Port: "What came up?"
Topaz: "That would be me professor."
Port: "Do my old eyes deceive me?! Topaz is that really you?"
Topaz: "It's good to see you as well Professor Port."
Goodwitch: "Topaz?! You're alive! Thank the brothers."
Topaz: "It's good to see you Professor Goodwitch, and you as well Dr. Oobleck."
Goodwitch: "But the letter we received from James said you were killed in action."
Topaz: "That's because to him and everyone else in Atlas I am dead."
Goodwitch: "But why? Based on the wording of the letter, he is crushed by it."
Topaz: "He's probably feeling the guilt of his stupidity."
Goodwitch: "Just what happened to make you so cold towards him Topaz?"
Topaz: "I'll tell you when we have a little more privacy. It's not something that I want everyone to know."
Port: "Thank you for escorting him here Danny, you may return to your post."
Danny: "Very well sir. Have a good day."
Danny turns and quickly makes his way out of the building, back towards the southern wall. Professor Port walks to the door after he leaves and locks it behind him. The three professors then grab a few chairs and motion for Topaz to sit, as they do the same.
Goodwitch: "Now Topaz, just what happened to you?"
Topaz: *sigh* "So this whole thing goes back to my birthplace. I was born in a rather small village in the desert of Menagerie to Sara Rose and Alex Nemea."
Goodwitch: "Sara is alive?!"
Topaz: "She's alive and well living in Patch close to Summer and Tai."
Goodwitch: "That's great to hear. Please continue."
Topaz: "My grandfather was the former head of the Nemea tribe, and was a stickler for tradition. So, me being the child of the Chief's son and a human, I was seen as a blemish on the family line to my grandfather, so he wiped my memory of them and sent me to live with Summer and Tai until what was supposed to the day I turned sixteen. The night Beacon fell, was the night before my eighteenth birthday, and when that clock struck twelve, all my memories of them rushed in like a flood, overwhelming me. When I woke up, I decided to go to Menagerie to see my family. My grandfather still wanted nothing to do with me, even after I proved to him and everyone else I was more than capable. After winning a bet against my grandfather, I chose for my family to be allowed to leave the tribe to return so my mom could see her sister again after so long. While we were leaving, a cousin of mine, Emma wanted to come with us to get away from the tribe and my grandfather. A couple of weeks ago, my grandfather apparently showed up in Atlas and promised General Ironwood something that made even him turn a blind eye to greed, convincing him that I had kidnapped Emma against her will while we were leaving. I was arrested and dragged across Atlas Academy like some sort of trophy, and then thrown into a holding cell. As soon as I had the chance, I escaped and went to the edge of Atlas to flee to Mantle, but there I was cornered by General Ironwood and my Grandfather. General Ironwood had me at gunpoint and said if I didn't come quietly, he would put me down, so I called his bluff. When he hesitated I let myself fall off the edge and had gravity pull me down to the tundra below."
Goodwitch: "Why would you do something like that?!"
Topaz: "My semblance is powerful Professor Goodwitch. With it, I can change my form into any animal I have a good understanding of. I used it to change to a hawk and safely fly down to the ground below. So to General Ironwood, and anyone else there, I died from falling off the edge of Atlas."
Goodwitch: "I can see where your coldness towards him comes from now Topaz. I'm sorry you had to go through that."
Topaz: "That's not even all of it Professor Goodwitch. A week ago, or so, Neo and Ariel came to see my parents and let them know I was alive and well. They didn't know I was here, but they do now. Things were going well until a couple of days ago. A squad of Ironwood's robot soldiers marched up to Neo and Ariel and demanded they return to Atlas to report to General Ironwood. When they refused the robots started getting overly rough, hurting Neo and Ariel. So now Atlas is down a squad of robots and they have another upset faunus against them."
Goodwitch: "Are they ok?"
Topaz: "Yes, Neo and Ariel are fine, just a little shaken after everything. I came today to check on Emma to make sure she is okay herself, and to see if I could help you out with anything."
Goodwitch: "Emma was fine the last time I saw her. She should be resting in the women's barracks, or relaxing somewhere within Vale's walls. I'll take you to her, and then we can discuss what you can all help us with around here."
Topaz: "Sounds good to me. Lead the way. It was great to see you again Professor Port, and Dr. Oobleck."
Port: "Likewise Topaz."
Oobleck: "Do be careful out there."
Following Professor Goodwitch out of the building, she heads towards a larger building on the far end of the street. Once they get closer, Topaz can see the building is split into two parts just inside of the entrance.
Goodwitch: "You are going to have to stop here while I go in to look for her. Men aren't allowed into the female barracks and vice versa."
Topaz: "Okay, I guess."
Professor Goodwitch walks into the barracks, leaving Topaz standing in the entryway. Looking around, Topaz sees a large plaque on the wall. Reading the plaque, Topaz can see that it is a memorial to everyone lost the night Beacon fell. Reading through the names Topaz wonders just how many he could have saved had be been faster or smarter about how he went about things.
Goodwitch: "Ahem. Get that thought out of your head Topaz. You did enough as is that night."
Topaz: "How did you know what I was thinking?"
Goodwitch: "Your facial expression was a pretty big giveaway, and you aren't the first to have that thought. It's pretty common for those who see the memorial for the first time."
Topaz: "Thank you Professor Goodwitch. No luck finding her?"
Goodwitch: "She wasn't in the dorm, and no one saw her in the showers. Let's check the cafeteria next."
Topaz: "Sure, I'm following you."
As they walk through the street once more, Topaz hears a cry for help coming from the west.
Topaz: "Professor, someone needs help."
Goodwitch: "Lead the way."
Rushing west, Topaz and Professor Goodwitch eventually find themselves at the western wall, where there are soldiers lying unconscious everywhere and a lone female is facing off against four robots.
Goodwith: "Emma, what is going on here?"
Emma:" Thank the gods you are here Professor Goodwitch. I don't know what happened, one moment I was talking with some of the guys here, and the next these four came from out of nowhere and attacked. Wait, Topaz?!"
Topaz: "Yes, I'm here. Stay focused. These bots are a little more advanced than the usual Atlas robots."
Emma: "But why are they here?"
Topaz: "More than likely General Ironwood sent them to bring you to Atlas."
Emma: "Why would he? I've never even spoken to him."
Topaz: "My grandfather is causing problems again."
Emma: "Of course he is."
While they are conversing, the robots aren't sitting idle. Two have turned towards Topaz and rush him, while another goes towards Professor Goodwitch. Leaving the final one to keep Emma occupied. Wasting no time, Topaz rips the first robot to pieces and grabs the second one, throwing it into the one rushing Professor Goodwitch. Using the given advantage, Professor Goodwitch takes a chunk of concrete that's lying on the ground and smashes the two bots using her semblance. Topaz then turns to help Emma, only to see her cut the last robot in half.
Emma: "Finally! Now Topaz, you have some explaining to do."
Topaz: "Again? Ugh. Fine, last time I'm repeating this story."
…