Halo, it's time for the newest chapter. Enjoy the reading.
Traveling through the tubes wasn't only fast, jarring and scary, but there wasn't enough air in the tube, but it was the only way to Atlas.
Everyone coughed for fresh air and climbed out of the tube with relief after reaching the military base.
- Ouch! Ouch! - Nora, whose ears Weiss pulled angrily for starting her so suddenly. - Calm down! It was a once in a lifetime experience! - Finally, she let go, when her ears started to hurt.
- Good, - Blake also arrived, but she was dizzy and dazed from the journey. - because I never want to do this again.
- It's been worse. - Lance was the last, but he didn't sound worn out, especially since his helmet protected him from the oxygen-poor journey.
They all gathered themselves and started down the corridor, which branched off in several directions.
- Okay, robot girl, - May looked at Penny, the only person who knew the way. - it's up to you. Where?
Penny scanned the base's hundreds of corridors and turns in the blink of an eye, then plotted the shortest route to the main terminal.
- We will cross the bridge, - She excitedly and enthusiastically began to explain and show the route plan. - then, left, straight, right, straight, left, up, up, right, straight, right, right, straight, left, left. - Everyone just stared at her in silence, barely remembering anything she said. - And my name is Penny. - She finished a little irritated, and Ruby just crossed her arms smugly.
May just rolled her eyes and motioned for everyone to come closer and activated her Semblance causing a large bubble like force field to appear around them making them invisible and walking away.
They got into the first elevator, which was empty, and went to an upper floor, but something went wrong, because the elevator stopped earlier, which indicated that someone was going to get on. They all stepped back as far as they could and lay flat in silence, hoping whoever got in wouldn't end up in the very back of the elevator.
- I don't think even the platoon leader knows what's going on up there. - Two soldiers, a man and a woman, came in, but none of them noticed them yet. - They can't get any closer to the storm without a bolt of lightning blowing out their engines.
- Pretty scary. - This was all the other female soldier said as they both stopped right in front of May's bubble. - Those giant whale Grimms, the likes of which we haven't even seen before... and the rest are just waiting. Worse than being attacked.
- Hey, don't say that! - The man scolded her. - You're jinx us!
- I just hope that we will get an answer from the commander soon, or... - The woman explained, while the elevator stopped again and this time on the floor where the team members were planning to go. Penny signaled that it was time and May, carefully maneuvering the bubble, led the team past the two soldiers, but Nora still pressed all the elevator floor buttons.
- Hey?! - The man only noticed it too late, and the door just closed.
The group walked quietly and carefully down the corridor where Penny led them, and then they came to a closed door. This was no problem for Penny, who opened one of her index fingers and a computer plug came out.
- It's cool. - Ruby was very impressed with Penny's ingenuity and composition.
Penny stuck her finger into the connector on the door terminal, giving Pietro permission to enter.
- Welcome back, Dr. Polendina. - The terminal's computer opened the door and the team could move on.
- Okay, where to now, Penny? - May asked after Penny and thus the team stopped.
- Through the Command Center! - She excitedly pointed towards a huge room full of computers, working people and security guards were bustling towards everywhere.
- Of course. - Weiss just shook her head tiredly.
- I can't maneuver through all this. - May warned them.
- No need to worry. - Penny jumped and turned back. - Ruby is able to move from one point to another at extreme speed, by breaking down into her molecular components, thus eliminating her own mass, and then recombines herself at the destination. It's theoretically possible for her to transport us all using the same method, since the mass doesn't matter anymore.
- I... - Ruby only understood that she had to do something. - What? - Just not what.
- You can use your Semblance on all of us. - Penny made it simple, but Ruby still blinked, as she had never thought of that before.
- Did Penny figure this out before you did? - Blake found it a bit funny that Ruby, who's always full of ideas and perfectly aware of everyone's abilities, didn't think of this possibility of her own Semblance.
- She knew you were a faunus before I did! - The girl shot back.
Watts didn't have much of a choice, as after the soldiers dragged him out of his cell, he was taken straight to Ironwood, who let him live with the ultimatum of helping him get Penny, the power of Winter Maiden and the Staff of Creation.
Watts worked hard, since in addition to his own life, he could even help Salem's plan with this, although the constant surveillance he received from the armed soldiers gave him little opportunity to do anything without their knowledge. He had to focus all his attention on Penny.
- Sorry for the delay, - Ironwood had just returned from a visit to the infirmary to check on Watts. - today was a bit... busy. Did you manage to make any progress? - Watts just typed the buttons at lightning speed, as if he hadn't heard the question, before Ironwood stood behind him and grabbed both of his shoulders menacingly. - I don't want to have to motivate you with another method.
- Given what we're looking for, - Watts stopped typing for a moment, then continued wearily. - I have all the motivation I need. Unfortunately, even though I have the motivation, it is unfortunately not enough to crack Pietro's amazing science project. Here are the blueprints and how is it put together, but there is nothing I can do with it. We have to find a way to handle it.
- I trust, - Ironwood let go of Watts' shoulders. - that you can figure something out.
- Oh, - Watts looked sarcastically at the four soldiers who pointed their guns at him. - your trust is simply honorable. - Continuing to type, he found something unusual that had to do with Pietro. - Speaking of which, did you notice that dear Dr. Polendina is at your military base? - Ironwood looked towards the monitor. - Unless someone else is using his permission. - Ironwood knew that someone could use Pietro's permission. - For being so good, could I at least have a coffee?
The general didn't answer, he just made his way to the loudspeaker.
- A security threat has been detected at the base. - He started the announcement. - Level 3 alert, red. Start closing. I authorize all units to use any means and lethal force to eliminate the threat.
- He's got to be kidding! - Weiss, after hearing the blaring sirens and Ironwood's announcement with the team, nervously stomped.
- The pneumatic pipes are all sealed. - Penny reported.
- Then there's no going back. - Lance recognized the situation.
- And we fell into a trap. - Blake added.
- We passed a hangar, - May said. - I can steal a transport plane to get us off this floating rock.
- Wait! - Penny didn't even want to hear about running away. - We can still make it! We are already so close.
Although the target was indeed close, a room full of filing cabinets and security guards stood between them, full of all kinds of high-tech computers and wires.
Nora saw a sign saying "No food or drink in the Command Center", looked at the complicated electronic machines and noticed a guy walking towards the room with a mug of coffee and immediately got an idea.
She stuck her foot out of the bubble, tripping the man, dropping the mug with the hot drink it contained. The mug just landed and landed right on the desk of one of the office workers, flooding the machine, then spilled onto the man's crotch, causing him to scream loudly.
- Read the board, Bill! - The other shouted at him while pointing to the prohibition sign. - Read the board! - Everyone paid attention to the scene and stared angrily at the shackled man, who soaked an expensive machine and scalded one of his colleagues, who ran screaming to the bathroom. - Why don't you ever listen?!
This was the perfect opportunity for Ruby to use her Semblance on the entire team, turning them immaterial, in a matter of seconds she got the others through the Center, up a flight of stairs, into an elevator, and then she and the others were whole again.
- That was strange! - It was a strange but exciting experience for Lance and the others.
- One more thing I never want to do again! - Except for Blake, who was again dizzy and terrified, leaning against the wall of the elevator.
The elevator took them straight up to the highest floor, where they found a long bridge with railings on the edges, a not-so-deep room below, with a door leading out. In the middle of the bridge was a round platform, beyond that was a fortified gate protected by a very strong yellow electric shield.
- Stand back, please. - Penny transformed her finger into a computer plug again and then stuck it into the reinforced gate's computer, which disabled the electric shield, but before the gate even opened, everyone reached for their weapons, expecting the general to leave the main terminal unguarded.
To everyone's surprise, the main computer room was empty, dark, but as the team entered, the automatic lights turned on and still no one was seen in the room.
- Where's everyone? - Ruby couldn't understand why there weren't any workers or guards here either.
- This is a top secret area. - Penny replied, before the gate closed again and the electric shield turned on, but Nora was just amazed by this large amount of electricity.
- I think that would be a lot even for you. - Lance warned, remembering Nora's Semblance.
- I wonder how strong it would make you? - It was a pleasant fantasy for Nora.
- Don't. - That was Lance's final word to her.
Penny sat down in the chair of the main terminal, took a deep breath, because she had to do something quite unpleasant.
- Hey, Dad. - She spoke on her radio. - I'm ready.
Immediately after that, Penny's eyes turned yellow and her movements became much more mechanical.
- Uhum. - Although Penny's mouth was moving, it wasn't her speaking at all, it was Pietro, who was in Amity, but he clearly took control of Penny. - This process is a bit complicated, so I'll switch from Amity Coliseum to Penny. - Penny or more precisely, Pietro stretched his hands and then prepared for work.
- I see. - It was strange for Ruby that instead of her friend, the old scientist was speaking and controlling her body.
With Pietro's control, Penny started typing the buttons on the terminal and the other machines at lightning speed, his eyes darting back and forth and typing with such confidence that he didn't even have to look at the buttons.
The process took a while and the others, who didn't know what to do with themselves, just got bored and waited for Pietro to finish typing.
Weiss was just leaning against the wall, Blake was spinning in a chair, Nora was pacing up and down and Lance was just sitting in a chair after taking off his helmet.
- I hope the others are well. - Blake stopped spinning. - I've never seen Yang and Ruby fight like this before.
- Don't worry, - Weiss reassured. - they are sisters. Sometimes sisters have very different ideas of what is right. - She remembered her own sister, Winter, who had stayed by the general's side.
- Yes, - Nora was also confident. - everything will be fine.
- I don't know, girls, - Lance wasn't so confident. - it wasn't nice of Yang to jump at Ruby's throat like that. - Everyone just looked at the knight in confusion. - I mean, I understand we don't have much of a chance, but Amity is the only one we have.
- She was just worried, - Blake added. - she didn't want her sister to be in danger. That's why I came to take care of her.
- But still, - Lance looked at Ruby, who still trusted their plan. - Roman was right that Ruby was really trying to do what was right, but Yang was the one who got mad at her for how things went wrong. She wasn't the one standing for Ruby, saying that she always knew what was right.
- Roman was also right in that no one knows what's right and warned against the general. - Weiss reminded them.
- I'm still worried about Yang and the others. - Blake's concern didn't go away.
- No need to worry, - Weiss waved. - Roman is with them and takes care of them.
- Isn't it weird that he, a criminal, - Lance found it a little funny. - who tried to kill us several times, gives better advices and helps more than the adults around us?
- It's really interesting, - Blake remembered the days in Vale, when she and Roman were still sworn enemies. - I didn't think that we could ever consider Roman as our friend.
- Neither did Ironwood to our enemy. - Weiss added.
- You don't have to worry about the others either. - Nora waved. - Jaune is a good leader, Oscar has improved a lot and Yang can definitely protect them in battle. - The others looked at her with relief. - Yeah, - Suddenly, she realized that she missed someone. - and of course there's Ren, who... - She was suddenly at a loss for words as she thought of her new boyfriend. - I don't even know what he is. Every time I think that the two of us are moving forward, he... - She didn't know what to think about Ren, since it was practically Nora who forced the relationship and since then they haven't had much chance to discuss things. - We've been together all our lives, but now I feel like I know him less than ever and I don't know if it's his fault or mine.
- Maybe he's just afraid. - Guessed Lance.
- But why? - Nora didn't understand.
- That he would lose. - Guessed Lance. - That he can't protect you or that he just doesn't feel good enough for you.
- This is nonsense. - Nora shook her head.
- I understand. - Blake spoke up. - When you've been with someone for a long time, after a while it becomes a part of you. - She understood exactly, as she feels the same way about Yang. - But that's all. They are just a part of you. - She smiled confidently at Nora. - Don't forget the rest.
- Actually, I don't even know who I am without Ren. - Nora shrugged and laughed sadly. - Pretty sad, huh?
- Well, - Weiss suggested. - perhaps you could take this opportunity to find out. Do something only Nora can do.
- For example? - Nora wasn't so confident. - Should I be strong and smash things?
- You are lucky, you know that? - Interjected Lance, who just lowered his head. - You still have your teammates and those who are part of you. All I have remained is the rest.
- Lance... - Blake couldn't imagine how the Red Knight could feel.
- If we fail now, Lynda and Mike died for nothing. - Lance continued and stood up. - I will do my best to help you. - He put on his helmet. - All of you.
- It's almost... - Pietro spoke through Penny. - done! Now you just need to download a copy of the license. Once Penny returns to Amity, we run the launch sequence. Amity's computer will try to connect to the General's terminal, but it will connect to Penny instead. - He transformed her finger into a computer plug again and attached it to the computer to erase Ironwood's access permission from the entire system.
- And after the launch, - Penny's eyes turned green again, her voice was her old self and her movements became much more natural, which meant she was in control again. - I'll be back to help you evacuate.
- As for that, Penny. - Pietro had other plans. - When Amity rises, I think it would be better if you stay here with me and Maria.
- But... - Penny and the others were also disappointed to hear this. - they will need me. - She looked at the team sadly. - Right?
- Well, - Ruby wasn't happy that Penny couldn't stay with them either, but she knew what was best. - the further you stay from Salem's range, the less likely he will be able to open the Vault. And you won't be able to get the relic. So... - Penny, even if she accepted the situation, she knew, she was still sad that she couldn't stay with her friends in the end.
- Maybe it's best that way. - Weiss added.
- And it's also possible that Salem will attack Amity. - Lance explained. - We shouldn't leave him unprotected.
- Maybe we should go to the hangar. - Blake, unable to add anything, just changed the subject.
- I think, - Penny stood up and went to the gate to disable its protection. - we all have to do certain things. Even if we don't like it.
- Hello, kids. - As soon as the gate opened, the Ace Ops were waiting for them outside. - Time to come home, Penny! - Harriet warned.
- Wasn't the first beating enough?! - Weiss and the others also took out their weapons and prepared for the second round.
- We held back ourselves! - Marrow spoke awkwardly.
- We've all said and done things we regret, - Vine took the floor and stepped forward. - but please, listen us. I know you think you did the right thing by leaving with the power of the Maiden, but Salem is here now. Things have changed.
- If General Ironwood still plans to leave Mantle behind, then nothing has changed. - Penny defied the general's orders, just like the Ace Ops.
- I thought, - Vine lowered his head in disappointment. - your job is to protect people and not to harm them.
- I would never hurt anyone! - Penny nailed it.
- Unlike you! - Lance stepped forward as he pointed his shield forward.
- Winter's in critical condition because of her! - Elm added.
- And you thanked her, - Harriet continued, looking down at Penny. - by stealing the power that should have been her.
- But taking the power of the Maiden was the only way to... - Penny tried to explain, but Harriet didn't want to hear it.
- If you keep refusing to do the right thing, people will die in both Atlas and Mantle.
- You could stop all this, Penny. - Marrow also tried to speak to her soul. - Just open the Vault, hand over the relic and you will save Atlas.
- But it won't save Atlas! - Ruby knew full well that Ironwood's plan wouldn't work. - Salem will find a way to get you sooner or later! Once the general opens the Vault, the relic is in greater danger...
- One more word, . Harriet interrupted. - and I'll put you in prison next to your uncle.
- Wait! - Penny stopped Ruby, who almost went to Harriet, then looked at her threateningly. - Leave. Her. Alone.
- And what are you going to do about it, tin can? - Harriet raised her fists ready to fight.
Penny stepped out of the gate, next to Lance, but Harriet was just waiting for that, because she took a remote control from her pocket and pressed a button, then the gate closed and the electric shield turned on.
- Penny, Lance! - Ruby shouted in vain, but she couldn't do anything.
- Woops. - Lance got a little upset when they were separated from the team.
- Don't worry, Lance. - Penny's eyes started to glow green, and then a windstorm started to rise. - This fight will be over sooner than you think.
- You're right about that. - Harriet said to her.
The wind was getting stronger and the members of the Ace Ops felt it too. Lance felt a little awkward about having to hide behind a girl, but he did because he didn't want to get caught in the crossfire, and then Penny shot a huge gust of wind at the Ace Ops, knocking them back, but Vine, with his extended arm, was able to hold onto the railing.
Harriet started to run with her Semblance of Speed, but the huge wind felt like she was running in slow motion. Elm was able to resist with her strength, then caught Marrow with her hammer, then rooted herself to the floor with her Semblance.
Vine extended his other arm to the other railing of the bridge and threw himself into the air to get behind Penny, only to find himself face to face with Lance who swung at him with his sword but caught it, but he couldn't do anything with his shield as he pushed him back.
Penny's attention faltered a bit, causing the wind to die down and that was just enough for Harriet to go full speed around Penny and attack Lance in the back, who nearly fell into the gate's electric shield.
Harriet braced herself for another strike, about to thrust at Lance again, but Penny was quick to switch.
- You will not hurt my friends! - Penny took out her floating swords and attacked Harriet with it, saving Lance's life.
Lance and Penny had their backs to each other, shielding the other from Harriet's lightning fast attacks. Although Harriet was very fast, Lance was used to this kind of fighting and quickly recognized her movements and put his shield in the right place, then Harriet went full speed at it and fell to the ground.
Lance was ready to deliver the finishing blow to her, but Elm opened fire with her rocket launcher, which Penny blocked with her swords, but the blast was enough to push Lance and miss the stab with his sword, giving Harriet a chance to escape.
Next, Marrow charged at Penny and the robot girl raised her swords in a defensive position, but Marrow jumped over her to attack her in the back, but Lance transformed his sword into a spear and stabbed Marrow in the chest, knocking him back.
Harriet slipped past Penny again to attack Lance in the side, but Penny was quick and sent her to the ground again with her swords.
The Ace Ops was forced to admit that Penny and Lance together were much stronger than they thought. Penny wanted to end the fight as soon as possible, so she used the power of the Maiden to summon hail and she didn't have to worry about Lance, as his armor would protect him without damaging his aura.
The Ace Ops on the other hand, didn't wear armor and had to use more auras for defense, which Penny and Lance used. Penny attacked Harriet and Lance Marrow and both pushed the members of the Ace Ops off the bridge and into the depths.
Vine quickly extended both arms to catch his two falling teammates and put them back on the bridge.
- Harriet, Elm! - Vine shouted to the two women.
Once back on her feet, Harriet readied herself for another charge and leapt onto Elm's hammer, who once again, took root in the floor and slammed Harriet full force into the two young ones. Unfortunately, it was a huge mistake, as this time Penny was behind Lance, who opened his shield, which Harriet slammed into at full speed and fell backwards.
Elm didn't leave it at that and attacked Lance with her hammer, who was forced to back away from the giant woman, but Penny pushed her back with a laser cannon.
Meanwhile, the rest of the team desperately tried to get out to help their friends, but even Weiss' giant ice knight wasn't enough to break through the gate and immediately vaporized as soon as it touched the electric shield.
- Four against two?! - Weiss was outraged that the Ace Ops wanted to use their superior strength against their friends. - Cowards!
- Penny is the Winter Maiden and Lance is the strongest among us. - Ruby wasn't that worried. - I'm sure they'll hold their own.
Lance and Penny held their own, but Vine, seeing that Penny's swords were in the laser cannon mod, decided to take the opportunity to attack, only to find himself facing Lance again and, learning from his previous mistake, somersaulted under his shield, he grabbed his ankle and pulled him out, causing him to fall face down on the ground.
- Stay! - Marrow used his Semblance to stop Lance from standing up.
Penny tried to help, but Harriet kept her under constant attack, but she only intended it as a distraction until she got behind Elm and held her down. She couldn't break free from Elm's grip, her swords also fell to the ground and the wind stopped.
The members of the Ace Ops were confident, but their joy only lasted until another wind storm arose and pushed them aside with a huge energy blast and freed herself.
- Elm! - Harriet saw that Lance was no longer affected by Marrow's freezing Semblance and tried to stand up, so she called out to Elm, who hit the Knight's back with her hammer, which made him unable to stand up. - Marrow!
Marrow, knowing what he had to do, swung his boomerang at Penny, knocking her off the bridge, but Penny was still able to fly and aimed her two swords into two laser cannons.
- Stay! - Marrow used his Semblance again, freezing Penny in the air.
Vine reached out and caught her before she fell and threw her to the ground.
Lance couldn't help as Elm still pinned her to the floor and thought that maybe he should use his Semblance, but he was afraid that it would hurt Penny and the others.
- We have to get out there! - Nora couldn't sit idly by and do nothing while Penny and Lance were fighting for their lives. She stopped in front of the gate and looked at the yellow electric shield. - Be strong, - Despite Lance's admonition, she felt as if she could absorb the shield's energy. - and smash things. - She took out her hammer and plunged it into the shield.
- Nora, don't! - Weiss tried to warn her in vain, Nora did.
A large amount of electricity flowed into the girl's body, causing the entire room to shake and even the lights to turn on and off from the sudden energy fluctuation.
She absorbed more and more electricity, causing her hair to stand and spike up, pink lightning began to flash around her and purple veins on his body began to glow, which made it clear that her body couldn't take it much longer, but with this she gained such power that with a single blow was able to break through the reinforced security gate.
- Hurry up, Vine, - Marrow's aura began to run out and he could no longer hold Penny with his Semblance. - I don't know...
Bang
The door to the main terminal exploded and covered everything in smoke and soot and pushed the Ace Ops members back away from Penny and Lance.
As soon as the smoke cleared, Nora was standing in the gate with her hammer in her hand, the glowing veins on her body began to go out and she was panting, deadly tired, as if she had run for kilometers.
- This... - She gasped as the light of the veins on her body went out and left strong marks on her. - was... very... great. - A pink flash appeared around her and she collapsed.
- Nora! - Penny immediately ran to the girl.
- Are you okay?! - Lance also jumped up quickly to help Nora.
Ruby, Weiss and Blake escaped from the room, and with that the superiority of the Ace Ops in numbers and strength was gone.
- Damn it! - Ironwood angrily saw on the recording how the Ace Ops was unable to catch Penny, but what finally pulled the plug was that the Rubys were able to escape from the computer room. - This was our only chance! - He immediately reached for the radio in his ear. - All available units go to the...
- Wait! - Watts, after carefully studying Penny's blueprints and getting to her weapon system, had an idea. - I have a message for your people.
It was five against four, Ruby, Weiss, Blake, Lance and Penny against the Ace Ops. Both sides felt that the Ace Ops didn't have enough strength left to fight the five youths, but as soldiers, they couldn't run until the mission was completed.
Penny summoned a storm cloud that shot out green lightning.
- But General... - Harriet and the other members of the Ace Ops also received a new order.
- We understand, sir. - Marrow understood and assured the general.
The battle continued, Penny started first, followed by her friends, but she didn't wait for them and immediately launched an attack with her swords towards Marrow and Vine, who dodged the attack, but Penny continued towards Harriet.
Vine extended her arms and swept Team RWBY off the bridge, but luckily, Ruby hooked her scythe into the bridge, with Weiss and Blake clinging onto it. Lance was stronger and stood still, Elm attacked him, knocked his shield aside with her hammer, used her hand to knock the spear out of Lance's hand, then threw it and hit him back with her hammer.
Penny was still fighting with Harriet and the Huntress was pushed further and further back, but at the right moment, accompanied by a somersault, she managed to dodge Penny's attack, get behind her and catch one of her swords, which she then ripped out.
- Ouch! - Penny wasn't seriously injured, but it's clearly not well.
Ruby saved Weiss and Blake with her Semblance and Lance was back on his feet and ready to continue the fight without a sword.
- Let's go! - Elm shouted, before the Ace Ops retreated.
Marrow looked back for a moment, clearly doubting the rightness of what they were doing, but he had no choice since he was sworn.
- Was this... - Weiss couldn't explain the sudden retreat of the Ace Ops.
- Suspicious? - Blake shared Weiss's suspicion.
- We have what we needed. - Lance reformed his shield, then picked up his spear and turned it back into a sword.
Penny rushed over to the half-dead Nora, who was nearly electrocuted and as soon as she touched her hammer, she was jolted by the electricity that was left in her.
The team successfully exits the hangar, where May is waiting for them with a plane as planned. Unfortunately, May was nowhere to be seen and for a moment panic overtook them.
- Have you come yet?! - After a whistle, they heard May's voice and then rushed in her direction. Suddenly, they entered the invisible field, where May and the plane she promised were. - Are you ready to... - As soon as she saw Nora in a terrible condition, her breathing almost stopped.
- She's in bad shape, but she's still alive. - Blake reassured. - We need to get her to a safe place.
- Yes... - May clearly had bad news. - there is a little problem.
- What is it? - Ruby was afraid of the answer in advance.
- The lockdown is still active and the general has sealed the hangar. - May explained. - I couldn't do anything to open the hangar door.
- I'll take care of it. - Penny handed Nora to Lance, then her eyes started to light up again and she broke open the hangar door with her laser cannon.
- Oh... - May just blinked in shock. - Then... take off.
Once the team was on board, May started the plane and they took off and left the military base.
- I'm so sorry. - Penny went to Nora, who was lying on the plane seat. Ruby smiled kindly at her, glad she was unharmed.
- It wasn't your fault. - Lance assured.
- Time to go, right? - Penny knew this would happen.
- See you soon. - Ruby hugged her. - I promise. - Penny hugged her back, then looked at Blake and Weiss, who smiled kindly at her, and then at Lance, who got into a smaller air car in the plane's cargo.
- Lance... - Penny didn't understand why the Red Knight started the car.
- I'll go with you, if that's not a problem. - Lance didn't look at her, he just stared blankly out the windshield of the car.
- Why? - Penny asked.
- In case Amity was attacked... - Lance himself didn't know why he wanted to go with Penny, but he felt he had to.
- Penny is the Winter Maiden, - Weiss reminded her. - strong enough to protect Amity.
- We'll need you down there. - Blake said.
- Oh, - Lance was disappointed, he had to admit that the most logical thing to do was to go to Mantle with the Rubys. - I see... it was just ... an idea.
- I think, you should go to Amity. - To everyone's surprise, Ruby agreed with him. - Amity is our best and maybe our only hope. We need to protect as much as possible.
- I... - Lance was very grateful to her for supporting him. - thank you.
- Penny, you better go with him. - Ruby turned to the robot girl, who got into the car next to Lance. Ruby walked up to the Red Knight and hugged him. - Everything will be fine. - She felt how much Lance was worn out since Mike died and this task could help him find peace.
Lance closed the top of the car, started it up and left the plane. Penny waved one last time to her friends, who knew when she would see her next. The car disappeared into the clouds and in a short time, it was no longer visible.
- Excellent work. - Ironwood felt a slight sense of satisfaction as he held Penny's sword, which had been looted by the Ace Ops.
- That would have been great, - Harriet and the rest of the team felt like they had failed. - if we caught Penny.
- You know the saying, - Watts took the sword from Ironwood. - if you can't beat them, - He put it on the table and stroked it all over. - then make them to join to you.
Watts had a plan to hack Penny's security system and he only needed one of her swords to do so.
Thank you for reading. Please sign it to follow and as favourite and don't forget to write reviews.