Maul, Jaune, Yang and Ren drive their hover bikes across the tundra just outside Mantle, following The Hound up into a rocky chasm.

Jaune: It's going to lose us in these mountains! We can't keep up!

Ren's bike starts shaking, and he looks at the frost-covered display, to find its engine is losing integrity.

Ren: I don't know how much longer these bikes can stand the cold.

Yang: I'm really wishing one of us could fly right now.

Jaune: Wait, hold on!

Jaune deploys his shield on his arm and hits the brakes on his bike, moving back to drive parallel with Ren.

Jaune: Ren, going to get you up there.

Jaune lifts his shield up, and Ren leaps from his hoverbike to land on Jaune's shield. Jaune charges the Gravity Dust in his shield and blasts Ren toward The Hound. As he flies through the air, Maul raises his hand launching him farther.

Ren launches one of StormFlower's blade cables and wraps it around The Hound's hind leg.

Yang: Nice!

Yang highfives Jaune, causing Jaune to briefly lose balance on his bike. The Hound begins flying more erratically, slamming Ren against cliffs.

Yang: (over comms) Okay, not as nice.

Jaune: He's slowing him down. (over comms) Hold on, Ren!

Ren: I don't have much of a choice!

Ren shoots his other blade cable, wrapping it around a boulder to further slow The Hound. However, The Hound suddenly pulls up, causing the cable to come loose from the boulder, with the blade zipping past Yang, Maul and Jaune.

The Hound slams Ren onto the ground and against pillars, continuing on its way through the chasm. Yang spots an incline to her left and drives up it onto a cliff parallel to The Hound, where she begins shooting it in the head. The Hound lowers Oscar Pine from its mouth into its hands and flies faster, leaving Yang confused. The Hound then lets out a loud roar, and the earth begins trembling before a horde of Centinels emerge from the ground, cliffs and archways.

Yang: Did it just call for backup?

A Teryx swoops at Yang, who leans away and drives over an arch. Down below, Jaune slashes Centinels in half as he passes them while a flock of Teryxes flies behind him. Maul extends a single blade and slices through the Sentinels not slowing down.

Ren continues to hold onto StormFlower's cable, which has been detached from the gun. He watches what is happening on the ground, then looks up at The Hound, seeing Oscar pale and unconscious in its arms. Ren holsters his second gun and begins pulling himself along the cable toward The Hound.

A Centinel spits acid onto the engine of Jaune's hoverbike. As she zips across a stone arch above, Yang calls out to him.

Yang: Jaune!

A pair of Centinels twist around each other, heading straight for Jaune from behind. He sheathes his sword and leaps from his bike, then uses his shield's Gravity blast to bounce off a Centinel's head onto a stone arch. He tucks, rolls and teeters on the opposite edge before Yang drives by and grabs him, swinging him onto the back of her bike.

Maul tried to catch up, but his engine begins sputtering. Making him slam a fist on the engine out of anger.

Maul: No!

The engine stops entirely, flinging Maul from the seat as Yang, and Jaune look back.

Maul: Keep going! Save Oscar!

The ground rumbles as more sentinels pierce through the surface. Maul draws his lightsaber with both blades, and leaps forward.

He slashed through three, before throwing it at an arc and killing the rest. He then turns and sprints after the group.

Yang drives off the arch and onto a cliff, where a group of Centinels burrow up from the ground ahead of her. She accelerates and expertly dodges past them, only for a Teryx to land up ahead. Jaune pulls out a shield device and activates and tosses it.

The device bumps into a boulder before deploying its Hard-Light shield, and Yang rams the shield with her bike, causing it to lean against the boulder and form a ramp. The bike is sent flying over the Teryx's head before it can stop them. There are two Centinels behind the Teryx, and Yang fires Ember Celica just before landing, sending the bike into a spin and hitting one of the Centinels with the engine.

Before she can regain control, the bike slams into a rock. The engine begins smoking, and a tank on the side of the bike begins leaking a glowing purple material.

Yang continues driving, dodging and speeding past Grimm on her way out of the chasm. She and Jaune sigh in relief, but when they look in front of them, their eyes widen with the realization that they are driving straight toward a sheer cliff. Yang turns the bike, and it topples over, sending her, Jaune and the bike tumbling along the ground. The bike slams into a boulder, while Yang and Jaune continue rolling toward the cliff. In an attempt to prevent their fall, Jaune stabs his sword into the ground while holding onto Yang's hand, only for him and Yang to fall over the edge, screaming.

Ren suddenly appears in the air above them, firing StormFlower's cables. One cable wraps around Jaune's sword, and the other wraps around Jaune's leg. A Teryx flies toward Ren, but he activates his Semblance, hiding himself, Yang and Jaune. The Teryx passes by harmlessly. An army of Centinels and Teryxes arrive at the top of the cliff, only to turn and leave when they fail to sense anyone. Once it is safe, Ren deactivates his Semblance and looks into the distance to see The Hound flying toward Monstra.

Maul runs up to them, and extends his arms lifting the three from the cliff side.

Weiss knocks heavily on the front doors of the Schnee manor, and soon after, the double doors are opened by Whitley, who looks upon Weiss and her friends in surprise. Ruby is standing with her, Blake is holding the still unconscious Nora, while Pyrrha helps a still injured Ahsoka stand. May is keeping watch behind them.

Whitley: Oh, you've picked a fine time to--

Weiss interrupts by pointing Myrtenaster at him, and he looks at the blade in fright.

Weiss: Not. Another. Word. We're coming in.

Whitley steps aside and groans as Ruby's group walks into the manor.

Whitley: Things are already bad enough after what you did to father, now you want us to harbor fugitives too? Our family has a reputation.

He crosses his arms in annoyance. Blake, having set Nora down on the floor, looks at him.

Blake: That's what you're worried about? Your reputation?

Whitley: I'm just saying that we've already lost all the house staff, and mother locked herself in her room.

Weiss: Maybe you haven't figured out what's going on, Whitley, but we're busy trying to save Atlas.

Ruby steps between the two.

Ruby: Look, our friends are hurt. We just need a place to lay low while she rests, and then we'll be out of your way.

Whitley: Fine. What do you expect me to do, then?

Weiss points to the staircase behind her.

Weiss: Go to your room.

There is a brief pause, and Whitley sighs and follows her command.

Weiss: (sighs) This way.

Weiss walks away, and May lifts Nora, while Pyrrha helps Ahsoka walk. While Weiss, May, Pyrrha, and Ahsoka exit the room, Blake walks over to Ruby, who is staring outside through the front doors.

Blake: Ruby?

Ruby: I hope everyone's doing alright.

Blake: If you're worried about Yang, you could always try calling her.

Ruby: That's the thing. I did.

Ruby turns and shows Blake her Scroll which is actively calling Yang's Scroll.

In the mountainous tundra, Yang and Maul gather up nuts and bolts while Ren does nothing and Jaune waves his Scroll in the air in search of a signal.

Jaune: I repeat, if anybody can hear me...

Jaune looks over at the crashed hoverbike, which has a trail of the leaked purple material in the snow leading to the damaged tank.

Jaune: (sighs) We need transport back to Mantle.

Some time later, the four are trekking through the tundra, with Ren leading and Jaune pushing the hoverbike. Maul is sitting on the hover bike in meditation, trying to find Oscar.

The sun is beginning to set, and it is snowing. Yang is using her Scroll to keep an eye on their Aura levels. Jaune's is at 41% but then lowers to 39%. Yang's and Ren's meters turn from yellow to red as Yang's drops from 34% to 32% and Ren's goes from 33% to 31%.

Yang: We need to get out of this weather before the cold drops our Auras completely. How much farther to the outpost?

With an angry expression, Ren remains silent.

Yang: Ren, how much--

Ren: I don't know.

Yang looks back at Jaune, who shrugs. She catches up with Ren.

Yang: I thought you said you saw it when you were up in the air.

Ren: I did, before I had to cut myself loose to help you guys.

Yang uncomfortably brings her hand to the back of her head, then lowers it as she speaks.

Yang: Yeah, you've brought that up a couple times now. Something you need to say?

Ren: Not really. Wouldn't want to waste any more time.

Ren walks ahead, while Yang stops with a small gasp. Annoyed, she catches up with him again.

Yang: Hey! What is your deal?

She steps in front of Ren, stopping him.

Ren: Don't worry about it.

Yang: Well, I'm sorry things aren't going smoothly enough for you.

Jaune stops, Maul opened his eyes to see what the commotion was.

Jaune: Guys--

Ren: They're not going smoothly at all.

Yang: I hate to break it to you, but that's part of being a Huntsman.

Ren: Are you kidding?! We don't know the first thing about being Huntsmen. We clearly weren't ready.

Jaune takes a couple steps toward them.

Jaune: Guys, stop it.

Yang: Were we not ready when we saved Haven? When we took down a Leviathan? We got the Lamp to Atlas.

Ren: VADER took down the Leviathan! And then we lost it! And after that, when we had to make real decisions, we got every single one wrong.

Yang: I'm not going to pretend like we did everything perfectly, but if we'd done nothing, things would be even worse than they are now.

Ren: How could they possibly be worse? We are stuck out here while Salem has the Lamp and Oscar. We've got no plan, no army.

Yang: We've got the Maiden, three force-wielders, and a god.

Ren walks away from Yang, in the direction of the City of Atlas, gesturing to it as he speaks.

Ren: And by keeping her from opening the Vault for Ironwood, we're just trapping the whole city for Salem.

He lowers his arms.

Ren: People are going to die. Because of us.

Yang: So what, we should just give Ironwood what he wants? Abandon Mantle? You think Atlas is still gonna be able to float to safety now that she's here?

Ren turns to Yang, throwing his fists down, and then walks back toward her as he speaks.

Ren: I don't know. But these aren't the kinds of decisions we should be making because we have no idea what we're doing.

Jaune: Okay, both of you. Cut it out.

Ren: What has Vader been doing these past few days?! He's been gone on a mission, and without him everything fell apart! And what has The Being done besides reincarnate Pyrrha?! Even she couldn't help!

Ren walks toward Yang, getting in her face.

Ren: I'm just saying what nobody else wants to. We're in way over our heads, Ruby is barely more than a kid, I'm just an orphan from the middle of nowhere--

Jaune: Ren, I--

Ren turns to Jaune, as Maul hops off the hover bike.

Ren: You cheated your way into Beacon!

Yang's eyes widen, and her mouth drops open. They stand in silence for a few moments, until Ren relaxes his shoulders and gains a regretful expression. He looks away from Jaune, frowning. Jaune stares wide-eyed, then lowers his gaze with a frown.

Jaune: You don't think we should be Huntsmen, fine, but I'm getting out of the cold.

Jaune resumes pushing the hoverbike, walking past Ren and Yang.

Jaune: (mumbling) We've still got a job to do.

Yang: (to Ren) Seriously, is your goal just to push everyone away? (To Maul) Did you find Oscar?

Maul: No... (looks at Ren) I wouldn't want to waste any more time.

Yang and Maul walk away to follow Jaune, while Ren clenches his fists.

Ozpin's voice speaks from the nothingness just as Oscar begins regaining consciousness.

Ozpin: Oscar? Don't panic. We're going to be okay.

Oscar is looking at his feet, which are hovering above the ground.

Oscar: Uh, what?

Oscar looks up to see fleshy walls, bone spikes, a bone staircase and a membrane door. Standing in the shadows of the doorway is Salem with a cloud of smoke hovering above her hand.

Salem: My long-lost Ozma, found at last.

The smoke forms shapes of her daughters, all running in a circle and giggling. As Salem turns her head to look at Oscar, the smoke dissipates. Oscar's eyes widen, and he looks around and begins struggling. The Hound is holding him in the air by the back of his coat's collar. Salem walks over to him.

Salem: So small, this new host of yours. It's a wonder my Hound didn't break you. It's been how many years since we saw each other like this, face to face? And nothing to say?

Oscar adopts Ozpin's speaking mannerisms as he responds to her.

Oscar: I'm sorry the reunion isn't living up to your expectations.

Salem suddenly grabs Oscar's face, her own face wrinkling slightly with a furious glare.

Salem: You can pretend, boy, but you're not fully him. Not yet, at least.

She relaxes and lets go of him with a sigh.

Salem: Well, perhaps you and I can have a better working relationship. Oscar, was it?

She begins walking around The Hound.

Salem: The Beacon Relic. My forces have been unable to locate the Relic beneath the school. If I know my Ozma, he has used some means of deception to hide its location differently than the others.

She stops next to Oscar and smiles at him, scratching The Hound's shoulder.

Salem: I need to know where it is.

Oscar: I... That's not something I know about.

Salem stops and walks away.

Salem: Of course. He would keep that one guarded as long as possible.

Oscar sighs, and Salem stops at the other end of the room.

Salem: How about something easier, then? The password for the Lamp.

Oscar pauses for a moment, his eyes dart down then back up.

Oscar: The Lamp is all out of questions.

Salem turns to face Oscar and smiles, before summoning a black orb of magic in front of her. The orb sends out a rainbow of magic beams, all converging on Oscar's chest, causing him to scream out and writhe in agony. With an intense glare on her face, Salem keeps the torture going for eleven seconds, then lowers her hands with a frown, letting the magic fade. She walks over to Oscar, who is still squirming and gasping with remnants of the magic floating from the scorch mark on his chest.

Salem: The lies come out of you so easily.

Oscar turns away, cowering, as Salem gently puts her hand to his cheek and gives a sweet smile.

Salem: Like-minded souls indeed.

She turns and walks away, heading back to the door.

Salem: One of you is going to tell me what you know. I don't much care if it is you or Ozma. Either way, I'll finally have the Relic.

Oscar: I won't tell you anything.

Salem turns to face him once again.

Salem: Hm.

The membrane door pulls open to reveal Hazel Rainart.

Oscar: Hazel?

Hazel walks over to Oscar, who weakly lifts his hand toward him.

Oscar: Wait, wait--

Hazel slaps his hands away and punches him, causing The Hound to drop him on the floor.

Hazel: That was for Haven Academy.

Hazel kicks Oscar toward the wall, then cracks his neck.

Hazel: Everything that follows... will be for my sister.

Hazel approaches Oscar, while Salem watches.

Night has begun, and there is heavy snowfall over the Mantle tundra. Inside an abandoned outpost, Jaune hits a furnace until it lights up. Ren is staring out of a window with his arms crossed. Maul is sitting on a chair, gripping the armrest tightly.

Jaune: (sighs) You're right, Ren. I... I did cheat my way into Beacon.

As he speaks, Jaune stands up and walks over to Ren, standing beside him.

Jaune: And I'm glad that I had people around me to help me see that I was bigger than that mistake. You've got people around you, too. You don't have to force yourself to be strong. The more you hide from what you're feeling, the more alone you're going to feel. Trust me.

Ren glances at Jaune, then uncrosses his arms and walks out of the small building, shoving the door open. Yang is standing by the door, having just returned, and she sadly watches Ren leave. She holds up a purple canister.

Yang: If anyone cares, I found a part to fix the bike. So, yay. Good news.

She walks over to a workbench, and Jaune turns back to the window to watch Ren sit down beneath a lamp post.

Yang: For what it's worth, I'm sorry he said that to you. I know you've had to work hard to get here, Jaune.

Jaune: We're all under a lot of stress right now. I used to push people away too.

Yang turns to the workbench and begins using a wrench to put the canister inside a piece of the hoverbike. After a bit, she pauses.

Yang: Do you... think she thinks less of me... for not helping out with Amity?

Maul: You did question her leadership capabilities, essentially blaming her for everything bad that has happened.

Yang stares at Maul, who's kept his eyes closed. Before looking down out of shame.

Jaune: Ruby is your sister, she's always going to love you even if you disagree with each other.

Yang: Yeah. Ruby...

Yang resumes fixing the bike part, and Jaune sighs and lies down in one of the bunk beds.

Jaune: I need to get some sleep, but I can't stop thinking about Oscar.

Yang puts the wrench down and walks over to the window.

Yang: Go on. I'll make sure Ren doesn't brood himself to death out in the cold.

Jaune: Thanks. I just have a bad feeling. Things always seem to get worse before they get better.

Down the hill from the outpost and a fair distance away, the ground has begun cracking and noises can be heard beneath it. Suddenly, the cracks lengthen and then expand.