Chapter 4 : Political machinations

Boyd knew he was in for a battle wits when he saw who the other 2 teachers were that awaited him so rather than letting his VIP student rest he had instead request that the teen start instructing his most loyal student, Nathan, as a demonstration to the other two that Daley was firmly taking Boyd's lead. Now that hes had a closer look at them the middles aged teacher reflects that might not have been necessary. Still, after what happens in the principles office he a position of strength to negotiate from and so while perhaps a little heavy handed, the desired effect seemed to have been achieved given how they greeted him.

Though both woman looked worse for ware, clearly still feeling sickly due the the rampant Chi overflow affecting everyone they still held themselves the dignified poise, even if the posture was one of respectful acceptance between peers. It was also Harper who spoke first, a fact that gave Boyd the impression they wanted to try the more amenable approach first, as if Davis had been the first to speak then Boyd suspected they would have stared to conversation with scorn and confrontation. Harper's tone contributed to this theory with how polite it was, as if they were inviting him to share afternoon tea.“If seeing is believing then I would have to believe what dear Miss Manford has told me must be true. You look right as rain Mr. Boyd. How do you feel ?”

With a glance Boyd took note of the stoic demeanor Davis was exhibiting before summoning up a polite smile and stepping forward to offer his hand in greeting as he adopted his own cordial tone, as if happily accepting the invitation to afternoon tea, despite know full well the verbal fencing match about to take place. “Oh I have seem Mr Harper, and then some.” Offering his hand to Davis next with a nod. “Miss Davis.” Which she returns in kind but no words, allowing Boyd to move thins along with the same sweet tone. “As you have no doubt observed for yourselves, not just heard, I have into some good fortune despite our dire circumstance as one of my favored students possesses oddly useful skills which have been of immense help, not only to me but quite a few of the student body thus far and I have organized for knowledge of an introduction to these skills to be mass produced so that other can benefit.”

It did not escape Harper's notice that Boyd was positioning himself firmly at the center of and in charge of this boon. An odd choice of framing given that he had supposedly gone to the principles office with this very information. It was true that the principle was old, due to retire in 2 years actually and pretty set in her ways but would she really have dismissed information that might help in the current crises, especially if provided by someone who so clearly wasn't suffering like everyone else ? Best to verify. Harper's tone was more inquisitive than accusatory. “Impressive. I'm sure the principle was elated with the news that at least someone was showing results in helping deal with our present situation. At least I was given to believe that's why you were absent when I arrived and had left the class in the hands of a student ?”

Boyd reflected on how he had told Maik that things out in the world were being taken care of but Boyd knew those were just empty words. The best case scenario, The Best Case, was that the constitutional United states of America might remain in tact and survive this event but the world as they knew it was gone. It had already ended hours ago and almost everyone, especially a high school teacher, was going to need to find a new place in the new world. Boyd had intentionally looked sickly and weak so that the principle only saw as a couple of haggard people offering a supposed miracle that was easily dismissed. As an added Bonus Boyd extracted extra information out of Daley about the higher techniques and had learned valuable secrets about the teen which he could use an leverage later. Whatever the now world order turned out to be, Boyd had no intention of winding up just another casualty lost to time.

So knowing that this issue was both going to come up and was pivotal to how the rest of the conversation would unfold Boyd laid on, what he believed to be, just the right amount of innocence, frustration and resignation for an outcome he had actually been hoping for. “My fellow educators, I tried, I really did but the principle is swamped with those clamoring his her attention and help from all sides. My only hope is that she will actually pass along the instruction she I gave her or even try it out herself sense she did at least take the time to skim the literature my student provided. But if the way she threw me out by the ear was any indication I would not be surprised if those instructions are in the trash by now.” It was at this point that Boyd chose to alter his tone to one of determined hope. “However, I am not disheartened. I will simply need to work with my students, and perhaps other faculty of open mind, to produce results that can't be so easily dismissed.”

The implication that the other 2 teacher would need to prove to Boyd that they were of the 'open minded' variety that he could work with, thus gaining access to the knowledge which the middle aged man had lucked into. Both Harper and Davis respected that but were still envious. That was not to say that they would put voice to such feelings. Davis found this an opportune time to slip into the conversation and smooth over her informants involvement. “Rest assured Mr. Boyd, while some of our colleges may simply be trying to maintain the former status quo you will find that the 2 before you have a much firmer understanding as to just how drastically the status quo has changed, perhaps even more then you realize given what information I have been privia too though I would appreciate a little more proof as to the usefulness of these skills before I would be willing to commit to going behind the principles back like this.”

It was Boyd's turn to be on the back foot, though Harper wasn't much better. The two looked to Davis for elaboration but the woman remained stoic, waiting Boyd out to see what political capital the information could buy her. The play bore fruit as any information that helped the man better understand the greater political landscape would pay mighty dividends in the long run and he knew both woman to be both competent and have a good following among the student body. Boyd tried to contain the smugness in his voice when he held his hand back out, but some still slipped in. “Take my hand and I will show you.”

The apprehension in the woman's eyes didn't go unnoticed but the hesitation of brief before she clasped his hand. There was... a sensation... flowing into her through her hand. There was a twang of fear and wonder in Davis's voice. “What... What are you...”

Boyd didn't leaver her hanging for long. “A trick I put together after interacting with My student while he was helping me. Just mentally focus on her HUD's display and will it to accept the information I am sending you. You should be able to see the tier 3 skill I now poses if this works the way I think it does.”

Both woman shared a wide eyed look. Harper nodded and Davis assented to the connection. She was treated to a screen that showed a list of Boyd's skills, the tier 3 still highlighted. Boyd may have only meant to send that part and Davis could see the tier 3 skills just fine, as well as 1 tier 4 skill and a second was seemed to be filling in as she read.

Skills 3ed Tier

Calculus – Advanced

Vehicle mechanic / gas – Experienced

Vehicle mechanic / diesel – experienced

mind body connection – beginner

Stills / 4th Tier

Chi projection – Beginner

Sending – Beginner

Davis could not help herself. “What does sending mean ?” The connection was quickly severed and the teacher blinked a couple times from how abrupt the shift was.

Boyd was clearly disappointed at first but what was done was done. “That is a new skill that I just verified would work. Its like I can send thoughts and images to people I'm touching. It would have been very helpful to convincing the principle too, if she had even so much a shook my hand, or even let me get a word in for that matter. His tone changed to one of acceptance then. “It is good that you are so amenable to being presented with such unrefutable evidence and to hear that we understand the necessity of us taking charge of our own fates and the fates of the students under our care given how unwilling higher management is to accept the new reality. As such let us begin sharing what assets we have at our disposal and pool a rough draft of our present knowledge so that effective plans may be made ?”

Now it was Harper who was the center of attention as the other two seemed to come to an agreement about the current state of affairs. A quick demonstration later and Harper was reluctant to refer to her students as assets but with the other 2 easily adopting that terminology she quickly followed suit. It turned out that Davis had loose ties to the military in her family so had an ear to the ground when the odd rumor and then reports of certain high ranking people from prominent families simultaneously excusing themselves from their duties in mass over the last week. Apparently the higher ups knew something like this was going to happen but it was still pretty short notice. The fact that they left their positions of authority and power for this event seemed unwarranted unless they had expected it to be much worse. Harper voiced the most dreadful question. “What if its not over yet ? What if this is just the beginning ?”

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

The thought was unsettling but they had no answer for that, only the speculation that many people, who were very influential and in the know, had left for parts unknown in a hurry over the past week and now the world had greatly changed. Unsettling indeed, but nothing they could effect directly. It did give them a sense that they might very well be on their own after all. No government coming to help, at least not for the foreseeable future. With this in mind, the three began to haggle and deliberate on how they would build their own new kingdom with the students as their followers.

The three teachers had been in heated discussion for over 20 minutes and it was after 3 O'clock by the time Elisha and Maik made their way over too them. The 2 students were greeted formally and Boyd seemed thankful for Maik's thoughtfulness. There was a moment of tension when Maik started to imply that he was only helping students that were with Boyd and Harper, Davis taking on a flat lipped expression as she gave Boyd a pointed glance, but the middle aged man had no need to antagonize his new ally so quickly set about correcting Maik's preconceptions. “Actually Maik, Davis here has been nothing but helpful is shedding light on affairs outside of our school grounds and despite Tristyn's aggressive behavior, he was just trying to get a grasp on the situation. We have come up with a list of 20 people, including Davis and Harper here. If you can manage that with your current reserves, I will need to start seeing about sleeping arrangements for everyone here so I'll be taking some of those who have already been through the training.”

Both Maik and Elisha didn't look happy about the prospect of setting up sleeping arrangements here at school and Elisha was quick to voice her concern on that fact with wild eyes that started to dance between the teachers present. “Sleeping arrangements ? When are we going home ?”

Boyd didn't address her concern, instead focusing on Maik and letting Harper address Elisha's concern. “The situation beyond school grounds is presently not safe and many of the roads are blocked. Reports have continued to come in throughout the day and we do not believe that the present situation will be resolved swiftly or without considerable effort from everyone effected.” The teacher stepped up to Elisha and placed both hands on the students biceps to give them a gentle squeeze. “You my dear, are fortunate to be fairing as well as you are in present circumstances and I'm counting on your help in the coming days as we assist those less fortunate than we. I too have family whom I worry for. Lets do our best to see that at least this will be a safe place for them when we find our respective loved ones.”

Elisha tried to protest that Boyd told Maik there were people higher up working on the problem. That this was just another natural disaster of some kink, like a hurricane. The teacher nodded along and pointed out just how devastating some of those hurricanes had been, only this time it was everywhere and nobody had evacuated the area. The blond student needed a hug after that and Harper heartily provided, a demonstration that helped Maik almost as much as the pep talk Boyd provided the teen with. With that the 5 of them made their way over to the gathering Maik and Elisha had just left where the 3 teachers seemed to work as one organizing the students.

Scribe work was transferred to those still suffering from rampant Chi flow with good hand righting sense it was a less physically demanding task. Besides Maik's friends, Boyd and Tristyn, there were only 14 other students who had directly been instructed my Maik and they were all needed to accompany Boyd to the indoor Stadium where padded floor mats could be procured for bedding. As Boyd put it before they left the class. “This trilogy of your teachers will have have their students sleeping on the hard floor.”

Elisha asked about using the showers along the way and Stacy suggested grabbing peoples gym wear so people weren't sleeping in there day clothes and Boyd conceded that those were both good points before delegating the assembled students into 2 groups meant to escort groups of students back and forth from the gym for that purpose if there were no unforeseen complications. As though prophesied by Boyd's words a complication was, in fact, obstructing their goal.

There was a procession of Students doing there best to jog laps around the building with the head coach keeping pace and urging them on with a surprisingly motivational speech. “Don't bounce Jones. Use your muscles to control your jog. If a 52 year old like me can do it than by god a spry youngster like you should have no problem. Stop loosing focus and keep your mind on your muscles, steady breathing, strong heart beat and firm coordination.” When the coach noticed the approaching group however he called for a halt. “Huff, Seems we have visitors. Huff, huff. Take 5.”

Rather than the sickly look most people had the group just looked to be in various states of hung over, some pretty badly by how they just seemed to collapse to the sidewalk panting. By contrast Boyd's group seemed to exude vitality and health, looking better and healthier than they probably did yesterday and that fact was not lost on the old coach. Nor was it lost on Boyd that the older man stood tall and marched with a self assured gate despite looking like he had been blackout drunk last night and probably only had 2 hours of sleep before being forced to run a marathon with how he was drenched in sweat, how red his eyes were and what looked like a bit of vomit still on his shirt and trousers. Despite all this the old mans voice was firm as he put his fists on his hips. “Huff. Well damn if you lot aren't just fine flock of spring daisies. So brings you my way with fine afternoon. Huff.”

Boyd knew the man used to be in the army but hadn't expected this. Maybe people with military training would fair better with the Chi flow than your average person. Boyd filed it away as something to look into later. For now he stepped up and offered the man a hand in greeting. Mr. Boyd, applied mathematics teacher. Were here to procures some floor mats to use as bedding for the students and the set up rotations for using the showers.” Boyd pointed looks at the jocks who's existence was all but pure suffering and then back at the coach. “How long have you been at... this ? Boyd gestures to the assembled students on the ground.

The coach's gaze had come to rest on James, sense he was a jock as well and remained there even as he shook the proffered hand and answered Boyd's quarry. “Huff. Coach Leavery. Huff. Nice to meet you. Huff. Yes that does indeed sound like quite the sensible course of action. Huff. As me and the lads here, Huff, I have found that an active body doesn't seem to be suffering the symptoms of, Huff, whatever is going around lately. Huff. At least, not as profoundly.” His eyes finally return to Boyd's, giving the man the sternest assessing look that Boyd may ever have been under in his life. “Although you lot don't seem to be having that problem. Curious that.”

Up to this point Boyd was feeling pretty full of himself with how much progress he had made but that stern gaze took a lot of the wind out of his sails. Not all though, and the middle aged man smoothly went right into negotiations. “Despite what the principle seems to think, I believe that fortune has smiled upon a trilogy of teacher, me and 2 others as some of our students have had remarkable insights into the working of what we are calling the HUD's display and it has been Pretty helpful. In my opinion.”

The coach nods and rubs his chin absently. “The principle don't think so huh ?”

Boyd saw no need to reveal that he could Send information with touch just yet so played along with half truths. “Aside from the fact that Me and a hand full of students aren't suffering like everyone else and an instruction sheet I provided we didn't really have any compelling evidence to present and if you've been by her office lately yo would have seen just how long the line is of people clambering for her attention. She just so busy that she all but fired, if not demoted, me on the spot before throwing me out on my ear.” Boyd shrugs. “So I figured that I would need to produce more compelling evidence before going back to her again.

There was a frown on the old former soldiers face but he nodded. “Yeah. Sometimes all you can do is pass your report up the chain of command and let them sort it out. But I wouldn't worry about it too much son. Its probably in some pile waiting to be more thoroughly reviewed with all the other reports so that the higher ups can get a grasp of the big picture before making a decision. You probably be getting a call to come see her and make a demonstration within.....” Leavery's gaze goes distant as he recalls old memories, grimaces harder and nods again. “About 2 weeks or so.”

At first Boyd had been worried that all his plans would be for not but that last statement was so jarring that he actually laughed. “PffHaahh haha Haa.” Both from the relief from his worries and from just how funny that statement was. He quickly composed himself though and adopted a grave tone. “That's too long.” The coach shrugs as though there was nothing to be done about it but Boyd reflects that those jock would make mighty fine soldiers, with the right training and guidance. He makes the choice. “Perhaps we don't have to wait that long. You yourself seem to have realized that we can't just wait around to be taken care of.....” The pause prompts the coach to give a slow nod of affirmation. “As you have no doubt heard, things are a right mess out there in the world right now ?” Again the coach nods, his eye closing as he dose so in a mournful way. “I would like to invite you back to my class where the 4 of us can discuss our best path moving forward. Anything that helps to make this place a safe haven for family, students, friends and faculty needs to be considered.”

The retired soldier chews that over for a full 5 seconds before offering his hand for a shake and nodding. “Alright, but my lads come with.” Boyd nods, though they were going to need to figure out more extensive arrangements given the sheer number of people their group was starting to consist of.

Back at the class room Maik was diligently helping the 20 people under his care through the Meditation process. First he had them all read the instructions he had produced and that seemed to be helping move things along a fair bit. This also gave the teen time to sit down and rest for a few minutes before the work started. All this allowed Maik to do more than just frantically run about putting out fires and actually focus on just what he was doing for the first time and the gains were plentiful.

Chi projection – Beginner - advances to – Capable

New skill - Sending – beginner

Sending is a basic form to mind to mind communication, While lacking in the rate of information that can be transferred, it is very energy efficient.

New skill – Minor healing – Beginning

Minor healing allows the user to effect healing upon the biological of another organism with the use of Chi so long as the affected party is willing or is otherwise incapable of effectively applying will against such an action.

New skill – Chi sight – beginner

A field of Chi can be projected in order to sense physical matter and flows of energies within the effected space.

The sending was learned when one student was really having trouble visualizing the instruction, which was why had was having so much trouble. Simply because the had the time to try it Maik had tried to send an image to the guy and he received it. After that Maik realized that he might have done the same thing with Boyd the 2ed or 3ed time he had checked on the teachers progress but couldn't be sure. The healing skill came when he found that one of the teachers had already suffered some damage due to Chi surge and, again, sense he had the time he tried to reach in an sooth the affected area encouraging more rapid healing. After getting the notification Maik applied as much of his purple bar as he dared to practicing each of them and by the end not even his enthusiasm for gaining new seemingly magical power could motivate him to go further. His will to do anything had dropped to an all time low. And it was time for a well deserved nap.