Jay already had his spot picked. Forth row away from the noise of the rear of the bus. He never really understood the psycology that was the back. And he probably never would.
It wasent long, infact it started the moment they hit the onramp to the highway. There wasent much to look at as he pulled his ruck sack typical military issue ALICE pack that he bumbed off his dad. Propping it up under the window and sliding himself longways on the seet. Pulling down his green BDU boonie hat over his face for alittle shut eye.
All of his gear was bumbed off his dad, noticably the Major rank sewn into the coller one side of the jacket clearly marked "USAF" the other side "Taggert".
**EXTRA CREDIT** (PM ME FIRST)
Moderator: Student Council
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Gabriel Templar
- Posts: 1142
- Joined: Fri Apr 06, 2007 9:40 pm
- Location: Midwest US
Gabe took up his usual seat, about halfway to the back, because most of the rear seats were filled by the time he got on, with kids far more popular than he.
He was a bit nervous, truth be told, he'd never done anything like this before.
3. A. M. He hadn't been up this early, on purpose no less, in what might be well over a year. He was bone tired, tired enough that the world dissolved into boiling phosphines and geometric patterns behind his eyes everytime he shut them, voices sounded like they were a million miles away.
He'd tried to get enough sleep, he had... but... and with that thought he was down for the count.
To anyone observing, Gabe would be clutching a repurposed school backpack crammed with camping gear bought on short notice, and a duffel bag besides. All the high-tech camping gear that they would allow on the trip and the Paragon Integrated Equipment Supply guy could sell him, his spork was made out of Titanium.
There was still the 'vetoed' stuff like magnesium firestarters and hexamine tablets and solar-powered water purification and overhead shower combo with GPS and digital timer laying all over his bed.
He's curled up, more or less, against the window, feeling the distant vibration of a pane of glass somewhere in his skull, dreaming.
Same dream again.
The chalky smell of wet concrete, rain spattering down from a cold steel sky, a skyscraper, a roof.
The sharp smell of ozone, electrical discharge, a feeling of pain across his arms and chest. When he looks down he can see his clothing, a beige duster charred in spiderweb patterns from high-energy discharge. The girl lay on the ground, her energy spent, eyes wide with fear.
And gabe leaned down, said something that he never could hear, placed his hands on her head...
Gabe wakes with a start and a gasp, fingers digging into his bag, eyes darting. He manages to surpress a scream.
"uh, sorry," he mutters, still slow with sleep, to the kid next to him. He's a little embarrassed about waking up like that, in a bus full of kids. Thankfully, it's loud enough that he's not sure that anyone heard him, and busy enough no one may have seen him.
Okay, so much for sleep, now, let's make sure I've got everything here. Titanium spork, microfiber wicking socks, second pair of boots, medical kit...
He was a bit nervous, truth be told, he'd never done anything like this before.
3. A. M. He hadn't been up this early, on purpose no less, in what might be well over a year. He was bone tired, tired enough that the world dissolved into boiling phosphines and geometric patterns behind his eyes everytime he shut them, voices sounded like they were a million miles away.
He'd tried to get enough sleep, he had... but... and with that thought he was down for the count.
To anyone observing, Gabe would be clutching a repurposed school backpack crammed with camping gear bought on short notice, and a duffel bag besides. All the high-tech camping gear that they would allow on the trip and the Paragon Integrated Equipment Supply guy could sell him, his spork was made out of Titanium.
There was still the 'vetoed' stuff like magnesium firestarters and hexamine tablets and solar-powered water purification and overhead shower combo with GPS and digital timer laying all over his bed.
He's curled up, more or less, against the window, feeling the distant vibration of a pane of glass somewhere in his skull, dreaming.
Same dream again.
The chalky smell of wet concrete, rain spattering down from a cold steel sky, a skyscraper, a roof.
The sharp smell of ozone, electrical discharge, a feeling of pain across his arms and chest. When he looks down he can see his clothing, a beige duster charred in spiderweb patterns from high-energy discharge. The girl lay on the ground, her energy spent, eyes wide with fear.
And gabe leaned down, said something that he never could hear, placed his hands on her head...
Gabe wakes with a start and a gasp, fingers digging into his bag, eyes darting. He manages to surpress a scream.
"uh, sorry," he mutters, still slow with sleep, to the kid next to him. He's a little embarrassed about waking up like that, in a bus full of kids. Thankfully, it's loud enough that he's not sure that anyone heard him, and busy enough no one may have seen him.
Okay, so much for sleep, now, let's make sure I've got everything here. Titanium spork, microfiber wicking socks, second pair of boots, medical kit...
Oby stepped up the stairs into the bus, Flyers ball cap pulled down on his head, and looked over the other passengers. This was going to be interesting. He shrugged the backpack up to a more comfortable position on the one shoulder he was carrying it on now, and headed for an empty bench seat about half way back, settling the backpack on the floor. Most of the rest of the baseball team was on the trip, so he figured it'd be a good time to get to know some of them, although few of them were there yet.
He settled in, stretching out on the bench seat, and leaned down to unzip a pocket in his pack, pulling out a jacket. He folded the garment up and leaned his back against the window, placing the jacket behind his head as a pillow. Just like any bus ride to a game, he thought, and pulled the cap down lower to shade his eyes. He did what he normally did on any long bus ride, and tried to get some rest.
He settled in, stretching out on the bench seat, and leaned down to unzip a pocket in his pack, pulling out a jacket. He folded the garment up and leaned his back against the window, placing the jacket behind his head as a pillow. Just like any bus ride to a game, he thought, and pulled the cap down lower to shade his eyes. He did what he normally did on any long bus ride, and tried to get some rest.
Sometimes the only way to see the light, is a journey through darkness
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Vesper Fiend
- Student Council
- Posts: 2756
- Joined: Sun Jan 07, 2007 12:24 am
- Location: Here and there.
Re: 03:00 - Surviving the Yellow Bus
What time was it? “Too freakin' early! That's what time it is!” her brain shot back. Ves didn't worry about extra sleep. There was going to be a long bus ride, and if she wanted, she could nap just about anywhere. She had grabbed her stuff and had switched to operating mostly on autopilot. People… Bus… Folding doors… Mind the steps… An empty seat right there.
She was pretty sure she had only gone back to sleep when “Helllllo Flyers!” boomed through the bus. “Shut up!” flared in her mind and ran straight to her mouth. She only barely bit the words back, settling instead for an almost inaudible grunt. “People are tryin’ to sleep, here,” she thought.
She registered Mr. Norris checking his list, and managed a raised hand. She remembered a mumbled “No way… Let’s get this show on the road so I can get to sleep.” Then there was the motion of the bus, the darkness of the early morning, and the sweet restfulness of unconsciousness.
She was pretty sure she had only gone back to sleep when “Helllllo Flyers!” boomed through the bus. “Shut up!” flared in her mind and ran straight to her mouth. She only barely bit the words back, settling instead for an almost inaudible grunt. “People are tryin’ to sleep, here,” she thought.
She registered Mr. Norris checking his list, and managed a raised hand. She remembered a mumbled “No way… Let’s get this show on the road so I can get to sleep.” Then there was the motion of the bus, the darkness of the early morning, and the sweet restfulness of unconsciousness.
- All opinions are not equal. Some are a very great deal more robust, sophisticated and well supported in logic and argument than others. - Douglas Adams - The Salmon of Doubt
- Never fear shadows… That always means there is a light shining somewhere. - Lactantius
- Never fear shadows… That always means there is a light shining somewhere. - Lactantius
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Nox
- Posts: 327
- Joined: Thu Dec 07, 2006 1:04 am
- Location: Checking out the campus. Everything looks different now!
2:30 EDT, Quad 1: An alarm clock is heard.
2:31 EDT, Quad 1: Crunching sound and alarm ends suddenly.
2:40 EDT, Quad 1: Another alarm is heard.
2:41 EDT, Quad 1: Alarm stops followed by moaning.
2:47 EDT, Quad 1: Dark figure (zombie?) shuffles out of quad 1. Further examination reveals Nick walking in a daze with eyes shut until he walks into an obstacle.
3:05 EDT, Parking lot: Nick shuffles aboard bus, places backpack under a seat and collapses into different seat.
3:15 EDT, Parking lot: Bus begins driving off SJS campus.
3:23 EDT, Bus: Nick wakes up enough to realize he cannot find his backpack. He will care about it later.
2:31 EDT, Quad 1: Crunching sound and alarm ends suddenly.
2:40 EDT, Quad 1: Another alarm is heard.
2:41 EDT, Quad 1: Alarm stops followed by moaning.
2:47 EDT, Quad 1: Dark figure (zombie?) shuffles out of quad 1. Further examination reveals Nick walking in a daze with eyes shut until he walks into an obstacle.
3:05 EDT, Parking lot: Nick shuffles aboard bus, places backpack under a seat and collapses into different seat.
3:15 EDT, Parking lot: Bus begins driving off SJS campus.
3:23 EDT, Bus: Nick wakes up enough to realize he cannot find his backpack. He will care about it later.
I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use.
-Galileo Galilei
-Galileo Galilei
-
Persiflage
- Posts: 601
- Joined: Thu Dec 07, 2006 11:20 pm
The bus stopped with a whumpity-bump. Nennya woke and stretched, feeling more sleepy than she'd intended. The energy level among all the students seemed low. The sky was still dark, but it would be dawn soon.
They were standing in a dirt-paved parking lot with a long, low wooden pavilion to one side. They were herded off the bus in short order, lined up in rows under the uncertain light of one sodium lampbulb. Nennya and Randy found themselves standing next to each other, and gave each other a nod.
She'd looked at how Randy stood, feet balanced on the ground, shoulders easy, head flexible on his neck. He knew how to handle his body. Unlikely to lose his temper from fatigue or hunger. He was one of the quiet ones.
They'd been giving each other little amused glances for the past few days, nodding at each others' overcrowded lunchtrays packed to bursting with spaghetti noodles, buttered breads, cereals. And last night, she'd pigged out on fats and sugars to the point that Bryan had teased her, goodnaturedly, that her hiking pants wouldn't fit by the time morning came. But no matter. Randy was one of the people she intended to stick close to.
"Unload your packs, please, and spread them out for inspection," said Mr. Norris, in a capable, confident manner than brooked no disagreement. Norris and the chaperones walked up and down the rough rows, all their stuff spread out in little triangles of mess on the ground. A PSP was confiscated, as were comm devices, bottles of aspirin, mouthwash, candy bars , electronic wristwatches, and hand sanitizer. "Anything in your pockets?" Mr. Norris asked her, on his rounds. She shook her head no. There was some general whining and grumbling as a tub full of the contraband items was whisked away back to the bus.
"Button it!" barked Mr. Burton. Nennya mimicked beating on her chest and winked at Randy. Backpacks were readjusted, and Mr. Norris passed out small paper manuals as Burton continued. "Your guides and chaperones will be assisting you during this outing, but I'd like to repeat a few simple rules. One, boil your water, or you're going to end up with a bad belly, parasites or diarrhea. Two, don't eat ANYthing you gather without your guie's authorization. There's plenty of stuff out there growin' that looks like it's safe but isn't. And three, boil your water. Okay, let's get you into squads."
Nennya looked around and tapped Gabe's shoulder. He was staring dubiously at his farina and chickpeas as he reloaded his backframe. "Come with Randy and me," she said in a low tone. "I promise you'll eat well." Gabe gave her a smile, and Randy nodded.
The rest of them grouped themselves into little clusters of threes and fours, and she bit the inside of her lip to keep from giggling when Stanley Wallace introduced himself to them and took their group under his exceptionally nerdy wing. She heard Randy give a whistle as Mr. Wallace walked away to confer with the other adullts and mull over some ominous-looking canvas sacks. "Yes, no kidding, better the nebbishy one than the alpha male." She giggled.
"I want you to remember, students, that his is neither a race nor a recreational activity," added Mr. Norris. "This is meant to be a learning experience. And to make the experience more realistic...
Ms. Sanchez and Mr. Norris began unloading ... plastic babies from the blue canvas bags.
"Say WHAT?" said Stasis Kiss, audibly, obviously catching sight of the dolls. Someone else started in on a line of dead-baby jokes, which always bred more dead-baby jokes.
"As part of the pioneering spirit includes protecting and caring for the next generation, each group will be assigned a computerized infant care-doll. The infant must be regularly changed, fed, and comforted in your progress."
More general moaning ensued. Mr. Norris spoke up. "Twenty percent of your grade will depend upon having a 'live' infant at the end of your journey."
Each chaperone brought over the dolls. In some groups, it seemed that these dolls were naturally deposited in the hands of the girls. Wallace came over, and Nennya crossed her arms. "Nope," she said. "I'll do my share, but the fake baby isn't all on me."
"We'll take turns," laughed Randy, grabbing the baby and adjusting it in the top of his carryframe. "I'll do the first four hours, then we trade off. Wuff, heavy one. He must be eight pounds if he's an ounce." Wallace handed him a lanyard with a series of chip-keys to control the doll, slipped it around his neck like a gold medal.
"Darn right," said Nennya, grinning.
"You couldn't just hand us Tamagotchis?" someone muttered.
They were standing in a dirt-paved parking lot with a long, low wooden pavilion to one side. They were herded off the bus in short order, lined up in rows under the uncertain light of one sodium lampbulb. Nennya and Randy found themselves standing next to each other, and gave each other a nod.
She'd looked at how Randy stood, feet balanced on the ground, shoulders easy, head flexible on his neck. He knew how to handle his body. Unlikely to lose his temper from fatigue or hunger. He was one of the quiet ones.
They'd been giving each other little amused glances for the past few days, nodding at each others' overcrowded lunchtrays packed to bursting with spaghetti noodles, buttered breads, cereals. And last night, she'd pigged out on fats and sugars to the point that Bryan had teased her, goodnaturedly, that her hiking pants wouldn't fit by the time morning came. But no matter. Randy was one of the people she intended to stick close to.
"Unload your packs, please, and spread them out for inspection," said Mr. Norris, in a capable, confident manner than brooked no disagreement. Norris and the chaperones walked up and down the rough rows, all their stuff spread out in little triangles of mess on the ground. A PSP was confiscated, as were comm devices, bottles of aspirin, mouthwash, candy bars , electronic wristwatches, and hand sanitizer. "Anything in your pockets?" Mr. Norris asked her, on his rounds. She shook her head no. There was some general whining and grumbling as a tub full of the contraband items was whisked away back to the bus.
"Button it!" barked Mr. Burton. Nennya mimicked beating on her chest and winked at Randy. Backpacks were readjusted, and Mr. Norris passed out small paper manuals as Burton continued. "Your guides and chaperones will be assisting you during this outing, but I'd like to repeat a few simple rules. One, boil your water, or you're going to end up with a bad belly, parasites or diarrhea. Two, don't eat ANYthing you gather without your guie's authorization. There's plenty of stuff out there growin' that looks like it's safe but isn't. And three, boil your water. Okay, let's get you into squads."
Nennya looked around and tapped Gabe's shoulder. He was staring dubiously at his farina and chickpeas as he reloaded his backframe. "Come with Randy and me," she said in a low tone. "I promise you'll eat well." Gabe gave her a smile, and Randy nodded.
The rest of them grouped themselves into little clusters of threes and fours, and she bit the inside of her lip to keep from giggling when Stanley Wallace introduced himself to them and took their group under his exceptionally nerdy wing. She heard Randy give a whistle as Mr. Wallace walked away to confer with the other adullts and mull over some ominous-looking canvas sacks. "Yes, no kidding, better the nebbishy one than the alpha male." She giggled.
"I want you to remember, students, that his is neither a race nor a recreational activity," added Mr. Norris. "This is meant to be a learning experience. And to make the experience more realistic...
Ms. Sanchez and Mr. Norris began unloading ... plastic babies from the blue canvas bags.
"Say WHAT?" said Stasis Kiss, audibly, obviously catching sight of the dolls. Someone else started in on a line of dead-baby jokes, which always bred more dead-baby jokes.
"As part of the pioneering spirit includes protecting and caring for the next generation, each group will be assigned a computerized infant care-doll. The infant must be regularly changed, fed, and comforted in your progress."
More general moaning ensued. Mr. Norris spoke up. "Twenty percent of your grade will depend upon having a 'live' infant at the end of your journey."
Each chaperone brought over the dolls. In some groups, it seemed that these dolls were naturally deposited in the hands of the girls. Wallace came over, and Nennya crossed her arms. "Nope," she said. "I'll do my share, but the fake baby isn't all on me."
"We'll take turns," laughed Randy, grabbing the baby and adjusting it in the top of his carryframe. "I'll do the first four hours, then we trade off. Wuff, heavy one. He must be eight pounds if he's an ounce." Wallace handed him a lanyard with a series of chip-keys to control the doll, slipped it around his neck like a gold medal.
"Darn right," said Nennya, grinning.
"You couldn't just hand us Tamagotchis?" someone muttered.
"Caveat Emptor"
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Blitzen
- Talent Scout
- Posts: 2806
- Joined: Wed Dec 06, 2006 2:15 am
- Location: Nowhere near whatever was broken
- Contact:
Mr. Norris looked around at his rag-tag pioneers and had to smile. He himself had made the "wilderness trek" last year and was impressed enough to convince the school board that it would be an excellent opportunity for students to bring New England's history alive. Their reasons for being there were as diverse as the group itself, everything from improving grades to testing their resolve. He was there for the love of history, and come hell or high water, he wanted to make sure they took some of that home with them.
He and his church-going volunteers had a crash training course a few weeks prior, each carried a pack with any necessities they would need in case of emergency. When dividing the kids into teams, he'd made certain that each one would have a "healer" with them in case of emergency. Hopefully that wouldn't be necessary. If this went smoothly, perhaps other field trips would follow, but he was getting ahead of himself.
Plenty of students had brought their own gear, most of which would end up sitting on the bus. He checked his own watch one last time before placing in the "confiscated" bin. Time to get the show on the road.
He and his church-going volunteers had a crash training course a few weeks prior, each carried a pack with any necessities they would need in case of emergency. When dividing the kids into teams, he'd made certain that each one would have a "healer" with them in case of emergency. Hopefully that wouldn't be necessary. If this went smoothly, perhaps other field trips would follow, but he was getting ahead of himself.
Plenty of students had brought their own gear, most of which would end up sitting on the bus. He checked his own watch one last time before placing in the "confiscated" bin. Time to get the show on the road.
Last edited by Blitzen on Tue May 22, 2007 9:58 am, edited 1 time in total.
TGIF -Tanks Go In First
"Miss Douglas, we know about the nuts."
"Sam's the most amazing gamer EVER, and I love her footwear." - Laurel Fitte
"Miss Douglas, we know about the nuts."
"Sam's the most amazing gamer EVER, and I love her footwear." - Laurel Fitte
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Stasis Kiss
- Supreme Commander of teh Intarwebs
- Posts: 2403
- Joined: Sun Jan 29, 2006 1:24 pm
- Location: just left of center
- Contact:
She tried not to grin too much as Kali's backpack was inspected.
Really, her dark haired friend had been kinda clever about it. There were no less than four cans of coke cleverly disguised as wooly socks. The fact that the socks in question were questionable dayglo shades was kind of beside the point; surely the pioneers had dyed stuff with berries and things or whatever it was that pioneers did so they didn't all resemble brown woodchucks. Still, Kali suffered the soft drinks to be removed from their protective covering with only a really loud sigh and a half hearted wail.
Stasis shifted to her other foot and tried to wake up a little. Beside her, Kali crossed her arms grumpily over her puffy quilted vest.
The ice blonde blinked and inspected her memory. Had Kali just... crunched? Yes. Yes, she had. That had been a definite crunching sound.
She tried to stifle the grin in case anybody caught it and asked what was so funny. How many bags of chips had Kali managed to stuff into the lining of the jacket anyways? It also begged the question of how Kali intended to stay warm if the down had been removed to make way for serious salt intake.
Stasis considered.
"Hey, Kali."
"Mmhmm?"
"Please tell me you brought a blanket."
Kali looked startled and then smug. "Sure did!"
"Great. 'Cause I am not sleeping with you if you get cold." She thought for another moment and relented. "Unless you are scared. 'Cause if you're scared we can figure something out. I'm good that way."
"Stas! I am not going to get scared! I can do this."
"Suuuure. I bet there are bears out there. Rabid squirrels. Maybe even really angry centipedes with control issues."
Kali giggled and then made a face, turning with a wide eyed expression that was at least half put on. They were probably both nervous. "Centipedes? Oh, ewwww! They have like a thousand legs and they wiggle and its just icky! Please tell me there aren't any centipedes out there because I will just die." Kali's jacket chose that moment to crunch again.
"Heyla, no dying. I'm pretty sure that's in the rules somewhere."
Kali recrossed her arms again and then blanched as her jacket rustled even more. She shoved her hands in her pockets instead. "Besides, I bet you're the one that gets scared. And I bet you're too cold to sleep with."
"Am not!"
"Are too."
"Am not! Jai doesn't complain anyways."
Kali rolled her eyes. "I bet he's got other things on his mind."
"Hey!"
Mr. Norris started to talk then however and they both had to stop play acting and pay attention. Everything seemed sort of surreal, standing around in the dawn with all the other guys, everybody trying to be awake,everybody trying not to be too excited. Mana was this big bulking shadow off to the left. She didn't really know anybody else, at least not that well. Well, Eddie a little. She still wasn't sure what to make of him and Sam, because it was supposed to be Jase and Sam, right? It made her feel unsettled for some reason, like she was supposed to be mad at Sam for ditching her friend.
She wasn't sure that she was mad, though. She wanted to like Sam, she did. She didn't want to be upset with the other girl. It hadn't helped that she hadn't even seen Jase to talk to him, find out what had happened. He'd just disappeared right after and she felt guilty at her sneaking sense of relief. She wasn't even sure she wanted to know what had gone on. Not with the way things were with... well, whatever. She was just avoiding the whole thing for awhile - maybe it would make sense later. Maybe she'd never have to have an opinion on it at all.
She shifted back and forth on her heels. She was doing fine until they started handing out the dolls.
"Say what?!" She blurted it out loud, hard enough to carry.
Kali had the temerity to giggle. "C'mon Stas, it'll be fun! Our very own baby." The other girl was obviously taking it for granted that they'd be in the same group and Stasis was grateful for the support. She was definitely less grateful for this weird twist.
She mumbled something, unable to believe it. No way. She put thoughts into words in a frantic whisper.
"No way. No way am I taking care of a... a baby, even a pretend one. I don't know anything *about* babies! I'll lose it."
"No you won't. I bet you make a great daddy."
"Hey! Don't you start!"
Kali took possession of the thing though, thankfully. Stasis eyed the doll and sighed. No way. Just.. no way. She hadn't counted on this.
She just wanted to earn some extra marks at school. After all, just how difficult could it be? It had sounded pretty easy on paper.
Really, her dark haired friend had been kinda clever about it. There were no less than four cans of coke cleverly disguised as wooly socks. The fact that the socks in question were questionable dayglo shades was kind of beside the point; surely the pioneers had dyed stuff with berries and things or whatever it was that pioneers did so they didn't all resemble brown woodchucks. Still, Kali suffered the soft drinks to be removed from their protective covering with only a really loud sigh and a half hearted wail.
Stasis shifted to her other foot and tried to wake up a little. Beside her, Kali crossed her arms grumpily over her puffy quilted vest.
The ice blonde blinked and inspected her memory. Had Kali just... crunched? Yes. Yes, she had. That had been a definite crunching sound.
She tried to stifle the grin in case anybody caught it and asked what was so funny. How many bags of chips had Kali managed to stuff into the lining of the jacket anyways? It also begged the question of how Kali intended to stay warm if the down had been removed to make way for serious salt intake.
Stasis considered.
"Hey, Kali."
"Mmhmm?"
"Please tell me you brought a blanket."
Kali looked startled and then smug. "Sure did!"
"Great. 'Cause I am not sleeping with you if you get cold." She thought for another moment and relented. "Unless you are scared. 'Cause if you're scared we can figure something out. I'm good that way."
"Stas! I am not going to get scared! I can do this."
"Suuuure. I bet there are bears out there. Rabid squirrels. Maybe even really angry centipedes with control issues."
Kali giggled and then made a face, turning with a wide eyed expression that was at least half put on. They were probably both nervous. "Centipedes? Oh, ewwww! They have like a thousand legs and they wiggle and its just icky! Please tell me there aren't any centipedes out there because I will just die." Kali's jacket chose that moment to crunch again.
"Heyla, no dying. I'm pretty sure that's in the rules somewhere."
Kali recrossed her arms again and then blanched as her jacket rustled even more. She shoved her hands in her pockets instead. "Besides, I bet you're the one that gets scared. And I bet you're too cold to sleep with."
"Am not!"
"Are too."
"Am not! Jai doesn't complain anyways."
Kali rolled her eyes. "I bet he's got other things on his mind."
"Hey!"
Mr. Norris started to talk then however and they both had to stop play acting and pay attention. Everything seemed sort of surreal, standing around in the dawn with all the other guys, everybody trying to be awake,everybody trying not to be too excited. Mana was this big bulking shadow off to the left. She didn't really know anybody else, at least not that well. Well, Eddie a little. She still wasn't sure what to make of him and Sam, because it was supposed to be Jase and Sam, right? It made her feel unsettled for some reason, like she was supposed to be mad at Sam for ditching her friend.
She wasn't sure that she was mad, though. She wanted to like Sam, she did. She didn't want to be upset with the other girl. It hadn't helped that she hadn't even seen Jase to talk to him, find out what had happened. He'd just disappeared right after and she felt guilty at her sneaking sense of relief. She wasn't even sure she wanted to know what had gone on. Not with the way things were with... well, whatever. She was just avoiding the whole thing for awhile - maybe it would make sense later. Maybe she'd never have to have an opinion on it at all.
She shifted back and forth on her heels. She was doing fine until they started handing out the dolls.
"Say what?!" She blurted it out loud, hard enough to carry.
Kali had the temerity to giggle. "C'mon Stas, it'll be fun! Our very own baby." The other girl was obviously taking it for granted that they'd be in the same group and Stasis was grateful for the support. She was definitely less grateful for this weird twist.
She mumbled something, unable to believe it. No way. She put thoughts into words in a frantic whisper.
"No way. No way am I taking care of a... a baby, even a pretend one. I don't know anything *about* babies! I'll lose it."
"No you won't. I bet you make a great daddy."
"Hey! Don't you start!"
Kali took possession of the thing though, thankfully. Stasis eyed the doll and sighed. No way. Just.. no way. She hadn't counted on this.
She just wanted to earn some extra marks at school. After all, just how difficult could it be? It had sounded pretty easy on paper.
Last edited by Stasis Kiss on Sun May 20, 2007 4:37 am, edited 1 time in total.
"So pay attention to me; I don't talk for my health."
"I want you on my team."
"... So does everybody else."
"I want you on my team."
"... So does everybody else."
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Mana Cannon
- Posts: 1045
- Joined: Sun Nov 12, 2006 11:52 pm
- Location: Where Am I Now?
- Contact:
As the sun slowly started to peak over the hills Mana squinted his eyes allowing the focus. The bus Ground to a halt and a number of students were rudely awakened. Smiling to himself for sleeping most of the day before he was able to meet the 3:00 am start time early and fully awake. Having never drivin in a bus before Mana had enjoyed the trip while nearly everone else had been asleep.
Grabbing his duffle bag filled with 3 change of clothing, botted water, a kit filled with some minor cooking and cleaning equipment, and his tent and sleeping bag he stood and banged his head and ears on the ceiling. Blushing grey as a few students laughed he climbed off the bus and stood by a tree while the instructors listed off rules and information.
Out of the corner of his eye he saw Nennya motioning to someone but he turned away to finish listening to the guidelines.
"This is going to be a good experience to test my new beast form out where I can relax about my size and movements." he thought setting up his sleeping area. "Oh...I need a squad...Um..." he looked around helplessly not sure of who to ask while everyone was picking friends and team mates. "Uh oh..."
Grabbing his duffle bag filled with 3 change of clothing, botted water, a kit filled with some minor cooking and cleaning equipment, and his tent and sleeping bag he stood and banged his head and ears on the ceiling. Blushing grey as a few students laughed he climbed off the bus and stood by a tree while the instructors listed off rules and information.
Out of the corner of his eye he saw Nennya motioning to someone but he turned away to finish listening to the guidelines.
"This is going to be a good experience to test my new beast form out where I can relax about my size and movements." he thought setting up his sleeping area. "Oh...I need a squad...Um..." he looked around helplessly not sure of who to ask while everyone was picking friends and team mates. "Uh oh..."
Till All Are One! -Optimus Prime
There Are Things Each Of Us Can And Can Not Do. I Will Do What You Can Not Do While You Go And Do What I Can Not Do-Sanji of the Black Leg
There Are Things Each Of Us Can And Can Not Do. I Will Do What You Can Not Do While You Go And Do What I Can Not Do-Sanji of the Black Leg
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Blitzen
- Talent Scout
- Posts: 2806
- Joined: Wed Dec 06, 2006 2:15 am
- Location: Nowhere near whatever was broken
- Contact:
Mr. Norris smiled warmly as he looked over Mana's supplies.
"You came well prepared for camping." He said, patting the large student on the shoulder. "But part of this exercise is living off the land, so a few of these amenities will have to stay on the bus."
He removed the tent and sleeping bag, replacing them with a woolen blanket, confiscated the water bottles replacing them with a treated canvas canteen, and took whatever supplies that wouldn't be available in the late 1700's.
"You came well prepared for camping." He said, patting the large student on the shoulder. "But part of this exercise is living off the land, so a few of these amenities will have to stay on the bus."
He removed the tent and sleeping bag, replacing them with a woolen blanket, confiscated the water bottles replacing them with a treated canvas canteen, and took whatever supplies that wouldn't be available in the late 1700's.
TGIF -Tanks Go In First
"Miss Douglas, we know about the nuts."
"Sam's the most amazing gamer EVER, and I love her footwear." - Laurel Fitte
"Miss Douglas, we know about the nuts."
"Sam's the most amazing gamer EVER, and I love her footwear." - Laurel Fitte
-
Eddie Amplitude
- Posts: 158
- Joined: Mon Dec 25, 2006 6:25 am
- Location: Class
Mr. Norris approached Eddie while the rest of the guides were still checking for contraband, who hadn’t brought anything along for the trip. “I have something for you Mr. Trenton.” he said, reaching into his bag for something.
“What’s that, sir?” Questioned Eddie, eyeing the bag.
“This.” Replied the history teacher as he pulled a small piece of blackboard and several sticks of chalk out and handed them to Eddie. “This is going to be your “voice” for the weekend.” he said with a slight smile. “However, I have reviewed you’re records and understand that your mental powers are still slightly uncontrolled. Is that accurate?”
“Yeah, I still hear peoples thoughts unless someone like Coach is around. And on occasion a few of my thoughts slip out when I don’t mean for them to.” Eddie answered nervously.
“I remember reading something to that effect. I’ll tell you what I’ll do, I would like you to use these for the trip. However, if you must, I’ll allow use of telepathy. There had to be at lease a few back then. But I would like to set a few ground rules. Firstly, if you do I want you to only use it when whoever it is you’re talking to would be in earshot. Secondly, I will have to take ten percent off of your grade if you do use it. Does that sound reasonable?” asked Mr. Norris, smiling again.
Eddie nodded as he looked down at the blackboard. “That sounds fair, I really appreciate this sir.”
“Wonderful, I’ll go tell the guides.” Mr. Norris said as he went back to checking bags.
Eddie thought to himself. “This is going to be interesting.”
“What’s that, sir?” Questioned Eddie, eyeing the bag.
“This.” Replied the history teacher as he pulled a small piece of blackboard and several sticks of chalk out and handed them to Eddie. “This is going to be your “voice” for the weekend.” he said with a slight smile. “However, I have reviewed you’re records and understand that your mental powers are still slightly uncontrolled. Is that accurate?”
“Yeah, I still hear peoples thoughts unless someone like Coach is around. And on occasion a few of my thoughts slip out when I don’t mean for them to.” Eddie answered nervously.
“I remember reading something to that effect. I’ll tell you what I’ll do, I would like you to use these for the trip. However, if you must, I’ll allow use of telepathy. There had to be at lease a few back then. But I would like to set a few ground rules. Firstly, if you do I want you to only use it when whoever it is you’re talking to would be in earshot. Secondly, I will have to take ten percent off of your grade if you do use it. Does that sound reasonable?” asked Mr. Norris, smiling again.
Eddie nodded as he looked down at the blackboard. “That sounds fair, I really appreciate this sir.”
“Wonderful, I’ll go tell the guides.” Mr. Norris said as he went back to checking bags.
Eddie thought to himself. “This is going to be interesting.”
"No man has ever fought so hard as the one who fights for those he loves." - Richard Harrison
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Nox
- Posts: 327
- Joined: Thu Dec 07, 2006 1:04 am
- Location: Checking out the campus. Everything looks different now!
"Mr. Norris? You won't have to confiscate anything from my pack. I seem to have forgotten it."
Nick could barely remember getting on the bus but he swore he brought his pack with him. It was a nice back pack - big enough for overnights with a hip belt and adjustable suspension. His extra clothes and other things were in it. Two days of hiking and no extra socks!
"What else are you carrying?" Mr. Norris asked.
"Uh, I've got my wallet, keys, a pocketknife, and a multi-tool," Nick replied, going through his pockets.
"Well, you can place everything but the pocketknife in the storage box."
"Yes sir," Nick responded. Good thing they didn't make him leave the fleece jacket he was wearing behind. He was sure they didn't have waterproof artificial fleece in the 1700's.
Nick could barely remember getting on the bus but he swore he brought his pack with him. It was a nice back pack - big enough for overnights with a hip belt and adjustable suspension. His extra clothes and other things were in it. Two days of hiking and no extra socks!
"What else are you carrying?" Mr. Norris asked.
"Uh, I've got my wallet, keys, a pocketknife, and a multi-tool," Nick replied, going through his pockets.
"Well, you can place everything but the pocketknife in the storage box."
"Yes sir," Nick responded. Good thing they didn't make him leave the fleece jacket he was wearing behind. He was sure they didn't have waterproof artificial fleece in the 1700's.
I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use.
-Galileo Galilei
-Galileo Galilei
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Blitzen
- Talent Scout
- Posts: 2806
- Joined: Wed Dec 06, 2006 2:15 am
- Location: Nowhere near whatever was broken
- Contact:
All contraband gear being confiscated, Mr. Norris collected himself, took a deep breath of mountain air and addressed his students.
"Okay, pioneers, the year is 1741, and settlers have been establishing colonies to the south for over 100 years now. But unlike them, you aren’t seeking a safe haven to practice your religion, no you are the entrepreneurs. That’s right, this area was envisioned as a new English colony for business and expansion. Now I can tell by the blank look on most of your faces that you are not listening to a word I say let alone absorbing any information, so rather than simply tell you what the New Hampshirites encountered in their strife for settlement, you lucky students are going to live the experience.
First and foremost, I’d like to thank our three volunteer guides. If you are not in my group, I expect you to treat them with the same respect you give me, and for some of you, I should hope you treat them even better than that. They are your chaperones, what they say goes, and they will have final say of your grade. You are to stay with them, that’s rule number one. Rule number two is that there are no exceptions to rule number one. Contrary to what you might believe, this is not a race. It’s not a camping trip, it’s not a hike through some pretty woods. It’s an extra credit assignment for you to learn a bit of New England’s history. Myself and these three individuals will be your teachers. I’m sure Coach Waters would be more than happy to run a survival camp this summer vacation if that’s all you were interested in doing.
That being said, we will be breaking into three groups, each of us will follow in the footsteps of a famous New Hampshire pioneer. All of these pioneers ended up settling in the same hamlet, a small village to the north called Stewartston. That will be our final destination.
Group one will be my group. We’ll be following in the footsteps of Sir Thomas Windham the third. Sir Thomas was hand appointed by then governor Benning Wentworth to explore the territory. Rumor has it that this was after Sir Thomas’s youngest son James expressed interest in Wentworth’s daughter, and thus the trail he set to explore was quite treacherous indeed. Students in my group, please take your packs and form up by me. Nennya Drixxen, Gabriel Templar, Randy Thompson and Raphael.
Group two will be led by Ms. Sanchez.” The slight woman nodded and flashed a quick smile to the students. “You will be following the trail of William Buckford, aka Billy Buck or Billy the Buck, an early settler jealous of the prosperity of the newly established Scottish-Irish town of Londonbury. Mr. Buck as his name implies was after a quick one. He chose what he believed to be the quickest trail, a direct route, but I’m sure you’ll find, as did he, that the direct approach is not always the quickest, the easiest nor the safest. Group two, form up by Ms. Sanchez, you are Antone Dubois, Jay Taggert, Rick Drake and Jennifer Wayland.
That leaves us with group three.” He took a brief moment to survey the stragglers, standing off in their own little cliques. “Group three will be following the trail to the east originally led by Miles Emerson and his Indian Scout Guide, Akando. Emerson himself was an adventurer, he brought his family here from a safe colony in Massachusetts seeking adventures to document, fancying himself an author. I’m sure this group will find the trail to be just as adventurous. Group three will be led by both Mr. Burton, and Mr. Wallace. If the remaining six students will please form up on them, we can roll out.
Any questions, pioneers? If not? We’ll see you in Stewartston in about 48 hours. Good luck, and Godspeed."
"Okay, pioneers, the year is 1741, and settlers have been establishing colonies to the south for over 100 years now. But unlike them, you aren’t seeking a safe haven to practice your religion, no you are the entrepreneurs. That’s right, this area was envisioned as a new English colony for business and expansion. Now I can tell by the blank look on most of your faces that you are not listening to a word I say let alone absorbing any information, so rather than simply tell you what the New Hampshirites encountered in their strife for settlement, you lucky students are going to live the experience.
First and foremost, I’d like to thank our three volunteer guides. If you are not in my group, I expect you to treat them with the same respect you give me, and for some of you, I should hope you treat them even better than that. They are your chaperones, what they say goes, and they will have final say of your grade. You are to stay with them, that’s rule number one. Rule number two is that there are no exceptions to rule number one. Contrary to what you might believe, this is not a race. It’s not a camping trip, it’s not a hike through some pretty woods. It’s an extra credit assignment for you to learn a bit of New England’s history. Myself and these three individuals will be your teachers. I’m sure Coach Waters would be more than happy to run a survival camp this summer vacation if that’s all you were interested in doing.
That being said, we will be breaking into three groups, each of us will follow in the footsteps of a famous New Hampshire pioneer. All of these pioneers ended up settling in the same hamlet, a small village to the north called Stewartston. That will be our final destination.
Group one will be my group. We’ll be following in the footsteps of Sir Thomas Windham the third. Sir Thomas was hand appointed by then governor Benning Wentworth to explore the territory. Rumor has it that this was after Sir Thomas’s youngest son James expressed interest in Wentworth’s daughter, and thus the trail he set to explore was quite treacherous indeed. Students in my group, please take your packs and form up by me. Nennya Drixxen, Gabriel Templar, Randy Thompson and Raphael.
Group two will be led by Ms. Sanchez.” The slight woman nodded and flashed a quick smile to the students. “You will be following the trail of William Buckford, aka Billy Buck or Billy the Buck, an early settler jealous of the prosperity of the newly established Scottish-Irish town of Londonbury. Mr. Buck as his name implies was after a quick one. He chose what he believed to be the quickest trail, a direct route, but I’m sure you’ll find, as did he, that the direct approach is not always the quickest, the easiest nor the safest. Group two, form up by Ms. Sanchez, you are Antone Dubois, Jay Taggert, Rick Drake and Jennifer Wayland.
That leaves us with group three.” He took a brief moment to survey the stragglers, standing off in their own little cliques. “Group three will be following the trail to the east originally led by Miles Emerson and his Indian Scout Guide, Akando. Emerson himself was an adventurer, he brought his family here from a safe colony in Massachusetts seeking adventures to document, fancying himself an author. I’m sure this group will find the trail to be just as adventurous. Group three will be led by both Mr. Burton, and Mr. Wallace. If the remaining six students will please form up on them, we can roll out.
Any questions, pioneers? If not? We’ll see you in Stewartston in about 48 hours. Good luck, and Godspeed."
TGIF -Tanks Go In First
"Miss Douglas, we know about the nuts."
"Sam's the most amazing gamer EVER, and I love her footwear." - Laurel Fitte
"Miss Douglas, we know about the nuts."
"Sam's the most amazing gamer EVER, and I love her footwear." - Laurel Fitte