"And that is the Space Academy," Gampu said. "The place that I and my charges call home. You may, too, call it home if you so desire."
Loki looked out the window.
"Camelopardalis!" Loki said. "Wait, isn't that supposed to be on a planet?"
Gampu had a bemused laugh, shaking his head, his mood rather light.
"It is a man made planetoid," Gampu said. "What the academy is on is a planet in his own right."
"What was it built on?" Loki asked.
"The planetoid?" Chris repeated. "Well. . ."
"That is a good question," Tee Gar said. "That is not exactly answerable."
"Nonsense, Tee Gar, it is perfectly answerable," Gampu said. "The planetoid was never built. He was born. Just like yourself, Loki."
"So he came from Zalon?" Loki asked.
"A planet like Zalon," Adrian said. "A planet is something that orbits a sun and supports life. A inanimate object."
"That's what we have been lead to believe," Gampu said. "He is sapient and very young compared to most planets. He appeared to the federation hundreds of years ago." He appeared to be fond of the memory looking off toward the large window then his eyes looked down toward Peepo. "Ah," a certain realization settled in. "you haven't been introduced to the academy's navigator," Gampu gestured toward the little machine. "This is Peepo."
"Hello," Peepo said, moving toward the chair the boy was settled in. "Glad to meet you, Loki."
Loki's mouth fell, out of shock, and his eyebrows raised.
"What is he?" Loki asked.
"A Manu-Droid," Gampu said. "And a very dear old friend of mine."
"I am glad to meet you, Peepo," Loki said.
"Affirmative," Peepo said. "It is always nice to meet a new humanoid alien."
"Seeker to Academy Control, Seeker to Academy Control," Chris called in. "We are coming in."
"Academy Control here," came another voice. "Docking bay door 2 is opening."
The door opened up before the Seeker that sent them into the docking bay. Loki's eyes grew big and wide staring into the light gray interior that seemed to be a perfect blend of white and gray. The docking ramp clasped on to the top of the seeker then guided the craft down. There was a light thud then Loki came off Gampu's lap. Gampu pressed the button on the side then the door came open before the young boy's eyes. Loki slowly went out of the seeker looking both ways feeling the cool air getting to his skin. He stepped out rubbing his shoulders looking both ways then walked no less than five feet away looking in the direction the seeker had entered. The large door was closed.
Peepo came to Loki's side.
"Welcome to the space academy, Loki," Peepo said.
"Thank you," Loki said, then turned his attention off from Peepo. "It feels so different from Zalon."
"Shiny and clean," Peepo said.
"And cold," Loki rubbed his shoulders.
"It was not always this way, Loki," Gampu said, approaching the two with his hands linked behind his back.
"Really?" Loki asked, looking toward the elder.
"Indeed," Gampu nodded once coming to a stop beside Loki. "I remember the first time I came here, it was. . ."
Gampu looked up quite fondly toward the cieling seeing something that wasn't there with features that said he was admiring.
"It was hot and humid in here," Gampu gently continued. "All I could see for miles were rocks in the tunnel." The scenery was replaced by a cavern with stars in the distance before Gampu in his silver space suit beside a group of other officers in spacesuits that contrasted against his own set across from a glowing red light behind him. "Instead of being scared and terrified on what was going to happen next. . ." He lowered his gaze toward the doorway. "I was content and assured," his face softened then looked toward Loki. "And I felt that whatever had happened before would never need to happen."
Loki looked on toward the door.
"What happens now?" Loki asked.
"We start from the beginning and work our way up," Gampu said, his hand on the boy's shoulder.
Loki looked up toward Gampu.
"What is your name?" Loki asked.
"My name is Commander Gampu," Gampu said. "Commander isn't my first name but it is a rank that must be referred to first when being addressed."
"So your first name is Gampu?" Loki asked.
"No," Gampu said. "Gampu is my last name."
"I will find out my last name," Loki said, nodding. "Commander Loki sounds otherwise. . . uh."
"Improper for you," Gampu said.
"Yes," Loki said.
"I understand the feeling," Gampu said. "But if I were being honest. . . Commander Loki would be a fine way for someone to address you in the not too distant future," a smile grew on Loki's face. "Come along, my boy," Gampu gently let go of the boy's shoulder then shifted toward the open doorway leading out of the docking bay that then closed. "the future waits for no one."
Loki turned away from the docking bay door then walked in the direction that Gampu faced with the older man's hand on the center of the young boy's back.
"Wait for me!" Peepo called.