Open the page to 'E'. It's an old dictionary, of the massive sort you would find on its own podium in a library; run your finger down to 'England'. At the end of the entry are listed synonyms. The print in the book is a neat, 6-font black block type; within the past ten years, though, someone has taken a blue pen to the margins and written this: culture shock.

Rupert, Evangelical pastor and teacher at the New York branch of Pax, could not stop blinking. It was a misty day; on the streets, many a resident Londoner was either walking with a slightly dap newspaper held with dignity over their heads, or blatantly ignoring the soggy atmosphere with eyes set straight forward. Rupert heard a few distinct mutterings of, "This country is ****."

And then a woman stepped out of a coffee shop, and gave a cute gasp of happiness. "It's raining!" There were a few mutterings and grumblings around her, of the dark gray storm cloud variety. Then, with closed eyes and a pleasant smile upwards, she turned the rain off. Not off: it was more like she gathered it around herself, so that the mist only fell on her for several yards in every direction. As she walked down the street, she made an idle flick of her wrist at a grumbling man under an overhang. The water in his clothes drew over to her hand like an obedient dog. The man was left perfectly dry. "Those mutants," he turned to his friend, after a surprised blink, "they're not ****."

It was a high compliment, from a Brit. At least, Rupert was beginning to suspect as much. There was a lot about this country that he was still trying to work out in his mind. He blinked once, twice, four times as he watched the woman walking off down the street, using her powers out in the open, with a lack of fear that was beyond stunning: it was beautiful. The Londoners around her simply took it in stride. Two teenager girls actually raced across the street, newspapers held high, and settled into that dry zone around her like she was a living umbrella. She smiled impishly back at them. The teenagers gave an embarrassed giggle.

Rupert shook his head, and turned to the woman at his side. "Raina," he began simply, I don't think we're in America anymore."

They had come to London for two reasons: to check on the progress of the London branch of Pax as it readied itself for opening next term, and to look into Operation Jump Start and the associated Controlled Burn program, and see where Pax could fit in. Field trips, internships, research projects, a more overt sort of help--there were possibilities in Europe's attempts to restart the Gulf Stream that they'd come to see for themselves, firsthand.

The headquarters for the operation weren't terribly hard to find, but they were slightly more difficult to get into. Though the trip had been arranged ahead of time, the guard at the front door still had them wait outside until their passports were thoroughly combed over, and their official guide came to greet them. It was no problem: government operations, particularly those concerned with the fate of an entire continent, were allowed to have their security concerns. Rupert turned towards Raina as they waited. He looked at the woman, a small smirk beginning to play over her face as he looked her up and down, from toe tips to the top of her head, with a slightly lingering glance at her belly. "Hmm," he said, playfully; "it's a good thing we didn't make this trip a few years ago. Can you imagine the look on their faces if I carried in a mermaid?"

Then again, this wasn't America. Maybe, just maybe, carrying a mermaid through the streets in this country wasn't an unlegislated crime. It was a strange thought. A good thought. It was culture shock, pure and simple: and that was not always a bad thing.

Raina followed her husband , -well, waddled behind her husband to be more accurate- through the busy streets of London. Of all the pregnant women in the world Raina felt like her baby belly seemed to come in faster than most though her doctor assured her it was 100% normal. She'd cross referenced every what -to -expect- when -you're -expecting- jenny mcartney-oh-the-places-you'll-go-baby book she could find to prove him wrong and hadnt come up with anything yet, though she hadn't quit and hadn't stopped talking to Rupert about it.

It wasn't that Raina was fat by any means; from behind Raina looked quite thin... until she turned around looking like she was hiding a basketball under her shirt. While other women filled out through their body as their pregnancy continued Raina looked like a kangaroo- at least that's what she'd thought. She'd taken to calling her baby belly Joey. (though she still didn't know if it was a boy or girl)

The ball in her stomach with her tiny body made it hard to mauever and though the flight had been more pleasant than she'd thought she was having a time of it with the many cobble stones they'd walked over in his busy street. It really affected her balance and center of gravity.

"Raina ...I don't think we're in America anymore." catching up with Rupert who was only about a foot ahead of her (though it felt like a mile) Raina reached our and took his hand. She was dressed in a very becoming green dress that made her look a little more pregnant than a woman wearing a basketball.

"No darling.." said Raina watching the spectacle of the woman across from them while opening her own large golf umbrella and holding it over their heads. "We are most definently not." she giggled. Though she could mostly control her mermaid transformation Raina was still somewhat paranoid of water so when Rupert remarked she couldn't help but glance down at her feet (what she could see of them) to check and be sure she wasn't standing in a puddle. Old habits died hard.

"I'd never heard the end of the little mermaid jokes." she muttered with a light tone. "That's what would happen.' she gave his hand a squeeze.

"I suppose this isnt exactly what I expected, but I've never been to London so I'm not sure what I expected. But I do think we should check into our hotel and call both centers to let them know we've arrived safely. I'm sure you had everyone worried about the baby before we left- they'd like to know little joey didn't pop out on the plane." she laughed. "We can get the itinorary too." she added. "I wouldn't mind seeing a bit of London, but business first eh?" she caught her "eh" and gave a giggle mumbling something about taking the girl out of the province...

Really? They wanted her to play entertainer again? Well, PAX had at least specifically requested Ghost as their hostess, but it was almost exasperating how often this problem was occurring. How was she supposed to catch up if the powers that were kept throwing curve balls in her routine? And how was she supposed to teach if she was never in class? Honestly, how was she supposed to function if she couldn't ever get a moment alone?

From the time she set foot into the infirmary, Jude had breathed back to life. As if when she'd left for Antarctica she'd brought some key piece of his psyche with her and only upon her return did it slide back into place and make the engine turn over. Yeah. Jude was back alright. And their new found level of synchronization meant that they had to remain glued at the hip and go everywhere together. It was too disorienting otherwise. They had known that there would be a learning curve to this kind of combination of powers, but no one had predicted this.

//Oh God, I am so glad I'm not actually a woman.//

Ghost arched a brow at Jude as he held his phantom aching woman parts. Even if she was readjusting to her new synthetic body, Ghost was used to the twinge and ache that announced Aunt Flo's monthly visit. Jude, however, was not. It was the best payback ever. For all the unexpected intrusions on her privacy when she changed, when she ate, when she dreamed. There was no part of herself that could be hidden from Jude. Even when they were apart, there were times when Jude and Ghost had unexpectedly seen through each others eyes. It's disorienting to think yourself on a treadmill and suddenly see into Jude's shower. They'd hurt themselves far too many times to risk being apart until someone figured out a way to straighten out this mental mess. Needless to say, Ghost was happy that the sword cut both ways. Oh, he so deserved every cramp.

Well, here they were in pomp and grandeur of gray wool and shiny buttons, though these guests were less of a public sort than most of the others. PAX. What was this civilian institution that kept cropping up in her life? They'd sent Garrett an email, but Ghost had been long gone when their operatives arrived in the Arctic. Heck, she'd been so busy chasing her metaphysical tail that she hadn't taken the time to risk a vidlink. Ah well, too late to ask him now. It wasn't like she could mind to mind with someone she actually wanted to share thoughts with.

//Harsh... and surprisingly petty.//[/color]

Ghost shot him another look while they waited for the passports and paperwork to all clear. Whoever these PAX people were, she hoped they were at least cognizant of how much of her time they were wasting. Ah, but the door was opening and Ghost felt Jude stiffen next to her perfectly in time with her own return to formality. They saluted in perfect coordination. They opened their mouths in unison. It was more than training, it was their connection.

"Sorry for the wait. Officers Ghost and Jude reporting. We would like to officially welcome you."
"Sorry for the wait. Officers Jude and Ghost reporting. We would like to officially welcome you."

They both dropped their hands in time. Jude glared at Ghost, but she was distracted. It took her longer than it should have to recognize the two. The years had not been especially kind to Rupert, but he hadn't always been the kindest either from what Ghost knew of him. And Raina... She had sort-of known the woman before, but now that ice-chanter was positively glowing with maternal warmth. Well, pre-maternal warmth anyway. Jude was looking at them both too now, no doubt sharing in her memory.

Ghost had communicated with PAX, but she had no idea who they were sending at the time. Suddenly her approval rating of the organization jumped a few notches. Raina was a definite kindred spirit, one of the only other X's that had been a tempering voice on the squad. Ghost found herself wishing they had gotten to know more about each other when she had lived together at the mansion. Was a hug too informal? Did the red-haired woman remember her enough to accept a hug? What was proper etiquette for hugging a pregnant lady?

"It's been a long time, Raina. Wow. Cool, I... I had no idea." While Ghost was still fumbling for the right words, Jude was extending his hand to shake Rupert's.

"Congratulations." And that one word held all the emotion Ghost's should have: part disbelief and part heartfelt joy. It was better than a punch in the face anyway.

>> "I suppose this isn't exactly what I expected, but I've never been to London so I'm not sure what I expected. But I do think we should check into our hotel and call both centers to let them know we've arrived safely. I'm sure you had everyone worried about the baby before we left-- they'd like to know little joey didn't pop out on the plane."

Rupert's face flushed just the slightest bit red; a memento of his days of shouting tirades. "I did not have everyone worried. I just told the Headmaster to stand by, in case anything happened. That's not 'worrying'--that's just taking a precaution." He may have also hounded her doctor about whether it really was safe for her to fly, but he was fairly certain she didn't know about that. "And I wouldn't worry about the hotel--the Pax teachers here were going to set everything up for us, remember? After this, we can head over, and make sure our luggage got there safely."

>> "We can get the itinerary too. I wouldn't mind seeing a bit of London, but business first eh?"

Rupert grinned as she mumbled about girls and provinces, wrapping a warm arm around her back as he leaned in close to her ear. "Don't worry; you've got a tough New Yorker to protect you from all those scary city lights. Hmm, I wonder what's good around here, to eat? What are the London specialties?" He raised an eyebrow at her, his eyes briefly finding their way back to 'Joey's' pouch. Raina's eating habits had been... interesting, lately. "Any idea what you'd like for lunch--?"

The doorway opened again. Out stepped two officers, in full uniform. Their mouths opened with perfect timing. Their words left Rupert blinking.

>> "Sorry for the wait. Officers Ghost and Jude reporting. We would like to officially welcome you."
>> "Sorry for the wait. Officers Jude and Ghost reporting. We would like to officially welcome you."

Now that was some greeting. Not the words: those were cordial enough, but not nearly as impressive as the delivery. Rupert didn't know much about the inner workings of the Jump Start Initiative: if he'd heard of the strong role that telepathy played, it hadn't really sunk in. With that greeting: consider it sinking.

The woman who greeted them apparently knew Raina; Rupert himself didn't recognize her, but that was hardly a surprise. There was a large part of Raina's life that Rupert had missed out on, before Haywire's aftermath had brought them back together. As the woman gave her congratulations, Rupert shot a smile her way, trying to keep it to 'nice to meet you', though some 'proud father' might have snuck into the expression. Then he stepped forward to take the hand that the man was offering. He gave it an experienced shake.

"Officer Jude, was it? I'm Rupert Kelley. I teach religious studies at Pax, as well offer Evangelical services out of their church. This is my wife, Raina--we co-teach human-mutant relations together. I'm the human," he added, with an unapologetic grin. He was human, that was for sure--and his list of credentials for teaching that class was longer than most.

"Mmm.. I want watermellon. Oh and Feta.. what can we eat with feta? Maybe some pork chops too... oh that makes me think of applesauce..." she went on like that for a moment thoughtfully until she realized she was making a bit of a fool of herself. "Oh sure, poke fun at the pregnant lady." she rolled her eyes and giggled patting her tummy. 'Joey likes what he or she likes." she added with a touch of snootiness and a coy smile.

It was then that the door opened and two people stepped out

<i>>
"Sorry for the wait. Officers Ghost and Jude reporting. We would like to officially welcome you."

"Sorry for the wait. Officers Jude and Ghost reporting. We would like to officially welcome you."</i>

Raina blinked staring for a second and looked to her husband before looking to the two. "Ghost?" she questioned looking the woman over. "Oh my! Is that you? How have you been?!" she was excited to see someone from the past and as Rupert went over the formalities Raina skipped right past that to oogle about being a mom-to-be. "I know eh?" she said not stopping to think about filtering out the 'eh'. "Neither did we! I mean, we never thought we could... well.. you know, after the camps and well..." akkkwaaarrrd "but anyway, that's neither here nor there." she retorted to herself. "I'm very excited. I hadn't heard much of you since you came here, though I'd here the occasional pitter through the grapevine when I visited back at the mansion. Like Rupe said, I affiliate more with Pax now. I still try to check in though, with all the others."

Jude was so entrenched in the shared memories of Raina that he didn't even bother attempting to probe the priest when he shook the man's hand. In fact, when he spoke directly to him it was almost disorienting. He was getting more and more used to sharing Ghost's point of view that sometimes he forgot what he was doing in the here and now.

"Officer Jude, was it? I'm Rupert Kelley. I teach religious studies at Pax, as well offer Evangelical services out of their church. This is my wife, Raina--we co-teach human-mutant relations together. I'm the human,"

"Religious Studies." Jude repeated the words to himself to help drive them home. Jude returned the priest's proud pappa smile sunconsciously. There was just too much good will floating around for him not to smile.

Raina blinked and seemed to check with Rupert before deciding that she actually did know Ghost. "Ghost?" Ghost nodded her confirmation with a stiff smile. It felt like she hadn't smiled in some weeks. Perhaps she hadn't. "Oh my! Is that you? How have you been?!"

"I am well. Solid as a sapien now, though it wasn't always so." As much as Ghost wanted to grab Raina by the wrists and hop up and down in true girlie fashion, Ghost had an Officer's rank and reputation to honor now. Ghost settled for exchanging her stiff smile for a grin that stretched ear to ear. She waved her gloved hand past Raina's awkwardness dismissing her insecurity.

"I'm very excited. I hadn't heard much of you since you came here, though I'd here the occasional pitter through the grapevine when I visited back at the mansion. Like Rupe said, I affiliate more with Pax now. I still try to check in though, with all the others."

"It is hard." Ghost conceded with obviously no ill will or hurt feelings on the subject. "Mutants are so transient in nature anyway and once people started splitting off in their own directions... well, I didn't really bother checking in too often after my first year here. I mostly catch up through X-Force's chats with the X-Men. In fact, Steel may be dropping in to help with the X-Force in a bit, I hear." She shrugged and settled her uniform around herself as she resumed a more formal stance. "But you didn't come all this way just to catch up, I'm sure. Shall we start the tour or did you need to stop off and put your things down...? Are you up to walking a bit?" Ghost glanced at Raina's ankle's and then at Jude. "Think we could get a cart in here?"

Jude shrugged. "I can sure check." Jude jogged around the door, back the way their visitor's had come.

This Jude fellow seemed like a quiet one, maybe a little day-dreamy, but pleasant enough. He matched Rupert grin for grin, and he had a decent enough handshake. Rup really didn't ask for any more from an introduction.

Over to their respective sides, the women seemed to be having fun playing catch-up. Rupert made a mental note to invite at least Ghost, and possibly Jude, out to lunch with them once the official business was over with. He wasn't sure quite how that would work--could military officers just head off for lunch on a whim like that? An invite rarely hurt, though. And though his ears might regret it, it did seem like Ghost and Raina had some catching up to do that standing in a base entryway wasn't the best place for.

>> "But you didn't come all this way just to catch up, I'm sure. Shall we start the tour or did you need to stop off and put your things down...? Are you up to walking a bit? Think we could get a cart in here?"

Rupert deferred to Raina on those questions, as Jude jogged off. He wasn't the one carrying the multi-pound kicker. He did take this chance to stretch out his hand to Ghost, however.

"It's a pleasure," he said simply. "We've been doing our best to keep up with the news from around here, over at the New York branch of the Academy. What you're doing sounds like an amazing cooperative effort. And, if you don't mind my brainstorming, like an unbelievable opportunity for some of our students." The idea of internships, field trips, access to research and training videos (of the non-classified variety, of course), and the like, had been tossed out in the communications prior to their visit--so far, though, both parties seemed to be in a 'feeling the other out' sort of holding position. This visit was to help decide what either of them would actually commit to. Suffice it to say that Pax was all-around more eager to start up those ties than the military, but that did tend to go more with the academic mindset than the military one.

Raina thought a moment until the baby kicking broke her thoughts. "Oh." she held her stomach. Her hands feathered out across the green bulge. "I wouldn't mind putting our things down." she said meekly. "I'd hate to slow us down... but uh.. Joey isn't going to let me do much for a little bit." she said pointing. "Unless you'd like to go ahead of me darling? Whatever works. I shouldn't take long. I'd sure like to change my shoes." she laughed.

Raina had always been a bit of a scatter brained impulsive person. Getting pregnant only seemed to intensify that. It was true she knew they had a job to do here, but she was feeling so day dreamy about the baby and everything she half wished she and Rupter were on vacation. Goodness knows they needed it.

She nodded with Rupert's statement about the students. "It's important we find time to talk about it." she said wanting to get her two cents in. She gave her husband's hand a squeeze and smiled at Ghost and Jude. "So does a quick detour sound out of the question?"

"Oh." Raina held her swollen baby-tummy and Ghost tensed unsure of what the protocol for birthing was, but it seemed a shift or kick of some kind instead of an indicator that the ticking time bomb was about to explode. As much as Ghost enjoyed the creating part of the baby process, she had always been so very careful to not ever actually conceive. It would have wrecked her job and been a real liability. Therefore, she knew nothing of what being pregnant entailed. This could actually be quite awkward.

"I wouldn't mind putting our things down. I'd hate to slow us down... but uh.. Joey isn't going to let me do much for a little bit. ...I'd sure like to change my shoes." Raina laughed and it was all Raina. It was good to be reassured that adding a 'little joey' didn't change who Raina was.

"I think they have you two at the Enterprise, it's the closest. Once you get off base it's practically across the street." Ghost shook Rupert's offered hand with military strength and efficiency before nodding at his words. "Assuming the higher ups get on board, it really could be a mutually beneficial situation." Mutually beneficial since they had the capacity to hand pick some recruits, get free work from interns, and potentially recruit them younger and already predisposed to working in the Program. The big wigs would probably come around after enough hemming and hawing. Until then she was to entertain the Teacher types.

"So does a quick detour sound out of the question?"

"Absolutely not. That's why I asked." Ghost winked at Raina and ushered the two back toward the double doors. //Jude?// Naturally Ghost took Raina's bags assuming that Rupert might prefer to man up and carry his own. If he didn't want to carry his bags? She'd tell him to man up. //I was listening, I got a Jeep.//

Ghost's vision flashed to an exchange of forms for keys and she had to stop walking until she was looking at the hall way in front of her again. It only lasted a moment, almost like she was hesitating for just a bit longer than was polite. Jude made it look so easy some times.

//Meet us at the back door.//
//Aye, aye boss.//[/i]

Red lipstick smile. White gloves. Welcoming attitude. Ghost was a flippin' bell hop these days. "Jude will meet us with the car. This way." Ghost didn't bother too much with small talk anymore. It was business or not business. The in between areas were too loosely defined for her comfort therefore small talk was out even if it was Raina and company. Man, she hoped they wouldn't talk about baby stuff too much. She opened doors and tried not to regret that she was missing class for this. If she was really trying to be patient today she might even attempt to let Jude drive... heh. Fat chance. When Ghost opened the exterior door for the guests the Jeep and Jude were just pulling up to the curb.

Ghost heaved the luggage gently into the back before opening the door and offering an arm for Raina. She then hopped into the driver's seat using her hips to scoot Jude aside. "Shouldn't be too far now, folks." Ghost would always drive given the chance because Jude was so much better at the people stuff.

"You hoping to take in any sights before you leave?" He was all smiles despite Ghost's formal demeanor. //Do me a favor and keep your eyes on the road.//[/color] There was no need to have random flashes while she was driving.

>> "I think they have you two at the Enterprise, it's the closest. Once you get off base it's practically across the street."

Rupert shook back, trying--and failing--to ignore the male impulse to squeeze harder than the other guy. It was somewhat less appropriate when the other guy was a girl, but Ms. Ghost here had an iron grip, and Rupert's hand wasn't about to lay down and take that from another person's appendage that without putting up a damn good fight.

>> "Assuming the higher ups get on board, it really could be a mutually beneficial situation."

Rupert didn't pick up this conversational thread again as they went around to the back. He tossed his own luggage in the back of the truck and scooted in the back with his wife. As much as he'd love to skip the small talk stage around two strangers--around two militaristic strangers--and get straight down to business, one of those strangers was a friend of Raina's. And if he knew Raina--and if Ghost knew Raina--than they wouldn't be moving to business until after the small talk had run its course. He'd never been quite clear whether it was a woman thing or a 'his wife' thing.

>> "You hoping to take in any sights before you leave?"

"I was hoping to drop by some of the older churches and abbeys," Rupert spoke up wistfully, before he realized the question had probably been directed more towards Raina. ...Right. Strangers. He eased himself back in the seat, trying to let the women have their reunion. It was a bit like the handshake, though: Rupert liked to have his own words heard. It would take a great deal of self-control not to butt back in, if he had something he wanted to say.

ooc: hope no one minds if I fast forward a bit here

IC:
It hadn't taken long to arrive at their accomodations and frankly Raina was a bit relieved when she saw how nice they were. She wasn't exactly sure what she was expecting. It was close and convienient though and she suddenly didn't feel so bad about taking everyone off course just so she could change her shoes and freshen up a bit. She was pregnant afterall... and if she wanted to last the day she needed to take care of a few things. Maybe eat a few things too.

Raina hadn't been much of an eater before getting pregnant but as soon as she did she scarfed down everything insight. Her craving was dill pickles and if she wasnt careful she'd reek of vinegar and dill. While thinking about food her thoughts suddenly travelled to Ghost.

She had excused herself upon arrival from everyone to change and check out the place as she had explained but she felt a tinge of worry about Ghost. Would she be willing to be recruited? Yes she had some past with Ghost but she wasn't sure it was strong enough to envoke that. She might have to rely a little more on Rupert than she earlier anticipated.

Another kick in the stomach snapped her from that thought but she couldn't help wondering about the Jude aspect of Ghost and feeling thankful she wasn't in those shoes. She ffelt guilty for thinking that way and when she came out of the room she tried very hard not to look like she'd been thinking about it.

"Sorry for the wait. Im allready!" she wiggled her toes

Ghost sat like she had a broomstick stuck up her... spine. She carried the bags and participated in conversation when she was specifically included, but for the most part she may as well have been a painting on the wall. Ghost was an officer. An officer who looked quite uncomfortable in her surroundings. It'd been a while since she'd seen froo-froo and little soaps, even the carpet was... strange. The X-Force was pretty spartan, but compared to the base, it was her haven. On her current scale, this was like lil old ladies' doilies and flower-printed pillows everywhere.

Jude, on the other hand, always seemed right at home around the finer, softer side of things. When Rupert mentioned his interest in the old cathedrals, Jude took that vein of interest and bled it dry. He asked about stained windows and doctrine and what exactly was a cloister? Jude sat languidly in the sitting area of the hotel room. It was as if he had joints and bends where Ghost most certainly did not. He was the picture of comfort and he would talk anyone's ear off about anything for as long as they would lend it.

The moment Raina reappeared, Ghost was back on her feet. She refitted her cap and yanked Jude's collar, effectively cutting his words off mid-stream. "Time to get this show on the road." If Rupert thought it would take Ghost time to get down to business, he was sorely mistaken. After Jude's attempts to carry on civilized conversation, she was more than ready to get this over with.

"I thought we'd start with our classes." She checked the clock on the wall. "We should still have some interesting things to see by the time we get back if we hoof it." She shuffled them off, taking care to not hurry Raina. As Ghost understood it, pregnant women made their own time and no amount of hurrying could make them toddle faster.

The Jeep roared to life and the return trip seemed even faster for Ghost's impatience. Jude made sure to show them the exterior of the buildings as they passed. It was very sleek, all concrete and metal and glass since the program was new and had financial backing. "It's nice that the world needs us, that means more than the usual folk are willing to crack open their pocketbooks."

Ghost drove them all the way around to the west entrance. This entrance was where the classrooms and living areas butted up against one another. It was also the entrance closest to the base's air strip. Ghost hopped out and played chauffeur with the doors again this time with Jude in synch to open the other. "This is the west entrance, to the south is Weather Island, the living quarters. Behind us is the air strip for military flights, you're probably lucky to have come in on a regular plane. Garrett had to squeeze into a freighter." Ghost walked and talked like a pro. Jude and Ghost seemed to have switched roles with Ghost as the main speaker and Jude, the wall hanging.

She led them through glass doors and to the left. It wasn't long before they came to a corridor of large plate glass windows. "Higher-ups are either paranoid and like to check on us or they're proud of the progress we're making and like to show us off. Either way we get a view without even having to set foot inside. If you'd like to sit in on a class we can schedule one tomorrow if you'd like." Ghost's maniac pace slowed so they could gawk at the zoo animals, her co-workers and friends.

The rooms showed various stages of mental, weather, and combined classes. Practice tests involving blown-up beach balls were common place considering the element they were most interested in was wind. "Instructors generally mingle with the students, Officers like Ghost that are directly involved in the program have been assigned to each group and though our instructors and subjects change, we always keep the same Company with our lead and the same group of ... uhh students. Once recruited, everyone is paired off."
"Yeah, I'm stuck with this one." Ghost interrupted. It was a strange bond they had going even by Controlled Burn's standards. Sometimes when one spoke the other picked up where the other ended, sometimes they even spoke in perfect unison.

"Teaching is typically hands-on. Students are encouraged into physical practice as early as their second week. Book learning is also important, though, and we have ongoing climatology lessons. Classes are no more than 25 students, and the Company and Air Commodore, once assembled, always function and learn as a unit. I was fortunate enough to be in the same unit as another X-Forcer, but - oh, We're still giving you the prospective recruit talk -- I think there is room for observation and uhh.." Ghost snapped through her gloves as she tried to think of the word."internships. Teachers are usually flexible and most could, honestly, use a hand. Probably a great opportunity to learn how to handle a class of gifteds."

Ghost nodded. "Questions before we move on?"

((ooc: Fast forwarding == I <3.))

Rupert watched a beach ball arc upwards, then seemingly hover on an updraft in one place; from his work with the Pax Academy students, he knew how deceptively hard that truly was. It was a great practice for fine-tuning control.

>> "If you'd like to sit in on a class we can schedule one tomorrow if you'd like."

"I think we would like that, yes." Rupert nodded absentmindedly as they continued walking, switching his gaze into the next classroom they passed. He saw Zener cards out: a mere warm-up for mental exercises, no doubt, given the clear level of mental bonding that their tour guides were displaying.

Besides the littering of military terminology, the program description sounded much like Pax's own, if distinctly more focused towards this establishments particular goal: restarting the Gulf Stream. That very difference, however, is what created so much potential.

"What age are your new students, usually?" Rupert asked.

He gave a nod at her suggestion of the internships, and began thinking aloud. "Semester-long internships would probably be best, but they might be disruptive to regular course-studies, unless we can coordinate with the London branch for cross-registration; maybe a transfer program of some kind? Study aboard?" He looked to his wife as he asked these questions, checking for her input. "A summer internship would be an idea... Does your program continue in the summer, as well?" He asked the military pair.

"Also, on the climatology front--how advanced are those classes? Is there any form of research going on, either in-class or behind the scenes? Internships in that field will probably interest many of our students. Then there's the possibility for combined or outsourced research; our students are required to do quite in-depth projects that have a tangible result outside of the classroom--helping Europe's scientists with even a small part of this project would definitely qualify." There was a low hum of ideas in the back of his mind; this really did have potential, on more front than one.

ooc: I don't have much to add without being reptative... lol so forgive the shortness

IC:
Raina bumbled along behind her husband being quiet. She soaked in everything that was being said and obserbed everything around her. It facinated her when more facilities like their own popped up. Jump starting Pax had been no easy feat and took years of dedication. Her own contribution in her mind seemed like mere pennies to the 'dollars' everyone else was putting in... But she knew she could only do her best.

Raina noticed a lot of similiarities as they were introduced to different areas and ideas. Rupert commented on most of what she was thinking before she had time to open her mouth. That's what being a couple long enough did to people. They had telepethy- until it was time to argue. Then there wasn't a chance in hell anyone was reading anyone's mind!

All the while Raina was walking her feet protested wondering why she hadn't stayed back at the hotel. "Because I'm curious. And a part of this team too." she told herself. Raina wanted to help- but being pregnant left her rather... destracted.

It was something that was weighing on her mind recently and she likely looked zoned out while the thought resurfaced. Raina was wondering just how much of her time she could give to Pax once the baby came. She knew Joey would change her whole life. She knew she'd feel guilty if she didn't spend enough time with Pax but knew she'd be a bad mother if she didn't put her baby first.

She gave her head a shake and cleared her head forcing herself to keep pace with everyone else. "Ruperts right." she said agreeing with his final statement. "I've always loved the very idea of mutantkind using their abilities to better the world in ways other than simply crime fighting. There'd be no need for crimefighting in a world that was peaceful. The first step toward that is solving some of the world's larger issues. It would be wonderful if our students could contribute. Not only for Europe... but for them as individuals." It was the first time she'd spoken up since the hotel room and 'Joey' kicked her for it. She wore a goofy grin.

Ghost though about tomorrow's schedule and tried to make a note to take her wards to range training. Her group had been training the longest for Controlled Burn and therefore had some of the most impressive displays of combined mutation work.

"What age are your new students, usually?" Rupert asked.

"We have quite a range, anything under 18 has guardian permission. I think one of the pair in our group is 15, her sister is 18, but they've been with us since the beginning so they started younger. They're a perfect pair for this project that came all the way from China."

PingPing and XiaoXiao. Once, they were the CB's golden students. Now Ghost and Jude were giving the perfect pair a run for their money. Ghost and Jude gone from the worst synch ratio to the best. From dragging their company down from second in line for Haywire testing, to bumping them up to first in line. With XiaoXiao and PingPing in their company, Ghost's company was now the unrivaled top of the class -- it helped that they were the inaugural group.

"I'm guessing you'll be wanting to keep the kids away from Haywire testing? It's not been implemented yet, but we'll be starting soon." Hopefully. Most people were running away from the virus, but like so many other unheard-of things, Controlled Burn was continuously looking out side if the box for solutions even if it was Haywire.

"...maybe a transfer program of some kind? Study abroad?" He looked to his wife as he asked these questions, checking for her input. "A summer internship would be an idea... Does your program continue in the summer, as well?"

Ghost and Jude looked at each other before turning semi-incredulous stares to Rupert. "Ah - we don't..." "the climate isn't going to fix itself, Sir. Until it's fixed the most vacation we get is meteorology rotation. If you have any who could be useful for a meteorological mission, I'm sure they could use help maintaining the climate we're all currently enjoying."

He probably didn't mean for it to sound like an insult, but there were voices in the crowd who thought they were dragging their feet. They'd already attempted a full scale operation once and it wasn't enough.

"Also, on the climatology front--how advanced are those classes? Is there any form of research going on, either in-class or behind the scenes? Internships in that field will probably interest many of our students..."

"Most research is done in administration, where we're headed next." The way he said it seemed to re-gear Ghost's thinking. Right. They were working together to fix the global climate crisis. Tour first, prove bastards wrong later.

"The classes are more like briefings actually. Everyone gets a rundown pre-weather tour, but we have on-going classes for the intricacies of what he have to do in the large scale op. If anything new comes up, it's handed down from the white coats in admin. We have a text kept in-house, but since what we know keeps changing... honestly, I think it's all going to have to be played by ear."

"CB units are exempt from meteorological tours until we get our run at the re-start. In all likelihood, we'll be here when your units-- er, kids get here." [/i]

"Not too far 'till Administration." Ghost noticed her holding her protruding belly. They couldn't use a cart at this point if they were going up the elevator, but she'd try to remember to grab one if they wanted a tour of the living facilities. "This way." And Ghost picked up the maniac walking pace again. They passed several more rooms, not all occupied. Some contained people, controllers, sitting on pillows and testing fine the motor skill control of their controll-ees through the use of buttons, zippers, and keyboards. Some contained strength and consistency training where air controllers worked on upping the pure power of their element.

At the end of the hall was an obvious joint where the new training facility met up with a slightly older administrative building. The tile lacked shine, the elevator came slowly, and the lighting was a more yellow-ish hue of old bulbs. After Ghost explained that the cafeteria was further along this way, but they were hopefully soon going upward, the elevator dinged and she ushered them in.

"G- ground floor, that's cafeteria and honestly, nothing out of the ordinary. You'll get to see that tomorrow at lunch as our guests."
"Might I suggest you avoid anything in the ceramic boats? They're typically made from leftovers."
"Right. 2nd floor - that's meteorology. 3rd floor is mostly clerical, we can skip that, and of course they put themselves up top, 4th - that's Administration, the powers that be. We'll start with meteorology." Ghost jabbed the 2nd button and the elevator whirred upward. Ghost tapped her foot quietly the whole ride.

When the doors opened, a world of cubicles, science tables, and chalk boards greeted them. There were a few late workers, but for the most part everyone had gone home. "Our meteorology department is civilian contracted. All workers here are government employees, but still civilian." That was her way of saying - that's why they get to go home at 5.

The place reeked of chalk dust and bunsen burners as any good scientific establishment should. Diagrams, maps, oceanography. Ghost didn't really care for much of what went on here and so she didn't have a lot to say. Rather, she waited by the elevator and chose to just let them poke with Jude nearby for questions if they needed. Once she got the vibe that they were done here, it'd be back in the elevator to visit the Administration.