Foundations Chapter 7
Caitlin looked at her watch. 12:30, almost show time. Walking out of her door, she turned to her assistant.
"Dr. Sommers, it's almost time for you to meet with David's group. Winnie Henderson and Annie Castalaine are waiting for you in the lobby," Mary Sue informed her.
The dean smiled to herself. Time to go help David move forward. With that, she stepped into the elevator and headed downstairs.
****
Adam took a look around at the facilities that the group was walking through. True, he had been to college many years before and he had seen this campus during the team's last visit to the desert. However, this was something different. He wasn't here just as the researcher or team leader, but rather, almost as a proud father. Seeing this event happen makes all of our work worthwhile. I hope it succeeds. I truly do. It has to...for all of our sakes.
He snapped back to reality as the group walked into the library's lobby. The facility's entry level opened in many directions that the young minds here would explore at their leisure. Hearing the 'wows' and seeing the awed looks on some faces, he knew that the world was about to become their oyster. I'll definitely need to let Jesse, Brennan, Emma, and Shalimar spend some time here if they wish to. David and Angie, thank you for this experience.
"Hey, Adam. You okay?" Emma and Shalimar wondered.
He nodded, wiping away a tear from his eye. Around him, the girls...not to mention Jesse and Brennan...were observing him to make sure he was okay.
"I'm just happy. You know how I feel about all of you," the leader assured them.
The quartet grinned and as one, embraced their mentor. This was a special day for them as well.
As he prepared to turn things over to Caitlin, Dave observed the embrace shared between Adam and the Mutant X members. Here's to all of us. Hopefully, we make this dream come true.
["Isn't that something?" Angie asked through their link.]
["Yes it is," he agreed, smiling and hugging her shoulders.]
For a minute, he allowed the scene to continue before starting. "Okay, everyone. This is the main library here at the university. It is my pleasure to introduce my colleagues, Winnie Henderson, who works on the Reference desk, and Annie Castalaine, our Religion bibliographer. They'll be assisting with the tour."
"Hi," Annie greeted pleasantly. "Welcome to our university. If you have any questions once we get started, please don't hesitate to ask! We look forward to seeing you and helping you with your papers."
Winnie waved and smiled shyly.
"Now, here's the woman who runs this fine place, Dr. Caitlin Sommers. Dean Sommers?" Dave announced.
Caitlin continued, "Thank you, Dr. Dubois. Good afternoon, everyone. I know you all have a lot to do this afternoon with the tour and getting settled in, but on behalf of the University administration, I wanted to greet you personally. There are going to be many challenges for all of you in the classroom over the next four years as well as in the world. You are a very unique group, and we have every confidence in you. All I can offer you is the same advice I give to other incoming freshmen: be diligent with your assignments, treat others as you would like to be treated, and most importantly, if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask questions of any of us. We're here to help you."
For a minute, she stood silently, allowing the students to soak her words in before continuing, " Speaking now as a member of the community here, you've met several representatives of different groups here and you will apparently meet two others tonight. Remember, as you move ahead, we will do our best to insure your safety and the learning experience that you are entitled to. In exchange, we ask that you all utilize your...talents...safely and not hurt others. You are paving the way for others such as yourselves. All of you are vital in proving those who would view you as dangerous wrong. It's all up to you. Thank you for your time."
"Thank you," Dave expressed, a smile on his face. "For the record, she gave Angie, Karen, and me that same bit of advice when we started here. Please, feel free to ask questions. Okay, let's get on with the tour.
With that, the group followed the three librarians and the dean into the facility.
****
The new students, Max, and Mutant X discovered many things about the university that afternoon. Most notably, that much of the history wasn't in a textbook-it was a series of living experiences from others similar to themselves who had attended school there, had visited there, or just passed through over the previous 120 years. Benefiting from their shared experiences there, Dave, Angie, and Karen told their stories.
As they walked around, several of the mutants could feel what their guides said. Martin felt the spiritual vibrations of those individuals. Mika heard the animals and insects around them. Lana could see and hear some of them as well.
The latter sighed. This is truly a special place. As they passed by the side of Old Main, she smiled at Clark. "You know what happened here, right?"
"Yeah," he agreed, recalling their earlier adventure there. In the Social Sciences building just diagonally left to them, the GSA had attacked the class, forcing him to come face to face with Professor Dubois's resident Dark Child and the threats surrounding them even here. On their right stood the palm tree under which he had spilled the beans about himself to her...trusting her with his secret and his heart.
"It's going to be great, Clark," she assured him, hugging him tightly. Then she realized that everyone was looking at them. "Sorry."
"No problem," Dave grinned warmly, waving it off. "Clark and Lana already have a story of their own from here...as do Adam and his team. Remember, all of our stories are important here, and we need to contribute something to the whole. In those cases, the GSA tried to put a halt to things, but with everyone's help, we overcame the threat. Right, Adam?"
"Absolutely," the former geneticist agreed. "Listen to what he's saying, people. Our ability to work as a team is what will keep us alive against the GSA. While you're going to school here and training with us, be alert and respect those around you."
"Right on," Shalimar affirmed.
"And that includes us as well," Emma added, thinking of Alicia Fallone.
Karen looked at Dave for a moment, recalling how many turns their friendship had taken over the years. He's right. Maybe things didn't work out exactly as we had anticipated or hoped at first, but they worked out for the best. It was just as Caroline said to him, 'Now, you're a part of something bigger.' She rubbed her daughter's arm to emphasize that point.
Mika didn't say anything but simply chose to rub her mother's hand. Having grown up around this place, she knew her mother's intent. Now, it's our turn.
"Okay!" Angie cut in, speaking to the entire group. "Who wants some pizza before our next stop?"
A collective cheer went up from the group. Maybe they were special, but they were still normal in that respect.
Dave, Angie, Eve, and Adam exchanged wry looks as they led the group over to the pizza parlor. This was going to be a lot of fun...a lot of work, but with a lot of fun along the way as well.
"Dr. Sommers, it's almost time for you to meet with David's group. Winnie Henderson and Annie Castalaine are waiting for you in the lobby," Mary Sue informed her.
The dean smiled to herself. Time to go help David move forward. With that, she stepped into the elevator and headed downstairs.
****
Adam took a look around at the facilities that the group was walking through. True, he had been to college many years before and he had seen this campus during the team's last visit to the desert. However, this was something different. He wasn't here just as the researcher or team leader, but rather, almost as a proud father. Seeing this event happen makes all of our work worthwhile. I hope it succeeds. I truly do. It has to...for all of our sakes.
He snapped back to reality as the group walked into the library's lobby. The facility's entry level opened in many directions that the young minds here would explore at their leisure. Hearing the 'wows' and seeing the awed looks on some faces, he knew that the world was about to become their oyster. I'll definitely need to let Jesse, Brennan, Emma, and Shalimar spend some time here if they wish to. David and Angie, thank you for this experience.
"Hey, Adam. You okay?" Emma and Shalimar wondered.
He nodded, wiping away a tear from his eye. Around him, the girls...not to mention Jesse and Brennan...were observing him to make sure he was okay.
"I'm just happy. You know how I feel about all of you," the leader assured them.
The quartet grinned and as one, embraced their mentor. This was a special day for them as well.
As he prepared to turn things over to Caitlin, Dave observed the embrace shared between Adam and the Mutant X members. Here's to all of us. Hopefully, we make this dream come true.
["Isn't that something?" Angie asked through their link.]
["Yes it is," he agreed, smiling and hugging her shoulders.]
For a minute, he allowed the scene to continue before starting. "Okay, everyone. This is the main library here at the university. It is my pleasure to introduce my colleagues, Winnie Henderson, who works on the Reference desk, and Annie Castalaine, our Religion bibliographer. They'll be assisting with the tour."
"Hi," Annie greeted pleasantly. "Welcome to our university. If you have any questions once we get started, please don't hesitate to ask! We look forward to seeing you and helping you with your papers."
Winnie waved and smiled shyly.
"Now, here's the woman who runs this fine place, Dr. Caitlin Sommers. Dean Sommers?" Dave announced.
Caitlin continued, "Thank you, Dr. Dubois. Good afternoon, everyone. I know you all have a lot to do this afternoon with the tour and getting settled in, but on behalf of the University administration, I wanted to greet you personally. There are going to be many challenges for all of you in the classroom over the next four years as well as in the world. You are a very unique group, and we have every confidence in you. All I can offer you is the same advice I give to other incoming freshmen: be diligent with your assignments, treat others as you would like to be treated, and most importantly, if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask questions of any of us. We're here to help you."
For a minute, she stood silently, allowing the students to soak her words in before continuing, " Speaking now as a member of the community here, you've met several representatives of different groups here and you will apparently meet two others tonight. Remember, as you move ahead, we will do our best to insure your safety and the learning experience that you are entitled to. In exchange, we ask that you all utilize your...talents...safely and not hurt others. You are paving the way for others such as yourselves. All of you are vital in proving those who would view you as dangerous wrong. It's all up to you. Thank you for your time."
"Thank you," Dave expressed, a smile on his face. "For the record, she gave Angie, Karen, and me that same bit of advice when we started here. Please, feel free to ask questions. Okay, let's get on with the tour.
With that, the group followed the three librarians and the dean into the facility.
****
The new students, Max, and Mutant X discovered many things about the university that afternoon. Most notably, that much of the history wasn't in a textbook-it was a series of living experiences from others similar to themselves who had attended school there, had visited there, or just passed through over the previous 120 years. Benefiting from their shared experiences there, Dave, Angie, and Karen told their stories.
As they walked around, several of the mutants could feel what their guides said. Martin felt the spiritual vibrations of those individuals. Mika heard the animals and insects around them. Lana could see and hear some of them as well.
The latter sighed. This is truly a special place. As they passed by the side of Old Main, she smiled at Clark. "You know what happened here, right?"
"Yeah," he agreed, recalling their earlier adventure there. In the Social Sciences building just diagonally left to them, the GSA had attacked the class, forcing him to come face to face with Professor Dubois's resident Dark Child and the threats surrounding them even here. On their right stood the palm tree under which he had spilled the beans about himself to her...trusting her with his secret and his heart.
"It's going to be great, Clark," she assured him, hugging him tightly. Then she realized that everyone was looking at them. "Sorry."
"No problem," Dave grinned warmly, waving it off. "Clark and Lana already have a story of their own from here...as do Adam and his team. Remember, all of our stories are important here, and we need to contribute something to the whole. In those cases, the GSA tried to put a halt to things, but with everyone's help, we overcame the threat. Right, Adam?"
"Absolutely," the former geneticist agreed. "Listen to what he's saying, people. Our ability to work as a team is what will keep us alive against the GSA. While you're going to school here and training with us, be alert and respect those around you."
"Right on," Shalimar affirmed.
"And that includes us as well," Emma added, thinking of Alicia Fallone.
Karen looked at Dave for a moment, recalling how many turns their friendship had taken over the years. He's right. Maybe things didn't work out exactly as we had anticipated or hoped at first, but they worked out for the best. It was just as Caroline said to him, 'Now, you're a part of something bigger.' She rubbed her daughter's arm to emphasize that point.
Mika didn't say anything but simply chose to rub her mother's hand. Having grown up around this place, she knew her mother's intent. Now, it's our turn.
"Okay!" Angie cut in, speaking to the entire group. "Who wants some pizza before our next stop?"
A collective cheer went up from the group. Maybe they were special, but they were still normal in that respect.
Dave, Angie, Eve, and Adam exchanged wry looks as they led the group over to the pizza parlor. This was going to be a lot of fun...a lot of work, but with a lot of fun along the way as well.