Ozpin's speech was pretty good, Yang supposed, but she was more interested in the two boys flanking Ozpin. One of them she knew for sure. There he is. The Man of Ice who beat me in Junior's Bar. I hope I have cause to get a rematch. Now, why does the other one look familiar… Ozpin motioned for the two boys to stand next to him.

"Finally, I would like to introduce two new teachers. Please join me in welcoming Professors Michael Frost and Talon Teknos." Yang started.

Talon Teknos… I know that name… Yang thought back. She thought back to a boy she met 12 years ago. She compared the boy from then to the boy on stage bowing. The last time she had seen that boy came rushing back to her.

"Firebrand, Rosey, I'll see you again. I promise." Ruby had been heartbroken.

"Gearhead! Don't leave us! We'll miss you too much!" Ruby turned to Tai. "Make him stay, daddy!" Tai kneeled to Ruby's height. He wiped away the little girl's tears.

"I'm sorry, Little Flower, but Talon has to go back home. His father is the CEO of Teknos Inc. and has work to do. I'm sorry, but that's how it is. Now, say goodbye." Yang had walked up to the boy and looked him in the eyes.

"Bye, Gearhead." She decked him in the face, which was more to be playful than to be hurtful. Talon had gotten the message, and returned the gesture in kind with a smile. "I'm gonna miss you."

"You too, Firebrand." They hugged, then Talon had walked over to Ruby. "And I'm gonna miss you, too." Ruby hugged him hard, nearly tackling him. Talon returned the hug, and then pushed Ruby back. He wiped a tear away from her face. "Don't worry. Like I said, I'll see you again. I promise." He smiled, and the image of him smiling melted into the face of the boy smiling on stage.

You kept your promise, Gearhead… Ozpin, Michael, and Talon stepped back as Glynda walked in front of the microphone.

"You will gather in the ballroom tonight; tomorrow, your initiation begins. Be ready. You are dismissed."

Yang looked around and noticed the students moving towards the back of the school. She looked at Ruby. "Well, sis, I guess we should follow the crowd." Ruby looked deep in thought, something Yang wasn't used to. "Something wrong?"

"I'm trying to figure out why I know that teacher…" Yang smiled.

"You mean Gearhead?" Ruby looked at her and cocked her head.

"Gearhead? That sounds like a stupid nickname." Yang laughed.

"So is Rosey."

"What does that have to do with anything?" Yang laughed even harder.

"You really don't remember him? Well, you were really young. It was 12 years ago. Mr. Teknos came to Vale on business and brought his son, Talon, with him." The two sisters started walking while Yang explained. "While Mr. Teknos was here, he brought Talon to play with us every other day while he talked to Dad or Uncle Qrow. Talon and I would wrestle while you watched. When we finished wrestling, he'd have as much energy as when we started. I still don't know how he managed to wrestle for so long without getting tired, but he did. Then you'd shout that it was your turn to play, and I'd watch as you and he would pretend to be Hunters or play Hide-and-Seek. Then, when you tired of play, you'd ask him to read a story. You'd make me listen as well, as I remember it." Ruby looked at her, dumbfounded.

"He sounds like a great guy." Yang nodded.

"Yeah. That's our Gearhead for you. You were so heartbroken when he had to return to Atlas." Ruby frowned.

"Weird. I remember him a little bit now, but I still don't REALLY remember him." Yang patted Ruby on the head.

"Don't worry about it. You were young and it's been a really long time. I only put 2 and 2 together when Ozpin said his name." Ruby still looked down about the situation. She hugged one arm around her sister and squeezed her. "Come on. Cheer up! I'm sure Gearhead won't mind that you can't remember him all that well." She released her sister and continued walking to the ballroom. I know Ruby will remember him. I remember that she had a crush on him, and that's hard to forget. The only reason she remembered that is because she also had a bit of a crush on him, and was a little jealous of Ruby back then. She didn't know why. Talon always treated the two girls equally, even though Ruby was 3 years younger than him while Yang was only a year younger. Maybe that was why. Maybe Yang wanted him all to herself back then? Yang snapped back into the present. No point dwelling on that now. My feelings have changed since then. I mean, it's been 12 years. He probably doesn't remember me anyway.

"So, what did you do that has Glynda all in a huff, Michael?" Michael shrugged.

"I was drinking my whiskey in front of her." Talon gave Michael a flat look.

"You know I don't believe that's the reason, right?" Michael laughed.

"It was worth a try. I was 'antagonizing' Weiss." Talon facepalmed.

"Michael, what did you say to 'antagonize' her?" Michael smiled.

"Well, first I called her Ice Queen and then I called her out on her hatred of the Faunus." Talon gave Michael a withering stare.

"Is that all?" Michael nodded. Talon sighed. "Well, I don't see why Glynda would get upset over that; so I don't fully believe you." He didn't believe him because Michael did this all the time. It was just who he was. Besides, Weiss needed to be put in her place from time to time. She may be the Ice Queen, but she had a temper that could melt glaciers. "Well, you'll tell me eventually, if I know you. So I'll drop it for now." He and Michael opened the door to a room with a round table in the middle. Around the table stood Ozpin, Glynda, Peter, and Bartholemew. They all looked up at the two boys as they walked in. "Ok, Professor Port and Professor Oobleck I can understand beating us here. How did you two beat us here?" He pointed at Glynda and Ozpin. Ozpin smiled.

"You are surprised that the headmaster and his representative know how to reach any part of their school quickly?" Talon lifted a finger, then stopped himself from speaking.

I'm not surprised that you can get to places quickly. I'm surprised you can do so quicker than I can. I studied the blueprints for days to learn the school and how to move as efficiently as possible. Unless… Unless there are passages not on the blueprints… That must be it. Michael stepped up.

"So, what are you all doing?" He reached towards his back pocket. Talon rolled his eyes as Michael pulled out a flask. Glynda glared at him.

"We were trying to think of how best to reprimand your actions earlier today." Talon grinned. Glynda shifted her glare to him. "And we were trying to think of how best to punish your tardiness today. We sent Professor Oobleck to escort you two and YOU were still late. Not Professor Frost, you." Talon's grin faded.

"And what did you come up with?" Talon asked. Peter spoke up.

"You two will be accompanying me in watching the students tonight." Michael and Talon looked at each other. Michael put his flask away and wiped his mouth. Talon looked at the other teachers.

"Is that all?" Glynda raised an eyebrow.

"You are aware that you will have to settle any disputes among the students, correct? And you are aware that you will have to stay awake all night, correct?" Michael and Talon nodded. Michael spoke up.

"And you're point is…?" Glynda's eyebrow rose even higher.

"My point is that this isn't an easy task. It is supposed to teach you two discipline." Michael laughed and reached for his flask again.

"Glynda," Glynda's eyes widened and her hand tightened on her riding crop. "I can call you Glynda, right?" Michael uncorked his flask and started to move it towards his mouth. Glynda's hand flicked up and the flask was ripped from Michael's hand. Michael's eyes narrowed. Whiskey spilled over the side of the flask as Glynda drew it into her hand. Talon noticed that neither Ozpin, Port, nor Oobleck were making a move to stop the events transpiring in front of them.

Nor should they. This is between Michael and Ms. Goodwitch. Michael nearly growled his next sentence.

"Glynda, give me my-" He was cut short as an invisible blast sent him scrambling backwards, nearly colliding with the door. Talon figured that now was a good time to step in, before the violence escalated.

"Ms. Goodwitch, I apologize for Michael's behavior. Might you give him back his flask before someone gets hurt?" Glynda's eyes met his. She sighed, then walked over to Michael who was still on the ground. She leaned over him.

"Here you are, Professor Frost." Michael grabbed his flask from her outstretched hand. She walked to retake her place at the table. She called back to Michael from over her shoulder. "Oh, and you WILL call me Ms. Goodwitch." Michael stood up.

"Yes ma'am," Michael muttered as Talon looked towards him.

"Well, Professor Port, Professor Frost, shall we go?" Port nodded and made for the door. Talon and Michael joined him, and Talon closed the door behind himself as he left.

"You have some nerve, Professor Frost. Not even Professor Oobleck or myself have the guts to stand up to Ms. Goodwitch like that." Michael shrugged and took a swig from his flask. Talon looked at Port.

"So, what did you do to be stuck with us?" Port laughed.

"I didn't do anything. I was already on the graveyard shift." Talon looked at him flatly.

"Oh really? Then why you and not the other person with the shift?" Port looked at him.

"Would YOU want to be stuck with Ms. Goodwitch after what just happened? She was already in a bad mood before that, too." Michael and Talon looked at each other.

"No, I suppose I wouldn't.." Talon looked over at Michael. "Peter, we'll meet you in the ballroom. I would like a word with Michael." Port nodded.

"Yes, well, don't take too long. Wouldn't want you being late to your punishment for being late now, would we?" He laughed, then waved goodbye. Talon smiled at Port as he walked away. He saw Michael starting to inch away. Talon reached out a hand and caught Michael's arm before he got too far away.

"We really should be-" Talon rounded on Michael.

"What is WRONG with you, Michael?" Talon was not pleased with Michael at all. Michael gulped.

"Glynda started it." Talon smacked him upside the head. Hard.

"No, YOU started it. MS. GOODWITCH was ready to teach you some respect, and I have half a mind to take you back there and let her!" Michael looked to his left and right.

"Talon, I-" Talon held up a finger.

"I wasn't finished!" Michael stopped. "You are in MY charge, as you remember. Your actions reflect back onto ME! This means when you are respectful, I've done my job. When you do what you did in there," Talon jerked his hand towards the room they had just left, "then I have failed. If I fail too often, you get a one-way ticket on the Jail-way Express! If that happens, then not even I can get you out of there." Michael looked at Talon.

"Sorry, (mumble mumble)." Talon, anger now spent, sighed.

"Just... just control yourself." He smiled mischievously. "I know that's hard for you to do, but at least try." Michael looked at him and smiled. He gave a mock salute.

"Yes sir!" Talon rolled his eyes.

"Are you sure mocking me is your best course of action right now?" Michael nodded. Talon sighed again. "Come on. We don't want to keep Professor Port waiting." The two boys started towards the ballroom.