Hiring Fair


    The Enhanced Student Educational Academies, or ESEA system was created due to several accidents in the sixties and seventies when younger persons expressed as Enhanced. In spite of fears of these being a first step in a containment plan on all enhanced, they were some one of the better run government programs for young people.


    This was fortunate, as families who needed their help were predominantly families that would have needed other help. Often, the imbalances in the students lives caused the emotional control issues that caused powers to flare. The academies have a nearly ninety-seven percent success rate, with only the worst cases needing long term housing in specialized facilities. This is despite how often families effectively abandoned their student to the system permanently.


    Unfortunately, due to the distance the academies were built from large communities, being rural for security and safety, this led to our students being unfamiliar with large groups of peers and anxious in large social groups. Far from a major difficulty to overcome, it does cause the students to have challenges finding employment right out of school. That is why we are scheduling this Job Fair.


    Headmistress Lillian Bradley, Director of the California ESEA facility.


    Getting back to the hotel Penny called the dean of the school in the area, leaving the room for a short conversation before coming back. "Do we want to go there, or they come here. I''m getting a certain ‘She wants to hire students? I got lots of students!’ Vibe going here."


    "We can go to them, it seems more polite, and I would like to see the school. I am curious about it. You said that these will be high school graduates or college graduates?"


    "All of them will be high school grads, and many will have completed some sort of college or trade school. I mentioned a cook or chef and it seems they have a girl who has finished culinary school, but has an issue with crowds, which he said was ironic?"


    “I am glad to know they aren’t going to try to saddle us with unskilled youngsters.”


    "No. The academies tend to be split between the pre-high school groups and the high school through college crowd. This is a teen school, which includes up to about 22 to 24 students. After that they kind of have to move on.”


    “That makes sense eventually even if it is hard you have to leave the nest. We will meet there, when is the dean wanting to meet with us?”


    "He said tomorrow would be great. he gave me the directions so I''m going to get a rental car. It''s just a bit out of town, in the grand scheme of things."


    The next morning the three of them, Granny a bit hung over but snickering about blackjack dealers, piled into a mini-van and drove out of the city. Solaris looked out into the desert she’d expected to be here when they landed as they drove to the west.


    The location wasn''t in any incorporated area, and took about an hour to drive to, but when they did arrive it looked a lot like coming up on a ranch, though no animals were in sight. It looked from the road like a large main house and several barns, though as they got closer it became obvious the barns were more than they seemed.


    The gate had a fairly advanced speaker box, camera and a very heavy gate between them and the interior. "Well this is pretty secure, though It fits the landscape well." Solaris said as Penny opened the window.


    "Hello, Elizabeth Summers to see the Dean." she said into the speaker.


    "They did put this a ways away from civilization didn''t they." the blonde added


    "Rather intentionally." Penny admitted.


    "She''s right about that." A young man’s voice said, as he shimmered into view near the car, holding a device of some form. "Sorry, we have to be careful. There''s plenty who would love to kidnap a few powered kids for one reason or another."


    Solaris nodded. "I do understand, I dealt with more than enough of that a couple, um, of times a while ago.” She corrected herself.


    "You''re clean, go ahead in." The gate opened. "Just pull up to the front of the house, I think the Dean is planning to give you a tour."


    "Thank you."      Solaris said as they pulled through the gate.  "Well, this is already looking like an interesting place."  she said thoughtfully.


    "I''ve never been to one, but I know the staff is usually also mostly Enhanced, though usually retired or never active hero types." Penny said. "I also know they are almost all like this, rural and usually with an airstrip on site in case they need to move a kid quietly for some reason. The US has twenty of them, total."


    The van pulled up to the front, and a man came out to greet them. He was a handsome man, with weathered skin distinct of a man who spent a lot of time out in the field. "It''s not often we get visitors out here. Especially ones with such noted reputations." He offered his hand to shake.


    Solaris shook his hand. "Ms. Ward told me about your school, and I am intrigued, and more than happy to help someone get their start. I hope you will have time to show me around."


    "Absolutely. Please, come in." he led them into the house, which did appear to be a house. "I am sure that Lieutenant Ward has told you we have to be a bit covert." He said as he led them through the home, into a conventional dining room and kitchen, towards the back of the house.


    "Yes, I can understand why.”


    "I suppose you can. Less common these days, but just as ugly." he opened a closet door, to reveal an elevator, the door opening and him stepping in, "If you would."


    Solaris stepped in, Penny and Granny following her. "I was surprised you could see us so quickly. I expected to wait a day or two since I came to Vegas a bit unexpectedly."


    "I''ve been eager to meet you since she contacted me before you came out, though today just worked out well. The younger kids are on a couple of field trips. Rockhounding for some, nuclear museum for others though they got redirected to something else because of an unexpected closure. A burst pipe, I think they said."


    He let the door open, and led them into a rather complete, and pleasantly decorated, underground facility leading them through. "The kids live in these pods, well, bunkers really. The younger kids share a room with a roommate, while teachers live in bedrooms attached to their group of rooms, kind of a dorm set up."


    "They have a common area here, and each pod is set up the same. Through here is a garage, we use for teaching as well as for the busses. This is the older students, so they are putting together a Just Aircraft Highlander LSA as a project. We start the younger kids on small motors, then bikes, the next get to work on a hot rod to learn cars, and the next oldest group do a big project, a complete kit car, a kit aircraft, or a boat, though we always question wanting to do a boat in Nevada."


    “I approve of a practical education. Theory is great but you don’t really know anything until you have boots on the ground and a bit of dirt or blood on your hands. Nursing.” Solaris added when he looked confused.


    He nodded "Most of the kids are competent amature mechanics  by the time they leave. Just seems like a good way to teach them and good skills to have. We use the cars they build on a track in the back. Its how we teach them to drive."


    “Though we tend to teach somewhat aggressive driving skills.”


    “I won’t judge. We had a group of Japanese teen girls flying mini-airplanes around a golfcourse in my day.”This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.


    "That''s why we let them do this. Two of the girls you knew helped found the governing organization that sets up and runs these schools. That''s why we offer things like this to the kids, though one class in colorado built a tank, not sure how they got that through."


    “Tanks are fun.” Solaris said lighting up to hear that some of her girls had done well. “I have a small collection of my own, somewhere or other. Does your school have a speciality?”


    "You mean whats our focus? Aside from standard High School Diplomas, because we can spend so much time with individuals unlike other schools we offer the kids an additional educational track. By the time they graduate a lot of the kids are good with coding, mechanics obviously, and more than a few get their pilots license, private or light sport. Welders and art students galore, too."


    "Then there''s the college crew. This being vegas we have a lot of kids get Hospitality related degrees. We bus those kids to the city so they can go to several college options in Las Vegas, even if they are still living here.”


    "Then we have a few kids go for tech schools. We have a couple who are certified mechanics, and one idiot went and got a gaming management certificate. Three guesses who is a heightened intelligence with advanced math skills."


    “Ahh brains, the bane of casinos.” She chuckled. “What I am looking for, or curious about is a cook, a gardener and possibly a mechanic and pilot. Someone who might be able to wrangle so called ‘influencers’ for me too, though I don’t know what that job would be called. It may morph into a management and marketing job for my family estate.”


    He blinked, then thought about it. "I actually do have one older student who just finished their BA in business admin focused on marketing. That would be Embrace Groves, and as for a chef I already knew about, Anzhela Morozov, we call her Anzy, with the Z."


    "I don''t have a Gardner, technically, but if you don''t mind someone a bit unusual, something a little better."


    “I am willing to listen, my whole life has been unusual.”


    "She''s originally from malaysia. her powers expressed very young, plant manipulator. Mercedes binti Qais. She also sometimes expresses plant like traits."


    "As an odd note, Anzy is one of the better mechanics too, though only amature. Our pro students are Erica Jackson or Levi Henderson. They both got certifications, ADE and such."


    “I am willing to talk to them. Most positions will require a certain amount of travel, and my primary residence right now is in New York. I do tend to travel, though.”


    “Well, let’s start with Anzy.” He said. "She''ll likely be in the kitchen in the central pod, so come this way." He led them through a tunnel, to another pod, with a different layout. They heard music playing in the background, the girls voice singing along in a slavic language. "Ansy is an expat from Ukraine, technically Crimea, though she''s been here since childhood and is fully naturalized as a citizen."


    They walked into the room, and five pretty, dark haired girls were dancing along with the music, one stirring a pot, one chopping veggies, another working on a dough, with the last two carefully breaking down chickens which were presumably for dinner later in the day.


    “Hello Anzy,” Solaris said in a gentle voice not wanting to startle the girls working with knives. He didn’t mention they had sisters, and she was curious which she was hiring.


    "Huh?" Two of the girls looked up, then said "Hello!" Causing the other three to look up. "Oh, Hello!" They then proceeded to start asking questions before realizing they were all talking at once. They stopped, stared at eachother, and with a "pop" they united into one person, holding the two knives from the chicken, which she set down before washing her hands. "Sorry, Are you the woman who was wanting to hire a personal chef? The Dean mentioned you to me. And you look very familiar for some reason."


    A duplicator, that did make more sense. “I am. You probably saw me in a history book. My name is Elizabeth Summers, but most people know me as Solaris. It’s a pleasure to meet you Anzy. That is a heck of an ability for a cook.”


    "Oh, the Multi-me thing? Yeah, it''s helpful. I at least we know we all remember the recipes. Well, maybe not four. She gets distracted. But I digress. Solaris? Yeah, I wrote a report on you in my junior year. Wow! And you need a Chef?"


    "She has five people’s lungs, I think she did not breath through all of that." Grandma Ruan joked quietly.


    “Yes I do, I cannot cook and I have been banned from my kitchen. Granny and takeout have kept us fed but I’d much rather have someone to do the job.”


    "I won''t judge. The Dean can''t cook either."


    "My skills are limited to ramen and coffee." he admitted


    "I suppose you want to do an interview? Or would you like to taste something? both? Probably both."


    “I would like to taste your food, and I do have some questions. Are you okay with relocating and traveling? I live in New York right now. And we are putting in a boat house for the chef we hire to occupy. Do you get seasick? And how do you see working as a private chef?”


    With a series of pops, the girl split into five, with one of her running off. Another stepped around the counter "Actually, let''s go sit in the dining room, and I''ll cook while we talk." She suggested with a smile, gesturing towards the tables in the other room. "And no, I don''t mind traveling, and I''ve kind of always wanted to go to New York City."


    That is good. I also will be bouncing around, England, Switzerland, Paris, Japan.


    "Oh, those all sound lovely!" She said. "Yeah, no, doesn''t bother me at all. I''d love to travel, and you''ve listed like, several very Foody places, so complaining would be silly. As for seasickness, I grew up as a little girl on a fishing boat in Crimea. If the Black Sea couldn''t make me sick, no body of water not rated as rapids can."


    “I ask because we are going to cruise across the Atlantic at some point soon. And I would want you to go with me.” She was enjoying the girls bubbly personality. “You’ll be cooking for me and the rest of the on-site staff. Generally it will be family style. I’ll let you know if I need to dine privately, I will also need snacks left in the fridge or counter. I only need a couple hours of sleep a night and I don’t expect anyone to keep my hours.”


    "I''m certified in both cookery and as a patisserie , so that''s not a problem." She said. she mused. "I''m willing to try it, assuming the pay is reasonable. I mean, I''m a chef, I am a little narcissistic."


    "She literally once had two of her clones wear cheerleader outfits during a intermural tournament." The dean noted wryly.


    “Oh,that is not an issue, like I said earlier one of the perks of the job is lodging at my boathouse and use of the house car. I also have health and retirement packets set up.”


    “How many people are you expecting me to be feeding each day? And are we talking all three meals and snacks, breakfast dinner, and are any of them children?"


    “No kids.” Solaris said simply. “Right now there are 5 people living onsite, though we may be adding others, probably a maximum of 10 regularly.  Barring Chinese and movie night you’ll be responsible for all the meals unless one of the others decides to cook. You’ll also handle the shopping of course, and I don’t expect you to cook if everyone is out and about.”


    Mrs. Ruan raised a hand. "I will help you with planning shops, as well."


    "Out and about basically means just have something ready that can be whipped up quickly. Trust me, that''s a lesson you learn in school." "However, speaking of something ready." Another her said, the other four coming out of the kitchen, settling trays in front of each of them, including herself. The extras vanished.


    "What I have made for you here is my take on the classic Fish and Chips." She said, gesturing at the beautifully fried fish and battered fries, laying upon a sheet of newspaper like in a traditional chip shop. "The Fish is talapia, which is nicely sustainable and actually local from a fish farm in the state. The fries are a battered fritte I keep par cooked and frozen on hand for when I want to make them. You''ll also find a small dish of malted vinegar, freshly made tartar sauce, garlic aioli and of course ketchup as well as pea fritters, which I understand is popular in northern England with fish and chips."


    "This is served with a pint of Papa''s Red Ale, a local microbrew Ale which was also used to make the batter for the fish."


    Solaris took a piece of fish and broke it enjoying the sound of the batter, she dipped a fry in the vinegar and used it to dribble the dressing on the fish. She took a bite, letting the flavors melt on her tongue. trying the tartar sauce next, she then took a fry and tried the aioli. “That has a punch.”


    She took the pea fritter “Your batter is lovely. And the frying isn’t too oily. What do you think your best cuisines are?”


    "If you go to a culinary institute, one of those answers had better be French, and I am very good with the ''classical French school''." She said with finger quotes. "I love pastas, and Italian as well as general Mediterranean cuisines. And being in Nevada, the classic American favorites are a must. We all get time working a buffet at some point." She joked. "My weakest is Asian and African cuisine. I''m not bad at the basics, mind you, but I know Mrs. Ruan is going to have tricks I haven''t heard of yet."


    "I am also a baker and Pastry chef, though I don''t have a specialization. I''m more generally competent around baking."


    “I do love a good pasta, and no one born dislikes fresh bread.”


    "I am glad to hear you enjoyed the fish. How''s the Fritter? I kind of tossed that together from half remembered reading. I added a touch of dill with the mint because I just thought it sounded good." She thought for a moment. “I also took a course on being a competent Sommelier. It was kind of a summer program, but the teacher also mentioned how to pair beers and whiskeys as well as wines to foods."


    “Well that is useful, I know granny Ruan has been working on loading up the house bar. How much time do you need to pack up?”


    "Honestly, not much. I mean, the place I have here is great but..."


    "They''re basically packed in tuna cans we call efficiency apartments. The kids learn to be organized, or to not use their own furniture."


    “Wonderful!  Then you can make the trip back with us. I’d like you to make a wish list of everything you want in and for the kitchen. I’ve deliberately not kitted out the kitchen past some basics. I’ll have Penny send you pictures of the indoor and outdoor kitchens, send her the list and we will see what we can do.”


    "Right, can do! Ohh, I''m so excited!"


    “I am glad, Penny did you bring the contract? It will go over your pay and perks.”


    "Okay, let''s get to the nitty gritty." The girl said, diving into the contract, looking it over like someone who took more business courses than she really wanted to. She started signing things on the second read through.


    Solaris smiled. “Looks like we will get one of your students settled. She said to the dean.” I will apologize for stealing your cook team.


    "Oh, it''s fine. Technically we take turns among the staff, but she better finish dinner tonight. I don''t have staff here to do it tonight!"


    "I will sir." She said, as two of her left to pack, and a pair went back into the kitchen.


    "She cheats, but damn if that isn''t useful."