The view is of Weiss patiently waiting out the minute left on her holographic clock displayed from her desk in the classroom of Professor Peter Port, whose dialogue is merely background nonsense as Jaune slides up next to Weiss.
"So, Weiss, y'know, uh, I-I was thinking after this, maybe we could go grab a bite to eat?"
Turns to the teacher for a second, then turns back around.
"And, uh um, I-I've got two tickets to that new Spruce Willis movie, if you wanna make the trip to Vale. I hear it's awesome."
Pauses as his words have no effect.
"Aaaand maybe after that, we could study together? I mean, you're smart and I'm, uh... Y'know.
Finally, the clock in front of Weiss gives a shrill beep as it changes from 3:59 to 4:00, and she dismisses it with a wave of her hand. The professor is temporarily unaware of the alarm.
Port is posing as a towering monster about to attack.
"And then I— Oh."
Straightens his stance as the students start to leave.
"Timed that one wrong, I guess. Well, the stunning conclusion to this story will have to wait. Until next time!"
Jaune watches Weiss as she packs up her Scroll.
"Weiss? Did you hear me?"
Weiss doesn't even bother looking at Jaune as she walks away.
"No, no, no, yes."
Upon hearing this, Jaune groans and does a faceplant into his desk.
As the rest of Team RWBY walks out of class behind him, Yang ruffles Jaune's hair without even looking.
"One day."
Y/N pats Jaune's back and adds.
"Good luck buddy."
As they walk away from Jaune, the rest of Team STLL catches up. The two teams nod at each other. Tobias holds Sara's hand and smiles.
"We're going to try that date again tonight guys. So we'll be off of our scrolls for a while."
He places his forehead gently against Sara's and stares into her eyes as team RWBY collectively "D'awww". This gives Lily and Y/N the time to slip closer to team RWBY. Lily whispers to them.
"And Y/N and I are going to be following them and providing...security. We don't want another incident like last time."
Team RWBY nodded, they all knew about what happened last time Tobias was alone. Yang and Blake did lower their heads though. They wanted to ask Y/N to join them tonight. Noticing this droop, Y/N squinted and then smiled.
"However, should you have need of us, I am always merely a message or a call away. I make it a habit to be there for everyone, even if it does cost me a weekend's worth of sleep. So I promise, you need me? I'm there."
Blake blushes and looks down, embarrassed again by the fact that Y/N still cared enough to keep searching for her after what had happened to Tobias last time. Yang just looks into Y/N's (E/C) eyes and smiles softly, knowing that the tiny amount of people she could rely on to keep their promises included him. Smirking, and already having an idea of what their plan was, Y/N dropped one little comment before kissing Yang's forehead and leaving.
"Well, be careful on your Inquisition ladies."
With that he was gone, following the two clueless lovebirds and Lily who was hiding behind every little thing like a ninja shadowing them.
Weiss spoke out mostly in annoyance with a glimmer of respect.
"And you guys thought I, was a know it all."
Blake spoke up.
"Yeah well, he doesn't shove it in our faces Weiss. You're just mad he keeps beating you to the top score."
Yang laughs and leads them back to the dorm.
A Little Later
A closeup of Ruby's hands as she straps the red laces of her shoes. Switch to a closeup of Weiss' hand gripping the handle of Myrtenaster strapped to her side. Switch to a closeup of Yang's Ember Celica over her left forearm as she slides the chamber. Switch to a closeup of Blake tightening the black ribbons around her arms. Switch to full view of Team RWBY's preparations, revealing their new outfits.
Blake is approaching her bunk as she tightens her wraps.
"I thought that class would never end."
Ruby speaks from her position sitting on the hanging bed.
"Alright, guys, today's the day! The investigation begins!"
Happily leaps off her mattress and onto the floor, arms raised excitedly. She almost lands on Weiss, who is on the bottom bunk.
Weiss speaks, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
"I'm glad to see we're taking this so seriously."
Yang comes to the rescue.
"Hey, we've got a plan! That's... moderately serious."
"Right!"
Ruby looks around at her teammates.
Everyone remember their roles?"
Weiss stands up as the view quickly shifts left to each member who state their objective.
Weiss starts.
"You and I will head to the CCT and check the Schnee records for any other Dust robberies or inconsistencies. Seeing as I'm in the family, it shouldn't be a problem."
Blake's next.
"The White Fang has regular faction meetings to hand out orders and recruit new members. If I can get in, I can hopefully find out what they're planning."
Yang brings up the rear.
"I have an old friend on the shady side of town that typically knows everything going on in Vale. Getting information out of him shouldn't be too hard…"
Ruby stands up as the view dashes back to the leader.
"Great! We'll meet up tonight near Yang to go over what we found."
Ruby pumps her fist.
"Let's do this!"
Sun's voice is heard unexpectedly.
"Yeah!"
The view shifts right to a smiling Sun Wukong as he hangs upside-down by his tail in their open window. The whole team is taken aback.
Blake blurts out, surprised and alarmed.
"Sun!"
Yang looks impressed.
"How did you get up there?"
Sun replies before thinking.
"Ah, it's easy; I do it all the time."
Weiss scowls at him
"You do what?!"
Sun answers, still clueless.
"I climb trees all the time!"
Without reacting to Weiss' scowl, he flips into the dorm room.
"So, are we finally getting back at that Torchwick guy?"
Blake steps forward.
"We are going to investigate the situation... as a team."
Ruby speaks in an even voice.
"Sorry, Sun. We don't want to get friends involved if we don't have to."
"Psh! That's dumb! We should always get friends involved! Besides that guy on fire seems like he can hold his own."
Yang's face falls slightly.
"Y/N has someone else to protect tonight. He doesn't want to lose his brother again."
Sun looks down, nodding.
"But the point stands! Just like him, we can hold our own. That's why I brought Neptune!"
He gestures out the window.
The girls lean out the window on top of one another cartoon-style to see the aforementioned teammate of Sun's standing outside, cool as can be.
Neptune says as cool as he can.
"Sup?"
Ruby is curious now.
"How did you even get up here?"
With a shaky smile, Neptune answers.
"I have my ways."
The view pans out to reveal that he is standing on a very thin ledge circling the building under the windows.
Neptune asks nervously.
"Seriously, though, can I come in? We're like, really high up right now."
Inside the dorm room, the group are standing in a circle as Ruby lays down the new plan.
'Alright, I'll go with Weiss; Sun, you can go with Blake."
As she pushes Neptune past Weiss, he slips her a wink. Weiss looks mildly shocked but then comes to her senses quickly.
"And Neptune, you can go with Yang since she doesn't have a partner. Everyone good?"
Weiss pipes up.
"Actually, Ruby, why don't you go with Yang? After all, she is your sister."
Ruby pushed Neptune, who is stiff as a board, up next to Yang. When she is done pushing him, he rocks back and fourth looking nervous. Yang put her hand on his shoulder to stop him from rocking.
"But, Weiss, who would go with you, then?"
Weiss speaks hopefully.
"Well... I guess Neptune could come with me."
Neptune puts on a suave look and points at Weiss as the team leader cracks up. Then Ruby shakes her head.
"Hahaha, nah!"
Weiss is obviously less than amused, yet is powerless to stop Ruby from pulling her by the back out the door.
Weiss sticks her arms out fruitlessly trying to get back to Neptune.
"But! But!"
The scene changes to that of a monumental tower that looms over the sparse trees growing around the crossroads below.
Ruby's excited voice pierces the calm.
"Woooow! I forget how big the Transmit tower looks up close!"
Weiss scoffs.
"You should see the one in Atlas!"
"That was the first one, right?"
"Correct."
Weiss and Ruby are seen walking down the path towards the building.
"Atlas developed the Cross Continental Transmit System to allow the four kingdoms to communicate with one another. It was their gift to the world after the Great War."
Ruby acts high and mighty.
"Oooh, look at me! My name's Weiss! I know facts! I'm rich!"
She snorts into her hands at Weiss' frown.
"Don't be a pest! Besides, the only reason we're here is because you like the tower so much! We could have just as easily made a call from the library!"
Ruby protests.
"I know, but it's so coool! Ooh, I'm going to take a picture!"
She grabs her Scroll from a pocket on her clothes, but in her excitement, the device is launched from her hands, bouncing along the pavement until it lands at Penny's feet.
Penny sees it and exclaims in surprise.
"Oh!"
Penny picks up the Scroll and extends towards the clumsy teen.
"You dropped this."
Ruby is shocked.
"Penny?!"
Penny is similarly surprised.
"Uuuh…"
"Where have you been? We haven't seen you since that night at the docks!"
Penny panics and tries to get herself out of this.
"S-Sorry. I think you're confused."
She suddenly hiccups, throwing the Scroll into Ruby's hands.
"Uh... I've got to go!"
She turns quickly and walks away.
Weiss turns to Ruby.
"What was that about?"
"I don't know, but I'm going to find out."
Ruby starts walking in Penny's direction as she shouts back to her partner.
"You go make your call! I'll meet up with you later!"
Weiss is seen reaching toward Ruby.
"Wait!"
Seeing the futility of stopping her teammate, she lowers her hand and sighs angrily.
Ruby runs up to Penny as she descends the steps until she gets in front of the non-eccentric redhead.
"Penny! Where have you been? It's been weeks!"
Penny tries to keep up the clueless act.
"There seems to be a... misunderstanding."
Ruby is genuinely confused.
"What?!"
Penny continues to walk away. Ruby slides down the rail next to her.
"Penny... Is everything okay?"
Penny continues forward without reaction. Ruby grabs her by the arm.
"Penny, please stop!"
Penny stops and listens.
"Look, I don't know what's wrong, but you have to listen to me! Those guys we fought at the docks, we think they're up to something big, something bad! I need you to tell me what happened to you that night! Please... As a friend."
Penny sighs, then glancing to her sides swiftly, she walks over to Ruby's side and leans in close.
"It isn't safe to talk here."
Penny looks around suspiciously, much to Ruby's confusion.
Weiss walks through the grand, glowing lobby of the tower with pride, avoiding the central terminal and heading straight for the elevator doors, which slide open automatically and close when she's inside. The voice of the CCT AI is projected from a panel near the door.
"Hello. Welcome to the CCT. How may I help you?"
Weiss says politely.
"I'd like to go to the communications room, please."
The CCT AI responds.
"Absolutely. Could you please place your Scroll on the terminal to verify your identity?"
Weiss retrieves her Scroll and places it as directed.
"Perfect! Thank you, Miss Schnee."
Upon the elevator's ascent, Weiss' expressions shifts from pleasant to serious. Upon entering the room, four symbols are seen on a computer - twin axes and wreaths, three flying swords pointing down, a spear and shield inside a fragmented circle, and a precise winged shape. Weiss walks up to the front desk where a holographic secretary appears in the seat.
The CCT AI shows up again and beeps are heard before the projection speaks in a polite manner.
"Welcome to the Beacon Cross Continental Transmit center. How may I help you?"
"I need to make a call to Schnee Company World Headquarters in Atlas."
"Absolutely."
More beeping is heard.
"If you could head over to Terminal 3, I'll patch you through."
"Thank you!"
Weiss smiles and nods before walking over to her assigned cubicle-like computer, passing a few Beacon students in uniform - one of which is talking to her mother and asking how things are going back in Signal Academy. She sits at her own display, taking a deep, unhappy breath to prepare for the call ahead. The face of a short-haired brunette appears on the monitor with the Schnee snowflake rotating behind her. She does not realize who she is talking to until she looks up.
"Thank you for calling the Atlas- Oh! Miss Schnee! Good afternoon! Would you like me to patch you through to your father? I think your sister Winter might be here as well."
Weiss responds pleasantly.
"No, thank you! I was actually wondering if you could find some files for me. I've compiled a short list."
Weiss produces her Scroll, placing it into a slot on the keyboard, creating a series of noises as the Operator looks at the data from her side of the screen.
The operator sees what it is and raises her eyebrow.
"I see. If you don't mind... what may I ask is this for?"
Weiss responds, keeping her cool.
"School project."
The operator replies nervously.
"Um... There are some sensitive documents on this list, ma'am."
Still cool as a snowflake, Weiss replies.
"Well, then, I'll be sure to treat them with care."
The operator, still nervous.
"Right... Very well."
More keys clicking are heard as she gives up and gets them.
"The data is being transferred to your Scroll now."
Weiss thanks the operator.
"Wonderful! That will be all, then."
Hesitating, the operator asks.
"Are you sure you wouldn't like me to patch you through to your father before you go?"
Weiss loses her smile, but quickly replaces it.
"Yes, I'm sure."
"Well, then... Have a nice day!"
The call is dropped, and so too is Weiss' happy act, seen in the screen's reflection.
Lily and Y/N jump on his bike.
"Y/N, are you sure you can get us to Vale before the bullhead gets the lovebirds there?"
Laughing and checking his helmet, Y/N hands Lily the extra one before getting on.
"Trust me. I can easily outstrip a normal bullhead on this little beauty. An Atlas specialist ship, maybe not. But the normal bullheads from Beacon to Vale? Easy."
Lily clips on the helmet and grumbles as she gets on behind Y/N.
"Am I going to lose that last chocolate bar I ate on the way there?"
Grimacing, Y/N shrugged as he revved the engine and took off. He yelled into the winds.
"No promises!"
Lily grabbed on and the last thing she saw before shutting her eyes was Tobias and Sara get on the bullhead. Sara had one of her weapons strapped on her thigh and Y/N had lent Tobias Storm. It looked tiny on Y/N's thigh, but on Tobias's it looked massive and oozed strength. They weren't going anywhere unprepared anymore.
Penny stands alone near a two-story building with patio furniture and she is looking around nervously when a hand grabs her shoulder, causing her to jump. She turns to see Ruby grinning. She smiles in return. The scene moves to the two strolling down the street.
Penny finally talks.
"I wish I could help you, Ruby, but I don't know anything about those men.*
Ruby presses her.
"Well, what happened to you that night? We were all together, and then you just disappeared! Were you kidnapped?"
Penny looks surprised.
"Oh, no! Nothing like that!*
"Then where did you go?"
"I've never been to another kingdom before. My father asked me not to venture out too far, but... You have to understand, my father loves me very much; he just worries a lot."
Ruby rolls her eyes thinking about her dad.
"Believe me, I know the feeling."
She grins and Penny grins back.
"But why not let us know you were okay?"
Penny replies nervously.
"I... was asked not to talk to you. Or Weiss. Or Blake. Or Yang. Or even Y/N. Anybody, really."
"Was your dad that upset?"
"No, it wasn't my father…"
Before Penny can continue, she and Ruby hear the sound of megaphones announcing something, turning around the corner to look at the platform in the center of a plaza where the holographic image of James Ironwood is seen before six AK-130 Androids, who are in turn standing in front of two large metal storage cases with the spear-and-shield emblem on their doors.
Ironwood's hologram starts talking in an authoritative voice.
"The AK-130 has been a standard security model of Remnant for several years, and they have done a fine job. Wouldn't you agree? Wouldn't you agree?"
The clapping of the gathered audience causes the drones to take a jerky bow.
"But... the kingdom of Atlas is a kingdom of innovation, and 'fine'... Well, that's just not good enough, is it? Presenting... the Atlesian Knight-200!"
The doors to the cases roll up, and six new, bulkier, shinier automatons stand at attention before knocking their obsolete predecessors down to the applause of the watchers.
"Smarter, sleeker, and admittedly, a little less scary."
The robots flex and pose as a demonstration.
"These models will become active later this year, but they won't be alone! Now, the Atlesian Military has always supported the idea of removing men from the dangers of the battlefield. However, there are still many situations that will undoubtedly require... a human touch."
The last line draws Ruby's attention.
Penny asks nervously.
"Ruby..?"
Ironwood's hologram continutes.
"So, our kingdom's greatest minds, in cooperation with the Schnee Dust Company, are proud to introduce... the Atlesian Paladin!"
Ironwood's image is replaced with the hologram of a robotic white behemoth, featuring hinged piston legs, large guns for hands, and a rectangular head, standing at least twice as tall as the Knights below it.
Ironwood hologram has disappeared, but his voice remains.
"Now, we couldn't have him here for you today, but these mechanized battle suits will be seen defending the borders of our kingdom within the year!"
Ruby hunches over in awe.
"Whoa…"
Penny is now concerned.
"Ruby? Maybe we should go somewhere else."
At the side of the stage, two armored soldiers see Penny, pointing her out and calling in backup. Penny backs away and then breaks into a dead run, which snaps Ruby out of her weapon-awe-induced stupor.
"Penny! Wait! Where are you going?"
Ruby turns to look back at the soldiers chasing after her friend, and realizing Penny's situation, swiftly follows her in an attempt to catch up down the winding alley.
One Atlas Soldier gestures to his partner.
"Down here! She went this way!"
Penny and Ruby run across the street with the soldiers following them, though a honking car nearly runs one over. He manages to brace his hands against the hood, which somehow stops the vehicle, and his partner runs along after the girls.
Ruby is still trying to catch up with Penny, but a high stack of crates on a flimsy support is easily cut down by Crescent Rose, causing a wooden avalanche of boxes to block the path. Seeing Penny right ahead of her, Ruby leaps into the air and lands on the alley wall, ricocheting off to grab Penny around the middle.
Ruby calls out to Penny.
"This way!"
She grimaces before the two disappear in a flash of red and rose petals.
Ruby dashes away as fast as she can while carrying Penny, but the strain is too great, and they crash to the ground a short while later, with Ruby falling all the way into the street. She gets up slowly, and in her dazed state, she doesn't notice the large truck coming up from behind her until the honking is too late of a warning. She stands up just as she's about to be hit, but from out of nowhere, Penny pushes Ruby out of the way and holds her palms out.
In the split second where the two make contact, the ground beneath Penny cracks and crumbles into pieces, and the From Dust Till Dawn truck is lifted a little ways into the air by the girl's sheer strength. She puts it down, and the Shopkeep stares in awe at the crumples in his hood, just like the Huntress who got saved.
Ruby's eyes are wide, terrified, and uncertain as she asks Penny.
"Penny..?"
Penny asks the shopkeep.
"Are you okay?"
The Shopkeep nods, obviously scared.
"Uh-huh…"
Penny backs away, looking at Ruby's frightened expression, then at the bystanders murmuring to each other in an attempt to understand what just happened. In her panic, she runs from the Atlas soldiers still chasing her down and bumps into Ruby, knocking the poor girl out of her stupor as her friend tries to get away again.
"Penny! Come back!"
She starts going after Penny as the people look at the destruction Penny caused with her bare hands and the soldiers find they lost their target.
Penny comes to a stop once she gets out of the alleyway, looking around for where to run next.
"Um... Uh…"
Ruby comes up to Penny, exasperated.
"Penny! Please! What is going on?! Why are you running? How did you do that?!"
Penny is nervous again.
"I-I can't! Everything's fine!"
She starts to hiccup with each lie.
"I-I don't want to talk about it!"
She hiccups again.
"Penny, if you can just tell me what's wrong, I can help you!"
Penny retreats from her friend, scared.
"No! No, no! You wouldn't understand…"
Ruby is exasperated, but still worries about Penny.
"Let me try! You can trust me!"
Penny finally relents, coming up to Ruby's face desperately.
"You're my friend, right? You promise you're my friend?!"
Ruby says softly, meaning it.
"I promise."
Penny goes silent for a second, then, looking down at her hands.
"Ruby... I'm not a real girl."
Penny shows Ruby the toll of stopping the truck that would have killed her: Parts of her palm's skin have ripped away, revealing the gray metal underneath. Penny stares sadly at Ruby's face, now completely astounded by her friend's secret as all she can simply say is...
"Oh."
The view changes to Y/N sliding his bike into a parking space at the bullhead landing zone. Lily let's go of him, stars quickly revolving around her head.
"I'm never riding with you again. You're a freaking psychopath on a bike."
Y/N grins and points at the bullhead slowly approaching the landing pads, containing their two lovestruck teammates.
"I told you I could beat it here though…"
Lily mumbles, still getting her bearings back.
"You're still a psychopath though...buut good job Titan."