The TARDIS blinked into existence with the emergency brake moaning in protest. The familiar VWOORP Xena, Warrior Princess... Now dean of an institute aimed directly at training young women with superpowers and/or incredible traits, the art of heroing... Knew well. She raised an eyebrow as the only man hired (because she didn't know about the 13th Doctor*) popped his straw hatted head out the door.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:darkblue">"Am I late?"</span><br/><br/>Xena shook her head.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:goldenrod">"Are you dead, Professor?"</span>She asked drily.<br/><br/>The man stepped out dressed as Xena remembered. Besides the straw hat. The umbrella with the question mark handle. A very loud sweater with question marks... The very look of a college professor about him.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:darkblue">"Fit as a fiddle. Never felt more alive." </span>He grinned patting himself down.<br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:goldenrod">"Then... You aren't late, Professor."</span>Xena commented, before pointing to the police box behind him with her sword.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:goldenrod">"Will you do something about that? Why would an American institute of higher learning have a police call box from England in the dean's office? And where's Ace? I hired BOTH of you."</span><br/><br/>The Doctor sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:darkblue">"Last question first, dear Xena... Ace respectfully declined. Said something about school being boring, felt overdressed around you, and a rather rude statement about Americans I'd rather not repeat, if it's all the same to you."</span>He then looked at the TARDIS.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:darkblue">"As for the ol' girl... I'm afraid she's stuck as you see her now. Camoflauge part is broken and could've only been fixed on Gallifrey... And well... Seeing as I stole her..."</span><br/><br/>Xena waved him silent with a frown. Without a word, she motioned him to follow her and she gave him the tour of the institute. They left the dean's office and the administrative part of the large "L" shaped four story building.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:goldenrod">"This institute will promote that it's not your costume but you that is the hero, Professor, and you, yourself, were hired to explain the follies of creating paradoxes, as well as how to correctly 'manipulate' time within themselves. This large building, which has nearly a mile, squared, inside, houses the administration area which is nearly the whole first floor of the seat of the 'L'. Restrooms, storage and nurse's office, as well as fire stairs and elevators being the exception."</span>They turned a corner onto the 'neck'. Xena continued.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:goldenrod">"This long expanse has higher ceilings,"</span>She pointed up; the ceiling had gone from 8' to 20'. They crossed the door's threshold and Xena pointed to a sign above it, clearly stating in capital letters and a dark red:<span class="fixed-color" style="color:darkred">NOW ENTERING A NO FLY ZONE. LAND AND WALK.</span>Xena then pointed straight ahead.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:goldenrod">"Public entrance is about 50 yards hence. Every student will enter there before coming to the administrative area to check in upon first arrival. As you noticed, the door near the office is an emergency exit. Now, students have access to those elevators and restrooms, but limited... The restrooms aren't as you suspect. They are literal rest areas for recouping, regrouping... Whatever it is those modern girls want to call taking a respite from nerves. A nurse will be on standby outside. Hopefully, no more than three will be in use at one time. The restrooms on this side of the door are the normal ones to be expected."</span>Xena looked at the Professor who was quietly taking everything in, from sight to listening to the warrior princess. Satisfied, Xena continued walking and talking. Soon they were across from the double glass doors leading in. Xena pointed across the hall.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:goldenrod">"Look and be amazed."</span><br/><br/>The 7th Doctor turned and saw another glass door leading into a large complex within.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:darkblue">"Ah. A massive mall of sorts. Food court as you enter. Mmm. Clothing store. Books. All the necessities and desires of the modern woe..."</span>He stopped, blushed, looking quite flushed as he looked at Xena, fanning himself as he leaned against the door. He quipped.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:darkblue">"I <i>daresay</i>! I bloody well hope they have no need of <b>THAT</b> store!"</span><br/><br/>Xena smirked.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:goldenrod">"ALL the ladies' needs will be met, Professor... ALL."</span>She pointed to the elevators.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:goldenrod">"Shall the tour continue, or must your breath catch back up with you first?"</span><br/><br/>The 7th Doctor shook his head and pointed with his umbrella, leading quickly to the elevators and pushing the up arrow button with the tip of his umbrella.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:darkblue">"There is a basement, I see. A down arrow."</span><br/><br/>Xena nodded.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:goldenrod">"Correct. But if seeing the store nearly gave you a heart attack, you don't need to tour the basement."</span>She grinned mischievously.<br/><br/>With a gulp, the Doctor nodded.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:darkblue">"I should say not. Right then. Upwards it is."</span><br/><br/>The second through fourth floors were where all the classes were, meticulously set out according more to what majors they represented. Everyone had to take the Professor's class on time management and the self defense class... Both were on the top floor, with his being in the seat of the L and the defense taking all of the neck. There was more to see, however.<br/><br/>Xena figured if the Doctor had questions, he'd speak up. Seeing as he hadn't, she led him down the stairs in the center of the building and out the back door... Which also served as another entrance into the mall. The steps had led down and practically into a Greek style restaurant with a yellow poster with bright blue (cyan to be precise) letters plastered on the front pane:<span class="fixed-color" style="color:cyan">GYROS ONLY $3 EA!</span>The Doctor sighed at the closed sign. A gyro. When was the last time he had one? Oh yeah. When Ace accidentally kidnapped the person he was with now and she met her modern doppelganger: actress Lucy Lawless who portrayed her on television. That meeting went well... He shook his head as they travelled the red bricked walk to twin three story buildings on each side of them.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:darkblue">"I would imagine these are the dorms? Guys on one side, ladies on the other?"</span><br/><br/>Xena shook her head.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:goldenrod">"No males took up the offer, so it was retracted. Powers and non."</span><br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:darkblue">"Permit me to play devil's advocate, but supposing a lady has only the power of flight, but would rather not utilize it on school grounds?"</span>The Doctor questioned emphatically, not knowing there WAS a prospective student like that (gold star if you name her in the OOC. Hint: She's one of mine).<br/><br/>Xena turned and stared at him. Pointing to the building to the left of him, she stated plainly.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:goldenrod">"Then she'll live with the consequences, and house with the rest of the non powered heroes. Simple as that."</span>Although she didn't show it, Xena had to admit that was a good question.<br/><br/>They travelled farther along the bricked footpath, past the dorms, to two more buildings. The walk actually dead ended into the one, the other could be seen to the right, some 720 feet (two full football fields) away.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:goldenrod">"Before us is the training building. Mock combats will be done here as well as a variety of hard light imagery representing  myriad of dangerous scenarios a hero could find herself in. Many of my own adventurous battles have been programmed in for the non-powered hero to train herself. She can also face a hard light me, if she dare think her abilities are good enough."</span><br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:darkblue">"Sure way to be dismembered. Or the very least humiliated.  As well as a certain actress and her stunt double now know regarding the latter."</span>The Doctor nodded.<br/><br/>Xena frowned.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:goldenrod">"Miss Lawless had it coming. So did that other. You want to portray me, you'll learn to fight like me."</span>Xena could be pretty cold when she wanted.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:goldenrod">"Care to see inside, or shall we away to the other and final building?"</span><br/><br/>The Doctor shook his head.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:darkblue">"That's quite alright. Jo, K-9 and I witnessed first hand Chuck's infamous <u>Danger Room</u>. I'll not be making <b>THAT</b> mistake again. Even if that was a few lifetimes ago."</span><br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:goldenrod">"Suit yourself."</span>Xena shrugged, leading the way to the last building.<br/><br/>Once the Doctor stepped inside, he felt he had been transported to Colorado Springs. With his dry humour firmly in place, he quipped,<span class="fixed-color" style="color:darkblue">"Ah, the Olympic Commission has been here I see!"</span>Before him stretched out a large gymnasium, with a full basketball court, volleyball area, tumbling mats for gymnastics or aerobics, exercise equipment of various types and sizes, and nearly 500 feet, at the back, a door with the sign above it saying<span class="fixed-color" style="color:dodgerblue">SWIMMING POOL</span>and an arrow pointing down through it. Walking quickly, he burst through to see if his hunch was correct. It was. Easily the size of a small lake, the expanse of water stretched out before him.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:darkblue">"This isn't Olympic sized... It's a bloody indoor lake! How far across, wide, deep?"</span><br/><br/>Xena thought for a few minutes.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:goldenrod">"1000 feet across, 100 feet wide. 250 feet deep at it's center. Well, you've seen everything you wished. Any questions?"</span><br/><br/>(*nor do I know if she's teacher material, nor could I play her as I haven't seen an episode.)<br/><br/><a class="username" data-user-id="1040" data-username="@Neptune" data-xf-init="member-tooltip" href="https://blackdahliaroleplaying.com/members/1040/">@Neptune</a><br/><a class="username" data-user-id="1119" data-username="@Scandilicious" data-xf-init="member-tooltip" href="https://blackdahliaroleplaying.com/members/1119/">@Scandilicious</a><br/><a class="username" data-user-id="767" data-username="@Uranus" data-xf-init="member-tooltip" href="https://blackdahliaroleplaying.com/members/767/">@Uranus</a>