A/N: Hey everyone! I hope you all have a safe but fun Halloween weekend. I will be completely honest with you all. I was struggling for ideas for where to take the story with where it was at. I have small encounters set in place here and there, but nothing major to make the story interesting. So I've decided to change things up with today's chapter. I hope you all enjoy and have a great day. Rhino out!
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[Topaz Nemea, please report to General Ironwood's office immediately. Topaz to General Ironwood's office. Thank you.]
Hearing his name being called over the intercom, Topaz looks towards Neo and Ariel who are sitting across from him in their room. All three have a look of confusion on their faces.
Ariel: "I though General Ironwood was giving you time off after the fight with Tyrian?"
Topaz: "I thought so too. Guess I will go and see what he needs. See you girls later."
Neo: "See ya!"
Ariel: "See you in a little bit Topaz."
Walking out of his room, Topaz walks down the halls of Atlas Academy towards General Ironwood's office. After a couple of minutes, he arrives outside the office and knocks on the door. Being told to enter he opens the door and makes his way into the room. As he enters, he sees General Ironwood sitting behind his desk with Winter standing behind him. When he gets a few steps into the room, he hears a click behind him and turns to see what it was. He sees two more Atlas soldiers locking the door and leveling their guns towards him.
Ironwood: "Take a seat Topaz."
Topaz: "What is going on General Ironwood?"
Ironwood: "Take a seat. Now."
Narrowing his eyes, Topaz takes a seat across from General Ironwood. As soon as he sits down, the soldiers at the door take a few steps closer, now standing directly behind him.
Ironwood: "Topaz, it was brought to my attention that you spent a decent amount of time in Menagerie after the Fall of Beacon. Would you like to explain just what you were doing there?"
Topaz: "I don't really see why it matters, but sure. The night Beacon fell, was the night before my eighteenth birthday. As soon as the clock turned midnight, I began to experience a pretty severe headache. The headache was caused by a sudden influx of memories that were hidden from me about my childhood. Due to certain circumstances, I was sent away from my tribe and lived with my aunt and uncle. Waking up after the fall, I decided to go to Menagerie to try and find my parents. I spent the time in Menagerie finding them, and spending time with them."
Ironwood: "What made you decide to leave there?"
Topaz: "My family was there yes, but not everyone there approved of me. My grandfather was someone very set on tradition, and me being the child of a human and faunus made him think of me as lower than him. When I left, my family left with me, along with another tribe member, who my grandfather raised to be a weapon of sorts."
Ironwood: "The girl named Emma, correct?"
Topaz: "How did you know?"
Ironwood: "Your arrest was requested of me for the kidnapping of one Emma Nemea."
Topaz: "She was not kidnapped, she left of her own free will."
Ironwood: "I'm sorry Topaz, until we can prove that, I am required to keep you in custody."
Topaz: "Is that necessary sir? After everything I've done?"
Ironwood: "I'm sorry, it's standard procedure."
The soldiers behind him roughly grab him by his shoulders and pull him to his feet. They grab each of his arms, and yank them behind his back, then cuff them together.
Winter: "Sir, shouldn't they be a little gentler?"
Soldier 1: "With all due respect Specialist Schnee, shut up. This is an animal, so the rough treatment won't matter to him."
Ironwood: "Winter, if you don't like how they are treating him, you may go."
Winter: "But sir-"
Ironwood: "You may leave Winter. That is an order."
Winter: "…very well sir."
Winter walks around the desk and gives Topaz a sympathetic look before unlocking the door and walking out, but not closing the door completely behind her.
Ironwood: "I am sorry about this Topaz. You've done so much to help out around here, but your grandfather has promised me some pretty strong soldiers to help my cause."
Topaz: "I should have known that he was somehow involved when you asked about Menagerie. As of this point you are no better than Jacques, General Ironwood."
Ironwood: "I find that hard to believe. I will agree that money does talk, but I am far from being like that man. Take him to the holding cells until his grandfather returns."
Soldier 1: "Will do sir."
The soldiers drag Topaz behind them, not allowing him to gain his footing. He is dragged through the crowd of students who look at him with both pity and scorn. As he is paraded around the school, Topaz sees Neo and Ariel looking at him with worry. He shakes his head to the side to signal them to stay away and not get involved. Topaz watches them take out their scrolls and begin speaking to someone. The soldiers eventually drag him into a secluded area of the school that Topaz had never been to before. Dragging him towards a small pod, the soldiers open the door and shove Topaz into it. While he's stunned from being shoved into the pod, the soldiers take off the cuffs and slam the door closed. Through the small slits in the door, Topaz watches the soldiers go through his things before taking out his scroll.
Soldier 1: "Damn, might have to take a stop by these cuties' room later. They might need some consoling after dealing with the animal for so long."
Soldier 2: "A little loving is all they need right now."
Soldier 1: "Hehe, you are right about that."
Feeling nothing but rage at the moment, Topaz holds himself back. Taking mental note to memorize their faces and scent, Topaz promises himself that he will get even with everyone that is against him. Seeing the two soldiers leave, Topaz waits a few minutes before attempting something. Ten minutes later, Topaz takes a deep breath and begins his attempt. Picturing a small gecko, Topaz focuses on making himself into one. After a few minutes, Topaz opens his eyes and begins climbing up the door, squeezing through the small slits, and down to the floor. Transforming himself back to normal, Topaz grabs his things and slowly makes his way towards the exit. As soon as he gets outside, Topaz quickly makes his way towards the edge of Atlas. As soon as he arrives at the edge, he hears a gun cock behind him. Turning around, he sees General Ironwood standing there with his gun drawn and aimed towards Topaz. His grandfather stood behind him with a cocky grin on his face.
Ironwood: "It didn't have to come to this Topaz. You could have just went along with everything, it would have been far less painful on all of us."
Topaz: "I highly doubt that."
Grandfather: "Topaz, Topaz, Topaz. Did you really think you would get away with it?"
Topaz: "Get away with what exactly?"
Grandfather: "You kidnapped Emma! How dare you play as if you've don't nothing wrong!"
Topaz: "Because I didn't do anything wrong. Emma followed us because she wanted to. I never planned on her coming along, but after she heard everything you've done she wanted nothing to do with you."
Ironwood: "Topaz, come quietly or fall by my hand."
Topaz: "Go ahead Ironwood, shoot me. I dare you. Shoot someone innocent because of your greed."
Ironwood: "Topaz…"
Topaz: "You know what, let me make this easy for you. Goodbye general."
Ironwood: "What are you doing?"
Topaz glares into the general's eyes and allows himself to fall backwards. Feeling the wind howl by him Topaz lets gravity do its work and drag him towards the ground.
Ironwood: "Topaz!"
Topaz watches the general lean over the edge, reaching out to catch Topaz, regret evident on his face. Falling further and further away from Atlas, Topaz waits until General Ironwood is out of his range of vision before turning himself into a hawk, and gracefully gliding towards the ground. Landing on the ground, Topaz makes his way towards Mantle thinking on what to do next.
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