'A few days ago'

Mabel had lost track of how long it has been, something was pushing her to maintain control of Isaac, and she can feel her limit approaching. Suddenly she screamed out in pain and collapsed just as her captor entered.

???: *sees what happened* Oh, no no this isn't right!!

All the sudden Salem appeared.

???: M-m'lady, I deeply apologize, this wasn't supposed to happen, the creature you sent pushed her too hard and she just--.

Salem: *puts a hand up, signaling to stop talking* I knew this would happen inevitably.

???: S-should I get rid of her?

Salem: No, right now her puppet is off his strings *she starts spinning dark energy in her hands* let's change that.

Present day.

Ironwood stood just outside the medical tent, he had finished healing from the Summer Storm's attack and the mechanics just finished reattaching his arm, now he wondered, when will he strike next.

Trooper: *quickly runs up* sir *huff* sir, we just lost contact with our forward sentries.

Before Ironwood could form a response, he saw it. Humanoid shapes moving closer and closer to the camp, two of which he very clearly recognized.

Meanwhile outside of town, the Iron Armada was preparing to set out and look for torch again. Axel walks to his bike and mounts it whilst groaning and nursing his neck, last night Leon attacked him then vanished without a trace.

Nina: hey Axel, turn on the radio.

Anvil: I thought the radio didn't work anymore.

Axel: whatever you say. *turns on the radio*

Radio host: Chaos in the streets of Mistrial today as the Summer Storm's forces engage Atlesian forces lead by General Ironwood, currently we can't determine a determine a winner of--- what, uh yes... We just got confirmation the Summer Storm himself is personally leading the attack.

Nina: wait, the Summer Storm is down there?!?! *starts walking to her bike*

Axel: *puts a hand on Nina's shoulder* Nina wait, what are you doing?

Nina: Axel, Isaac must be there too, and if not we can follow them back to their hideout and find him that way!

Anvil: You sure this is a good idea?

Instead of answering, Nina wrestled free from Axel, mounted her bike, and took off as fast as she could.

Axel: Nina, Nina wait!!! Argh come on we gotta stop her!

Anvil quickly mounts his bike as he and Axel take off after Nina. Who Was racing through the streets without any regard to traffic, eventually reaching the battle site. Which was an incomprehensible cacophony of yelling and gunfire. Atleisan troopers and thugs shot at each other from cover, a bunch of people Nina didn't recognize cut down scores of them, and finally Nina saw Ironwood and supposedly the Summer Storm engaged in an all out slug fest atop a nearby building. Nina accelerated into the crossfire, then jumped off her bike and used her chain to grapple onto and climb up the building.

Summer Storm: You won't escape with your life this time! *throws another punch*

Ironwood ducks under the attack and lands a blow to the Summer Storm's chest piece, causing him to stagger back.

Summer Storm: *quickly regains his balance before blocking another attack* Tell me, how many times have you stood in the way of order, how many people died for your so called "peace"?!?! *raises both his fists in the air and brings them down*

Ironwood: *holds up his arms to block* You speak as though we met before, do I know you?

Summer Storm: *starts pushing down* I know a "friend of yours", he's had many things to say about you.

All the sudden Nina struck the Summer Storm in the head with her flail, Ironwood quickly capitalizes by delivering a swift uppercut, knocking him away.

Ironwood: *turns attention to Nina* What are you doing here?!?

Nina: I heard you were in trouble, I came to help.

The Summer Storm was too busy recovering to hear what the two were arguing about, but upon seeing Nina, he experienced flashes, visions of a life he might have had.

Summer Storm: No, no this isn't right. Computer, vent all auxiliary heat!

Steam starts rapidly pouring out of the armor's every orifice, engulfing the entire rooftop.

Summer Storm: *speaks into his headset* All forces fall back, retreat!

The Summer Storm's forces suddenly pull back, fleeing into the street and melting into the various alleyways. While the Atlesians were busy tending the dead/wounded and reconnoitering their defenses, Nina was getting ready to leave until the rest of the gang arrived and the General pulled them aside for questioning.

Anvil: Listen your generalness or whatever, we had no intention of--.

Ironwood: *cuts Anvil off* What are you doing here?

Nina: I'm trying to find my teammates, and I thought I could--.

Ironwood: Isaac is an enemy of Remnant now, give up your search.

Nina: No! Isaac isn't---

Ironwood: *quickly cuts off Nina and paces a hand on his gun* Are you trying to tell me you're working for him?!?!

Axel: *stands in the way and draws one of his knives* If you even touch her!!!

Nina: STOP!!

An uncomfortable silence hangs in the command tent.

Nina: *clears her throat* I'll tell you everything, but you need to hear me out.

Ironwood: *looks at Nina, then at Axel, then back to Nina* Very well, speak quickly.

Nina: Okay, it all started at the tournament, me and my team fought team MYTH, now their leader Mabel has the power to control people's minds, and after we defeated them Isaac started spending a lot of time with her, and started becoming more distant and angry, eventually abandoning me. Now in order to return Isaac to normal, Mabel must be found.

Ironwood: *ponders for a moment* Where is this Mabel now?

Nina: I don't know, both she and Isaac disappeared after the fall.

Ironwood: The Summer Storm must have her under his protection--.

Little did either of them know, that in the distance a masked figure was watching them.

Ironwood: That's not important, by the end of the week Isaac won't be a problem anymore.

The figure listened closer, and upon hearing a certain bit of information, hurried off to the Summer Storm's hideout. Where instead of the usual brand of chaos, thugs were arguing rather loudly about the past hour, shouting for and against the Summer Storm's decision to retreat and even throwing punches at each other. He then entered the throne room, where the crimelord sat looking down on his lieutenants.

Olivia: Why did you call a retreat?!?

Brick: I was this close to breaking that officer's neck!!!

Albert: You said Ironwood shall be defeated once and for all!!!

Summer Storm: I know, I just felt-- *sees phenomenon entering* leave me.

Olivia: Oh no we're not done here!

Summer Storm: *pounds his fist on the armrest* THAT'S AN ORDER!!

The lieutenants turn and leave, grumbling under their breath.

Summer Storm: What do you want, can't you see my empire is falling apart here?

Phenomenon: *chuckles darkly* Maybe, but I found out something you may want to know.

Summer Storm: And that is?

Phenomenon: *takes a few steps forward* Atlas will only be a viable target for a little while longer. They'll be closing their borders, and with that, your master plan comes crumbling down.

Summer Storm: So, the general fears me, he knows I have him beat, regardless how long do I have?

Phenomenon: *shakes his head* I doubt it's fear.... either way, you only have a few weeks before you're out of time. I doubt you can stave off a mutiny before then, however.

Summer Storm: I can still launch my endgame however, it will all be over soon, and I will--

Before the crimelord could finish his communicator goes off.

Summer Storm: *answers* speak.

Thug: My lord my lord, our scouts outside the city just reported. Steniar's back, and he has a group of strangers with him, what should we do?

Summer Storm: Do not engage, direct Steninar to the warehouse in sector 3-5-0.

Thug: Yes my lord.

Summer Storm: *hangs up* I have a personal matter I must attend to, I trust you can find the exit?

Phenomenon: *Shrugs* I can find a lot more than the exit, "my lord".

Summer Storm: Do not consider it, I must handle this myself. If I need you then I will call.

Phenomenon: *laughs* I trust you will realize when you're probably in over your head. *He bows before disappearing in a cloud of black smoke.*

The Summer Storm didn't care what that meant, he muscled his way through the mob outside and hurried to the warehouse, then he waited, and waited until at last Steninar entered, team RNJR following close behind.

Steninar: My lord, my lord are you here?

Summer Storm: *reveals himself* I am here, now what is this about, who are these strangers you bring before me?

Steninar: T-they want to know about--.

Jaune: *shoves Steninar aside and looks the Summer Storm in the eye* He told us you know about Pyrrha's killer.

Summer Storm: That name holds no consequence to me, but her killer, she does. *Turns away from Jaune to look at Ruby* One of you already knows of her, *turns back to Jaune* and I happen to know where she is.

Jaune: Where?!?!

Summer Storm: *puts a hand up* Not so fast, having worked in the underground for so long I've come to believe in the fair exchange of services.

Ruby: What do you want?

Summer Storm: There's a biker gang operating on the city's edges that has been wreaking havoc on my operations, they call themselves the Iron Armada, I want them gone.

Ren: We're not mercenaries!

Nora: Well, we are trying to be hunters.

Summer Storm: Who said I was hiring you, now eliminate the Iron Armada and I will tell you all I know of the one you seek, *turns to Steninar* and you, return to base.

Steninar: As you wish.

As Steninar and team RNJR turned to leave, the Summer Storm couldn't help but notice his vocabulary had improved, he began to wonder what they had done to him as he set in to wait for their return. As for team RNJR, finding the Iron Armada didn't take long at all, they just had to follow the sounds of the engines. They saw them coming up the road and quickly set up an ambush.

Axel: *Shouts over the noise of the engines* So, what part of this jerk's empire should we hit next?!?!

Nina: The one that Isaac's a part of!!

Anvil: You gotta stop obsessing over this Isaac guy!!

Nina: I can't, he was my responsibility and I failed him!!

Axel: We're your responsibility now, now stay focused!!

An explosion suddenly erupts on the road ahead of them, Axel and Nina dodge expertly, but Anvil is instantly thrown from his bike, hitting a tree offroad. At that moment a bullet hits Axel's front tire, dismounting him as well. Nina stops and turns around, Anvil was nowhere to be seen and Axel struggles to get up. She quickly dismounts her bike and runs to help him up, but then stops in place, turns around and raises her chain to block an attack. Much to her shock and horror, she saw that Ruby was her assailant.

Nina: *tries to push back* R-Ruby, what are you doing?!?!

Ruby didn't answer, simply giving a look that could only say "I'm sorry" before trying to attack again, Nina backflipped out of the way and began preparing to retaliate, but she was suddenly nailed in the back by someone else. By this point, Axel had recovered and saw his sister was in trouble, he only vaguely recognized their attackers, but he didn't care, he pulled a dirk in his right hand, and his shotgun in his left before moving to help, only for Ren to block his way.

Axel: *points his shotgun at Ren* Move!!!

Ren didn't budge, so Axel fired, causing Ren to jump over him and return fire, Axel used this opportunity to run to Nina and tried to help her up, but when he did he saw that team RNJR had surrounded them. Meanwhile, Avnil lay under a nearby tree, looking up at the sky wondering where he was. As he sat up and shook his head in an order to regain his vision, he suddenly saw his friends being threatened by these strangers who came from nowhere, acting quickly, Anvil found a piece of scrap on the ground next to him, shapes it into a crude sphere, and throws it at Jaune's chest, knocking him over, the rest of the team turned in the direction of the projectile as Anvil bellowed and charged.

???: WAIT!!!!

Anvil suddenly came to a grinding halt as Steninar came up the road. He quickly stopped and placed his hands on his knees whilst breathing heavily.

Jaune: *in the process of getting up* What are you doing here?!?!

Steninar: T-the Summer *huff* he and *huh*.

By that point Steninar could only stammer between wheezing and heavy breaths.

Ruby: *walks up* Hang on Stan, just slow down, and start from the beginning.

Steninar: *takes a deep breath* Alright, I-I'm so glad I got here in time, I just--.

Jaune: Hold on, exactly how did you find us?

Steninar had to keep quiet, he knew the Summer Storm had been watching them through the city's surveillance systems.

Steninar: I heard the fighting, and I wanted to say that no one has to die here.

Ren: Why do you care so much?

Steninar: That's not important! *looks over Ruby's shoulder at Nina* Your people should disappear for a while, *looks back to Ruby* and you go back to the Summer Storm and tell him you killed them, he should be happy.

Nora: You sure that'll fool him?

Steninar: If his enemies disappear, he won't want to think about them anymore, trust me on that.

So after hammering out where the Iron Armada would hide for the time being, team RNJR returned to the same warehouse where the Summer Storm was waiting.

Summer Storm: So, did you do what you were asked?

Jaune: Yes, the Iron Armada is gone.

Summer Storm: *starts slowly clapping* Well done, truly outstanding. Now I'll fulfill my end of the bargain. You seek Cinder, she who commands the fall maiden's powers, she who turned the Order into paragons of evil, and she who would see Havan crumble same as Vale, I've learned she seeks the powers of the spring maiden, that she might open Havan's hidden vault and claim the relic within. This spring maiden is under the protection of the notorious Branwen tribe, if you find them, you will find Cinder. *turns to leave* Now then, I believe our business is concluded?

Ruby: Just one question, why do you care about Cinder so much?

Summer Storm: I have my reasons.

The crimelord departs, leaving the group of hunters to wonder what his reasons were.

End of part 21