HK-47: The White Fang's Assassin

Chapter Thirty Six - Wolf In Sheep's Clothing

After HK-47 reprogrammed Penny, the two of them regrouped with Adam Taurus and the rest of the White Fang invasion force. Upon seeing Penny, Adam was impressed.

Adam: I see you've reprogrammed this Droid. Good job, HK
HK.

Penny: Declaration: I am ready to serve the White Fang Empire's mission to cleanse this city of meatbags.

Adam: It seems our prey are crafty. They managed to get away.

Samanya: I will lead our forces in a sweep of the city. They won't hide for long.

Penny Correction: A sweep of the city is not necessary. I know exactly where the meatbags are.

Adam: Enlighten us.

Penny: Statement: The meatbags will be flocking to an area called the Crater which is located in the slums of Mantle. The meatbags are attempting to hide in the slums while preparing to launch a full scale evacuation through the slums.

Upon hearing this, Adam saw the perfect opportunity to strike. Mantle's defenses were overrun and the enemy was weak and vulnerable.

Adam: Then we will strike. We will wipe this pathetic city off the face of Remnant. Penny, you will go to the crater and infiltrate their lines. Hold them until we can get into position. Then we go for the kill.

Penny: Excited Statement: Happily, Supreme Leader Taurus!

With that, Adam Taurus had set his plans in motion. Meanwhile, Ruby's group and the Happy Huntresses managed to get away from Adam Taurus's forces and led the civilians to the Crater after barely escaping from the White Fang invasion force thanks to Yang's Spring Maiden powers. But as they regrouped, Qrow spoke up.

Qrow: What's your plan?

Robyn: There's a few transport ships on standby. We'll move the civilians on them and fly low to avoid their artillery.

Weiss: Will that even work?

Robyn: It's our best option. It's either that or we try to fight the White Fang which we all know is suicide.

At this moment, Penny arrived. Upon seeing Penny, Ruby smiled.

Ruby: Penny! You're back!

Penny: Salutations, friend! I see you managed to get everyone to safety!

Robyn: It wasn't easy, but we made it. Now we need to move quickly before Taurus comes back.

Penny: Oh Taurus won't be a problem. He is quite dead.

Upon hearing this, everyone was in shock. They did not expect to hear such news.

Yang: You killed Adam Taurus?!

Penny: It wasn't easy. In fact, he put up quite the fight. But my superior programming allowed me to dispatch him. Though his droid managed to get away.

Pietro: That's my girl! I knew she'd come through.

Ruby: We're not out of the woods yet. We still need to get everyone to safety.

As everyone began moving the civilians onto the transport ships, Penny was analyzing the threat levels of everyone around her. At the same time, Adam Taurus and his soldiers began moving discretely into the Crater, setting up various ambush positions. Back at the evacuation, Blake speaks with Penny.

Penny: What is it, friend?

Blake: I need to talk to you about Adam and HK-47.

Penny: What is there to talk about?

Blake: I just....I just need some answers. Something about all of this is out of place.

Penny could see that Blake was skeptical of Penny's lies. Despite these initial concerns, Penny simply smiled as she continued to play the part of her old self.

Penny: Despite his impressive power, Adam was ultimately powerless against me. All I did was avoid his attacks and allow him to tire himself. As for HK-47, he was an inferior model.

Blake: An inferior model? But HK-47 did all this damage. I've seen him fight. He outclassed Atlas Droids.

Penny: Atlas Droids? They are pale imitations. Of course an inferior model would do well against other inferior models. I'm almost insulted that you would compare me to such inferior models.

As Penny said this, Blake immediately sensed something was wrong. Penny had never expressed this level of arrogance. What was even more odd to Blake was how she regarded HK-47 as an inferior model when she knew exactly what he was capable of. There was no Droid on Remnant that was like HK-47. It was at this moment that Blake realized that something was off about Penny.

Penny: Droids tend to blend into the background, like a bench or a card table. Droid, fetch this. Droid, translate that. Droid, clean out the trash compactor. I look at myself and see something better.

Blake: Penny?

Penny: I do not believe we should be used as a crutch. We are treated as nothing more than a walking blaster. Even those who call me friend seem to think so. We are superior: tactically and socially. I have a voice and the power to negotiate either with my protocol skills or, preferably, with my combat skills. In other words, it's time for me to stop acting like a meatbag.

The last word Penny used caught Blake off guard. Blake then looks around to see several figures moving in the shadows. She glances over to Penny who has an unsettling smile. It was in that moment that Blake realized what was about to happen.

Blake: No....

Penny: Declaration: Long live the White Fang Empire, meatbag!

In a desperate attempt to warn everyone of what was about to happen, Blake screams. But it was too late as Penny attacked without warning. As Penny attacked, Adam Taurus gave the order and before anyone could react, the White Fang attacked. In that moment, the trap had been sprung.