Jim's Folly

By Raine Ishida

Author's Note: This idea has spawned until spawning can no longer occur…seriously, I have thought almost non-stop about this story, and I hope to not lose the inspiration which back this idea. I also welcome your reviews. Criticism and praise I welcome with open arms.

Referring to the area of romance, I'm not sure whether or not there will be some in the future. I suppose you'll have to wait and find out, right? Just take heed that Captain Raven is my own character, all Disney characters belong to Disney, of course…

Enjoy my story, you lovely fanfictioneers. I look forward to your reviews.

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I can't believe this. Two days into the academy and I already have a record. Well, that wasn't my fault…okay, it was my fault. So I was trying to make friends and I accidentally broke a few rules. No big deal. Honestly, these people need to lighten up.

Jim frowned and chewed on the eraser of his pencil. Stupid homework. He was confined to his room for the remainder of the evening and he'd decided to start his homework. Maybe he'd prove to his mom he was somewhat of a good child.

So I've got four years here. Yippee. Can't wait to get started. Look, Mom, I'm all grown up. Your little boy's turning sixteen soon…better get those birthday candles lit.

Scoffing, he turned onto his back and closed his eyes. He knew he wanted to be here, but what was the point? Silver was gone, B.E.N., Dr. Doppler, Amelia, Morph…Sarah, they were all back on Montressor. Without him.

Another frown took his lips. Biting his tongue, Jim knew these would be a tough few years.

At least he could visit home every Christmas.

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"Students! Snap to attention!" She was a charming woman, probably a few years Jim's elder, but that didn't stop her from looking even older in her authority. She was a captain, the rank Jim yearned to be. He studied her outfit carefully. She was dressed in spotless white, gold adorning her sleeves and in her emblem on the front pocket. He noticed that she was wearing a skirt. Glancing around, Jim noticed the female cadets wearing skirts.

Jim smirked to himself. Hm. Must be a dress code here. The captain's voice got Jim's attention and he turned his concentration towards her.

"Welcome to your first day of year two, cadets! I can feel your bubbly energy from here. Listen to me: lose it. I don't want bubbly energy taking over my class, got that? We need complete seriousness. This is an important lesson." She had an accent, Jim noticed. It was unlike one he'd ever heard before, and it was thick. It certainly wasn't like Captain Amelia's, nor like John Silver's. He shrugged faintly. He'd wait until she told them.

"Before we get started, I'll introduce myself. I am Captain Raven Calls, you may all address me as Captain, or Ms. Calls. Either will do, thank you. Now, I may be a captain, but I'm also an instructor, so this means you must listen to me when I tell you to do something."

She walked around the cadets as she talked. She was slim in her uniform, and Jim found her to be quite an attractive young woman. She had her long, black hair in a professional braid behind her back, and she walked with a confidence about her that Jim couldn't place. She knew things, and she wanted people to know of her importance.

"If any of you were wondering, I come from the older, ruddier planet called Earth in the Milky Way Galaxy. On Earth, I'm from a country called Romania. Any of you cadets from Earth?"

She scanned the group. None raised their hands.

"Mars? Pluto?"

What were these places? Earth was the only one that seemed to be recognizable, Jim noted as his cadet classmates looked at each other in confusion.

Captain Calls sighed. She hid her frustration with a relaxed smile and continued to pace in front of the cadets.

"Cadets, you're now in my charge. I'm not sure what we're going to achieve in this class, but you know you're to succeed. I know you're to succeed. Together, we will succeed."

Someone snickered and the captain's brown eyes narrowed, flickering with discipline.

"I have no doubt that many of you don't want to be in this class because of what it centers on, and that's too bad. However, you will learn from me and you will be glad you have learned what you have: it will help you in the future when you graduate from here as captains."

Standing still in front of the cadets, she opened her arms from behind her back. "Welcome, students. I trust you'll learn much."

"So, Captain, what are you teaching us?"

"Today we'll be learning a skill that will definitely be required for the future. As captains, many of you will have to go to dangerous places, deceive others by disguise and many of you will have to go into the pit of the organizations. Many organizations hold banquets and meetings…you know, they have fancy dinners."

A cadet groaned and the captain smiled.

"Fantastic. You already know what we're doing." The captain's grin grew larger as she announced her lesson. "Class, today, and for as long as it may take, we are going to learn to dance."

Jim couldn't believe his ears. Dance?! They had to learn to dance?! What kind of captain taught dance?

Sighing heavily, Jim frowned and stuffed his hands into his pockets.

"Attention!" Captain Calls demanded, and the cadets immediately snapped to attention.

"I will pair you off, and you're not to complain with whom I assign you. This person will be your partner for the entire segment of dance."

Jim was partnered with some blond girl, shorter than him, which was a plus. She wasn't human, that was for sure, but she was nice. Jim didn't really pay attention. In fact, his attention was far elsewhere. One wasn't sure where, but one might be able to guess it was somewhere on Treasure Planet.

~ ~ ~

"So how old are you, Captain, if you don't mind me asking?" Jim asked as he sat in a chair across from the captain. She sat with in her chair which was tucked somewhat under a desk. They were having an interview for cadet assessment.

"I'm eighteen, Cadet Hawkins. I see that you're almost sixteen?" She was holding a thick folder full of application forms and various other papers. Jim could only guess that his criminal record was only a few pages within reach of her thin fingers.

"A captain at eighteen?" he asked, trying to keep the conversation casual.

She shrugged. "I got an early start."

Jim nodded. "So is Raven your real name?"

"Are you always this informal with captains?"

Jim opened his mouth to protest, but no sound came out and he blushed.

"Yes, it's my real name. I know it's not a Romanian name, but that's not the point. It's actually short for Ravenna, but many people cannot pronounce that. So, I shortened it. Does that answer your question?" Jim nodded. "Cadet Hawkins, I've asked you here today to talk to you about your performance, or should I say, lack of, in my class. I know it's a dance class and many of the young men don't want to be there, but dancing is an important skill to know as a captain! You have to be prepared for the worst!"

"I know, Captain, but…I just…"

"I know it's a damper on your dignity, but…Jim, can you at least try? I'm willing to give you a chance, here. Other captains would consider kicking you out of the class, while I offer second chances."

"You're a good captain."

"I have my moments. Cadet Hawkins, I see enormous potential in you, and I just want to make sure you get the best out of your time here at the Academy. Do you understand where I'm coming from?"

Jim nodded.

"Excellent. Now, a few pages here state that you were the boy who discovered Flint's Trove, correct?"

"If that's what the papers say, I'll confirm it."

"How'd you find the map?"

"Some old guy died and I had to hide it from pirates, so…yeah, that started an adventure."
"I'm sure it did. I also have here your recommendation from Captain Amelia. She states you'd make a fine spacer. Do you agree with her words?"

"I guess I'd say I agree with her."

"To convince me, you must be confident, Cadet Hawkins. Do you agree with her words?"

"I'd say I'm skilled, Captain."

The captain raised her eyebrows and leaned forward on folded hands. "Come on, Jim."

"Okay, Cap. I'm a really good spacer. I learned a lot on my ride to Treasure Planet; I can beat anyone on a solar surfer," that got the captain's attention, "and I know how to follow instructions."

"That's better. I trust those words far more than 'I guess so'. Do you see what I mean?"

Jim nodded. For merely eighteen, this girl was bright! Many of the captains in the Academy were well over the age of fifty!

"So…why'd you become a captain?" Jim asked, cocking his head. Anything to change the subject and keep her away from the criminal record he was almost sure she already knew about.

"Romania was crumbling. If you've learned anything in your History class, you'll know that Earth isn't what it used to be. I used to live in a thriving country, but after awhile, other galaxies were discovered, immigrants from other planets started to arrive and sure enough, Earth was doomed to be under the rule of someone we didn't like. So, many of us fled to other places for refuge. I fled to Capernaeuma for awhile, but I didn't find satisfaction there. I was fourteen when I heard about the Academy, so I applied and they reluctantly accepted me."

Jim nodded, fascinated. "So…do you know what Earth is like now?"

"I have no doubt in my mind that it's the same as it was when I left. Dry, dull…and dead." She smiled faintly, but Jim saw hurt behind her smile. She'd loved her home.

Jim took the moment of silence to study the room, her office. It was a fair-sized office, he noted, but simple. Her desk was of no extravagance, but worthy of her status. A few framed certificates adorned the walls and a few framed pictures sat on her desk next to her computer. She was organized, Jim could tell, by the order on her desk. Pens sat in a jar on the corner of her desk, while a large filing cabinet next to her desk was neat in appearance. She'd taken the old approach to filing. Most of the other instructors had projecting images for filing cabinets, a program that caused a hologram of the student's record to appear before them. This was an instrument of technology, however, and Raven Calls did not seem to be a woman who enjoyed technology. Based on what he knew of her, she was a woman of tradition and planned to stay that way.

"So…why did you choose to teach dance?" he asked, leaning back in his chair, more comfortable with her.

She smiled. "I've always loved it, you know. I wanted to teach song and music, but the Academy didn't think there'd be any use for a choir…I still thought it would be fun."
"Can you sing?" Jim asked, realizing what a foolish question that had been. Of course she could sing!

"I have confidence in my voice, which is one, sadly, the Academy will never hear because they rejected my suggestion." She paused. "Oh well, dance is fine. I love the art of dance, plus, it's a requirement. The way a person moves can tell you the story of their life in a few moments."

Jim frowned. What she said made a lot of sense, but he still didn't understand. There was a lot to this girl he didn't understand.

"So, Jim. It says here that you have a criminal record." Blunt. He liked her already.

He groaned in addition, though. He was afraid of this part.

"Do we have to go over this?" he asked. She nodded firmly.

"While I did have to talk to you about your performance in class, I also have to have an assessment with each student. Remember, I'm a teacher. I need to know how my students work before I can fully understand what will get them to learn better. Do you understand that?"

Jim nodded. Again, her brilliance was astounding.

"So…my criminal record," he said quietly. She flipped through a few pages and was quiet for a moment as she skimmed over the information.

"It says here you were caught solar surfing in a restricted area more than once. Then…they impounded your vehicle…"

"That was no big deal. There was no one around, I mean, I don't see what the fuss is all-"

"Jim, there's a reason for everything. The police had a reason for making a rule about that, but I'm not a police officer; it's their job to decide what's right and wrong. It's your job to obey their rules. Yes, I know, as a teenager, it's hard, but…Jim, you need to try."
Jim closed his eyes and regained his thoughts. "You're saying all of this for the solar surfing part?"

"There's more?"

"Turn the page," Jim told her. She skimmed the next page and nodded, her lips thin, her expression grim. "Theft, vandalism, alcohol? Jim, you were only fourteen," she whispered.

He looked at the floor in shame. "Yeah. My mom had a bit to say about that, too."
"She had faith in you," Raven replied quietly. Jim sighed heavily. "Yeah. Too much. I let her down."

Raven Calls stood up and shook her head, getting his attention. "Jim Hawkins, listen to me. You may have had some rough spots, but you're turning into a fine young man. I can tell already that you're going to change this world. I promise you, Cadet. You have potential. I believe in all of my students, Jim. You're one of them. Don't you forget that." She motioned that it was time for him to leave.

"Thanks for coming, Jim. Remember, you have fine potential. Just remember to use it and you can shine like the sun," she said confidently with a smile. Jim's heart beat sped up. She reminded him of Silver, the way she believed in him, amidst his iniquities.

You've got the makings of greatness in ya…

He saluted her and exited the room, not sure of what emotions floated through his being as he returned to his dorm.