Junior Sprout

The Junior Sprouts are a special set of Introductory Interns who are children, being introduced to W.I.L.L.O.W.I.S.P. at an early age through school and extracurricular programs. Usually, the parents of these young ones are completely unaware of the secrets their kids are hiding.
In some cases, the entire school they attend is a front for W.I.L.L.O.W.I.S.P. operations. In other instances, summer camps or other after school programs are utilized. Regardless, the children are taught and, if deemed worthy, sent off to become an Introductory Intern at a W.I.L.L.O.W.I.S.P. base, their parents being informed that it is some sort of camp. It is much easier to conceal the secret workings of W.I.L.L.O.W.I.S.P. with children who attend boarding school, or young people at college or university, but the agency is full able to stay under the radar even at local elementary schools.

Qualifications

There is no set rule that can qualify or disqualify a child, but W.I.L.L.O.W.I.S.P. does take special interest in orphans or otherwise lonely children, for it is easier for them not to feel obligation to tell any friends or family of their secret. Even still, W.I.L.L.O.W.I.S.P. disqualifies no child for outer circumstances so long as the kid shows promising potential in one area or another.

Requirements

W.I.L.L.O.W.I.S.P. keeps their eyes on promising children in all areas of exellence; atheletes such as gymnasts, rock climbers, sprinters, and other activities are seen as valuable assets in chasing, scaling walls, and being nimble and quick when it counts. For intellectual students, the appeal lies in the mind. Drama students have an appreciated talent for acting, especially those who can perform different accents or cry on-demand. Math and technology majors can always be utilized around the office or even in the field when dealing with complex machinery or computer-savvy threats.
No set skill is required, but when W.I.L.L.O.W.I.S.P. sees potential, the child will be approached.

Appointment

Children are never aware of the fact that they have been 'enrolled' in such a program until it is absolutely too late. Once the reality of W.I.L.L.O.W.I.S.P. is revealed unto them, they have the option to proceed or decline. At this first choice, it is speculated that those who decline are given short-term memory Erasure, and permitted to return to their normal lives. Unfortunately for those who choose to continue, there is no going back without consequence.

Duties

The Junior Sprouts help wherever needed, and where they are assigned, they must follow the instructions and complete tasks in that area. Ultimately, Commanders give them their initial roles. The duties they are responsible for all rests upon who they are scheduled to work under. If they are posted as an office assistant to a Base Operative, they must do as the Base Operative asks, refilling stapelers, sharpening pencils, making copies, entering data, fetching coffee, etc. If they are delegated to study under a Field Agent, their tasks will be more varied and have higher stakes as they actually trek out into the world to accomplish actual missions.

Grounds for Removal/Dismissal

In rare cases, some children decide they no longer want to be a part of any spy business, or they feel like the experience is so 'cool and awesome' that they need to tell everybody about it. W.I.L.L.O.W.I.S.P. has different ways of dealing with these children. This is not always publicized to the company.
Some agents have noted that certain children have turned up missing. Others swear that kids have been Erased. Nobody has ever witnessed a delinquent child return to their normal lives as if nothing happened.
Though the actual means are unclear, all understand that, however W.I.L.L.O.W.I.S.P. handles the situations, the agency makes sure to keep their operation hidden at all costs.

Type

Professional

Form of Address

Sprout, Junior Sprout

Alternative Naming

Kid Assistants, Junior Spies, many believe it is synonymous with Introductory Intern , though, in reality, there are some differences.

Equates to

Though Junior Sprouts can become Introductory Interns, Introductory Interns are not always Junior Sprouts.
What makes a Junior Sprouts is the age- most Sprouts are school-age children- and the conditions of exposure. Junior Sprouts are introduced to W.I.L.L.O.W.I.S.P. through an educational institution. Some Sprouts can become agents without going through internship first.
Interns, on the other hand, can be any age. They usually are not secretly trained through a school. They are thrown right into one of W.I.L.L.O.W.I.S.P.'s offices and expected to assist and observe before putting learned skills into practice. These interns can be gathered from random people on the street, rescued persons from another agent's mission, reformed criminals, or others who accidentally stumbled upon W.I.L.L.O.W.I.S.P.'s secrets.

Reports directly to

Commander

Related Locations

• Jack Pine Tower
• Linden and Bass

Related Organizations

• W.I.L.L.O.W.I.S.P.