Remnant's Only Tenno [Warframe x RWBY]

Part 4: Preparation

I wasn't really sure what I was doing with this chapter haha. Sorry if it's a little short. I just couldn't really make it longer.

Enjoy!

DrySkeleton

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"So that's our plan," Weiss finished explaining to the Tenno. Everyone sat in the Schnee dining hall, including Weiss's mother, Willow, and her brother, Whitley. For a few seconds after hearing it, Weiss smiled, expecting agreement, though she knew that it wouldn't be instantaneous. However, when her plan was replied to without sound, her smile faded. "Is something wrong?"

"No, no, nothing's wrong," Trinity replied, "It's just incredibly delicate. If something goes wrong, Mantle goes boom. This plan requires impeccable timing. I know that we're not serving a huge part in it, just helping with evacuation, but I still feel like you need to understand how risky this is."

"Well, it's the only thing we have to face Ironwood. Our other choices are to let Penny die, or let Mantle die," Ruby cut in.

Trinity nodded, "Then I hope you kids know what you're doing. We'll take some early recon on the situation. Just give us a call when you're ready, and we'll descend down to Mantle in our human forms. We'll be dressed as non-Atlas Huntsmen."

"What about the Railjack?" Skye asked, "We need both to get home. If the Wanderer launches early, Ironwood will know something's wrong."

"We'll have to get back to Atlas as fast as possible after evac has succeeded. The launch process shouldn't take more than 45 seconds with Cy running on autopilot. All we need to do is board and initiate the sequence. If we all equip Itzals we should make it with time to spare. If worse comes to worst, we can have Cy launch after the mission is complete and board while he's piloting."

After some consideration, Skye nodded, "Alright. That seems like everything. We'll get moving. You kids prepare for the mission and rendezvous with Winter. Good luck, and stay on your toes."

Oberon looked around at their small group of six. Rhino was off on his own, Trinity was leading with Nidus close behind, and Skye was walking behind him. Skewed further away, even more isolated than Rhino, was Saryn, who was a good twenty or so feet behind them, silent, her demeanor and body language no longer carrying the energy that she normally always had.

The horned Tenno turned to Skye, "I'm gonna go talk to her. Something's wrong."

In turn, his blue comrade glanced back at their former student. She grunted, "Good luck with that. She was fighting recklessly, even more so than usual. I've never seen her like this before. She might not welcome your help." Just a glance at her made all of Skye's danger signals go off. Not to a threatening degree, but enough to cause discomfort.

"You're always like this," Oberon said with a sigh, "Even back home it was hard to find you ever trying to help someone in a time of need."

Behind her helmet, Skye narrowed her eyes, "I think I know Saryn well enough to know when is a good time to approach her. And for the record, it's been three years. Someone can change a lot in that time. If you insist on talking to her, I won't stop you."

Oberon shook his head before walking to meet Saryn. When he approached, she noticeably stiffened in posture, apparently greatly uncomfortable.

Normally she'd insult me or something when I came by... Oberon thought. "Hey, what's going on with you?" he asked. The glands on her collar that produced her venom flexed, but otherwise, there was no reaction. He tried again, "C'mon, I can't help if you don't tell me."

That got him a reaction. Saryn scoffed, before mumbling, "You can't help, period."

Surprise and hurt pierced through Oberon's heart. In all their years together, both of them were like siblings, especially after Saryn rose to the rank of Blade. While Skye was the lone wolf and the two seniors were more professional, Oberon and Saryn were like the people who you could always see together, always having a good time. A key aspect of that relationship was transparency. They told each other everything, from mission results, to crushes, to embarrassing moments. And yet this time, when someone who was like family to him was in pain, Oberon could do nothing for her. All he could do was watch his best friend walk away.

The sky was smoking, clouds replaced by the smoking remains of the SDC ships. Anger ran through Skye at the sight. Her mind kept returning to the end of the Old War, with Lua in shambles. The ground was covered in the bodies of the Dax soldiers that fought with them. Her attention returned to Remnant.

"Here's our plan," Trinity said, "Saryn and Rhino will stay on the edge keeping away any stray Grimm or any kind of disturbance that could jeopardize the Huntsmen's plan. Oberon and I will ensure that the evacuee's are strong enough to move into the route without a hitch. Banshee, you take the skies with your Archwing for scouting purposes. Keep Sonar on. Nidus, go to the Railjack and wait for my call. When that happens, tell Cy to begin the launch on autopilot. We won't be taking the escape route to Vacuo, we're flying."

"Sounds good," Skye said, "Let's get going."

Erra watched from the eyes of his hidden Oculysts. If he had a mouth, he'd be biting his cheek in thought. The attack on Atlas had been more successful than he'd expected. He'd found Salem to be relatively harmless, but it seemed that she was a force to be reckoned with on Remnant.

"Natah," he called, "I'd like your opinion on this."

The Lotus entered the room. Her human face was still jarring to see when she was surrounded by Sentient material. She said nothing in response to his summons, so he assumed she had heard his statement.

"What do you think of Salem?" he asked.

Natah bit her lip, thinking. "I'm not quite sure what you mean. She's just a means to an end."

"Hmm," Erra grunted, "Is that so? She's a curious one. An immortal monster who can't even be killed via Requiem."

"As I said," Natah replied, "A means to an end. A perfect one though. Unkillable, unrelenting. Good enough to flush out the Tenno."

"I guess so. Thank you for your input."