Vader checks his scroll for missions, one gaining his full attention.

A ship full of Faunus 'workers' has been left stranded on the coast, due to the fact Jacques Schnee had shut down all 'non-essentials.' Pirates are holding them hostage, and demanding a ransom.

His fist tightened, several things enraged him. One, that Jacques used manual labor for highly unpaid miners, to the point they were no better than slaves. Another, that pirates would stoop that low when there were higher concerns.

Vader accepted the mission, getting an immediate call from Ironwood.

Ironwood: Vader, are you sure you want that mission? We were preparing a battalion to be escorted by huntsmen, not a lone huntsman going by himself-

Vader: I am going, I will require a bullhead.

Ironwood: ...Fine. There's an available one on the nearest landing pad, you can take that one.

The morning after Jacques Schnee closed the Schnee Dust Company's nonessential facilities, the Mantle rioters are sitting on sidewalks and in police airships with their wrists bound by bolases. A soldier escorts Drinking Buddy along a sidewalk while Atlesian Knight-200s patrol the area. Drunk Mann stands in line with other Mantle citizens outside a polling station. As Drunk Mann gets to the booth, he decides whether he will vote for Robyn Hill, Jacques Schnee, Ivy Brown, or Pearl Wistier. The outside walls have campaign posters for both Jacques and Robyn Hill, and Jacques's posters have been spray-painted over.

Newscaster: Although rioting in Mantle is finally under control, how does it feel to know that the majority of those involved were your supporters?

In a building somewhere, a reporter from Mantle Daily is interviewing Robyn.

Robyn: I don't condone rioting, especially when our city is being denied aid for the hardships we've already had to go through, but Jacques Schnee's latest stunt is holding the city hostage for his own political gain.

Drunk Mann approaches a voting booth and begins his vote. His hand hovers over the screen as he hesitates.

Robyn: So I understand their anger, but ask that they show it not in the streets but at the polls today.

In the Atlas Academy training room, Blake Belladonna uses her Semblance and jumps from pillar to pillar while Yang Xiao Long follows and attempts to catch her.

Below Blake and Yang, Winter Schnee sends her Beowolf Summon to attack Weiss Schnee, who creates black glyphs above, below, and to the left and right of it. Weiss then uses the glyphs to throw the Beowolf Summon around, slamming it against the glyphs. She creates a white glyph in front of her and uses it to send the Summon back toward Winter, who creates her own white glyph to stop it. However, Winter suddenly winces in pain and drops to one knee. She then discovers that a small version of Weiss' Arma Gigas Summon snuck up to her and cut her ankle with its sword. The Arma Gigas strikes a pose with its sword on its shoulder, and Winter glares at Weiss, who gives a smug smirk in return and giggles.

Behind Weiss, Jaune Arc is using his shield to deflect a rubber ball, while Nora Valkyrie keeps hitting it toward him with her hammer. Nora activates Magnhild's upgrade, charging herself up with electricity. She swings Magnhild around and sends the ball rocketing toward Jaune, who blocks it and slides backward several feet before dropping to one knee. The emblem on his shield glows cyan while he blocks, and the ball eventually turns to ash.

Nearby, Pyrrha is using her Scroll to keep track of Jaune's Aura, which has been reduced to approximately 65%. Jaune sits up and takes a deep breath, his Aura glowing for a moment, and Oscar watches Jaune's Aura increase to approximately 95%.

Pyrrha: Well done, your recovery is getting faster.

Nora walks over to Jaune, who gives a cheerful thumbs-up. Nora then gives him a heavy pat on the back, still using her Semblance, which knocks him onto the ground, reducing his Aura to approximately 64%. Ruby Rose zooms past with her Semblance, heading straight toward Lie Ren who is meditating in front of a pillar. She splits into three red blurs, which all go around Ren and the pillar, before merging into one blur and becoming Ruby again.

Oscar: Have you always been able to do that?

Ruby peeks out at him from behind the pillar and then walks over to him.

Ruby: (panting) I don't know. I don't normally think it through that much.

Oscar: You guys are evolving and I still don't have my Semblance.

Ruby: Well, I bet we'll all be jealous when you do.

Ren continues meditating, deep in a state where he has blocked out everyone around him. There is a ringing sound, followed by the sound of the training room door opening, and Ren opens his eyes and looks toward the door.

Ironwood: Clover wasn't kidding. You're really giving this your all.

Oscar and Ren stand up.

Ruby: Well, we have to with the way things are going.

Ironwood takes out his Scroll, which projects a screen depicting the live election results. Currently, Jacques has 30% of the vote, while Robyn has 70%.

Ironwood: They're not going well, are they?

Yang: Better Robyn than Jacques Schnee.

Yang rests her arm on Oscar's shoulder, taking him by surprise.

Ironwood: Oh, I suppose so. Either way, this election doesn't bode well for our stability.

Ruby: It could be a chance to work with Robyn and get Mantle on your side.

Ironwood: (putting his Scroll away) The likelihood of that working--

Nora: She's right, you have to do something about Mantle. If you could get Robyn to trust you...

Jaune: I bet if you opened up to her she'd understand that you're being framed.

Ironwood: (sighs) Perhaps... but it will only work if she's open too.

Nora starts to say something, but Ren steps forward and interrupts her, earning a look from both her and Jaune.

Ren: I take it you're here for new mission assignments?

Clover: You could say that. The General and I want you to take the rest of the day to recuperate.

Blake: You're giving us a night off?

Ironwood: Ordering it. After tonight's election, we'll be waking up to a very different Atlas tomorrow. I need you rested and ready for whatever that may bring.

Ren is sitting in JNPR's dorm, and goes to exit and follow Nora but is stopped by Din.

Din: Kid, we need to talk.

Ren: It can wait.

Ren tries to slide past Din but is stopped again.

Din: No, it can't. Take a seat.

Ren hesitantly sits on one of the beds, Din sits across from him and removes his helmet, placing it in his lap.

Din: So, I'm not gonna sugar coat anything I say. Why have you had a stick up your ass ever since we got to Atlas?

Ren: Excuse me?

Din: I said I wasn't going to sugarcoat anything. *sighs* Look kid, you've changed. And not in a good way, you've been cold and distant from your teammates, pushing yourself way too hard, and only been concerned about the next mission. Or if it's not that, the next chance to spar against the Ace Ops. So tell me, what's wrong?

Ren sighed, not knowing it was that obvious.

Ren: I've been thinking about my skills and my strength, trying to focus on improving them. My semblance can't heal people, or move metal, or make me strong when electrocuted. So if I can't improve my semblance, maybe I can improve my fighting skills.

Din: So what you're saying, is that you feel useless.

Ren's head shot up surprised at what the Mandalorian said.

Ren: Yeah... I guess it does.

Din began chuckling lightly, confusing Ren.

Din: Kid, you think you're useless? I'm on a team of laser-sword-wielding, force-using warriors. If anyone should feel useless, its me. But they value me because of my skills and they're my friends, like how your team is.

Din: Being on a team doesn't mean just working together, it means being there when your teammates are down. I don't give a womprats ass about what the Ace Ops say, they aren't a team. Their just coworkers that are effective at their job, the reason they'll fail one day is because they lack proper relationships and trust within each other.

Din: Also, your Semblance isn't useless. You can calm people to the point where they're invisible to the Grimm, imagine what you could do with that if you can activate while fighting.

Din leaned back, picking up his helmet to rub the visor.

Din: Your lucky you even have a semblance, I don't even have an Aura. None of us do.

Ren: What? How is that possible?

Din: Maybe because I already died, but Pyrrha still has her Aura. I think It's because we weren't born on this planet.

Din: But look at me, at the end of the day, we're all the same. We're all just people who answered the call, no matter what we can do.

Din placed his helmet back on, standing to leave.

Din: Just think about what I said, and quit being an Ass to Nora. She needs you, don't let your ego get in the way of what's important.

Meanwhile, Team RWBY is in their dorm room. Blake is sitting at one of the small desks with a mirror in front of her, while Ruby and Yang are lying on beds, and Weiss is leaning against the ladder between the bunk beds. Weiss has a live report from the Daily Mantle playing on her Scroll. While Blake puts on mascara, Yang looks over at her.

Newscaster: We still have hours ahead of us, but as votes come in, it looks more and more certain that Robyn Hill will fill the open council seat.

Weiss closes her Scroll and walks across the room.

Weiss: There's no way my father could've thought layoffs would do anything but hurt him. So why announce this the day before the election?

Yang: Just seems like a power play that backfired to me. Won't matter in a few hours though.

Yang stands up, stretches, and walks over to Blake.

Ruby: Where are you guys going?

Blake adjusts her hair, and Yang rests her hand on Blake's back, leans down and adjusts her own hair while looking in the mirror.

Blake: Team FNKI invited us out dancing. Yang and I thought it would be good to get our minds off the election.

Ruby: I thought you said Team FNKI was annoying.

Yang straightens up.

Yang: That's the best part about dance clubs. (whispers, pointing to her ears) I can't hear you.

Blake giggles. Nora and Ren slide the door open from outside.

Nora: Ruby, come on!

Weiss: I still can't believe you're going to that thing.

Nora: Just because Ironwood dislikes Robyn doesn't mean we all have to. From where I'm standing both of them seem to be trying their best to help Atlas. As to who's doing a better job...

Weiss: (sighs) But a victory party?

Ruby walks past Weiss, shrugging, and stops next to Nora.

Ruby: Invite's still open if you want in. Penny's gonna be working security.

On the other end of the room, Yang starts laughing. Weiss turns to see Blake trying and failing to dance.

Yang: Oh my gosh, no. You gotta do it like this.

Blake stops and watches as Yang begins dancing.

Blake: That's what I'm doing!

Blake holds her hands out in exasperation, her cat ears folding over, and Yang laughs again.

Jaune and Pyrrha lean into the doorway, while Weiss watches Blake and Yang with an unamused expression.

Jaune: Hey, Pyrrha and I are hitting the movies if anyone wants--

Weiss: Yup!

Oscar gains a very happy expression, and Jaune rubs the back of his head.

Jaune: Oh, okay.

When everybody left the dorm, Ruby quickly sat down on her bed, putting her hands together. She closes her eyes and leans her head against her hands, praying.

Yang: Uh, Rubes?

Ruby looks up surprised, seeing her sister standing there.

Yang: What're you doing?

Ruby: Oh, uh, nothing Yang...

The Being: She was calling me.

Yang and Ruby both jump at the sudden appearance of a god.

Yang: Why are you here?

The Being: No one usually prays to me, so I know immeadetly when someone does. Now, Ms. Rose, what is it that you need?

Ruby: Uh, well, I-I was wondering... If you can bring back Pyrrha, could you bring back our mom?

Both Yang and Ruby look at the god with hopeful eyes, while he dips his head slightly.

The Being: Ah, I should have known that this would've happened eventually.

The Being lifts his head to address the two huntresses.

The Being: The only reason I could bring back Pyrrha was that I, personally, didn't allow her spirit to pass on. I did not do the same thing to Summer Rose.

The Being: I am truly sorry, but I cannot bring her back.

With that, The Being dissipates leaving Ruby crying slightly and Yang comforting her. The Being floated away from Atlas, observing the city from afar.

The Being: At least, not yet.

Later, after the sun has set, Ruby, Nora, Ren, and Din are walking in Mantle, on their way to Robyn's victory party. A truck drives down the street, honking its horn, with people standing in the bed holding signs, which say "HILL IS HERE" and "HILL 4 COUNCIL".

Ren: I understand Weiss' point though. A victory party does seem a bit premature.

Ruby, Nora, Din and Ren continue on their way down the sidewalk.

Nora: Aw, let them have one sure thing.

Ruby: Probably the last sure thing before Amity Tower goes up and everyone learns about... what we're fighting.

They walk past a group of people watching the live election results on a TV screen. Jacques has 33% of the vote, and Robyn has 67%.

Ren: We spent so much time worrying about how Ironwood will react to the truth about her, but have any of us considered how we're even going to beat her if we manage to work past that?

Nora: Jinn said she can't be beaten.

They walk by two people who are sitting beside a heating element, trying to warm up.

Ruby: She told Oz that he couldn't destroy her.

Nora: (looking at Ruby) But maybe someone else could?

Ruby: The Being? He is a god, right?

Ren: We should be training right now.

Nora: We've trained enough! Take some time to--

Ren: We don't have time!

Ruby slows down and watches as Ren and Nora angrily walk on ahead. Din sighs in disapproval as he follows Ruby.

A large crowd of people have gathered inside a small auditorium for Robyn's victory party. Wires have been taped up along the walls, and there are Robyn Hill campaign posters decorating the walls. Above the stage is a giant hologram screen showing the live election results. Jacques has 36% of the vote, while Robyn has 64%. A pair of camera drones float around the room, one of which has a "Kick Me" sign taped to the back of it and the other of which has a gift ribbon stuck to it. While Ruby, Nora, Ren, and Din enter the building, the vote percentage shifts to 37% for Jacques and 63% for Robyn. Penny makes her way through the crowd and sees her friends.

Penny: Ruby, Din, Nora, Ren!

Ruby: Hey, Penny.

Penny: I am so glad you made it. It's just Marrow and I tonight, so more friends means more fun. Where are the others?

Nora and Ren are still in a bad mood.

Nora: Weiss is out with Jaune and Pyrrha, and Blake and Yang are off doing their own thing... again.

Ren: At least they're back to being friends.

Nora: Friends, huh? Just friends?

Ruby takes on a somewhat fed up expression and sinks down to the floor, while Ren turns to Nora. Din walked to the edge of the building and leaned against the wall, watching the vote tallies.

Ren: (speaking slowly in confusion) What else would they be?

Nora: Two people who've gone through that much? I think there's more going on.

Ren: Well maybe one of them feels that way but the other might be worried.

Nora: About what!?

Ruby rises back up next to Penny, still fed up.

Ren: It's just, there's a lot of things going on right now.

Nora: Well, how can they figure things out if they don't talk about it?

Penny: (leaning to Ruby) I believe I may be confused. Who are we talking about again?

Ruby: I'm not really sure.

Nora and Ren continue talking while Penny gets communications from Marrow through her earpiece.

Marrow: Penny, where'd you go?

Penny starts to leave, and Ruby clings to her arm in a panic.

Ruby: Please don't leave me.

Ruby and Penny go backstage together to meet up with Marrow.

Marrow: Oh hey, what-- what're you doing here?

Ruby: Just, uh, hangin' out with a friend while she's on the job.

Ruby casually holds out her fist for a fist bump. Recognizing the gesture, Penny gasps, her eyes wide and shining with excitement. She makes a fist, closes one eye, sticks her tongue out and lines it up. She pulls back her fist and then slams it into Ruby's with a big smile. There's a dull "ding" noise, and Ruby gains an expression of deadpan shock, her hand throbbing with pain. Penny turns to Marrow with an innocent smile, and Ruby cradles her hand, groaning quietly in pain.

Marrow: Yeah, real cute. Look, try not to be too much of a distraction. We need to be vigilant in case--

May Marigold suddenly approaches Marrow, setting the tip of her weapon to the floor.

May: In case what?

Marrow: In case someone tries to start trouble.

May: Oh, funny, that's why we're here. So feel free to take a hike.

Marrow: Listen, the General's trying to help, all right? Just 'cause you can't understand--

Robyn: What's going on here, Wags?

Robyn has suddenly entered the backstage area next to Ruby and Penny. She notices Ruby.

Robyn: Oh, and the pipsqueak is back.

Ruby gives a slight glare, growling a little.

Marrow: (scoffs) We're concerned about security risks, ma'am. The General doesn't want any surprises tonight.

May smirks in amusement. Joanna Greenleaf is now standing next to her. Robyn walks over to Marrow.

Robyn: Fine, but stay out of the way.

She then walks over to stand with May and Joanna, the former of whom gasps in surprise and confusion.

Robyn: If I get elected tonight, we'll all have to learn how to get along.

She looks at May, who rolls her eyes and walks away.

Marrow: Sure, we won't have any problems, as long as you stay within the law.

Robyn: The law isn't perfect, you know. It's certainly not equal.

Marrow: Trust me, I'm well aware.

Marrow tilts his dog tail to the side to be more visible to Robyn.

Robyn: My only goal is that all the citizens of Mantle and Atlas -- and Faunus -- have an equal shot at a good life.

Marrow: That sounds great. And you're planning to do all that equalizing legally, right?

Behind them on the stage, Fiona Thyme is fidgeting with a microphone. Joanna is grinning. Robyn looks at Joanna and smirks, causing Joanna to grin more.

Robyn: Everything I've done is legal.

Marrow: Of course, one hundred percent.

Fiona taps on the microphone, causing loud feedback, much to the crowd's displeasure.

Fiona: Ha-ha, well, that worked.

The live election results now show that Robyn's vote percentage is 57%. Joanna walks away, and Marrow groans in annoyance and walks away toward Penny and Ruby. The crowd begins chanting "Robyn".

Marrow: Scram kid, we've got a job to do. (gesturing to himself and Penny)