“Upstarts” is a term I coined when I was looking for names for my fictional character, escaped convicts turned superpowered terrorists. The Upstarts is the name given to such a group of high school dropouts who together feel it would be an awesome idea to take on the world by killing others for sport. This is referred to as “gging.” The gg stands for getting really bored. In short, these kids are addicted to playing games online and basically trying to win.
They have very few social skills, are constantly on the go and usually engage in violence. As their Upstart teammates try to eliminate each other, they develop a new level of proficiency and skills through trial and error, and practice. Eventually they learn how to use weapons which are usually destructive. These kids lack any sense of responsibility, and their only motivation is the Upstart adrenaline rush they get from beating other upstart teams. It’s at this point that their true potential as individuals is revealed. Although all Upstarts start out with a similar mission and goal, as their team members learn more about each other, they can each decide what is more important, their own skill set or the team as a whole.
The Upstarts ultimately come into contact with the authorities and are turned over to the system, which helps them reintegrate back into society. When they are released from prison, they find that they have been given a new identity and are free to pursue any path in life they choose. Although they were born with a violent mindset, they’ve discovered how to use the societal skills they have learned throughout their Upstart to improve their life, gaining a sense of self worth and self-confidence that was missing before.
Throughout this story, we see the Upstarts assimilating with a new group of Upstarts who have the same mission as they: to bring about change. It’s this integration that is crucial, allowing the Upstarts to use their skills to create an influence that changes the world for everyone. The Upstart society is made up of 20 teams; the aim of each team is to achieve one common goal. Once this goal has been achieved by each Upstart team, they are all allowed to form their own social skills and pursue individual careers within the Upstart society.
In doing this, they learn that being successful does not mean beating everyone else. It means using their imagination and creativity to think outside the box. It also means having the courage to try something different. This is why children often excel in areas where there are a lot of children. You may be thinking, “What happens if the Upstarts don’t turn out as good as the good kids?” Well, for starters, you’ve got the rest of the team to help them along.
The social skills that come with Upstart are valuable, and the Upstarts themselves are constantly growing and improving their abilities. Once any team member reaches a certain skill level, they will be encouraged to teach others the new skill. This way, they never become obsolete, and the whole Upstart social structure becomes stronger. It’s this way that any Upstart organization can stay relevant for years on end and reach its true potential.