Using the magical power stored in certain artifacts, entire rooms can be cut off from the outside world in their own space. Access to them can be controlled by affixing a key to another object imbued with the wielder's own magic. The wielder can even provide access to other individuals by imbuing a unique magical signature to them.

The process for doing so is complicated, but it must be followed exactly. First, one must gather . . .

Clark frowned as he read through the pages of magical knowledge that Headmaster Ozpin had given him. At best, this was describing how to make a kind of pocket dimension. Maybe not that different from the phantom zone, but still not what he needed. Which was a way to travel to other complete dimensions.

He placed the sheaf of papers back down on the desk in his bedroom. He'd been warned not to get his hopes up too much. At least it hadn't taken long to figure that out by reading the notes first thing in the morning.

Clark stood up and took out the Kryptonian crystal. "Guess I'm going to have to depend on you to get me back home."

He flicked it up in the air, making it rotate a few times, and caught it again. "Jor-El? You there?"

The crystal gleamed silently.

Clark sighed. "Yeah, didn't think so."

Well, he had other things to do. Finding a way home could still wait until after he caught the last phantom. For now, he could pore over news stories from his scroll.

That's always fun. He thought wryly.

Or maybe he could go out into the city as the Dart. He usually waited until nighttime to stay stealthy, but even in broad daylight, people would see a blur at best. He wouldn't even need to change out of his normal clothes.

Then again, he could just roam and explore the city without crimefighting. There were still parts of Vale he wasn't familiar with yet. It might be nice to see more, and it would help him to become more familiar with the routes as the Dart.

Before he made a decision one way or the other, his scroll buzzed. He put aside the crystal, and took the device out of his pocket.

It was a message. Hey, it's Coco, you busy tomorrow?

Coco? Clark had thought that he'd come off as rather strange yesterday when he'd mentioned his stance on killing Grimm, but it seemed like she'd accepted it.

No, why? He texted back.

The team's heading out to a concert tomorrow in Vale at eight, wanna join?

A concert? Loud sounds didn't bother Clark's super-hearing. Not after he'd trained himself, but he still wasn't a big fan.

For what band? asked Clark. Planning to search it up and listen to some samples of their music.

Achieve Men. Come on, it's gonna be awesome.

An Achieve Men concert tomorrow? Tomorrow was a Friday. Wasn't this what Velvet had planned when she'd asked him out?

Are you sure it's okay? He asked. Things might get awkward between me and Velvet.

It'll be fine. Just a night out with friends, the whole team's gonna be there. Loosen up, you can't just stay cooped up in the library all the time.

He didn't correct her. Recently, he'd been avoiding the library. He wasn't one to brag, but he had noticed a few female students eyeing him up. He did not want his scroll number being handed out to people, so he mainly stuck to reading news articles from his scroll in his room. Or somewhere outside and private if the weather was nice.

Coco had a point though, maybe it would be good to get out of his comfort zone.

Okay, I'll go. How much is a ticket?

50 lien. I already got yours, so pay me back later.

Clark grinned. She'd certainly been confident that he'd say yes. Then again, maybe she was right to be.

Another message came in. Meet us an hour or so before the concert at our room, it's 207.

Alright.

\\

"At ease soldier." Ironwood smiled as he greeted Winter in his office in the airship. Her duties in Atlas had been handled more quickly than he'd expected. Then again, his request for her aid had most likely prompted her to complete them as quickly as possible.

Winter nodded slightly before relaxing. Nowhere near 'at ease', but at least they'd progressed from the days she'd be as stiff and proper as possible.

"Have you been informed of what your responsibilities will be here?" he asked her.

"Yes. I am to investigate Roman Torchwick, the White Fang's activities in Vale, and recover the stolen Paladins. However, when the Vytal Festival begins, my primary duty will be assisting with security."

He nodded. "Good. I'm sorry to burden you, but there's another task I have for you. This will supersede all your other obligations, and may possibly be even more important than the security of the Vytal Festival."

"Very well. I will accept it gladly." She said. On the surface, Winter seemed as calm and composed as ever, but Ironwood could see the slight confusion in her eyes. It was understandable. What could be more important than the safety of the civilians during the international Vytal Festival?

The alien. Kent posed a threat far beyond terrorists or criminals, perhaps even more than this mysterious Queen figure. Ironwood needed to tread carefully. Winter was a Specialist, she was much more capable of keeping the secret of the alien's nature than Penny. However, if the alien found out she knew, and that Ironwood had told her without his consent, it would place her at risk.

"Tell me," Ironwood began. "Do you still train with as much dedication as I remember?"

"Yes." Winter said. She wasn't one to lie about these matters, especially when she was aware that he needed accurate knowledge of her capabilities.

"I'm glad to hear that. Now, how powerful has your time dilation become?"

\\

"Overall, I have highly enjoyed my time in Vale." Penny held up the cup of coffee and poured it all down her throat. Without even a gulp.

"Huh." Clark took a small sip from his cup. Penny had excitedly asked him if he wanted to go into the city as her friend. Which was why the two of them sat at a table in a coffee shop. Penny was eager, and it had been difficult to say no. Especially when she'd sadly mentioned that she didn't have many friends.

Besides, the general liked her. Maybe if Clark spent some time with Penny, the man would stop glaring at him like his powers were a nuclear bomb about to blow.

This wasn't quite how Clark had thought events would play out. For one, he hadn't anticipated that Penny would be followed by an attendant. A blue-haired girl, a somehow natural blue as far as he could tell, named Ciel. Her presence made conversation a bit muted, at least for him. Instead of talking, he'd mostly listened as Penny had enthusiastically told him about her adventures since arriving in Vale. Apparently, she'd run into the famous criminal Torchwick and a terrorist organization not that long ago.

"Do you like Vale, Clark?" asked Penny after she finished her story.

"Well, it's very different from where I used to live." He answered. This entire world, where people ran around with powers and transforming weapons to fight monsters, was still bizarre to him. Heck, he was talking to a robot who'd asked him out for coffee. "But I'm still glad to see that people are the same here as they were back home."

"In what ways?"

"Oh, you know. People still go about their lives, they have jobs, pay taxes, make families, that sort of thing." As far as he could tell, the people with animal parts were the same as well. And just like back home, Clark couldn't stand by when people were in trouble. "I'm still not used to spending so much time in a city, people aren't as . . . polite as I'm used to. Not that they're rude. I'm sure that they're busy with their own lives, but I'm used to a more close-knit community."

"That sounds wonderful." Penny said wistfully. "I wasn't sure whether it was people in general or just those in the city, but when I explored Vale unsupervised, my requests for friendship were often rejected or just ignored." Her sad tone shifted to a lighter one. "But I am glad that I was able to make a dear friend that day."

"Really, what's she like?"

"Oh, she's extraordinary!" Penny perked up immediately. "Her name is Ruby Rose, and she attends Beacon Academy."

She continued talking about her friend. According to her, Ruby had gotten into the school early, at the age of fifteen rather than seventeen. Which honestly shocked him, since he knew that the school's initiation had students fight Grimm. Yet allowing a girl that age to do so didn't seem to bat an eye. Her weapon sounded . . . unique, a large scythe which transformed into a sniper rifle.

That alone had been enough for Clark to confirm that Penny was talking about Qrow's niece. However, she also added that Ruby was a fan of the Dart. He couldn't hold back his amused grin when Penny had told him that her friend had an entire wall dedicated to him. It was honestly embarrassing, but he hid his sheepishness and laughed.

After that, they left the coffee shop.

"Anywhere else you want to go?" he asked as they stepped through the doors.

Penny looked up as she thought. "Hmmm, I'd very much like to visit a park. Is there one nearby?"

"Yeah, I think Lakeview Park isn't that far from here. We can walk." Clark suggested.

They navigated through the city streets with Ciel quietly following in step behind them. They talked a bit more on the way. Clark had been a bit curious about General Ironwood, and Penny's eyes lit up even more than when she'd talked about Ruby.

"General Ironwood is the best superior I could have hoped for." Penny said. "I'm aware that he is often burdened by his duties, but as far as I can remember, he has always found time for me. Many things were difficult for me because I was . . . different. Such as when I didn't perform as well as expected for certain tests. It was discouraging, but I'm incredibly grateful for the support he gave me at those times."

"You love him, huh?" Even if she was a robot, Clark could hear the feeling in her words. It resonated with how he felt for his parents. Penny's description revealed a side to the strict and somewhat paranoid general that Clark had never considered.

"I suppose so from what I've read. He is . . . like a father to me." Penny answered with a smile, and not the slightest bit of embarrassment.

"What about you?" Clark turned his head back to Ciel. "What do you think of the general?"

"I have no opinion either way." She answered curtly. "I don't often interact with the general. My rank is too low to be of such importance."

"Oh." Was all Clark could say.

"Clark, is that a buzzing I heard from your scroll? Have you received a message?" Penny asked.

What? His scroll was in his pocket, and he hadn't felt or heard anything. "No, it's-

His scroll vibrated. He took it out of his pocket, and raised a curious eyebrow at Penny.

She just gave him a wide smile.

"Yeah, I guess I did get a message." He said, and opened it. The number indicated that it was from Penny.

Clark, if you don't mind, would you use your speed to get the two of us away from Ciel? I would very much prefer being unsupervised, and there are certain subjects that I'd like to discuss with you that I can't in her presence.

I have the general's approval. He said that he would have preferred that I be able to speak with you freely, but he wasn't able to convince my creator or other officers in his army of the necessity of giving me some freedom. However, he shall make sure there isn't any panic at my apparent disappearance.

Clark nodded, showing he understood. She attempted to wink back. Technically, she succeeded, one eye did open and close while the other remained open. Although it wasn't at all natural. It was like a curtain had been pulled down and then up again over her eye, and the rest of her face hadn't even twitched like a normal person's would have.

Could she be lying about having the general's approval? It seemed really strange that the man would trust Clark with Penny. Or that he wouldn't have the authority to order something like this. But then again, Clark didn't know how their military was organized.

That wouldn't have changed Clark's decision to help her either way. If she was lying, then that almost certainly meant she wanted some freedom from a military that put her under their constant surveillance and control. Considering that they had a soldier follow her seemingly everywhere.

General Ironwood had shown genuine care for her, but Clark doubted that everyone who made decisions regarding her felt the same way. When Ironwood had first told him that Penny was meant to fight Grimm, it was obvious that the military considered her a weapon.

Penny might be a robot, but it was clear to Clark that she had her own thoughts and feelings. If she wanted to escape their constant watch for a little bit, he'd do what he could to help. Even Ironwood would probably understand after he explained, if this turned out to be a lie.

The three of them reached the park. There were a decent amount of people, not overly packed as city parks sometimes were. The air buzzed with the constant hum of conversation, along with the sound of children playing. Some couples were out in the fields, relaxing on their picnic blankets. In the center of the park was the large pond which gave Lakeview Park its name. Further in the distance, there was a soccer match between a group of high school students.

Clark liked this park. There was plenty of greenery here to offset the steel and concrete of the city. He'd only seen the place on a map before. Although he'd probably run by once or twice as the Dart.

"I'm always amazed by the magnitude of activity at public parks." Penny said. "And they are so different from the facilities I usually spend my time in."

"Really? What kind of places were they?" asked Clark.

"Most of my life was spent with engineers in a laboratory. At least, before I attended Atlas Academy. Even then, there weren't many places like this there, the climate isn't suited to it."

Clark remembered now. Atlas was up north, colder than the other Kingdoms.

"Ah, if you would excuse me, I need to use the restroom." Penny said. She started walking to the public bathrooms, the nearest one on the east side of the park.

That was obviously the sign that he should super-speed them out of here soon, but they were still in public.

And to make things even better, Ciel followed her along. "Very well, I shall follow and wait outside." She said.

"I guess I might as well go too." Clark added, and went to the men's room.

Thankfully, it was empty. He stepped inside, and the moment he was sure no one could see him, he backed out again in less than a blink of an eye.

Ciel had her back to the wall beside the door to the lady's room, and unfortunately, to grab Penny he had to go inside. He put aside his qualms, and thankfully, it was only a few steps before he picked her up, and dashed out before the door closed.

\\

A strong breeze blew by Ciel before it died down almost immediately. Ciel smoothed her skirt and straightened her hair as she waited patiently.

Some time later, Ciel checked her wristwatch as she waited for Penny and her friend. It had been three minutes so far. While she didn't exactly want to time how quickly they relieved themselves, she couldn't help the realization that she was doing so without even meaning to.

Truly, there were times when the focus she had on punctuality was inconvenient.

Strange, I don't think Penny has ever asked to go to the bathroom before. She noted. Ciel had been overseeing Penny for quite some time. It wasn't like she paid any particular attention to how often Penny went, but she had hours-long shifts supervising her.

Also, it seemed like Penny hardly asked for meals either. And the way she'd drank that coffee earlier . . .

Ciel put those thoughts aside. If her superiors decided she needed to be informed on Penny's peculiarities, then she would be. Otherwise, there was no point speculating or prying into what could possibly be state secrets.

Some brief moments later, Ciel checked her watch again. It had been seven minutes.

Which turned into eight.

Which turned into nine.

Neither Clark nor Penny exited, although a couple women had earlier. This was concerning.

At ten minutes exactly, Ciel went into the restroom.

"Penny?" she called out. And received no answer.

She lowered her head. Thankfully the floor was rather clean, and she didn't see any feet in the stalls.

She had to remind herself to remain calm, and briskly walked by each stall and pushed each door open. They were all empty, and Ciel spun around, her eyes checking the entire room. As if Penny might somehow be camouflaged or hiding up on the ceiling.

She was nowhere to be found.

Ciel ran out of the bathroom and to the nearest man she could find. A middle-aged bald man who sported running attire.

"Excuse me!" She intercepted his path, and ignored his wide eyes and confused expression. She pointed at the restrooms. "Can you please check if there is a Clark Kent in the men's room? He's over six feet tall, has black hair, blue eyes, and wearing a red jacket and blue jeans."

"Huh? Oh-um-sure. I guess." The man agreed somewhat quickly. Ciel's military uniform likely playing a large role in his compliance.

Although if it had been a true emergency, and no other option was available, she wouldn't have hesitated to enter herself.

A few moments later, the man walked out. "Yeah, there's no one like that in there." He pointed back over his shoulder with his thumb.

"Thank you." Ciel activated her earpiece and began to report this incident to her superior. "Captain Moore? I've lost Penny Polendina."

She stated her location, and the circumstances in which she lost the girl. As she did so, a thought kept running through her mind.

How had Penny ran away when there were no other exits from the restroom?

\\

Near the docks, in an empty area of Vale's industrial district, Clark placed Penny down on her feet by a warehouse.

"Oh!" Penny said in surprise while looking around before turning her eyes back to him. "That was amazing! You traveled here in 2.34 seconds!"

"Really?" That was interesting, Clark had never timed himself accurately before.

"There may be inconsistencies." She amended. "As I was unable to react quickly enough to start timing you the moment you picked me up. But what is certain is that you crossed miles of the city in seconds. . . which is quite a bit more than the speed of sound. A few times more in fact." She looked at him with a confused expression.

"Yeah, I'm not really sure how that works either." He was used to running around at speeds like that. Yet not once had he set off a sonic boom. He didn't know how it worked, but he chalked it up to the same reason he was able to catch fragile objects falling from enormous heights without them being crushed by the sudden deceleration.

He wasn't ignorant of physics, there were so many reasons why he shouldn't be able to run like that. Hell, his shoes shouldn't even be able to get the traction to go that fast even when he was strong enough to push off the ground to get to that speed. And when he did, he somehow didn't get sent flying up in the air when he ran with all he had, when it should be like an astronaut trying to run on the moon.

He lifted his foot and stared at the sole of shoe, no scorch marks, like usual. And even though they were more durable than most, his shoes didn't wear and tear nearly as much as they should. It was honestly kind of terrifying if he thought about how often he defied physics with almost anything he did.

He tried to take his mind off it. "Anyway, you don't have Ciel watching over your shoulder anymore." Clark said. "Is there anyplace you want to go?"

Penny shook her head. "No, I'd rather not risk being found in public. General Ironwood will do what he can, but I'd rather not cause trouble for him."

Clark placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "We can go outside the city if you want." He suggested gently.

She looked down and fidgeted with her fingers, seemingly struggling with the decision. "No," she said finally. "I actually think it's rather nice to stay here and watch the ships."

Penny sat down, her feet hanging off the edge of the water. Clark sat down as well and followed her gaze out to the horizon. The sun was still high up, and the light sparkled off the blue water. There were several boats in the distance, a few motorboats and a couple cargo ships.

Back in the city, Atlas' ships hovered overhead. Clark had heard from Qrow that there were disagreements between Ozpin and Ironwood about him bringing them here. He could understand why. They weren't comforting presences, their looming shadows and easily visible weapons even made him uneasy.

He glanced over at Penny, she was looking at them as well, but with a relaxed expression. She didn't fear them. They were familiar to her. Maybe she was thinking of the general on one of them.

They sat in silence, until after a while she spoke. "Clark . . . you're not human, are you?"

He wasn't surprised. No human must have been able to fight like he had during their spar. "Did you figure it out?" asked Clark. "Or did the general tell you?"

"The former. I didn't notice at first, but as we fought, I saw that you didn't have aura. Yet my fists and swords had no effect on you, and my energy blasts did little." Penny leaned back. "The general wouldn't tell me how. He is . . . afraid of you, he feared what would happen if he told me about what you are."

"He doesn't have to be," answered Clark. "I don't exactly want the news to spread, but I'm not going to do something drastic if he tells someone."

Penny nodded. "I see, I learned of the Dart recently. That's you, isn't it?"

"Yep."

"Pardon my rudeness, but what are you?"

Clark took a deep breath. "I'm an alien."

Penny looked at him strangely, and after a few seconds she said "Is this what is called a . . . joke?"

He chuckled. Yeah, that's probably what would first come to mind. People would probably believe him more quickly if he was green or something. He'd always thought that it would be enough to show his strength or speed to convince them, but here, powers like that weren't too beyond the realm of possibility.

Clark smiled, but now there wasn't any laughter behind it. "No, it's not. I'm seriously an alien. You can confirm with Ironwood later if you want, but I'm incredibly tough, strong, and fast." Among other things, but he was keeping those powers secret for now. General Ironwood still seemed as paranoid as when Clark had first arrived.

"You do have impressive abilities, but that doesn't necessarily mean you're an alien."

He shrugged. "Why would I lie about something you could easily check for yourself later? Sorry, but there's really no easy way to show you besides the powers I have, which you already know about."

Clark reconsidered. "Actually, there is this." He took out the Kryptonian crystal and showed it to her. "A piece of alien technology, except I really can't make it do anything."

"If so, then I don't have the capabilities to test it." She replied, she held out a hand. "May I?" Clark handed the crystal to her and she turned it over a few times. "To me, it just seems like a blue crystal with an S on it. A strange object, but not strange enough to make me think it's alien."

Penny gave it back to him, and Clark put it back in his pocket. "So you don't believe me?"

"I . . . do not know. I'm not adept at detecting lies, but I see no reason for you to do so. I'll try to believe you, but I'll be . . . upset if I learn from the general that this is a prank of some sort."

"It's not." Clark reassured her. "I wouldn't do something like that."

"Very well, then I have some questions."

"Alright, shoot."

"Why do you look so human? If you truly are an alien, it seems incredibly unlikely that life on another planet would develop to look so similar to ours."

"Um . . . I don't really know. It's a big universe I guess, so maybe anything can happen?" The answer was weak. Clark had paid attention in biology class. Convergent evolution might develop wings for bats and birds independently, but he knew the odds had to be pretty much zero for aliens to look so similar to humans.

Then again, maybe anything could happen. After all, he was in a completely different dimension with monsters which sensed negative emotions, and people with magic force fields.

"That does not inspire much confidence in your claim." Penny said.

"You know, you can just call Ironwood and ask him if you want. He wouldn't play a joke like this on you."

"He's too busy with his other responsibilities at the moment. I'll do so later."

Clark rolled his eyes. "Okay, until then, I guess we're at an impasse. You sure you just want to sit here and talk?"

"Yes. Being able to speak to you freely is plenty more than what I could do around Ciel. She doesn't even know that I'm a robot, and it's unlikely you would have told me about your true nature in her presence."

"You're right about that." It struck Clark as strange. Why choose a soldier to supervise Penny if they didn't even know what she was? He'd had that question in mind since the moment Penny had ordered coffee, and there was no way the excuse of her needing to go to the bathroom would have worked if Ciel had known.

Clark realized something. "You know, if you figured out that I wasn't human, and it didn't occur to you that I'm an alien. What did you think I was?"

Penny looked down and twirled her fingers around each other. "I'd thought that maybe . . . you were like me." She said quietly. "When I punched you, I could tell that your body was hard. Even harder than my own. I did think it strange that the general wouldn't tell me, but I couldn't think of anything else. Or maybe I wanted it to be true and didn't consider any other possibility."

"Sorry." Clark said. "But even if I'm not a robot like you, I do understand some aspects of what it's like for you. For example, having to hide what you are all the time."

"Ah, I hadn't considered that." She turned to him with a questioning expression. "Supposing you are an alien, how do you blend in with people so easily? I'm no expert in social interactions, but you talk and behave so naturally that I'd have no suspicions of your nonhuman nature."

"That's because I've spent my whole life with humans." He explained. "I was raised by them and made friends with them, but more than that, I always make an effort to try not to stand out." He rubbed his chin in thought. "You know, I could give you some advice on how to blend in if you want."

"Yes!" She said almost immediately with sparkling eyes. "That would be extremely helpful!"

He smiled. "Alright, first, most people don't down an entire cup coffee in a single sip. . .

\\

"Hello." Penny said calmly to a soldier walking by.

According to Clark, it was much more common to say "hello" than "salutations". He'd also suggested that she lower the volume of her voice, as she hadn't realized it might be off-putting to those she greeted. In addition, she'd been informed that it could be upsetting for others in the vicinity in public situations.

She raised a hand and greeted another soldier. Neither had responded, but it was likely they had their own responsibilities. Perhaps the general populace would be more open to her.

Penny had spent quite some time with Clark. Learning how she could blend in with people and trying to gain a deeper understanding of social cues. He'd first commented on the method she'd used to consume coffee. She'd thought that it had been best to take it all in at once, but apparently that wasn't the case.

Most drank it sip by sip, and she supposed that made sense for coffee, since the temperature would make it difficult to drink quickly. However, it seemed to apply to all drinks, as apparently humans would feel discomfort at taking in so much liquid at once.

She could have learned that on her own eventually, but Clark was very helpful. He had also explained some confusing aspects of human speech, such as trying to demonstrate how to detect changes in tone, but it had been difficult. She'd need much more practice before she could differentiate emotions such as boredom or annoyance from voice alone. Body language was only slightly easier.

Now, she was on her way to General Ironwood's office. He'd asked that she report on her time with Clark once she returned.

When she reached it, she knocked on the metal door twice.

"Come in." The general's voice called out.

General Ironwood handled some files on his desk. As always, all of his papers and folders were neat and ordered. The desk lamp at his side was off, as was his computer. Through the window, Penny was able to see the lights of the city at night.

"Penny Polendina, here to give my report." She saluted him.

"At ease. Did Kent tell you what he was?"

"He . . . claimed that he was an alien sir."

Ironwood nodded. "It's more than just a claim. DNA testing, or the equivalent for him, confirmed it. How was your time with him, did you learn anything useful?"

"Oh, very much so." Penny practically vibrated with excitement, but she did her best to hold it in. Even if she had spent time with a friend, it had also been a mission. She needed to report it calmly.

First, she told the general about how she and Clark had agreed to meet at a coffee shop. She'd chosen it because she'd heard that those were the kinds of places where friends met to talk. Then, she moved on to how the two of them had evaded from under Ciel's watch.

"It didn't cause too much trouble for you sir, did it?" asked Penny. She knew how insistent other Atlas officers were concerning her surveillance.

"It's fine, I was able to handle it. Now, were you able to measure his speed?"

She did, she had certain navigational capabilities. With those, she'd known the start and end point of when Clark had carried her within several tens of meters. Along with her timing, she gave the general the best estimate she had of Clark's speed.

The general nodded, and didn't seem the slightest bit surprised. Her measurement must have agreed with other data he'd collected.

Then, she reported on the knowledge Clark had given her. How he'd patiently explained concepts that she still didn't understand now. Such as advice on how to make friends. He'd said that most people didn't go up to others and ask for it forthright. Usually, it was something developed between people with common interests or "chemistry", which apparently meant that they interacted particularly easily with each other. Most people wouldn't respond well to direct requests of friendship. She'd seen first-hand, but until now, she hadn't understand why. Personally, she'd be ecstatic if someone had asked for her friendship.

In the middle of her story, General Ironwood held up a hand. "Penny, it's good that he helped teach you how to interact with people, but did he mention anything significant relating to him? Weaknesses? Limits to his abilities?"

Penny thought for a moment, and shook her head. "No, he didn't mention anything like that. Should I have asked?"

"No, it would have roused too much suspicion. If he has any, he'll probably only mention them to you after you've gained enough of his trust. Is there a problem?"

The general must have noticed her troubled expression. Penny turned her head to the side. "No, I just . . . I trust your judgment general, but Clark seems very nice. Is it necessary to search for ways to neutralize him? I like him, he's a good friend."

"It is necessary." The general said in a soft tone. "Perhaps his intentions aren't malevolent in the slightest, but he's far too powerful to be allowed to roam freely. Your spar with him confirmed that even our most powerful weapons will do little more than knock him off balance. And that's if he stands still and allows them to hit him."

The general sighed and continued. "He could be the perfect Grimm killer, but for some reason, he chooses not to. He claims it's because of altruism, but I'm not so certain. He's a mystery, and with his powers, we can't allow that. The harm he could cause is disastrous. Do you understand?"

"I do." She admitted reluctantly. Penny knew how strong Clark was. He'd overpowered her motors and withstood intense energy blasts with ease.

But there were those who said she needed to be kept under control, and that she was too dangerous to be allowed to roam freely. Even though both her father and General Ironwood made arguments against them.

True, Clark was more powerful, but otherwise, how was his situation different from her own? She'd never do anything to hurt people, could the general see that the same might be true for her friend?

Penny kept these thoughts to herself, and finished her report.

\\

Tap. Tap. Tap. There was a rapping on the wooden door.

Councilor Owen Asenich woke up. "Who is it?" He called out from his bed.

Tap. Tap. Tap. Those sounds were the only reply.

"Mmm, just go get it." His wife said drowsily.

"Alright, alright." With a groan, he pushed himself off the bed. Which squeaked slightly as it no longer supported his heavy weight.

Who was knocking on his bedroom door in the middle of the night? If it was his estate's security, they would have answered. Was it one of his children playing some sort of prank? It was far too late for such nonsense.

He opened the door, and the moment he did, a hand pulled him out of the room by his shirt. Then, for a moment, he was lifted. Before he realized it, he was set back on his feet.

"Wh-what?!" Fully awake now, the Councilor looked around. He was outside, the stars shone overhead, and he was surrounded by trees. He was in a forest, and a nighttime breeze blew by. Making him shiver in the cold.

Then, without warning, the trees in front of him erupted in a half-ring of fire. With the orange light from the flames, a figure in black was visible. His face was hidden in the shadows, but he could tell that the man had black hair.

"I'm sorry." The figure spoke in a deep voice. "But you need to calm down, otherwise you'll attract the Grimm."

"G-grimm?" There were Grimm here?! Where was he? No, this had to be a dream, a hallucination. This wasn't-

"We're in the Emerald Forest near Beacon. There aren't any Grimm very close by, but they'll probably be able to detect your fear. For now, you're safe. Calm down."

Eventually, the Councilor's breathing slowed down, and he was able to get his heartrate back to normal. The man just stood there in silence.

"Who are you?" Councilor Asenich asked.

"The people of Vale call me the Dart, so I guess you can call me that too."

The Dart. If this wasn't a dream, that could have been the only explanation. The man had carried him all the way from his home to the Emerald Forest in a moment.

"What do you want with me?" the Councilor demanded with a snarl.

It didn't faze the figure. "I want you to leave Cedar Monroe alone. I don't want him followed, watched, abducted, blackmailed, anything. He's an innocent man, and I don't want his life ruined. Do you understand?"

It took a few seconds for the obese Councillor to recall the name. He'd seen the terrifying footage of the slaughtered workers of those power plants. The man responsible had exhibited incredible speed, strength, and durability. Along with the ability to siphon off energy from Dust.

Asenich's eyes widened in realization. "You're him, aren't you? The Dart is Cedar Monroe."

The Dart shook his head. "No. Cedar Monroe is just an ordinary person who was caught up in something beyond his control. He doesn't pose any danger, and you didn't answer my question. Will you allow him to live his life in peace or not?"

The Councilor glared at him. "How dare you! You think you can just abduct me from my home and make demands of me? Whoever you are, there will be consequences!"

"Is that a no, then? You and Councilor Floren are going to continue pushing for Cedar Monroe to be investigated?"

The question gave the Councilor pause, and a bead of sweat ran down his back despite the chilly night air. The Dart knew. He knew that the two of them were the most eager to capture Monroe and find out how he'd gained such power. Ozpin had cowed all the others, but both Asenich and Floren had little to fear from him.

"I will." The Councilor answered.

"Actually, you won't." The Dart said. "I spoke with miss Floren just a short while ago, and she agreed that she'd let it die down."

Then, nonchalantly, the Dart raised an arm and backhanded a tree he'd been standing by.

The impact boomed throughout the night, and the casual hit launched the tree in the air. It tumbled in the night sky, before slamming back into the ground some distance away.

"I suggest you do the same." The Dart added.

Councilor Asenich's throat was dry, and he gulped nervously before steeling his resolve. "No."

"No?"

"No." He repeated, his fists clenched. "I will not be threatened into submission."

For some time, the Dart just stood there. Then, he finally spoke. "Hm, looks like we attracted a Grimm anyway."

An animalistic growl emanated from the forest, soon followed by the sound of heavy feet pounding on the grass. Soon, red eyes were visible, and the Councilor could see the creature's black skin and bone armor in the orange light.

He screamed and tried to run. The Dart just waited under the flames.

Asenich wasn't fast enough to escape it, he could hear it getting closer. Its claws tearing into the ground, and he could almost feel its heavy breath on his back.

Then, the man in front of him disappeared, and he heard a smack behind him. Followed by a heavy, wooden thud.

The Councilor turned, and the Dart was behind him. The back of his head and his black clothing were bathed in flickering, orange light.

The Beowulf, for now Asenich could recognize it, had been thrown against a tree, but it barreled at them again.

"What are you doing?! Kill it!" Asnenich cried out.

Then, calmly, the man in front of him spoke. "First, I want you to agree to leave Cedar Monroe alone."

"Fine! Fine! I'll agree to anything, just kill it first!"

The Dart nodded, and both he and the Beowulf disappeared.

"And another thing," the voice called out again a moment later, but Asenich couldn't see where he was. "I don't want any news suppressed for any more incidents like the one with Monroe. There haven't been any others, have there?"

"N-no." Asenich's eyes looked around wildly, trying to peer into the darkness to pinpoint the Dart's location.

"Good, then if you think you have to suppress something to prevent panic and a subsequent Grimm invasion, you'll send it to Headmaster Ozpin and General Ironwood first. I'll get it from there, do you understand?"

Curse him. Asenich was a Councilor, one of the esteemed men who ruled Vale. He would not tolerate this!

While he fumed, the Dart taunted him. "Looks like some Ursai are approaching, and they'll be here soon. Are you going to wait for them, or give me an answer?"

Asenich paled. "Alright! Alright!" He yelled. "I agree, they'll be given the news and Cedar Monroe won't be bothered!"

"Good, and I'll be watching to make sure you follow your word. Understood?"

"Yes! Yes!"

Then, without warning, Asenich was at the front door of his manor. He spun around, but there were no signs of any intruders on his fenced land. No sign of the Dart.

He slammed his fist on the ornate oak doors. "Let me in!" He demanded.

He would have to increase security and fire the imbeciles that had managed to let the Dart intrude on his home. If he found that any of them were slacking, he would string them up and make sure they never found other employment.

The confused guards inside his home rushed to open the door and let him in. When they finally did, Councilor Asenich stomped inside to retrieve his scroll. He would not stand some . . . some damn vigilante kidnapping and threatening him. If he'd done the same to Maria Floren, then she would be thinking along the same lines.

"D-dear? What happened, what's with all the fuss?" His wife asked, awakened by the guards' activity.

He ignored her, and picked up his scroll. He dialed Floren, and she picked up almost immediately. Considering what time it was, that alone told him all he needed to know.

"Oh, you tracked dirt and grass inside!" His wife was aghast, but he had more important things to focus on. "Were you outside? What were you doing?"

He waved a hand for her to silence herself.

"Hello, Owen. I suppose you received an unwelcome visitor as well?" Floren said from the other end.

"I did." answered Asenich.

If the Dart thought he was safe because he was fast and powerful, then he was sorely mistaken.

\\

Back in the Emerald Forest, Clark put out the last of the flames and made sure no cinders remained. He sighed, this was necessary, but it still left a bad taste in his mouth. Qrow said the Councilors were dishonest snakes, especially the two Headmaster Ozpin had told Clark about, but that didn't excuse intimidation and threats.

Hopefully, this would work to keep Cedar Monroe safe. Clark had also learned something important, there really was no news on the last phantom. Both Councilors Floren and Asenich had told the truth, Asenich's heartrate had been too erratic to read properly, but Floren had been calmer. There hadn't been any news to suppress, so if it was still in Vale, the phantom hadn't yet been noticed.

Clark shook his head, he would have preferred to find that out another way, but it was over now. Hopefully, the Councilors wouldn't be too shaken by it.