Graduation

As they headed back to his office, Josh observed the two students he had been teaching. The two of them had both shown a lot of initiative, and had the makings of good agents. As they walked back into his office, after getting the forms they needed to fill out, he sat at his desk. The two of them worked succinctly through the forms, and finished at almost the same time. Josh glanced over the forms, noting no mistakes, then looked at the two of him watching you. Glancing at his computer, he noted the two of them were going to remain together, joining a new team. He'd be interested to see how that team functioned, with a mixture of experience and new blood.

"Well, your training is done and you can now join the Division. The two of you are actually being assigned to the same Unit, which will make adjusting a little easier for the two of you. Your Unit is actually meeting with Unit Director Matt Garisson tomorrow morning. No such thing as waiting in this Division. I'm sure the Director will have a case already lined up for you. But, before then, there is a tradition that has to be upheld. At the end of every class, the students and their teacher go out for a celebratory drink. So, since training is over and wasn't scheduled to finish until later in the day, and therefore the two of you have nothing else scheduled, I invite you to join me at the F.B.I.'s favourite meeting place, Hoover's Hollow."

Seeing no objections, and knowing that it was his lunch break, Josh led the way to the car lot, and to his car. Their cars had been taken back to their houses, which Josh knew would astound them, but some aspects of security couldn't be ignored. Taking a roundabout course, Josh quickly got them to the popular bar, and found a car spot close by. The three of them entered the bar, and heard the booming voice of Ernie Douglas echo across the room.

"I thought you were Training Director, Josh. You spend more time in here than anywhere else at the moment."

The two students thought they saw a tinge of red cross Josh's face, but it vanished as quickly as it appeared.

"Must have me mistaken for someone else, Ernie. Besides, just keeping up the traditions set up years ago by a certain Agent!", he retorted.

"Touche, Josh. I did teach you well! And who are these two youngsters with you?"

"Ernie Douglas, may I introduce Special Agents Vanessa Lee and Jim Reaper? Vanessa and Jim, may I introduce Ernie Douglas, one of the Bureau's foremost agents in his time and proprieter of Hoover's Hollow."

"What do you mean, in my time? I could still run rings around you, young whippersnapper! Nice to meet the both of you. I take it he treated you reasonably during training? Wasn't too soft on the two of you?"

"We survived!"

"Ernie, could we grab some drinks?"

"Your usual booth?"

"Sounds good!", said Josh as he led the way to the booth, toward the back of the place.

"Ernie is a wealth of knowledge. He has forgotten more about the Bureau than any of us has learnt and, even thought he's retired, he still knows more about what's going on than most of us put together!" "And so I should. Worked my way to that point, you know!"

"Any lectures about not working hard and there'll be trouble, Ernie!" "Wouldn't consider it, Josh. By the way, I think that one over there might be looking for you as well!", said Ernie, indicating a figure coming into Hoover's Hollow. Spotting the individual, Josh called him over, recognising the new Team Leader.

"Looks like you'll meet your Team Leader before tomorrow's meeting!"

Respectfully Submitted
Andrew Bell
Training Director Josh Peters
Ernie Douglas, Proprieter, Hoover's Hollow
Email: [email protected]

<> All: Congratulations, you have officially made it through training. I set things up like this mainly because your Unit Director, Chris Canary, has had a bit of trouble with his connection recently, and is in the process of moving. But I'm sure that once he's settled, and he and Alton have come up with your first case, you'll have your Briefing in Director Garisson's office. Until now, feel free to roleplay out your free time in Hoover's Hollow. The Hollow is the bar where all of the agents go when they finish a case and have time on their hands. You are welcome to use it between cases as a social centre. If you do, make sure that you use [JEH] in your subject.

To let you know, the approaching figure is your new Team Leader, roleplayed by Alton Reich. No doubt he will have, or will be in the near future, in contact with you regarding a roster for the Unit and a copy of everyone's bios. You will want to make up a maillist which includes everyone on the roster, so that they all receive your posts.