When Silver stepped out of the jet and onto the floating campus of Sky High, she couldn't help but admit to herself that she was mildly impressed. The school seemed normal, almost as if it wasn't flying around the atmosphere, harbouring the world's future heros, and villans alike. The grounds were quiet, as it was before school time, on top of being a Monday.
With a firm grimace on her lips, she picked up her bag and made her way toward the waiting double doors and into her new, but certainly not improved, life. She was tailed by two agents, her guards she liked to call them. After her first few months with Program U, she'd tried to excape, considering she wasn't closely guarded. After nearly killing a man in her attempt, they had in the years since, kept a very close eye on her. Glancing at the representatives, she smiled. They wouldn't be staying. In an effort to reintegrate her into as much normalcy as possible, Program U now relied soley on Sky High to watch her. It wasn't exactly like she would run away now. Silver found very quickly that there was no use in running away to nothing to excape yourself. It never really worked.
"Silver! It's so good to finally meet you," a lovely female voice snapped Silver out of her reverie. A pleasant woman stood at the doors of the school, smiling widely. Silver felt no hesitation to shake her hand, and decided that she imediately liked this woman. She had a nice smile. "I'm Principal Powers. We are so very glad to have you here at Skyhigh."
"Thank you, Principal Powers. I'm pleased to be here as well." Lie. "My program and I believe this to be an excellent opportunity." Another lie. She'd always been extremely good at lying.
Principal Powers smiled and ushered her up the steps. Thogh housing some very reckless students, the school was surprisingly clean and free of damage or debris. It was of a modest decor and appealed to Silver, however much she didn't want to be there.
Oh, it wasn't that Silver didn't want to go to Skyhigh. She was sure that she could very well fall in love with this place. That was the problem. Silver know, right down to the bottom of her existence, however dark it was, that being there would never be possible. She'd learned that throughout her short life. It never worked.
Principal Powers led Silver and her representatives to her office. It looked like a normal high school principal's office, until Silver noticed that all the chairs were bolted to the floor, and the windows were made of re-enforced plate glass. Principal Powers motined her to sit, and her caretakers bid her a polite goodbye with breif nods of their heads. Silver smiled, though in truth, she was not sorry to see them leave. She could honestly say that if she never saw their bald little heads again, she would not miss them.
Brushing her white hair out of her face, she sat before the principal of her new home, tapping her long finger nails together: a nervous habit she'd had for years.
"Now, you may be wondering what is going to happen now that you are here. To be quite honest with you, we are not exactly sure what to do," she said, looking nervous and upset. Silver imagined that she must be having a hardd time dealing with her special case, and it was becoming frustrating for her. Considering Principal Powers seemed to be the type to be organized, every thing in precise order with a detailed plan, this must be the cause of the worried frown painting her lips.
"I'm not certain either. This is a very new experience for me, and I'm unsure how to go about this as well," Silver explained, trying to nonchalantly peer over the desk and at the manila folder Principal Powers was holding in her hands.
"Well, I have examined your file extensively and spoken to the operatives of Program U involved with your developmental progress. They have assured me that your social development has dramatically improved over your work with the program." She flipped another page in the file. "Your test scores are extremely impressive. It also says you are fluent in five languages. Is this true?"
Silver nodded. She'd had no concept of language when the program aquired her. Within 3 months, she had astounded the scientists by rapidly learning to read, write, and speak five languages. "English, French, German, Russian, and Greek." Principal Powers bobbed her head.
"So, Silver, what would you like to do here at Skyigh? We would be happy to register you as a student and involve you in our hero and hero support program. Or, if you prefer, Coach Boomer would certainly appreciate your help with student adgility training," she offered, watching Silver from beneath her eyelashes.
Silver paused to think, True, she was better now at being around people, but it was still difficult at times. She had studies and mildy cooperated with Program U...but still...there were times...
"Silver?" Principal Powers asked, watching the wheels turning inside the young girls head.
"Are you sure it would be wise for me to so closely interact with the students? You've read my file..." she stuttered. Principal Powers dismissed it with a wave of her hand.
"The file I've been given has stated that in the past you've had misgrievances with being around others, but it says that you pretty much grow passed that. Is this true?"
"Well, yes, ma'am, but..." Silver stumbled a little over the words.
"What is it, Silver?" Principal Powers asked quietly, afraid of upsetting the girl.
"No one knows what I'm capable of , not even me. Sometimes the beast controls me, and then there's nothing I can do about it until it has satisfied itself. That's why I'm part of Program U. I'm dangerous." Silver didn't know what else to say. She always tried to be as frank and truthful as possible, though sometimes it didn't call for truth. This was not one of those times the slightest bit of untruth when discussing Silver interacting with others could cause the death of some unfortunate bystander.
"We are all dangerous in some way or another. I can assure you, dear, that I have taken full precautions in case something should happen." Silver looked at her doubtfully, and realized that there must be a reason as to why Principal Powers was pressing her to join the students.
"You and I...we really don't have a choice as to whether or not I become a student here, do we?" she asked carefully, watching as the woman's shoulders slumped.
"No, we don't, Silver. It's not that I don't want you here, because with your obvious talents, you could be a great asset to Skyhigh. Your file says you havne't had any trouble in quite awhile, but like I said, we are all dangerous in some way," she explained, closing Silvers file." The problem is that your type of danger is so unpredictable, it makes this situation extremely unstable."
Silver nodded. What Principal Powers was saying wasn't anything she hadn't already heard.
"Then may I ask why we must enroll me into the school? If you don't agree to the arrangement, I don't understand how Program U can possilby force you to accept me into your establishment," she said, becoming more frustrated and confused with each passing moment.
Principal Powers stood with a sigh, moving to the window. It was a pretty Monday morning, and Ron, bus driver for Skyhigh, had begun to drop many of the current students off, who slowly milled their way onto the campus to socialize before classes. She watched them for a moment under Silver's expectant eyes before answering her.
"Unfortunately, Silver, I have no say in the situation. The creator of this school died many years ago, and left all control to his son, Jeremiah Sky," she said, turning away from the window. Silver shivered as the connection was made in her mind. Program U, subsidiary of Sky Corporation was owned and run by the same man in control of Skyhigh: Jeremiah Sky.
"But how can that be? Just because his Father created this place..."
Principal Powers stopped her with a frustrated groan." I know, Silver. God, don't I know it. When Ezra died, that's when everything started changing here. My hands are tied, Silver. I'm so very sorry"
silver sat for a long moment, seemingly studying her nails, but actually thinking deeply. She wwas very quickly running out of options. She could only control the beast for son long.
"We have no other option." The statement was more for herself, but the older woman nodded as well. "What happens if I...loose control?"
Without answering, Principal Powers opened a desk drawer, In it lay a key pad. After punching in a series of numbers, the lid popped open. Silver half expected her to pull out some sort of weapon. However, it was a syringe, filled with a bright turquoise liquid Silver was severely aquainted with.
"Program U sent this to me...to control your episodes, should they occur." She handed it to Silver, along with several bottles of the tranquilizer. Silver looked it over. She'd never actually held it in her own hands before. Powerful enough to kill three adult African elepants, the labs at Program U had to develop the material, Perinoxidone, specifically for her. Regular tranquilizers simply did not work. "We've also arranged for a few acres of hunting ground for you to. For...exercise and such." Silver nodded. It was good to release the beast at times.
"Shall I enroll you as a student or teachers aide?" Principal Powers' question interrupted her thoughts.
Silver considered that. As a teachers aide, she would be forced to interact with the students, but as a student, she could blend into the background and avoid any type of connection. She decided on student, and Principal Powers quicly registered her. "For living accomadations, you will be living in an apartment of your own, on the ground. The bus will pick you up every morning, promptly at 7:30am. I will take you there after school today. If you'd like, you may explore the campus. I will meet you in the gymnasium after lunch for power placement. Here is a map of the school," she explained, gathering up the files and papers.
"Yes, ma'am." Silver slipped the syringe and bottles of Perinoxidone into her bag, and took the map.
"And good luck, Silver," Principal Powers said as Silver opened the door.
"You too."
She was gone when Principal Powers looked up.