The director of the Visalia PRT, and subsequently the person directly in charge of the Visalia Wards, was a small, yet stern man. Standing at around 5' 4'' and 120lbs the man had risen to his lofty position by being shrewd, cunning, and firm, and though Thomas towered over him, he still found himself shrinking under the gaze of the director.
Granted, Thomas thought with chagrin, that's what happens when you grow up with someone perpetually in charge of you. They become a fixture of power that's difficult to face down.
Thomas shook himself from his idle thoughts, pushing forward. "Director Warren, the Boston and New York Wards do this kind of joint training all the time, if we want to keep up with them then it only makes sense for us to try and start doing the same with the Sacramento Wards."
"Sounds to me like a blatant attempt at shirking your responsibilities as members of the Wards for a field trip." The rebuttal had been obvious and Thomas was prepared for it.
"Two of us would stay here and two of us would go to Sacramento, at least for the first few rounds of joint training, that way there can still be relatively regular patrol schedules."
"And I suppose you would be going on this trip first?"
"Actually I was going to suggest sending Ja- Iron Fist and Sparrow. Iron Fist is still relatively new to being a group leader and I think working with a large group like they have in Sacramento would be good for him."
"I see. I see." Director Warren paused for such a long moment that Thomas thought for sure he was going to refuse. "I will approve the joint exercises," Thomas nearly jumped out of his seat with excitement. "-with three conditions."
"Oh- Of course sir, what are they?"
"First, you will have to get approval from the Director of the Sacramento PRT and the Leader of the Sacramento Wards. Second, any continued joint training exercises will be approved, or denied, based upon the relative success of this exercise." Done and done, Thomas thought wryly, he and Jack had already discussed it with Director Shafer and Solid Oak, and they had both agreed no problem. Not to mention Jack and Sparrow could handle just about anything the Sacramento Wards tried to throw at them with a little bit of forethought. "Lastly, Iron Fist is to remain here, along side Voice. You and Sparrow will be leave for Sacramento tomorrow, if you get approval."
Okay. That threw Thomas for a bit of a loop. "Is there a problem Versatility?" The director asked, "I thought you would be excited. I approved of your idea, and you get to go to Sacramento." Director Warren was wearing an almost mean smile.
"Ye-yes sir." Thomas stammered. "I'll let the team know, Sparrow and I will be ready to leave by the morning."
"And getting approval?" He asked snidely, raising one eyebrow.
Thomas winced. "Ja- Iron Fist and I have already gotten approval from Director Shafer and Solid Oak."
"Very well. You had best go and inform your team." Thomas turned and left the director's office, closing the door. He stepped through the hallway and then headed directly for the elevator, the cloak of his costume rustling behind him.
Once inside the elevator Thomas leaned against the wall, and let out a long sign. "Well, shit." He mumbled to himself as the elevator reached the third floor where the Wards base was. He walked down a long metal alway, reaching a large heavy framed door, and leaned in to let an optics scanner get a good read of his right eye. "Voice confirmation. North-West-Center Zero-One-Nine. Versatility."
The door slid open to reveal a large open front room, cut a pool table off to one side, and a conference table on the other surrounded by spinning office chairs. He glanced to the back of the room where alcoves and hallways lead to living chambers for each member of the current wards, and several set aside besides, the rec-room, two training rooms, and workshop.
Thomas could guess where two of his three other teammates would be and hollered as loud as he could. "Team meeting!" He strolled to the conference table, collapsing into one of the chairs, waiting for the others to come out.
Granted, Thomas thought with chagrin, that's what happens when you grow up with someone perpetually in charge of you. They become a fixture of power that's difficult to face down.
Thomas shook himself from his idle thoughts, pushing forward. "Director Warren, the Boston and New York Wards do this kind of joint training all the time, if we want to keep up with them then it only makes sense for us to try and start doing the same with the Sacramento Wards."
"Sounds to me like a blatant attempt at shirking your responsibilities as members of the Wards for a field trip." The rebuttal had been obvious and Thomas was prepared for it.
"Two of us would stay here and two of us would go to Sacramento, at least for the first few rounds of joint training, that way there can still be relatively regular patrol schedules."
"And I suppose you would be going on this trip first?"
"Actually I was going to suggest sending Ja- Iron Fist and Sparrow. Iron Fist is still relatively new to being a group leader and I think working with a large group like they have in Sacramento would be good for him."
"I see. I see." Director Warren paused for such a long moment that Thomas thought for sure he was going to refuse. "I will approve the joint exercises," Thomas nearly jumped out of his seat with excitement. "-with three conditions."
"Oh- Of course sir, what are they?"
"First, you will have to get approval from the Director of the Sacramento PRT and the Leader of the Sacramento Wards. Second, any continued joint training exercises will be approved, or denied, based upon the relative success of this exercise." Done and done, Thomas thought wryly, he and Jack had already discussed it with Director Shafer and Solid Oak, and they had both agreed no problem. Not to mention Jack and Sparrow could handle just about anything the Sacramento Wards tried to throw at them with a little bit of forethought. "Lastly, Iron Fist is to remain here, along side Voice. You and Sparrow will be leave for Sacramento tomorrow, if you get approval."
Okay. That threw Thomas for a bit of a loop. "Is there a problem Versatility?" The director asked, "I thought you would be excited. I approved of your idea, and you get to go to Sacramento." Director Warren was wearing an almost mean smile.
"Ye-yes sir." Thomas stammered. "I'll let the team know, Sparrow and I will be ready to leave by the morning."
"And getting approval?" He asked snidely, raising one eyebrow.
Thomas winced. "Ja- Iron Fist and I have already gotten approval from Director Shafer and Solid Oak."
"Very well. You had best go and inform your team." Thomas turned and left the director's office, closing the door. He stepped through the hallway and then headed directly for the elevator, the cloak of his costume rustling behind him.
Once inside the elevator Thomas leaned against the wall, and let out a long sign. "Well, shit." He mumbled to himself as the elevator reached the third floor where the Wards base was. He walked down a long metal alway, reaching a large heavy framed door, and leaned in to let an optics scanner get a good read of his right eye. "Voice confirmation. North-West-Center Zero-One-Nine. Versatility."
The door slid open to reveal a large open front room, cut a pool table off to one side, and a conference table on the other surrounded by spinning office chairs. He glanced to the back of the room where alcoves and hallways lead to living chambers for each member of the current wards, and several set aside besides, the rec-room, two training rooms, and workshop.
Thomas could guess where two of his three other teammates would be and hollered as loud as he could. "Team meeting!" He strolled to the conference table, collapsing into one of the chairs, waiting for the others to come out.