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Chapter or Story 
Chapter or Story
Once a Pretender, Always a Pretender
By RaajmdTMP
Part 3
The Centre
Broots walked into Sydney's office. He noticed that the older man was searching for something in his rarely used computer. The last time he remembered him using it was back when Raines was working on Project Gemini. He knew that whatever Sydney had called him down for had to be big.
"Hi, Syd. What was so important?"
"Oh Broots, I didn't hear you come in," Sydney said while quickly shutting off the computer. He was hiding something and Broots wanted to find out what it was.
***
Miss Parker's House
Miss Parker was getting dressed for her trip back to the Centre. She knew she could be on her feet for a while, so she wore her comfortable shoes, two-inch heels as opposed to four inch ones.
She was wondering what was so important about the picture of the girl Jarod sent Sydney. She was going through all of the different possibilities for Jarod to want help, from Broots of all people, in running a search on someone.
Miss Parker was in her car when her phone rang again.
"I'm on my way Syd. I'll be there in five minutes!" she yelled into the cell phone before hanging up.
*******
On the other end of the line, a stunned Jarod stared at the phone in his hand.
"Sydney told her," he said to himself. "I told him to let me do that. It's only a theory! It's probably just a coincidence."
Jarod had been doing some research on the young woman who called herself Miss Powers. He had searched her file at the Marine headquarters. He could tell it was a fake, but that was only because he had a lot of experience in both finding and making them. It was well made, that explains why no one else knew it wasn't real. All he knew right now was that Miss Powers was not who she said she was. The Centre might know something about her, so he decided to have Broots check her out. He had to rule out everything else while Broots searched.
Jarod had focused on Miss Powers since he met her but he did not forget about his original mission. He had some information on Patten from his file, but not enough to run a Sim. He decided the only way to find out what he was like was to spend time with the people who knew him best, his students.
Jarod made plans to be Mr. Patten's substitute teacher for the coming week. Although he didn't expect to learn Patten's whereabouts, the students could tell him how he acted and felt about different things. He may later be able to do a Simulation with the new information on Patten's personality and find out where he was. This visit could help in the long run.
***
Monday Morning
Stanton Junior High
Jarod looked up at the large school building. It was built in 1932 according to the Roman numerals above the front door. He walked up the stairs past the groups of students, briefcase in hand. He took a deep breath before going in.
Jarod was halfway up the staircase when the morning bell rang. He was soon caught in a stampede of 900 students racing to their lockers. Quickly running into the main office, he escaped being trampled. Being in the office, and not knowing where Mr. Patten's room was, he decided to ask for directions.
The secretary instructed Jarod to go to room 312, gave him the key, and told him to watch out for the students.
" They have a way of not listening to the substitutes," the secretary warned.
"Thank you very much, ma'am. I'll do my best," Jarod said with a smile on his face.
Jarod took a right out of the main office and walked to the end of the hallway. He saw a short flight of stairs leading to a bridge. He thought he might as well try going that way. The secretary had only told him the room number.
Once across the bridge, a middle-aged blonde teacher interrupted his search.
"Excuse me, you're not supposed to be here. You're trespassing!" the woman said, speaking through her nose.
"I'm sorry. I was looking for…" Jarod began but was cut off when another teacher interrupted.
"Judy, leave him alone. He's not causing any trouble," the older woman said.
"Well excuse me for doing my job!" Judy mumbled under her breath while walking away.
"That's Judy McCarthy. She's the head teacher here on 6B. She has quite a temper, but she's not so bad," the older teacher explained.
"I'm Jarod Garland. I'll be substituting Richard Patten's class this week," Jarod said, relieved to find someone nice to talk to. He was glad she got rid of Ms. McCarthy.
"I'm Jessie McNulty. Pleased to meet you. Just remember, if you need help finding anything just ask me," Mrs. McNulty said with a warm smile on her face.
"Thank you. I do need some help. Where would I find Mr. Patten's room?" Jarod asked hoping she would give better directions than the secretary.
By RaajmdTMP
Part 3
The Centre
Broots walked into Sydney's office. He noticed that the older man was searching for something in his rarely used computer. The last time he remembered him using it was back when Raines was working on Project Gemini. He knew that whatever Sydney had called him down for had to be big.
"Hi, Syd. What was so important?"
"Oh Broots, I didn't hear you come in," Sydney said while quickly shutting off the computer. He was hiding something and Broots wanted to find out what it was.
***
Miss Parker's House
Miss Parker was getting dressed for her trip back to the Centre. She knew she could be on her feet for a while, so she wore her comfortable shoes, two-inch heels as opposed to four inch ones.
She was wondering what was so important about the picture of the girl Jarod sent Sydney. She was going through all of the different possibilities for Jarod to want help, from Broots of all people, in running a search on someone.
Miss Parker was in her car when her phone rang again.
"I'm on my way Syd. I'll be there in five minutes!" she yelled into the cell phone before hanging up.
*******
On the other end of the line, a stunned Jarod stared at the phone in his hand.
"Sydney told her," he said to himself. "I told him to let me do that. It's only a theory! It's probably just a coincidence."
Jarod had been doing some research on the young woman who called herself Miss Powers. He had searched her file at the Marine headquarters. He could tell it was a fake, but that was only because he had a lot of experience in both finding and making them. It was well made, that explains why no one else knew it wasn't real. All he knew right now was that Miss Powers was not who she said she was. The Centre might know something about her, so he decided to have Broots check her out. He had to rule out everything else while Broots searched.
Jarod had focused on Miss Powers since he met her but he did not forget about his original mission. He had some information on Patten from his file, but not enough to run a Sim. He decided the only way to find out what he was like was to spend time with the people who knew him best, his students.
Jarod made plans to be Mr. Patten's substitute teacher for the coming week. Although he didn't expect to learn Patten's whereabouts, the students could tell him how he acted and felt about different things. He may later be able to do a Simulation with the new information on Patten's personality and find out where he was. This visit could help in the long run.
***
Monday Morning
Stanton Junior High
Jarod looked up at the large school building. It was built in 1932 according to the Roman numerals above the front door. He walked up the stairs past the groups of students, briefcase in hand. He took a deep breath before going in.
Jarod was halfway up the staircase when the morning bell rang. He was soon caught in a stampede of 900 students racing to their lockers. Quickly running into the main office, he escaped being trampled. Being in the office, and not knowing where Mr. Patten's room was, he decided to ask for directions.
The secretary instructed Jarod to go to room 312, gave him the key, and told him to watch out for the students.
" They have a way of not listening to the substitutes," the secretary warned.
"Thank you very much, ma'am. I'll do my best," Jarod said with a smile on his face.
Jarod took a right out of the main office and walked to the end of the hallway. He saw a short flight of stairs leading to a bridge. He thought he might as well try going that way. The secretary had only told him the room number.
Once across the bridge, a middle-aged blonde teacher interrupted his search.
"Excuse me, you're not supposed to be here. You're trespassing!" the woman said, speaking through her nose.
"I'm sorry. I was looking for…" Jarod began but was cut off when another teacher interrupted.
"Judy, leave him alone. He's not causing any trouble," the older woman said.
"Well excuse me for doing my job!" Judy mumbled under her breath while walking away.
"That's Judy McCarthy. She's the head teacher here on 6B. She has quite a temper, but she's not so bad," the older teacher explained.
"I'm Jarod Garland. I'll be substituting Richard Patten's class this week," Jarod said, relieved to find someone nice to talk to. He was glad she got rid of Ms. McCarthy.
"I'm Jessie McNulty. Pleased to meet you. Just remember, if you need help finding anything just ask me," Mrs. McNulty said with a warm smile on her face.
"Thank you. I do need some help. Where would I find Mr. Patten's room?" Jarod asked hoping she would give better directions than the secretary.
