Vigilance Tower, Unity Plaza - The Astral District, Skyway City.
The Lobby, 2pm.
The large, vaulted lobby with the glass front had been quickly prepared after lunch for the address. Vigilants had been busy in setting up the rows of chairs for the students to sit on, and at the back was seating for the parents of some prospective students. Where the reception desk usually stood, a platform had been erected for the leader of the New Vigilants to stand on.
Cindersnap was up there at the moment, flicking through some flash cards with a frown on his face. The young man had certainly aged a bit since he took the job on, mental changes reflecting physically in the way he carried himself and his expressions. He noted the camera drones far in front of him, ready to record the address to send to those that couldn't make it.
"... Alright, let's do this. BODICIA, notify the students to make their way to the lobby and take seats, and bring the prospective students and their parents in to sit behind them." He asked up to the ceiling, before checking his black and orange uniform over again.
"Can't believe I'm nervous." He remarked to one of the Vigilants. "You go on TV, you go on stage, but talking to over a hundred students and some parents?"
"Is there anything you require, Ryan?" The Vigilant asked.
"... No, no. It's fine." Ryan smiled, nodding politely to the parents coming in to the back of the rows of seats with their children. From behind him, students began to make their way out from the elevators and staircases, each of them dressed in their uniforms, the mix of black and a colour of a students own choice creating a riot of colour as they made their way to their seats.
There were a row of seats to his right on the platform, that were soon filled by the blue haired Fusebox, sitting closet to Ryan, followed by Nitoichi, Enlightened Falcon and Leo Wright. The leader of the New Vigilants smiled to them before resting his elbows on the podium, taking a look at his flash cards once more as the students continued to fill the chairs.
"Never realise how many there is till you see them like that." He remarked idly behind him, before BODICIA gave the signal that everyone was seated.
"Good afternoon everyone, and thank you for coming. I..." Ryan trailed off and looked at his flashcards, flicking through them again before throwing them into the air. A burst of fire from one finger ignited them into cinders.
"Alright, flash cards are silly, a bad idea, and let's just forget I ever started reading from them." Ryan grinned, hopping up to sit on the podium. "Firstly? Great to see all you guys and girls! Seeing the New Vigilants in front of me like this? Well, and some behind and to my right? Makes me think that we're great."
Looking around, he waved to a couple of the students. "The bad news is, this is probably going to take a while. The good news is that Mr Connor won't have you running about the gym growing gills for a while, and nor will you have to listen to another one of my 'Power Synergy' lectures. Yeah, sorry about them."
"To get started though, you guys are doing -great-." Ryan grinned. "Can I get a cheer for yourselves?" A few of the more boisterous and confident students cheered.
"Oh come on guys, you can do better than that... well, I know some of our audio-manipulators can, but please, be mindful of the windows." Ryan laughed. "So then, how about a cheer for you guys, some of the most cool students out there!"
The cheer was rather deafening this time.
"Much better! But really, I mean, you're learning to use your powers, to control them, to not accidently turn glass to sand or melt ice cream before you can eat it, all those other things. And that's why a lot of you are here. And those of you who're here to learn to be heroes when you're older? Or even just boosting up your knowledge? You guys are impressing even the guys over in the other Tower, and some of them have heroed longer than even I've been alive."
Taking a slight breath, Ryan hopped off the podium and wandered up the stage. "Next Friday, from seven PM in here, we'll be having the Christmas Prom! First one ever, there'll be stuff for you younger students to do, because I know some of you would rather not watch the older students dance and make kissy faces at each other, stuff for you older students to... heck, stuff for -everyone- to do. Dancing, socializing, food, drinks, activities in the common and rec rooms. Dress up a little if you want, it is a Prom after all, not expecting anyone to break the bank for a full tux, I mean, just some nice trousers and a shirt are fine for the guys. Girls, wear whatever makes you feel gorgeous."
"Of course, like at any times, there's no alcohol, smoking or narcotics allowed at the Prom. Anyone found in possession of them will -really- tick me off, as I'll have to stop dancing with my boyfriend to come and sort you out. So just don't. It's not cool or fun. Boring stuff out the way of there."
Glancing about again, Ryan grinned. "Maybe I was a bit too hasty in burning those cards, ah well, if in doubt, wing it. Next up, classes and the like. For the sake of our prospective students, their parents, and some of the new ones I see from the Open Evening yesterday, I'll cover the main points of them."
Tapping a finger to his chin, Ryan grinned suddenly. "Oh, right, policy change first. As of January 12th, when you all come back from your Christmas Braek to resume studying, there will be a change to age brackets. The first will be from ten years old to thirteen. Next bracket is fourteen to seventeen, then eighteen to twenty one. Our final bracket is twenty two... to twenty five. That's right, the age limit has gone up and down in the New Vigilants. Going down? Well, we've had some younger people with abilities that have already been attending, so why not make it official? As for going up, well, there's a bit of a clause for that. See, you need to have been a member before twenty two. That bracket is for those students who want to stay on and learn some more, help train others, or for those who have become student leaders."
Gesturing to the row to his right, Ryan smiles. "And here we have some student leaders, myself included. The scheme's been working great, so we're rolling it out now from the testing phase. Some of you will be picked to study under us guys, we'll be responsible for your progress, discipline and help with training. To keep you all on your toes as well, there'll be some inter team competitive games and practices, successful teams will get some nice, but nothing major, little perks. Still working on the exact rewards, but if it proves to be a problem, we'll remove them and just keep things for fun."
"As for your student leaders, well, you already know me for one. I'm training Rushmore, Rho, Gray Geiger, Burned Ice, Lo-Fi Boy, Hi-Fi Girl and Sleight. Fuse here has students including Lyrical Cyclone, Tracey and Penumbral Paradox. Nitoichi's got Quickfrost, Firefight and Tabby among others under her wing, and I'd like to introduce to you two new student leaders for the new term, Enlightened Falcon and Leo Wright. They'll be getting their students assigned to them soon. And of course, those of you who excel in your studies? You might be sitting up here too, with your own group of students to train."
Ryan grabbed a cup of water and took a long sip. "Finally, to classes. Sorry for the detour. The main classes we do here are the power training ones. In these, well, we teach you how to control your gift, whatever that may be. That's the main goal of the New Vigilants. To stop you guys from breaking your parents toasters with static, or phasing out of your bed. Or sending the whole class to sleep around you." Cindersnap smiled.
"In addition to this, we offer tuition for various school subjects, and for those of you who've moved here, well, you know we provide help with getting into one of the various schools in the area. It can't all be powers and explosions, after all, can it? We'll be increasing help with tuition and getting study groups set up for you guys too, moreso than we have now."
"Then there's the hero training we offer. We've got some great new classes lined up for next term, with some great teachers to guide you. The emphesis as always is three fold. Working alone, working together, and having the knowledge and skills needed for on the field. Fusebox here has some great new hacking classes lined up, and I'll be teaching you guys new ways to use and combine your powers too."
The young man took another sip of water before continuing. "We're offering the same facilities as before, with some new additions. The gyms will be there for all of you to use, along with the training rooms. New activities and groups for you to do and join in with, clubs, and an expanded cafeteria menu. Wait till you see the new options. Of course, they're healthy, delicious and nutritious, and we'll work closely with parents to cover any dietary concerns and eating programs, and we're always allergy concious."
Rubbing a hand across his chin, Ryan smiled. "I don't know what else to say, really. Change is coming, change always does. But we'll be there to meet it. We've got so many exciting things planned, and I'm glad to have you guys with us. We'll be working closer than ever before with the Unity Vigil, so you'll be brushing shoulders and getting tips from the pros, and we'll be ensuring that Vigilance Tower is a place for learning, for relaxing, and a place that you guys can be yourselves. And what are your selves? Anything you want them to be. Sky's the limit, so take life and make it yours. I'm proud of you all, so give yourselves a round of applause."
Vigilance Tower, Unity Plaza - The Astral District, Skyway City.
The Lobby, 2pm.
The large, vaulted lobby with the glass front had been quickly prepared after lunch for the address. Vigilants had been busy in setting up the rows of chairs for the students to sit on, and at the back was seating for the parents of some prospective students. Where the reception desk usually stood, a platform had been erected for the leader of the New Vigilants to stand on.
Cindersnap was up there at the moment, flicking through some flash cards with a frown on his face. The young man had certainly aged a bit since he took the job on, mental changes reflecting physically in the way he carried himself and his expressions. He noted the camera drones far in front of him, ready to record the address to send to those that couldn't make it.
"... Alright, let's do this. BODICIA, notify the students to make their way to the lobby and take seats, and bring the prospective students and their parents in to sit behind them." He asked up to the ceiling, before checking his black and orange uniform over again.
"Can't believe I'm nervous." He remarked to one of the Vigilants. "You go on TV, you go on stage, but talking to over a hundred students and some parents?"
"Is there anything you require, Ryan?" The Vigilant asked.
"... No, no. It's fine." Ryan smiled, nodding politely to the parents coming in to the back of the rows of seats with their children. From behind him, students began to make their way out from the elevators and staircases, each of them dressed in their uniforms, the mix of black and a colour of a students own choice creating a riot of colour as they made their way to their seats.
There were a row of seats to his right on the platform, that were soon filled by the blue haired Fusebox, sitting closet to Ryan, followed by Nitoichi, Enlightened Falcon and Leo Wright. The leader of the New Vigilants smiled to them before resting his elbows on the podium, taking a look at his flash cards once more as the students continued to fill the chairs.
"Never realise how many there is till you see them like that." He remarked idly behind him, before BODICIA gave the signal that everyone was seated.
"Good afternoon everyone, and thank you for coming. I..." Ryan trailed off and looked at his flashcards, flicking through them again before throwing them into the air. A burst of fire from one finger ignited them into cinders.
"Alright, flash cards are silly, a bad idea, and let's just forget I ever started reading from them." Ryan grinned, hopping up to sit on the podium. "Firstly? Great to see all you guys and girls! Seeing the New Vigilants in front of me like this? Well, and some behind and to my right? Makes me think that we're great."
Looking around, he waved to a couple of the students. "The bad news is, this is probably going to take a while. The good news is that Mr Connor won't have you running about the gym growing gills for a while, and nor will you have to listen to another one of my 'Power Synergy' lectures. Yeah, sorry about them."
"To get started though, you guys are doing -great-." Ryan grinned. "Can I get a cheer for yourselves?" A few of the more boisterous and confident students cheered.
"Oh come on guys, you can do better than that... well, I know some of our audio-manipulators can, but please, be mindful of the windows." Ryan laughed. "So then, how about a cheer for you guys, some of the most cool students out there!"
The cheer was rather deafening this time.
"Much better! But really, I mean, you're learning to use your powers, to control them, to not accidently turn glass to sand or melt ice cream before you can eat it, all those other things. And that's why a lot of you are here. And those of you who're here to learn to be heroes when you're older? Or even just boosting up your knowledge? You guys are impressing even the guys over in the other Tower, and some of them have heroed longer than even I've been alive."
Taking a slight breath, Ryan hopped off the podium and wandered up the stage. "Next Friday, from seven PM in here, we'll be having the Christmas Prom! First one ever, there'll be stuff for you younger students to do, because I know some of you would rather not watch the older students dance and make kissy faces at each other, stuff for you older students to... heck, stuff for -everyone- to do. Dancing, socializing, food, drinks, activities in the common and rec rooms. Dress up a little if you want, it is a Prom after all, not expecting anyone to break the bank for a full tux, I mean, just some nice trousers and a shirt are fine for the guys. Girls, wear whatever makes you feel gorgeous."
"Of course, like at any times, there's no alcohol, smoking or narcotics allowed at the Prom. Anyone found in possession of them will -really- tick me off, as I'll have to stop dancing with my boyfriend to come and sort you out. So just don't. It's not cool or fun. Boring stuff out the way of there."
Glancing about again, Ryan grinned. "Maybe I was a bit too hasty in burning those cards, ah well, if in doubt, wing it. Next up, classes and the like. For the sake of our prospective students, their parents, and some of the new ones I see from the Open Evening yesterday, I'll cover the main points of them."
Tapping a finger to his chin, Ryan grinned suddenly. "Oh, right, policy change first. As of January 12th, when you all come back from your Christmas Braek to resume studying, there will be a change to age brackets. The first will be from ten years old to thirteen. Next bracket is fourteen to seventeen, then eighteen to twenty one. Our final bracket is twenty two... to twenty five. That's right, the age limit has gone up and down in the New Vigilants. Going down? Well, we've had some younger people with abilities that have already been attending, so why not make it official? As for going up, well, there's a bit of a clause for that. See, you need to have been a member before twenty two. That bracket is for those students who want to stay on and learn some more, help train others, or for those who have become student leaders."
Gesturing to the row to his right, Ryan smiles. "And here we have some student leaders, myself included. The scheme's been working great, so we're rolling it out now from the testing phase. Some of you will be picked to study under us guys, we'll be responsible for your progress, discipline and help with training. To keep you all on your toes as well, there'll be some inter team competitive games and practices, successful teams will get some nice, but nothing major, little perks. Still working on the exact rewards, but if it proves to be a problem, we'll remove them and just keep things for fun."
"As for your student leaders, well, you already know me for one. I'm training Rushmore, Rho, Gray Geiger, Burned Ice, Lo-Fi Boy, Hi-Fi Girl and Sleight. Fuse here has students including Lyrical Cyclone, Tracey and Penumbral Paradox. Nitoichi's got Quickfrost, Firefight and Tabby among others under her wing, and I'd like to introduce to you two new student leaders for the new term, Enlightened Falcon and Leo Wright. They'll be getting their students assigned to them soon. And of course, those of you who excel in your studies? You might be sitting up here too, with your own group of students to train."
Ryan grabbed a cup of water and took a long sip. "Finally, to classes. Sorry for the detour. The main classes we do here are the power training ones. In these, well, we teach you how to control your gift, whatever that may be. That's the main goal of the New Vigilants. To stop you guys from breaking your parents toasters with static, or phasing out of your bed. Or sending the whole class to sleep around you." Cindersnap smiled.
"In addition to this, we offer tuition for various school subjects, and for those of you who've moved here, well, you know we provide help with getting into one of the various schools in the area. It can't all be powers and explosions, after all, can it? We'll be increasing help with tuition and getting study groups set up for you guys too, moreso than we have now."
"Then there's the hero training we offer. We've got some great new classes lined up for next term, with some great teachers to guide you. The emphesis as always is three fold. Working alone, working together, and having the knowledge and skills needed for on the field. Fusebox here has some great new hacking classes lined up, and I'll be teaching you guys new ways to use and combine your powers too."
The young man took another sip of water before continuing. "We're offering the same facilities as before, with some new additions. The gyms will be there for all of you to use, along with the training rooms. New activities and groups for you to do and join in with, clubs, and an expanded cafeteria menu. Wait till you see the new options. Of course, they're healthy, delicious and nutritious, and we'll work closely with parents to cover any dietary concerns and eating programs, and we're always allergy concious."
Rubbing a hand across his chin, Ryan smiled. "I don't know what else to say, really. Change is coming, change always does. But we'll be there to meet it. We've got so many exciting things planned, and I'm glad to have you guys with us. We'll be working closer than ever before with the Unity Vigil, so you'll be brushing shoulders and getting tips from the pros, and we'll be ensuring that Vigilance Tower is a place for learning, for relaxing, and a place that you guys can be yourselves. And what are your selves? Anything you want them to be. Sky's the limit, so take life and make it yours. I'm proud of you all, so give yourselves a round of applause."
SUPPORT - IT'S NOT JUST A GROUPING OF ATs
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More Than a Game
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