Yang tried to grab a seat, but Scorch quickly covered her with his own body and extended his personal shield while Boss did the same to Penny.

When Manta fell off the sky, impact made Yang's head and teeth shake, but Scorch's shield absorbed the hit.

"Evacuate the vehicle!" Pilot ordered as he opened the ramp again, drew his pistol and jumped out of the cockpit.

"Out! Move move!" Boss ordered as he picked Penny up and run.

"Quickly!" Scorch helped Yang get up and the group jumped out of the Manta, just in time, for the second laser wall sliced the Manta in half, igniting the fuel and shockwave sent everyone tumbling on the road.

Gritting her teeth, Yang lifted her head and watched the Assault Droid rolling out of the Shopping Mall, seemingly unharmed, aside of few scratches and bruises.

"You got to be kidding me…" She groaned as other droids started to arrive from all directions.

'

"Targets cornered." Green-eyed head said.

"This units calculations proved to be correct." Red-eyed head added.

"Redirecting all available units into the area." Blue-eyed head pressed few more command buttons.

"Chance of escape – NULL." Red-eyed head added, and if the machine could feel a satisfaction, it certainly would.

Although costly, this operation could finally bring the breakthrough Doctor hoped for.

"All that remains – eliminate the targets." Green-eyed head commanded as it watched how Atleasian commandos and that blond girl performed their last stand using the remains of their ship, but it wasn't bothered in a slightest.

Chances of changing the outcome were so low, that there was no point in counting them.

Beacon Academy

"Are you sure you heard that right?" Cardin asked and Russel frantically nodded his head.

"Mhm! And he sounded really serious!"

Cardin's lips curled into a vicious smile, and a dangerous spark shined in his eyes.

"Who would have thought? Jauney-boy of all people… Still water runs deep ey?" He chuckled. "I thing we got ourselves a great prank to pull off."

"Cardin." Sky took a deep breath when Winchester looked at him. "Man, aren't we taking it way too far?"

"What?"

"I mean, we finally started to dig ourselves out of the hole you know?" Lark continued. "People slowly stop looking like at us like on a bunch of crooks! Better, I am finally able to make some friendly conversations!" Dove nodded his head in agreement. "I mean, playing tricks like putting frogs in lockers or scribble on someone's notebook was fun, but this – it is just blackmailing." But Cardin laughed out loud.

"Don't worry, I won't hurt Jauney-boy, just make him tag along for another prank, that's all."

"Mate, Someone recently blackmailed my dad, it's NOT fun, it's just scummy." Lark crossed his arms. "Everyone will look at us like some sort of mafia!" In two steps Cardin stood before Sky, trying to intimidate him.

"Listen Sky, someone has to teach Arcy some respect! He just goes around all high and mighty, not only he got his five minutes of fame on our expense, but also, somehow, he made Nikos…" Cardin bit his tongue, and realization slowly hit Sky like a truck.

"That's what it's all really about? Her?" Cardin groaned hearing that his teammate caught this slip up.

"Alright, fine, let's put it to a vote!" Winchester sat on a chair. "Who is against my idea?"

Sky and Dove raised their hands, and they looked at Russel.

"Rus?"

"I…I…" He looked at Cardin, feeling his pressuring stare. From the very day of initiation, he based a lot of his confidence in being Cardin's partner, and he was just incapable of going against him. "…I pass."

"So, who is for going through with this prank?" Cardin alone raised his hand. "So, as we agreed previously, because I am a team leader, my vote counts twice. And since I am a tie-breaker, I say the idea goes through."

"It's a really bad one, Cardin and you know it." Sky said. "I won't participate."

"Me too." Dove said, and Cardin waved his hand dismissively.

"Then sit on a bench like suckers while I do all the work to bring us back on top." He looked at Russel. "I have something else for you to do Rus. Since Jauney-boy likes so much forging documents, let's give him one."

Commercial District, Vale

When Penny opened her eyes, she found herself… in a park?

"I know this place, that's Mantle's green garden!" She looked around, recognizing the small trees, flourishing plants, stoney paths surrounding crystal-like lakes and benches made of spruce. "Dad took me here often, after…"

"Penny!" She heard from behind, quickly turned back and blinked few times seeing her dad, standing on both of his feet with his cane. "I knew you would find it one day!"

"Dad!" She jumped to him and hugged him tightly, Pietro laughed and embraced her back.

"Hello my Little star." He said, gently brushing her hair. "I am so glad to see you, even if it's not really me."

"I know dad, you are currently in Atlas, continuing…"

"After all, if you are here, that means I passed away."

Penny backed off in total confusion, her mouth open and her eyes wide. What? But he is alive and well and…

Recording of Pietro chuckled softly. "Such us the fate of us humans, isn't it? We are surprisingly fragile, yet unbelievably resilient." He sat on the bench right before a small pond and pat the seat beside him. "Please, take a seat. I have one last gift before I truly depart."

Penny looked at the bench, then at her father, her pose uncertain. She wanted to back away, feeling that she shouldn't be here now, but on the other, her dad left ths message for a reason.

When she took a seat, Pietro left a heavy sigh.

"I know you have many questions, and most I won't be able to answer. I know that I put a whole lot of responsibilities on your shoulders, and I am certain that you think something like "Why did you make me the way you did?"." He put his hand on Penny's right shoulder. "I could try to say that I gave all this weaponry for a greater cause, but in reality, my reason was more selfish."

When he said that, Penny heard someone approaching from the right, and when she turned her head, she saw her noticeably younger dad, and a small, three-year child running circles around him, her tiny face beaming with joy.

"I'm big scawy Gwimm! RAWR!" Child stopped right before Pietro ad mimicked a monster.

"Oh no! Big scary Grimm is attacking me!" He backed away in a theatric way. "Is there a brave Huntress that will protect me?"

"I'm here dad!" Child pounced right her father's arms. "I will always be hewe, to keep big scawy monsters away! Right dad?"

"Of course, my little sunshine!" Penny embraced his daughter as Penny watched, touched this scene.

"I know you might despise me for everything, and I understand that. I am already at peace with thought of you hating me, even if that pains me. But still, my old heart would not survive losing my beloved child once again."

Park around them changed, a green spring left and allowed the red autumn to take hold, red leaves falling of the trees, and on the small hill beside the pond, were three men – Pietro Polendina on his knees beside his robotic-chair with four moveable legs, on his right, general James Ironwood in his general uniform, who put his right hand on Professor's shoulder, like he tried to comfort him, even a bit, and on his left stood none other than Headmaster Ozpin.

"What happened?" Penny said, distraught by the scene.

"It was my fault." Polendina replied, pain palpable in his voice. "I tried to push the boundaries, and paid the unfathomable price. Because of my actions, I lost my little sunshine."

Even if it was a more interactive recording, Penny felt that even now, dad is unable to speak about it.

"So, when I created you, I wanted to make sure that you are prepared for the challenges that lay ahead, that I won't lose you if I make a tragic mistake again. But, as I watched you grow develop a personality, explore the world around you with curiosity, show kindness and compassion I slowly realized that you are more than my greatest creation – that I love you, my child, with all my heart."

Before Penny could say anything, Pietro gently took her hand. "Each time I looked at you, I knew you that you have a potential to change the world for the better, in a way that both James and Ozpin had ever envisioned, that you are as human as me, james, everyone. But being a human isn't easy, for life is not only full of black and whites, but also shades of grey. I wanted to prepare you for that reality the best I could, and I probably made a lot of mistakes in doing so, but no matter what happens, one thing will never change." He gave her a soft smile. "I love you, every single part, and watching you grow as a person was the greatest joy of my life."

Penny found herself tearing in her dad's embrace.

"So please, don't hate yourself, for you are the best thing that happened to me, don't be afraid of making your own choices, of who you are, because you are Perfect, don't let your mistakes or regrets chain you to the ground instead spread your wings and fly my Angel and keep doing your best. And never forget…" He kissed her forehead, and as his image slowly faded, she looked at his dad's image with unquestionable love.

"…Even as a Maiden, you will always be my little star."

Penny finally opened her eyes, back in the real world, which was filled with gunfire and shouts.

"Slow them down!"

"Low on ammo!"

"Melee droids approaching!"

"Get off me jackass!"

Penny changed her position from laying to sitting and looked around, analyzing the situation.

Four Ace ops and two pilots used the wreckage of manta as a bunker, firing at the tightening loose of droids of unknown origins, commandos firing their smgs while pilots fired their pistols.

Before she could ask anything, Yang slammed a red android against the ground and stepped on it's back with all her strength, crushing it's torso with a metallic *crunch*.

"Oh Hello sleepy head!" Penny looked at Yang's face, dirty of oil, bruised, her hair in absolute chaos. "How was your nap?"

"I think I…learnt something." Penny stood up and eyed the approaching machines.

"Penny get down!" Yang run up to her, but Polendina looked at her, tilted her head and gave a big, happy smile.

"Thank you for helping me!" And she disappeared in a flash of green light.

Before Yang could make a sense of it, the entire skirmish's dynamic changed.

Green light zoomed from droid to droid, so fast that Yang could barely keep track of it, but each time the green light touched the clanker, it was sent flying or straight up split in half.

"What the hell…"

Penny kicked one of the androids so hard that it tumbled into a group of it's smaller allies and crushed against the wall, not stopping she struck down another machine and another, decimating their ranks.

"I won't search for a fight myself." She thought as she dodged the swing of the red android's glaive, struck upward, which split the machine in half. "If there is a way to resolve conflicts between humans or faunus peacefully, I will look for it, and do my best. But if given no other choice, when it comes to protect those who can't defend themselves…" She briefly looked at Yang, fighting Commandos, People who got attacked in Limestone, Annatar, her dad…

/Activating Floating Array/

"…I shall be their shield, not a sword!"

With newfound purpose, Floating array's blades flew out of her back and joined her, parrying the strikes and shots coming from every direction, slicing through metal, making sure that people behind her are safe.

"Yeah, way to go girl! Wohoo!" Scorch cheered from the wreckage while Commandos held fire, not wanting to accidentally hit Polendina.

"So she didn't need my sock, huh?" Yang remarked, earning a question stare from Boss, but before he could ask, both heard the dreaded charging sound.

"Penny look out!" Yang warned, Penny's stare darted at the assault droid that predicted her pathing, charged it's shot and fired a laser ray directly at her, but instead of dodging, Penny summoned the Floating Array, which quickly formed a semi-circular ring before her, a green energy gathered, then green laser fired.

Green beam clashed with the laser ray, the amounts of heat caused from the point of the clash made the asphalt melt into black goo, and after few seconds, Penny's green beam overpowered the laser ray and pressed forth, right at the Assault droid.

When the green flash disappeared, two halves of the black armor collapsed onto the ground, nothing but melted and severed circuitry in between.

'

Green-eyed head stared at the monitor, it's robotic brain overloaded with information.

"Identification complete." Red-eyed head said. "99.99% compatibility – It's the current objective."

"Odds – impossible" Green-eyed head added as it watched the orange-haired girl returned to decimating the droids. "Schaffer – not possess such firepower."

"Odds of making a mistake in an identification raised from 33,67% to 89,78% and keeps rising." Red-eyed head added, which put the Green-eyed head before a terrible conclusion.

It made a mistake, and wasted resources for nothing.

"Initiate burn-out protocol?" Blue eyed head asked.

"Proceed"

Upon receiving a confirmation, Blue-eyed head pressed few command buttons.

'

Without warning, all of the droids dropped on the ground like flies, and when Penny performed a quick scan, she found that the cause of it was a miniature explosion inside each droid's main computer, probably to ensure that no data could be recovered.

But it didn't matter to her as Floating Array lowered…

"Penny!" She heard and turned just see Yang running to her.

"Yang! I'm so sorry for everything that happened…" But before she could finish Yang embraced her and spun around.

"Are you kidding!? That was a blast!" Yang continued spinning with Penny in her arms while Delta squad slowly approached.

"Observation – this girl is nuts." Fixer said to Boss, and Scorch snickered.

"Yeah, she would make a great Ace." Boss commented as Yang finally stopped spinning.

"Why didn't you tell me you are a Huntress?!" Yang asked, looking at the flying swords. "Well, when I think of it I should have guessed it by myself – you don't look like you could hurt a fly! I mean just look at your arm!" Yang raised Penny's right hand. "Barely any muscle on it!" When she said that, Xiao Long flexed her impressive biceps. "If you hit a gym once in a while, these jerks would think twice before trying anything funny." She kicked one of the droid's head while Boss received a transmission.

"I didn't tell you because… I am prohibited." Yang rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, that's right, hey guys!" She turned to Delta Squad. "Is that Hag going to honor us with her presence? I have few things to say to her."

"She won't arrive here, in fact she gave us orders to bring Penny back." Boss said, and Yang gave him an angry look.

"Listen Bossman, if she continues like this…"

"Yang, it's fine." Penny put her hand on blond's arm.

"No it ain't! You went looking for help in bar! Who knows what would have happened to you if I wasn't… When I think of it you would have managed just fine BUT still, she needs to learn how to take care of someone!"

"That's why I must go Yang. I don't want to run from this talk anymore." Penny reassured, and hugged Yang. "Thank you for being here for me."

Yang's expression softened as she brushed Penny's hair with her right hand while a white van arrived to the scene.

"It was nothing, really." She bent to bring her mouth closer to Penny's ear and whispered a scroll number. "Next time, I will take you to the Arcade, and buy some ice cream." Excited spark appeared in Penny's eyes.

"Will you teach me about paans too?" She asked, and Yang's smile widened.

"Of course!"

"Polendina!" Boss called out while Fixer helped Rookie get into the vehicle.

"Thank you, again. For everything." Penny run up to the van and jumped into it.

"Hey kid! If you want a ride…" Scorch said.

"Nah, I have my bike like…" She licked her finger, and turned around, the pointed down the opposite end of the street. "...In this direction, I will get to Beacon by myself, but thanks for the offer!" Scorch nodded his helmet, waved his hand and jumped into the van.

"Yang." Boss tossed something to Yang, and she grabbed it mid-air., a vial of strange looking dust, and on the vial, there was a sheet of paper rolled around it. "For your troubles, and if you ever think about career, just use this number, we are always recruiting."

"I'm good where I'm now but thanks!" Boss nodded his helmet in respect

"One last thing – Don't blab too much about what happened today."

"You wanted to say that today is Classified?" She giggled, and for the first time, she heard Boss laughing.

"Take care of yourself kid. "He said, then jumped into the van, and vehicle drove away.

"It wasn't exactly what I envisioned for today…" Yang looked at the vial once again and smiled again. "But it was fun too."

She walked away, careful to not stumble on the droids carcasses, thinking of nothing more than to take a long shower.

Author's note

Twenty years.

Twenty years had passed since the release of the Star wars: Republic Commando, and to say that this game left an impact on me would be an understatement.

I played it as a young kid, when my understanding of English was… lacking at best. Still, it was basically my HALO.

Four badasses performing high risk operations on the enemy's backline, and sometimes frontline.

And once I have realized that I could easily fit them into the story, I thought "Shit, why not?". I mean, it gave a unique opportunity to show that Ace Ops are much larger formation than five skilled Huntsmen.

Ace Ops Alpha, Ace Ops Beta, Gamma, Theta, Delta and so on. Let's just say that more men and women make up for Ironwood's fist.

Also, these scenes I added will be important in the future. I mean, I prefer to set things up beforehand. Some I had to scarp though, and I am not sure they will ever see the light of day.

Not crucial plot points though! Just scene that would add… flavor. Yeah.

Okay, enough my of blabbing!

In response to Ltbutterfly287:

Oh hello! Glad to see you!

Sound observation, Throught this interaction, Sauron suspected something and tried to make Ozpin 'slip', but Headmaster didn't fell for such tricks.

"You and I are both beyond humanity's definition, Headmaster, I see it in your eyes." "You can hear the music of this world."

"We are often too occupied with our lives to hear it." – A classic deflection.

Not to mention Saroun is capable of seeing everything on a deeper level, so Ozpin may be able to shield his mind, but I doubt he could hide his very soul. – I understand your point, but here is my, in-story explanation:

Ozpin switched bodies over the course of thousands of years, sometimes he took a body of a young adult, but I am sure he landed far too many times in a body of a child. And since his ex is after him, I am more than certain she tried to spawncamp him on numerous occasions, so he had to learn how to hide his presence.

Second in-story reason – Ozpin's hosts are not dying, as we saw in the show, but instead, Ozpin's soul slowly takes over the body.

Soul of the original owner does not disappear, it just… merges with Oz I guess? All I know is that it is a stuff of nightmares.

In Sauron's POV, Headmaster soul appeared… muddied.

And finally, a writer's reason – I don't want to write that Sauron takes a single look at someone/something and he is immediately like "Now I know everything!". He should work for some of his info, because otherwise, it would feel plain.

Plus, Oz is not exactly a pushover, I don't want to downplay him.

And lastly – Sauron can be deceived, just look at Aragorn – he tricked Sauron into thinking that he has the Ring.

Thank you for your review! Have a nice week!

In response to Oystermcnutty:

Damn, now I see why Mr. Sauron was so mad at Jaune when he messed up the ring.

Two things – one, It wasn't Jaune's complete fault.

Second – Sauron is not fully aware of Morgoth's betrayal.

Have a nice week Oyster! Thank you for your review!

In response to Venom Snake-117:

Thanks! I am really glad you like it!

Have a nice week, and have fun writing your story!

In response to vastoisshin:

I am glad I managed to surprise you my fellow! Like I said – I set many things up beforehand.

And yeah, Morgoth's thralls sow chaos even on this site, but I am glad my tactic repelled them from this chapters.

Therefore, I shall repeat the incantation here:

I'm not interested in your art, I won't contact you through discord, twitter, twitch, I won't share my email etc, I hope you won't be able to fish anyone like this, your art is mediocre at best.

Have a nice month Vas! Take care!

In response to RedHood001:

"I did expect Ozpin to come by himself during Annatar's daily work time but it makes sense." - Ozpin approaching during the work day made sense in another way - He not only wanted to catch Sauron off-guard (Who probably expected that Professors will come one day and bring him to Ozpin) by slipping through his many observers and lookouts, but also gambled quite a bit, for he asked for Annatar's time.
Imagine what someone as crafty as Oz could do with one hour of Sauron's time!
But, as you read, Sauron didn't shy away from the challenge, he picked up the metaphorical glove. Notice how confident was Sauron not only in his abilities, but also in his gathered intel - He allowed Headmaster to choose the game after all.

"Again, it's not wrong, but we all know at this point that Annatar and every other individual who wields power in Arda use Magic of a different kind. They're almost always more in so many ways, not the paltry displays of elements like the Maidens do." - Like you said, Remnant's magic operates on different rules than magic from the Middle-earth, and Sauron knows this too - "I set rules for my gifts like you set rules for magic in this world. That's why you are weary of me, for I do not abide to your rules." = "You are not a Maia, yet still, magic of this world answers your call, and the mere idea of someone else capable of doing that terrifies you. I don't know how you achieved such power, but I will learn it one day."
I could spend hours explain the underlying messages, how they tested one another through the game etc, but I don't want to spoil the fun.

"Annatar presents an opportunity unlike any other, but the Maia has his own plans and certainly causes some plots to come into motion. It feels intentional that you also included, mostly, the student characters and Penny as their conversation was going because of the connection there. Yang is the one meeting Penny, who's also had some changes thanks to Annatar." - The inclusion of other characters and plots was to show that not only Sauron and Ozpin are playing their games, but that the world has other players and other chessboards.
Some are more obvious, others are hidden, everyone is currently making moves, and their decisions often collide/impact one another now, and in the future.
Honestly? I am genuinely surprised that no one pointed out Cinder, Mercury and Emerald. I mean I get why you guys read this story but c'mon, I am trying heh.
„Weiss getting some wisdom from Ruby after being frustrated with Yang, especially with how you positioned one describing the other. The development feels well-paced at least for me." - Thank you! It always bothered me that team RWBY got along so easily, like, on paper they have conflicting personalities, different goals, opinions etc.
Plot of "How Team RWBY actually becomes friends" is really important in this story, because I don't want to do "Oh yeah, they are friends now", especially since they are going to face serious challenges long the way. And it's my job to get them to this point.

"I suspected the Shadow was a piece of Morgoth. From the beginning, that description has always stuck with me because Morgoth and Sauron (I think?) were always associated with the Abyss as the place they would be condemned to. Morgoth already got there and despite being slightly sick, I distinctly remember he's often referred to as the Enemy or the Great Shadow or something along those lines." - Morgoth's name literally translates to "The Great Enemy" so yeah, you remember very well! The Marrer, The One who Yearns for the Flame, self-proclaimed "Ruler of Arda" and my own which I intend to use one day - The Root of All Evil. I am really glad that you were able to guess who was hiding in Arc's shadow - I really like when someone guesses right from the clues I leave.
I won't say that you are not wrong with how Morgoth is poisoning Arc's mind and how it could be compared to Mairon's corruption (For maybe we will see the latter, who knows), and like you noticed, Morgoth's action in a way mirror the One Ring's corruption of Gollum - The Ring isolated him, severed all the bonds he had with his family, friends etc. until IT, and IT only remained.

Look what Morgoth did in this chapter - He strained relations with Nora, Jaune thinks she hates him for what he did, then Morgoth cleverly used opportunity to destroy trust between Ren and Jaune. He feeds his pride, and constantly tells him "I need no one, all those around me are schemers and potential thieves, I will be better alone."
The art of Gaslighting at its finest.
Jaune will resist, of that there is no doubt. But for how long, if he is facing the abyss alone?
That being said, there is still one thing (or rather person) who Morgoth didn't take into the account. Or rather, belittles her presence.
After all, He already thinks that his plan cannot be stopped, and that attitude bite him in the ass quite numerous times. But I guess Pyrrha gave him a rude awakening, right?

"I actually like how he gave the kid visions of Hurin's moments in battle, considering Ruby got Túrin's Tale to learn as a leader." - Morgoth using Hurin's last stand wasn't the only parallel to Sauron's tale

Sauron brought up Turin as an example, to teach Ruby a valuable lesson, but also to present himself as a wise mentor, who is willing to share his knowledge with Ruby, which potentially, could make him someone really important for our Rose.
Morgoth used Hurin's memory to slowly shift boys perception of "What it means to be a hero" - to make him think that being a hero = being strong and powerful, slaying Grimm left and right, but most importantly - that heroes work alone (which is not true)
You could say that both used it to manipulate, but in very different ways.
Second comparison is also worth noting:
Turin's story was treated with respect - Sauron didn't twist Turambar's memories to fit his narrative, he didn't call Turin a fool or anything, but carefully explained why Turin made such choices, and why he failed as a leader.
Morgoth showed absolutely no respect to Hurin - What should be remembered as a great sacrifice Morgoth twisted, corrupted and used to deceive our hero. Hell, he perverted a memory of his most loyal servant - Gothmog was reduced to a glorified punching, just so Morgoth could advance his agenda a little bit more.
Morgoth has no respect for anything, he sees only tools he can use then discard, and if he can mock his most hated human so far (Hurin) - the better.
"I kinda hope at least one teacher gets to help" - What will teachers do? Glynda wants to teach Arc something during these additional lectures but I am not sure if that is going to be enough. Even if these lesson are going to happen in the first place.
"The Middle-Earth Shadow games have their flaws, but damn do they have some great lines and moments." - I referenced the Shadow of War and Shadow of Mordor because I love both of this games.

Heck, I reinstalled SoW because of this chapter (Which is partially the reason why it took so long to write it heh)
What would Tolkien think of the game? I don't want to put something he wouldn't think or say out of respect, but considering his stance on How using power of the Ring to fight it's master would only makes things worse, I am more than certain that the moment when Talion and Celebrimbor started dominating uruks, I would safely say that he would comment it like this:

"They already lost, even if they somehow won."

Thank you for your review, Take care!
DJ

In response to deathlord9011:

You should treat it like a one, long chapter, but I am glad you like it!

Take care mate!

In response to Dhestrya:

Mara!

And finally, in response to Valen Skata:

"It was a fun ride. I expected that the "Everpresent" was Morgoth all along but I am still not sure what mechanics he wants to use to get back. He wants to use Jaune, sure but how exactly? I guess we will see." – I am more than happy you guessed the Shadow's identity! As for the rest of this quote, I hereby use the power of RAFO – Read And Find Out.

"The meeting between Sauron and Ozpin was good, I especially liked that Ozpin understood the real meaning of "The master of Gifts" title. I mean Tolkien never said that it's the correct interpretation, but it fits so well." I thought for a really long time how to make Ozpin's perceptive nature shine, so I am glad I managed to do it! Thank you.

"Who is trying to warn Jaune? Gothmog said something in voice of a young woman. I cannot think of any character that would be able to communicate to Jaune this way at this point." – Well Skata, I have plans for her character in the future, but I can't exactly tell who is she..

But for now, the only thing I can say is this: Do you believe in a Guardian Angels?

"The plot point of Yang and Penny was nice, but short. I mean I know it will be probably finished in next chapter but still I feel like it wasn't properly closed yet. But this part got me few questions - who send those robots? Penny said that she didn't know this models so whose are they? And also - Scheaffer. I know this name. It belongs to Aelita from Code Lyoko. The questions to her age - these are also asked to Aelita. These guys are going after Aelita from Code? WHY AND WHO ARE THEY!? I know that there are characters from Code here, but will they have more important plot?" I guess their plot is no longer that short ey?

Oh, don't worry, his genius will change Remnant in a way that no one (Except me - Konsilio) see coming. And the best part? I didn't had to port him, he was already here, just where I needed him! The only thing I had to do is make his ambitions… grander.

But you know me Skata – I don't like giving a boring answers. Instead, I prefer to lift a curtain just a bit!

Konsilio: You know the drill!

'

Undisclosed location, Remnant

"Operation was a failure, Doctor." Three headed machine spoke through the hologram. "This Unit suggests it's shut down for failure."

"I am not the one to waste valuable assets." An Elderly man with grey hair, prominent mustache and a beard, covered his forehead with his right hand, while the robotic red eye looked at the hologram. "Lay low for now, no more operations for time being, but relay all of the data taken from this fight. And find me those idiots who mistook the Schaffer."

"Copy that." Machine responded and ended the call, and Doctor left a heavy sigh. What a pity, for a moment he thought that he finally found her and her traitorous father.

Oh well, Life is full of disappointments. But it's not like he needs them that much - it would only sped up things, nothing more.

He turned his seat towards the window overlooking a giant machine glowing with energy, giant sphere looking like a small neutron star floated inside, blue lightning was emerging from it, all the while thousands of droids worked around the clock to finish the giant device.

"Aniela." He called his assistant through the comms. "Did our dear Cinder finally delivered us the King Abbas's diamond as per agreement?"

"No Doctor." Female voice replied. "The crystal she gave us was a copy, but she promised that she has someone on the case for the real one."

"Oh? Who, If I may?"

"An individual called Tyrian Callows, Doctor." Old Doctor nodded his head.

"Just remind our dear Cinder that if she wants my devices, better that 'Callows' bring me what I want." He said. "And bring it fast."

"Yes, Doctor Merlot." Aniela ended the call and Doctor Tyrion Merlot looked at his magnum opus in the middle of the giant chamber underneath the earth.

"You only prolonged the inevitable breakthrough, my old friend." He said to himself, and a small smile raised in the corners of his mouth. "And now, I am closer than I have ever been."