Sorry this took so long, near the end my Hard Drive died and I had to redo everything. Thankfully I was able to get all the data recovered from the Hard Drive. Also fixed an error I made earlier.

Heart to Heart

Chapter 40: Green Eyed Monster

It had been a few days since they started their missions in Atlas, they were slowly getting into a routine. They would get up, check the boards for a mission, they would fit in training between missions if they could or after them. They would train with the Ace Ops and even team FNKI got into it a few times, being the only team they really knew in Atlas.

It was also quickly being shown that the convoy duty was the most boring out of the missions. They all had to do it at least once a day given all the materials that they needed to use in the construction.

It had been just one long and boring convoy duty for Blake and Yang as they drew the short straw this time. They walked into the area of the building that they lived in as they were feeling a bit tried from the long drives with nothing to do. You'd think with nothing to do they would be more filled with energy but having nothing to do can be very mentally tiring.

"How much longer until this project is finished?" Yang groaned.

"Still a long ways off," Blake sighed. "It's still not even fully sealed yet."

"Great," Yang rolled her eyes as they entered the common room, they could smell something hit their noses. "Oh, someone cooked again."

Both of them perked up at the thought of good food, the common area had a place you could set up to eat so it was nice for a few of them that could cook, do so and make a meal that everyone could enjoy together. They entered the room to already see everyone already sitting down.

"Hey guys," Ruby noticed them first facing the doorway they had entered through. "You're just in time."

"That smells good." Yang's mouth was already starting to water.

"Well I saved you both some servings," Jaune placed two plates on the empty spots at the table, one of course being next to his place.

Yang smiled as she kissed his cheek. "And that's why you're good boyfriend material."

Jaune scratched the back of his head smiling as he sat down next to her, Blake taking the other empty spot and was starting to eat already, the table quickly got into the usual chatter, what they did that day, what plans were for their time off if any.

Yang was nearly halfway through her meal before she had to ask. "So who cooked this?"

"Actually, I got it as a gift," Jaune shrugged.

"A gift?" Yang asked before filling her mouth again.

"Yeah one of the mothers of the kids I help in the morning and afternoon gave it to me. It's a lot so I thought to share it with everyone." He simply explained.

Yang's chewing slowed for a bit before swallowing. "So..she just gave it to you? I mean I guess she's an older woman, right?"

Jaune thought about it. "Actually, a lot of them seem more like Saphron's age, maybe a few years older but about there."

Yang slowly chewed her next bite and she found it didn't taste as good as it used to. She kept telling herself it was fine she was just being paranoid. Yet she couldn't help but have a voice in the back of her head about some women making moves on her man.

"So, they're nice?" Yang asked staring at her food.

Jaune thought about it. "Well yeah, I mean they keep making me stuff and keep saying how thankful they are that I'm doing this for their kids."

Yang played with her food a bit thinking it over.

'It's nothing, don't think about it.' Yang thought to herself. 'They're just being appreciative right? It's not like they're coming on to him, these are mothers…mothers around the same age as Jaune's sister.'

She had to admit that for a mother Saphron was kind of hot but what were the odds all the women were like that? Plus, they would have husbands or wives waiting for them, right? There was no way they were all single. The thoughts kept running in her mind over and over and the more she thought about it the more she didn't like it.

She knew that Jaune wasn't the type to cheat on her or anyone she couldn't say the same about other women coming on to him though.

"Well this is great," Nora added in. "You seeing them again?"

Nora was kind of hoping Jaune could score them some more free food out of it.

"Well I kind of have to return what the food came in," Jaune shrugged.

Yang felt her jaw clench but put it aside she wasn't this type, at least she didn't think she was. Then again, she never had a boyfriend before so the thought of young women coming on to him was also very unappealing to her. She needed to nip this in the bud but how? Jaune was too nice a guy and he obviously didn't notice it when a girl liked him.

He might start to feel weirded out and uncomfortable taking that job of protecting the kids in the morning and evening. Then an idea hit her as she starting to think of how she could deal with this in a way where Jaune wouldn't feel strange and she could send a message that the man was off limits.

Hell, she wasn't even sure something was going on. She could be just imagining things after all and it wasn't like she knew for certain what was going on. The nagging in the back of her mind however was not helping matters.

"Well it sounds fun," Yang spoke up. "You mind if I tag along with you?"

Jaune was surprised by this as he figured this wouldn't be exciting enough for her. He did think it would be nice to do a mission together even one like this with her. "Sure but I don't remember if there was only one person needed…"

He thought back and the request didn't exactly say more than one wasn't unneeded.

"I don't mind I could use something different," Yang turned to Blake. "You don't mind hanging with someone else for a day, do you?"

Blake raised an eyebrow as this was a little odd but she put it down to Yang just wanting to spend some time with Jaune. Blake didn't have anything against it and she knew she needed to work on getting to know others a bit more. Once she got into her comfort zone it was hard for her to move out of it.

Besides, she could get to know Penny a bit more so in the end she shrugged.

"Sure, I don't mind, I'll message her later." Blake stated.

"Cool, thanks," Yang was grateful.

The rest of the dinner went by uneventful, after clean up they felt a bit more rested and a few of them were talking about what to do with the rest of the afternoon as they were all free up to this point.

"Well I need something to do," Yang stretched out. "All day sitting around I need some activity, maybe a spar or hit the gym?"

"Ugh," Nora sighed. "I'm dead on my feet, me and Ren had to patrol a whole section of the city all day."

"We could use a bit of a rest," Ren nodded as his own feet were about finished.

"Sounds like you two are hitting some couch time." Yang smirked.

"Yeah that sounds about right," Nora nodded and then looked to Ren. "TV show or movie?"

"Let's see what's on," Ren got up as Nora did the same. He was particular about what to watch but at least it might give him and Nora some time alone together.

"Well I think some gym time might be good for me," Jaune shrugged. "I didn't get much done today either as the only request left after I dropped those kids off in the morning was to help out with training the students."

"What was that like?" Blake asked curious.

"Yeah did you meat team FNKI?" Ruby asked next.

Jaune shook his head. "No, it was a different year and it was mainly to help with stealth so basically they just had to get by me."

"How did that go?" Oscar was curious about it.

"Eh…could have been a bit better on my end." Jaune scratched the back of his head. "But to be fair a couple of the teams had members that were good with that kind of thing."

"That had to be a bit strange given how you're close to their age and yet a full Huntsman." Blake added in.

"Actually, it was," Jaune chuckled. "I felt like I was back in Beacon. It's still feels a bit strange to be fully licensed and all that."

"Yes, it does feel strange," Weiss nodded as if Beacon hadn't fallen, they would have been on their second year by now.

"Well it's still good you helped, plus I need to work on my semblance," Ruby got up from the table. "Maybe I can figure more out about it since Harriet was sure it wasn't just speed."

With that, they cleaned up as they made their way to the training areas to hit either the gym or one of the simulation rooms. Qrow was off somewhere else while Maria had been spending time in Peitro's lab helping the man out. The rest of Team RWBY with Jaune and Oscar, the latter feeling as if he needed to improve faster, went with them.

As they were making their way, they could hear some yelling from one of the main rooms of the building that they had to cross to get to the elevators to get to the area.

"Wow someone isn't happy," Yang joked.

Blake's cat ears twitched. "I think I hear General Ironwood."

"Someone is arguing with Ironwood?" Ruby wasn't sure who would do that. The man was respected, at least in this building that is, down on Mantel not so much.

"Wait," Blake's eyes narrowed as the voice was familiar to her as they got closer. "I think I know the other voice."

As they got closer Weiss felt dread fill her as she did as well. "Oh no."

"I'm telling you that you can't just seize SDC property!" The man's voice was clear now as they entered the main area as they could see a very annoyed General Ironwood and the man yelling at him.

He was an older man with pure white hair that was very well trimmed with a thick mustache in pale white business suit.

"Of course," Weiss sighed seeing her father, Jacques Schnee the current head of Schnee Dust Company.

"And I've told you," Ironwood said standing his ground. "A military operation was deployed there to secure the area. You abandoned that area so the military reclaimed it and are using it for training purposes."

"That's a thin line and you know it, the council will not allow you to bend the law to your needs." Jacques exclaimed. "I demand the return of my property."

"The council is deadlocked on the issue." Ironwood said in a calmer manner. It was true as he had two votes but the other two members had a vote each and they weren't exactly thrilled with him taking over civilian property without just cause. Of course, he couldn't tell the others what he was doing for security reasons but at the moment he could still operate as it would take a majority to counterman his actions.

"Well with the new election maybe that will change," Jacques straightened his tie. He knew he couldn't use his money or influence to change Ironwood the other two members he knew. They he had visited and managed to get on his side. Now he just needed a third.

"By all means," now Ironwood smiled a little. "Last I heard it was Robyn Hill that was in the lead by a wide margin. I do believe you have a bit of a history with her and her people."

Jacques bit his cheek a bit at the mention of that woman. She had been a thorn in his side for years, trying to organize unions in his SDC businesses, making allegations about worker safety and treatment that he had to spend time, effort and money on PR spins. He knew that if that woman had her way she would vote with Ironwood just to spit him.

Even though she didn't feel much for Ironwood as well, the woman most likely hated him more than the General.

"Well then," Nicolas straightened up. "Maybe someone else can earn that seat on the council instead who would be more sympathetic to private citizen rights."

"Oh, and who would that be?" Ironwood asked having a hint of where this was going. "It's already pretty late in the election and even if said person had more money than anyone else it would still be an uphill battle, they most likely would lose anyway."

"Well you never know, the votes haven't been cast yet," He straightened his outfit and turned to leave with the unlucky military member who had been assigned to escort him to the General when he came face to face with his wayward daughter.

Weiss stopped seeing him feeling years of emotions swelling up inside of her. All the times she had tried to gain his approval, to the times she was afraid of him growing up, all the times she despised what he had done to her family name in the name of business and profit. To how she had been locked up as a prisoner in her own home, the relief of escaping him and the dread of this very moment.

Then Weiss felt a warm hand in her own as she saw Ruby next to her giving her an assuring smile.

Weiss took comfort from this as she saw her father walking up to her as she took a breath. She steeled herself for what was to come.

Nicolas stopped in front of his wayward daughter. "I see that you've returned to Atlas."

"Not by choice," Weiss told him flatly.

He didn't bite on that one, he had been furious when he had found her missing. By the time he had sent out his personal security to locate her the only trace had been someone saying they had seen her with transport flyer. The transport never returned and was reported lost, he had figured something happened, part of him hoped she would stay gone to keep out of trouble but another part of him didn't want her dead either.

Still here she was defiant against him just like Winter. Why couldn't his daughters be more like his son? At least Whitley seemed to grasp what was important but the boy still had a lot to learn.

"You're looking well," He tried to be diplomatic.

"Yes, my face feels much better now," Weiss shot back reminding him the last time they saw each other he had slapped her in the face. She was at least rewarded with him shifting a bit at that comment.

Nicolas coughed into his hand. "Yes, well I know we didn't leave things off on the most pleasant of circumstances. Still I believe your mother would like to see you home if possible."

Weiss wasn't sure if he was telling the truth or not, she did miss her mother but unfortunately her mother spent most of her time drinking. It was hard for her to see her mother like that but she couldn't give in to his manipulations.

"Then perhaps I could visit her while I'm staying here at the Academy." Weiss stated.

"So you plan on staying in this place?" He asked with a dismissive tone.

"Yes, as a fully fledge Huntress I feel I should be here for my work." She told him crossing her arms.

"Fully fled-that's impossible," Jacques told her. "You're far too young and still have several years worth of study before graduating from a Hunters Academy."

Weiss pulled out her scroll and showed him her official license without a word and keeping her face straight. He looked at it as you could visibly seen the anger he was keeping in check. This wasn't going how he had planned it. As a Huntress that meant that Weiss was now officially independent and he couldn't use his position as her parent over her anymore.

He had thought about getting his lawyers involved to force the issue of Weiss coming home, as she was still not old enough to be without a guardian. Being a fully licensed Huntress derailed that plan in fact he couldn't force her to do anything now. He had already cut her off from any family funds he had taken away her position as heir to the SDC company.

Yet still she stood defiantly in front of him just like Winter when she had joined the military.

"I see, well congratulations," He told her in a flat tone. He looked at the people she surrounded herself with. "And you choose to stay here with these people than come home is it?"

"These people are you call them are my home," Weiss told him feeling insulted for dismissing them. "Do you wish to know why father?"

He didn't say anything but did raise an eyebrow in a silent question.

"Because to me they are family," Weiss told him. "They're always been there for me and always will be. I don't have to impress them, I don't have to do everything they say, they accept me for who I am and will always stand by my side and be there when I need it."

Nicolas only stared at her with cold eyes. "Very well then."

With that he turned and walked away. When he was finally out of sight Weiss let out a breath, she hadn't even noticed she had been holding. She felt a bit shaky as that had been one of the tensest moments in her life. All the emotions just drained out of her as she had finally did it, she stood up to her father and there was nothing he could do to her.

It was a strange relief in a way like she had put something heavy on her shoulders down for the first time in her life.

"Way to go Weiss," Yang cheered her on.

"Yeah you stood up to him," Ruby grinned.

"Thanks for being here," Weiss told them.

"Thank you for saying we're family, BFF." Ruby told her.

"Don't ruin the moment," Weiss stated but had a small smile on her lips.

"Nope, we're best friends and you know it," Ruby told her.

Weiss shook her head with a smile she might not admit it but she did consider Ruby her closest friend, not that she would give her the satisfaction of that because she knew Ruby would go on and on about it. Maybe one day, when Ruby grew up a little bit more, she would confirm that.

"Well now that that drama is over with, how about we work off that stress?" Yang offered.

"Seconded," Blake stated.

Weiss nodded, after all, she could use something to hit or at least something to work out her stress with dealing with her father. She was thankful they were all here standing with her when that happened, she drew strength in her team and friends. She also meant what she said about calling them family, she wished her own family had the kind of bond she had with them.

Even though she was closest with Winter there was still this distance between them, much like she had with her mother and with her little brother. Her father was a lost cause in her book and she wanted nothing to do with him if she could help it.

Eventually they hit the training level of the academy as she looked around. There were the training areas with the various rooms that could shift and change to suit different needs. There was also a large gym here for various needs. She was told there was a large swimming pool next to the gym, a bit of a rarity in Atlas given the local temperature so keeping large pools of water heated to prevent freezing only the upper city could handle that.

"Oh yeah I'm looking forward to a good work out," Yang stretched.

"I'm wondering if I should focus on cardio or physical," Jaune wondered aloud.

"Well you do swing a sword a lot so not running out of breath is good," Weiss commented since as someone who fought with a sword, she knew how tiring it could get.

"His sword is also a lot larger than yours," Blake countered, as Weiss's sword was much lighter than Jaune's especially when he put it with the shield to make the larger version. That would require a lot of upper body strength to be effective with it.

"Maybe a bit of a run with weights?" Jaune offered.

"It's best to focus on one or the other," Yang commented. "Strength training, endurance training, cardio, they should be done on different days."

Jaune thought about it not sure where to start.

"Well you can join me," She bumped him playfully. "We can work out together since Nora isn't here, I need a work out buddy."

He thought about it, "Sure I mean you would know best I think."

"Oh trust me you don't get a body like this just sitting around," She gestured to herself giving him a wink knowing just how well he knew her body by this point.

Jaune swallowed thinking back to that special time together feeling a bit warm all of a sudden. He certain had to admit that Yang's body was fit while also retaining its feminine allure.

"What about you Oscar?" Ruby asked him.

"I'm not sure I mean General Ironwood has been pushing me thinking it will get Ozpin out," He paused as they all knew the real reason why the immortal spirit was deep inside of Oscar. "I need to get stronger."

"Don't push yourself too hard," Weiss told him. "You don't want to injure yourself."

"I know but you all had years of training for this, I just got this a few months ago and even with his muscle memory slowly coming back, I need to get stronger to hold my own." Oscar told them.

"Take it from me," Jaune told him knowing exactly where Oscar was coming from having to have been in his position in Beacon. "It's going to be rough catching up but as long as you take your time, work hard and have a great teacher you'll get there."

Oscar looked a little less of a weight on him hearing that. "Thanks, I-"

"Cutie!" A female voice cried out.

Oscar's eyes widened in horror knowing full well that voice. He looked around quickly on where it came from.

"Oh no, where is s-" he was cut off a second time as a rainbow blur glomped him pulling his head into her chest and hugging him like a doll.

"I thought I saw my Cutie," Neon smiled hugging the boy as he struggled to get out.

"Man, you'd think a boy his age would love getting his head shoved into a woman's chest like that," Yang smirked at the sight. It was kind of funny how the girl seemed to have a thing for cute things and seemed to consider Oscar this. The poor boy kept trying to keep out of view of the Faunus girl, which was all kinds of entertaining.

"I don't like her." Ruby said flatly.

Yang did a double take hearing that, as she looked at her little sister. She had never heard Ruby bad mouth or say, she didn't like anyone. Well anyone that didn't deserve it, people like Roman, Cinder and people like them, so hearing Ruby saying that about Neon caught Yang by surprise.

Plus, there was the look Ruby was giving the girl.

Oh yeah, that was jealousy. This was it this was the final straw for Yang. She was going to sit her little sister down sometime soon and have a long sister to sister talk to her about her feelings for Oscar. She could brush it off but there was something there and it was either time for her sister to do something about it, either go with her feelings or try to put them aside.

It wasn't healthy to keep things bottled up like this and she would have to deal with it sooner or later in life.

Oscar's struggles had weakened a bit mainly because the older girl was stronger than he was and by this point he figured she would either tire himself out or someone else would peel her off of him. He was just starting to feel better about himself and now he couldn't even get out of a girl's grip, granted said girl was a Huntress in training and was stronger than him.

He was also doing his best to ignore the sensation of the soft mounds his face was pressed into. He was a healthy young man and this was not helping. He could smell the mix of perfume and sweat on her and how warm she was. How was it that growing up in his village, he had no real experience with girls and yet ever since he started this adventure, he had met some of the most beautiful girls he had even met who all could fight monsters. Had his first kiss with Ruby, had his second with Penny, seen both girls kiss and now here he was getting his face smothered every time by this older girl whenever she saw him.

It was all a bit much at times for the young man.

"Okay Neon you had your fun, time to give him back." Flynt told his partner.

"Ohhhh do I have to?"

"Yes," He simply said.

Neon pouted as she released Oscar who took a breath of fresh air and quickly stepped behind the closest person to him, who just happened to be Ruby to keep someone in front of him and Neon.

"Sorry about that," Flynt told them.

"Can't we just keep him for a little bit?" Neon pleaded.

"No," Ruby told her flatly.

Yang took notice of how Ruby was keeping herself in front of Oscar. Yep, she was going to have to had a talk with that girl and soon.

-Mantel Airspace-

A lone flyer was making its way to the city of Mantel. The cargo ship was like most other ones but this one was flying a very specific flight plan that was at a lower altitude than most. It was so only Mantel would pick him up instead of the upper city of Atlas. This was because as a smuggler if you got picked up by Atlas proper you were in for a bad time.

You had to know the right people or at least know people who knew people. If you did, then you knew which direction to take and at what time to take it because it was the only section that was being monitored by someone that was taking kickbacks to allowed flights in and out of the city.

The smuggler of the transport ship Golden Touch was a middle-aged man called Midas Gold he had been smuggling for years since it was more profitable than legit transports. Oh, he took those too if only to appear like an upstanding freighter pilot but he wasn't above smuggling things in or out of the city now and then.

He checked his flight path even though he had flown this plenty of times, it never hurt to check in fact he preferred not to get complacent as that usually meant a mistake and a mistake could cost you everything.

"Flight 33-04 state your business." The radio came to life.

Gold hated this part because he never knew if the person on the other end got caught or had been flipped. He took a breath and said the pass phrase.

"He had a crooked sixpence and he walked a crooked mile," and then he waited nearly holding his breath getting ready to turn and run just in case.

"He had a crooked cat and a crooked little mouse they all lived together in a crooked little house." Came the reply. "Flight pad 22."

That was all and he let out his breath as he flew to the landing area. There were no more words needed since anything else wouldn't be necessary. Besides you never knew who might accidentally overhear something. After fifteen minutes of flying he landed his transport onto the landing pad as he killed his engines and starting turning off his ship.

Stretching out he got up and went to the lockbox and opened it and took out the prepared envelop with the money inside. He walked through the cargo hold as the rear ramp opened up. There wasn't much in the cargo hold other than a large box but he was here to pick up some dust that was being smuggled out to others.

Given the shortage of dust in the world at the moment dust smuggling was at an all time high and very profitable and his profits were very good so far. As the ramp finished opening, he saw his contact, he didn't know the man's name and he never asked. Just the dock master for the area who was on the take with the radar operator that he was talking to land. It wasn't a big operation but it was big enough to ship out enough dust to keep making them all rich enough to retire comfortably down the line.

"How long you here for?" The older man asked.

"Not long, got to refuel while I pick up and then I'm gone again." He handed him the envelope as the man didn't bother to count. They both knew it was all there because if the smuggler did skim some of the money he wouldn't get back into Atlas again without setting up all kinds of alerts.

"Well that's a bit close to shift change." He warned Midas.

"Couldn't be helped some damn Grimm were flying in my normal path and I had to fly around them."

The man just grunted with a nod and left him to his work.

Midas saw a truck coming down the road knowing that this was his shipment. He quickly walked over to the large box and opening the latch he opened the container. "Alright we're here I suggest you boys take off while you can while everyone is busy."

"Thank you for the lift Mr. Gold," the cultured voice of Arthur Watts said walking out of the container.

"I got to say, this is the first time I'm smuggling someone back into Atlas when they hired me to smuggle them out." Gold stated eyeing Arthur's companion with worry.

Out strolled the serial killer Tyrian Callows who looked a bit on edge, mainly from being cooped up for so long without any violence was akin to a drug addict going cold turkey. He needed a release but Watts told him not to kill the smuggler, as they needed him to get here. He hated not being able to practice his craft. Yet even he knew there was a time and a place for everything he just wished that time would hurry the hell up.

Arthur handed over his payment to the smuggler. "As always good doing business with you."

With that they left as the truck rolled in, both men wore cloaks as they pulled the hoods up. Watts had used Mr. Gold to smuggle him out of Atlas when he had faked his death all those years ago so he knew the man was trustworthy, well as trustworthy as any smuggler could be really. The only thing he had with him was his travel case, which held his usual toys that he would need.

Originally, they were supposed to hit Atlas later in the grand plan but things had been changed since the failure of Haven Academy. Atlas being so isolated made it the perfect place to set up for the grand finale. Soon everything would change and this grand game between Salem and Ozpin would be changed.

They made their way through the streets keeping away from the more public ones and keeping their hoods down. While Watts was sure he could get into the Mantel security systems and wipe their profiles out of the system, he would need time and a safe place to work from. Hence them going to one of his old hideaways that he set up years ago.

Walking the streets both of them quickly became aware of the increase security of the city. There were those robots all over the streets with regular soldiers here and there and drones flying around the city. Arthur took note of all of this if this was what it was like here getting into the city of Atlas would be difficult.

"Do we have to sneak around like this?" Tyrian asked annoyed at keeping his head covered.

"Until I can hack into Mantel's security system then yes," Arthur told him checking the area out as they moved.

They kept to the alleyways to avoid most of the surveillance in the city. It was a slow process but one they managed to eventually get through. A few times they had to hide in the shadows for passing patrols but for both men this wasn't something new. Both men were wanted for various reasons, although Tyrian did prefer the more direct approach to just kill anyone that could identify them.

Finally, they reached what looked like an old building, they went down the alleyway to the side entrance that Watts knew that no one used as he had the only code to get in. The door had a simple keypad which he put in the number he memorized as it slid open. The building itself was nothing special, it was just a converted residential building that he purchased under a false identity.

The side door led to a special section of the building that no one knew about, he had one of the lower apartments converted so the front door no longer existed and the apartment number scrubbed from the registry. As far as the tenants were conserved the room no longer existed. The place was sparse and a bit dusty from no one living here. He hadn't used this place until the day he had snuck himself out of Atlas.

"Cozy," Tyrian chuckled as he sat on the couch making the dust fly up. "You should fire your cleaning lady."

"Quite," Watts told him as he got out his technology from his travel case. Another reason he picked this hidden safe house was the access point he had made to the local network. It wouldn't allow him access into the Atlas system but Mantel's security was always laxer anyway. Atlas Military was nothing if but predictable when it came to where to cut the budget.

"Now then, I have a few old contacts that I can look in on while we're here." Arthur spoke up reading the data that was coming in from the screens.

"And what will I be doing?" Tyrian slouched knowing he wasn't going to have any fun just yet.

"Don't worry I'm finding you some nice targets for you to enjoy." He told him.

"Oh?" That perked the psychopath up as his metallic new tail unwrapped around him. "I'm dying to try out my new tool."

"Yes, I am proud of that one," Arthur nodded.

"Oh yes, when I lost my tail, I was so very angry and so very worried I wouldn't be able to use my precious poisons anymore, this certainly is better than my old one. Just wish I could feel the stinger enter the body I miss that."

Watts chuckled at part of what he had said.

"Something funny?" Tyrian narrowed his eyes.

"I knew someone that viewed the world like that, replacing organic parts with mechanical to improve the world he called it. He actually is where I learned cybernetics from, that man is to the cybernetic field what I am to software and programming." Arthur explained.

This was curious to Tyrian, as this man never seem to speak highly of anyone, always looking down on others but he spoke of this man like an equal or at least respected. "So someone better than you?"

"In cybernetics only," Watts told him sternly. "The research group I was apart of, well all had our skills and his was cybernetics."

"Is he one of the contacts of yours?"

"If I knew where he was," Arthur sighed. "The man was to be arrested for some illegal experiments or at least Atlas deemed them to be illegal. They didn't have a problem when it gave them results but that is the way of things. He hid himself away and no one knew where, I don't even know if the man is still alive or not."

"Oh, what a pity, you two could have talked shop and old times," Tyrian mocked him.

Arthur ignored it as he started his research. A few people caught his interests, there was that man in the Atlas military he could see, it seemed Jacques was having a bit of a rough time, he would have to see if he could 'help' his old friend at some point. Then there was the man who helped him to get out of the kingdom, the Crooked Man. If anyone could help get him into Atlas it was that man, as his reach was long in this kingdom.

As he looked through everything a plan to bring chaos to the Kingdom of Atlas was forming.

TBC…