The Atrocities of Atlas

By SkyleafAlchemist19

Note: Read Weight of the World, The Shattered Soul, and The Depths of Deception first or you will be extremely confused.

Summary: America suffers at the hands of a madman who will do anything to attain his goals. Left with no choice, the nations return to Remnant and expose their survival. Now aware Ozpin and Qrow lied to them, RWBY and JNPR's trust in them wavers. Salem sets her sight on the Relic of Creation but with all Atlas has done, will anyone want to defend it? Sequel to The Depths of Deception

Main/Prominent characters: America, Canada, Pyrrha, Ruby, Jaune, Nora, Ren, England, Japan, Germany, Russia, Prussia, Italy, France, Weiss, Yang, Australia, Romano, China, Qrow, Ozpin, Oscar, Blake, Sun, James Ironwood, Ciel Soleil, Doctor Polendina, others.

There will be a few minor OCs for plot's sake. They most likely won't even get names.

Pairings: Pretty much none. Don't expect romance except for the plot-required norm (aka Pyrrha and Jaune, etc.). I can't write romance and I'm not going to try. Expect family relationships and friendships abound. (Seriously, whenever I try to intentionally write a pairing it's horrible. :P)

Genres: Adventure, angst, hurt/comfort, friendship, family, some humor, mystery, suspense.

Warnings: Some cursing. Violence and blood. Potential angst/hurt/comfort. Potential spoilers for RWBY. Major AU elements for RWBY in particular. I also think this story might be darker than all the previous ones. Just be aware of that.

Disclaimer: I do not own RWBY or Hetalia: Axis Powers.

XXXXXXX

Chapter One: Fathers and Daughters

The sun beat down on the lonely, grandiose building, giving off heat so intense it made the air itself shimmer. Shade was the few occupants' only protector now, so they hurried into it as quickly as they could, eager to escape the blistering heat.

They passed through the open doors of the building with barely a thought, breathing easier at the relief the slightly cooler air brought them, and although some gave each other a passing nod, none cared enough to bar entrance to anyone else. That was just how things worked here. Unlike establishments in many other places, everyone was welcome to come inside and take a breather. The doors were always open to whoever wished to enter.

That was why no one looked twice at the hooded figure that walked through the doors, keeping to the shadows as if they— like many— sought the barest hint of comparable coolness the darkness provided. They spoke to no one and no one spoke to them, with nothing unusual about the lack of conversation. They had their business, the normal inhabitants had their own business, and the others who stopped briefly to rest had their own business too. There was no need to question or interact.

As such, no one noticed when the figure left something on the back of a statue in one of the smaller halls, the object so tiny that one might mistake it for a lost bead from a necklace. It stuck to the statue, hidden under the lip at its base where none would find it or accidentally brush it off. And so there it would remain.

With no one looking twice at them, one of many hooded figures that sought shade left, and walked back out into the blistering sunlight.

XXXXXXX

Yang towered over Qrow's fallen form, fist still raised. The limb trembled and her eyes glowed a furious crimson, as red as blood. Everyone gaped at her, expressions ranging from shocked to confused to approving, and Weiss could not discern if she was in the first or last category. Naturally, Ruby reacted first.

"Yang!" Ruby gasped, horrified.

She rushed to their uncle's side, but looked torn between helping him and copying her sister. In the end, she merely knelt by Qrow, gaze darting between him and the returned friends who were somehow alive despite the Huntsman claiming they were dead and gone. Weiss's stomach folded in on itself but the implications failed to fully sink in. Qrow wiped a hand across his mouth, glancing at the red on his fingers.

"I might have deserved that." He commented.

"You told us they were dead." Yang snarled.

Jaune tensed, his joy at Pyrrha's miraculous return draining as anger took its place. His hand twitched towards Crocea Mors but Pyrrha grabbed his hand, squeezing it tightly. Weiss couldn't say if she merely desired the contact or was stopping him from attacking Qrow. Either way, Jaune relaxed, shifting his body so their shoulders were touching.

Ivan's laugh was gratingly out of place in the charged atmosphere. "Well, isn't this an interesting development." He said, delighted. He dropped his gaze and smiled at Ruby. "Hello, little Rose."

Ruby's eye filled with tears. She ran away from Qrow's side in a burst of rose petals, reforming to hug Ivan. The tall man's eyes went round before softening and he gently returned the embrace. The older teens were not so easily distracted.

"How are you alive?" Ren asked.

"How did you get here?" Blake questioned.

"What's going on?" Nora demanded.

None of them looked to Qrow for answers. After this, how could they trust anything he said? He and Ozpin lied about the real threat out there, the nations, the Relics, and so many other things, and now this— Weiss cringed and shoved such thoughts aside, waiting for Arthur's response. The green-eyed man scanned the group and sat heavily in a chair, rubbing his forehead.

"Of course." He murmured. "The spell takes us to the place where we know the most people." He scowled. "We weren't supposed to arrive here."

Weiss might feel insulted if not for the hollow exhaustion in his voice.

"What are you talking about?" Ruby asked. She looked around the room, reminding Weiss of a puppy desperately searching for her human. Her face fell and she subconsciously clung to Ivan. The tall man carefully patted her head but she did not notice. "Where are Ludwig and the others?"

She did not ask the question that came to all their minds. Weiss couldn't either, the words catching in her throat.

"They're alive." Arthur assured her, and Weiss could breathe again. "They're… home. As for what happened…" He looked to Matthew as the twin held up a hand.

"I'll tell them." He said. His throat bobbed and he fiddled with Maple Frost, not quite meeting their eyes. "To understand you first have to know… Alfred and I were nations before Atlas took us. Nations from another planet, specifically."

Weiss's mind went blank.

"…What?" Blake asked uncomprehendingly.

Matthew explained it all. How he and Alfred— America— were nations from 'Earth'. How Atlas discovered their world, kidnapped, and experimented on them. How they became Mantle and Vale respectively. How Arthur— England— used magic to find them. And finally, what actually happened in Kuroyuri.

After he finished, a heavy silence fell over the room, pressing down on them more and more with every passing second. Yang's fist clenched and unclenched, her eyes still a warning crimson, and Weiss knew she was itching to slug someone. Who that someone may be was up for debate.

"I'm sorry we didn't tell you." Matthew— Canada— apologized. His posture was braced for a blow, but his resigned expression showed he thought he deserved one.

Yang took a breath, exhaling audibly. "I'm not mad about that." She said levelly, and alarm bells rang in Weiss's head. "I can't picture a time when you'd bring up you were from a different planet. Besides—" She glowered at Qrow. "—you didn't intend to make us think you died."

Oscar's eyes glowed gold. "Qrow made the right decision, Ms. Xiao Long." Ozpin said. "It was better to let the enemy believe Vale was reborn rather than on a different planet. If they learn about Earth it could be catastrophic."

The nations jumped, glancing at the 'boy' in shock. Only Arthur looked unsurprised. His lip curled. "Fat load of good your choice did. Someone sent Grimm through portals to Earth."

Oscar's youthful features paled. "The Grimm are—"

"On Earth, yes." Arthur snarled. "You can thank Atlas for that. They opened a hundred portals to our home and God-knows how many Grimm got through. The lily-livered bastards used it to cover sending their soldiers and taking Alfred. Again."

"Are you telling me Atlas took Vale back from where he was out of Salem's reach?" Qrow demanded.

"Yes." Arthur stated coldly. "The arrogant bastards likely want to contain him themselves. Not only that, but they took three other nations, including France, as well. Considering Salem thought he was Vacuo, Atlas may intend to use him as a decoy."

Weiss flinched. Internally a tiny part of her bristled at his tone but she could not fault him for his disgust. Not after everything Atlas had done. His words slowly registered and she dropped her gaze, struggling to keep the tightness in her throat under control. She knew Atlas could be considered the cruelest Kingdom by some— with the racism, uncaring elite, connected military and school, Mantle's horrible condition, the mines, and the corruption of the Schnee Dust Company— but this was a whole new low.

Something warm grasped her hand and she blinked, recognizing Yang's gloved palm. The brawler showed her silent support even as she continued to glare at Ozpin and Qrow.

"Any other world-altering secrets you want to tell us?" she challenged.

"No." Ozpin stated.

Yang laughed. The sound was choked and harsh, somewhere between misery and rage. "Liar."

She looked as if she wanted to say more but glanced at Ruby and held her tongue. Weiss's leader was currently zipping from person to person and hugging each of them. Weiss may believe she was merely making sure none of them felt left out but there was a frantic desperation to her embraces that unsettled the former heiress. The others noticed as well, for even Kiku— Japan— accepted the hugs without complaint, while Feliciano— Italy— hugged her back so tightly her feet lifted off the ground.

Weiss wanted to berate Yang for her rudeness but the look in her eyes gave the former heiress pause. Even Ruby did not chide her sister for her attitude. More than anything else, that was telling.

"Okay." Ruby said shakily, releasing Feliciano. "Okay." Her expression pinched. "Atlas took Alfred again?"

"Yes." Arthur said shortly.

Ruby nodded sharply. "I think our mission to Atlas just became a rescue mission then."

"Do not forget the big picture Ms. Rose." Ozpin said.

"I'm not." Ruby stated. "But if Atlas took Alfred, and he's Vale and Amer— and, uh Amor—"

"America." Matt— Canada supplied softly.

"Yeah. America." Ruby repeated faintly. "If they took America, they might give him to Salem."

Ozpin balked. "Ms. Rose, they'd never—"

"They kidnapped and experimented on a person responsible for the stability and prosperity of millions of people on another planet." Pyrrha said tightly. "I'm starting to think there is nothing Atlas wouldn't do to keep herself 'safe'. If she thought giving Salem Vale would keep Atlas secure for a bit longer, she'd do it."

Ozpin did not argue with her. "Atlas might." He admitted. "But James would not."

"Are you sure?" Kiku challenged stoically. "He did not care about how the experiments impacted Earth."

Ozpin had no response to that. Seeing the hollow look in his eyes, Weiss almost felt bad for the guy. Then she remembered his lies and her anger came right back.

"Wow." Sun growled. "These people keep sounding better and better. Why should we bother trying to fight to save them?"

The unintentionally potent question hung heavily in the air. The teens looked at each other uncertainty, and Weiss saw her confliction reflected in Ruby's eye.

"Do not fight to save Ciel Soleil then." Ozpin said levelly. "Fight for her people. Your sister, Ms. Schnee." Weiss looked down. "Team FNKI." Yang glared at the wall. "The Faunus of Mantle." Blake grimaced. Matthew twitched. "Fight for those that were uninvolved in Atlas's crimes."

Weiss considered his words in silence. He was right, in a way. Atlas would not be the only person they were trying to save. It was easier to accept their mission to protect the Relic of Creation when they remembered the whole Kingdom might fall if it was lost.

Arthur scoffed. "You can fight for them if you wish, but— should we accompany you— we will not. We're not going to Atlas to save that Godforsaken cesspool. We're merely traveling with you." The end of his staff glowed with a crackling green light. "I refuse to help the monsters that hurt my family and friends."

"I understand." Ozpin said heavily. "I do not expect you to."

"So what's the plan?" Weiss dared to ask.

"Our best chance is to go to the border and meet with some of Atlas's forces." Ozpin said. "We can contact James from there."

"Ironwood will not let us in." Kiku predicted. "He knows we will try to free America."

Qrow grimaced. "I'd like to say that's not true… but Jimmy has been real shady lately." He said dryly.

"What if you hide in the back?" Ruby offered.

"They'll search our vessel thoroughly." Blake pointed out, making her deflate.

"What if we go through Mantle?" Weiss brought up. "The Atlas military can't cover the whole border and they don't care about Mantle. I bet the area is completely unguarded."

Matthew tensed. "That might not be a good idea."

Yang snorted, crossing her arms. "We already know how awful Atlas is to people. Seeing Mantle won't make our opinion worse."

Matthew cringed. "That's not what I—"

"Will that be the fastest way into Atlas?" Arthur interjected sharply. At Ozpin's nod, he grunted. "Then we'll do it. Our mission is time sensitive, and I assume yours is as well?"

"The Relic of Creation in Atlas Academy is Salem's next target." Qrow explained quickly.

"Hmm." Arthur grunted, not sharing what he thought about the subject.

"It's settled then. We go to Atlas tomorrow." Ruby said.

Jaune jerked abruptly out of Pyrrha's hold. "There's something we need to do first."

Qrow frowned. "Is it really that—?"

"Yes. We can do it now. Right now." Jaune said hurriedly. "Pyrrha, come with me."

The champion slowly took his hand. "O…kay?"

Jaune made to run out the door, hesitated, then rushed into his room, giving Pyrrha a hoodie. "Put this on. We need to go somewhere."

Pyrrha did as he asked and the two were out the door at speeds that would make Ruby jealous.

Feliciano laughed and clapped his hands together. "Do you think they're going on a date?"

"If they are, we'll find out later." Yang said, and finally the anger drained from her eyes, turning them back to their normal purple. She glanced at Matthew, expression shifting strangely as she grew almost timid. "…Hey, Emperor Curly." Matthew blinked and looked at her. "They have Remnant: The Game?" The hopeful request came out as a hesitant question, and Weiss was not the only one to hold her breath as they waited for Matthew's response.

Matthew— Mattie, Emperor Curly, Canada— nodded. "You're going to lose."

Yang laughed genuinely for the first time that night. "Oh, I'll make you eat those words!"

They exchanged challenge-fueled grins and for a moment, the dreary world could not be further from Weiss's mind.

XXXXXXX

Pyrrha had to laugh as Jaune dragged her through the streets of Mistral. Perhaps it was the way he insisted on clinging to her hand and refused to let go when people tried to walk between them, or maybe it was her pure elation at being back home. When she stepped into the array that would take her and the others to Remnant, the last thing Pyrrha expected was to appear before her friends.

The others may not see it that way, but to her this was the greatest happenstance ever. Some of her anger at England for withholding a way home from her dwindled with every passing second she gripped Jaune's warm hand, and she could not stop staring at him, taking in every detail of the person she had feared she would never see again.

"Your armor's been upgraded." She noted.

Jaune winced, nearly tripping on a loose stone in the street. Pyrrha caught him and hoisted him back into a standing position as his cheeks reddened. "Yeah." He mumbled. "I… used the metal from your circlet and Akoúo̱." His voice was tinged with guilt.

Pyrrha immediately cupped his cheek with her hand, forcing him to look her in the eyes. "It's okay, Jaune. I'm glad my weapons could defend you while I wasn't here."

Jaune's posture relaxed. When he blinked, his eyes were watery. "We thought you were dead." He choked.

Pyrrha wrapped her arms around him and he cried into the hood she wore to cover her hair. The champion glared at any passerby who lingered too long to stare and they quickly looked away and moved on. She wondered if they recognized her but did not particularly care. She let Jaune weep for a while, shielding his face from the strangers around them, until he pulled back and wiped at his eyes.

"Sorry." He croaked.

"It's fine." Pyrrha said firmly. She averted her gaze to the stalls, sight drifting listlessly over the pretty, useless trinkets they were selling. "I cannot imagine what that was like. I was separated from you, but at least I knew you were alive."

"You'll have to tell me about your adventures on Earth later." Jaune requested, and Pyrrha sensed he was changing the subject. He looked down the road and took a breath. "Here."

Pyrrha recognized the blacksmith shop in an instant. She glanced uncertainly at Jaune. "…Jaune?"

"We thought you were dead." Jaune repeated faintly.

Comprehension dawned and Pyrrha rushed through the door. The bell rung and she heard footsteps in the back.

"Just a moment."

Pyrrha's heart turned to ice. She recognized her father's deep tones, but never before had she heard him sound so tired. She hurried around the counter and into the forge. Her father spun away from the metal he was pounding, gesturing frantically.

"What are you doing, you—?"

"Dad." Pyrrha croaked, lowering her hood.

Her father froze. He slowly took the red-hot metal from the forge and plunged it in water, leaving it and walking towards her. With a trembling hand, he lifted the protective mask, allowing his green eyes to meet hers.

"…Pyrrha?" he whispered.

Pyrrha's vision blurred. She threw herself at her father and he opened his arms, catching her and enveloping her in his warm embrace. He smelled like the forge, like metal and fire and smoke, and Pyrrha hiccupped, seeking the safe refuge of his arms.

For a moment, she was a child again, before she was famous, before Beacon, before the Tournament and Penny. She was safe and secure and loved and nothing bad could ever touch her. Her father stroked her hair, planting a kiss on her forehead before holding her again.

"Thank you." He whispered. "Thank you for bringing her back to me."

Pyrrha had the feeling her father wasn't talking to Jaune. The knight remained silent, standing off to the side as he left the family as much privacy as he could. Finally, Pyrrha's father pulled away and wiped at his eyes.

"Your mother will be so happy." He said shakily. "She hasn't returned from her mission yet, but she will be so glad you are safe."

Pyrrha nodded, tears in her eyes. Abruptly, they dribbled down her cheeks. Her father carefully cupped her face, brow furrowing in concern.

"Pyrrha? What is wrong, my firecracker?"

The nickname only made Pyrrha sob harder. "How can you be happy to see me? I killed someone, Dad." she choked. "You saw it. The whole of Remnant saw it—"

Her father captured her in his arms again, his heart beating steadily by her ear. He rocked her back and forth like he did when she had a nightmare when she was small, shushing her until her sobs subsided.

"What happened, Pyrrha?"

She flinched. "It was an accident. I didn't— One of our enemies has a hallucination Semblance and she tricked me and…" She trailed off, shaking her head at her excuses.

Her father did not see it the same way as her. "We love you, Pyrrha. We will always love you." He said firmly. "Are we such terrible parents that you believe this would take away that love? That girl's death was not your fault, my daughter. From what your boyfriend told me, you were deceived and manipulated into acting. I know you are a careful soul. You would never harm another like that bitch in the dramatic voiceover claimed."

Pyrrha blanched. "Dad! Language."

He stuck out his tongue childishly, eyes twinkling. "I can say what I want. Just don't tell your mother."

Pyrrha smiled despite herself. "Very well." Her smile shrank nervously. "Um, so you've met Jaune?"

"Your boyfriend?" her father said 'innocently', making Jaune pale. "Ah, yes. I upgraded his armor."

Pyrrha's chest warmed. "Thank you."

"It is no problem, firecracker." He said. He clapped his hands and rubbed them together. "Now I can make you a beautiful new shield. You can tell me what happened while you wait. Your boyfriend can stay as well."

Jaune reddened.

"Okay, dad." Pyrrha agreed.

As she watched her father work in the familiar forge, she slowly relaxed.

She was home.

XXXXXXX

If one were to look at the robotic body of Penny Polendina, they would see nothing amiss at first glance. Her hair was neatly done in its usual bow. Her skin was unblemished and a healthy-looking pallor. Her clothes were clean and pristine, from her blouse to her stockings. The orange-haired girl looked like any normal teenager, laying as if she had grown tired and simply decided to fall asleep on the metal table.

Her unnatural stillness betrayed the falsity of that assumption. The Penny that America remembered was always smiling, always moving, always lively. This Penny was none of those things. She was unmoving, silent, and cold; an empty husk. Indeed, it was obvious that the joyful soul that once inhabited a copy of this body was gone now, leaving nothing behind.

Doctor Polendina— Penny's father— did not see that. The scientist gently patted his 'daughter's' hair, expression soft but eyes teary.

"I know what you're thinking." He said with the frantic energy of someone one wrong reply away from stabbing someone. "Penny's body was lost in the arena. You are correct. I rebuilt her. I had a back-up of her memory drive, just in case. The body is here, and the mind, but the soul— the Aura— is gone." He smiled and clapped America on the shoulder like they were old friends. "That is where you come in, my friend. You can revive her. You can bring her back."

I'm a technopath, not a necromancer!

America's protest remained locked in his mind, trapped due to the gag in his mouth. He settled for staring at Polendina nervously, the chains around his limbs and the collar around his neck weighing down on him. He was uncomfortably aware the slightest display of dissent could bring terrible repercussions. No matter the cheerful front Polendina put up, inside he was an unstable man. After all, what logical soul would go through all this effort to kidnap someone and hold them against their will?

America wanted to believe the doctor would not harm him but Polendina had already proven that hope was futile. The needle that constantly threatened to inject drugs into America's veins was proof enough of that. Polendina may act jovial, but that mask hid something vicious and dangerous like a venomous snake waiting in tall grass.

"I truly am sorry for chaining you up like this, but I don't want you to do something foolish like try to escape." Polendina informed him. "I also do not know if your technology Semblance can be activated vocally." He chuckled. "Unless you want me to remove your vocal chords every day, I think the gag is a nice compromise."

America's skin crawled.

"I know this is an arduous task." Polendina acknowledged. "So I will give you time. But know my patience will not last forever. And your friends can… recuperate quite easily."

America bowed his head in apparent submission to hide the fear and anger burning in his eyes. It was only then that he noticed the suit he had worn at the meeting had been replaced by familiar cargo pants and a white t-shirt. The sight nearly sent him into hysterics but he swallowed his panic, keeping his eyes on the edge of the table.

Polendina grabbed his arm and he flinched, noticing the odd glove the man was wearing. It looked to be powered by Dust of some kind, and when the doctor's finger clenched, America could guess its purpose. If not for the gag he might have cried out as Polendina squeezed his arm with nearly enough force to snap the bone. Despite the pain he was causing his prisoner, Polendina kept his fatherly tone.

"But do not despair if you fail. I have been promised an alternative way by my… associates." He frowned. "I was told to give you to them immediately but with our current… climate, I decided waiting would be best."

Who was he talking about? Atlas? Ozpin? Or Salem?

America could not decide which option was the worst. Ozpin was undoubtedly the best, but also the least likely. Unless the Headmaster's morals rapidly decayed, he would not kidnap his precious Vale from Earth where he was out of Salem's clutches. Atlas would want him for safekeeping— as in he would be locked in a dungeon somewhere until Salem was defeated or the world ended. And Salem… America could only pray it was not her that Polendina had allied with.

America could not demand answers from his captor. He couldn't speak at all or even try to weasel information from the doctor. He had no idea where France, Australia, and Romano were. They might not even be in the same facility. Were they in Atlas? The old lab? Mantle? A random hideout in the middle of a barren snowy plain? There was no way for him to know. His whole world was this one room, and the cell he had been in earlier.

All in all, the situation was very, very bad.

"I know you are rebellious at heart, but I also know you can be reasoned with." Polendina said like America was the empowered aggressor in this situation. "I ask that you please don't make this difficult for either of us." His gaze raked over America, and his eyes glittered almost hungrily. "What I wouldn't give for your gift. You have been blessed, child."

America shivered internally, subconsciously pulling at the chains. Their fastenings did not budge, the collar lay heavily around his neck, and he remained at his captor's mercy.

"As long as you cooperate, I've ordered the guards not to touch you." Polendina continued obliviously. "But I'm afraid some of them were from the lab. Many were fired by Atlas after you escaped, you see, so I employed them."

America's thoughts turned to his friends and he looked at the doctor desperately, noticing he did not mention they were also included in that protection from the soldiers. Polendina did not notice. Or maybe he did not care. He cupped Penny's cheek, pain and sorrow warring on his face, and looked at America hopefully. In any other situation, America would see a father desperate to save his daughter. In this one, he only saw a madman who would tear the world apart for his unachievable goals.

"You'll help me, won't you?" Doctor Polendina asked as if America had a choice.

He nodded mutely, unable to do more. The gag held his jaw awkwardly, making it ache, but it would not be coming off any time soon. He prayed he would not be here long enough to grow used to its presence on his tongue and the metal chafing at his wrists and ankles.

Polendina smiled warmly. "Excellent. I'll leave you to it."

He walked out the door with the casualness of someone leaving a friend to fix a laptop. America heard the door slam shut and lock, and he was left alone with Penny. He stared at what was supposed to be his friend's new body, heart hammering in his chest. Memories of all the times heroes in media were given impossible tasks ran through his mind, a majority of them old fairy tales that were much grittier than modern interpretations would let one believe, and if not for the gag he would have laughed hysterically.

America was a technopath, not a miracle worker. He could not bring back someone's soul from the dead. If he did anything, it would be activating the robotic duplicate of Penny, but it would not be her. It would never be the Penny he knew. Because no matter how much he would love to resurrect his friend, it was simply impossible.

But if he let Polendina know that, there was no telling what the man would do to America and the others. He would not put it past the doctor to torture France, Romano, and Australia once he grew frustrated with a lack of progress. Polendina has shown his capacity for cruelty long ago, though America had failed to truly comprehend it.

He would have to figure out a way to drag his heels as much as possible while pretending to attempt to do what Polendina wanted. America could try to activate Pen— the robot to help him but for all he knew she— He knew the robot was not Penny but God dammit he couldn't call her 'it' to distance himself, because it looked like her.— could be programmed to be completely loyal to Polendina. Especially since the Aura of his friend would not be there.

Penny may have had a robotic body, but she was a real girl.

She was his friend.

She could never be rebuilt and replaced.

America fought down his tears and nausea and grabbed Penny's cold hand, pretending to concentrate. In reality, he began to formulate a plan. At least here he would have plenty of time to think.

XXXXXXX

A/N: Hello again! Welcome to the next installment. We'll be back to weekly Friday updates for now.