Chapter 12: Tools of the Trade

After making their way into the workshop, Topaz, Yang, and Ariel made their way to an open workstation. Once they arrived, all three took out their plans for their weapons and started looking around for the necessary supplies. Topaz immediately began working on his ax. Gathering up the strongest material he could find, he started melting it down, and then molding it into the shape he wanted.

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After a few hours of hard work, Topaz stands back and observes his masterpiece. Lying on the workbench are two pieces of equipment that Topaz is rather proud of, the first being a gun very similar in shape to a desert eagle. But what Topaz is most proud of with that piece is the interchangeable firing modes, changing the gun from firing slow, heavy rounds into an smg, with the capacity to match. The second piece of equipment is his new ax. Almost three feet long with a blade covering sixty percent of the handle and sticking out almost six inches from the base. Topaz can't help but admire the orange and black color combination used for it.

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Pushing a button on the handle, the axe folds up into a single bar that is easily put into his pants pocket. With a nod of appreciation, he turns to look at what Yang and Ariel have been working on. Seeing Yang do exactly what she said she was going to do Topaz can only laugh. Her dual shotgun gauntlets are on her wrists, as she flicks her wrist, the gauntlets extend, showing off the barrels of her shotgun. Throwing a couple of punches Topaz can hear the click of the empty magazines in her gauntlets. Walking to her to see how she's doing.

Topaz: "Finished up?"

Yang: "Yep, say hello to Ember Celica. How about you, all done?"

Topaz: "Yep I finished up a few minutes ago."

Pulling out his ax and pushing button on the handle, the ax shows itself to the world.

Topaz: "I don't have a name for it like you do, but this is it."

Yang: "Very nice, you changed the design a little from what you had planned."

Topaz: "Yeah, it came to me when making it. I think it looks better as it is now then what it was."

Yang: "I agree, it looks awesome."

Topaz leaves Yang to play with her new gauntlets and walks over to where Ariel is working. Not wanting to interrupt her while she's focused, he stops a few feet away and watches as she focuses on the task at hand. Topaz can't help but admire her as she works, he feels something in his chest, but doesn't know why. He tries looking away from her but finds himself captivated. It's only when she lifts her head and turns to him that he is able to finally turn his own head.

Ariel: "Oh, hi Topaz. How is your weapon going?"

Topaz: "H-Hi Ariel, I-it's going well, I just finished it earlier. He pulls out his ax and pushes the button to show it to her."

Ariel: "Wow! It looks so cool."

Topaz: "Thank you, how is yours going."

Ariel: "It's going pretty well so far. Just a few more tweaks with the mechanisms and it'll be done."

Topaz: "Cool, I'll leave you to finish it up then. Good luck!"

Making his way to Tai, Topaz pulls out his ax once again and shows Tai his completed project.

Topaz: "Hey Tai, I'm all finished with my new ax. And I also made this for ranged attacks."

Tai: "It looks great Topaz. And you made it compactable for convenience. Good for you."

Topaz: "Thanks Tai!"

Topaz walk back to his workstation to pass the time. He brings out some extra homework he had lying around to pass the time. After a few minutes, Ariel walks over and shows off her finished weapon. In her hand is a blade around one and a half feet long with a six-inch handle. When Ariel pressed a button on the handle, the blade extends into a whip. She classifies her weapon as a blade whip, and then states how she was trained by her parents with whips when she was a little girl. Topaz and Ariel then continue on talking about different weapons and the best scenarios to use them in. After conversing for an hour, Tai calls out that their time in the workshop is up, and if anyone needs any additional time to see him after school. The rest of the day is uneventful, and if Topaz is honest, rather boring. Walking out of school with Yang, the two decide to stop by a dust shop on the way home to pick up some ammunition for their new weapons so they can use them as soon as possible.

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Once home, Topaz and Yang make their way to the backyard after changing into their training clothes. With Summer acting as their official, the two begin another bout of sparring, this time including their new weapons.

Summer: "Ready, and fight!"

As soon as the fight begins, Yang uses her new gauntlets to launch herself at Topaz. Using a blast to rotate herself and deliver a stronger punch, Topaz is forced to bring up his ax and redirect her punch into the ground.

*BAM*

Before the dust can settle, Topaz brings out his gun and fires three shots to where he knows that Yang is. Hearing her cry of surprise and pain, he chuckles until he sees the red eyes inches from his face.

Topaz: "Oh Sh-"

Before he can finish his sentence, Yang's punch flings Topaz across the yard. Standing up after the hit, he uses his semblance to transform into a falcon, and launches himself into the air. Once high enough, he reverts back to his usual form and uses the extra momentum to swing his ax towards Yang. She dives backwards to avoid the attack, but the shockwave from said attack knocks her onto her butt. Before she can recover Topaz stands above her holding his hand out to help her up. Yang takes his hand and allows him to help her up.

Yang: "Wow, that thing can really pack a punch. Its fant-ax-stic"

Topaz can only facepalm at the pun. Putting their weapons away, Yang and Topaz make their way over to Summer and Ruby. Ruby is bouncing in spot at the sight of new weapons.

Summer: "Well done both of you. For only having those weapons for a few hours, you both are showing very inventive ways in using them. I can't wait to see what you two do with them when you are more accustomed to them."

Ruby: "Those. Are. So. Cool. I WANT ONE!"

Everyone laughs at the excitement the little rose is showing for weapons. She will be starting Signal at some point, and then will more than likely make a very over the top weapon that will somehow fit her personality perfectly. Making their way back inside, Summer begins to prepare dinner while the kids talk weapons in the living room. Tai soon enters the house finally wrapping up the last of the people who needed the workshop. The family then ate dinner and joked amongst themselves.