Professor Nick Cutter

Class had been instructed to meet in the Danger Shop for the remainder of the semester, though when they walked in, they'd see it was set to the 'standard classroom' configuration. In fact, Liliana had no plans that required the Danger Shop at all today, but her planned classes included a mix of lectures and practical 'experiences.' And since it would be very obvious what type of class she had planned if they only ever met in the Danger Shop on practical days, they'd be meeting in the Danger Shop regardless of what type of class was on the agenda.

"Welcome back," Liliana said once class had begun. "We deviated from tradition last week by not having introductions--" which she generally considered a waste of class time anyway "--because it would have done us no good to attempt to affix names to faces when we all looked like ponies. Which means we're doing them this week. Please state your name, a useful skill set you believe you would bring to a post-apocalyptic community, and at least one way that either media or your own experience has taught you to kill, avoid, or fend off zombies. As I will then be explaining whether or not that course of action would be effective, at least against my types of ghouls, I would highly encourage you all to listen to one another's introductions. I'll give you this one for free, though: shooting a zombie in the brain? Isn't going to stop a single one."

Once that fun little round robin of class interaction was over, Liliana continued her lecture. "Today, we're going to be discussing the structure of the class. As was mentioned last week, this class is going to be more of a hands-on approach to surviving a post-apocalyptic scenario, one that involved an uprising of the undead. In it, you will be given different scenarios and objectives, and then it will be up to your various skills, tactics, and planning to survive. Hopefully, through these classes, you will either develop or further hone your ability to think quickly, to be decisive, to adapt, to communicate, and to cooperate. As this is a post-zombie apocalypse, zombies will likely be present as an environmental hazard if nothing else, adding additional obstacles and time pressures. That being said, the focus of the class is primarily "how can I and possibly others survive?" not "how can I fix this whole scenario?" I'm not saying you won't have opportunities to end the zombie menace, at least for the duration of a class period, but I would advise you not to expect them." But it did sometimes make for an important friction point: attempt the sure thing that will increase your odds of survival, or attempt the very risky thing that may solve everything...or may leave you in an even more precarious position than you were in before.

"Now, a note about powers. Some of you have them. Some of you have powers that are particularly useful for this type of class even, even. I am not going to forbid you from using them. I am however, going to institute a rule that you are not allowed to use your powers on behalf of anybody else. Your powers can serve you and you alone. If what you're going to do will directly benefit anybody beyond yourself, do not do it. I am not intending to hamstring teamwork, but I want you all to get a better idea of what you, personally, are capable of.

"Honestly, if this were a real post-apocalyptic scenario, the smartest thing to do would be to have Summer use her portal gun to get you off the island, or, say, have Illyana teleport necessary supplies back to survivors. And, if there is a real emergency and you don't take the fastest option to remove yourself to safety and die to stupid heroics instead, I will be very cross with you and will give genuine consideration to raising you back up long enough to blister your ears with a lecture." Was she looking very hard at one Mr. Jonathan Sims at that? If he was present, then yes she absolutely was.

"But, as tactically sound as those options are, they don't actually teach anything. We are simulating dangerous situations now so that if you find yourself in real danger in the future, you have better odds of surviving, even if you don't have access to helpful magics or advanced technology. It is for that reason that I'm also suggesting people with powers minimize usage even on their own behalf, at least if you are trained and confident in them. Again, that isn't something I will be enforcing, nor will it have an effect on your grade, but this is an opportunity to learn, which means trying things you are not already proficient at. I will be much less impressed by someone who can breeze through a scenario because they have the right combination of gadgets, powers, and/or technology than by someone who failed it, but demonstrated creativity, effort, or learning. Any questions?"