Class of 1999 II: The Substitute

A new substitute teacher at Kennedy High who is a former Special Forces operative. He suffers from severe PTSD and experiences delusions of being an android, which justifies his brutal methods. His martial arts skills and body armor convert classroom confrontations into lethal showdowns, and his arc ends with a fatal confrontation after Jenna shoots him in the bunker.

A high school teacher who witnesses gang leader Sanders's violence and becomes a target. She is protected by others but must navigate constant harassment and danger. Her alliance with Emmett and the reveal of John’s deeper background shape her ultimate choices for survival and justice. She ends the story wearing armor, symbolizing resilience.

The owner of a small military museum and a military tactics enthusiast who plans a paintball event to channel student energy. He becomes a target of John’s violence and ultimately dies in the bunker as the conflict reaches its peak. His actions provide a counterbalance to the century-old notion of education as non-violent.

The gang leader who harasses Jenna and pushes the violence forward. He embodies the oppressive peer group that drives the plot's conflict. His downfall comes at the hands of John during the final confrontations.

A reporter/investigator who ties Kennedy High’s incidents to the broader history of android instructors. He reveals important backstory about John and the project that created killer android teachers, and is swiftly dealt with by John.

The local lawman who notes John’s Special Forces tattoo and questions his background, illustrating the tension between law, order, and perceived threat. He represents the law’s attempt to understand and stop the violence.

The school administrator who confronts John’s actions and warns of termination, only to be overwhelmed by the escalating violence. His presence highlights the consequences of institutional pressure and coercion within schools.