Chapter 228: RWBY Prime—Hero from Another World (14)
Chapter 228: RWBY Prime—Hero from Another World (14)
~Third POV~
Qrow Branwen is shown holding Clover Ebi's bloodied pin in his hand, staring somberly at it, while sitting in a prison cell made of Hard-Light Dust.
Footsteps can be heard pacing with Robyn speaking to Jacques in a tired tone, "Sigh… This is your fault. You realize, that don't you? All I wanted was to bring people together, to give them a chance at a better life. But you…"
She angrily glares at the individual in the next cell over as Jacques tries to defend himself making Robyn scoffs upon hearing this and slightly turn to Qrow, "Me? I am a victim! I'll admit I was duped. Used! And although my hands may not be clean, at least I am not a murderer!"
Qrow looks up upon hearing that. Robyn gives him a sympathetic look softly speaking raising her voice at him, "He didn't kill anybody… And I'm not gonna stand here and be lectured by some snake with a mustache who helped that man tear us all apart!"
Qrow and Jacques look over to another adjacent cell, where said man is revealed as Arthur Watts, shown contently lying down on his bench with his hands propped behind his head raising his hand, "Yes, well… I suppose we're all stuck in it together now."
Jacques tries to speak up and not before long Robyn punches the Hard-Light Dust wall, startling Jacques, "SHUT UP!!!"
*BAM*
*Zzzzz*
"Hello everyone of Atlas Kingdom this is SMG4 for the latest announcements!"
Suddenly, a buzzer sound is heard, getting the prisoners' attention. Qrow hides Clover's pin as the nearby hologram screen soon views SMG4 on live view speaking out, "Ahem! Sorry for the delay folks seems like mister Tindick is trying hard to get back control from our spaghetti-covered hand."
In the background behind the screen, Mario is seen munching down on spaghetti as SMG4 eyes land on Qrow and Robyn blinking a bit before talking to them, "Oh? Seems like you two are in trouble. Robyn and Qrow right?"
At this, the two looked surprised before SMG4 snapped his fingers with the background changing before finally talking to them, "You two seem to be in a pickle?"
At this Qrow and Robyn both casually blinked at this surprised before Robyn was the one to first talk to SMG4, "Uh… sure… and who exactly are you, mister…?"
At this SMG4 blinks before apologizing to them talking to them in a casual tone, "Oh right. Ahem, where are my manners? I'm SMG4 a virus as you well corrupting hashtag hostile taking over Tindick military force. Nice to meet you."
At this the two glared at Watts raising an eyebrow at that proclaiming at the scene, "Sorry but this isn't my handy work."
To that SMG4 agreed with a nod with him explaining to them the situation, "For once the good doctor is correct. Nope. I'm under my master's orders to cause as much chaos as possible for Tindick while he joins hands with your niece."
Hearing the news Qrow's eyes widen but before the conversation could continue…
The door opened up to reveal Atlas Robot Soldiers with happy faces on them carrying Robyn and Qrow weapons causing the owners to look at them surprised.
Just as the door closed behind them knocking or banging sounds could be heard from the Ironwood supporter soldiers trying to open the door was heard.
*THUD*
*THUD*
*THUD*
"Damn it open, the door!"
"We need Watt's to take back control soldiers now open! THE DOOR!"
"We need to retake command!"
Listening to the sounds of a squad of Atlesian military soldiers trying to force enter the room SMG4 narrows his eyes at this, "Great… people really can't take a hint huh? Even showing them Ironwood shooting down Oscar wasn't enough to make them change huh?"
Qrow's eyes turn towards SMG4 shocked hearing the news of Ironwood's actions and not before long SMG4 snapped his fingers, "Seems like we need to update the situation. You two are free to go and here's a map and your weapons."
*Snap*
*Beep*
*Shiii*
The cells surrounding the two in hard light suddenly turned off as the Scrolls of Robyn and Qrow turn online again with Robyn questioning the virus with a hardened stare as they returned their weapons, "Why exactly are you helping us? From your perspective isn't you or your master thought of us guilty of what happened?"
Listening to that as the two steps, outstretching for some breathing room SMG4 merely smiled with a response, "Nope. My master hates going the roundabout way of doing things. That and he really hates Ironwood's actions. Same for me in that regard. But for now, we are all allies for the time being. As the saying goes the enemy of my enemy is my frenemy."
*Beep*
Turning off at that Qrow looks at the sound of the door about to be barged through as he lifts his head up with a dark look in his eyes, "We can do something… We can kill the man who put us here..."
*Shiii*
Suddenly Watt's and Jacques's cells were opened as Robyn and Qrow's eyes widen seeing what happens next with the Atlas Robots arming their weapons at them changing into angry faces as they began to shoot.
*BANG*
*BANG*
*BANG*
The message on the screen left by SMG4 read the following 'Oh sorry Tindick but the good doctor Watts is taking a… permanent leave. And no worries about the other guy he got his just deserts. Please try to call again in the afterlife after the beep. BEEP.'
*CRACK*
The two were left too shocked by the sudden action before Qrow was the first to finally speak out in a defeated sigh, "Sigh… we need to get out of here first."
/////
A news report is playing, showing a picture of James Ironwood with the symbol of Atlas behind him.
The news network Atlas Eye has the subtitle "DEVELOPING STORY: GENERAL IRONWOOD HALTS MANTLE EVACUATIONS" displayed on the bottom of the screen with a Reporter on screen as images of various flying Grimm as well as the Monstra are shown on screen, "With still no word from General Ironwood, Mantle citizens are frightened and perplexed by the sudden withdrawal of military personnel, especially given the massive Grimm horde outside the kingdom. I've… never seen anything quite like this."
In the background, civilians can be seen evacuating in the streets. Joanna Greenleaf is seen looking over it before turning around to notice the news team Reporter speaking, "It truly feels like the end of days, but the Atlas Eye is committed to updating the public, until our dying—"
Suddenly, Joanna grabs the microphone from the reporter catching the Reporter by surprise, "Wha--? Hey, wait!"
Joanna stabs her weapon into the ground and glares at the reporter, startling him. She then looks to the camera and starts speaking, "Citizens of Mantle, General Ironwood has abandoned you, but we have not! If you can hear this, gather any food and supplies you need to stay warm, then head to the Mantle crater. The Grimm are starting to make their way back into the city, but we can hold the line if we all come together. If we don't, well… you've all seen what's waiting for us out in the storm. It's time to show your teeth, Mantle."
She walks away from the camera and shoves the microphone back into the reporter's hands.
/////
As she speaks, a montage of Mantle citizens is shown leaving their homes and making their way down the streets to safety. Yang, Jaune, Ren, and Oscar soon enter inside Pietro Polendina's pharmacy.
At Pietro's pharmacy, Yang opens a door to a darkened room. Jaune finds the light switch to turn it on. Yang gasps and smiles in glee upon seeing what is in the room, with Ren and Oscar peeking over too, "Alright, the others are definitely missing out."
/////
Out in the streets, Yang, Jaune, and Ren pilot a triplet of hoverbikes, with Oscar riding backseat with Yang.
Yang then notices a ramp she wants to jump off of with Oscar panicking, "Yang! Yang, no! No!"
He was too late. Yang jumps off the ramp and uses Ember Celica to fire a round off the wall and do a flip in midair on the hoverbike. As Yang smiles at the thrill, some of her hair gets caught in Oscar's mouth, which he tries to spit out.
They land safely back on the ground. Jaune and Ren exchange a look, with Jaune bumping over a piece of debris. As the three continue their ride through the Mantle streets, they are unwarily being watched by a Grimm-like figure perched on a bridge overhead.
As they were going Penny and Pyrrha both began to follow them but kept to the shadows taking down any Grimm in their path while providing safety to anyone nearby the crater as safely as they can be.
The two only nodded to each when they see the Grimm-like figure stalking them as they agreed to be stealthy waiting for a chance to hunt it down.
/////
Elsewhere in Mantle, Penny is seen standing on the Bullhead side window, taking a long look at the civilians making their way to the crater.
Behind her, May is seen sitting with G. Ruby unknown to her along with Weiss, G. Ruby, Blake, and Nora watch as Penny turns around as Weiss and Ruby Prime on the other side but also cautious towards their pilot driving the Bullhead speaking to them, "Yo! Thanks for coming along. I'm Jack Nights' pleasure to meet you."
Nora pauses next to May before smiling happily at the situation, "Thanks again for coming then mister Nights."
Jack for his part could merely smile under his mask soon taking it off and revealing his face along with Ruby, Weiss, Nora, and Blake freeze a bit to see his Silver Eyes as he starts talking, "Well top of the morning then ladies! Hope we get along nicely. Hopefully, we can get Amity Tower operational again."
Once more the group freeze up on once more about how he knew of their plans with him casually driving them towards the hole under Atlas with each of them having their own thoughts on the matter.
With no one to answer Jack sensed Penny Prime's emotions before responding while keeping his eyes on the hole, "Say Protector of Mantle why the sad frown?"
Penny flinched at that remaining quiet, but not before long Jack dropped the subject with Blake being the first to ask in suspicion of Jack, "Who are you? How did you manage to figure us out while we were hiding from –"
"You're Aura."
Simply responding interrupting Blake with Jack rolling his eyes at Blake's question, "I sensed your aura from afar. Dead giveaway. One thing Tindick forgets is that having mechanical foot soldiers make for horrible searchers for people with aura to recognize."
At this it was Nora's turn to ask with a happy smile on her face trying to lighten up the mood stopping Blake and turning towards Jack, "Blake come on. We have the chance to save everyone we can. Thanks, Jack, for coming even though I have no idea who you are you are a good guy right?"
Jack for his part looked at the older Prime Nora and he couldn't help but smiled contently at her reminding him of her Nora teammate, "You could say that yeah. The sooner Remnant is connected again then the sooner we can start saving Remnant right?"
Before anyone else could continue speaking Jack began pointing up to the hole, "Okay everyone free entrance to the hole we go."
Looking at the hole and P. Ruby narrowing her eyes at Jack couldn't help but put the conversation for a later time as she thought to herself, 'I don't trust that guy… he knows too much but… for now we have to worry about Amity Tower being up in the air. I don't trust this Jack guy but at the very least he's not an enemy… or at least I hope he isn't…'
Jack for his part could smirk at Ruby Prime's thoughts before Penny Prime began explaining to everyone much to Ruby Prime and G. Ruby was dismayed listening to how their Semblance actually works and not too long they were suddenly warped in using <Petal Burst> leaving behind the Bullhead along with May inside to keep it hidden.
But the group couldn't also help but notice the other person with them having a strikingly similar aura to their Ruby wanting to ask questions but couldn't as they have more pressing matters to attend to.