RWBY: Spider-Man Unlimited 3

Chapter 30- Steel Cold Heart Part 3

The two teammates and two Rebels went to X-51 on the table as Ricochet said, "Let's get this guy up." Spider-Man tried to lift the robot but couldn't. X-51 explained, "The slab is magnetized." Spider-Man shrugged, "I knew that." He turned to two cables attached to the slab and pulled them out of a generator. Then Ricochet helped X-51 get off of the slab. X-51 now looked like a slimmer version of his fellow Machine Men. "Thank you," said X-51 gratefully. "All of you." John Jameson reminded, "Let's not congratulate ourselves yet. We're still sealed off by that force field and the steel doors." X-51 offered, "This unit offers assistance." He extends his arm to a control panel and opens the steel doors and deactivates the force field. "It pays to friends in high places," smiled Spider-Man. Suddenly X-51 started to malfunction as Spider-Man went over and carried him over his shoulder. "Good," said John seriously. "Because now we need to take this bucket of bolts somewhere safe to make the exchange for Bromley." Ricochet reminded, "Hey, Ground Control to Jameson, X-51 is not a thing, he's a person." Spider-Man agreed, "We'll find some other way to rescue Bromley, but no one is being trading in anybody." John frowned at them as the two teammates shattered a window with their spider darts and discs. Spider-Man and Ricochet went to the window slit as John retorted, "Sorry, but we need him. He's our ticket to getting back one of our top men. I won't let you take X-51." He pointed his gun at them as Spider-Man replied, "John, you'll do what you have to do and I'll do what I have to do." Ricochet nodded in agreement as the two leaped out and swung away. John glared at the two escaping and Karen reminded, "John, you know you can't shoot him. Despite your differences, he's still your friend." John gritted his teeth and questioned, "Is he? Is he really? What about Bromley? Is he a friend?" He sighed, "I'm glad you know who our friends are. I just can't tell anymore."

Peter and Venus's Apartment
Venus Deterzo and Nightingale were prepping for brunch as Nightingale admired, "We cannot wait until we share this food with our friends." Venus smiled, "Me, too. Hope Petey and Johnny'll be back from their Daily Byte report." Nightingale wondered, "What is take them so much time?" Then Spider-Man and Ricochet appeared with a slim Machine Man as Venus smiled, "Hi, boys! You're just in time for... why do you have a Machine Man?" X-51 greeted, "Hello, young woman. It is good to meet you." The two girls tapped their toes waiting for an explanation.

X-51 was laid on Peter and Venus's bed as the two boys explained the situation to the girls. Nightingale asked, "Will he be alright?" X-51 replied, "Self diagnostic suggest gyrostabilizers is aligned by seven degrees. Optical chip is malfunctioning. And neural med requires recharging." Nightingale said sadly, "We cannot heal a mechanized being with our semblance." Johnny chuckled, "Who needs healing when you got a mechanic in the team?" He held out several tools and various parts as X-51 analyzed, "A positron pack. An enhancer. These are sophisticated items. Humans and Faunus are forbidden to have such technology." Spider-Man looked at Ricochet as the mechanic shrugged, "Hey, when you're an outlaw in Counter-Vale, you never know when you need these." X-51 began to help Ricochet repair the systems as Spider-Man and Venus stepped out. She asked, "What are we going to do? Bromley needs help but we can't let the Knights take X-51." Spider-Man shrugged, "I'll figure something out." Venus sighed, "Just when Nightingale and I were done making brunch."

Meanwhile, At The New Rebel Headquarters
Karen reported, "We've contacted the Knights. Lord Tyger is minimal to an exchange at Grand Central Station. 6 PM." John said, "That gives us six hours to find X-51." She reminded, "John, something's rotten here and you know it. Why would they trade for a robot they're going to scrap anyway? It has to be a trap!" He disagreed, "It doesn't matter. We're never going to get this close to Bromley. When they spring their trap, we'll be ready for them."

Peter and Venus's Apartment
X-51 went on to reading after Ricochet finished repairing him. He said, "This unit... I have read all these books in an effort to understand me. There seems to be no clear explanation." Spider-Man replied, "Well, you're the oldest Machine Man in the force. Maybe you found enough information to make the leap." X-51 disagreed gently, "Improbable. There seems to be more to it than that. I can think. I'm beginning to... feel. There must be some cause... some purpose to what I've become." Ricochet smiled, "You mean the meaning of life?" Nightingale said, "People have spent centuries trying to find it." X-51 asked curiously, "What is the answer, Nightingale?" She answered, "We can only guess that every person has to figure that out for themselves." X-51 nodded, "I, too, will figure it out." He paused for a moment as Venus asked, "Is something wrong, X-51?" Then Spider-Man and Ricochet's danger senses went off as X-51 suddenly flew out the window shoving Venus to the side and Spider-Man went to help her. "Let's get after him!" exclaimed Venus. The two girls held onto their partners as they began swinging after X-51.

X-51 was shot with a stun ray by John which made the slim Machine Man fall into Karen's aerial Jeep. Then the two Rebels flew away as Team SVRN went after them.

6 PM, Exchange Site, Grand Central Station...
The Rebels waited for the Knights of Wundagore as Karen pointed, "Here they are." Lord Tyger along with Sir Ram and Lady Ursula holding a cuffed Daniel Bromley. Lord Tyger ordered, "Sir Ram, reactivate the manual override." Sir Ram agreed, "With pleasure, my Lord." He held out a remote and pressed a button that made X-51 push John off to the side and the Rebels began blasting. The blasts bounced off of X-51 who apologized, "I apologize, but I have no choice in this matter. You must surrender to the Knights of Wundagore." He blasted at them until more Rebels with loaded guns came in. John ordered, "Let Bromley go!" Lord Tyger replied, "I don't think so, Jameson." Then several Machine Men appeared and pointed their weapons at them. Lord Tyger ordered, "Surrender and I promise you will not be harmed." Bromley spat, "A word from a stinking Bestial?!" X-51 took John's gun and said, "Resistance is pointless." Then both the weapon and X-51's hand got covered in webs as Team SVRN came in. "Didn't your mother ever tell you it's impolite to point?" quipped Venus who kicked X-51. The Machine Men began to blast at Spider-Man and Nightingale who shot spider darts and mystical arrows in response. Both sides started shooting at each other as Bromley escaped and joined the fight. John came to his aid and shot Bromley's cuffs off. Unfortunately Lady Ursula came from behind and grabbed them. Sir Ram began blasting at Spider-Man, Venus, and Karen.

One of the blasts shot a train car revealing it to be the home of a female yellow, red, and black humanoid symbiote. The symbiote panicked as she ran off frightened by the battle. Venus saw her retreating away as she called, "Wait!"

Lord Tyger ordered, "Take Bromley and Jameson. We will retire with those two." Lady Ursula chuckled, "Come, you shall be guests at Wundagore Castle." Sir Ram ordered, "Destroy the others, X-51 while we make our leave with our prizes." X-51 responded, "Must obey." He pointed his laser fingers at Karen and Nightingale as Spider-Man reasoned, "X-51, listen to me! You don't have to obey that device inside you. You're more than a machine!" Sir Ram pressed the button again as X-51 resisted and shot the remote as well as Lady Ursula's shoulder. John and Bromley ran off from Lady Ursula's grip as Spider-Man lifted an empty train car and threw it smash the Machine Men. "Let's get out of here!" ordered John as more Machine Men came. The Rebels and Team SVRN retreated away.

Later tonight after they escaped, Venus pouted, "If only I could've stopped that symbiote in the train station." Spider-Man reassured, "Don't worry, we'll find her. Together." John smiled, "Speaking of working together, I was wrong about you, Spider-Man. I owe you an apology." Spider-Man reminded, "It's not me you should be apologizing to, John. It's X-51." The robot appeared as John nodded, "Spidey's right. I'm sorry X-51. You're a good man. One I'll be proud to have on my team." Karen said, "You'll be a great help to our cause, X-51." X-51 replied, "I wish to find my own path in life. For the Knights will not give up their pursuit. I, too, am a rebel. A refugee. Until there is freedom for all sentient beings, my path does lie with you." Then John and X-51 shook hands.