The Sprout's Demise
Commander McCox gives newbies the rundown: Ahh. You're an Introductory Intern, right? Yep. Yep you are. Whether a Junior Sprout or not, I think everyone should hear this story, so buckle up... Long ago, at the beginning of W.I.L.L.O.W.I.S.P. as you know it, there was a kid who had just been recruited into the organization. The name's not really important as what happened next. You see, this intern was so happy to have actually been enlisted as a spy and wanted to tell friends and family about it. Of course, that was a big no-no, so an end was put to that immediately. The sprout was disappointed, but complied--in that area. Next, it was time for some field learning, and the intern just didn't want to follow instructions properly. It should have been a routine training exercise. Some say it involved a real hostile adversary. Others say the intern accidentally messed with the wrong scientific concoction in one of the top secret labs after wandering away from the group without permission. Whatever happened to the kid, it wasn't good. They either ended up dead, kidnapped by the enemy, or were somehow horribly unable to ever be themselves again. Since their parents had sent them here to W.I.L.L.O.W.I.S.P. under the guise of enrolling their kid in Summer Camp, the company had to use the ruse to explain the child's disappearence and put off suspicions. It's never a good thing when stuff like this happens, but the company has to cover its tracks one way or another. They ended up telling the family that the sprout had capsized in a canoe or something without a lifejacket, that they were currently in the process of dregging the lake but, unfortunately, hadn't yet found any remains. So, kid, if you don't want your loved ones receiving that type of news about you, I suggest you obey the rules and the instructors. We care about YOUR safety (and, we don't want people suing the company). We can pay them off, of course, with no problem. We have the budget. But, we'd rather not deal with all that legal mumbo jumbo, you know? And, listen, no matter how fake the story sounds, it's real. Let's say, even if it's not, it could very well become a true story about you if you don't heed its warning, alright?
As new additions to the company, Junior Sprouts are taught that safety is number one priority. In their first few classes and briefings, the pertinence of following instructions and complying to W.I.L.L.O.W.I.S.P. standards is drilled into their minds through various means, one of which being the lesson of The Sprout's Demise.
The story itself seems to have multiple versions. Every time it is told, variables change such as the name, age, and gender of the doomed sprout. Different circumstances are also often swapped out. Sometimes, the careless intern is vanquished in the field by bombs, guns, or agents of opposing forces. Other times, they are defeated by something in W.I.L.L.O.W.I.S.P.'s headquarters they were not authorized to access. Despite the several inconsistencies, it is said that the tale is based on true events and it is likely that each iteration originated from different interns who all met their demise some time in the organization's past.
First of all - I LOVE the formatting and the way the story is presented: the commander telling it to the newbs and that confidential file folder on the side. I'm definitely imagining - as you say that name/age/gender/circumstances are changed pretty much every time - the commander telling the tale using the average age & dominant gender in the group of newbs they're telling the story to. And using circumstances from their possible backgrounds maybe.
exactly! I'm glad you enjoyed the article! <3 thanks for reading! :)
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