[FP] Ghost of the Gulf Stream (closed)

The low ages actually surprised Rupert; eighteen and up he had expected; that they accepted lower than that was a surprise. The teacher in him couldn't help but wonder whether those younger students were receiving the well-rounded education that students their age should, or whether they were being focused as the others were. He repressed the urge to ask, though--in the end, this was not his country, his school, or his decision. And though this program was not a traditional school, no one could claim that it was not intellectually and physically challenging for its students.

>> "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."

Rupert thought about that for a moment. The mere name inspired a gut-kick of fear: Haywire. This was not the plague years, though. They knew more about the virus, now; specifically, quarantine measures were getting to be quite refined. "Well," he finally replied, with a small smile, "we'll keep them out of the testing, but as observers? As long as your people deem that it's safe, I think we can trust that. Taking a terroristic weapon and changing it into something that can save the world--that kind of thinking is exactly what the Pax Academy is all about."

He nodded to her following answers; a year round program was to be expected, and certainly worked out best for the Pax students, who were still on a traditional American summer break system. If he accidentally touched on the criticisms their program had faced, he didn't notice it; he knew of the critics, but largely dismissed them as the writings of people who wanted things done yesterday. Restarting a complex global system of air and water currents wasn't the work of a lazy afternoon.

>> "Not too far 'till Administration. This way."

As she picked up her pace, Rupert offered his arm out to his wife, and cleared his throat delicately: perhaps a more relaxed pace would lead to less premature births in their halls? It was just a suggestion, really. Amusement danced in his muddy hazel eyes. He was starting to like this officer--her 'push on!' attitude, and her formal stiffness, seemed like the well-honed cover of someone with quite the personality. Part of that personality had no clue how to deal with a pregnant woman.

He politely poked around the empty meteorology department; from what he could see, the equipment looked quite respectable, and the notes left here and there would take a more scientific mind to decipher. The white-haired officer was out of her element around Raina's round-bellied cheer. Father Kelley was out of his element around the constructs of man. It all looked very interesting, though.

Administration should be even more so.