Spring had started early this year on the small planet called Montressor. The landscape, mostly brown earth and stones, and rare patches of green, seemed to glow in the morning sun.
This combined with the soft breeze playing in the cloudless sky made the land a place of perfect serenity.
"Come on, you blasted thing!"
With another frustrated yelp, the boy kicked the throttle down hard. With a lot of groaning and protests the board sped up. Jim cursed. This was really Murphy's Law at its best.
It was one thing to oversleep, but why, why did it have to be this morning? Professor Alethino was known and feared for his strict discipline regarding tardiness, and the serpent would not only tan his hide, but probably cut it up and use it as a doormat to set an example for other first years for years to come.
And to top it all off, his solar surfer had apparently decided that this was a perfect day to go on strike to protest the lack of maintenance it had had the last months.
Great, just great!
Fortunately, the towers of the Academy came in sight. The seventeen year old manoeuvred the board as far on the courtyard as he dared (the janitor might be looking out for a new doormat as well), jumped off and unceremoniously rammed it into the board stand.
The hallway was exceptionally crowded, but Jim only focussed on his goal. He had just started a sprint towards the lecture hall when a large hand landed on his shoulder and yanked him backwards.
"Sorry about that mate!" A low voice said cheerfully as the hand that had grabbed Jim steadied him. "But we're all summoned to the auditorium."
Jim looked up into the smiling face of his best friend Liam.
"Thanks," Jim muttered, "But try not to dislocate my shoulder next time, okay?"
"You're uncharacteristically late, by the way." Liam spoke as they made their way to the auditorium. "Oh, hey Morph!"
The little creature had burst out of Jim's backpack and settled on Liam's shoulder, rubbing himself against the Leonid's goatee.
"Yeah, the inn was a madhouse last night." Jim sighed. "It was well past midnight before everything was done, and I must have forgotten to set the alarm clock." Liam gave a sympathetic grunt. "Why are we summoned to the auditorium, anyway?"
"Didn't you hear?" A black girl, one of Jim's few fellow humans, looked around. "A ship has exploded not far from here. It was wrecked completely, and the two companion ships aren't much better. They sent the senior years there some hours ago. I heard my brother leave."
A slim amphibian gave Jim a playful punch on the shoulder. "It was all over the news, Hawkins. You should keep track of current affairs."
"I just said, Fischer, I overslept. I hardly had time for breakfast. Do you know how hard it is to eat a purp and steer a solar surfer at the same time? And that did not happen!" Jim swatted at Morph, who had just done an imitation of Jim smacking into a cliff face. His classmates laughed.
"But I don't think that humpbacked ox appreciated me dropping a core on its head."
"I can imagine." Liam chuckled. "OW!"
He ruefully rubbed the side of his face where, with a perfect sense of irony, a purp had hit him.
"You know, some people just wave to indicate where they are!"
The blue-skinned girl cast him a glance, lifted her hand and waved it unenthusiastically. "I'm here."
Jim burst out laughing as Liam flopped down next to her.
"Why did you aim for me? Jim was closer."
"One," Serena held up one finger. "You're the taller one and thus easier to hit, and two, Jim would've fought back." She finished matter-of-factly.
Jim smirked. "Scared of me, are you?"
"Nah, I just don't feel like kicking anyone's butt this early in the morning. Serves you right for being such a pacifist, Li."
Liam was about to retort when Professor Bruno called for attention. "You might have heard the news," He spoke, "Of the explosion on the ship R.L.S. Ngahere. The students of the third year and up have already been sent to salvage the ship and its companions, the R.L.S. Tāne and Matua. Now the explosion hazard is over, it's your turn. "
There was an excited buzz after these words.
"Captain Amelia will lead the mission. She will now give you full instructions."
The felid stepped forward. "Thank you professor. Now, if you will all look at the screen here -"
As she talked on, Jim, Liam and Serena threw each other an excited glance. They were going on a mission!
Author's Note
My first fanfiction series.
I know from personal experience how annoying it is when people don't finish their stories, that's why I completed (ok, nearly) the story for myself before posting it.
A thanks to my best buddy and beta-reader David, an amazing writer, for helping me along.
Since English isn't our first language, do report any abuse of it by my hand...but please stay polite ;)