[color=gray][center][img]https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/1070792705547980842/1116338227444461697/Haleigh_3.png[/img][/CENTER][indent][sub][COLOR=SILVER][B]Location:[/B][/COLOR] [i]Onassis' Classroom[/i] - [i]Dundas Islands, Pacific Ocean[/I][/sub][sup][right][COLOR=SILVER][b]First Class #2.95[/b][/COLOR] [I]Law & Order[/I][/right][/sup][/indent][sub][hr][/sub][INDENT][sub][color=SILVER][B]Interaction(s):[/B][/COLOR] [I]Rory [@webboysurf], Katja [@Zoldyck], Trevor [@Jarl Coolgruuf] & Simone [@Lord Wraith][/I][/sub][SUP][RIGHT][COLOR=SILVER][b]Previously:[/b][/COLOR] [I]Chef Haleigh?[/I][/right][/SUP]
[INDENT]Taking a seat among the row of desks, it would be a lie to say Haleigh hadn't been initially surprised upon first entering Onassis' classroom. With how technologically advanced the school was, Haleigh hadn't expected one of the classrooms to still be outfitted with a chalkboard. Regardless, she didn't think much more of it. Everyone had their preferences, after all. Perhaps Onassis just hated using new-fangled tech for whatever reasons he might've had.

[color=#f1c232]“When I say your name, please raise a hand.”[/color] 

Picking up a tablet from his desk, Onassis began to go down the list of Blackjack members by last name.

[color=#f1c232]“Cooper.”[/color]

A glance, and a hand raised.

[color=#f1c232]“Crawford.”[/color]

Following suit, Haleigh raised her hand to signal to Onassis that she was in class. 

Once Onassis had confirmed that Haleigh had been in attendance, he continued down the attendance chart and announced each of the remaining names until all of the students were spoken for. With attendance finished, he placed the tablet down on his desk and stood up from his chair to address the class as a whole.

[color=#f1c232]“Welcome to Introduction to Law. As future members of H.E.L.P., you’ll need to have an extensive comprehension of the current laws, bills, active proceedings and all manner of legal concepts. It may be your job to enforce these laws, while for some of you, you may work on changing them. Neither of these can be done without understanding the system, its history and where it’s going. It’s my job to start you on that journey.”[/color]

Picking up a steaming mug, Onassis took a sip of the liquid before placing it down on Haleigh's desk.

[color=#f1c232]“The past sixty years have seen an unprecedented amount of laws being passed, repealed and passed again. Many of which have had to do with social issues and equality; in no small part due to the emergence of Hyperhumans.”[/color]

[color=#f1c232]“To summarize, Hyperhumans have had their natural - some might even argue [i]God-given[/i] - abilities suppressed, controlled, and even registered. Hyperhumans have been banned from work and performance in several sectors, and even their marriage has been outlawed at times, especially between a Hyperhuman and a ‘normal’ human. All of this has been in the name of security and safety for the greater public.”[/color]

What Onassis spoke of hadn't been entirely unfamiliar ground to Haleigh, who bit her lip in response. After all, Haleigh was not only a hyperhuman, but a [i]homosexual[/i] hyperhuman. She was "slated for hell" by preferring women over men, and on top of that she was also "going to hell" for being a hyperhuman. The perfect boogeyman, all things considered, to some people in the world who were more than willing to try and eradicate her very existence.

Too bad for them, however. She had no plans on going anywhere just yet.

[color=f1c232]“And that’s not even touching on the pandemic in recent years that targeted Hyperhumans.”[/color]

Her look of disgust soon turned puzzled. Wait, the recent pandemic had targeted [i]only[/i] hyperhumans? That certainly didn't sound right. At least, in relation to what they were told by the government and media. Numerous questions began to swirl into her head. What was Onassis talking about? Had the school known something that no one else knew? 

Unfortunately, before any clarification could've been asked, their professor continued on with his lesson. She would have to get her answers from Onassis later, perhaps at the end of class or whenever she had free time to ask him.

[color=f1c232]“Most of us would call it a prime example of inequality, fear-driven bias. But then we have Hyperion-a Hyperhuman who explicitly operates outside of the law. Many of you are probably asking what good the law does if a terrorist manages to constantly evade it? Why should you worry about living within its constraint if you too could be powerful enough to live above it. But it is only because we have these laws that we can deem a person like Hyperion to be lawless. Our laws allow us to distinguish between a good method of integrating into society and those who refuse to integrate themselves and thus alienate themselves, falling outside of the social contract. That is to refer to the contract in which we surrender certain freedoms in exchange for security.”[/color]

[color=f1c232]“An extremist like Hyperion creates a rallying cry for both those who support and oppose him. Especially if they are left unchallenged. If all of us were to act in this manner we would descend into a state of self-involved anarchy. The law creates accountability in the interest of security. I do not believe that any form of civilization exists without a form of law. The governing interests of self can not be allowed to flourish if a society is to persist.”[/color]

Of course. It had only been the first day into her "new" self and someone had to remind her of Hyperion. 

Despite her attempts to move on for the better, Hyperion was still nonetheless an open wound within her soul. However, past all the anger and uncertainty she had attempted to squash in her heart, Haleigh truly did believe in what Onassis had to say in regards to upholding the law. She was well aware that what was legal wasn't always right and that what was right wasn't always legal, but trading blood for blood ultimately solved nothing. It had just taken Haleigh a moment of clarity amidst the hate-fueled rage she had experienced to remember that.

Thanks, Rory.

[color=f1c232]“So I ask of you, separating into two groups, is taking the law into one's own hands ever truly justifiable? Cooper, you will lead de León, Miller, Olyphant and Schade in arguing for taking the law into one’s own hands. Crawford, you’ll be leading Kruger, Musgrave, Richards and Tyler in arguing against your teammates about why the law should be upheld in every circumstance. Shall we hear your opposing arguments in twenty minutes?”[/color]

Once Onassis had dismissed his class, Haleigh got up with the others, and took a seat with the rest of her group. Taking a deep breath, Haleigh began to lead her group into discussion about their assigned piece.

[color=d94a3f]"Some of you may remember my comments at the funeral. I was ready to bury Hyperion so completely that the Earth would turn over a thousand times before their body was dug up."[/color] 

Haleigh momentarily glanced at Rory. This was going to be a difficult, touchy subject for her to discuss.

[color=d94a3f]"I [i]am[/i] still very much angry over it. However, I... I've been thinking. Yes, Hyperion needs to be stopped. That hasn't changed, nor has it for anyone else like them. But if we were to take matters outside the confines of the law and directly into our own hands, all we accomplish is continuing the cycle. The cycle of hatred. The cycle of who personally decides what is wrong or right."[/color]

A brief pause was had before she continued.

[color=d94a3f]"There are many examples, but the point is: while you have the right to think a certain way or protest against something, once you take that first descent into vigilantism, you've muddled your message. It's kind of like that quote, I suppose. You know, [i]'an eye for an eye makes the world blind'[/i]. What we do unto others could easily be reciprocated by those who see us in the wrong. By acting as the law, rather than following the law, at least in this particular scenario, you have done nothing to change things for the better; instead, you have done the complete opposite."[/color]

With her piece said, Haleigh looked once more at the others, opening the floor to whoever wished to speak next.[/INDENT][/INDENT][/color]