Worthy

Broadcast terminal...

"What do we do now?" Oscar Pine asked.

One of Ambrosius' portals appears before Oscar, Jaune Arc, Nora Valkyrie, Lie Ren, and Emerald Sustrai as they discuss their next move in front of the useless broadcast terminal in Atlas Academy. The group takes a moment to stare at it before Ren turns to face Jaune.

"We stick to the plan." Ren said.

"How? Without the CCT there's no way we can tell all of Atlas to just step into a bunch of freaky magic doors." Nora said.

As the others ponder, Emerald cautiously approaches the portal.

"But there is. We use the portals ourselves, and spread the word on foot." Ren said.

"Are we positive these things work?" Emerald asked.

The others turn to look at Jaune, who groans.

Jaune is propelled out of the portal and onto his face in the pocket dimension. He stifles the urge to vomit as the rest of the group follows after him.

Pocket dimension…

"Okay, we can do this. Nora and I will get people through the gates. Everyone else, keep to your roles. Remember, the evacuation is priority one no matter what else happens." Jaune said.

"You're sure you won't need more help?" Ren asked.

"Shade is armed to the teeth with Huntsmen and Huntresses, but we're about to throw a whole kingdom's worth of negativity on their doorstep. If anyone will need help, it's them." Nora said.

Ren gives her a proud and determined nod, then takes off for the Vacuo portal. Emerald sighs before following, and Oscar gives Jaune a farewell salute before heading out. Jaune places a hand on Nora's shoulder, then takes a running leap off their platform, activating his shield's hang-gliding function. Nora uses the jet propulsion on her hammer, riding it through a distant portal.

Subway…

The refugees gathered at the subway take cover behind stairs, railings and platforms, wary of the portal that has sprung up near them.

"What is it?" A citizen asked.

A bespectacled man is pushed to the front of the crowd. He picks up a rock from the ground and chucks it at the portal. Just then, Jaune emerges from it, and the rock collides with his head.

"Everyone...ow!" Jaune said.

The citizens dive back behind cover. Rubbing his head,

Jaune produces his Huntsman License, "I'm, uh...gonna need your attention."

Hovering on green flames, Penny Polendina comes through a portal, Staff of Creation in hand, followed by Ruby Rose, Weiss Schnee, Blake Belladonna, Yang Xiao Long, and Jared Shay.

"Wow...this is like Ultra Space…" Jared said, grabbing Ruby's hand. "Or like Mirage Spots."

They stare in awe at the bizarre world around them, and Ruby and Jared catch sight of a newly-entered Fiona Thyme waving at them.

"Were the Pokémon references really necessary?" Weiss asked.

As citizens from all around the cities pour in, Jaune and Nora's voices can be heard nearby.

"Yup. They were." Jared said, squeezing Ruby's hand.

"Keep moving, come on." Jaune said.

"That's it, watch your step!" Nora said, taking off on her hammer again, zooming past Joanna Greenleaf trying to keep order on her platform.

"I love this." Jared said, as he looked at Ruby. "I wanted an evacuation to go like this back in 2009."

"Hey, no pushing." Joanna said, passing a beaming May Marigold as well.

"Figured you wouldn't let us down!" May said, happily.

The first citizens have begun to reach the central platform in front of the portal that leads to Vacuo. Penny, Team RWBY, and Jared slowly move onward.

"I thought there'd be more people by now." Weiss said.

"Our job is getting Penny and the Staff to Vacuo. Until then, we have to trust the others. I'm sure they can handle it." Ruby said.

"Oscar, Ren, Nora, Ren and Emerald can handle it. I trust them. They got this." Jared said, sadly. "I hope."

Meanwhile, Ren, Emerald and Oscar are mere steps away from the Vacuo portal.

"We should end up just outside the city limits of Vacuo. Enough space for refugees but still within range of communication." Oscar said.

"All right, I'll focus on masking emotions for as long as I can. Call for help as soon as we cross." Ren said.

Vacuo….

The three move through the portal, only to be brought to their knees by a whirling sandstorm. They shield their eyes as they get back up.

"You've gotta be kidding me." Emerald said.

"Which way is the city?" Ren asked.

"It has to be here somewhere!" Oscar said, worried.

Emerald consults her Scroll, "Guys, the sandstorm isn't just killing visibility."

As Emerald holds it up for the other two to see, the words NO SIGNAL are prominently displayed on its screen. The portal rumbles, and the first few citizens come through, wincing and groaning at the sudden harsh weather.

"Where are we?" A citizen asked.

The three teens grimly turn to face the bewildered refugees.

"Welcome to Vacuo." Ren said.

Pocket dimension…

Nora is herding people across the pocket dimension, "Head down and follow everyone else to the exit."

As Nora takes off on her hammer again, a cloaked figure steps into view, smirking ominously. Moments later, a huge explosion sends several citizens rocketing off their platform and into the void. May stares at them from a distant platform, horrified, as the crowd panics and scrambles behind her.

"Jared, did you jinx us?" Blake asked,

Team RWBY and Jared, already almost reaching the Vacuo portal, hears the commotion, and Ruby and Jared head back to deal with the disturbance.

"Shit!" Jared said, frowning. "I did! Sorry!"

"No!" Ruby said.

Blake stops to reassure a startled Penny before following the rest of her team to join their leader and Jared.

"Keep going, we'll handle this." Blake said.

Penny is left clutching the Staff anxiously. Cinder Fall propels herself into the air with her flames and sports Team RWBY and Jared making their way up to a large platform. She quickly jets off in that direction.

Ruby uses her Semblance to cover the distance quicker, only to recoil, grunting, at the wall of flames that suddenly appears to block her path.

"Cinder…" Jared said, clutching his dual swords.

Team RWBY and Jared raises their weapons, ready to fight.

"Your little friend Oscar was right, but the easy part ends here." Cinder said.

Team RWBY and Jared exchange puzzled looks, uncertain of how Cinder knew about their plans. The Fall Maiden mockingly voices the question in their minds.

"How'd you know about that?" Cinder asked.

Undeterred, the four girls and Jared charge forward to confront Cinder.

"Tell us, Cinderella!" Jared said, holding his two words. "I thought it was full proof."

Flashback…

Arthur Watts finishes examining a downed Atlesian Knight-200 in a deserted alleyway as Neopolitan points her umbrella at him.

"Neopolitan, was it? Now isn't the time to hold grudges." Watts said.

Cinder steps into view, holding up her Grimm arm to quiet him. Neopolitan shifts the umbrella to point at her instead.

"No, she's right to be angry. I know I haven't upheld my end of the bargain. I'm...sorry." Cinder said, placing a hand over her chest, appearing to be remorseful. Neopolitan narrows her eyes, but lowers her umbrella, crossing her arms. "I will get you Ruby Rose today. But to do that, I need to ask the Lamp a question."

Cinder holds out her hand expectantly toward Neopolitan as Watts rolls his eyes and sighs. After a pause, Neopolitan takes her former employer's bowler hat from her head and produces the Lamp of Knowledge from inside it. It quickly grows to its full size as she redons her hat. With a satisfied smirk, Cinder steps forward, grabbing the Lamp's handle loop. After a tense moment of hesitation, Neopolitan lets go.

"Jinn." Cinder said.

The spirit has one eyebrow cocked suspiciously as she regards the Fall Maiden.

"You have a question for me?" Jinn asked.

"I do." Cinder said.

As she steps forward, Watts stares slack-jawed at Jinn while Neopolitan fixes her gaze on Cinder.

"What have Ruby and her teammates planned?" Cinder asked.

Jinn's expression changes to one of shock before she furrows her brow in regret. Then, in a swirl of cyan smoke, the alleyway scene is replaced by a recording of the heroes' discussions at Schnee Manor. The teens and the fanboy sit on the manor grounds just after Jaune had boosted Penny's Aura.

Schnee Manor flashback...

"We've been so worried about keeping the Vault closed that...we've never considered using what's inside." Past Jaune said.

"The Staff of Creation." Past Oscar said.

"Maybe we can use it to save Penny and get everyone in Atlas and Mantle back to safety." Past Ruby said.

"I wish I had a staff like that when I was fighting the 456 with Torchwood." Past Jared said, happily.

Cinder walks around the oblivious group with a self-satisfied smile, but her expression falls upon catching sight of Emerald. As she frowns, the scene changes again. This time, the team is in the Schnee Manor dining room.

"After you guys broadcast the evac procedure, you'll walk through the portal at the CCT Center. And when we're done in the Vault, we'll take Penny and the Staff." Past Ruby said.

"It's like setting up the Subwave Network the Children of Time used to talk to each other. Only Jaune is the one widening the range. Like how Torchwood did to call me and the Doctor." Past Jared said. "On top of that. It's like how me, Jack, and Ianto went over to Thames House. And Gwen was left behind to chat with the agent."

Cinder watches the discussions unfold, Watts and Neopolitan at her sides.

"You tore this kingdom apart with nothing but your intellect. How about we finish what you started?" Cinder asked.

Watts smirks.

Central Command area Flashback…

The three villains exit a hall littered with subdued guards and step into a bustling Central Command area. The Lamp swings by Neopolitan's hip as she raises her umbrella. Watts holds a gun likely taken from one of the soldiers. The clerks and workers slowly start to notice their presence, but the door closes behind them as Cinder conjures a flame in her palm. The floor erupts into a chaos of screams and running employees.

The bloodbath ends and there is the red glow of emergency lights; flaming workstations; motionless clerks (some having failed to even leave their chairs before falling).

"You have everything you need?" Cinder asked.

"Oh, believe me, this is everything I've ever wanted." Watts said.

Cinder watches Watts operate his workstation as Neopolitan cracks her umbrella against a still-groaning employee's temple, a look of unrestrained glee on her face. After a while, Cinder heads for the exit with Neopolitan, but pauses on her way out.

"You deserve this, Arthur. We'll be back." Cinder said.

Watts pauses typing to nod at her, and Cinder leaves. With a few more keystrokes, a confused Jaune's face appears on the screen as his group's banter becomes audible.

"You're live." Ren said.

"Everyone can hear you." Emerald said.

"Oh!" Jaune said, clearing his throat. "Citizens of Atlas, Mantle, what we have to tell you is very important."

Watts picks up a bloodstained green apple from beside the corpse next to him and appears to take a bite out of the bloodied part.

"Atlas is falling, but…" Jaune said.

Watts leisurely hits a button on his keyboard, bringing down kingdom-wide communications. Multiple screens in the ruined office are suddenly occupied by a color test card. He swipes the broadcast window out of the way and brings into focus surveillance footage of the hangar. He squints at the small, grainy image but gives a start as the building rumbles around him.

"They're using the Staff?" Elm asked, on screen.

Hangar...

Qrow Branwen and Robyn Hill are subduing a motionless Elm, Vine Zeki, and Harriet Bree. They are being held in this state through the influence of Marrow Amin's Semblance. As Atlas begins to fall, Elm's dropped hammer skids across the floor, kicking up sparks.

"Are they crazy? They'll destroy the kingdom!" Elm said, angrily.

Robyn leaves Elm to Qrow and moves on to restrain Harriet.

"What do you think a kingdom is? The people, or just the chunk of land they live on?" Robyn asked.

"Either way, it's over now. Ironwood's down." Qrow said.

Finished with Elm, Qrow proceeds to Vine, who accepts being restrained without comment, even deactivating his Semblance in surrender. Harriet's defiant expression is frozen on her face until Qrow's comment about Ironwood, at which she raises her eyebrows in surprise.

Suddenly, an Atlesian Knight-200 enters the hangar and turns to look at them. A quick camera cut reveals it is being remotely controlled by Watts. The display on its face changes to an angry red, and it begins sprinting toward the Huntsmen and Huntresses. emitting a beeping sound. It perseveres in spite of Robyn shooting an arm off and sinking a bolt into its head. As she and Qrow stare in shock at its approach, Marrow scrambles forward.

"No!" Marrow said, while he is barely able to throw himself between his allies and the robot as it explodes.

As the ensuing thick cloud of smoke dissipates, Marrow lies motionless on the ground, his Aura shimmering and then fading. Qrow and Robin shake off their daze and look around. With a distant rumble of machinery, the building begins to list to one side, and Qrow and Robin grab at a defenseless Marrow, who is about to slide across the ground.

Meanwhile, a bound Elm writhes on the ground as her free teammates struggle to keep their balance. Harriet spares the other Ace Ops a glance before catching sight of the bomb carrier sliding across the hangar. She uses her Semblance to speed her way into the cockpit, activating the ship's engines. Other ships fall out of the entryway into the Atlesian sky, but the bomb carrier achieves liftoff. Vine manages to use his Semblance to grab the ship's open hatch, leaving Qrow and Robyn behind to stare at each other in disbelief.

Holding cells…

A shower of dust has James Ironwood blinking awake. As he pulls himself into a sitting position, Jacques Schnee snarks at him from the adjacent cell.

"Well, I see you're awake, finally. Atlas is falling under your watch. How does it feel, James?" Jacques asked.

Ironwood takes a moment to cradle his forehead, then stands up in alarm.

"They...they've got the Staff!" Ironwood said.

Jacques turns to him bitterly, "That's right, you lose. We both lose."

Ironwood hangs his head, then realizes the hard-light cell wall next to him is flickering.

"What?" Jacques asked.

The barrier now inactive, Ironwood slowly steps out of his cell, regaining his composure. He moves over to his nearby handheld cannon, and begins reassembling it.

"You're going to open mine too, right?" Jacques asked.

Emotionlessly, Ironwood charges his gun, swinging it in Jacques' direction as the barrel glows a pale green. The Schnee patriarch's expression falls, and his eyes grow wide.

"Sure thing." Ironwood said.

Jacques puts up his arms to shield himself as a beam of green light slams into him. When the green smoke fades, the room's cell walls have been shorted out, a huge portion of the floor lies in ruins, and green flames smolder where Jacque used to be standing. Ironwood takes his leave.

Pocket dimension…

Team RWBY and Jared are in a heated battle with Cinder, but they aren't having much luck. Cinder stabs her swords into the ground, boosting herself upwards on a vortex of flame.

"I knew your plan would be bold, but I never could have predicted all of this…especially with you getting help and suggestions from a fanboy from another universe. For me, at least, not without a little help from Jinn. I suppose I have all of you to thank for one last lesson." Cinder said.

A citizen with short brown hair walks unhurriedly into view, in contrast to the panicking crowds around her. She carries a briefcase and the Lamp of Knowledge swings on her hip. Ruby focuses on Cinder, her silver eyes beginning to glow. And Jared is also focusing on Cinder, turning Ebb and Flow into Juliet's Rose.

"Sometimes, if you want to win…" Cinder said.

The suspicious lady reveals her eyes of mismatched colors. Yang notices her slowly approaching.

"...you simply can't do it alone." Cinder said.

The briefcase shimmers and morphs into an umbrella, and a disguised Neopolitan draws her hidden blade, charging at an oblivious Ruby and Jared.

"Ruby! Jared!" Yang said, worried.

Yang's hair ignites and her eyes turn red as she uses her gauntlets' recoil to hurl herself forward, knocking Ruby and Jared out of the way, only to bear the brunt of Neopolitan's slash. With a scream, her Aura immediately dissipates, and she is thrown backward, tumbling bodily over the platform they are all standing on. Neopolitan grimaces in frustration. Weiss and Ruby can only stare in shock while Blake and Jared hurry over.

"Yang!" Jared said, worried. "No…"

Yang seems to regain consciousness, cracking open her eyelids as Blake throws her blade and Jared turns Juliet's Rose back into Ebb and Flow to launch an arrow, but the Faunus and the fanboy's weapons run out of ribbon and energy length respectively before they can reach Yang.

"Jared, can we reach her?" Blake asked, looking at the ally of justice.

The girl with the golden hair plummets past platforms and walkways into the darkness, where her image seems to shimmer and dissolve before disappearing completely.

"No…" Jared said, sadly.

Blake and Jared watch Yang, the Faunus' ears drooping and tears trickling down both of their cheeks.

"Yang!" Blake and Jared said, at the same time.

Penny, who was about to enter the Vacuo portal, hears Blake and Jared's anguished screams, and casts a worried look back.

Then Penny turns her back to the portal, her Maiden's eye-flames flaring up.

Ruby gets to her feet, shellshocked, "Yang...?"

Neopolitan, still hungry for blood, engages her in battle again as Blake and Jared desperately reach into the air where Yang was last seen.

"Jared, think of something!" Blake said, looking between Jared and the air. "Please!"

Weiss holds Jared and Blake back from leaning too far.

"I can't…I do not…" Jared said, trying to break free of Weiss's grip.

Blake and Jared take their heads in their hands, weeping.

"Beacon! Haven! And now Atlas!" Jared said, angrily.

Then Blake's ears folded back in rage, and Jared looked back at Neo in rage, the two grabbed their weapons and headed in Neopolitan's direction.

"You're right, they were the cause of this!" Blake said, looking over at Jared. "Of all of this!"

Weiss watches Blake and Jared go, then catches sight of an amused Cinder.

"Jared, he's been holding this in for how long?" Weiss asked.

Ruby does all she can to deflect Neopolitan's strikes. When she pulls back her umbrella, Blake and Jared's weapons tether her arm, preventing her attack.

"Does he care about all of us?" Ruby asked. "He really loves us."

Yelling in fury, Jared lands blows with his dual swords, only to shatter one of Neopolitan's solid illusions.

"Cinder! She's so power hungry! She killed Pyrrha! She tried to kill Penny twice! And she almost killed Raven!" Jared said, looking at Neo. "Neo, I'm sorry that you're wrapped up in all this! You only wanted to be with Roman Torchwick!"

Growling in indignation, Jared locates the real Neopolitan and charges forward.

Meanwhile, Cinder throws fiery projectiles at Weiss, who dodges and blocks them with her glyphs.

"Why'd you have to come back?" Penny asked.

A figure emitting green flames suddenly appears. Weiss reaches out to her.

"Penny, no!" Weiss said.

"Why didn't you just learn your lesson?" Penny asked.

Cinder turns, smirking, but takes a heavy blow from Penny, and is knocked back. She quickly rights herself and summons another blade, tweaking her nose cockily.

"Oh, Penny…" Cinder said, as Penny frowns, making an expansive gesture as if to manipulate her floating swords, but she gasps and looks at her back, realizing her robotic parts are gone...including her signature weapons. "I did."

Penny turns back to face Cinder, but takes a flaming projectile to her chest, getting launched backward. She lands on a crouch on the central platform, then uses her Maiden power to replicate her floating swords. As Penny plunges headfirst into battle with Cinder, Weiss heads for higher ground, using her glyphs to augment her speed. Penny is blasted away by a wave of fire, and Cinder attempts to fly after her, only to be pulled back by one of Weiss' glyphs. Cinder disables it with a burst of flame before turning her attention to Weiss.

She conjures a barrage of obsidian projectiles, causing Weiss to falter as she catches sight of the citizens pouring in from the portals around her. She quickly summons her Arma Gigas' sword to block the projectiles as Cinder sends them her way, but some get through, embedding themselves in the platform around her feet, and some travelling through the portal behind her. Jaune, who is on the other side, quickly raises his shield to try and protect the citizens, and casts a worried look at the portal.

Weiss, panting from her exertion, doesn't notice the glass projectiles glowing until they are about to detonate. She is catapulted skyward in an explosion of flame, but cushions her fall with a black glyph. It's clear the battle is taking a toll on her endurance.

Cinder and Penny re-engage in battle as Ruby, Blake, and Jared keep the pressure on Neopolitan. Blake and Jared stop her advance when they hear Penny scream, and take a moment to watch the Maidens' fight.

"Jared, who do you want to help?" Blake asked. "You choose."

Blake and Jared also catch sight of Weiss' predicament, and the two seem conflicted on which battle to choose.

"I have a score to settle with Cinder. She caused all of this to happen." Jared said, sadly. "But Weiss needs backup to use her glyphs. Why didn't I know what would happen here?"

Manta...

Meanwhile, Harriet is piloting her ship through the Atlesian skies as refugees hurry into a portal on the street level. An alert on the ship's console draws her attention to the cargo bay, and she engages the autopilot before heading down there. In the cargo bay, Vine has managed to climb on board, and he crouches, panting.

"Vine. Glad someone made it. Watch for a tail, I need to make sure this thing is still armed." Harriet said, walking over to the bomb, bringing up an activation confirmation on its screen.

Vine uses his Semblance to restrain her hand before she can prime it. He slowly approaches the bomb.

"I'm no longer certain this is the most logical course of action." Vine said.

Harriet frowns, leaning in, "Do you really wanna do this, Zeki?"

Vine deactivates his Semblance, holding up a placating hand, "No, I don't. Harriet, the general is no longer in charge. Ruby and the others have used the Staff. Atlas is falling, but its people will be safe. Unless you…"

Harriet slams a fist on the bomb's exterior, her face a mixture of indignation and rage.

"It's the principle, Vine! It's about loyalty. Clover understood that. Clover would see this through." Harriet said.

"Then perhaps Clover was wrong too." Vine said.

"Don't you dare! Clover was...he was…" Harriet said, and she initially has an irate expression, but it becomes more and more morose as she talks.

Eventually, she has to turn away from Vine and stifle a couple of sobs.

"...important to you." Vine said.

Beside herself with grief, Harriet steps away from the bomb, her back turned to Vine.

"Harriet, you are not the only one…" Vine said, slowly approaches Harriet, reaching out to put a steadying hand on her shoulder, but the ship lurches to one side, throwing both Ace Ops against the wall of the cargo bay.

An identical ship is ramming into theirs, attempting to knock it off course. It is being piloted by Robyn, who is yelling defiantly. With one last grimace at Vine, Harriet arms the explosive and opens the door on the cargo bay. Vine is sucked out of the ship by the airflow, but manages to tether himself with his Semblance, only to be kicked off again by Harriet. He barely manages to grab ahold of one of Harriet's ship's wing-attachments while Harriet herself zooms back into the pilot's seat.

Robyn notices Vine's predicament and pulls back, presumably to avoid harming him. Harriet disengages the autopilot, then squints through the windscreen. A dark bird seems to draw closer, and as a cloud passes in front of it, a screaming Qrow is revealed, driving his sword into the windscreen. He breaks through, and he and Harriet tumble down a hatch into the cargo bay. He pins her to the ground, leaning in to taunt.

"Looks like you're getting that fight after all." Qrow said.

Harriet kicks him off, and they face off around the explosive.

Central Command Area…

Arthur Watts has finished his apple, and tosses its core behind him. He engages the autopilot on Harriet's ship, steering it closer toward the center of Mantle.

Atlas Vault...

In the landing before the Atlas vault, Winter Schnee paces, staring at her Scroll.

"I repeat, is anybody receiving these messages? Can anyone report status on the evacuation?" Winter asked.

Winter pockets her Scroll as a red luminous dot appears on the ground in front of her. She looks confused as she climbs her frame and settles on a point on her chest. Then she gives a start, putting up a glyph, but the green beam headed her way tears through it, sending her tumbling. As she looks up, she sees Ironwood riding the elevator down, holding his smoking cannon aloft. The look in his eyes can only be described as murderous as she steps off the platform.

"I've chased a lot of shadows over the years, always expecting betrayal. But never once did I think it would ever come from you." Ironwood said, as he approaches Winter, he charges up his weapon again. Winter stares him down from her kneeling position, holding her saber aloft. "I know what's best for Atlas, and I'm going to do whatever it takes to get that Staff. So, consider this my last order: step aside."

Winter painstakingly pulls herself into a standing position.

"I've never wavered in fighting the enemies of this kingdom…" Winter said, while she separates the two parts of her weapon, dual-wielding her swords and pointing them at Ironwood. "...and I won't start now."

Ironwood's eyes narrow ever so slightly as a single tear trickles down his left cheek. Winter seems to notice the rare display of emotion. Both soldiers charge forward, and cannon meets sword.

Vacuo...

Meanwhile, by the portal on Vacuo's side, a crowd of refugees wait out the sandstorm, their emotions masked by Ren's semblance. However, his Aura quickly depletes and dissipates, leaving him panting.

"I'm spent." Ren said.

Emerald peers through the sand in the portal's direction, then at Oscar.

"Where's Penny? Couldn't she deal with this storm?" Emerald asked.

"Wait, Penny should've been here by now. Something's wrong." Oscar said, while he jogs back to the portal, but is thrown back upon contact, leaving him sprawled on the sand. "What? Why can't I…"

The voice of Ozpin rings in his head.

"Oh, dear...Ambrosius." Ozpin said, in Oscar's head.

Atlas Vault flashback…

A look of realization dawns on Oscar's face. A flashback is shown depicting Team RWBY, Jared, and a newly-made Penny in the Atlas vault, discussing the specifics of the portal network that would lead the refugees to Vacuo. Ambrosius stares at the projected schematics and executes complex hand gestures as Weiss and Jared speak.

"People enter from Atlas and Mantle from one side, and leave on the other side, with a one-way ticket to Vacuo." Past Weiss said.

"And there'll be no way back to Atlas and Mantle as it'll be left a crater. Like what will happen to Sokovia in the future. In the Doctor's world. A city up in the sky falling to the ground." Past Jared said.

Weiss and Jared's last few words seem to echo as the camera zooms in on Ambrosius' eyes. It is clear that he had engineered the portals exactly as the girls and the ally of justice had requested them, regardless of whether they had meant to add certain conditions.

Vacuo...

Oscar runs to rejoin his two comrades, "We can't go back, the portal won't let us."

A sudden unearthly scream is heard in the distance, and from the sandstorm comes a flock of shrieking Ravagers. One refugee is promptly seized in the claws of a Ravager; several others scream and run away through the crowd. Ren, Emerald, and Oscar trade worried looks before readying their weapons.