Chapter 1

One Sunday morning at the Benbow Inn, Jim was home after the end of term at the Interstellar Academy. He looked up as the front door to the Inn opened.

"Ah, good morning, James," Captain Amelia called as she made her way inside. "Do you think I could bother you for a spot of tea?"

"Sure! No problem, Captain," Jim told her, and got to his feet and headed for the kitchen.

While Jim got her tea, Amelia sat herself down at one of the tables.

Jim returned a minute later, a steaming cup of tea in hand. "Here you are, ma'am," Jim said kindly, actually glad for a visitor.

She smiled and took her first sip. "Ah, nothing like a spot of tea in the morning, I always say…"

"So, Captain, what's been happening while I've been away?" Jim asked, pouring himself a cup of coffee.

"Actually, not all that much, I'm afraid," Amelia informed him, and sighed.

Jim looked over at Amelia. "Come now, ma'am… don´t tell me you came all the way here just because you're bored." He stated, quirking an eyebrow in surprise.

"Well, yes, I'm rather afraid I have, Jim," she stated, not meeting his gaze. She then looked up and met his disbelieving gaze. "And before you start, I'll have you realize that I have never told a lie since I've been able talk," Amelia pointed out.

Jim smiled, and looked at the feline Captain. "Well, you could always do what I do, you know. Get a part time job," he suggested.

"Wonderful," Amelia replied, just a bit tartly. "At what, might I ask?" Amelia paused for effect, then continued.
"I am a Captain, Mr. Hawkins, you do realize. And, unfortunately for me, Montressor is not exactly the kind of place that needs my expertise just about now."

Jim knew she had a point, and stopped to think. As he sipped his coffee, he got a great idea! "I know just the job for you, Captain," he declared with a grin.

"Oh, really? And that would be… what, exactly?" Amelia replied, looking at Jim warily.

"Our unarmed combat instructor has just gone on paternity leave; he and his wife had twins. But, that doesn't matter. I was thinking… maybe you could fill in for him while he's away. The position sounds like something you might be interested in, doesn't it?"

Amelia thought it over, while she finished her tea. But Jim knew his friend, the Captain, all too well.

He got up to fetch a communicator, when Amelia asked, "James, could you bring me the…" Amelia didn't get the chance to finish her sentence, as Jim handed her the transmitter. The device had a holographic picture capability, so that you could see to whom you were talking to. Amelia punched in the appropriate coordinates, and pressed transmit.

Before too long, a middle-aged human fellow appeared on the communicator's screen. "Ah, good morning," Captain Amelia then said.

"Well, well, if it isn't my favorite student," the human man proclaimed, beaming. "So, Amelia dear, just how may I be of service this day?"

"Well, Professor Roxby, let's just say a little bird told me that may be in need of an unarmed combat instructor," Amelia said with just a ghost of smile. "Any truth to this situation?"

"Why am I not surprised that you might know all about that, Captain," Roxby replied, shaking his head in amusement.

"Well, sir, I pray that you do remember that I was quite an accomplished instructor in that particular subject," she offered by way of a subtle reminder.

"I dare say I do at that," Professor Roxby answered. "You seemed to clear the floor with my cadets with rather enviable ease, if I recall correctly."

"You do, sir. You do, indeed," Amelia assured him proudly.

"Very well then. If you are of a mind to, I would gladly welcome you to cover Commander Ogden's class for the semester," Roxby offered.

"Thank you, Nathan," Amelia quickly agreed. "I accept."

"Wonderful news! I will see you here at the Academy bright and early on Monday then, Amelia," Roxby said, grinning happily. He was silent a moment, then cleared his throat. He began again, "Oh, and while we're at it, would you be so good as to tell young Mr. Hawkins that I would appreciate short amount of his time…"

Amelia noticed Jim edging away from her, and she said loudly to him, "Oh, Jim, would you be so kind as to come here for a moment, please?" Amelia asked. "It appears that Professor Roxby would like a word with you."

Jim gulped, and his face paled a bit as he took up the seat Amelia had just vacated. "I'll leave you two alone, shall I?" she said, a devilish gleam lighting her green eyes.

As Amelia made her way to the door, she heard the headmaster yelling at Jim. It appeared that Jim had gone inside the girl's dormitory and woke the girls up by leading them to believe that there was a fire. Roxby calmed himself, and told Jim he would speak to him---in his office---on Tuesday after he returned. The still scowling Roxby then muttered something, and broke the connection.

"Man, Roxby will never let me forget about this," Jim complained, shaking his head.

"Oh, don't feel so bad, Mr. Hawkins," Amelia told the white-faced Jim. "It's not as if you're the first one to of pulled off such a prank before, you know."

Jim looked at her quizzically a moment, then he grinned. "You mean to tell me that you were the Midnight Prankster, Captain?" Jim asked, clearly surprised.

"I will will deny any such claim most vehemently, Mr. Hawkins," Amelia replied haughtily. She paused to give Jim a look, just before she broke down and chuckled.

"I don't know why Nathan makes such a to do about the whole thing really," Amelia confessed. "I mean, all I did was infiltrate the boy's dormitory, painted everything in sight pink, and then set off the fire alarm to cover my escape. What's all the excitement about, I ask you?" Amelia asked, quite innocently.

"Whoa!" Jim said, clearly amazed and his estimation of the Captain's prowess ratcheting up a few notches.

"Not a word of this, Mr. Hawkins. Do you hear me?" Amelia said, suddenly very serious. "I will see you tomorrow, James," Amelia added, going out the door with a confident gait.