Unlikely Heroines [M&M3e] (NSFW) - Freedom College Gymnasium

[experimenter73]

2. Freedom College Gymnasium

The athletic programs at Freedom College are pretty successful. For a basketball game, the gym would be packed to the rafters with cheering fans. For this event, however, a much smaller turnout is expected.

The Student Government Association is hosting a debate regarding the legal and moral question of government-mandated vaccination. City Councilwoman Lila Simmons, Democrat is scheduled to attend and debate State Representative Darren Collins, Republican, on the issue.

At the time we begin, neither speaker has arrived, though you are welcome to engage with (or be) student representatives from the Student Government Association. Alternatively, you could be at the gymnasium for entirely unrelated reasons of your own, like using the workout facilities or practicing on the court until the debate begins.

Freedom College Gymnasium Map

View attachment 16469

 

[The Harbinger]

Becca walked the gumnasium, cookie tray in hand. She smiled, greeted everyone, by name when she knew it, and if she didn't, she did before they separated. She was here as one of the nine student body representatives for freshmen here at Freedom City University. They all deserved a smile, a hug, and a welcome cookie, regardless of the side of the topic. This was the time to make every person here feel welcome, Becca took her responsibilities here seriously.

Looking down the court, she directed a shy little lady to the drinks table that was being manned by a pair of junior representatives, though they did seem just a bit disdainful of having to attend, they perked up as the young lady approached. Sweeping by the concession stands she checks her stock, this cookie tray is looking a bit picked over, time to trade out. With a request to the nerdy little guy behind the counter, she winks. "Hey, Vince, can you freshen this cookie tray, I think I need to do the rounds with that veggie tray while you get it."

Blushing at the wink, the young man jumps to, "Uh, yeah, got it. The veggie tray, uh, sure, here. Did you do something with your hair? Remember, uh, don't let them double-dip."

"Good man, and you're right. Haha, yeah, the hair, ummm, don't ever let them tell you that platinum blonde is for everyone. It just made me look old and grey." The comment about her hair was a touchy matter, she normally bore raven black tresses, but this... bottle... had promised more, yet delivered less. "Double-dip, not on my watch," Becca sweeps the tray up into the customary waiter's stance, though this puts the tray easily out of comfortable reach. Power-strolling away from the booth, she thinks to herself. Good kid, tries too hard to be funny, but at least he is energetic. Again her eyes sweep another student council representative who is here to collect their hours. Studiously reviewing their phone until they notice they are being witnessed.

Not her, she may not have their people skills, which was why she didn't have their positions in the council, but she meant to help where she could, and hearing out the thoughts of the students on the fringe, as well as the mainstream, does that. This put her in a position to hear those thoughts.

Until the debate began, it was her job to make those attending to feel at home, ease their trepidations, and of course, find a seat. There would be far more chairs than attending today unfortunately, so the last concern was moot, today. She hoped the speakers were ready for this outcome.

 

[Ahlanna]

"This will be more lively … I hope. 'sides, if we were going slumming, there's more authentic places than Applebuddy's. Now, a bit further to your right."

A glance of azure eyes, hidden behind designer shades, back down to the court checks to see if any of the bureaucratic budding fascists in the SGA were paying attention to the back of the bleachers. Kaylee had been careful to hang the "spirit sign" a couple days in advance, so no one would think twice about it – but hopefully no one would pick up on her – or more likely Eva's – body language.

"No, your other right!" Kaylee whispers into her new iPhone. She hated it. Android was so much better, but Veronica had made a whole deal out of it, and Mackenzie had gotten in on it – leaving Kaylee little choice but to agree before it became a 'thing'. The good old 'hot salesguy' excuse combined with the 'it's not like they cost enough to think about anyhow' entreaty to status had defused the immediate emergency, but that only bought her a couple of days.

Nothing says 'cool independent thinker' like going with the most commonly used product, from the world's biggest corporation, after all.

On the opposite side of the bleachers, Eva adjusts her position as directed, slouching down in front of the other end of the spirit sign. She mutters back into her own phone.

"Because it's important!" Kaylee protests in rebuttal. "This is how it starts. First you get your papers, next come checkpoints, then before you know it, you have unvax concentration camps and mandatory broccoli rations to keep Medicare costs down. That's not what this country was founded …"

Sighing in aggravation, Kaylee responds to something on the other side of the conversation, "… of course it makes sense! Look, they already say a farmer isn't allowed to grow wheat to feed his own family, so don't count on the Supreme Court to bail us out. They get shit wrong all the time. Civil asset forfeiture is clearly unconstitutional, and that crap is allowed. Why not concentration camps? They did it during World War II."

Realizing she's leaning into her phone, Kaylee exhales. "I like broccoli just fine, it's the mandatory bit … look it doesn't matter. It's just important, in order to stick it to the man, okay? Now wait for my signal. No, I can't just text you, it won't have the same effect if it's two seconds apart. Ok. Ok. Great. Uh-huh. Yes, that's right."

Setting the phone down, Kaylee crosses her arms and leans back against the rear bars of the bleachers. Down below, someone is walking around passing out snacks and looking like she was trying to be nice to people. Heh, poor thing. They'd be lucky if the socialists didn't start throwing stuff when the state rep showed up. Kaylee didn't really know his stances, but he was an elected Republican, which meant he was wishy-washy and spineless. And probably corrupt. Where as his opponent was an elected Democrat, which meant she was insane. And probably corrupt.

Corruption was more or less a requirement for winning elections in Kaylee's book. That's what made America great. It was the one system that could survive, and thrive, when virtually every person involved was lining their pockets.

Eying the snack woman if she ventures far enough up the bleachers, Kaylee wonders, "Is that … broccoli?"

 

[The Harbinger]

As Becca moved about the gathering she makes eye contact with the lovely in the shades. Looks like she was getting her excersize, up the bleachers she begins. Passing among the few that were up here, she offers the veggies and reminded them of the chairs down on the floor of the court. She stays perky and moving as she can, even as she avoids confrontation. Little pressure, a reminder of audience seating, and she moves on. A couple accept her treat, before ignoring the suggestion to move seating, though as they mooned into each other's eyes, Becca doubted they were truly here for the speeches.

Finally, she approaches Kaylee. "Oh yes, broccoli, carrots, celery, cherry tomoatoes, even a veggie dip. Hi, I'm Becca, Becca Harrigan, good to have you here." She offers the tray, a broad smile on her face. "They have asked that we sit down in the floor seating. Just looking out for a fellow classmate. I am a freshman class representative, so I wanted to feel out the students as they hear the speakers. Are you riding any particular side going into the speeches?" She waves down the bleachers, but as the highest attending upon the bleachers, she was prepared to escort her down as they talked. With a quick hand, she dipped a broccoli sprig and popped it into her mouth as she listened to Kaylee. Truly, listened.

 

[Ahlanna]

Kaylee chirps brightly, "Oh, awesome!" and quickly snatches up a big floret, deliberately crunching it in Eva's direction. It wasn't super likely the other girl would notice, but that didn't matter. Kaylee would know. And feeding one's sense of self-superiority was pretty darn important.

After swallowing, her raven-topped head bobs politely in recognition of Becca's introduction, and she even removes her shades, at least for a moment. "I'm Kaylee. Unofficial representative of the cheer squad. Just making sure no one disturbs the sign until our visitors can see it!"

It was technically 100% true, even if it was a touch duplicitous. As for the sign itself, it seems a bit prosaic and uninspired, "Freedom College Welcomes Our Esteemed Representatives!". But of course, that message wasn't the point. The point was the other banner hanging behind this one, the one that read "Whatever happened to 'My body, my choice?!?'". Not that this should be obvious to the erstwhile members of the SGA.

At least, Kaylee hoped not.

"Side? Oh, I'm just in the camp that hopes they won't fu— uh … I mean, mess things up." It was a well-practiced maneuver among the alphas, the faux-accidental almost-curse. When executed properly, you gained points for being passionate and rebellious enough to curse, and then bonus points for being ladylike, classy and restrained by holding yourself back. Kaylee gently gnaws her lower lip in 'concern' over her 'near-miss' before continuing on. "On the squad, it's our job to always root for Freedom! Whoo!" Shooting up, her right arm straightens as if equipped with a pom-pom. A beat later, she lowers it again.

Kaylee changes the subject before too many questions are asked, "Say, I'm not sure I've seen you at these before … oh duh! You said you were a freshman! Sorry, I can be almost blonde at times! Anyway, those boots are pretty awesome, where did you get them?"

She sets about framing said boots with her phone, preparing to snap a picture. "You don't mind, do you?"

 

[Corinthi]

Lily Lyons wasn’t much to look at. 5’3’ and scrawny, she looked more like a high school sophomore than a university junior. Her features were bland, blue eyes largely hidden behind the thick lenses of her glasses, prescription powerful enough to make her eyes appear bigger than they should to onlookers. There just wasn’t anything about her that really drew attention.

She walked into the gymnasium for today’s civic meeting because her sociology professor, Mr. Dawes, was offering extra credit for attendance. Well, specifically for a short paper on the debate, but it was hard to write about it without attending.

A quick scan of the bleachers told her that finding a spot to sit shouldn’t be too tough, given how few people seemed to be after the extra credit. Lily claimed a seat three rows back on the aisle, and pulled a piece of paper from her pocket. Unfolding it, she sat it beside her on the bleacher. ‘RESERVED’ was the sole word centered on the page in 44pt font. She wasn’t actually saving seat for anyone, but if it looked like she was, people were less likely to try to sit next to her.

To further make herself unapproachable and invisible, she got out her oversized Android phone and began idly browsing a TikTok feed dominated by pet videos and memes while watching the event attendees.

 

[experimenter73]

Freedom College Gymnasium – Free Time

If there were more people present, the hush that fell over the crowd at the arrival of the first of the guests of honor for the debate might have been more pronounced. Even so, Representative Darren Collins does not arrive unnoticed. At his side walks PSO Gorman, the rotund and good-natured head of campus security.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Representative Collins," a young man is the first to appear from the crowd. "If you follow me, I have everything all set for you at the table. I took the liberty of printing off your notes, and I have some water ready as well."

Becca would recognize him as one of the SGA members she had seen early engrossed in his phone while she worked. Anyone on campus would know him by his unnaturally immobile hair, even if he'd traded his usual 'Real Patriots of Freedom College' T-shirt for a suit for this occasion. Brad Pressman was the bane of almost all of his professors, well known for arguing a losing side well after a class period had ended.

"Not quite yet, Pressman," the Representative smiled. "Unlike my opponent, I care what the students here have to say, so I intend to take this opportunity to get to know them."

Starting at the back of the arranged seating, Darren approaches each little gathering of students. He is met as often with rebukes and chastisement as with welcome. To his credit, a true politician, he remains poised and unflappable in the face of all criticism. He dispenses platitudes and obviously prepared sound-bites like candy.

"Of course I recognize the plight of the compromised, but our nation is founded on the rights of personal liberty."

"If only we had the means to fund such social programs, but we can't provide for all, and I will not rest until our brave veterans are seen to first!"

"Yes, I did. I cast my vote with pride to suspend what you call Due Process Rights for those arrested for meta-human crimes. Desperate times call for desperate measures."

Slowly but surely, he works his way through the crowd until he is approaching Lily and her still-empty, neighboring seat.

"Thank you so much for coming," he says if she is still there when he arrives. "I hope you'll find today's discussion to be informative. Well, that is, if my opponent can get past her mud-slinging."

 

[Penny]

Gina

"AEGIS Agents were able to arrive on the scene and capture her, though not without cost. Three operatives are reported to be in critical condition, though stable. Miss Adams is being taken to Buckner Ridge Penitentiary for containment..."

Gina taps her phone screen and closes the video, not wanting to watch any more. Everything in the news about the Draw Cards had disturbed her, but the details they'd offered about Cara Adams were downright sickening: her accomplishment in reaching the WNBA, her friends and family speaking well of the woman she used to be, even the evidence that she'd been out jogging when Wildcard had found her. Everything she worked for, her whole life, taken away from her just like that. She wasn't even lucky enough to die with dignity; now there's a monster wearing her skin.

Her thumb moves to open a game on her phone when she spots someone in a suit moving through the room out of the corner of her eye. Immediately she sits up from her slouch and pulls an earbud from one ear, letting it dangle by the thin white wire. Is the debate starting? No, no one's at the table yet. She looks at the men in suits, wondering what's going on. The younger one she recognizes as a student by his awful, immobile hair, though she doesn't know his name. The older one she doesn't recognize - a poli sci professor, maybe? Not her study, she wouldn't know, but it would be overly formal for even a professor to wear a suit and tie on campus. She leans forward in her seat, trying to eavesdrop on his conversation with the students in front of her.

"Of course I recognize the plight of the compromised, but our nation is founded on the rights of..."

Oh, fuck! she thinks. It's one of the representatives, and he's schmoozing with the crowd for some reason. Gina had just shown up to watch the debate, being genuinely undecided on the subject. She definitely doesn't want to get trapped in a conversation with a professional speaker. What if he laughs at her uninformed opinions? What if he humiliates her in front of the whole room and hair guy? She surreptitiously looks around for a subtle means of escape. She can't run out of the room, that would be too obvious, but - There! Up in the bleachers!

Someone is handing out snacks up on the top row of the bleachers. With any luck, the politician won't bother to brave the climb. Even if he does, maybe she can outmaneuver him by taking a snack and going back to her seat. Gina stands up, pulling out the other earbud and stuffing her phone into her hoodie pocket, and climbs the bleachers to the two girls she saw. They seem involved in conversation, which is fine by her. It provides an excuse for her to loiter nearby, not interrupting but not leaving, pretending to be interested in the - are those vegetables? Well, it doesn't really matter. This is a tactical move.

 

[The Harbinger]

"Sweet!... Oh?... Good to hear,,, Whoo." Her responses were thoughtful and honest as she listened to Kaylee. Her cheer, a bit less enthusiastic, but that was more from lack of experience with the response. "Oh, the boots?" Glancing down at her footwear, Becca, rocked heel to toe a few times, showing them off for the pic. "Uh, sure, they were a gift from my crew back home. Kinda a going away thing. They thought I needed something stylish and not steep-toed. I love them, the crew I mean, the boots are nice too." Becca noticed how she towered over the smaller woman ,and took a step down the bleachers, this brought them almost eye-to eye. "I have to say, I love the shades, Aviator, or something more posh?" No condescension in her voice as she asks with all interest.

Seeing someone approach her for a change, Becca notices the girl hanging back a bit, but her eyes were on the tray. Ok, ropping the leve lshe held the tray and swiveling to allow it to extend towards the new girl, Becca turns enough to share her attentions. Seeing that she was now almost two feet above the lower even smaller girl, Becca takes a few steady steps backwards down the bleachers, the uneven footing giving her no issue at all. She stepped down until her eyes were even with the new girl, two steps below her. "Hi, I'm Becca, Becca Harrigan. Great to have you here? Sorry, the veggie tray was still full when I pulled into dock, and the cookie tray had been picked over. Kaylee and I were just discussing fashion a bit before the heavy discussions on stage start. Any opinions you would care to voice?" Again she backed a step down the bleachers. They had been asked to guide everyone to the floor seating for the debate. "I got an idea. We swing by the counter, I secure another tray, this one sweeter, and a few drinks. We can discuss our levels of vaccination depravity or my complete lack of style to our heart's content before the start? I know a guy though, I bet we can get a fresh tray to share, if we head down. And good seats."

 

[Ahlanna]

At 5'4", Kaylee's height is normally average-ish, but of course Becca is a whole other level. But hey, that makes it easy to snap the boots.

"These? Oh, they're Gucci, actually." There is a slightest pause before she continues, seemingly responding to a comment Becca never had a chance to make, "I know! I thought the same at first. Since when do they make sunglasses? Apparently just the last couple of years. Versace's dominated in the space for a long time, but sometimes you have to do something to stand out, right?" And unlike phones, having individualized opinions on designers was totally socially acceptable. Assuming they were the right designers of course, everything has it's limit. It's not like you could go around wearing Levi's or something, that would just be ridiculous.

This Becca girl seems really insistent on getting her down from the bleachers. Does she suspect something? Nah, probably not. Still, best to deflect from the suggestion. Just need another thing to focus on ... oh! Of course!

Lighting up a well-practiced cheer smile, she waves to the new arrival, "I'm Kaylee if you didn't guess." It was pretty obvious from the way Becca laid it out there, of course, but passive quiet didn't fit in with Kaylee's agenda. "What designers get you going? Don't have to stick to shades of course. I like your ..." Her eyes move up and down Gina's outfit, struggling to find something nice to say. But hey, at least she tries. "... uh ... black on tan is a very flexible base to work with! And the hair color - that's a ... bold choice!"

 

[Penny]

"I, uh - " Gina had not expected the girl with the tray to address her. Good god, she's tall. Gina hadn't noticed from below, but now Becca was standing multiple rows of bleachers below her and still standing at eye level. Gina glances down at the tray of vegetables. Should she take one? She is hungry.

Becca steps another row down, and Gina realizes she's supposed to follow. She glances down at the floor to see the politician still meeting and greeting the other students. Following Becca would eat up some time, but she'd probably expect conversation. Gina does a quick mental calculation, then chides herself. Just do it, dammit. Didn't you say you wanted to get out more this year?

"Sure!" Gina says. She smiles and straightens up, trying to assume more confident body language. While she's at it, she plucks a sprig of broccoli off the tray and drags it through the cup of dip. She is hungry, after all. "I'm Gina."

She smiles at Kaylee as well, but isn't sure how to respond. Does she mean sunglasses designers or shoe designers? Shades as in shading your eyes, or shades as in shades of colour? At least the hair is unambiguous. "Oh, thanks," she says, reaching up and grabbing a lock of purple hair between her fingers. Bold - that's exactly what she was thinking when she chose it. She considers asking if Kaylee will join them, but immediately decides against it. It doesn't look like Kaylee's planning on getting up anyway.

 

[Corinthi]

Lily’s gaze slowly made it up from the phone she’d been conspicuously focusing on, even as the politician got closer and closer, intent on glad handing with people who didn’t like him. She tilted her head to the side, regarding him for a long moment before shaking her head. “No. I doubt it.”

The rep’s confused look told her she needed to explain more before he started asking questions. With a sigh, she rubbed the bridge of her nose and righted her glasses.

“I’m only here to earn some extra credit. Personally, otherwise, this is going to be a waste of time. We don’t live in a world where debate solves anything. When it comes to public health, there are always an angry minority that whines about their selfish ideas of personal liberty because they don’t want to either be told what to do or face some minor inconvenience. Smoking inside, seat belts, vaccines, heck, child labor. Every time society decides enough is enough and creates some punitive stick to encourage people to act responsibly, a vocal minority will throw a hissy fit, and this is no different. Eventually, mandatory vaccines will /again/ become a normal part of modern life and decades later people will look at pictures and videos of today’s antivaxxers with the same sort of confused bemusement as we look back at people who protested the polio and smallpox vaccines.”

“So, I guess to sum up in a way that better fits into your worldview, I’m just here because I was bribed.”

At least, that’s what she would have wanted to say. Truth was, she didn’t have the sort of confidence or eloquence to throw that out. Instead she just sort of nodded, “Sorry. Yes, sir. I hope so too.” Then she pointedly looked back to her phone.

 

[experimenter73]

Freedom College Gymnasium - Free Time

Representative Collins is about to respond to Lily when a voice suddenly breaks in over the loud-speaker system set up at the stage. The sound travels throughout the gymnasium.

"We are now set to begin tonight's exciting discussion. If you would please take your seats. Representative, Councilwoman, the stage awaits."

Darren Collins works his way back out of the seats, meeting Councilwoman Simmons in the aisle and walking with her up to the waiting table at the front. Brad Pressman is quick to the man's side, opening and handing him a bottle of water.

"Thank you all for coming," Valerie O'Connor says into her microphone, sitting between the two speakers. "We expect to have a lively discussion tonight. I will serve as the moderator for the proceedings. We will start with some specific questions on the topic to get the ball rolling. The questioned side will be given two minutes to answer, and then their opponent will be allowed two minutes to respond. As appropriate, a one minute rebuttal will be allowed. Are these terms acceptable?"

"I have no problem with them," the Councilwoman smiles. "Though prior experience would suggest that Representative Collins might be hard-pressed to stay within the 2-minute limit while giving his name."

"I see we're starting right out of the gate with jabs, Councilwoman," Collins laughs, though his voice is tense. "I have no problem at all with abiding by the rules. Our great country was founded on the very Democratic principle of public debate. A tradition, in fact, handed down to us by the Ancient Greeks, whose civilization is considered to be the very birthplace of Democracy. I am here today to speak openly and honestly, and to give these gathered students the opportunity to hear a worldview outside that thrust upon them by their Liberal-slanted professors. Freedom College was once one of the greatest academic institutions in this fine nation, a hotbed for great thinkers who helped shape the world, and I hope to be a part of bringing those glory days back to this school."

He finishes speaking with a flourish, as though expecting a strong reaction from the crowd. Only Brad Pressman stands tall from his seat and claps, enthusiastic but short-lived. The Councilwoman, a dark-haired woman dressed in gray, raises an eyebrow before speaking.

"Do you see what I mean?" she asks, drawing some laughter from the crowd.

"Very well, then," Valerie says when the gym quiets down. "Let us begin. I'll start with a question for Councilwoman Simmons.

 

[Ahlanna]

Actually, Pressman's not the only response to the representative. Kaylee lets off an enthusiastic and boisterous, "Whoooo! Go-o-o Freedom!". She knows it's not likely to be reciprocated by the audience, but you can't stop smiling when the crowd's not up for it 'cause the team's down big in the 4th quarter.

 

[Penny]

Thank god, Gina thinks as the loudspeaker comes on, feeling relief rush through her. She'd gotten out of a conversation with a stranger without having to awkwardly refuse her, she'd avoided a talk with the politician, and she didn't even have to feel bad about backtracking on her goal of talking to more people. What a lucky break!

She feels so chipper at this development, she's even up to giving Becca and Kaylee some parting words. "Thanks anyways," she tells Becca, stepping down the bleachers. "See you!"

She takes her seat and tucks her hands into her hoodie pockets. She frowns when the Councilwoman starts out by sniping at Collins, but rolls her eyes as the Representative launches into a full-blown speech. Can't you just debate the facts without all this bullshit? she thinks. Gina is one of the few students here without an assignment riding on it or having already made up her mind. She just wants to see both sides of the issue argued in good faith before making up her mind, and is too new to politics to realize a political debate is no place for that.

 

[The Harbinger]

"Oh, missed it. Uhm, yeah, anytime." She waves as Gina dashes away. "Get a good seat, looks like your sign stood the test of time. Care to get coffee after the debate? I was thinking Applebuddy's, Danny's, or IHOE? Think about it." Becca really didn't have a reason to meet the girl after the debate, other than to have something other than bye to say. College hadn't been the grand friend building experience she had hoped. She missed having people around, her roomie had disappeared after the first night. She ducked in from time to time to change clothes and have a presence, but really, Amber Reed had a boyfriend in town and she was at his place all the time.

Becca slipped down the steps with speedy but sure feet. This was nothing compared to a fishing vessel mid storm up and down the ladders. With a quick dash, she dropped off the tray, and slipped to her seat at the back of the gathered. She noticed where Gina huddled in on herself and thought to slip up there and sit down, but the debate started. Mr Windbag, and Snipey Karen led off in their expected fashions, most unfortunate. Kaylee had stayed up in the bleachers, what was she up to? Then she cried out with the Representative's 'Yes Man.' There was a chuckle that she shared in as the man proved the woman's point for her.

 

[Ahlanna]

"Hm, coffee?" But none of those places were coffee shops! At most, they were diners - which meant it probably wasn't even arabica. "You mean like Skybucks or something?" She preferred more boutique places, but it was hard to match the big for sheer omnipresence, hours of operation and convenience. When she wasn't grinding her own, of course; she had this great importer out of Colombia who handled beans and chocolate. The latter was a real weakness, she had to watch it, you could get horsewhipped for overdoing that sort of thing in cheer. Rhetorically speaking on the whipping thing. Probably rhetorical, anyhow.

"Uh, yeah. I can ... yeah, I can do that."

Tensing a little bit as the first question gets directed at Simmons, Kaylee picks up her phone, texts 'get ready' to Eva, and holds it in her lap. Assuming things went true to form, the SGA would send her some softball question that Simmons would give a easy pre-memorized response to about why her irrational fear was more important than student's liberty. But that was always the way of things. No one elects tyrants to be tyrants. They do it because the would-be overlords promise safety.

It was sad really. In a world with literal superpowered heroes, people would even consider government as a source of safety. Government can't even fix potholes, or eliminate lines at the DMV ... much less protect people. That people would give up their rights for impossible promises by invariably corrupt politicians, it was just ... so tragic. Thank God (not that she believed in God) for the supers. What kind of dystopian hell would result from a world where things were run by the types of people who could win elections? Kaylee knew what it took to be popular: deception, manipulation and money. That was fine when it comes to a social circle. But when it comes to inalienable human rights, that was kind of a bigger fish.

It really was amazing, and such a credit to the founders, that the republic had lasted this long. But they knew the key - government shouldn't be able to *do* anything, unless huge majorities were onboard. Not 50%+1 vote. In the American republic, under the Constitution, that got you squat. Well, you could name post offices.

In any case, the best time for Kaylee to act would be after Simmons had rolled out whatever authoritarian response she had in mind, but before Collins went, so he could thrash her on the point. How can one claim to be pro-choice and be pro-mandate? Should government keep their hands off people's bodies or not? Of course, it was likely Collins himself wasn't pro-choice, but somehow she doubted that'd stop him from using the hypocrisy on his opponent. Kaylee wasn't really enamored of Republicans any more than Democrats - they were all full of crap - but at least their policies tended to do less damage. Domestically, anyhow. They were kind of a disaster on foreign policy.

Still, Kaylee listens to the Democrat's words. She wasn't going to be rude and interrupt the response itself. Freedom of speech was a thing, too, after all.

 

[experimenter73]

"Councilwoman Simmons," Valerie slightly toward the woman on the stage, but keeps her gaze primarily on the audience. "Many who refuse vaccination do so on the basis of their religious beliefs. A practitioner of Islam might have concerns about the use of porcine gelatin. A Christian might take issue with the use of materials derived from aborted fetuses. What is your stance regarding allowing a religious exemption in any potential vaccine mandate?"

The Councilwoman nods throughout the question, her eyes remaining on the SGA President. She pauses for a moment at the conclusion before speaking.

"The First Amendment Right to Freedom of Religion is an oft-misunderstood one. Our Constitution, and many Constitutional Law Experts have come to this conclusion, prevents our government from interfering in the expression and practice of religion. It does not extend to allow practitioners to harm others in the community through their practice. If, for example, a Church were to be founded that called for its members to murder unbelievers, we would not ignore their crimes.

"Failure to vaccinate, on its surface, seems like a more personal issue, effecting only the person. But it is so much more than that. Allowing someone to choose not to vaccinate, regardless of the reason for that choice, makes them a risk to all around them in our society. Their murders might be less likely, and nearly unseen, but the lives damaged by their choice are no less real. I believe that there should be no religious exemptions or, if they are implemented, that they should be carefully limited and come with extra burdens to be placed on those who use them."

"Thank you, Councilwoman," Valerie says, and then begins to turn toward the Representative.

 

[The Harbinger]

After the sniping at the beginning and the lead up of the Representative who mentioned her nature to 'mudsling' Becca is pleasantly surprised by a reasonable response. Well thought out, it addresses the vaccination directly, and even the question posed as it relates to Freedom of Religion and it never brings her opponent into play. Refreshing. Perhaps they would get a good roll going after all. It was not what she had expected.

 

[Corinthi]

Religion was a sore spot for Lily. Her mother was actively, evangelically Christian. Pro-Life, antivax, politically conservative, and a giant hypocrite, like nearly every other so-called Christian in her hometown church. Religious exemptions were just more selfish nonsense with a veneer of ‘God said so.’ At least some pro-lifers really believed abortion was baby murder. While Lily didn’t agree, she couldn’t really fault people for working so hard against abortion if they truly believed it was the murder of children.

They’re wrong, but at least they’re honest.

People objecting to vaccines based on fetal cell lines were just looking for an excuse. They didn’t know what they were talking about and it’s not like they were protesting all the everyday, over the counter medications they took for their Sunday morning hangovers before listening to a sermon about the evils of fucking socialism.

She really couldn’t rant about Islam because the sum knowledge she had about Islam is that evangelical Christians hated Muslims and some assholes used Islam to promote evil, something Christianity was guilty of as well. Her bad feelings toward the general idea of religion kept her from really exploring other faiths. Probably a failure on her part, but like a survivor of a toxic relationship, she just wasn’t read to jump into the religious waters again.

Perhaps she should check into therapy. Lord knows she had unresolved trauma. Lord knows Lily was still using phrases like ‘Lord knows’ while considering herself an atheist.

Fuck.

None of this musing had anything to do with her extra credit. Switching over to her camera app, Lily began filming the event. At least if her mind wandered, she’d have something to reference later.

 

[Penny]

Finally, we're getting somewhere, Gina thinks. She takes her hands out of her hoodie pockets and straightens up in her seat, only now realizing how much she'd been slouching at Collins's speech.

Gina appreciates the need for religious freedom, though she's not a religious woman herself. Indeed, she knows she owes the luxury of being irreligious to that Constitutionally-protected religious freedom. Still, she hadn't come to this debate to deliberate on how vaccine ingredients would affect religious people, and when the question was first asked, she'd started wondering if she'd made a mistake in attending.

Thankfully, the Councilwoman turned it in a more interesting direction. The last part of her speech wasn't really about religious objections, or not solely; rather, it was a discussion of whether someone had the right to refuse a vaccination and put others, as well as themselves, at risk as a result of that decision. That's the sort of question Gina had come to hear discussed.

Of course, there are two sides to every discussion. Gina turns her head to look at the Representative, waiting for his response. She just hopes its not the same sort of superficial bullshit he'd spouted earlier.

 

[Ahlanna]

Kaylee listens to the Councilwoman's words. But the problem was where that train of thought ended. The CDC also called smoking and weight to be 'health risks'. Car accidents were a top 10 cause of death. Our health just isn't the government's business.

Picking up her phone, she calls Eva. "OK, let's do this. In three, two, one ...". The two cheerleaders yank the innocuous sign down, revealing the one behind.

Whatever happened to 'My body, my choice?!?'

"We cannot give up essential liberty for temporary safety!" Kaylee calls out, referencing (but not quoting) the well-known Franklinism. Having put her sunglasses away in a pocket, she stares down the speaker at the stage. Eva is more abashed, gnawing at her lower lip in nervous fashion.

 

[Penny]

Gina jumps in her seat slightly, then turns and looks over her shoulder at the bleachers, perturbed. Kaylee's outburst is so unexpected that it takes a second for her to register what she said and put it together with the unveiled banner, but when she does, her expression darkens.

"What the hell is your problem?!" she shouts, standing up from her chair. "We all came here to watch two people debate this issue like adults, with facts and respect. If I wanted idiots interrupting each other and screaming appeals to emotion back and forth, I could have stayed home and looked it up on the internet. Or I could just get on the student board and ask who didn't get enough attention from their parents."

Of course, she doesn't actually say that. But it's nice to imagine herself doing it. Instead, she frowns, but turns to face forward again so that no one notices her doing it.

 

[experimenter73]

When the banner is revealed and Kaylee makes her bold proclamation, the room is thrown into a long moment of confusion. Some, primarily from among those who are part of Pressman's Real Patriots, start to boo. It is Pressman himself who quickly works to silence them. At first, the Councilwoman begins to smile, and many or her supporters to cheer and clap, for the unveiling of a slogan she and they often call their own.

Representative Darren Collins has never been the greatest mind in any room, but his political instincts have never failed him. He pounces on the moment, speaking before the crowd can right itself or, truly, before he even knows exactly what is going on himself.

"We cannot give up Essential Liberty for temporary Safety!" he parrots the cheerleader, sensing his next campaign' slogan in the making. The statement seems to keep the crowd off balance, and he receives a few affirmations from those who had previously scorned him. "Embrace this moment... this powerful moment when you find yourself agreeing with someone you thought was an opponent. This is the true power of democracy. It does not have to be so polarized. We need to stop agreeing with our party and then figuring out, after, what they said. We need to hold ourselves to-"

The Represantative's words are cut off when the four entrances to the gymnasium are suddenly thrown open at once. A murmur goes over the crowd as most look about to see what is going on.

"Well met, Freedom College!" a man cries out as he enters through the orange doors closest to the basketball hoops.

The sound is a little muffled by the black, horned helmet he wears. He looks like he just stepped out of a Renaissance Festival, or perhaps has come from a Live Action Roleplaying adventure. In addition to the helmet, he wears a an outfit that would make him right at home on the set of a Sword and Sorcery B-Movie. In both hands, he holds short metal maces.

"We are the Knights of the Hunt, and today we seek a most precious bounty!"

Orange Doors #1

Through the blue doors on the other side of the gymnasium, closest to the weight room, a woman steps into the gym. She is dressed in a similar fashion to the first, but has a bow with drawn arrow instead of the mace.

Blue Doors #1

From the other set of blue doors, a woman enters, carrying a long tube in her hands. Her costume is a series of black leather straps. The two women stay back by their sets of doors, clearly ready for anyone who might try to approach and escape.

Blue Doors #2

Through the final set of doors steps a man and a woman. The man is dressed like the others, though much bigger than any of them. In his left hand, he holds a strange-looking sort of post that looks out of place with the rest of their costumes.

Orange Doors #2

A chain from that device, however, leads to something even more unexpected. The woman whose collar is connected to the other end of that chain is covered nearly from head to toe with shiny yellow latex. Her arms are pulled back behind her and trapped inside a tight back of the same stuff. Only a small area around her mouth is uncovered on her head. A fluffy tail and fuzzy fox ears are the only non-shiny parts of her obviously unwelcome ensemble. She walks timidly as she is pulled along by the brute, whimpering.

In other places and times, this small group might have been met with scorn or laughter at their bold entrance. Anyone who has spent any time at all in Freedom City, however, knows that the threat from this strange-looking group could be very real.

TRANSFER TO CRUNCH TIME - Roll for Initiative.

 

[The Harbinger]

Betrayal is how Becca felt as the banner was disclosed. It was clear that Becca had been part of the setup and preparations, part of the crew that is responsible for making this go well, and to have someone who spoke so casually with her, in front of the Representative, do this to her? She hoped that someone would call her out, and then the Representative from the state just tagging along on the coattails of the stunt. Her calm was burning away her compassionate ease. This was no place for these antics. She fully intended to give the cheer squad girl a piece of her mind at coffee afterwards. Even as she decided this, she wondered what connection, if any, the blonde had with the Representative.

Getting ready to focus back on the debate and the responses people have over this interruption and the speeches of the participants, the doors opened in unison, and the Village People came in, with weapons, "Oh come on!" Then they spoke, was that a sad ass accent? Becca Harrigan, class representative and former captain's daughter of the good ship, Teulu, understood posturing, political rhetoric was one thing, but thugs and piracy talk? "Davy Jones holds the only bounty a pirate deserves! What the hell, Kaylee! Politics and piracy don't mix." Becca stood, her blood boiling at the ridiculous posturing, and these posers using pirate lingo and dressed as if they needed their underwear pulled up over their eyebrows were asking for it.