[Atlas Tower]
A dozen students run in formation through the corridors of Atlas Tower while, of course, being constantly attacked by hordes of robots coming from everywhere: clinging to the walls, the ceiling, crawling out of the ventilation ducts.
Daniel is genuinely grateful they didn't shoot him when he came out of the vent. Not because it would've killed him. It probably wouldn't have. His regeneration is pretty high right now. But it still would've been a hassle to explain why he wasn't dead after taking a shot to the chest... or why he was healing that fast. Definitely a nuisance.
As he's thinking about it, a new wave of robots appears ahead, interrupting his thoughts.
If someone asked him what it feels like to be caught in the middle of a kingdom's tower under siege, alongside a group of hunters while being attacked non-stop by robots, he'd have to answer it's... boring.
Yeah, that's the word.
One of the students—the one in the mobster suit who looks like he stepped out of a movie and who Daniel recently found out is named Flynt—breaks formation and moves ahead. He splits into three identical copies of himself while using what is, quite possibly, the dumbest weapon Daniel has ever seen: a fucking trumpet. The moment he splits, both he and his copies raise their trumpets and blast massive sound waves that wipe out the robots in seconds, clearing the hallway completely.
In the rear, the scene isn't much different. Several students are shooting, slicing, and smashing robots nonstop. And Daniel... well, he's being carried in someone's arms. Princess-style, no less. The one carrying him is the cat faunus girl he'd seen earlier in the labs. Around them, other students are forming a loose perimeter, including Weiss, who stays close, covering him. Basically, they're acting as his improvised personal guard.
The reason for carrying him? Obvious. There's no way a civilian could keep up with a squad of hunters, even if they're still students. Daniel's honestly impressed by what twelve first, second, and a few final-year students can do when working together.
Sure, they could've brought more, but most stayed behind to protect civilians. Twelve was the max they could rally for the push forward, and from his privileged—though somewhat uncomfortable—position, they're more than enough. They literally look like a mini Captain America platoon.
Or at least they do for as long as their aura holds.
Daniel's tempted to ask GLaDOS if it was really necessary to send this many robots. But he won't. He already knows the answer. She'd probably say it's to make it look "realistic" or some bullshit like that.
From his perspective, anyone could think the tower's defenses are useless if twelve students are enough to push through the halls without much trouble. But of course, under normal circumstances that would be impossible. It wouldn't just be robots. There'd be real hunters defending this tower.
Ahhh...
Daniel sighs, already tired of letting his mind wander in search of something even remotely interesting to keep himself entertained. He shifts his gaze toward the faunus girl carrying him. She notices and smiles back.
"A little conversation never hurt anyone," he thinks.
"Tell me, kitty. What's your name?" he asks, gently patting her cheek with his fingers.
She looks a bit surprised by the gesture, but far from bothered, she perks up. She pulls him a little closer against her chest before answering in a shamelessly flirty tone.
"I'm Neon Katt~~"
That doesn't go unnoticed by Weiss, who growls from her position. She's clearly not enjoying the show one bit.
"You seem awfully calm for the current situation," Neon comments just as a robot explodes a few meters away. The blast doesn't even make Daniel blink.
"Not my first rodeo," he replies, not even trying to sound impressed.
"So tell me, Neon, what can you tell me about yourself?" he goes on, letting one of his fingers slowly curl around a strand of her hair.
"GRRR..."
Weiss's growl grows louder, full of irritation and warning.
"Remind me again why you're even here?" she snaps.
Daniel turns his head calmly while still cradled in Neon's arms and lifts GLaDOS with one hand, gesturing toward her theatrically.
"You think it's just plug GLaDOS into the console and poof, problem solved?" he says with a slightly offended tone. "It's way more complex than that. That's why they need me."
Of course, that was a lie. They didn't actually need him. Plugging GLaDOS in was enough, and even that was kind of a lie. GLaDOS could emit a signal from right here to deactivate the robots. Not control them, but shut them down.
The real reason he was here was much more mundane: to get some clout. Make himself known. Show Atlas how useful he could be.
Weiss growls again and turns away with a scowl of resignation. Seeing she's not going to push the issue, Daniel decides to keep talking.
"Anyway, as I was saying..." he resumes, turning his attention back to Neon, "why don't you tell me something interesting about yourself? Do you have a Semblance? And if you do, how does it work?"
Neon laughs with excitement and speeds up a few steps without breaking formation. In her wake, a glowing trail floats briefly in the air before fading.
"My Semblance is called Rainbow. It launches me forward and leaves a colorful trail behind. Pretty cool, huh?" she says, winking at him.
"Very cool. I'd love to have a Semblance like that," Daniel replies, letting a finger draw slow, teasing circles across her chest.
"Ooh, naughty boy... Neon likes it!" the girl purrs playfully, though the scene doesn't last long.
"ENOUGH!"
Weiss's shout cuts through everything. She storms over, visibly annoyed, and without much care yanks Daniel out of Neon's arms, handing him straight to Flynt without a shred of ceremony.
"Pfff," Neon huffs, not arguing, immediately stepping forward to take Flynt's spot in the formation like nothing happened.
Ahhh...
Daniel lets out a weary groan, now slung over Flynt's shoulder like a sack of potatoes.
"I could tell you about my Semblance, if you're interested," Flynt offers with a friendly smile, maybe trying to smooth over the awkward moment.
Daniel doesn't even bother to look at him.
"Not interested, thanks," he replies flatly.
Flynt's smile vanishes instantly. A second later, he raises a hand to his mouth and coughs, not really trying to hide it.
Cough...Whore...cough.
Daniel hears it—of course he does—but honestly, he couldn't care less.
Floor after floor, they keep climbing. Every now and then, with GLaDOS's help, they hack through locked doors in their path. The pattern repeats with little variation: open doors, destroy robots, ignore corpses, ascend to the next level. And again. And again. For a good while, that cycle becomes the entire experience. Monotonous, efficient, exhausting.
At least until they reach the eightieth floor. That's when things change.
It doesn't get any less chaotic, but it does get more impressive. From the moment they entered, the hallways had been littered with metal scraps. On this level, every single robot had already been destroyed, without exception.
Same story on the next floors: scattered pieces, warped doors clearly forced open.
They don't need to wonder who did it, because eight levels up, they find the answer.
The group halts.
Ahead of them, a man rips the head off a robot—clearly a more advanced model than the ones they'd been facing—with a single blow. He's panting, visibly worn out.
General James Ironwood.
Daniel has to admit it: he'd completely forgotten the general was still inside the tower. From the look of it, he fought his way through at least ten floors alone—which is, honestly, pretty damn impressive.
The general notices them immediately. His expression doesn't show surprise or anger—just something colder, more calculating. He approaches without hesitation, eyes scanning the group.
Neon is the first to step forward, steady and without hesitation.
"Report why you're in the tower and why you've brought a civilian," Ironwood orders, though from his eyes, Daniel can tell he already has a pretty good idea.
"A solution to the virus has been found, General!" Neon answers confidently. "The civilian, along with the machine he's carrying"—she gestures at GLaDOS—"according to lead scientist Pietro Polendina, can stop the virus if we get them to the central command room."
Ironwood didn't interrupt her. He just gave a small nod when she finished, not questioning a word. His gaze lingered on Daniel for a few more seconds.
"Atlas thanks you for your service," Ironwood said, nodding toward him. Then, without changing tone, he stepped fully back into his role as commander.
"From this moment on, I'm taking command."
"Yes, General!" all the students responded in unison.
From that point on, the climb changed. Only a few floors remained before they'd reach the central command room, but the difference was obvious. The formation tightened, movements became sharper, and the coordination between the students kicked into another level, making the ascent much faster.
In no time, they reached the command center floor. But when they opened the door, they didn't find the same robots as before. These were different.
A matte black finish coated every inch of their bodies, and etched into their sides was the model mark: AK-130.
[Image]
These were Atlas's last line of defense.
Faster. Deadlier. And worst of all: every single one of them was concentrated on that one floor. Waiting.
Weiss reacted before anyone else. She summoned her glyphs without hesitation and hurled the robots into the walls with force, opening a clear path toward the door.
But unlike the earlier models, the AK-130s didn't go down with a single hit. They stayed on their feet, even after crashing into the walls.
Maybe it was because Weiss was already tired. Maybe it was because these were actually that much tougher. Or maybe she still hadn't fully mastered the magnetic glyph. Whatever the reason, the result was the same: she couldn't stop them instantly.
"Move!" the general ordered, seeing that Weiss wouldn't hold them off much longer.
And they moved.
They sprinted toward the control room door, where Daniel started 'hacking' it open. Weiss stayed by his side, holding off the AKs as best she could, maintaining the magnetic glyph. But it didn't take long for it to fail: flickering out and letting the AK-130s drop to the floor and immediately rise again, just as the door opened.
Daniel and five students, including Weiss, were shoved inside.
"Protect him at all costs!" Ironwood shouted from the hallway as the door slammed shut, leaving him and the rest of the team to face the swarm of robots crowding the entrance.
Daniel didn't waste a second. He ran to the console without hesitation. Sat down. Plugged GLaDOS in. His fingers flew over the keyboard.
If anyone had stopped to look at what he was typing, they would've realized it was nothing but random words.
And yet, he couldn't shake off a creeping unease. Something was wrong. He didn't know what, but he could feel it.
Without turning his head fully, he cast a quick glance around the room.
Empty.
That was the problem.
Where were the people he'd left here the first time? And more importantly, where were the robots that had been trapped inside? The answer came before he could even finish the thought.
"LOOK OUT!" Weiss shouted.
A glyph flared to life in front of him, deflecting an AK-130 that had been inches from stabbing him in the head. Daniel looked up toward the only place that robot could've come from.
And there they were.
Camouflaged against the ceiling, hidden in the dark, hung dozens of robots. Red lights flickered to life all at once. Every AK-130 dropped at the same time, falling straight toward him.
The students reacted instantly. They blocked gunfire, deflected blades, engaged in close combat, forming a wall around him.
"HOW MUCH LONGER IS THIS GOING TO TAKE?!" Weiss yelled, spinning midair to sever a robot's arm with her rapier just as another lunged at her from behind.
"GIVE ME TIME!" Daniel shouted back without taking his eyes off the monitor. "THIS IS AN ART!"
But the moment he said it, he leaned in and muttered under his breath, jaw clenched, barely audible.
"How much longer are you going to take?"
He said it knowing no one would hear. Everyone was too busy trying not to die.
"I'm just adding a little drama... A few more minutes. Maybe one or two casualties, then I'll stop," GLaDOS whispered back, completely unbothered.
At that exact moment—maybe out of pure instinct—Daniel ducked just in time to avoid a blade that sliced the air right where his head had been. The AK-130 that attacked him was destroyed on the spot by one of the students who saw the danger.
"THAT THING WOULD'VE TAKEN MY HEAD OFF IF I HADN'T DUCKED!" he hissed, furious.
"It's for dramatic effect," GLaDOS replied, unfazed. "You clearly don't know how to have fun."
And just a few seconds later, it happened.
All the robots froze.
They went from a blur of violent motion to dead still, mid-fight. The lights that had glowed red now turned blue.
The same scene played out elsewhere.
In the hallway, Ironwood was about to destroy another AK-130 with his weapon when he noticed it suddenly freeze. He raised an eyebrow, still on alert, watching as the robot's lights slowly changed color. A second later, the rest of the units did the same. Then they all stood at attention, in formation, and spoke in unison with metallic voices:
"Systems restored."
The general let out a long exhale. Relief. And he didn't bother to hide it.
At the academy, the scientists stared in astonishment as the monitors flickered back to life one by one, followed by the scrolls. Pietro, in particular, couldn't hide the emotion on his face as he saw Penny stand up effortlessly, calm determination on her face.
"I'm ready for combat," Penny said, her energy renewed.
Pietro took a deep breath. He wanted to tell her to stay, that she didn't have to go, but he knew she wouldn't. He knew exactly what she was like.
"Go, Penny. Atlas needs you."
"Yes," she replied without hesitation, and walked out of the lab with steady steps. Pietro watched her go, and somehow, deep down, he knew she would be okay.
In the city of Mantle, all the Huntsmen and military forces watched in confusion as the enemy units—just moments ago locked in combat—now stood perfectly still. Some began to lower their weapons cautiously. At the same time, communications came back online. Channels reactivated, and orders started flowing once more.
In the central command room, the door burst open. The general entered quickly, his firm footsteps echoing across the floor. The students who had stayed outside were still standing—alive, though clearly exhausted. They had held the line.
Without pausing, the general crossed the room to where Daniel sat. Daniel didn't turn to look at him. He stayed in character, maintaining the facade.
The general stopped beside him.
"Status report," he commanded, his voice clipped and formal. Maybe he forgot Daniel wasn't a soldier.
Daniel did his best to keep up the act. "The virus has been successfully eliminated," he answered, slumping in his seat, feigning fatigue.
The general's gaze shifted to GLaDOS. His thoughts were obvious.
"Is it necessary for her to remain connected to the console?" the general asked, eyeing GLaDOS with distrust. He didn't like anyone having access to the heart of Atlas, not even those who had just saved it.
"The virus has already been eliminated. And any copies that might have been in the systems too," said Daniel. He saw the general getting ready to reply and cut him off before he could say another word.
"But… I wouldn't recommend disconnecting her."
The general frowned. "And why is that?"
Daniel didn't answer. He didn't have to.
Multiple screens lit up instantly in front of the general. Daniel hadn't touched anything. GLaDOS had triggered them. The images were clear: chaos in the city, fires raging, civilians running in panic, entire zones out of control. But what came next was worse. On the outskirts, Grimm were starting to gather.
The general opened his mouth, maybe to ask something, but froze when the screens changed again, this time showing something far more shocking. The same robots that had been tearing through the city minutes ago were now operating with precision: extinguishing fires, clearing roads, assisting civilians with evacuations. Some were working in unison, lifting collapsed structures to rescue trapped survivors.
Along the outer walls, automated defenses were back online, firing at Grimm swarming toward the city. Several aircraft that had pulled out of Atlas's airspace were now returning, one after another.
"We are using the remaining Atlas units to stabilize the situation," GLaDOS said, her voice broadcast clearly over the command room's speakers.
"Also, several supply and Dust-carrying ships currently flying over the city are unmanned. If you disconnect me now, they will crash and cause significant damage."
The general didn't hesitate.
"Continue. Bring them back and secure the supplies," he ordered without a second's pause. He didn't need time to think. He acted fast, adapting seamlessly to the situation.
"Open a communication channel. I want a connection to Atlas, to Mantle, to every available screen."
"Transmission in three seconds," GLaDOS responded instantly, with an efficiency that even surprised the general himself.
And just as promised, the screens shifted. A live broadcast began, visible across every device and screen in Atlas and Mantle.
"Citizens of Atlas. Brothers and sisters of Mantle. Today, we overcame chaos. Just hours ago, our defenses were hijacked. Our systems, compromised. Our own machines turned against us."
The general spoke with resolve. He knew exactly what to say, and how to say it.
"It was a cowardly attack. One that tried to break our trust, spread fear… and divide us. But they failed. Thanks to the joint efforts of our engineers, soldiers, and Huntsmen, we have regained full control of the network and our automated units."
Daniel was still listening, though not as attentively anymore.
"The robots are once again in service of the people. I know many are afraid, but I want you to hear this clearly: Atlas still stands. Mantle is not alone. We remain vigilant. We remain strong. And most importantly, we remain united. Stay calm. Trust your defenders."
When he finished, the screens returned to their normal displays. The transmission was cut immediately.
"Open channels to my specialists," the general ordered without pause. "Identify the most heavily affected areas in Atlas and Mantle. Send Bullheads to Mantle to reinforce positions, and deploy part of our forces to critical sectors in Atlas."
Daniel stopped paying attention. Not because it wasn't important—clearly, it was—but because no one was looking at him anymore. Everyone was busy. GLaDOS kept working, the general kept giving orders without rest. No one noticed him stepping away from the console.
And that was fine. It was late. He was tired.
He walked slowly toward Weiss, who waited for him near the hallway entrance. She looked at him in silence as he approached.
"Think they'll give me a medal for this?" Daniel asked with a faint laugh, barely audible.
There was no reply at first. Weiss hugged him suddenly, saying nothing.
"I think they will," she murmured, not loosening her hold.
Daniel stood still for a moment. He hadn't expected it, but he hugged her back soon enough. The exhaustion was still there, but the moment felt… nice.
"What's going to happen to GLaDOS?" Weiss asked, not letting go.
"She's still connected. She'll help out for a while until everything stabilizes," he said quietly. "We shouldn't worry about it."
A moment of silence followed. A rare, comfortable kind. Neither of them spoke, until Daniel, without much thought, broke it.
…
"Want to fuck?"
-//-
More random images of stuff that may or may not happen later
[Images]
Author's note:
Not much to say. Leave a comment if you liked it—or even if you didn't. I enjoy reading comments or reviews.
The next one might—or might not—be an 18+ chapter. Honestly, I'm trying to push forward because I've got a bunch of 18+ scenes planned with other characters, so let me know what you think.
Anyway, see you soon!
Kisses and hugs!