Halo, it's time for the newest chapter. Enjoy the reading.
- Then... - Marrow was surprised when Winter removed his handcuffs and entered the elevator with him, arms crossed and a sullen expression on her face. - You're not arresting me?
- No, - Winter replied, still angry that she had been unable to see the general's true face for so long. - Ironwood must be stopped.
- Then why did you hit and handcuff me?! - Marrow asked, a little more confident and indignant.
- Because the general would have shot you dead without a second thought if I hadn't intervened! - Winter raised a finger to emphasize her point and make the man understand that she had literally saved his life at the last moment.
- Why didn't you save the kids from the execution? - Marrow took it back, but the face of Flynt from the FNKI team he had to shoot was still haunting him.
- I couldn't do anything! - Winter also regretted being helpless then. - Neither did you! If you hadn't done what Ironwood said and I had intervened, we would both be dead!
Marrow, having run out of arguments, crossed his arms in resentment and turned away. With her faunus hearing, he heard Winter pressing some buttons on her Scroll, so he looked curiously towards the woman and saw that she was about to call her sister.
- What are you doing? - He inquired.
- What I should have done a long time ago. - Winter answered with a sigh. - I'm contacting my sister. We're going to need help
The elevator stopped and opened with a beep on the prison level, but when the two Hunters found themselves face to face with the two escapees, they felt that their plan might just work.
- Winter? - Qrow looked at the two Hunters, whom he had pointed Harbinger at, in confusion.
- Speaking of help. - Winter smiled confidently and raised her hands with Marrow.
- What are you doing here? - Qrow demanded an answer.
- Wait! - Marrow tried to calm Qrow and Robyn. - We are against the general and we need your help against him!
- Finally, - Robyn lowered her wrist-mounted crossbow. - you also understood who he really is.
- You realized it a bit late. - Qrow also lowered his sword.
- But maybe not too late. - Winter continued to press her Scroll. - My sister and her friends may have some plan for this situation.
- Ruby... - Qrow was happy at the opportunity to finally find out what happened to his niece. He hasn't heard from her or the others since they were caught.
- They're probably together. - Winter initiated the call.
- Guys, - Nora put her hand on Penny's increasingly suffering shoulder and saw that she was getting worse. - she has to go to the Vault.
- But then... - Lance and the others looked sadly, knowing that there was no other way to save Penny.
- This... - Ruby had another idea. - is a risk we hadn't even considered before.
- What are you talking about? - Lance shook his head in confusion.
- We were so worried about keeping the Vault closed, - Jaune began to understand what Ruby might be referring to. - that we didn't even think about using what's in it.
- The Staff of Creation. - Ozpin gave the answer.
- Maybe we could save Penny with it and get everyone to safety from Atlas and Mantle. - Ruby confidently explained her plan.
Suddenly, someone's Scroll started ringing and everyone looked towards Weiss, who curiously took out the small device and could hardly believe who was calling her.
- You'll never guess who I'm hearing from now. - Weiss smiled confidently as she answered the call. - Winter, I have a feeling you're calling for a good reason.
- Weiss... - Winter was relieved to learn that her sister was okay, but she was tormented by guilt for not calling her sooner. - I don't know how...
- Get to the point, - Weiss knew they were pressed for time. - Are you calling because you're with us, or is the general trying to make you see things more clearly?
- I'm with you. - Winter replied, realizing that there was no time for a family reunion right now. - Marrow, Robyn, and Qrow are here with me.
- Uncle Qrow is there?! - Ruby's joy was indescribable when she learned that her uncle was unharmed.
- I'm here, kiddo. - Qrow waved from the other side.
- We're short on time, - Winter got to the point. - The general doesn't know about me and Marrow's desertion yet, nor about our meeting with Qrow and Robyn. Do you have any plans?
- Let's see, - Weiss thought and outlined the situation. - The people are trapped in Atlas and Mantle, who we can't even evacuate unless we use the Staff that's in the Vault. Which if we open, - She glanced worriedly at Penny, who Jaune had once again amped with his Semblance. - Penny will die. And what's worse, if Ironwood finds out about all this, he'll blow up Mantle.
- There's something else to consider. - Ozpin added. - As soon as we create something with the Staff, the city will fall.
- Immediately?! - Lance shook his head in horror. - Just because we're here too!
- Not immediately, - Ozpin reassured. - because Atlas has backup generators, and they have enough Gravity Dust to keep it afloat for a few hours on its own, but... - It was hard for him to imagine what it would be like when the city collapsed. - It's better if no one is around when it collapses.
- But that would mean giving up all of Atlas. - Lance didn't like the idea of giving up.
- Atlas has already lost. - Robyn shook her head. - Thanks to the general. The people are the only thing we can save.
- Okay, - Jaune explained the next part of the plan and stopped amping Penny. - then we'll use the Staff to teleport everyone to safety. Maybe to another kingdom.
- It doesn't work by just waving like a magic wand and makes problems disappear, - Ozpin warned. - And I haven't even talked about... - He took a deep breath, as if he were talking about the most annoying and unbearable individual. - him.
- About who? - Yang asked.
- About the spirit of the Staff. - Ozpin replied. - About Ambrosius. Same as Jinn, you just have to say his name while holding the Staff and he will appear. Unfortunately, - He took a deep breath, thinking about the spirit again. - he has a certain... character. He can build anything, but only if you can explain to him exactly how. - He clasped his hands in front of him. - Like any craftsman, he needs blueprints or some kind of reference. It would help if we could show him real examples.
- I can review the city's floor plans for the SDC evacuation. - Whitley, who had only been listening at the entrance to the mansion until now, offered. - That might help. - Weiss and Winter smiled proudly at their younger brother.
- But there's still James and his bomb to deal with. - Ozpin continued.
- Oh, - Weiss confidently placed her hands on her hips. - I have a plan for that.
- Are you going to share it with us? - Winter asked her sister.
- Of course, - Weiss began. - Qrow, Robyn and Marrow, you head to the hangar and stop the bomb. Winter, give them your permission to move faster and make a surprise attack.
- And what should I do? - Winter would have preferred to go with the others to stop the bomb.
- You arrange that only a few guards as possible around the general and, if possible, the Ace Ops isn't with him. - Weiss continued.
- I think, - Winter began to understand. - if the alarm indicates that Robyn and Qrow are breaking into the hangar, then the general would send them there.
- Harriet is still burning with the desire to fight me. - Qrow added. - I don't think she needs much convincing.
- And if they get here, - Marrow clicked with his fingers. - I'll stop them with Semblance and we can defeat them without a fight.
- And what about the general? - Winter was still worried. - Penny and I aren't sure we can defeat the general and even if he sends the Ace Ops, he won't be so stupid to leave himself unguarded. At least a dozen soldiers will definitely stay by his side.
- Emerald and Neo will be the perfect solution! - Ruby also joined in, and the two girls looked at her in confusion. - Neo's a shapeshifter and Emerald can create illusions.
- I see, - Weiss also saw the plan. - Neo will take Penny's form, while Emerald will use an illusion to hide the plane we're going after.
- Yes! - Ruby continued. - Meanwhile, the real Penny will go to the Vault with some help. - She looked at her teammates. - Team RWBY will accompany her.
- Last time Oscar and I blasted a hole in the bottom of Atlas that leads straight to the Vault. - Ozpin remembered. - I doubt they had time to fix it.
- Simple, - Winter concluded. - take out the general, get the bomb and get Penny to the Vault.
- Yes, - Ozpin nodded. - so far that's the easy part.
- As soon as Penny opens the door, - Ruby continued. - we go through it, grab the Staff and stop her from self-destruction.
- Sounds good so far, - Ozpin was confident. - remember, his name is Ambrosius.
- Okay, - Yang spoke up. - and how do we stop Penny from self-destructing?
- Hm, - Ruby thought about it and looked at the robot girl. - Penny, could you possibly send your blueprints to my Scroll?
- Yes. - Penny didn't wait long before Ruby's Scroll beeped, indicating that she had received a message.
- And what would be the point of that? - Yang didn't quite understand.
- I think we could get Ambrosius to remove Penny's human soul and aura from the robot's body and creating... - He shrugged. - a new, human body.
- Ambrosius, as much as he's annoyingly precise, loves the interesting challenges. - Ozpin supported her. - Also, the rule would tie his hands that he can't kill anyone directly or by annihilating them.
- In short, - Ruby smiled. - her human body would remain.
- And then, - Weiss continued. - we'll have him create a bunch of doors that lead straight to Vacuo, then take control of the CCT Tower in Atlas and order everyone to go through the doors.
- If the whole city shakes, - Ozpin warned them. - then that's a sign that the Staff has been used and Atlas and Mantle only have a few hours left until evacuation.
- This is our only chance. - Ruby was confident in her plan.
- I knew you would come up with some kind of plan. - Winter was glad to finally turn to her sister as she handed her access card to Qrow and cut off the transmission.
- Okay, - Ruby took a deep breath. - is everyone ready?
Atlas' army was fully prepared, as was the general, to drop the bomb on Mantle, in case Penny didn't show up at the academy or if she tried anything.
Atlas and Mantle were all waiting with bated breath for the developments, as they had no idea why the general, the man who was supposed to be the protector of the kingdom, was threatening to destroy it.
Fortunately, the first phase of the plan had already begun when Marrow, Robyn, and Qrow, with Winter's permission, made their way to the hangar, knocking out several soldiers and destroying more robots to retrieve the bomb.
The bomb hadn't been removed from the plane, as the arriving Ace Ops would have to believe that everything was okay when they arrived. The alarm had gone off and it was only a matter of time before reinforcements arrived.
- Quick, take cover! - Robyn ordered Marrow, while she and Qrow stayed behind to take out more robots.
The situation at the academy was also tense, as Ruby announced to the general that Penny would go to him and open the Vault. However, Ironwood knew Ruby and her team well and knew that they wouldn't give up without a fight.
In order to ensure Penny's capture, he ordered the rest of the Ace Ops, Harriet, Elm and Vine, as well as two dozen armed soldiers and robots and two Paladins to the entrance of the academy to ensure Penny's capture.
Even the general armed himself, his two pistols, called the Due Process, connected to a special, custom-designed laser cannon, which clearly provided the general with overwhelming firepower.
- Prepare for anything. - Ironwood ordered his people and waited tensely for the robot girl. - We don't know what condition Penny is in.
- If any of those kids dare to come with her, we'll deal with them immediately. - Harriet assured the general, but she looked sternly at her companions, indicating that they couldn't hold back. - The general has stated his terms. No more games. - Vine's tired sigh really didn't please the Huntress. - Is there a problem?
- Just... - Vine closed his eyes and began to think. - I thought through the steps that had led us to this point.
Suddenly, the general's Scroll beeped, detecting an alarm in the hangar.
- What happened, sir? - Harriet asked.
- Qrow and Robyn are in the academy hangar. - The general answered, turning to his people.
- Are they trying to stop the bomb? - Vine asked.
- Or are they just looking for a way out. - Ironwood guessed.
- That's not going to happen! - Harriet was just waiting for this. - I've been waiting for a chance to finish those two off for a long time. - She activated her arm amplifiers. - Let's go, Ace Ops!
- But, - Although Harriet didn't have to be persuaded to go to the hangar, Elm was worried about leaving the general alone, just with the soldiers. - someone has to stay here with the general, the soldiers and the Paladins may not be enough if the kids show up in addition to Penny.
- I'll stay here. - Winter, who had returned from Marrow's imprisonment, offered. - If we lose the bomb, then our leverage too.
- You're right. - The general nodded. - Go! Now!
It didn't take much longer for the Ace Ops and at least 6 soldiers who accompanied them to leave.
- Sir, - After they had gone quite far, Winter still tried to talk to the general anxiously. - this step...
- I really hope you don't want to talk me out of it. - Ironwood didn't want to hear any excuses.
Winter turned to the general and saw no regret, no hesitation, no regret in his eyes, which made her completely confident that she was doing the right thing.
- No, sir. - Winter replied. - I don't think that's possible anymore.
Suddenly Penny appeared on the horizon, floating from high above to the ground, directly in front of the general and Winter. Ironwood and all the Atlas soldiers and robots pointed their weapons at her.
- I didn't think, - Ironwood activated his laser cannon and prepared to fire. - that you would come alone. - He took out a pair of handcuffs, which he handed to Winter. - I expected some resistance from your friends. - Penny didn't say anything, she just looked defiantly at the general as Winter handcuffed her, then stepped back, took out her sword and pointed it at her. The general, as soon as he saw Penny standing there in front of him, handcuffed, sighed and turned off his laser cannon, then walked over to the girl, who still didn't say anything, and put his hand on her shoulder. - You did the right thing.
Penny still didn't say anything, she just smiled in an inappropriate, sly way, but what surprised the general the most was that her eyes changed from green to brown and pink, and then a pink and white glow surrounded her body, which transformed her into Neo.
Ironwood didn't even have time to be surprised when Neo tripped her and kicked the laser cannon out of his hand. The soldiers immediately opened fire on the girl, but as soon as the first bullet hit her, her entire body shattered as if it were made of glass and she disappeared along with the laser cannon.
An Atlas transport appeared in the air, which Emerald had hidden with her Semblance, and Jaune, Nora, Ren, Emerald, Oscar and Lance jumped out of it, who attacked the general and the soldiers.
Nora, who had charged herself with electricity, immediately smashed one of the Paladins, Ren and Lance began to sort out the robots, Winter summoned the Manticore of ice, which she used to push the other Paladin up so that Ren, Lance and Nora could smash it together.
By the time Ironwood stood up, his soldiers were unconscious and his robots were destroyed on the ground, but he didn't have much time to think about it, because Jaune immediately attacked him with his sword. Ironwood was forced to defend himself with his bare hands. Although he had no weapon, he was far from defenseless, as he caught Jaune's wrist, which held the sword, with his left, human arm and was about to strike with his mechanical arm, but Jaune held his shield in front of him, activated the gravitational Dust inside it and pushed the general back a few steps.
Immediately after, Oscar attacked the general with Ozpin's cane and managed to land a few blows, but he parried the next blow and hit him in the stomach with such force that he flew backwards.
Ironwood still had no peace after that, because Ren hooked the blade of his submachine gun on his leg, then Lance rushed towards him, pushed him up with his shield and Ren started to pull him. The general didn't let go, freed his leg and charged straight at Ren, who caught his right wrist, knocked his left weapon aside and when the boy was about to land another attack, he simply kicked him in the chest, making him fall backwards.
Then, he heard a strange but familiar roar from behind him, then he looked up into the air and saw that Nora, who was still charged with electricity, with the help of Winter's rune, jumped up to strike him.
Ironwood was filled with anger when his most trusted soldier betrayed him, but there was little he could do because Nora hit him in the head with her hammer, causing him to fall backwards, but he was still able to get back to his feet. The next to attack was Winter, riding the ice Manticore, with Oscar sitting behind him, and they charged at each other. Winter also pointed her sword forward, but the general caught the ice beast's two horns, causing it to stop, Winter and Oscar jumped off its back, and Winter fired two ice shards into the air at the general. As she hit the ground, she summoned a black, gravity rune, which Oscar reached for and fired at Ironwood.
Oscar charged at the general at full speed and started swinging Ozpin's cane at full force and speed, which drained his aura, then after a strong blow, he managed to push Ironwood back.
The general was still on his feet and with the next blow he caught Ozpin's cane and prepared to finish Oscar with a single punch, but Winter appeared at an unexpected moment and with a single, fast, strong and precise blow, into which she put all her strength, she managed to knock the general down.
Before Ironwood finally fell to the ground, a cobalt blue flash appeared around him, which meant that his aura had drained and he fainted.
Winter put away her sword, went towards the reappeared Neo, who handed her Ironwood's laser cannon, then removed the handcuffs from the girl's wrists.
- Come on, - Winter looked at the others. - the second phase!
The team didn't hesitate and immediately headed towards the CCT-tower.
The alarm in the hangar sounded non-stop, and dozens of robots and soldiers rushed to catch the two fugitives, Robyn and Qrow, but they were unable to do anything against the two Hunters.
While the human soldiers were only knocked out, the robots were shown no mercy, Robyn's arrows and Qrow's sword destroyed dozens before the Ace Ops and the handful of soldiers the general had sent arrived.
As soon as they saw the two fugitives, they immediately launched an attack.
- Stay! - Marrow, who was hiding behind a pile of crates, froze his former teammates with his Semblance. The remaining soldiers were taken care of by Robyn and Qrow.
Harriet's body froze, but she turned her eyes with pure hatred towards Marrow, who turned out to be just as traitorous as those they had come to capture.
- Sorry guys, - Qrow, after the fight was over, lowered his weapon. - but we don't want to fight.
- Just like we don't want Atlas to fall, - Robyn took an arrow back from one of the robots' heads. - but today we all have to make difficult decisions.
As they began to handcuff the members of the Ace Ops, the entire city trembled, but another robot, completely unarmed, came to the hangar and carefully surveyed what had happened. It didn't move, it just stood and watched.
The first part of the plan was to disarm the general, the Ace Ops and the bomb. The second phase was to get the Staff, rescue Penny and evacuate all of Atlas.
The plane the team arrived on went under Atlas and they found the hole that Oscar had blown, directly from the Vault of the Winter Maiden. With the general defeated, the army wasn't guarding it at all, so they were able to enter the Vault without any problems.
The plane was piloted by Klein, taking with him the rest of the Schnee family, the RWBY team and Penny, who was a key figure in this plan.
Once they got close enough to the hole, Ruby, using her Semblance, was able to transport everyone into the Vault at once, into the huge cave, into the corridor lit by blue torches. There they saw the huge rock that also had the huge golden door to the Vault, but there were no stairs leading up to it.
Team RWBY hoped that Ruby would be able to carry the girl up if they got close enough to the edge, but as Penny approached, a stack of black platforms floated between the edge and the door, forming a set of stairs that they used to carry the increasingly deteriorating robot girl up.
- Just hang in there, Penny. - Yang encouraged her once they reached the door. - Okay? - She hoped that the girl was prepared and Penny touched the door to the Vault.
As soon as she touched it, the lines engraved into the door began to glow blue, then the huge door lowered and a vast, sunlit, seemingly endless meadow of grass appeared before their eyes.
Beyond the door were three circular stone platforms in a row and on the last was the altar, on which the Staff of Creation floated. A golden staff in the shape of a cylinder, adorned with a long diamond-shaped, pointed, light blue crystal at the top, while at the bottom was a smaller one.
Ruby didn't hesitate as soon as the door opened, she used her Semblance on her team again, leaving Penny behind, hoping that if she wasn't taken to the Staff, they could save her life by stopping the time.
- Ambrosius! - Ruby immediately touched the Staff and said the spirit's name, whereupon time stopped and only she and her teammates were able to move further.
The blue crystal on the top of the Staff began to glow and began to emit blue smoke, which grew and began to take on the appearance of a tornado.
Out of the blue smoke emerged a huge, blue-skinned, muscular, naked man, with a pair of gold bracelets on both arms, from which a gold chain hung, two gold chains crossed his chest, and thin gold accessories were fitted to both legs. He had long, light blue hair tied into a long ponytail, light blue eyes and pointed ears.
- It seems someone finally wants to use my creative tricks! - The spirit man stretched with a pleasant and cheerful smile as he looked over the RWBY team. - I really hope it's worth it this time. - He crossed his arms boredly and looked to the side in disappointment. - Not like my last work. A floating city? - He waved a dismissive wave. - Amateur.
- Good day, Mr. Ambrosius? - Ruby addressed him urgently, but modestly. - Sir, please listen, it's our friend. She's... - She looked back at the entrance to the Vault, where the time stop had saved Penny, but the virus had already started her self-destruction and if they didn't save her now, they would lose her forever. - dying.
- I suppose, - Ambrosius turned on his back boredly, floating in the air. - you know it's against the rules for me to bring anyone back from the dead... so...?
- That's not what we want. - Ruby clarified. - She's... - She looked to the side. - Not an ordinary girl.
Ambrosius' eyes lit up when he saw Penny and he floated over to her curiously.
- Hmm, - He clicked and a gold-rimmed magnifying glass appeared in his hand, with which he began to examine Penny from the inside. - And she really isn't! I'd love to meet the one who created her. - Once he had examined her sufficiently, he realized what was wrong. - Oh, I see. - He put the magnifying glass away and turned back to the girls. - Something is consuming her. I bet you think you have some clever plan to save her. - He pointed his finger at Ruby. - But you know, you will get exactly what you asked for and I don't want any complaints if the result is not what you thought it would be!
- We brought her blueprints. - Ruby took out her Scroll and projected the blueprints. - We want you to separate the human and robotic parts, leaving the virus in the latter and completely re-creating the human part.
- You put it quite strangely, little girl. - Ambrosius thought for a moment.
- So, the robot part will retain the virus, while the human part will be free of it and which can't be destroyed if we create something else. - Ruby hoped that she could at least give Penny free will.
- Then you are prepared. - Ambrosius knew very well that he couldn't cause anyone's immediate death by creating or destroying it and the girls knew and used his power in a way that pleased him. - Okay, - He thought and started to plan. - but her entire body is robot. - There's another problem. - If I remove her soul from the robot body, all that's left is...
- Penny. - Blake interrupted him from his thoughts. - The girl she's always been.
- We ask for this, - Ruby emphasized the request. - and you know very well that you can't destroy her. It's against the rules. But that won't destroy her. - As she moved closer to the thinking spirit, she realized that this was what Penny had always wanted. - Her soul makes her who she is.
- The mechanical parts are just a little... - Yang held up her own robot arm. - extra.
- But a soul without a body... - Ambrosius still didn't know what to do. - then what would be left?
- We don't know. - Ruby just shrugged. - You have to be creative.
- Hm, - Ambrosius thought for a while, then laughed. - I think I can do a little... and a little... and maybe... - He started to float back and forth and yellow magic appeared around his hands and made strange hand movements, becoming stronger and stronger. - But if I do this, how much of the old Penny's work would be mine and how much would be hers? I'm just thinking about it now... - He stopped in front of the girls with a wide smile. - This is very exciting and also very dangerous. - He clasped his hands together with a helpless smile. - I don't know what the result will be.
- Well, we have no other choice. - Weiss and the others were worried. - We believe in her.
- Then prepare yourself, - Ambrosius realized that the girls were adamant and would rather face the unknown than let their friend die. - to witness my art!
He concentrated the yellow magic floating around his hand into a single sphere, then turned blue and released it, which surrounded Penny's body like a rolling cloud and the girl's body was covered in blinding white light.
- It's done. - Ambrosius clicked, then winked at the girls and, turning into a blue cloud of smoke, returned to the Staff.
The time began to move again and the entire city trembled. By separating Penny's soul from the robot's body, it removed the generator with an inexhaustible source of energy that had kept Atlas in the air for many years.
The light went out and there were two Pennies standing in the doorway. One was the old one, in her usual clothes, boots and gloves, the right one burned off, while the other Penny was barefoot and had no gloves on her hands.
- Penny? - Ruby was scared when she saw both Pennies standing in the doorway with their eyes closed.
The one without boots opened her green eyes and the first thing she saw with her new, human vision was Team RWBY, her friends who had risked so much just to save her.
She extended her human hand, which was completely unusual, she moved her toes and turned her head too. Neither of them were robotic or artificial and weren't controlled by commands, programs or chips, her body carried out her will. She felt the cold and tearing feeling that had almost torn her apart from the inside, caused by the virus, disappear and a pleasant, relieved feeling ran through her body.
Suddenly, the other Penny, whose eyes were red, the robot body began to sparkle, twitch and slowly fall to the ground. Her memory and processor were erased. Her body went completely limp, her eyes turned gray and lifeless and she didn't move anymore. Penny's robot body was dead.
It was a frightening sight for human Penny to see her own body destroyed by the virus before her eyes, but as soon as Ruby stepped in front of her and placed her hand on her shoulder, she calmed down.
- Are you okay? - Ruby could hardly believe her eyes, Penny, who had been a robot her whole life, with a human soul and aura, had now become a fully flesh and blood human.
Penny looked curiously at Ruby's hand, which was holding her shoulder and a pleasant, warm feeling came out of it, which made her smile, then hugged Ruby.
- Does hugging always fill you with such warmth from the inside? - That was the first thing Penny wanted to know as a human.
- Yes. - Ruby returned the hug.
- Wow... - Penny had always loved hugging, but only now did she understand its true charm and the one she had been without for so long. - More! - She let go of Ruby and hugged Weiss to her chest.
- Maybe we should make sure that our theory works! - Weiss could barely get out of the girl's embrace, who immediately threw herself at Yang and then Blake so that she could hug them too. - And let's begin the evacuation. Ambrosius! - She spun the Staff in her hand and summoned the spirit again.
- I can create freely and... - Ambrosius was happy to be summoned again, but he hunched over in disappointment when he saw Team RWBY again. - It's you again.
- We're not done with you yet. - Weiss stared at the spirit.
- Okay, okay. - Ambrosius crossed his arms wearily and looked to the side, as if he didn't feel like doing it at all.
- Let's try the quick version. - Yang hoped that she could easily handle the second request. - Could you make a bunch of doors, all over Atlas and Mantle, all leading to one point in Vacuo?
- Sure, - Ambrosius' answer initially excited the girls, but what he said next quickly broke them. - I'd just need coordinates, specifications for each door, an explanation for the warping of space-time to account for the much heavier traffic on one side and the single exit point on the other.
- Okay, - Weiss just put her hand to her forehead from all the talking. - that's pretty much what we expected. So, - She began to explain. - first, we need to get everyone to a central location.
- You need to tell me more about this central location. - Ambrosius warned. - First, where should it be?
- Here. - Yang answered. - A place like these Vaults. - She remembered when she had entered the Vault of the Spring Maiden in Haven, which was like entering another world, just like now. - Wherever they are, they don't belong to Remnant. They can only be reached if you know the right way. It seems safe enough for thousands of refugees.
- You kids are either very smart, - Ambrosius crossed his arms with a satisfied smile. - or you're much fooler than you think. - By the end, his voice had become stern and more worrying. - I'm going to need a reference for this. - Finally, he outlined the last problem.
- Here it is. - Weiss projected the evacuation route under Atlas with her Scroll, which Whitley had sent her.
Amrosius said nothing, just silently looked through the blueprints and smiled confidently and, floating in the air, crossed his legs, closed his eyes and began to concentrate. Finally, he clapped his hands together, then made various movements with his fingers in the air and suddenly, a blue, yellow-edged space gate appeared in the door of the Vault.
If everything went according to plan, such doors would appear all over Atlas and Mantle.
- So, - Weiss wanted to clarify while examining the door. - people from Atlas and Mantle enter on one side and exit on the other side in Vacuo with a one-way ticket.
- Well, - Ambrosius finished his spell, then took another look at the blueprints, to make sure there were no mistakes. - It seems everything is in order. You were quite thorough, - He praised them as he leaned back in the air. - I was pleasantly disappointed.
- So, are you done? - Weiss asked him one last question.
- Yeah. - The spirit just waved boredly and Team RWBY and Penny headed towards the space gate, passing Penny's dead robot body, which would remain here, in the soon-to-fall Atlas. - Oh, one last thing we need to clarify about this central location. - His voice became hard, stern and a little scary. - Do not fall. - This warning frightened the team quite a bit and they looked at each other in silence, but none of them said anything. - Okay, - His voice was back to its old and cheerful self. - that's enough of a scary warning for now. - He bowed, then his entire body turned into blue smoke, which flew back into the Staff.
Penny was the first to step in front of the space gate.
- We did it. - Weiss stood next to her and handed her the Staff.
- What happens now? - Penny asked, for whom the feeling of human free will was completely unknown.
- We're going to Vacuo, - Ruby joined in. - all of us and we hope that we've accounted for everything.
With the general's capture, there was no one to control the Atlas army, so quite a chaos broke out in the academy, which the JNR team, Oscar, Lance, Emerald and Neo took advantage of to enter the CCT-tower.
Fortunately, Winter gave Jaune full access to the systems, which allowed him to access the tower's communications, but a tremor that could be felt throughout the academy was cause for concern.
- I think that's the signal. - Jaune continued to press the terminal keyboard a little nervously. - It seems that the girls have already reached the Vault.
- Hopefully, Penny will be okay. - Nora was worried about the robot girl.
- If Atlas is going to fall, - Oscar warned the others. - we need to warn the people of our plan so they don't start to panic.
- It means hurry! - Emerald was just urging.
- Okay, okay, I know! - Jaune just nervously continued to press the terminal and pressed a button, which made the words "Live" appear in the upper left corner of the screen. - Okay, this... - Unfortunately, he had no idea what exactly it was doing. - did something?
- You're in live. - Ren said.
- Yes, I'm alive. - Jaune waved.
- He meant, - Emerald corrected him. - everyone in Atlas and Mantle can see and hear you.
- Oh, - Jaune blushed awkwardly at the fact that thousands of people could see and hear him. He cleared his throat and began his speech. - Citizens of Atlas and Mantle, we have something very important to say. Atlas is going to fall, but don't worry... - Suddenly the picture and sound went out and the terminal only said "No signal". - Hey, what was that?!
- It's dead! - Ren noticed with concern that all the terminals were saying the same thing. - The whole CCT! It just stopped.
- And the communication throughout the kingdom. - Nora was horrified to see that there was no signal even on her Scroll. - How?
- The bigger question, - Oscar got to the point. - what do we do now?
- Did he seriously say Atlas will fall?! - Jacques, who was still locked in his cell, turned pale as he heard the beginning of Jaune's message on Winter's Scroll, who was locking a general in another cell. - Is that true?!
- Yes. - Winter turned off her Scroll and responded to her father emotionlessly. The only thing that worried her was that Jaune's message had stopped too suddenly. - We'll get everyone to safety with the Staff. - He started for the exit. - Salem can get the ruins. By the time she gets back, we'll be gone.
- You're... - Jacques placed his hands on the cell's energy shield in desperation, but it shook him and he had to step back. - You're leaving me here?!
- No. - Winter stopped in the doorway, but didn't look at his father. - As soon as we are finished and the citizens of the kingdom are safe, we will take you both to safety.
- Oh, Winter, - Jacques breathed a sigh of relief. - thank you, my little girl, I...
- Don't thank me! - Winter looked back at her father sternly. - It was Weiss' decision.
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