Scrounging for a Penny Pt1

Taking the day off Dolan is spending some of his time meditating to pass the time for when he needs to go to "Tukson's Book Trade" to conduct his business with Tukson himself. Or so he thought for it was about ten minutes into his meditation when his A.I. companion "Annie" using one of the monitors close by projects herself in front of Dolan to get his attention to which he doesn't seem to take notice of since he was in a deep trance. Seeing as this wasn't to work, she decides to think of another way to get him to listen.

Annie: Um Sir?

Dolan: ...

Annie: Hello?

Dolan: ...

Annie: Winter is contacting you.

Dolan: WHAT!!!

He immediately breaks out of his meditation and bolts it to the door but instead of opening it he simply smashes straight through it and continues to make his way downstairs to where the terminal is leaving a hole in the shape of a person's silhouette on the door. Meanwhile, the A.I. is baffled at how easy it was for her to get his attention just by mentioning Winter's name. In the end, she could only shake her head at what she saw.

Annie: Humans are so weird sometimes.

Downstairs Dolan is looking into the mirror to make himself look more presentable before answering the call. Satisfied he opens the line and Winter's hologram appears in front of him.

Dolan: Hey Winter... I... wasn't expecting you to call me so soon!

Winter: My apologies, did I contact you at a bad time?

Dolan: NO, no, no, no, no, of course not! So, uh... to what do I owe this... unexpected call for?

Winter: Well-

Dolan: Wait! Let me guess. You were so anxious to see me again you couldn't help yourself and decided to call me just so you could calm down, right!

Her response was to just smile and roll her eyes at his ridiculous guess but still showed a bit of uh blush before returning to her poker face-like expression.

Winter: No.

That comment seemed to have knocked the wind out of Dolan's sails causing his smile to deflate into an expression of disappointment.

Dolan: Oh...

Winter: I called because I need your help with something.

Dolan: Sexually~?

Winter: Again no.

Dolan: Gods Dammit!

Winter: Do you remember our last conversation about the recruit I was partnered with?

Dolan: The one who would be participating in the Vytal Festival Tournament right?

Winter: Correct.

Dolan: Alright I'll bite, what's the problem?

Winter: Well in their excitement they may have snuck onto one of our airships and made their way to Vale. By our estimates, they should have just arrived.

Dolan: I don't get what the big deal is? If they came to Vale for the tournament that should-

Winter: It's her first time being outside Atlas.

Dolan: Oh... fuck... hold on a second did you say she? The recruit is a girl?

Winter: That's right, her name is Penny and I know you must be busy what with everything at Beacon but could-

Dolan: I'll do it!

Winter: Really?

Dolan: Of course, if you're the one asking me how I could refuse! Besides, you picked a good time to call me since I decided to take today and tomorrow off. Plus, since I have business downtown there is the possibility that I might run into her!

Winter: That's great news, thank you this means a lot, Dolan!

Dolan: However!

Winter: Huh?

Dolan: If I do this for you, I'll expect compensation~

Winter: *sigh* Very well, what are the terms?

Dolan: Winter... you know exactly what I want~

Seeing that smug smile on his face Winter knew right then and there what he was referring to causing her cheeks to turn bright red.

Winter: F-Fine but even if I get there early, I'm going to have to ask that we wait until the start of the tournament, agreed?

Dolan: Agreed, glad we could come to a suitable arrangement~! Ok so with that done care to tell me who to look out for.

Winter: Certainly, Penny has ginger hair with green eyes and whenever she meets someone new, she'll usually start her conversation with them by saying "Salutations"!

Dolan: Ok, anything else I should be aware of?

Winter: There is but... it's classified.

Dolan: It's alright if you can't tell me what that is, something tells me I'll probably figure it out once I see her. Anything else?

Winter: There is however this doesn't pertain to Penny. Have you ever heard of a scientist by the name of "Merlot"?

Dolan: He was the founder of "Merlot Industries", the research and development corporation which was situated at the expansion of Vale at "Mountain Glenn". His genius is supposed to be on par with "Pietro Polyndina" up in Atlas but somewhere down the line, it is said he soon developed an unhealthy obsession with the Grimm.

Winter: That's correct however what many people don't know is that he also experimented with the Grimm and that when he ran out of specimens to experiment on around the area, he started attracting other Grimm towards the city in the hopes of acquiring new samples. It was his actions that led to the city being overrun by Grimm and led to the deaths of many of the city's inhabitants with Merlot assumably among those who were killed. The result that followed was Mountain Glenn being sealed off and serving as a dark reminder for history to look back on.

Dolan: Why are you telling me this Winter?

Winter: Because strange Grimm sightings have recently been popping up. These Grimm seem to have been infused with a strange green substance and have proven to be much more violent than their regular counterparts. One of our convoys ran into one and while they managed to eliminate the beast, they still sustained heavy casualties. If Merlot did survive and is responsible for the emergence of these new Grimm, then he must be found and stopped as soon as possible.

Dolan: In other words, if I should hear or see something referring to this, I should contact you immediately, correct?

Winter: Indeed.

Dolan: Who else knows about this truth exactly?

Winter: All of the headmasters as well as a handful of teachers I'd assume.

Dolan: Alright then for the time being let's put this on the back burner and for now focus on our missing Penny problem. I've got to run an errand so once that's done, I'll be on the lookout for her.

Winter: Very well. I've got to get back to work now so I'll speak to you later.

Dolan: Stay safe.

Winter: You as well.

-That Afternoon-

Yang: Remind me again why we're spending our Friday afternoon visiting the stupid docks?

Ruby: Bleh it smells they smell like fish.

Weiss: I've heard students from Vacuo will be arriving by ship today and as a representative of Beacon I feel as though it is my solemn duty to welcome them to this fine kingdom!

Blake: ...

Blake: She wants to spy on them, so she'll have the upper hand in the tournament.

Weiss: Oh, please you can't prove that!

Yang: Plus, if we're talking representatives of Beacon, wouldn't Dolan fit that description better since he's from here, also you originally came from Atlas "Weiss Cream".

Weiss: Quiet you, it's bad enough that he calls me that I don't need to hear that from you!

As Yang continued to tease Weiss, Ruby noticed something out of place from the corner of her eye and turns her head to get a better look at what she saw.

Ruby: Woe!

Hearing their leader's reaction, the other three members turn their heads to what Ruby was looking at to see what looked to be another Dust store was robbed just like "From Dust Til Dawn" although considering that Ruby didn't see anyone in handcuffs told her that those responsible managed to get away. Wanting to know what happened Ruby and her team slowly make their way to the detectives at the scene of the crime.

Ruby: What happened here?

Detective: Robbery, second Dust shop to be hit this week. This place is turning into a jungle.

Yang: That's terrible.

Then Ruby heard the detectives talking to themselves about how the crooks took all the Dust but never touched the money. The detectives believed this to be the work of the White Fang however Ruby knew that this was undoubtedly Torchwick's doing however it was then that Weiss spoke up.

Weiss: Hmph, the White Fang what an awful bunch of degenerates.

Hearing this Blake scowled towards Weiss.

Blake: What's your problem?

Weiss: My Problem? I simply don't care for the criminally insane.

Blake: The White Fang is hardly a bunch of Psychopaths. They're a collection of misguided Faunus.

Weiss: Misguided?! They want to wipe humanity off the face of the planet!

Blake: So, they are VERY misguided! Either way, it doesn't explain why they'd rob a Dust shop in the middle of downtown Vale.

Ruby: Blake has a point, besides the police never caught that Torchwick guy I ran into a few months ago when I first meet Professor Goodwitch and Dolan. Maybe it was him!

Weiss: That still doesn't change the fact the White Fang are a bunch of scum! Those Faunus know nothing but to lie, cheat, and steal!

Yang: That's not necessarily true.

Just then the group heard someone shout out "HEY STOP THAT FAUNUS!". When they turned, they saw a blonde-haired boy with a tail running towards them. As he passes by, he turns to Blake and gives her a wink before continuing to leave his pursuers in his dust.

Wanting to get off the White Fang subject Yang looks to Weiss to change their earlier conversation.

Yang: Well Weiss, you wanted to see the competition, right? Well, there he goes~

Weiss: Quickly we have to observe him!

The team followed after the Faunus boy to try and catch up to him. As they were running, when Weiss turned the corner too quickly, she ended up colliding with a young girl causing them both to fall to the ground. As she gets up, she sees the Faunus leaping up to a roof to make his escape making it impossible to catch him now.

Weiss: No, he got away!

Yang: Uh Weiss you may want to look down.

Weiss: Huh?

As she looks down, she sees a smiling ginger-haired girl with green eyes looking up at her. Feeling embarrassed, Weiss helps the girl off the ground. Once they're both on their feet the young girl does a quick salute towards Ruby and her team.

Penny: Salutations! My name is Penny it's a pleasure to meet you!