Character Short: Alien X

***Character Short: Alien X*** is the twentieth episode of *The RWBYA Adventures*. It is a bonus episode between Volumes 2 and 3.

## Plot

*[A red flash subsided, retracting into the Simplicitrix's core atop a dark grey lamp with a red handle. The lamp was picked up by Qrow, who glanced over skeptically at the others with him. He, Robyn, the Ace Ops, Maria, and Pietro stood in Amity Tower, floating just outside the destroyed city of Atlas. Sighing, Qrow then rubbed the lamp, and red mist poured from it. A blue figure with spindly fingers and hair manifested: Alan's transformation Ingenieous.]*

Ingenieous: Qrow Branwen. What knowledge do you seek?

Qrow: *[after glancing at the others, getting the go ahead nod from Robyn, then sighing again]* Alan...

*[Ingenieous gave an expecting smirk.]*

Qrow: What happened during the evacuation?

*[Ingenieous nodded, and his red mist surrounded the area, changing it to the void of Alien X's consciousness. Those watching looked on in awe at the two red faces.]*

Ingenieous *(voice)*: I tried what I could to make Alien X... Cooperate. Three days wasted on an endless debate... Or so I thought.

Alan: The only thing you two like to do is debate. The only thing *I* want to do is actually help. So let's go for both?

Bellicus: Elaborate.

Alan: Relinquish some of Alien X's power to me, and you two can... Do whatever it is you do when I'm not here.

Bellicus: That sounds *incredibly* reckless.

Serena: But also quite helpful. It benefits both parties.

Alan: *[glancing at Bellicus]* Seems you're outnumbered.

Bellicus: *[sighs, annoyed]* Fine. But anything related to time will be *severely* restricted. I don't want to have to take the blame if you end up making paradoxes.

Alan: Then you've got nothing to worry about.

Serena: Very well then. Seconded.

Bellicus: Motion carried.

*[Alien X's eyes flashed red. They looked around Ironwood's office, then down at their hands, clearly not used to this. He then took off.]*

[Ironwood regained consciousness as he heard footsteps approaching him. Cinder walked down the stairs with a smirk on her face, carrying both Relics. As she looked up, her expression changed to fear. A black cloud of smoke swept down the elevator shaft, then circled around Cinder. As this happened, Alien X floated through the scene, entirely undetected by the others. Similarly, the ones watching Ingenieous' projection were also undetected.]

Cinder: I… I failed you again, master. They used the Staff to save thousands. Before our allies fell, Neopolitan… killed Ruby.

*[Qrow's face filled with horror at the comment.]*

Cinder: And before Ruby and her teammates fell, they used the Lamp’s final question.

*[The smoke swirled together in front of Cinder, materializing into Salem herself. Her eyes narrowed as she listened to Cinder's blatant fucking lies.]*

Cinder: I couldn’t stop them! I couldn’t even stop the Maiden from escaping without putting the Relics in jeopardy... I’m... I’m sorry...

*[[Cinder kneeled before Salem, presenting the Lamp and Staff to her. After a pause, Salem smiled faintly.]*

Salem: In pursuit of a new world... [takes the Relics from Cinder] No cost is too great. You’ve done well, Cinder. Our work here is done.

*[Salem began to walk away; Cinder followed, smirking. Ironwood, unable to get up, helplessly watched them pass him. He noticed the white Due Process, and began crawling towards it.]*

Salem: You said they used the Staff. I assume you rid the world of their creation. What did you create in its stead?

Cinder: I merely added more flames, to the fires of Atlas.

*[Salem merely smiled. Ironwood tried to aim his revolver at them. On hearing the sound of its hammer, Cinder glanced back at him.]*

Cinder: And that’s... Checkmate.

*[Cinder activated her Maiden powers and flew away. Ironwood glanced to the side. Just before Cinder's exit, she stopped completely.]*

Ironwood: ...Have you come to gloat?

Alien X: We have come to observe.

Ironwood: You could stop her. *Right now.*

Alien X: Atlas is already falling. Only a portion of our power is currently available, and using it to-

Ironwood: Are excuses all you have?

*[Alien X paused, the two remaining in silent. Alien X then started to fly away, only to stop before exiting.]*

Alien X: We hope your fate will be painless.

Ironwood: ...No. You don't.

Alien X: ...No. *[voice changes to solely Alan's]* ***I*** don't.

*[Ironwood sadly lowered his head, accepting his fate as he was returned to real time, and out of Alien X's dilated time. A certain piece of dialogue between Salem and Cinder rang in their head.]*

Salem *(voice)*: You said they used the Staff. I assume you rid the world of their creation. What did you create in its stead?

Cinder *(voice)*: I merely added more flames, to the fires of Atlas.

*[Alien X's eyes flashed.]*

Alien X: ...Liar.

*[Red mist transitioned the scene. Atlas Central Command was shown engulfed in flames and smoke. Through the glass, Watts was seen trying to break out by swinging a chair against the window. He screamed out in desperation as the flames continued to spread. Behind him, a bright light appeared, gaining his attention. He was surprised by it, and then fearful as a silhouette approached from the light. Watts was thrown out of the command room, time dilating once again as the smoke within it stopped pluming. Groaning in pain, Watts looked up, seeing Alien X.]*

Watts: And what might you want, hmm?

Alien X: Cinder and Salem are taking their leave, Arthur. The former... Used the Staff's power to try to trap and kill you.

Watts: That would've made things a lot easier for you. *[coughs from the smoke he had already inhaled]* Why bother getting me out of that, then?

Alien X: We did not determine this to be a worthy end.

Watts: *[scoffs]* "Worthy."

*[Watts spit out a drop of blood, then yelped a bit when he was lifted by the collar by Alien X. Snapping their fingers, the portal to Vacuo opened once again. Alien X carried Watts through to the central location. About halfway to the Vacuo portal, Alien X stopped, pondering the location.]*

Cinder *(voice)*: They used the Staff to save thousands. Before our allies fell, Neopolitan… killed Ruby. And before Ruby and her teammates fell, they used the Lamp’s final question.

*[Once again, Alien X's eyes flashed, and those watching the projection became even more horrified by seeing flashbacks of the fight that took place, especially Pietro Polendina, who broke down upon seeing Penny's fate. When Alien X's flashback finished, Qrow fell to his knees, thinking his two nieces were gone.]*

Alien X: Arthur Watts. Our initial plan was to have you be taken to Vacuo, where you would atone for your crimes in a more conventional manner. *[turns to him]* But the timeline has changed. *[holds Arthur over the void]* You shall atone in a different manner now.

Watts: What?! You saved me just to kill me yourself?!

*[Alien X's eyes once again flashed. The spots in the void where RWBY, Alan 2, Jaune, and Neopolitan fell lit up with their respective Aura colors.]*

Alien X: The fallen are gone. And yet... they live. We cannot change what has happened in this place. But we can change the course of the future. And we will. You shall be a part of that.

Watts: I beg your pardon? What makes you think I'm going to-

Alien X: You simply will not have a choice. We will see you soon, Arthur Watts.

*[Alien X nonchalantly let go of Watts, who screamed as he fell into the void, vanishing the same as the others. Alien X then flew back through one of the Atlas portals, and the central location's gateways and paths once again disappeared.]*

*[The large floating landmass of Atlas fell onto the now-deserted city of Mantle, engulfed in a large dust cloud. Salem and Cinder flew away from the fallout. The confident smirk on Salem's face dropped, and she turned back, seeing Cinder having frozen in time. Looking beyond Cinder, Salem noticing something approaching, and narrowed her eyes. The "something" was Alien X, coming up to be eye level with her.]*

Alien X: Stop this, Salem. Or *we* will stop it for you.

Salem: *[after eyeing the Simplicitrix on Alien X's chest]* Am I supposed to feel threatened by that?

Alien X: ...You do not wish for us to stop you.

Salem: And you wish to try anyway?

Alien X: If our hand is forced, then we will.

*[Salem smirked with a pondering sound, then rested the Relic of Creation in the same hand that held the one of Knowledge, and quickly generated a blast of magic to attack Alien X before the latter could properly react. The attack sent Alien X hurling towards the wreckage of Mantle and Atlas, just before the flooding began. Time resumed, and Cinder looked to Salem confused.]*

Cinder: What is it? *[glances back to the wreckage where Salem was looking, then back to her]* ...Your grace?

Salem: ...Nothing that's not already handled. Come.

*[Salem continued her flight. Cinder scowled, feeling left in the dark, then followed her. Alien X rose from the water of the flooded cities, looking off at the leaving Salem and Cinder. They then glanced over, seeing the cargo ship and opting to fly towards it, and red mist once again filled the area.]*

Harriet: YOU SAVED WATTS!?

*[The projection had ended, with the group once again in Amity Tower, and Alan back in his human form. While most were being confrontational towards Alan, Pietro was inconsolable, despite the efforts of Maria.]*

Alan: I know how it sounds, but my clone's Simplicitrix was damaged in his fight with Cinder. Blake and Jaune had their weapons broken, too. Wherever they are-

Qrow: How do you even know they're alive?!

Alan: ...However low or broken, Alien X sensed their Auras in the central location after determining what had happened. I wouldn't have been able to if they weren't still alive.

Elm: I thought Alien X could do anything. Couldn't he sense the Auras without them being alive?

Alan: Sure, Alien X *could*. But why *would* I do that? Fat lot of good it would do to save Watts just to kill him. Their weapons are broken, and now they have someone who can help.

Harriet: The last time Watts "helped" with something like that, it was... It was Penny.

*[Pietro winced at the comment. Alan gave a reluctant sigh.]*

Alan: I did what I could. With what little power Alien X gave me. And with what I thought was the right judgement.

Marrow: How do we know that's any better than James' judgement?

*[The comment gained everyone's attention.]*

Robyn: Wags, what are you-

Marrow: *[angrily turning to Alan]* Jacques Schnee did whatever he could to win, including Watts' help. *Ironwood' did whatever he could to win, including Watts' help. And now you've done it too!*

Harriet: Marrow-

Marrow: People are *dead* because of that! Clover, Penny, Vine! *[crossing his arms and looking away]* It even got Ironwood and Jacques killed too.

Qrow: Hey, I don't like this anymore than you do, but we can't-

Alan: No... *[his expression gives away his inner turmoil]* He.. He's right. I... I've become the thing I've feared... *Hated* most. ...I'm sorry.

*[Alan took his leave away from the group, attempting to come to terms with this. Stepping to the outer portions of the tower, Alan carefully sat down on the edge, looking out to Atlas, the floating city that sank. A small tear shed down his face.]*

## Major Events

* It is revealed that Team RWBY, Jaune Arc, Neopolitan, and Alan's clone are not dead, as Alien X could sense their Auras in the central location's void.
* Pietro Polendina learns about Penny's death.
* Arthur Watts' savior is revealed to be Alien X.

## Characters

* Alan Nomaly
* Qrow Branwen
* Robyn Hill
* Maria Calavera
* Pietro Polendina
* Marrow Amin
* Harriet Bree
* Elm Ederne

### Flashback

* Alan Nomaly
* Bellicus
* Serena
* Ruby Rose
* Weis Schnee
* Blake Belladonna
* Yang Xiao Long
* Jaune Arc
* Nora Valkyrie
* Lie Ren
* Oscar Pine
* Emerald Sustrai
* Penny Polendina
* General Ironwood
* Winter Schnee
* Cinder Fall
* Salem

## Aliens Used

* Ingenieous *(debut)*
* Alien X *(flashback)*
* NRG *(flashback, cameo)*
* Jetray *(flashback, cameo)*
* Czechmate *(flashback, cameo)*
* Kickin Hawk *(flashback, cameo)*
* Rabadger *(flashback, cameo)*

## Trivia

* bruh fuck the Watts death lmao
* While Marrow points out the parallels in methodology that Alan has with Ironwood (and Jacques, to a lesser extent), the final moment is meant to be a parallel to Cinder's reaction to Watts vibe checking her on the rooftop in Atlas.
* Same as the previous episode, this was released on Blake's birthday.