The next two days went by quickly as Jaye observed how Carly dealt with students. It also gave Jaye a chance to observe the girls as well. While the Headmistress' presence was felt, she was rarely seen. Each first year was to take 2 weeks of each language. Once evaluated, they would be placed in the class of their strength. Jaye noted particularly the courses for P.E. Besides archery and javelin, there was also "armory" where the girls not only learned how to handle various weapons, but how to load and disassemble only to reassemble once more. Weight training was another one that Lady Jaye noted, but did not see the others. By Wednesday, she was ready to teach, noting how the other staff members dealt with the students. They were right. They weren't bad girls but pretty obedient. There were some independent streaks so you could see their individual spirits. While the girls wore uniforms of navy pants and white shirts, they were allowed to accessorize as long as it did not compromise their performance during P.E. In fact, after teaching for a month, Lady Jaye felt very comfortable in this new world and new role for herself. While she had never felt a strong maternal instinct towards children, these girls, ranging from 12 to 18, brought out the "big sister" in herself, she supposed. She was glad that Duke had opted for her to retain her real first name since she felt, especially with the other staff members at night, it would have been odd to not respond to her alias.
However, she found it hard to communicate with Duke. Two weeks went by and she could not find an opportunity to transfer any information to him. Her instincts told her that the P.E. classes were a bit more than a usual girls' school, as well as all the different language choices…..but the staff threw her. All young women around her age, they were a great bunch, very friendly, very outgoing. Jaye wondered if somehow the staff was just that….innocent. She decided that it was high time to sneak into the Headmistress office. That would be the only place where she would find some answers. She had already searched classrooms and checked out the girls' dorms. Obviously nothing was hidden in the staff house, either. There was one computer where the women could email friends and family, but sharing it amongst six women was hard. Jaye felt that until she had something to report, she better not send Duke a message, even under the fake Yahoo address they had created. She had sent him a quick "Hey Mom, arrived fine and everything going well. Love, Alison" to ward off any suspicion on her counterparts about not contacting home. She had concocted a story about a bad breakup, along with some tears, so that the girls knew she had a good reason for coming so far from home. It seemed they all had similar stories with only one or two family members they were close to that they contacted.
Lady Jaye decided it was now or never. The Headmistress was away for the night to attend a meeting in London. The school had a small, private plane that was used to make short trips, when needed. It was then that Jaye also discovered the "shop" where the girls were learning how to fix everything from broken down cars to airplane engines! With these suspicions fresh in her mind, she managed to sneak out of the house after one of her staff-mates had produced a bottle that the rest had giggled and enjoyed. As part of her Scot heritage, Jaye was always able to hold her liquor better than others, especially compared to her American counterparts. After they were slipping off into dream land, Jaye was picking the lock on the Headmistress door. She had had a chance to observe the office closer on her last visit, when she was being evaluated by the Headmistress and her mentor. Trying not to look too obvious, she had looked for any alarm systems, wireless or not, as well as any other traps. She smiled and thought of the Nancy Drew books she had liked to read when she was young, as well as the Agatha Christie. She glanced for the signs of a hair placed in the doorjamb, and gave a quiet giggle. Must be the influence of hanging around all these girls, she thought, shaking the thought from her head. I need to get down to business.
Hacking into the Headmistress computer, she placed her flash drive in the USB port and started to download. It would be easier to use the special cell phone she had brought with her to view the files in privacy rather than be caught in the office. As it was, the files had just finished when lights swept over the window. Lady Jaye crouched, holding her breath. The gravel crunched as a vehicle approached the main house. Damn, she thought. She had been listening for the sound of an airplane, not that of a car. She silent crept over to the edge of the window and peeked out. She did not recognize the figures emerging from the black car, but heard muttered voices. Too distant and soft for her to make out the conversation. One sounded deep, as in a male's voice. Double damn, she thought, knowing they would head for the office. Luck must have been on her side since the voices paused at the door, but she heard one mention a drink in the kitchen, and they moved on. Waiting for the sounds to disappear and counting the steps past the corner and into the kitchen, Jaye silently let herself out of the room and locked the door behind her. She dashed into one of the open classrooms as she heard the voices returning. Standing where they couldn't see her, despite the open doorway (thank goodness for the cover of darkness!), she waited until they unlocked the office and went in. She still could not make out the shadowy figures, only knowing one was male and the other female. Curiosity got the better of her and she crept from her hiding spot only to stand near the door to find out who it was and what they were saying. The first voice she almost gave an audible gasp. It was Destro.
"And how goes the training, my dear?" he asked. "Are the newest recruits ready to serve their 'country'?"
"But of course, dahling," answered the voice of the Baroness. "Graduation is only a month away. The girls will have been programmed by then, through their 'directed study' to serve Cobra faithfully and efficiently."
That was enough for Jaye. Knowing staying could cost her, she silently crept away, her anger silent but deadly. These were good girls, despite the reason for coming here in the first place. It wasn't fair that they would be trained, then brainwashed! She crept back to the staff house, and booted up the computer. She quickly emailed to the Yahoo address: "Dear Mom, Homesick. Can't wait to see you. Graduation is coming too soon. Love, Alison." It was a code she and Duke had worked out. "Homesick" meant that she was ready to be extracted and it was what they had feared. Knowing at this point the Joes would come in full force, she wanted to make sure that only the headmistress would be caught. She didn't really believe the staff had much to do with the brainwashing, but then again, she did not know the "matrons" as well as her housemates. Hopefully Duke would be go with her plan to send a contact for her, who would then help direct the attack. Sky strikers in at full force just wouldn't cut it, she smirked.
She decided she'd better get some rest in lieu of the attack that was forthcoming.