[color=gray][indent][indent]A blindfold was placed over the man’s eyes and his graying temples. He knelt on the ground, hands placed in his lap as he bowed his head. Though he could not see, the man heard the opening of several doors before expertly raising a hand and catching the foot of his first attacker. [color=#ffffff]“Weak.”[/color] He growled, tossing the attacker away before spinning around and redirecting a strike from another opponent into a third. [color=#ffffff]“Pathetic.”[/color] Pivoting into a sweeping kick, the man spun himself about-face in time for his heel to connect with the jaw of the next assailant. Springing into a flip, he felt the air move beneath his airborne body as another attacker attempted to strike where his legs had just been. Landing, the blinded man raised his forearm, blocking a retaliatory blow before twisting it into a lock and then dislocating the striker’s shoulder. [color=#ffffff]“Sloppy.”[/color] The man didn’t have time to relish in the moment. Predictably, his opponents had opted for weapons to give them an edge. His hands reacted in expert timing, a palm coming to rest on either side of the cold, steel blade. Guiding the weapon away from his body, the man twisted it out of his foe’s hands, sliding it into a reverse grip before slashing its original wielder’s chest in a vicious swing. Flipping the point of the weapon into his fingers, he flung it behind him. The scream of agony alerted the man he had struck true. The deafening sound of a gunshot rocked the room, but the bullet flew harmlessly through empty air as the blindfolded man was already moving. Evading each additional shot as he perfectly predicted where the shoot would fire next. Suddenly, the gunman found his opponent on top of him, the weapon wretched from his hand before the magazine hit the floor and the butt of the weapon broke the shooter’s jaw. [color=#ffffff]“Have you injured enough of our brothers yet, Miguel?”[/color] The tired voice of an older man asked from a balcony overlooking the training room below. [color=#ffffff]“I’m certainly bored now,”[/color] Shiv replied, looking around the room at the injured bodies. [color=#ffffff]“Then you’ll be pleased to know that the Face has requested you among our body at Pacific Royal.”[/color] [color=#ffffff]“I’d hardly consider that an exciting assignment, respectfully of course.”[/color] [color=#ffffff]“No matter, it wasn’t a request. Your bags are packed. You’ll make landfall by dawn.”[/color] Nakamura retorted. [color=#ffffff]“As the Head wishes.”[/color][/indent][/indent][CENTER][COLOR=dimgray] [sup]________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________[/sup][/COLOR][img]https://i.imgur.com/uA98Dc2.png[/img][/CENTER][indent][sub][COLOR=silver][B]Location:[/B][/COLOR] [I]The Southern Plateau[/I] - [I]Dundas Islands, Pacific Ocean[/I][/sub][sup][right][COLOR=silver][b]Welcome Home #1.085:[/b][/COLOR] [I]S'moregasboard[/I][/right][/sup][/indent][COLOR=dimgray][SUP][sub]____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________[/sub][/SUP][/COLOR][INDENT][sub][color=silver][B]Interaction(s):[/B][/COLOR] [I]None[/I][/sub][SUP][RIGHT][COLOR=silver][b]Previously:[/b][/COLOR] [I]A Terrible Idea[/I][/right][/SUP] [INDENT][color=#ffffff]“Quittin’ time y’all!” [/color]Tad yelled over the din in his best Jim impersonation as the collective graduate teams put the finishing touches on this year’s Homecoming Trail. The build had come a long way and the student contributions had ended. Throughout the night, other graduate students like Robert would inspect the work, correcting and adjusting anything that didn’t fit or could potentially cause harm to a new student. Most of the time was generally spent on adjusting the programming of the simulation. [color=#ffffff]“Come and get some grub!”[/color] Jessica added, joining in on the fun. [color=#ffffff]“Firebird, we’re going to be eating with Blackjack tonight, and then in the morning we’re going to obliterate their time through the Trial.”[/color] She called to her team, winking at her fiancé, [color=#ffffff]“Even if they do have an inside advantage.”[/color] [color=#ffffff]“Are you sure we can eat this?”[/color] Tad flirted back, [color=#ffffff]“How do we know you didn’t poison us to gain the advantage?” [/color] [color=#ffffff]“We’re all eating the same thing, silly.”[/color] [color=#ffffff]“But your team could have the antidote!”[/color] Tad retorted in mock protest only for Jessica to ruffle his hair and slug him in the arm. [color=#ffffff]“If I wanted you dead ,Thaddeus Finch, you’d be dead.”[/color] She winked before gesturing to the tables erected before the two campsites. [color=#ffffff]“Serve yourself, we’ve put together a bit of a taco buffet, there’s a couple different kinds of meats, vegan options, we have both flour and corn tortillas, hard and soft. Whatever floats your fancy.”[/color] [color=#ffffff]“There are drinks in the coolers, and for those of you who have been using their abilities all afternoon there’s P.R.C.U.’s own Hyper-Aid to help replenish those HZEs and electrolytes. Can’t have anyone running the risk of Hype-Psy.”[/color] Tad interjected pointing towards two large coolers. [color=#ffffff]“Grab some food, pull up a chair and circle around the fire. Don’t feel obligated to stay out here all night. And when people start going to bed, those who are out here try to keep it down, after all. You have a trial to test in the morning.”[/color] [color=#ffffff]“And when you’re full up on tacos,”[/color] Jess chimed in, “[color=#ffffff]We have a bit of S’moregasboard for dessert.”[/color] A collective groan could be heard from both teams at Jess’s pun. [color=#ffffff]“If I had said that, there would have a very loud-”[/color] [color=#ffffff]“SHUT UP, TAD!” [/color]Blackjack collectively yelled as Tad knowingly pointed to the group. [color=#ffffff]“In their own way, they do love you.”[/color] Jess replied, [color=#ffffff]“And if they don’t, I can make them,”[/color] The empath joked with an exaggerated wink. Team Firebird had roughly the same amount of students as Black. There were of course familiar faces in both Cassander Charon and Lucille Calder who had started their P.R.C.U. journeys as part of Blackjack before leaving during the team swap. Other faces included long standing members of the community such as Mira Falls, Noah Gallagher, Zebulun Michaels, Simone Richards, Eden Sherwood, Layla Schade and RJ Scott. Then lastly, there was Firebird’s own Foundation Transfer, the redheaded Alyssa Townsend. The nine students that comprised Firebird helped themselves to the spread before taking seats together. Alyssa found herself a seat between her best friend, Luce and boyfriend RJ. To the other side of RJ was Firebird’s other predominant couple in the combination of Zebulun and Eden, while beside Luce sat Mira, Simone and Layla. Noah as usual found himself a more isolated corner as the introverted shape shifter preferred. Waving forward his team, Tad invited Blackjack to follow Firebird’s lead. [color=#ffffff]“Come on, team. Let’s get some food.”[/color][/INDENT][COLOR=dimgray][SUP][sub]__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________[/sub][/SUP][/COLOR] [INDENT]As the teams had sat down with their food, the roar of an engine could be heard coming across the plateau towards the campsite. The large SUV was emblazoned with the school crest, distinguishing it as a vehicle used by only one person. Coming to a stop in front of the shared meal site, a tall man stepped out of the driver’s seat before affixing his signature Stetson atop his head. [color=#ffffff]“How’s my favourite team doin’?”[/color] Jim asked entering into the Blackjack side of the campsite. There was a certain fondness for his old team, Jim had taken each of them through the Homecoming Trials at one time or another. A fire crackled in the middle of the campsite as the team was gathered around to share a meal after a hard day of work. More so for some than others. [color=#ffffff]“I know y’all are pretty on edge after what happened earlier at the ceremony,”[/color] He started, grabbing a seat beside Rory before he continued to speak. [color=#ffffff]“Rest assured I’ve secured accreditation for all the graduating students affected by the sudden news. So hopefully that helps raise some spirits around here. There will be some other changes happening, but for now, I hope that news at least brings you some solace.” [/color] He looked around the campsite, spotting the two students had had come looking for. [color=#ffffff]“Look Tad, pretty sure you all have this handled. I need to borrow Miss de Léon and Mr. Galahad if ya don’t mind.”[/color] [color=#ffffff]“Who am I to tell the Chancellor, no?” [/color]Tad replied with a small smirk. Motioning for Calliope and Gil to follow him, Jim waited until they were away from the rest of the team before he began speaking. [color=#ffffff]“As y’all are both well away, this year has been complicated by the Foundation. Unfortunately with things in the state they are, I’ve been forced to play civil with them until H.E.L.P. can properly rectify things. Which means I need a favour, and I can’t think of two people more qualified to help.”[/color] Jim drew a deep breath before continuing. [color=#ffffff]“I need y’all to put together a themed dance. Foundation’s first priority is that the students get to express themselves individually so after the Trials are complete, the dress code is going to be nullified. As such, dress uniforms will not be required for the Senior Homecoming dance, meaning we’re looking at doing something a bit more… Hollywood.”[/color] The concept was clearly foreign to Jim as he tried to articulate it. [color=#ffffff]“So who better to help than [i]Hollywood[/i] and the [i]glam[/i],”[/color] Jim added motioning to Gil and Calliope respectively. [color=#ffffff]“Y’all have the A.R.C. at your disposal to program in any environment you see fit for the dance. Full fabrication at your disposal too. If there’s anything else y’all need, let me know and I’ll see what I can do to set y’all up.”[/color] Looking between the pair, Jim tried to gauge their interest while waiting for an answer. [color=#ffffff]“Now, Mr. Galahad, I know you’re more than accustomed to the particular politics of these sort of situations, we need our best foot forward here. Miss de Léon, I know with your upbringing, y’all are no stranger to them either, and I know right about now you probably want to stick it to those Foundation bastards.”[/color] Jim smiled softly. [color=#ffffff]“Let in y’all in a little secret, I would too.”[/color] He added, [color=#ffffff]“But no matter which way the wind blows, it’s our reputation and the school currently at risk. So while you might want to go and shock everyone and burn it all to the ground, all I ask is that if y’all are goin’ to flip the bird to the Foundation, at least try to be subtle about it.”[/color] He stopped, taking the Stetson off his head and extending his arm towards the pair. [color=#ffffff]“So can I leave it with the two of you?”[/color][/INDENT][COLOR=dimgray][SUP][sub]__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________[/sub][/SUP][/COLOR] [indent][quote=rtyler23@student.prcu.edu][b]Subject: Career Plans[/b] [i]Mr. Roth,[/i] [i]I would like your help to schedule a meeting with H.E.L.P. sometime in the next week or so. I need to discuss career plans given my watchlist status and recent developments at school.[/i] [i]It's about time I follow my parent's lead.[/i] [i]- Rory Tyler '29[/i][/quote] [quote=aroth@faculty.prcu.edu][b]Subject: RE: Career Plans[/b] [i]Rory,[/i] [i]I’m excited that you reached out to me. I can have a meeting scheduled with Nicholas Locke, the current Deputy Chief of Staff at H.E.L.P. to explore some career options for you. Given your performance both in the H.E.A.T. program and your current ambitions in psychology, I think you’ll find that there are plenty of doors available to you.[/i] [i]I had the honour of working with your father. He and your mother were both exemplary agents and would be not only humbled and honoured to know you’re looking to follow in their footsteps.[/i] [i]Right now, I’m looking at early Friday morning, the same day as the Homecoming Dance. There are available slots at 9:45am and 11:15am. Let me know which works better for you and I’ll make sure we have that time reserved with the Deputy Chief.[/i] [i]Thank you and best regards,[/i] [i]- Aiden Roth[/i] [i]Professor of Practical Ability Training[/i] [i]Primary Administrator of the Augmented Reality Center[/i] [i]Faculty Representative for House Canis[/i] [i][CENTER][SUB]“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.”[/SUB] [SUB]– Winston Churchill[/SUB][/CENTER][/i][/quote][/indent][/indent][/color]