Proof of Humanity (RWBY - Lies of P)

Remnant VII: Escape the Sinking City

The sewers of Atlas, as one could imagine, reeked. The stench was so strong it singed your nostrils like an open flame. It was the kind of putrid scent that gave you headaches hours after leaving it behind.

Fortunately, Penny was a puppet, and her sense of smell wasn't real. Her eyes noted the environment, sent the data to her computer, her computer ran a chemical analysis on things such as the air quality or scents, then sends that back to Penny. Convenient, yes, but it was unfulfilling to say the least. She often thought about asking P how he developed his ergo.

That was his explanation for all of her questions. Whenever Penny asked how he can feel, truly feel, he simply said that his ergo had evolved into something called an ego. Basically, it's when a puppet achieves true sentience and starts to feel. Penny was confused by the concept. At first, she thought that her ego was already awakened, because she felt things rather clearly.

That was until P asked her one simple question. It was the same question that he asked her when they first met.

"Are you a puppet that follows orders, Penny?" He asked. When he did, the world around her froze, and her soul prompted her with a simple yes or no. P's shining blue eyes stood out in the frozen world of colorless gray.

"Yes." Penny responded, remembering her purpose of creation. She was created to be a protector of the people, just like her father said. That's why she always listened to his orders. Penny wanted to be a protector, just like her dad told her to.

When she did, P nodded. Penny sensed no judgement from him, much to her surprise. The boy was very opinionated, and rarely did he avoid confrontation. She imagined he'd rip into her about how her dream of protecting others was foolish, or something to that avail. But he didn't. He simply nodded.

"You shouldn't seek it," P advised, "let it come to you, and when it does, you'll know."

Penny found herself satisfied with that answer.

And now, in these sewers, she kept throwing glances at her father, pondering on why P keeps asking her the authority question. The obvious answer is that once her answer differs, she'll have unlocked her ego, but Penny hoped otherwise. P was a cryptic person, after all. Perhaps obvious wasn't what he was going for.

"So, what do you want with Robin Hood?" Henry Marigold asked them whilst they walked through the endless tunnels.

Polendina had his hand over their nose while they walked, "We need a way out of Atlas without the knowing of Jacques Schnee."

"Robin Hood is the only person who'd be willing to spite the SDC." Penny said.

"I'm guessing you know who Robin Hood is then, since you've come to me specifically." Henry muttered, hoping that they thought him to only be affiliated with the Prince.

"It's you." Penny told him. Henry could feel the girl's steady gaze on the back of his head. "You're the Prince of Thieves, Henry Marigold."

The boy stopped walking. Polendina held his hand out in front of his daughter instinctively. Penny moved his hand away and stepped in front of him in the same defensive manor.

"How did you find out?" Henry asked, turning to face them, his hazel eyes looking at them with the same intent of a threatened wolf.

Penny was glad that P split up with Ironwood. He would kill Henry for the look alone. Fortunately, Penny was more diplomatic than he was by a long shot.

The girl stepped forward, arms raised, "We mean no harm to you or your image, we only want safe passage out of Atlas."

Henry's cautious gaze didn't soften. "Why?" He asked, "What does Jacques Schnee want from you?"