Project: RWBY

Ch 18) And Suddenly A Death Bot Is Out To Get You

After the revelation, Ruby cannot take her eyes off the metal hands in front of her.

"Alright, uh, I don't really get what's going on here."

"Lost my arm in an accident some time ago, so I replaced it with this." I clench my fist then knock on my forearm, producing a metallic thunking noise. "It's just a prosthetic arm with a few special functions. Don't worry, I'm not a full blown robot, unlike a certain someone it would seem." I say, not so subtly glancing at Penny.

"He is correct." Penny looks down at her metal hands sullenly. "While most girls are born, I was made. I'm the world's first synthetic person capable of generating an aura. I'm not real."

Seeing her frown like this, my lips twist when I get some dejá vù that isn't in the form of a vision.

"Science says that if you can point at it and there's truly something there to back its existence, then it's real," I stick a finger out toward Penny to further my point, "And I'd say I'm pointing at a girl at the moment."

Penny looks up at me, hope and uncertainty clouding her features. Then Ruby takes a step forward to grab hold of her hands.

"He's right you know, as he usually is." She giggles softly, "Just because you have nuts and bolts instead of squishy guts doesn't make you any less a person than me."

I notice that Penny's uncertainty fades slightly as she scrutinizes the two of us.

"The two of you are taking this... extraordinarily well."

'Well, I've worked with something like you in the past.'

I don't say that out loud though as it would just bring up more questions than answers.

"Penny, you're not like the things back there." Ruby speaks with a soft smile, "You have a heart, and a soul, I can feel it."

Penny's hands gently clasp around Ruby's shoulders before suddenly pulling her in for a big hug.

"Oh, oh Ruby, you're the bestest friend anyone could ever have!"

"I can see *creak* why your father would *crrk* want to protect such a delicate, ow! Flower." She manages to squeak out as she is squeezed to death in Penny's loving robotic arms.

"An interesting way to go out, that's for sure," I mumble amusedly.

"And you, Neir, if you were my friend you would also be the best with Ruby." She beams, "But since you're my acquaintance, you're the best acquaintance anyone can ever have!" She gushes the same way as with Ruby, and she also approaches with her arms open to squeeze me to death as well.

It only takes a short glace at my leader who is catching her breath after having all of it squeezed out of her to decide not to accept it.

I take a step back and dodge her grapple. "Hugging is only something you do with people who are at a minimum, your friend," I explain to her gently.

Disappointed but still undeterred she opts for a comprimise.

"Then will a handshake suffice?" She asks hopefully.

I swiftly calculate the chances of her absolutely crushing my hand in the process.

"Well... why not."

I hold out my right hand and she excitedly grabs hold of it.

Quickly does metal meet metal, making a noise that should not be produced by a mere handshake.

"By the way, who is your creator?" I ask after a few more brief moments, "If it isn't insensitive to ask."

From experience, I've learned that some robots who are given a conscious dislike being reminded that they are nonorganic creations of man. Penny, however, is not like those pitiable robots.