Making The Grade [Sean]

[Seema Chaudhary]

[Backdated to the first day of the inspection]

Low heels clicked softly as Seema walked down the long hallway through the school, her cell phone held to her ear and her voice in hushed, hurried tones. “I don't care Aalia, your father is sick and your brothers are being idiots... It will only be for a few days and then I will be home... I'm still in Vermont... Yes, I am going to be home as soon as I can be... Again, I don't care. You go home now and get them under control and I will be back as soon as I can.... Yes... Okay, thank you love... Yes, I will phone later... Mei tumsey pyaar kartaa*.”

The call was disconnected and then Seema shut down the phone and tucked it into her bag out of the way, pulling out the little map of the school grounds as she did so. The Hammel Institute was bigger than she had expected, and even though she had been given a very brief show around of the place she still hadn't quite found her bearings yet. Tucking a long escapee strand of dark hair behind her ear, Seema paused in the hallway as she looked over the map and tried to work out her way from the auditorium back to the main entry, where she was due to meet the lead psychiatrist for her official tour of the grounds and facilities that made up the school.

The place was quite unlike any that Seema had visited before, and though some of what she had heard about the school since her arrival had made her a little uneasy, the inspector was bold and unafraid and wouldn't let something as silly as super powers prevent her from doing her job thoroughly. As she always did. Though Seema still didn't quite understand why a full team had been sent with her; perhaps they thought she was getting softer and losing her touch as her family continued to expand. Eventually Seema managed to find her way to the main entrance to the school, folding the map back up and tucking it into her bag. There was a gentleman already stood in the foyer, towering over her by a clear foot, but that did not sway the determined professional look on Seema's face as she approached him. “Excuse me, my name is Seema Chaudhary. I am expecting to meet with a Doctor Neville.”

[* I love you]

[Dr. Sean Neville]

The announcement of the scheduled government inspection had been met with varied reactions by the faculty and staff members. Several of those reactions involved gratitude that Vincent Verax was no longer a student, although he was hardly their only potential problem. A plan had been developed to keep some of the students occupied, and the rest had been warned to remain on their best behavior. All of the staff would have their hands full, since they would have to watch the students more closely while going about their typical duties and having meetings with the inspectors as requested.

All with Thanksgiving looming on the horizon.

Sean had volunteered to meet with the inspectors as needed, in hopes of alleviating the pressure on some of the other faculty during classroom hours.

The psychiatrist’s office was always clean, unless a student had a difficult day. Still, Sean had taken the time to straighten up, since they would be judged on presentation. He had also locked up all of the confidential records in his filing cabinet, in case there was a more prolonged visit in the office proper. Yvette had given him a brief overview during the last staff meeting; the inspectors consisted of four people, three of whom were non-powered. The last was a Hammel alum, who had been pulled out of retirement just for the inspection.

All the more reason to keep the students on their best behavior.

He had been given a time to meet the inspector, and a name of the woman whom he was to meet.

Seema Chaudhary.

When a woman at least a decade and a half younger than him, and a foot shorter than him approached, she was unrecognizable. That meant that she had to be the inspector. Offering her a smile and his hand, Sean greeted. “I’m Doctor Neville, but you can call me ‘Sean,’ if you’d prefer. Are you Ms. Chaudhary?”

[Seema Chaudhary]

Rumours about this particular school had never reacted Seema's ears, which she was a little surprised about given its current range of students and staff members. Honestly it was a little unnerving for her; Seema knew about meta abilities and that such people existed, of course, but she had never experienced any of them up close. Her family and close friends were all non-meta (some of them proudly so), and though she had done a little research, it would be a very different thing to see them up close and personal.

Still, Seema was nothing if not professional and none of her anxiety showed on her face or in her posture as she greeted the gentleman who introduced himself as Dr Neville. His hand dwarfed hers as they shook, her grip surprisingly firm for such a seemingly petite and delicate woman, and she gave him a polite smile and nod of her head in acknowledgement.

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Sean. I am Mrs Chaudhary, but you are welcome to call me Seema if you would prefer.”

Rummaging around in her bag, Seema produced a small moleskine notebook and pen. She had been doing the job for so long that she had learned how to make very detailed mental notes, which was much easier and less conspicuous, but it was never a bad thing to have actual note-taking equipment to hand, just in case. “I thought we could begin with a brief tour of the facilities and grounds, if that suits you, Sean.”

[Dr. Sean Neville]

The lack of rumors underscored the proficiency of their PR and cyber security teams. This was also an advantage insofar as setting for Hammel, and possibly a detriment to the inspectors. Sean hoped, for Seema’s sake, that they did not have any sort of trouble, since there was a big difference between “a student talks back” and “a student sprays you with ink before scurrying across the ceiling.”

They would cross that bridge if and when they came to it.

Instead, he would work as the Ambassador to Hammel, at least with this inspector, until one of the other faculty members took his place.

“That would be fine with me; I’m at your service.” The remark held a bit more truth than a mere pleasantry, since he had been assigned to accommodate the inspectors to the best of his ability, while simultaneously not compromising the confidentiality, or security, of the school. His seniority and his reputation had some benefits, even if he didn’t always see eye-to-eye with some other members of the administration. “Where on the grounds would you like to start?”

It was a vague enough question. “Do you want the grounds themselves? Or would you rather start with some of the indoor facilities?”