A/N: Welcome to my first fanfic. I've written stories before, and I prefer writing stories with my own original cast of characters and worlds…. But hey, sometimes it's fun just to use ideas of "what if this happened?" in your favorite show, game, or book. I have recently gotten into RWBY and its surprisingly good amount of decent fanfiction, so I decided I would take a crack at it. I was waiting until the end of Volume 3 to right something…. And then the finale ruined all the ideas I had. So, I came up with this one, enjoy! (Warning: Does contain some OCs, but that's inevitable, because we've never been to Atlas, and only know a few people from there)

Weiss hated a lot of things. She hated it when Neptune flirted so promiscuously. She hated it when her team (mainly Yang) acted so unprofessionally. She hated it when certain klutzes ignited her spare dust in public so ceremoniously on the first day of school!

Yet what Weiss hated the most was failure, and by Oum, did she hate it more than ever. When that drunkard that was her partner's uncle showed up, calling her crazy and asking for Ruby's location in the same breath, she realized that only disaster would follow. There wouldn't be a happy ending after this.

She didn't know to what extent, though.

She remembered when the silver tendrils exploded from the top of the tower, enveloping it and causing the roosting dragon Grimm to screech and suddenly go silent. The remaining Grimm she was fending off cowering and retreating in all directions. Qrow (That's his name, right? Why is it spelt with a "Q?") looking up with a mixture of horror and….. understanding? Then again, from what Winter had told her, that man had blood in his alcohol stream.

Qrow told Weiss to retreat, while he was to retrieve Ruby. Weiss screamed at him that Pyrrha was up there too. He paused at that. The drunkard looked back at Weiss, looking fatigued, and said, "I wouldn't get your hopes up, kid."

Weiss sat in his father's private jet, stewing that memory over and over in her mind. She failed. The Grimm were chased off, but she went with Ruby on that suicide mission to specifically GET Pyrrha and Jaune back, and the results?

Ruby was unconscious, Jaune was rocketed off somewhere in a locker against his will, and Pyrrha…

Well, all that was left of her was that tiara. Weiss liked to imagine she faked her death somehow, but… it seemed out of character. Also, Qrow was mumbling something about "incineration" and that it "was probably mercifully quick." Weiss shuddered.

The ride back to Vale was actually less awkward that she expected it to be. Qrow didn't go with her. He just escorted them to the Evac point, leaned the unconscious Ruby onto Weiss, and said, "Thanks for going with her, Schnee, she doesn't seem to think she can die….." he laughed, and left to look for other survivors stuck within the ruins of Beacon.

"Would you like some coffee, Miss?"

Weiss was pulled out of her thoughts as she regarded the stewardess in front of her. "Just…. Just some water, please." She said, politely enough. She realized just how dry her mouth was. The stewardess smiled and poured her some cold refreshment in a tall glass. Weiss thanked her, and started to guzzle it down.

"And for you, Mr. Schnee?"

"I'm fine." He said simply, he then leaned forward in his chair to face his daughter through the stewardess, "I understand you are distressed, but please, mannerisms are still important."

Weiss looked questioningly at her father until she realized what he meant. She brought the glass down back into the cup holder, and brought out a handkerchief to wipe the excess water she splashed over her face by her sloppy display. "I'm sorry," she mumbled, but not with much sincerity.

"It's okay," he replied, "you've been through a lot, just… must've slipped your mind." There was some frustration in his voice that Weiss recognized very well, there was more he wanted to say. Weiss delicately drank some more water down her parched throat, and returned to looking at the window, avoiding her father's gaze.

The rest of the ride was silent, except for in Weiss's mind, where she continued to hear it. Sun desperately screaming for Blake, Neptune's comforting words of relief, and Jaune…..

Oh dear Oum, Jaune.

Weiss sat outside the room, with Schnee private security guards keeping her company. Father didn't want to let her out of his sight, but unfortunately, the Atlas Council requested his attendance, and not Weiss's. So, he just let her sit out in the lobby before the sound-proofed meeting room, with her only company being two men in heavy armor that are trained to not talk, and if they are asked questions, to use as little words as possible.

"So…." Weiss began, "what is it like, working for Schnee security?" She was really bad at small talk.

"It pays."

"Oh….." Weiss mumbled. After 50 more seconds of silence she followed up, "Do you have a family?"

"Yes."

"How large?"

"No kids, but wife's five month's pregnant."

"Oh, that's exciting!"

"Yes."

She turned to the other one, "and you?..."

"No."

This was getting nowhere.

She sat, twiddling her thumbs. Usually she enjoyed peace and quiet, but living with Team RWBY had made her accustomed to conversation. Yang always had something to say, no matter how stupid, and Ruby always had something to say, which, also tended to be stupid. Those two were definitely sisters. Blake was a quiet type but it wasn't an awkward silence like this. It was almost a harmonious "bonding silence," where the presence of each other was felt, and no words were necessary to enjoy each other's company. These two over-armored fence posts just gave her the chills with their cold, metal exoskeleton.

Besides, the guards were there to stop her from leaving, rather than protect her from anything. It never felt nice to be limited.

So she sat there in the admittedly comfortable chair, and started to drift asleep. She hadn't been sleeping well, lately. Maybe she could take this chance to get some shuteye, and possibly none of the nightmares….

"Oh I'm so glad to see you're okay!"

Her eyes bolted open as she saw a familiar figure fast walk, with the usual grace, towards her. "Winter!" Weiss exclaimed as she sat up and gave her sister a deep hug. "I was so worried when I saw the attack at Vale, but I couldn't abandon my post…" Winter practically whimpered in her ear. "It's okay, it's okay, I'm fine," Weiss replied, still holding herself tight towards her sister. Well, fine was a generous word, but she was indeed alive with no major injuries.

Winter's display of affection was surprising. She normally never broke her cold and poised demeanor in public, but I guess this was a special circumstance. Besides, the only people witnessing it were Weiss herself, two guards, the receptionist at the lobby, and…

"I'm happy to see you are well too, Ms. Schnee."

General Ironwood stood over the display with an amused smirk. Winter immediately released the hug and got into her attention position, facing the General. "I-I apologize sir, this…."

Ironwood gave a short laugh and said, "it's fine, Officer Schnee, she's been through a lot, it's only natural to feel emotions." The General faced Weiss, "I assume if you're here, Wagner has already arrived."

"He does love to show up early, sir." Weiss replied.

"Indeed he does. Well, Officer, shall we? After you."

He gestured Winter towards the door. The Schnee officer gave a nod of sympathy towards her sister, mouthing we'll talk after this.

Weiss was alone in the lobby again with the human representation of brick walls. She would have even taken Cardin's company over these two…. dunces. Her frustration at these two individuals thankfully did distract her mind from the more morbid thoughts in her head. The ones about Blake running away… again. The ones about Jaune sitting in loud silence as his face contorted in a myriad of pained shapes as he held Pyrrha's tiara. And what especially haunted her was Glynda, when she looked... defeated. Damn it Weiss thought as these memories poured back into her mind.

"Well! I would have thought you would've hidden away from your dad, Weiss, but then again I guess you didn't know he was coming, did you?"

Another voice echoed towards her as she returned to the present. A short man, slightly taller than Weiss, in a blue blazer, blue slacks, black loafers, white dress shirt and a blue bowtie sauntered over to her position, giving a sympathetic smile. His orange hair, while starting to show signs of grey, was wildly slicked back to give the illusion of youth. His blue eyes were concealed by a pair of square-rimmed glasses. His frame was wiry in spite of his small stature, yet he moved with such confidence and reckless abandon that he seemed larger than he really was. Behind him was another man who was much taller, wore a lab coat and had an impressive beard. Weiss didn't recognize the bearded one, but she did recognize the one who addressed her.

"Professor Glass, sir! It's great to see you again…"

The bespectacled man sighed, "it's 'Doctor' Glass, Weiss, you always seem to forget that."

Weiss sighed. Yeah, she did. Oobleck can vouch for that.

Dr. Pluto Glass, from what Weiss knew, was basically for Atlas what Glynda Goodwitch was for Beacon. However, unlike Ozpin and Goodwitch, Ironwood and Glass rarely seemed to get along. He was against the acquisition of Mantle under a unified militaristic rule, and always criticized the "kingdom of Atlas" for confusing "control" and "safety," with "the good of the people." He was outspoken, vulgar at times, but most dangerously, brilliant: which was why Ironwood, and her Father, kept him around. His research in dust applications was unparalleled, and his advancements in a variety of technologies had helped keep Atlas on top in the scientific fields during his tenure. He was stubborn and obnoxious, but Ironwood and her Father needed him, as much as he reluctantly needed them to fund and support his scientific research.

He was also supposed to be a damn fine huntsmen, though she'd never seen him in action.

"I see your father gave you such delightful company," he grinned sarcastically at the two guards who towered over him, "so… I assume you guys have, like, a word limit to what you can say, otherwise those massive collars will start to choke you or something?"

They grimaced, but said nothing.

"You guys certainly don't have much of a fuse. Good! It's why I don't have your job, thank Oum! But like, seriously, how do you train to be so stoic? Like, do you watch horrible children's programming to test your patience? Or are you just taken from you family at birth and raised by emotionless robots… Speaking of robots! By the way, Weiss, have you met my friend?" He pointed at the taller, bearded man behind him.

"I have not had the pleasure Professor."

Dr. Glass gave her a pointed look.

"Doctor." Weiss corrected.

He smiled again, "this is my friend, Dr. Glister Polendina, head Engineer of Military R&D. You may recognize his last name from… uh…"

The bearded man interrupted him, "Penny was my 'daughter,' so to speak; I was the head of her development. She… uh… was my responsibility." There was a professional hollowness to the way he spoke of the robot. It was the same hollowness Weiss heard when her father was on the phone, hearing news of another family friend going missing, right before hanging up and flying into a rage.

Weiss bowed her head, "I'm… I'm sorry about Penny sir."

"Don't apologize," Dr. Polendina sighed, "we should have scanned all contestants' auras to deduce if there was a semblance that could have been fatal for her… We didn't think of it. That damn Pyrrha…"

Before Weiss could interject Dr. Glass put a hand on his fellow doctor's shoulder, but not for comforting, "it wasn't her fault either, Glister. And she's dead too." His tone was oddly serious for the man, "that 'damn Pyrrha' inspired many people, and was my godchild's partner. Don't badmouth the victims, or I will throttle you, and I won't hold back just because you don't have your aura unlocked."

Dr. Polendina audibly gulped, while Weiss just gaped at mad scientist. "Dr. Glass, you know Jaune?"

Dr. Glass seemed to look puzzled before making an 'a-ha!' face, "not really, no. But I was his mother's partner when she attended Atlas. I was the team leader, actually. She loves to keep in contact with me and tell me all of her family's goings on. For some reason she told me if anything happened to her and her husband I would be the one taking care of their copious amount of kids… Yeesh, if someone told me that my partner was that fertile I would have done team meetings on using protection. Anyway! Shouldn't keep the board stalling, the meeting should start… uh…" he checked his watch, "well, better late than never, right?" He sauntered into the boardroom, "hey Weiss. If you ever need a way to get away from Pops, my lab is always open for some volunteers. Might…" his face became sincere, "might help keep your mind off things, y'know?" He opened the door, and he and Dr. Polendina walked in.

Weiss slumped into the chair, returning to uncomfortable silence. She could use something to occupy herself. She had yet to cry, she was a Schnee: dignified, calm, and collected. Yet, she had no idea how much longer she can hold that façade.

Wait! There was the receptionist! She could talk to her! "So…. Miss, I…."

"I'm busy working on papers; I can't talk now Ms. Schnee."

Oum dammit!

General Ironwood dreaded this meeting. He was the only one at Vale. He witnessed his machines turn against each other. He fought along the streets of Vale. He had his own transport ship hijacked and crashed! And while he was the highest ranking official on the Atlas Council, and had Winter Schnee to back him up, he still knew he would only get flak, and not sympathy. He knew that coming into the job, Ozpin warned him as such, but he could tell this specific meeting was going to be painful, especially since…

"Well! Sorry we're late, I just had to make sure my chemicals didn't explode! Wouldn't want any more bad press now would we?"

…he was attending.

"That's fine, Pluto, just please, take your seat." He nodded towards the bearded man behind him, "Dr. Polendina." He acknowledged.

The engineer nodded, taking his seat next to Pluto.

"Also, Glister and I carpool, so when I'm late, he's late. Don't blame him."

"You were supposed to be here 10 minutes ago, especially since it was said you have something important to tell us?" A tan, middle-aged woman asked, looking at her pocket watch. "It is unbecoming that such a high ranking member of the Atlas faculty to be tardy to such important matters."

"I get it, Cuckoo Clock. Don't chastise me, besides, I'm here, aren't I?"

"Timeliness is next to Oumliness, Dr. Glass…. And it's Kuu Soleil, not Cuckoo Clock."

"You asked for that nickname with a name like 'Kuu,' and your bizarre obsession of strict time frames. I mean, seriously, didn't you break up with a guy because you thought he stood you up… but he was actually just three minutes late? How Mr. Soleil deals with you is beyond me." Kuu was visibly fuming, and it would escalate if Ironwood refused to intervene.

"That's enough," Ironwood interjected firmly, slamming his metallic hand on the ground. "Pluto, instead of provoking Mrs. Soleil any further, could you please tell us what you want to tell the council? We needn't stretch this out any longer, since time is indeed of the essence."

Pluto sighed, "fair enough." The scientist reached into his jacket and pulled out his scroll, placing it on the table. He tapped a couple buttons before a variety of scientific equations and diagrams popped up, forming a 3D holographic display hovering over the table.

"I'm not expecting you guys to understand any of this, this is to help guide me if anything. So behold! The blueprints for my aura research. If there was any data, formula, and conclusion that I extrapolated, it has been written down in this comprehensive file… and also in pieces across other files, should this be erased."

"What would happen if anyone got there hand on this? Someone who shouldn't," Winter asked, she always tried to ask good questions, even if it wasn't necessary.

Pluto sighed, "Well, you need to provide a proper scientific environment to perform the experiments, plus procure the necessary chemicals and dust components that are rather expensive and not traditionally available. Also, make the machinery that requires expert engineering to construct, and that's if you even understand what I've written down." Pluto shook his head, "also, the applications of this research are not actually that dangerous. It's science. Have it my way these findings will become public knowledge in a couple years. It's applications to the weapon fields are situational, at best."

"Then why is it so important to bring this to a council meeting?" Wagner Schnee interrupted, "if it's…"

"Shut up Wags, I'm getting there," before Wagner could start another commotion, Winter whispered something into her father's ear. He calmed down, slightly. He scowled at the leering scientist with the famous Schnee icy stare.

"We all read the General's status report on the Assault of Vale, right?" Everyone nodded, except Wagner who was still scowling, "Before the Vale CCT was torn down, broadcasted all over the world was our mechanized soldiers were attacking innocent civilians in tandem with the Grimm. That was the last public image of Atlas until trans-kingdom communication was silenced. People from Mistral, Vacuo, and the outer reaches of Vale can basically say, 'Atlas used the Vytal festival as a platform to declare war.' Even with the confirmed presence of the White Fang, and some… unidentified individuals, what will the people protest the most, Atlas's Assault. And it's not like we can defend ourselves on the public space, either, communication is lost! And the roads and airspace are either too dangerous or too slow to create effective diplomatic missions

"This isn't our only problem, the fact that our mechanized soldiers were so easily hacked, it means that some Atlesian officials is working with the enemy, providing them with the necessary hacks to overcome our automated defenses. How many, whether it be one or one hundred, we don't know. We don't even know how high ranking this traitor is, he or she could be in this very room right now!"

Pluto paused to make a point, and shamelessly gave Wagner a suspicious glance. Before he could defend himself, Pluto continued.

"So, what could we, the scientific backbone of this kingdom provide to help with the inevitable war, not only to fight this new threat that has shown its face, but also the other kingdoms who can use Atlas as an easy scapegoat for all of Remnant going to shit?"

"By showing up on time?" Kuu Soleil muttered, earning a laugh from some of the council members.

"You made a joke, I'm proud of you Cuckoo Clock! Gold star!" Pluto gave the woman a thumbs up, much to her chagrin. "Actually, I have made a recent discovery, aura fragmentation, and culturing."

He zoomed into some other indecipherable science scribblings and diagrams of a familiar looking machine. Ironwood grimaced as he remembered Amber's barely alive frame.

"I was able to procure a fragment of someone's aura," Pluto continued, "and, more importantly, by implementing some basic techniques, I am able to grow it."

A councilman gasped, "so you're saying…"

"Yes, I was going to say that, until you felt it necessary to inform me that I am indeed saying that." Pluto sighed, "I can take a piece of someone's aura, then grow that aura, and basically give me an infinite amount of aura to transfer into anything.

"This comes with some interesting utilities. Medically, you can procure insta-heal kits for Hunters who run out of aura, with previously made copies of their own aura, but what Dr. Polendina suggested to me is a bit… more… drastic."

Pluto removed his scroll from the table, removing the notes he made for himself, and motioned to Dr. Polendina. He stood up and said, "I would like to re-invigorate the 'Dime a Dozen' project. With this technology, we can more easily create synthetic huntsmen and huntresses to serve the kingdom, and fight for it when necessary."

"Why was it called the 'Dime a Dozen' project, again?" muttered one of the councilmen.

"Something about a saying of 'having a lot' and keeping with some sort of 'old coin motif?'" muttered another.

"Makes cents," muttered the first councilman.

"We can experiment with the first cultured aura on a similar machine, and Pluto will experiment on how he can replicate the fragmentation…"

"What do you mean 'experiment' on 'replicating' the 'fragmentation?'" Wagner demanded, using his fingers to emphasize his interior quotation marks.

"Okay, you can stop making bunny ears, Wags, the faunus are already offended by you," Pluto jeered.

Wagner lost it at that, he rose from his chair and yelled, "You will NOT trivialize my relationship with the White Fang like that PLUTO!" His teeth gritted together so hard that one would be forgiven to think he had weaponized dentures, "and it's MR. SCHNEE, to you! You degenerate low class bum!"

"I wasn't born into wealth, that's true Wags," Pluto also stood up, "but I'm still here, who's more impressive?"

"ENOUGH" General Ironwood knew these two were a potential headache. He was more surprised that Pluto didn't spend any time insulting him… but he knew it was coming. "Pluto, answer Wagner's question, respectfully," he emphasized, "Wagner, sit down and listen." Wagner stuttered a bit, than sat down.

Pluto sighed, "Well, Mr. Schnee, to answer your question. The fragmentation was a fluke that happened during a procedure," he gave a dirty look to Ironwood, "but I feel I have enough data to replicate it, but it will need testing. Also, I won't be experimenting on Weiss."

"Wha-"

"Offered her to work in the lab to keep her occupied and… not focusing on what happened. I hope you understand. But I promise that I won't experiment on her specifically."

"She should stay at home and-"

"Dwell on the tragedy of Vale, great idea, a physical scar isn't enough for you, gotta agitate a mental one too."

"PLUTO! DAD!" It was Winter who interrupted this time, seeing that Wagner was about to try to assault the scientist. After Wagner sighed, Winter spoke up, "that's a conversation for another time, though I… admittedly must agree with Pluto, father, Weiss does best when she's busy, she gets lonely otherwise."

Wagner sighed, and didn't say anything.

"Well, that's all I have to say," Pluto concluded, "got anything to add, Glister?"

"Nope," Glister Polendina added simply.

"Good, you can stop talking," Kuu Soleil muttered.

"Well," the General started, "with that being dealt with, let's discuss proper strategies for the… inevitable backlash. How can we prevent war, while still being prepared for it"

The discussion lasted for a good hour or two, and many people criticized Ironwood for various trivial things, but nothing major enough for them to fully question his command, but Pluto was eerily silent, but whenever Ironwood's gaze met Pluto's, it said we have to talk. Ironwood gave a similar look.

When everyone departed, Ironwood saw Pluto whisper something to Dr. Polendina , and wave him off. Pluto then walked up towards the General.

"Schnee, you can leave, meet me outside… In fact, go catch up with your sister. I'm sure she'll enjoy the company."

The look of protest was immediately stopped by mention of her sister, "Yes sir!" she saluted and exited the meeting room.

It was just the General and the Head Scientist now.

"Who's aura is it?" Ironwood asked.

"Like you don't know." Pluto responded.

"Dr. Polendina wouldn't approve."

"He doesn't need to know. I mean, how the hell am I supposed to explain how Penny's killer got into an aura transfer machine that you took without consulting me at all!"

"It was necessary for…"

"Necessary? NECESSARY?" Pluto's face turned red as raised his hands in the air, "You took that maiden away from my labs. My. Highly! Secure! Labs! That is AWAY from civilian centers, and put it underneath Beacon, which basically is the city of Vale as well, AND all the international visitors for the Vytal festival! And then, AND THEN!" He pointed at him, "You rope some FIRST YEAR STUDENT into this maiden mess, I don't care how much of a damn good fighter she was, she was a FIRST YEAR STUDENT, and basically, you painted a target on her back, and guilt-tripped her into some sense of duty that GOT HER KILLED!"

"It wasn't my idea…"

"I don't CARE if it wasn't your idea, YOU LET IT HAPPEN!"

"Why do you care so much for her life, you never even knew her!"

"I care because it was an innocent life James! That YOU could have helped avoid. When I took this position to serve the school of Atlas, I vowed to protect my students over my own life. YOU rose a damn death flag for her, and if Amber wasn't even in Vale, they wouldn't have tried attracting Grimm to the festival at all, meaning that Penny could be alive as well. What I'm saying is, General James Ironwood, you've gone and FUCKED UP!"

Pluto sighed, "and now we got to find this mole that gave our enemies our soldiers… I know it's not you, you'd never do that." He was panting, all the emotion that Pluto pent up during the meeting was clearly released in that torrent of rare-sincere emotion from the scientist. Ironwood understood his point… he too thought the same thing. He put too much trust into Ozpin, who now had disappeared without a trace.

"General, do we have permission to test another synthetic with Pyrrha's cultured aura?"

Ironwood stared into Pluto's eyes, "Yes."

A/N: Reviews are welcome. Story will start to focus more on Weiss, just had to set some things up, you know. It was also really exposition heavy, courtesy of one of the major OCs in this fic, Dr. Pluto Glass. He's your typical pioneering aura scientist who's so smart that he doesn't take shit from anybody, even General Ironwood or Papa Schnee. (Who's named Wagner because of the "W" motif that Weiss and Winter share)