The classroom air was thick with boredom and the booming voice of Professor Port, who was in the midst of yet another winding, boastful tale of his monster-slaying days. Weiss watched the slow crawl of a holographic clock on her desk, her foot tapping with an impatience that belied her serene facade. She just wanted the lecture to end.
Suddenly, a shadow fell over her desk. Cardin Winchester slid into the chair beside her with a slick, practiced ease, a smirk plastered on his face. "So, Weiss," he said, his voice a low, confident purr. "I was thinking after this, maybe we could go grab a bite to eat?" He leaned in, his grin infectious and unsettling.
Across the room, Ruby watched the exchange, a strange and unfamiliar feeling brewing in her gut. It was a hot, twisting knot of possessive anger, a sensation that made her hands curl into tight fists in her lap. She still didn't have a name for it, but she had a growing idea of what it was, and the way Cardin was leering at her partner was making it feel dangerously close to the surface.
"And, you know... chill?" Cardin's voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper, his face a little too close to hers.
Just then, the resounding chime of the bell cut through the air. "And then I-oh, timed that one wrong," Professor Port said with a chuckle. "Well, the stunning conclusion to the story will have to wait until next time!"
Weiss immediately got to her feet, gathering her things. Cardin, however, was faster. He stood up and blocked her path, a predatory smile on his face. "Come on, Ice Queen, go out with me," he insisted. "I'll make it worth your while." He smirked, his eyes trailing over her.
Weiss's face hardened with a cold frown. She needed to go; she had no time to waste on this. "Sorry, Cardin," she said, her voice a glacier. "But I don't date bullies." She tried to sidestep him, but he was too quick. Cardin grabbed her arm, his fingers digging into her wrist in a tight, bruising grip.
"Oh, come on, I'm a changed man. That would never happen again," he said, still refusing to leave her alone. Weiss looked around, her heart sinking. The classroom was empty. Everyone had left, and she was alone with him.
"I said no, so if you don't mind," she said, pulling at her arm, a flicker of fear in her eyes, "I would really like to leave."
Just as Cardin was about to tighten his grip and insist once more, a hand shot out and seized his wrist. A sickening crack echoed through the silence. Cardin cried out, a high-pitched shriek of pain, and immediately released Weiss, clutching his now-broken wrist.
"What the fuck!" he snarled, turning to face the person who had just shattered his bone. It was Ruby.
The moment he saw her face, Cardin's bravado melted away. "You don't know when to take no for an answer, do you, Winchester?" Ruby said, her voice low and not her own, a snarl pulling at her lips. "Leave. Her. Alone." she hissed once more, her silver eyes glowing with a cold, terrifying light. "I won't ask you again."
Cardin, defeated and in pain, just growled before stumbling out of the classroom.
As soon as he was gone, the menace in Ruby's eyes vanished, replaced with a soft, worried look. She turned to Weiss. "Are you okay-"
Ruby was cut off by Weiss leaning her head on her shoulder, the sudden weight a surprise. Weiss's body was shaking.
"Weiss?" Ruby whispered, her hand instinctively going to Weiss's shoulder.
"It's okay," Ruby said, her voice soft and reassuring. "I was waiting for you outside. Since you took so long, I decided to check on you." She laid a gentle hand on Weiss's back. "Are you sure you're okay?" she asked once more.
Weiss took a deep, shuddering breath and slowly nodded. "Yes... thanks," she whispered, her voice muffled. "I didn't notice I was alone with him until it was too late." She finally lifted her head, her eyes meeting Ruby's.
After a few more quiet moments, Ruby spoke. "Come on... Yang and Blake are waiting." she said, a gentle smile on her face. She took the girl's hand in hers, their fingers interlacing. Ruby gave her hand a reassuring squeeze before leading her out of the classroom, their shadows stretching long behind them in the deserted hallway.
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Back in the dorm room, Team RWBY was shedding their school uniforms with a collective sigh of exhaustion. They had a long day, and the quiet space felt like a sanctuary.
Ruby draped her red cloak over her shoulders, her fingers running through her hair as she sat on her bed. "I thought class would never end," she said with a tired groan.
"Says the one person who always sleeps in it," Yang teased, a quiet giggle escaping her lips as she pulled her shirt top over her head.
Ruby just rolled her eyes, a small smile playing at her lips. "Shut it," she said, crossing her arms.
Blake was sitting on the window sill, her legs pulled to her chest. She looked out at the sky, her shoulders slumping with a tired sigh. Her gaze seemed lost in the fading light.
Yang's teasing tone immediately vanished. She walked over to the window, a concerned look on her face. "Blake? What's wrong, kitty cat?" she asked softly.
"It's nothing... I'm fine," Blake said, her eyes still fixed on the horizon.
She then felt a warm hand on top of her head. "Huh?" she looked up to see Yang's face inches from hers. "W... what?" Blake stammered, a light blush dusting her cheeks.
Yang just smirked and pulled away, her expression now serious. "Come on, we're a team. Tell us what's wrong."
Blake let out a long sigh, finally giving in. "I... I'm still thinking about Roman," she admitted, her voice low. "I just know he's up to something, and not just him, but the White Fang too." She ran a hand through her hair, her frown deepening. "I'm just... worried, I guess."
"I know how you feel," Ruby said suddenly, her own voice quiet and filled with an unsettling gravity. "Dr. Merlot... I just know he's here somewhere. Because of that, I can't sleep, I can't eat." She gripped her hands into fists, her knuckles turning white. "Just knowing he's here... I'm afraid he'll take me back." Ruby confessed, her voice thick with fear. "And that makes me scared."
Ruby felt a hand on her shoulder and looked up. It was Weiss. Her face was filled with a gentle, determined look. "We won't let that happen," Weiss said, her voice a soft, unwavering promise. "We won't let him have you."
Ruby's body relaxed, a small, grateful smile on her face. "Thank you."
A new energy suddenly filled the room as Yang's voice boomed. "Well... why don't we investigate ourselves then?"
Everyone looked at her like she had grown a second head. "Are you crazy?" Ruby said, her eyes wide with disbelief.
Yang just shrugged, her signature smirk returning. "Come on, what do we have to lose? If they are up to something, then we can stop them."
The room was silent for a moment, the weight of Yang's suggestion hanging in the air. Finally, Ruby let out a defeated sigh, her hands going to her head. "I guess we're doing this," she said. "But if we die, I'm blaming you."
Yang just giggled. A small, genuine smile appeared on Blake's face, the first one all night. "Thanks, guys," she said, and for the first time in a while, she felt a glimmer of hope.
"Now then! Let's make a plan," Ruby said, a newfound focus in her voice. The chaos of the past day had given way to a quiet determination. "Weiss and I will head to the CCT to check the Schnee records for any other Dust robberies or inconsistencies."
Weiss sighed but didn't protest. "Right. Seeing as I'm in the family, it shouldn't be much of a problem," she conceded, a rare hint of cooperation in her tone.
Blake then chimed in, already moving to put on her gear. "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 crossed her arms and grinned. "While you guys do that, I can do my thing. I have an old friend on the shady side of town that typically knows everything going on in Vale. So, getting information out of him shouldn't be too hard."
Ruby rubbed at her eyes and sighed, the weariness of the day catching up to her. "Great. We'll meet up tonight near Yang to go over what we found."
"Let's do this!" Yang cheered, her voice full of enthusiasm.
"Yeah!" a sudden voice shouted, completely out of place. Team RWBY all froze and slowly turned to the window. Hanging from a tree branch was Sun, a wide, triumphant grin on his face.
Blake, who was closest to the window, jumped back with a startled gasp. "Sun!?" she exclaimed.
"How did you get up there?" Yang asked, a look of utter bewilderment on her face.
"It's easy," he grinned, his tail still holding the branch. "I do it all the time."
"You do what?" Weiss asked, a frown on her face.
"I climb trees all the time! So... are we finally getting back at that Torchwick guy?" Sun asked before expertly flipping off the branch and through their open window, landing on his feet with a soft thump.
"We are going to investigate the situation. As a team," Blake said, her arms crossed.
"Sorry, Sun, we don't want to get friends involved if we don't have to," Yang said, a friendly, but firm, tone in her voice.
"Pfft, that's dumb! You should always get friends involved! That's why I brought Neptune," Sun said, pointing outside.
Hearing the name, Ruby's heart sank, a familiar, unwelcome feeling. She slowly looked at Weiss, her smile gone, a small frown on her face. Feeling her stare, Weiss turned toward Ruby, her own expression one of quiet concern and confusion. After a moment, Ruby quickly looked away, her cheeks flushing slightly.
Yang and Blake peered out the window to see Neptune standing precariously on the ledge outside.
"Sup," Neptune said, a nervous smile on his face.
Ruby put her head out, a frown on her face. "How did you get up here?"
"I have my ways," Neptune said, though his voice was a little strained. "Seriously though, can I come in? We're like, really high up right now."
Ruby sighed, a mixture of annoyance and pity. "Fine," she said, before helping the nervous boy into the room.
She ran a hand through her hair, her eyes scanning the new additions to their group. A new plan was already forming in her mind, her leadership instincts taking over. "Fine, if you guys want to help, then sure. Neptune, you go with Yang to the shady part in town, since she doesn't have a partner."
"Sun, you get to go with Blake to infiltrate the White Fang meeting."
"Everyone good?" Ruby asked, her eyes going from one person to the next.
Everyone nodded. "Then let's do this," she said, before walking out of the door with Weiss following close behind her.
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The Cross-Continental Transmit Tower loomed before them, a towering spire of polished metal and shimmering glass that stretched into the sky, its peak disappearing into the clouds. Ruby's eyes were wide with unadulterated awe. "Damn," she breathed, her head tilted all the way back. "This thing is huge!"
"You... you've never seen a tower like this?" Weiss asked, a note of genuine surprise in her voice.
Ruby shook her head slowly, her gaze still fixed on the colossal structure. "I was isolated for most of my life. I never really knew what the world had."
Weiss's face softened, her eyes filled with a flicker of sympathy. "I'm sorry," she said quietly.
Ruby just shrugged, as if the past were no big deal. "Don't worry about that. What was your home like?"
A small, proud smile formed on Weiss's lips. "They have a much bigger one in Atlas. The one in Atlas was the first, actually. 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 looked on with a mix of wonder and playful irritation. "Ooh, look at me," she giggled, her voice a high-pitched mock impression. "My name is Weiss. I know facts. I'm rich!" She could not stop laughing.
Weiss's lips twitched upward despite her best efforts. "Don't be a pest," she said, but her own smile gave her away. It was a pleasant feeling, seeing Ruby laugh like this. Weiss felt her heart skip a beat, a fluttering sensation she had yet to understand.
Shaking her head with a soft smile, Weiss changed the subject. "Besides, the only reason we're here is because you thought of this plan in the first place. We could've just as easily made the call from the library."
Ruby shrugged, rubbing the back of her neck. "How was I supposed to know?" she said.
"I could've told you," Weiss retorted.
"But you didn't, so here we are!" Ruby said, her smile widening. She took out her scroll, her eyes sparkling with an idea. "Go to the front of the tower," she instructed.
Weiss looked at her, tilting her head. "Why?" she asked, a frown on her face.
"Just do it," Ruby said, a grin on her face.
Weiss let out a long-suffering sigh before walking to the very front of the towering structure. After a moment, a bright flash erupted in front of her. She blinked, her eyes adjusting, and saw Ruby holding up her scroll, already laughing.
"What did you do?" Weiss demanded, walking back toward her. She tried to snatch the scroll, but Ruby was fast, sidestepping out of her reach.
"Nothing!" Ruby said, giggling.
Weiss lunged again, a determined look on her face. Ruby laughed and darted away, her feet a blur. But Weiss was ready for her, her arms wrapping around Ruby's waist. "Give me your damn scroll," Weiss said, her voice a low, teasing growl.
Ruby's face instantly flushed, her entire body freezing at the sudden, close proximity. The warmth of Weiss's hands on her waist, the soft scent of her perfume... it was all too much. In her dazed state, her scroll slipped from her fingers. It bounced off the walkway and slid across the polished floor, coming to a rest in front of someone's shoes.
"Oh," a voice said, calm and pleasant. "You dropped this."
Ruby pulled away from Weiss, her heart still pounding, and looked up at the person. Her eyes went wide, a gasp escaping her lips. It was Penny.
"Uhhh..." Penny said, her own eyes wide with surprise.
"Where have you been?" Ruby asked, her voice filled with a genuine mix of relief and concern. "We haven't seen you since the night at the docks, and... I mean, Alex told us that you went home, but we were still so worried about you."
A strange, uncomfortable look crossed Penny's face. She took a quick step back, her gaze darting away from Ruby's eyes. "S-sorry," she said, her voice sounding oddly strained. "I think you're... confused."
Penny then bent down and picked up Ruby's scroll. Instead of handing it to her, she awkwardly tossed it. It spun through the air in an unnatural arc before Ruby caught it with ease. Just as the scroll hit her palm, Penny let out a loud, robotic hiccup.
Ruby caught her phone and stared at Penny, her brow furrowed in confusion.
"Uh... I got to go," Penny said, her words rushed and her eyes wide with what looked like panic. She then turned and sprinted away, her movements stiff and jerky.
Weiss walked up to Ruby's side, a puzzled expression on her face. "What was that about?" she asked.
"I don't know," Ruby replied, her own voice filled with a sudden, urgent determination. She looked from Penny's retreating form to the glowing CCT tower and back again. "But I'm going to find out. You go make your call, I'll meet up with you later!"
"Wait!" Weiss said, her hand reaching out to stop her, but Ruby was already gone. With a blur of motion, she was off, a trail of black mist with red rose petals swirling in her wake.
Weiss sighed, a long, exasperated sound, before turning and heading into the CCT.
After a few moments of pursuit, Ruby finally caught up to her, both girls stopping to catch their breath. "Penny! Where have you been? It's been weeks!" Ruby said, her chest heaving as she leaned over, her hands on her knees.
"There seems to be a misunderstanding," Penny said, her voice sounding unnervingly flat, devoid of the bubbly energy Ruby was used to.
Ruby stood up, her brow furrowed. "What?" she asked, her voice filled with confusion. Penny just turned and began to walk away, her steps quick and robotic. Ruby let out a weary sigh. "Penny..." she said, but Penny didn't stop.
With a flash of red mist, Ruby used her semblance, her incredible speed carrying her in front of Penny in an instant. She skidded to a stop, blocking Penny's path. "Stop!" Ruby said, her voice filled with a desperate plea. She looked at Penny's face. "Just tell me what's wrong."
Penny didn't answer. She simply walked past Ruby, her gaze fixed on something in the distance. Ruby was stunned, hurt by the complete dismissal. "Penny! Please, stop!" she said again, her voice more urgent now.
Acting on instinct, Ruby reached out and grabbed Penny's arm. The girl's body instantly went rigid, and she stopped walking.
"Look, I don't know what's wrong. But you have to listen to me," Ruby said, her voice now a low, intense whisper. "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..." Ruby paused, her expression changing. The words caught in her throat. She took a deep breath, looking down at their connected hands. "... a friend," she said, the word coming out as a final, heartfelt plea.
Penny sighed, her body slumping a little. She quickly looked around, her eyes darting nervously from left to right. She leaned in close to Ruby, her voice dropping to a near-silent whisper. "It isn't safe to talk here."
+-+-+-+-+
Weiss's mission at the CCT.
Back at the Cross-Continental Transmit Tower, Weiss walked across the grand lobby floor, her heels clicking against the pristine marble. She entered an elevator, and the mirrored doors slid shut behind her. A polite chime sounded inside, followed by a calm, synthesized female voice.
"Hello. Welcome to the CCT. How may I help you?"
"I'd like to go to the communications room, please," Weiss said softly, her voice echoing in the small space.
"Absolutely. Could you please place your scroll on the terminal to verify your identity?" the voice requested.
Weiss pulled out her scroll and held it against a small scanner on the wall. A green light flashed, and a chime indicated the scan was successful.
"Perfect. Thank you, Ms. Schnee."
The elevator began its smooth ascent up the tower, its glass walls offering a panoramic view of the grounds below. Weiss used the reflective surface of the door to practice her smile, trying to make it look effortless and genuine. She sighed, her shoulders slumping as the smile fell away, replaced by a frown. She hated how ridiculous this felt.
After a few quiet moments, the elevator doors opened with a soft hiss, and Weiss stepped out into a vast, circular room filled with terminals and the low hum of technology. This was the communications room, and it was buzzing with people chatting with friends and family from other kingdoms.
Weiss walked up to the central front desk, and a holographic secretary flickered into existence before her.
"Welcome to the Beacon Cross-Continental Transmit Center. How may I help you?" the secretary asked, her voice a perfect, digitized echo of the one in the elevator.
"I need to make a call to Schnee Company World Headquarters in Atlas," Weiss stated, her voice formal and direct.
The holographic secretary nodded. "Absolutely. If you could head over to Terminal 3, I'll patch you through."
"Thank you," Weiss said, before turning and walking across the room.
At Terminal 3, Weiss took a moment to compose herself. She took a deep breath, and with a sigh, her practiced, fake smile returned. She placed the call. The line rang twice before a new secretary appeared on the screen, her face as prim and professional as her holographic counterpart.
"Thank you for calling the Atlas-" The secretary cut herself off as her eyes widened in recognition. "Oh, Ms. Schnee. Good afternoon! Would you like me to patch you through to your father? I think your sister Winter might be here as well."
"No, thank you," Weiss said quickly, trying to maintain her pleasant demeanor. "I was actually wondering if you could find some files for me. I've compiled a short list."
She connected her scroll to the monitor, and a stream of data flowed to the other end. The secretary's brow furrowed slightly as she scanned the list. "I see... If you don't mind... what may I ask is this for?"
"School project," Weiss said, her smile not wavering.
The secretary's expression became more guarded. "Um, there are some sensitive documents on this list, ma'am."
"Well then, I'll be sure to treat them with care," Weiss said, her voice betraying not a single hint of her inner turmoil.
"Right... very well. The data is being transferred to your scroll now."
"Wonderful. That will be all then," Weiss said, her smile finally faltering as her task was completed.
"Are you sure you wouldn't like me to patch you through to your father before you leave?" the secretary asked one last time.
"Yes, I'm sure," Weiss said, the exhaustion now audible in her voice.
"Well then, have a nice day," the secretary replied, and the transmission ended. Weiss let out a long, weary sigh, the weight of the moment finally settling on her.
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Out on a bustling street in Vale, Penny stood nervously at the front of a store, her eyes darting around the crowd. Ruby walked up beside her and gently patted her shoulder. The two girls began to walk, their footsteps a quiet rhythm on the busy sidewalk.
"I wish I could help you, Ruby," Penny said, her voice strained. "But I don't know anything about those men."
Ruby's brow furrowed. "Well, what happened to you that night? We were all together, and then you and Alex just disappeared." Ruby frowned, her heart sinking with a new, unwelcome thought. "Did she... kidnap you?"
Penny's nervous posture dissolved, replaced by a soft laugh. The sound was so genuine that Ruby couldn't help but smile. "No," Penny said. "She didn't do any such thing. She just took me back to my father."
"Really?" Ruby said, surprised.
"Yes! I've never been to another kingdom before. My father asked me not to venture out too far. But, oh... you have to understand, my father loves me very much. He just worries a lot."
Ruby nodded, her smile fading. "I can't really say that I know this feeling," she admitted, "but I can understand that people who love you worry for you. But, why didn't you let us at least know if you were okay?"
Penny's face fell, her eyes losing their cheerful sparkle. "I was asked not to talk to you... or Weiss... or Blake... or Yang. Anybody, really."
"Was your dad that upset?" Ruby asked, the confusion building in her mind.
"No," Penny said, her voice dropping to a near-whisper. "It wasn't my father."
Suddenly, a booming voice cut through the street noise, causing them both to stop and look. A crowd had gathered, staring up at a massive holographic screen that had just flickered to life. The holographic form of General Ironwood appeared, standing on a stage.
"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?" Ironwood's holographic form gestured grandly at the two androids standing on a stage below him. The old models awkwardly bowed.
"But the Kingdom of Atlas is a kingdom of innovation," Ironwood boomed, "and quite frankly, that's just not good enough, is it?"
As if on cue, two metal boxes slid open, revealing three new android models in each. They were sleek, silver, and intimidating.
"Presenting," Ironwood's hologram announced, "the Atlesian Knight-200!"
The new models stepped out, their movements fluid and precise, kicking the old models down to take the spotlight. The audience burst into thunderous applause, and the new models showed off their speed and agility.
"Smarter, sleeker, and admittedly, a little less scary," Ironwood's voice continued. "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 undoubtedly require a human touch."
Ruby noticed that Penny's shoulders had tensed. "Ruby..." Penny whispered, her voice laced with unease.
"So, the kingdom's greatest minds, in cooperation with the Schnee Dust Company, are proud to introduce, the Atlesian Paladin!" the holographic Ironwood said. His image disappeared, replaced by a much bigger hologram of a giant mechanized suit.
The audience's applause grew louder, a roaring wave of approval. "Now, we couldn't have them here for you today," Ironwood's voice spoke over the intercoms, "but these mechanized battle suits will be seen defending the borders of our kingdom within the year!"
"Whoa..." Ruby looked on in utter awe. "I've... never seen anything like it," she said.
"Ruby... maybe we should go somewhere else," Penny insisted, her voice now a frantic plea.
Ruby looked over and saw two soldiers in the crowd, their eyes locked on Penny. One of them pointed at her, whispering something to his partner. Penny saw them, and her eyes went wide with panic. Without a word, she took off running.
"Penny?" Ruby said, her voice full of confusion as she watched her friend flee. "Wait! Where are you going?" She turned to see the two soldiers running toward her. "Crap..." she muttered, before running after Penny.
Ruby and Penny turned a sharp corner, but the two soldiers, like relentless hounds, kept pace with them, their heavy boots thudding on the pavement.
"Down here, she went this way!" one soldier shouted, their voice a flat, emotionless drone.
The two soldiers sprinted into the street, their path clear, only to stop with a jarring halt when a car screeched to a stop inches from their faces. The driver's horn blared, but the soldiers' expressions never changed. With a low growl of frustration, one of them slammed his fist against the car's hood, leaving a deep dent, before they resumed their chase.
Ruby groaned, her heart pounding. She clapped her hands together, a surge of energy flowing through her. She felt her blood move from within, a warm, tingling sensation that solidified just outside her skin. In a flash, her scythe, Crescent Rose, formed from her own solidified blood, its familiar weight a comfort.
She brought the blade down, a precise, powerful swing that sliced clean through a support beam holding up a bunch of boxes. The beam fell, and the boxes crashed down, a cascade of cardboard and goods that blocked the soldiers' path. Ruby smirked, her scythe's edge turning to liquid and seeping back into her skin, leaving no trace. "Ha," she whispered to herself. "I'm really getting the hang of this."
With a flash of red and black mist, Ruby's speed semblance activated. She shot toward Penny, the world blurring around her. "This way!" she said, her voice a rush of wind, before grabbing Penny and lifting her into her arms. Ruby launched herself off the walls, her body turning into a blur of motion.
But as she held Penny, she grunted, her teeth gritted. Why... why did she feel so heavy? The weight in her arms was immense, unnatural. Her mind fogged, her semblance flickered, and she couldn't hold on. With a pained cry, Ruby fell, dropping Penny as she herself tumbled to the ground, hitting the concrete more than once.
She landed in the middle of the street, groaning in pain. "Ouch..." Ruby lifted her head, slowly standing up, her body bruised and aching.
Suddenly, the blare of a truck horn shattered the air. Ruby looked over and saw a massive truck barreling toward her, its headlights blindingly bright.
But before it could touch her, Penny jumped in front of her, pushing Ruby out of the way. Penny held out her hands, and with a guttural, strained grunt, she stopped the truck. Her shoes dug into the ground, and the street cracked beneath her feet. The back of the truck lifted into the air before crashing back down with a deafening thud.
"Penny...?" Ruby whispered, a mix of awe and disbelief in her voice.
Penny looked up at the shocked truck driver. "Are you okay?" she asked, her voice quiet. The driver, still in shock, could only nod.
Penny stepped away from the truck slowly, shyly. She looked at Ruby, who was staring at her hands.
"Umm... I..." Penny started, her voice filled with shame.
People gathered at the scene, their whispers and gasps filling the air. Without a word, Penny ran past Ruby and headed down a dark alley.
"Penny! Come back!" Ruby yelled, running after her.
The two soldiers finally arrived at the scene but were stopped by the gathering crowd, who had blocked their path to the two girls.
Ruby finally caught up to Penny. "Penny! Please! What is going on? Why are you running? How did you do that!?"
"I... I can't," Penny said, her body shaking. "Everything's fine!" she insisted, her voice tight with panic. She let out a soft hiccup.
"Penny, if you can just tell me what's going on, I can help you," Ruby said, her voice soft and pleading.
"No, no, no, no, you wouldn't understand," Penny cried, her eyes welling with tears.
"Maybe... maybe not," Ruby said. "But you have to trust me."
"You were my friend, right?" Penny asked, her voice small. "You promise you're my friend?"
"I promise," Ruby said, without a moment of hesitation.
Penny looked down at her hands, her shoulders slumping. "Ruby..." she whispered. "I'm... not a real girl."
She slowly showed Ruby her hands. Ruby looked down, and her eyes widened in horror as she saw the metal beneath the fake skin, the intricate wires and joints that made up Penny's very being.
"Shit..." was all Ruby could manage to say.