Introduction to Meta-human Crime Fighting (Open)

[Flicker]

Peyton looked up from the notes she was taking at the word reconnaissance. She'd heard it before when she first started patrolling and asked someone what good being super fast would be. They told her reconnaissance and recommended she start reading "The Flash" comics. At first, Peyton thought the boy was being crude, but hey, turned out there was a comic book hero named the Flash, and no, it had absolutely nothing to do what she thought it did.

She took notes in black ink, the most serious of ink colors, keeping her sparkly blue and pink pens in her backpack for less serious classes, like math.

Reconnaissance - stealthy way of gathering information, provide situation (sit) reports to help better assess the situation as a whole.

It actually made sense. And they were going to get to practice it in the field! This was going to be awesome!

"Thank you Mr... whatever the Flash's real name is." She said to herself, dotting the 'i' in reconnaissance with a little heart.

[Etienne Mbane]

Etienne paled. If Mr. Druce required him to mule for the Loa for a simple field test, well, so many things could go wrong. First, the Loa didn't always come when he called to them for his own convenience. If his intentions were correct, they would come to him, sure, but mostly he muled for the Loa when they had things they wanted done among humans.

Far worse, however, Mr. Druce might recognize what he was, and then it would be over. He had heard the stories about how Houghan had disappeared when the FBSA had first been established, hunted a satanists, as demon worshipers, as evil just because they called on the powers of the Loa. He grew up listening to the horrible things they did to Houghan when they were caught.

Etienne looked down at his hands, watching them tremble on the desk in front of him.

[Wyatt Wyborn]

Wyatt sat in the back of the classroom and listened to his classmates ask their questions. He didn't have any himself, and since Druce's attention was focused elsewhere, Wyatt used the opportunity to discretely open his laptop and click on the cbz file he had downloaded off of Pirate Bay last night -- the zero-day release of Spider-Man/GI Joe: Cobra Venom the new crossover from Marvel and IDW. As far was Wyatt was concerned, you could find no better source material for Meta-human Crime Fighting. And if Druce so much as glanced his way, all Wyatt had to do was hit esc and the comic would disappear from the screen.

In seconds the drone of classroom discussion faded and Wyatt was enrapt in the colorfully violent conflict between a Venomized Cobra Commander and a GI Joe equipped Peter Parker...

[Phenomaly]

Elissa Laoye sat in the back of the room as well, looking over her notes. She REALLY didn't think this was the kind of class that should be jumped into in the middle, but the counselor had insisted when it came up that her gloves gave her powers but she'd never so much as gotten in a fight before. So, here she was, hoping that her borrowed notes would be enough to help her keep up in the class. "Field session" sounded scary, but if it was a class it had to be a simulation, so it couldn't be THAT bad...right?

[MASH-1]

Donovan raised an eyebrow as he sat silently in the class. For the most part, he'd remained quiet in the class and took notes, most of his unasked questions being nabbed by the other students. Now with mention of a field session? He wasn't exactly the most co-ordinated person in the world. He'd trip over his own feet if he wasn't too busy knocking things over with his arms. To say he was worried was an understatement. Still though, learning to be sneaky could have it's merits.

[Mister Druce]

“I understand you’re having a Parents’ Day this Friday?” Mister Druce asked casually as he laid out his notes for the day’s class. There was an assortment of muffled “yeahs” and nods from those students already in their seats. Others were still filing in, trying to shake the “Monday Morning Stare” from their features.

“Friday is good,” the teacher went on. “It will give you a day to heal up from this Wednesday’s Field Session. We wouldn’t want your parents to see you all bruised and cut up.” There were a lot of raised eyebrows at this announcement and some very mixed reactions. Some of the students loved the field sessions, others saw them as a trial. Small conversations sprang up around the lecture hall until Mister Druce put a stop to them by calling the roll.

“For those who didn’t hear,” he began the class in a stronger, clearer voice, “we’ll be having a series of Field Sessions at the Overbrook facility this Wednesday. Francis is handing out schedules now.” Here Druce paused to deliver a stack of papers to a nervous looking boy in the front row. “You are each to report here at the designated time in appropriate attire. That is… if you choose to attend.”

Many of the listening students registered surprise at that statement. Mister Druce had always said the Field Sessions were optional, but this was the first time he sounded like he really meant it.

“Our previous sessions covered a variety of tactics and techniques, but they were primarily aimed at avoiding direct conflict. After all, a violent confrontation is always a risky proposition no matter how stacked the odds may be in your favor. This week, however, we’ll begin to put the fighting in metahuman crime-fighting. It’s right there in the name of the course, right?

“Because of this violent focus, the possibility of injury is exponentially higher. For that reason, those of you without Provisional Patrol Licenses,” the teacher indicated a few of the students who were attending the course as a general interest elective, “will not be permitted to participate. You are welcome to attend the session and observe, as usual.

“In addition, any other student who wishes to sit out is encouraged to do so, again with the option to attend as an observer only. I assure you this will not reflect negatively on your course assessment.

“Are there any questions?”

[Etienne Mbane]

Simon watched the look or terror flash over Etienne's face before he controlled himself again. He gave Etienne a compassionate look, then raised his hand.

"Mr. Druce, I know that some of us can't always count on our powers for exercises like the last one. How should we handle this exercise? I mean, should we try to make it, in case they are working, or would it be best to just not sign up?"

Simon hoped his question was general enough that his roommate wouldn't be singled out, but if no one else would look after Etienne, then it was up to him.

[Mister Druce]

Mister Druce looked directly at Etienne. "The Field Sessions are voluntary," he said, stressing the last word. He looked around the room before continuing. "Each of you must decide for yourself how much risk you are willing to take and how much effort you are willing to expend. That's a choice you'll make every day as long as you're carrying a license and calling yourself a Hero."

[Jeremy Paterson]

Jeremy lit up with excitement. He'd been hoping for more field sessions. In fact, he had been meaning to ask if they were going to have more, but kept forgetting when class time came. He turned to Pierce Drummond who was sitting to his left. "Did you hear that, Pete! Another field session!"

Pierce laughed a bit. "Yeah, Jer, I was here when he said it, remember?"

"Oh yeah!" Jeremy gave him a thumbs-up. "So isn't that exciting?"

"I'm sure looking forward to it," Louis Duschesne leaned forward to look around Pierce. As usual, Louis's protective suit obscured his face. "The sessions we did before were too easy."

"Totes, Larry! They were way too easy! I--" Jeremy cut short as Druce began taking attendance, then added quietly. "Can't wait!"

[Jason Dumarr]

Jason scratched his hand absently as he considered voicing his question. It seemed an innocent enough topic, but Druce had an intensity to him that made JD uneasy. The sound of a classmate stifling a giggle at a whispered conversation gave a distinct break tot he tension he was feeling, thus giving him the confidence to speak up.

"So, I imagine this has been asked before, but I haven't been here the whole semester. So, sorry in advance I guess."

JD cleared his throat a bit and continued.

"Alright, so....patrol uniforms. Costumes. Whatever heroes actually call them. Why wear the getup? I mean, I really hope there's more than crowd appeal and marketing going on, here."