[COLOR=GRAY][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]Hope In Hell #2.009:[/b][/COLOR] [I]Dark Necessities[/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]Why You Gotta Kick Me When I'm Down?[/I][/right][/SUP]
[INDENT][color=#ffffff]“Finch, Friend!”[/color] Jim roared as he exited the control room, motioning with two mechanical fingers for the pair to follow him. Waiting until the three faculty members were out of the student body’s earshot, he began talking. 

[color=#ffffff]“Baxter’s card triggered the event, that’s about the only thing those eggheads in there can give me.”[/color]

[color=#ffffff]“Are you saying that Harper di-”[/color] 

[color=#ffffff]“No, Friend, that dog don’t hunt.”[/color] Jim interrupted Jess before she could finish accusing Harper. [color=#ffffff]“Anything out of the ordinary happen last night with y’all’s teams?”[/color]

[color=#ffffff]“Other than everyone’s pheromones ramped up, nothing really odd. Looked like Harper and Haven went out of their way to speak to some of yours.”[/color] Tad stated, gesturing towards Jessica.

[color=#ffffff]“Yeah, but they’re just anxious about the Foundation's presence, wanted to pick Alyssa’s brain but I think all of us know how well that went.”[/color]

[color=#ffffff]“Didn’t you find her student card on the ground, Jess?”[/color] Tad asked, Jim’s eyes swivelling towards Jess as he awaited an answer.

[color=#ffffff]“Right, it was on the grass, wet from the rain. I just assumed she just dropped it, I guess. Didn’t really give it much thought”[/color]

[color=#ffffff]“Y’all assumed the most organized, type-A, Valedictorian candidate [i]dropped[/i] her student card?”[/color]

[color=#ffffff]“Well, when you put it like…”[/color] Jess’ voice trailed off while Tad rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.

[color=#ffffff]“Katja also put her head through a table this morning, tent was obliterated by Amma last night.”[/color] Tad interjected, [color=#ffffff]“Uh not sure if it’s relevant though.”[/color]

[color=#ffffff]“The pair of you might want to stop playing house during work hours, and get y’alls in order.”[/color] Jim cautioned, [color=#ffffff]“Doubt either had much to do with the hijacking, they’re both trapped now, Arkwright’s in the wind.”[/color]

[color=#ffffff]“Jess, why didn’t you mention that three of the girls knocked Harper to the ground yesterday?”[/color] Miranda’s voice surprised Jess as the Associate Chancellor appeared behind her. She had been the first person that Jim called the second the Trial was hijacked. A former negotiator for H.E.L.P., Miranda was one of the best intelligence agents before she retired herself. Still, she was a powerful Psionic, and if anyone was going to find the truth surrounding Blackjack’s misfortune, it would be here.

In front of Miranda, the young woman’s cheeks turned red as Jessica realized that her former mentor had just read her mind.

[color=#ffffff]“Hey, hey! Boundaries!”[/color] Jess protested, turning to face both Jim and Miranda.[color=#ffffff] “Is this how you run the school?”[/color]

[color=#ffffff]“If students are in danger, a little invasion of privacy is a cost I’m willing to pay, especially when them being trapped in that Trial could impact everyone if the Foundation uses it against us”[/color] Jim growled.

[color=#ffffff]“You used your powers last night, you wanted them distracted.”[/color] Miranda continued stepping forward while Jess closed her eyes tightly as if trying to push the telepath out of her mind.

[color=#ffffff]“I’ll have you reported for this!”[/color] She protested.

[color=#ffffff]“Chancellor!”[/color] Tad chimed in, [color=#ffffff]“C’mon, don’t do it like this.”[/color] He pleaded.

[color=#ffffff]“He’s right, James,”[/color] Miranda conceded, [color=#ffffff]“We shouldn’t be doing it like this.”[/color]

[color=#ffffff]“Damnit!”[/color] The Chancellor snapped, [color=#ffffff]“Why are y’all withholding information, Friend?”[/color]

[color=#ffffff]"The winds are blowing."[/color]

Jim looked at Jessica and then back to Miranda, he exchanged a brief look of surprise with Miranda before his brow hardened and the fire in his eyes returned. Beside them both, Tad squirmed uncomfortably, ignorant of the true meaning behind the words his wife just said. 

[color=#ffffff]“He doesn’t know Jim,”[/color] Miranda intervened, stopping Jim before he could reply to Jessica.

[color=#ffffff]“I’m sorry, Thaddeus, I truly am.”[/color]

[color=#ffffff]“Wha-”[/color] Tad looked from Miranda to Jim and back several times, [color=#ffffff]“What don’t I know? What aren’t you telling me?”[/color]

[color=#ffffff]“Ms. Rivers, please escort Mr. Finch to my office.”[/color] Jim ordered.

[color=#ffffff]“Jessica and I need to have a little chat.”[/color][/INDENT][/INDENT][/COLOR]