Post By Hatman Tue May 04, 2004 at 07:30:55 pm EDT	Subject Prodigy: Introduction
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    “I don’t care if Dream let his daughter take the LairJet out for a spin, you are not,” he sternly replied. “You only started training on the simulator two weeks ago and besides, the LairJet is not a toy. It’s a very expensive piece of equipment that is only to be used on official Lair Legion or Prodigy business.”

    “So when you and Uncle Dream used to take it to comic book conventions, that was official business?" Jay gulped. He'd have to speak to Dream about how much he told the kids, and then lecture him on letting his foster daughter take the LairJet out for joyrides.

    “That was a different time then. The Lair Legion was a much younger team, with much looser standards and guidelines. You know how much responsibility we have now, and we have to set an example to the public.” Inwardly Jay cringed a little. He hated having to cite policy and guidelines to his daughter, but with his position as Director of Heroic Operations to two super teams, he sometimes had to.

    “This is so not fair! I don’t get to have any fun! All we do here is train, train, and train! We never get to go out in the field with the Legion, we never get to goof off, all we do is train! I just want to go out for the night-“ Stacey ranted.

    “You want to fly a 3.5 million dollar aircraft to a pop concert in Colorado on a school night. I’m sorry, but the answer is still no. And as I recall, you still haven’t completed your mission response scenario that’s due tomorrow, eh?”

    “I could do it en route…”

    “While flying the LairJet? I don’t think so. Look, I’ll tell you what. Finish up your homework, and this week-end I'll take you and your friends-“

    “Shopping/!” Stacey perked up at that idea.

    Jay sighed. He hated shopping. “Alright, I’ll take you shopping.”

    “Thanks Pop!” she exclaimed as she hugged him. “Catch you later!”

    “Whoa, wait a minute, that was way to easy. You aren’t upset about the concert?”

    “It’s called misdirection, Pop. We learned about it in tactical training last week. You really think I’d waste my time going to an N’Sync reunion concert?” She grinned as she left the room. “I’ll go tell Nancy and Deanna to keep their Saturday open!”

    “And the teacher becomes the student!” exclaimed Dreamcatcher Foxglove, CrazySugarFreakBoy!, as he bounced into the room.

    “You helped her with this then, I take it?” asked Jay as he started walking to his office.

    Dream fell in step with his longtime partner. “Totally! You see, I had to figure out a suitable challenge for her tactical training practical exercise, and I wanted her to really get motivated for it. What better challenge than to best the man who wrote over half the curriculum?” The pair turned the corner past the Tech Bay.

    “Dream, we didn’t set up the Prodigy program to teach our children how to mislead their parents. We did it so that when, someday, they’re ready to step up and fill our shoes, they will be properly prepared. There’s no way I can keep Stacey from doing the hero thing, and don’t get me wrong, I’m very proud of her, but I won’t always be there to protect her. I need to be sure she’s ready for the obstacles to come her way. I owe it to her, and Whitney…” They stopped outside of Jay’s office.

    “I get that man, really, I do. And I don’t intend to make a habit out of sending the kids to lie to their parents. But c’mon, that was a real nice number she did on you. Doesn’t it make you feel a little better to know that in the field she’ll be using her brain and her brawn?”

    “I guess. So what was the other kids assignments?”

    “Well, obviously I couldn’t have Nancy trying to pull something on me, because I’d be ready for it, but I think Bry will find it interesting when the SugarHighTeenSupreme! gets him to sign a purchase order for a truckload of SweetTarts. And don’t look at me like that, I already let Accounting know that it’s a dud and not to go through with it.”

    “Okay, that’s two down. What about Slingshot and Transit?”

    “Well, Trickshot’s nephew has to switch his uncle’s bow with one we rigged up special, and you know how sharp an eye Tricky keeps on it. Don’t worry, we’ll be giving him back his usual one right away, definitely before he goes into the field. And the pride and joy of Bry and Lisette isn’t quite ready for practical yet; I have enough trouble keeping her focused in class.”

    “I find that kind of funny, you complaining that you can’t keep somebody focused,” grinned Jay.

    “Hey, I’m still the fun-loving guy I’ve always been, but my daughter is on this team and I feel a lot like you do; I want her, and all of the kids, prepared for what they’ll have to face out there. And if that means that I have to buckle down a bit and actually act, mature, then that’s what I’ll have to do. But if you want a wedgie to prove I’m not a total stuffed shirt I’ll be happy to oblige!”

    “That’s okay Dream, I believe you. I knew there was a reason I picked you to be leader of Prodigy, and you continue to prove it everyday.” Jay opened the door to his office and motioned for his friend to enter. “But we do have an issue to discuss about proper LairJet usage.”

    “Watch your back, Sugar!” called out Slingshot as he fired an explosive pellet at the attacking droid behind his teammate.

    “Thanks ‘Shot!” she called back. She formed a battering ram of solidified Impossibilitium and hammered two of their opponent against the wall. “Transit, hit them with their own wreckage!”

    Transit sighed under her breath and teleported the junk pile that was their three just-destroyed attackers on top of three more. She hated these training exercises. Her teammates seemed to enjoy them, but she didn’t want this life. She was quite content to be a normal teenage girl.

    “Think that’s all of them?” asked SHTS! as she brushed her hands as if clearing away dust.

    “You missed one!” called out a new voice. Stacey flew over her Prodigy teammates and knocked the head clean off of one remaining droid. She landed next to her teammates. “And that is that!”

    “You’re sure in a good mood, Hat Trick,” commented Slingshot. “Things go well with your dad?”

    “Oh yeah, set-up worked like a dream. We’re on for shopping on Saturday, Nance! You can come too if you want, Deanna,” added Stacey.

    “I think I’ll pass, thanks. Have some reading to catch up on,” mumbled Transit.

    “If you kids are done planning your social lives on the Combat Platform, I have your training results for you,” came the voice of Al B. Harper over the intercom.

    “Let’s go!” called Slingshot as he bolted out of the Training Room.

    “He’s such a keener,” commented SHTS! as she and Hat Trick left the room together, Transit following a few steps behind.

    “We’re home!” called Trickshot as he pulled open the door to the fridge.

    “You could never tell by the way our deputy leader acts that we were almost killed by B.A.L.D., huh,” said Nats as he headed for the couch.

    “We’re almost killed every day, Nats,” pointed out Goldeneyed. “Wouldn’t you agree, Messenger?”

    “Part and parcel of the job description I’d say,” confirmed the Postman.

    “Ha, part and parcel, very funny Messy,” chimed in Lisette.

    “Extra postage for puns or part of the regular service, Postman?” asked NTU-173.

    “For you, I’ll throw ‘em in for free. But only because I don’t want you messing with my alarm clock again,” joked Messenger.

    “Hear hear. That woke me up in the monitor ro…er, I mean, I heard it in the monitor room and thought it was an attack!” Nats corrected himself.

    “What were you doing in the monitor room, Nats? The union guys might get pissed at you,” asked G-Eyed.

    “I was covering Carlos as a favor, fearless leader,” answered Nats. The door opening alerted them to the presence of CrazySugarFreakBoy! and Jay.

    “How’d things go?” asked Jay.

    “Same old, same old. We win, they lose. Nothing too spectacular. I’ll have a report on your desk for you by morning,” reported G-Eyed.

    “Much appreciated Bry. But before you head off for the evening, I have a matter to discuss with you. In private.” Jay looked around at the assembled Legionnaires. “No offense, guys.”

    “Not a problem Jay. Mind if I ask what it’s about?”

    “Prodigy. I think they’re ready.”

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