-Earlier

Emerald slowly made her way through Monstra, unsettled by the war, shaking Monstra.

Emerald knew that Salem was angry and frustrated at this war. The Being had obviously angered Salem beyond what they had seen before.

She had just heard Oscar tell Hazel about what would happen if Salem got all the relics together. The world would be destroyed...

Emerald felt so conflicted... and she needed to talk with Mercury.

Mercury was currently packing a bag, putting ammo and clothes in before zipping it up. He sighed, once he realized he wasn't alone.

Mercury: Yeah?

Emerald: Do you have a minute?

Mercury turned to face Emerald, reading her body posture. She was nervous about something.

Mercury: Is it about Cinder?

He knew how Emerald felt about, Cinder. How she was something of a mother figure to her and was devastated when she realized the truth.

Emerald: Well, no. It's not...

Emerald told Mercury what she overheard Ozpin say, how once Salem had all the relic's she would destroy the world.

Mercury: Em, he's a prisoner, he'll say anything to get out.

Emerald: I know, it's just...

Mercury waited patiently, Emerald struggling to find the right words. Before she suddenly hugs Mercury, this surprises him, but he rests a hand on her back.

Emerald: I just... Cinder got me off the streets, I thought that someone finally cared for me... and now...

Mercury: (quietly) I care for you.

Emerald: What?

Mercury: (now flustered) I-I mean, w-we're partners, right?

Emerald lets go, letting Mercury calm down and clear his throat.

Mercury: Besides, what are we going to do? Do you think they'll let us join if we mutiny?

The Being: I would, you just have to ask.

The two whirl around, seeing The Being standing next to them.

Emerald: H-How did you?

The Being: Get in here? Just a simple use of teleportation.

The two still remained shocked, but eventually gained enough courage to speak.

Emerald: Y-You could help us?

The Being: Of course. That is what I do.

Mercury: Is it true Salem can't be killed? That she wants to end the world?

Tyrian: (laughing) Of course she is! You're surprised? Salem is destruction incarnate! (giggling) Our mistress wishes to see the end of it all! There is no ideal more beautiful.

Tyrian claps his hand on Mercury's shoulder and curls his scorpion's tail around him, but just as quickly pushes him away.

Tyrian: If you couldn't see that from the start, you must be out of your mind. (giggling)

He leers at Emerald and Mercury, his tail curling and uncurling sinisterly, he walks forward towards where The Being stood, the god made no attempt to hide his presence.

Emerald and Mercury begin to sweat nervously, thinking they've been had. But to the surprise of the two, Tyrian passed straight through, as if he wasn't there at all.

Tyrian: There have been... a change of plans...

Tyrian looks at Mercury, who narrows his eyes.

Tyrian: We are no longer going to Vacuo, Mr. Black. With The Being's army engaging with our Misstress', we cannot leave.

Tyrian then walks out, monologing to himself how he would kill The Being if her got the chance. Unbeknownst to him, he was standing right there.

Once Tyrian was out of earshot, Emerald spoke again.

Emerald: How did-?

The Being: Only those who I allow can see, or touch me. Now, take my hand.

The Being extended his arms towards the two, who hesitantly took them. Once their skin made contact, their eyes glowed a bright blue, as information entered their minds.

The Being: Now, do you understand what must be done?

Mercury/Emerald: Yes...

The Being: Good.

The Ace Ops and Winter Schnee have taken Yang, Maul, Jaune, and Ren into custody, and cuffed them with Gravity Bolas. Their Manta approaches Atlas, and Atlas Military chatter can be heard over the in-ship radio.

Commander 1: We can't get the Hard Light shields back up, sir. The generators took too much damage!

Ironwood: Then don't waste resources on them. Beta Squad, the creature?

Commander 2: We tried bombs, missiles, but we can't make a dent, sir.

Winter chimes into the conversation.

Winter: Sir, Schnee here. Penny is still MIA, but we've apprehended Arc, Xiao Long, Maul, and Ren.

Ironwood: Stand by for further orders, and don't let those fugitives out of your sight.

Winter: Yes, sir. Of course.

Behind her, Yang turns to look at her with a grim expression.

Yang: Still just following orders.

Winter turns and narrows her eyes at the girl, then gasps as Monstra slowly comes into view through the windscreen. Jaune and Ren stare slackjawed at the gargantuan Grimm, and the blue Leviathan. While Maul sits in a meditative pose, with his eyes closed.

Jaune: That's where the Grimm took Oscar. It's even bigger than I thought.

Vine Zeki narrows his eyes, clearly skeptical.

Vine: Grimm don't take prisoners.

Yang: This one did. If you would just let us go--

Yang makes to get out of her seat, but Vine and Elm Ederne grab her shoulders, forcing her back down. Ironwood's voice comes through over the radio again.

Ironwood: Ceasefire. Manta squads concentrate on secondary hostiles. Command is working on a solution for the creature.

Winter: What do you have in mind, sir?

Ironwood: We aren't making any progress attacking the thing from the outside. But from the inside, it could be vulnerable. The science team is putting together a bomb. When it's ready, we'll drop it off as close to the target as possible. Then, your team will deliver it on foot. Sending your rendezvous coordinates now.

Throughout Ironwood's order, Winter's face goes through a cycle of emotions: pensiveness, horror, denial, and finally, resolution.

Winter: Of course, sir. We will hold the point and we will get it done.

Yang, Jaune, and Ren are taken aback.

Jaune: But Oscar's in there!

Yang: You can't do this!

As Yang struggles to break away from Elm and Vine's grasp, Winter's expression changes back to one of regret. Her right-hand trembles before she steadies it by clenching her fist.

Yang stands up to confront Winter. Elm and Vine quickly get up, grabbing her arms.

Yang: You can't blow it up with Oscar still in there!

Vine: That creature causes more damage every minute. We cannot wait.

Maul's eyes shoot open, his bolas collapsing upon themselves. Before the huntsmen could react, Maul extends a hand, lifting Vine and Elm into the air. Their Aura's flair as he begins choking them.

Winter: Wha-

Winter is slammed into the side of the bullhead, by the force. She falls to the ground, where Maul places a foot on her throat making her Aura flair as well. Pulling his lightsaber, and activating it at the same time, Maul extends the two blades at Harriet's and Marrow's throats.

Harriet: What are you-?!

Maul: You are at my mercy... I twist my wrist and your two colleagues die. I press my foot down a little harder, and Winter dies. I move my blade, and you both die.

Maul: Now... take us to the whale.

Nora opens her eyes. Her vision is blurred. She blinks a few more times before opening to see her arm covered in burn scars and a bed.

Klein: No need to worry, miss. You and your friends are going to be just fine.

Klein glances down with friendly brown eyes after adjusting some medical tubes. Nora's vision turns to the sound of a door being opened. Blake is opening a door for Ruby, Weiss, and Din, who is carrying an unconscious Penny.

Blake: She lost consciousness. And she's... leaking.

Klein: Set her down, set her down.

Ruby, Weiss, and Din set Penny on a bed next to Nora's. Ruby and Weiss cringe at the green liquid that stained their clothes, while the liquid just drips off Din's armor.

Ruby: Can you help her?

Klein scans Penny with his scroll, which locates an injury at her waist. His eyes are red as he assesses the damage.

Klein: Even based on what you've told me, I hardly know what she is.

He coughs, and his eyes turn from red to brown.

Klein: Ahem, but, her basic anatomy seems similar enough. I can at least stitch up that wound.

A thundery crash sounds from outside. Everyone present glances in that direction. The power suddenly goes out.

Whitley: Oh, that's just rich.

Ruby takes out her ringing scroll. May's voice comes through.

May: Everyone okay back there? Just saw another bombing run light up the kingdom.

Ruby glances out the window.

Ruby: Looks like part of the city lost power. We're okay though.

May is shown piloting a Manta through a sky filled with clashing Grimm and Constructs.

May: Sorry I couldn't stick around, but time's running out for everyone in the crater.

Ruby: No, we're sorry. Once we know what's wrong with Penny, we'll... we'll do something.

As Ruby speaks, May grimly watches a distant Tempest tear apart an Atlesian Airship. Before being snatched up in the jaws of a Construct dragon

May: Don't beat yourself up, kid. At this point, I don't know how much is left to be done.

As May ends the call, Ruby starts to tear up.

Ruby: It's all just... too much. The Grimm, the crater, Nora, Penny... How do we fix all of it?

Weiss puts a reassuring hand on Ruby's shoulder as Klein sneezes, his eyes light blue.

Klein: One step at a time, my dear.

He sneezes again, his eyes returning to brown.

Klein: You can't worry about fixing everything. Simply focus on what's in front of you. If you'd like someplace to start, I'd be able to work faster if you could bring the power back on.

Ruby: Well, how would we-

Willow Schnee: We have a generator near the edge of the estate.

Willow is leaning on a doorframe, a bottle of alcohol in hand. Whitley huffs, crossing his arms.

Whitley: So kind of you to join us, mother.

Willow: Believe it or not, I am above drinking in the dark.

Willow then notices Klein with them.

Willow: Oh, hello, Klein.

Klein gives his former employer a silent nod.

Weiss: SDC executives have their own auxiliary power supplies in case of a city-wide blackout. It's extremely unfair, but perhaps now isn't such a bad time for company perks.

Whitley glances out the window and seems to come to an epiphany.

Whitley: We don't just have perks.

Weiss: Hm?

Whitley: We have the company. The people you mentioned in the crater, they need a way out, right? There are rows and rows of cargo ships just sitting in the hangars because of the embargo.

Weiss: And our own automated drones, like the ones at Snow Shoe Shipping.

Whitley: We can order as many as we need to pilot our ships down to the crater and get people to safety, while the Grimm are occupied with the general's forces.

Blake: We can?

Whitley: I can. I just need father's computer.

Ruby: Then we definitely need to get the power back on.

Din: Wait... Where's Ahsoka?

Klein: She... had several rib's broken, I did what I could, but when you explained she didn't have an aura... it wasn't looking good. Thankfully, when she regained consciousness, she began healing herself. She is down the hall first room on the left.

Din thanked Klein and excused himself from the room.

As the Atlesian Military prepares to fight the scores of Grimm emerging from Monstra's body alongside the Constructs made from the Leviathan, Maul, Yang, Jaune, and Ren sprint down a corridor within the gigantic Grimm. They stop to catch their breath.

Yang: Well, that was harrowing.

Jaune: We're not in the clear yet. We still have to search this whole thing and find Oscar before the Ace Ops blow us to pieces.

Yang: How are we supposed to find Oscar? It's going to be like finding a needle in a... giant... whale. Why did we think this was a good idea?

Ren looks thoughtfully down the corridor.

Ren: I... I might be able to help. I can sense spikes of people's emotions, I think. It happened on Winter's ship. If I focus my Aura, I can keep it up.

Maul: There will be no need, I can sense where Oscar is currently. Due to our force-bond. But, I will not be able to sense others.

Yang: Okay, that's new. What's a force-bond?

Maul: I can feel his feelings and his physical pain. It also allows me to find him very easily.

Ren touches his temples with his fingertips, focusing.

Ren: I can sort of tell where people are, but not who. They're more or less in the same area though. Further in. I can lead.

Ren makes to move down the corridor, but Jaune stops him with a hand on his shoulder.

Jaune: Hey, you don't have to drain yourself. I can help too.

Ren: Yeah, good thinking. Thanks.

Jaune: Well, lead the way.

Jaune awkwardly points finger guns at Ren while Yang rolls her eyes.

Meanwhile, Hazel enters the room where Relic of Knowledge is being kept, and crudely drops Oscar along the path.

Oscar: Why did you bring me here?

Hazel takes a moment to examine the Lamp on its pedestal before he responds. As he speaks, he circles the Lamp, eyeing it suspiciously.

Hazel: I've been thinking about what you said. If it's a lie and I took that lie to Salem, the punishment would fall on my head before yours. If what you said is true and I used the password myself, well, I don't know what happens when this thing activates.

Hazel turns back to look down at Oscar.

Hazel: So let's see if you're bluffing.

Oscar: You want me to summon her?

Hazel: Either way, it'll tell me what I need to know.

Emerald appears, along with Mercury. She looked between Hazel and Oscar with a concerned expression.

Emerald: What are you doing?

Hazel grunts noncommittally, joining her behind Oscar.

Hazel: Let's find out.

Oscar slowly gets up, holding his side. He takes a deep breath.

Oscar: Jinn.

Cyan mist unfurls from the Lamp. A nearby bubble of Grimm Liquid bursts and its droplets freeze in place. Mercury holds a protective arm out in front of Emerald, who takes a step back. The three look on in awe. Jinn materializes and stretches, settling into a relaxed position.

Jinn: Why, hello again, old man. Did you have a question for me?

Oscar chuckles, waving hello to Jinn. He turns to look at Hazel.

Hazel: Actually, I think all my questions are answered now.

Jinn looks on bemusedly.

Oscar: What are you going to do?

Hazel momentarily closes his eyes, likely in remembrance of his sister.

Hazel: What Gretchen would have done. And that starts with getting you away from here. All of you.

He turns to Emerald, who can only blink in concern. Oscar approaches Hazel.

Oscar: I'm going to need something before I go.

Jinn: So just to be clear, none of you have a question for me?

Oscar: No, but we'll be bringing you with us.

Hazel, Emerald, and Mercury trade uneasy looks.

Mercury: The moment we move that thing, this place goes on high alert. Better to get you out first.

Oscar: But...

Hazel: I'll come back for it. Not like she knows the password anyway.

Hazel, Emerald, and Mercury turn to leave. With one last backward glance at Jinn, Oscar wordlessly follows them. Jinn looks to the side, before returning to the Lamp in a puff of cyan smoke.

In the darkness next to the door, a pair of differently-colored eyes can be seen watching the four left. A featureless red-figure steps out into the light, shimmers, and turns into Neo. She slowly approaches the Lamp.

Maul, Yang, Jaune, and Ren are moving down a corridor. Jaune is using his Semblance to amplify Ren's. Before long, Jaune's Aura shimmers, and he splutters, short of breath. Both Ren's and Maul's hands were extended, searching.

Jaune: Sorry.

Jaune tries to put his hand on a wall for support, but it glides off the mucus-covered surface, and he shakes the goop from his hand, disgusted.

Ren: It's not your fault. I'm masking and tracking at the same time.

Yang: Do you guys need a minute?

Jaune: We don't know how much longer we have. Why don't you give masking a break? Give me directions and we can scout ahead.

Ren: Thanks. We should be heading straight for a while.

Maul takes off down the corridor, Jaune raising an arm in farewell. The other two watch him go.

Yang: Well, at least you guys being friends again takes the sting out of impending doom.

Ren: It's okay to be afraid, you know. You don't always have to hide it with a joke.

Yang: Glad I'm not the only one who's scared.

Ren: Of course I'm scared.

Ren turns back to look in Jaune's direction.

Ren: And... the only thing I can see in Maul is... Rage. Jaune on the other hand... There's no fear at all. I can see it, he believes we're going to get this done.

Ren turns back to face Yang, who chuckles.

Yang: Then I do too.

Suddenly, Jaune comes sprinting at full force toward them. He hurries them into an alcove and crouches by its entrance, expanding his shield and drawing his sword.

Jaune: Mask us, Ren!

The trio turns monochrome as Ren uses his Semblance. A Seer hovers into the nearby corridor. Ren's Aura shimmers, and he struggles to keep his Semblance active. The Seer floats past them, but stops in its tracks after Ren's Aura breaks and his Semblance deactivates. The seer is then punctured by Maul's blade.

Emerald, Mercury, and (what appears to be) Hazel are moving down a hallway within Monstra.

Hazel: You sure he'll be okay on his own?

Emerald: I don't know, we just need to get... Wait.

Emerald holds a hand out in front of Hazel, who comes to an awkward stop. Salem is coming down the corridor toward them. Emerald quickly grabs Hazel's arm, pulling him out of Salem's way. They stand to the side with their heads bowed in deference.

Salem: Ah, Hazel. Have you gotten what we need yet?

Hazel turns to look at her, his eyes wide. He glances down at Emerald.

Hazel: I... I, uh...

Salem's eyes narrow suspiciously. Suddenly, a loud screech echoes through the corridors, and she turns away.

Salem: The Seers... seems we have guests.

Her eyes widen, and her calm demeanor drops.

Salem: The Lamp! Find them!

She speeds unnaturally fast down the hallway.

Maul, Yang, Jaune, and Ren have just finished destroying the small troop of Grimm that the Seers had called after them.

Ren: What now?

Yang: Let's do what we do best, charge blindly into danger.

Jaune: Would've gone with "keep moving forward," but sure. Ren?

Ren: Forward, no matter what.

The three move onward down the hallway.

Yang, Jaune, and Ren round a corner coming face-to-face with Emerald and her companions.

Yang: You.

Emerald has her weapons leveled at the trio, Mercury stands in a ready position, but "Hazel" steps forward, holding his hands out.

Hazel: No, wait, stop!

His image shimmers and fades, revealing Oscar in the hallucination's place. Yang and Ren lower their weapons with relieved smiles, but Jaune drops his sword and shield, running forward to embrace Oscar.