Devil Bringer (working on revisions)

Part 4: A Minor Hiccup

"Penny?"

"This a friend of yours?" Neptune asked groggily as he stood up.

"I'm sorry, but you must have me confused for someone else," Penny hurriedly said with a look of worry. Soon after finishing her sentence, she hiccuped.

"I'm afraid you're wrong there. We met before, when I was searching for Blake," V said matter-of-factly. Penny turned to walk away before V stopped her by hooking his cane on her shoulder and saying, "I'm not sure why you suddenly deny any acknowledgement of someone you once referred to as 'friend,' but I heard from Ruby that you disappeared at the docks when you arrived. Why is that?"

Penny glances left and right before whispering, "It's not safe to talk here."

Neptune simply glanced around confused, asking, "Can someone explain what is happening right now?"

VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV

Weiss, Ruby, and Nero walked through the grand lobby of the CCT. Ruby stopped and looked around in wonder for a while, causing Weiss to grab her by her cloak and drag her to the elevator to break her out of her stupor. A panel on the elevator lit up as an AI appeared.

"Hello. Welcome to the CCT. How may I help you?" it said.

"We'd like to go to the communications room, please," Weiss answered.

"Absolutely," the AI confirmed, "Could you please place your Scrolls on the terminal to verify your identity?"

The three teens individually placed their Scrolls as directed.

"Perfect! Thank you, Miss Schnee, Miss Rose, and Mister Angelo."

The elevator finally reached the top of the tower and the occupants stepped out into a room filled with terminals. Weiss walked up to the front desk first, followed after by Nero and Ruby.

"Welcome to the Beacon Cross Continental Transmit center. How may I help you?" the AI behind the desk asked Weiss.

"I need to make a call to Schnee Company World Headquarters in Atlas."

"Absolutely. If you could head over to Terminal 3, I'll patch you through."

"Thank you!" Weiss smiles before walking over. Nero and Ruby stepped up after their friend left.

"And How may I help you?"

"I'd like to call the Goldstein residence. In Argus," Nero said.

"Absolutely! Head to terminal 10, I'll patch you through."

"Thanks," Nero said as he led Ruby over.

"So is this your friend?" Ruby asked.

"Well, more like she's a thorn in my side that I've learned to put up with," he joked, "Just to warn you, she can be a little...crazy at times."

"Oh, she can't be worse than Yang," Ruby replied with a grin.

"Eh, don't be too sure..."

The two sat at the terminal as it came to life showing a girl with tied-up black hair and glasses. She wore a white tank top, a dark-yellow sleeveless jacket, and jean shorts with a belt containing multiple tools.

"'Sup?" she greeted.

"Hey Nico—" Nero began before he was cut off.

"Wait! Is that Ruby Rose?" Nico asked before laughing, causing Ruby to become a bit flustered.

"Nico..." Nero growled.

"No! No! Don't take that the wrong way! It's just hard to believe I'm finally seein ya! I'm Nicoletta Goldstein, but you can call me Nico. I helped Nero with making his weapons and he's basically my edgy little bro," Nico said with a wave to the red dressed huntress, "He talked about you all the time."