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Notebook of Duncan Summers: Intake Day

Notebook of Duncan Summers: Intake Day
Originally Published by Jason Cochrane on Mar 25, 2016 at 05:03 AM


There was a timid knock at the door. Duncan Summers, Headmaster of the Claremont Academy spun from his perch by the window and fixed the intruder with a steely glare. The source of the knock, a young man dressed in the Academy Uniform of blue and gold fled in terror.

"Mmmmmm...." growled the Headmaster who returned to his position of gazing out the window into the distance.

"Headmaster," a vaguely feminine, vaguely robotic voice intoned, "must you terrorise the students?" There was a faint staccato as metal heels walked across the floor towards the Headmaster.

The presence was acknowledged with another growl. "Navimatrix. What do you want?"

"My," intoned the humanoid robot. "Aren't you in a foul mood today. I came to check on you."

"No need. I'm fine." Duncan had not even turned away from the window. "Thank you for your concern. Show yourself out."

The white pseudo plastic robotic woman moved to Duncan's side. He ignored her and kept his glare fixed outside.

"I know you cannot see the Spire from here. Despite this I am well aware that is where you glower."

"I know it's there," he trust an arm and finger forward. "That's enough."

Navimatrix was impressed. The old man's aim was, according to her GPS, unerring.

Navimatrix pondered how to best continue the conversation. Duncan was not known as "Old Man Summers" on a whimsy. He was cranky, dour and a vicious taskmaster. However as the faculty also knew he was disciplined, patient, generous and (although he would never admit it) he loved his students more than his own life.

"The Outreach Initiative is a logical extension of a mutual desire Headmaster. They are not our rivals."

If it were possible the Headmaster scowled even more. "Harumph."

"Director Thorne and you share goals. Your enmity is unwarranted. In fact, I am currently aware of 94 universes in while you are close friends."

"This isn't one on them."

Navimatrix noted that Duncan Summers was in a particularly stubborn mood today.

"Many of your former pupils are now associated with Outreach." Navimatrix noted.

"Talia always swoops on my students because I'm the only one that trains 'em right." Summers continued to snarl.

Navimatrix was easily Duncan's equal in stubbornness. "Some might say that very act is a high compliment."

Silence reigned for minutes.

"You could still join this endeavour Headmaster. It was a standing invitation."

The Headmaster finally abandoned the window for his desk chair. He walked to it stiffly. His cane clacked on the tiles as he did. Navimatrix moved to the desk and sat upon the corner. She placed an apple upon the desk.

Duncan arched an eyebrow within infinitely more expression than his tone up till this point. "For the teacher?"

"Indeed. For one of the very best." She paused. "You could go to Intake today. You have an actual invitation this year. Mr Hooper and Ms Breen would be delighted if you accepted it."

"Damn Talia stealing my best teachers now."

Navimatrix noted that the Headmaster had commenced teasing... or at least what passed for it with Duncan Summers.

"If I recall correctly," the synthetic tone was all mock sincerity, "you encouraged them to go and spy for you."

"Yes," Duncan mouthed sourly, "and they went but refused to spy. I taught them better than that."

"You did. That is why they refused to spy for you."

Duncan cracked the barest hint of a smile. "At least they took Jean with them. She's Talia's problem now."

"Revenge?" Navimatrix replied, "No matter how many universes I visit there are some universal constants. Your ability to hold a grudge is one of them."

This comment was met with a genuine smile. "But I'm the best of all of them and what I do is not be nice."

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