"The scroll is an amazing piece of modern technology." A chaperone explains to small children with Haven's emblem on their uniforms. "In mere seconds, you can talk to someone near any major city. Even here, in Atlas, I could call someone in Vacuo in a blink!" The chaperone smiles at the classroom of kids' reactions, moving on from the display.

Weiss rolled her eyes as her and Winter passed by said display. Passing off the creations of others again, huh Father?

Winter opened the door for the younger Schnee, and they stepped into Grand Terminal, the train system within Atlas.
Winter stood with her arms crossed. "Why don't you tell me what really happened, dear sister?"
Her tone was flat and unamused, piercing blue eyes meeting a matching shy pair.
"I…" Weiss started.
"-Don't know what you're talking about?" Winter interrupted, in a mocking tone to approximate Weiss.
Weiss suppressed the urge to stomp her feet. "No, I know what you're asking, Winter. And yes, I insist that Beacon simply wasn't right for me."
Winter shook her head. "You're a terrible liar."
"I'm not-"
Stop 12A, Atlas Inner Upper-End, the speaker announced, prompting Winter and Weiss to exit.
You think you know me soooooo well. Weiss scowled. Returning home was supposed to be comforting for Weiss, and yet her best chance at a familiar face was being so difficult!
Winter led the way to Atlas Academy.
"I...thought we would go see Father-" and Mother "-first?" Weiss inquired.
"Oh, we are. He's waiting, with the General." The older Schnee was emotionless. "I suggest you listen to what General Ironwood has to say."

Up a flight of stairs and through a maze of hallways, Weiss stepped through a door to see General James Ironwood and her father, Jacques Schnee, both seated; James sat behind his desk, while Jacques was in a smaller, near comical, desk chair to the side, spinning around in dramatics.

"Welcome home, Weiss." His drawl of a voice was simultaneously catlike and pseudo-wise, an odd yet somewhat comforting tone. As much as she despised what Jacques had done to her family name, he had his moments.
"Let us begin." James said, setting down an electronic clipboard.
Atlas Academy Admission read the form, and Weiss' information was already filled in, only missing her signature and aura reading.
"I can only offer once, Miss Schnee." Ironwood said, nigh-solemn.


Catra's scroll buzzed, a poorly drawn tiger faunus and the contact information Si-Si popping onto the screen. Catra wiped her cheeks again, and pressed Accept.

"Hello, Catra." Sienna started.
"What happened to speaking in code?" Catra smiled at the comforting presence. "You figure out who was tapping our lines?"
"They're taken care of. Did you locate Belladonna yet?"
Catra nearly purred. "Oh, I did much better than that. By a stroke of luck, I was assigned to her team. Apparently, Atlas' sweetheart got up and quit."
"You're kidding. Have you evaluated Belladonna's loyalty?"
"She seems to be against Adam, at the very least. But lying is second nature to her, so I'll need a bit more time to make sure."
"Do be nice, Catra." Sienna teased. "She's been through a lot these past few months."
"Don't ask me to deny my nature, Miss Khan."
"Very well, Miss Catra. Speaking of Adam…"


Adam Taurus could be called obsessive. And this very well may be true, but-! In his obsession, adequately reigned in, he was a methodical madman, double and triple-checking his forces and his followers. Traitors were sniffed out in hours, faulty weapons were quickly sniffed out. If someone sneezed, Adam knew about it.
"Ilia!" He barked, and the chameleon faunus quickly ran into the main tent, a bit pale, her spots a slight shade of white.
"Yes?" She squeaked, clearing her throat at the sudden summon.
"How are our cameras doing?"
Ilia checked her scroll. "We have about half of them set up around Beacon's perimeter."
"Only half? Those teachers are persistent, aren't they?" Adam scowled deeply, and Ilia could imagine the bitterness behind his mask.
Ilia swallowed. "We could set them up faster, but we'd risk being spotted, and they might do a deep-sweep. Or worse, track us back here."
Ilia stepped over to the map of Beacon and the surrounding forestry, circling where their camp was, about 4 miles east, across the rivers that flowed into the forest.
"Yes, I know. I'm not upset, Ilia. However." Adam set down his weapon on the table, the hilt splitting the campus in half figuratively. "The most important part of this is you, Ilia. You have the best chance at getting through to Blake, and getting her outside of campus. Should you fail, I'll have no choice but to invade. You understand, don't you?"
"Y...Yes sir. I'll play my part."
"Good. I'd hate to have to kill her, but you know how we feel about traitors, don't you?"
Ilia glanced at the bloody spoils of battle Adam kept nearby, weapons of former White Fang soldiers that crossed Adam.
"I understand." Ilia said firmly.


Catra swallowed. "Adam's well prepared, huh? Never one to half-ass a mission. So he's gone full traitor? Good." Catra rubbed the end of her sword, unable to deny she was just a bit nervous. I'm good at what I do, but I've never fought Adam directly…

"As of now, you're not to leave Beacon. Not only to protect Blake, but as a PR show. If you're there to defend Beacon, we can distance ourselves both from Adam and from the negative attention we're always getting. You applied legitimately, right."
"Yeah. I talked with Headmaster Ozpin and did some convincing, but I didn't fabricate anything. But now I'm stuck here?"
"Think of it as a learning experience! You might be strong and fast, but you never had any official schooling. Here's your chance." Sienna said optimistically. "Get some studying in while you wait to crush Adam. Nobody crosses me and lives to tell about it." Sienna hung up, and Catra let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.

Geez, Sienna, tell me how you really feel. Catra thought, sarcastically.
She heard the door open, and heard the other ¾ of her team entering. Hm, good timing.
She rubbed her face, and put on a smile, popping her head out. "Hey guys!"

Blake jumped in surprise, hand instantly on her weapon, but quickly relaxed.
"Heh, sorry Blakey." Catra teased, flashing a toothy smile.
"Don't-" The cat faunus growled.
"-Call you that, I know." Catra finished her sentence. "Do you mind if we talked in private for just a minute?" She turned to the sisters. "Sorry to steal her from you two again. Official faunus-ferox business, you know?"

Catra's oddly genuine Blake thought, and nodded, closing the door behind her, confident that she could escape if Catra decided to attack.
"What is it?" Blake asked.
"Hear me out. I've been lying to you." Catra started, and amber eyes narrowed.
"Well, yeah, no shit, Catra. It's what we do."
"Sienna sent me, and I was told to test you. So, double or nothing: Adam has Beacon surrounded, and likely has cameras all around. Are you going to trust me, or face Adam and his followers on your own?"
Blake paled, which was impressive, given how pale she usually is.
"Why would you tell me this?"
"Believe it or not, I respect Sienna, and if you're against Adam, that's good enough for me."

Catra held out her hand, blue-and-yellow eyes soft and expecting. "Trust me, or you're on your own, Blake."
Blake chewed on the inside of her cheek, considering. "I'll trust you, if you tell me what your semblance is." She stepped backward a bit, yet didn't seem particularly scared, only nervous.
"Aw, Blakey. It's not that easy. I will, however…"

Catra poked the ceiling with her sword's tip, and revealed a stash of dust and guns, some of which looked highly illegal. "Show you this."
"Oh." Blake said simply, blinking to ensure herself that she was seeing correctly. Her eyes lowered to meet Catra's once more, trying to look into the ferox's mind and soul.
"You can trust me, Blake. I'm on your side."
Blake took Catra's hand, and Catra smiled.

Shadow

The ability to create directional clones. Are dispelled by either distance from the user or significant damage, relative to the user's concentration. Can be mixed with dust for various effects.

Catra took a deep breath, understanding Blake's semblance.
Catra removed Blake's bow. "There. You have nothing to fear."|
The two cats exited the room, and Ruby and Yang waved them over, unwrapping lunch.
'Are you two friends?' Ruby asked innocently.
"Yeah, we are." Blake answered, gently elbowing Catra.