Jim Hawkins couldn't believe it. He was finally at the Interstellar Academy and it was everything he had hoped it would be. The building was grand, made completely of white concrete. New students and old students alike bustled about the courtyard trying to find their group and leading superior officer. Jim made a mental note to thank Captain Amelia for her recommendation once again. Sarah Hawkins stood beside him, getting a bit teary eyed. She dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief.

"Okay, you're here. Enjoy it, be good, stay out of trouble, and make friends."

Jim turned to smile at his mother. He gave her a hug. She patted the back of his head, smiling at the new short haircut he had received.

"Don't worry, mom. I'll be back for vacation. It's only a couple months."

Sarah waved sadly but proudly, watching Jim run off into the crowd of students before turning and walking home, missing him already. He, on the other hand, had a huge smile plastered to his face as he dodged through the talking people. He found the new students by the lack of noise. They were far too nervous to say much. Looking around, Jim spotted his group., future spacers who had scored the highest on the entrance exams. He'd be taking a few mechanics classes as well, but he wanted to fly again like he had on the R.L.S Legacy. He'd been saddened at first when he found out he couldn't bring his new solar surfer. Jim strode over to his group and hung around the edge of the students. A shorter boy with blonde hair and grey eyes looked over at him.

"Hey! I've seen you before. Your mom runs an inn, doesn't she? The…Bamboo Inn?"

Jim grinned.

"Benbow. But, yeah."

"Awesome. I live near you guys. Seen you around on that solar surfer of yours. You've got skills, man. My name is David Karven, but you can call me Dave."

"Jim. Jim Hawkins."

The two shook hands.

"So, how does your first day feel? Nervous? Exciting?"

Jim looked around again. He just couldn't get enough of the place.

"Exciting is winning for now."

Dave nodded his understanding. A group of giggling girls walked by on their way to another group and Jim and Dave both leaned over so they could watch them go. Jim's new friend whistled.

"I never expected there to be such pretty girls. I knew there were going to be a lot less than males, but dang are they smokin'."

Jim had to agree. Even though all the females wore the same uniform, which consisted of a cream jacket and a bright red, tight fitting skirt, they all looked different while still looking amazing. He was gazing after the girls when a strict voice reached his ears.

"Alright, future spacers, let's move along to your dormitory. Tony, watch the back of the group so no one wanders off."

Jim's eyes widened so he could take in the sight before him. At the head of the group wearing a blue medal was the most beautiful girl he thought he'd ever seen. Her blonde hair was tied into a high ponytail while her hair fell down to her waist. The look on her face was completely serious as she led them into the building. He gave Dave a nudge and nodded at her.

"Dibs on that one."

Dave slowly exhaled as he spotted her.

"Damn…"

A laugh from behind alerted them to a tall, older boy with a buzz cut and kind brown eyes. They could see his hair would be black if he grew it out. He moved up closer to the guys and they noticed his blue medal.

"Good luck with that one," he grinned," She's a military girl through and through. Strict, responsible, and pretty harsh. And…she's you're main superior officer."

Dave and Jim exchanged a look.

"But she looks like she's our age," Dave noted, stroking his chin," and she sounds like a nightmare."

The guy laughed.

"That's because she is your age. She's not ruthless, just tough. She takes care of and is the assistant teacher to the highest rated kids at this school. Of course, she's rough! I'm your superior officer, too, but she's in charge here. Her father runs the school and she was raised strictly."

Jim looked at her thoughtfully as they all moved into the dormitory. The place looked great, but he was more interested in his superior officer.

"I'm still gonna give it a try."

The guy snorted.

"If you want to bring punishment on yourself, far be it from me to stop you. By the way, my name is Antonio Vega. Tony, as you may have heard the madam say."

"David Karven."

"Jim Hawkins."

Tony raised an eyebrow at him.

"James Hawkins? The guy who scored highest on the entrance exams and got a recommendation from the Captain Amelia?"

Dave looked at his new friend in astonishment.

"No way! That was you?!"

Jim shrugged and smiled. His mother had been so proud of him she almost passed out when she heard. There was a loud banging and they all looked over to see the girl standing up on a raised area of the floor.

"Welcome, new students, to the Interstellar Academy. I know that each and every one of you will someday be a great person in the history of this universe and maybe even beyond it. My name is Celine Griffiths. I am your leading officer. Antonio Vega is assistant leader. As you all are the top twenty scorers on the entrance exam, you all receive a single room with a bathroom connected to one other individual. Tomorrow morning classes will begin. I hope you all will take the rest of the day to unpack the belongings of yours that have been put in your rooms and to study the academy map placed on your desk. If anyone has question, you may hunt down Antonio or myself. Your room numbers are on the holographic screen to your left. Get a good rest tonight. You are all dismissed."

The group moved toward the left side of the room except for Jim, Dave, and Tony. Tony was pushing Jim toward Celine and David was following from pure curiosity. They stopped in front of her. Tony saluted. The beautiful blonde nodded her head and looked over the group.

"Please tell me we didn't have mischief already, Tony."

"No, ma'am. I just wanted to introduce you to our number one student."

Tony pushed Jim toward her. He blushed as she scrutinized him. He went rigid as she circled him, as if checking for a problem. She stopped in front of him again with a nod.

"James Pleiades Hawkins. I've checked up on you. I hear you were quite the rebel before getting into this school. Multiple offenses in driving in restricted air space on a solar surfer. Not to mention there was a note about you're habit of talking back to authority. I did wonder how someone like that might get a recommendation from Captain Amelia. Hmm…and I see that your ear is pierced and your hair freshly cut. I wonder what I have to expect of you."

Tony smirked as Dave and Jim gaped at the teenage girl.

"I'm David Karven!" Dave spoke up," Do you know anything about me?"

Celine's lips tightened into a line.

"Number twelve. You have an addiction to girls and talking. During your entrance exam, you crashed into the supervising adult and put him into the hospital with a broken rib."

Jim looked his new friend with an eyebrow raised. Dave's face was beet red. Celine looked between the two boys.

"I hope the two of you will behave respectably at this academy during your time here. I expect greatness from each person in my group and I hope talkativeness and rebelliousness will be limited and, at best, non-existent."

Jim frowned at her. He felt as if he were being judged even before he'd spoken a word to the girl. Something in him made him dislike her suddenly. Celine looked down at some papers in her hand before looking back up at Jim and frowning. She leaned in a little closer, looking into his face at his clear blue eyes.

"You seem…familiar…" she seemed to say to herself.

He shrugged.

"I don't remember seeing anyone like you around Montressor."

Celine twirled her hair as she thought. Jim would have thought it was cute if he wasn't a bit annoyed by the girl.

"Montressor…hmm…"

Her mind seemed to wander off. Her eyes snapped back to attention quickly, trained on the three males before her.

"Well, boys, thank you for introducing yourself. If you'll excuse me, I have things to attend to."

She marched off in the direction of the dorm room as new students dispersed. Tony grabbed the boys by the shoulders and ushered them to the screen.

"See what I meant?" he grinned.

Jim groaned.

"And I thought I'd gotten better about disliking judgmental people."

"Don't take it personally. She probably is being hard on you because you have the most potential."

"Thanks," Dave muttered, looking up at the screen," Jim! We're neighbors."

The boys grinned at each other. The year wasn't starting out to be a complete bust. They just had to survive a very serious superior officer and everything would be totally great. Right?