First go at a Starship FanFiction. I might post it on my tumblr at a later date. Any criticism is welcome! :-)

Disclaimer: Starship and any known characters mentioned are not mine.

Dear Journal,

Well school isn't going that well. All the teachers expect me to be like my dad; all great, intelligent, funny, handsome and popular. For one I'm not popular, no way. I'm not handsome, I've never had a girlfriend, all the girls think I'm a joke. I guess I'm intelligent. Top of all my classes, but that's it. The closest friend I probably have is my twin, Erin. Weird I know. But we understand each other, sure we argue like hell but all siblings do. I just hope I fit in and make friends at the academy when I start next term, it'll be my only chance to prove to people I can be like my dad. Mum and dad are fine with me not being like dad. As long Erin and I are happy they're happy. I'm sure that they would prefer me to be happy than to be a no-brainer working at 'Food-to-go'. I guess I'll have to pull my weight at the academy. I'm not good with making new friends and since dad works there people will want to know who me and Erin are…brilliant.

Junior sighed as he shut the journal and put his head in his hands. Now is not the time to think about school. He thought. The light tinkling sound of the doorbell sounded and Junior slowly got up to answer the door. As he got to the stairs he heard the unmistakable voice of his twin sister, Erin.

"...How is the Academy?"

" Oh, you know it's all right. Being a commander does have its advantages ." A new voice said.

"And you're going to be my brothers mentor, I feel sorry for you." She joked. "JUNIOR! Get in the kitchen, mum and dad want to speak to you!" Erin shouted.

"Alright, Alright, I'm going." He replied as he made his way down the stairs and into the kitchen. The table was strewn with bits of paper and jugs of juice and a plateful of watermelon. His dad, Robert, was pouring over a letter with weird symbols on when his mum, Daphne, noticed him come in.

"Oh Junior, come sit. Your sister will be in in a minute."

Just as Junior had got himself seated, sure enough his sister came into the room, closely followed by a girl with red hair tied into a long braid. She had forest green eyes and pearly white teeth. This isn't one of Erin's friends. Erin's friends wouldn't wear a blue jumpsuit with a grey logo on the breast.

"Ella how nice of you to come today, how was the academy?" Juniors dad asked her in a friendly tone.

"It was no trouble coming. The academy is lacking in numbers and power. Only last week there was a robot attack, some rangers were killed in battle. Luckily it wasn't on campus so the buildings still intact."

"I heard. Whichever way we look at it, there is no positive outlook to our loss."

"The only thing we know is that the robots are getting stronger. But Thad has worked out a possibility that may help us to beat them."

Junior looked between the two. She looked way to young to be a Commander, the officials Junior saw whenever he went with his dad to the Academy were either in their 30's or were retired. He looked over at her again, she looked around 20, perhaps younger.

"...And this is Junior. Junior, this is Ella. As you've guessed she's from the academy. One of my best. A little young but what can you do about it?"

"Dad, I'm really confused. I thought I was being transferred next term." Junior asked, his forehead creased.

"Well, yeah, you were. But you kept saying that you were having trouble at school with the kids there so I thought why not transfer you now. You won't be on timetable but at least you can get used the place."

"Dad, when am I being transferred?" Erin asked.

"Next term as you were, you understand about your brother Erin." their dad said, looking over at her. She nodded and busied herself with the jug.

Junior watched her, thinking about how they were twins. Erin had light blonde hair with vibrant streaks of pink in that reached her shoulders, small and had an endless blue twinkle in her eyes. Junior, on the other hand was medium height, dusty brown hair, with mini Earth's in his eyes. He looked up and caught the soulful, piercing eyes of Ella, she smiled and Junior looked away quickly.

"So Junior, when do you plan to get your things packed?" Ella spoke, a smile gracing her lips.

"I have to go now?!" Junior's eyes widened in shock. He hadn't realised what leaving for the academy meant; not seeing his family for a whole term.

"Yeah, come on, I'll help you, and don't think about hiding anything away from me. I don't care what you have in your room. I'm not like others and despise you for what you have."

Junior nodded and beckoned for her to follow him up the stairs, they went into Junior's room where Ella found a backpack hanging from the door. She tipped the contents on to his bed and searched through stuff.

"This is for hand-held luggage I guess." She said as she put the journal from earlier into the bag. Junior cringed as he noticed what it was; this didn't go unnoticed by Ella.

"You're not the only one who has a journal, and no it's not me, my friend has one. He's a guy too." She added as an afterthought.

Junior nodded and quickly went into the other room, grabbed a suitcase from the top of the wardrobe and ran back into the room. He didn't want Ella to go through the journal while Junior wasn't there. Ella glanced up at Junior as she noticed him back with a suitcase, grabbed the suitcase and went through the wardrobe; chucking clothes into three piles, Junior presumed these were 'Keep', 'Discard' and 'Not sure'. He watched as item after item was thrown with a soft 'thump' on to the bed.

"Want to sort these middle ones out? I'll do your bookshelf."

Junior moved silently to the middle pile and began sorting through jeans, jumpers and pullovers. He came across one that gave him a vivid memory of the first time he was pushed against the wall and hit around the face by the two school bullies. It was a wonder that it still fit him. He eyed the pullover with distaste and threw it into the 'Discard' pile. He looked over at Ella who was still sorting through books. He remembered the disguised filled journals that sat on the bookshelf and his stomach tightened in worry. Would she read them? His worry got the better of him and he hurdled over the bed and grabbed the book out of Ella's hand.

"What are you doing?" She asked, bewildered.

"Nothing, it's just that they're old journals and I thought you were going to read them."

"What? I – no! I wasn't, I was going to put them into the case."

Junior turned away quickly from Ella, he felt guilty about his actions. Those journals were private, not even Erin knew about them. His thoughts were quickly gone when Ella questioned him.

"Hey Junior, do you want to take your laptop with you?"

"Will I need it?"

"You might, yeah. The scholars usually set assignments and projects a lot."

"Oh right, okay. Then yeah pack it. I'll carry on with the clothes."

A comfortable silence passed in Junior's room as they continued to scour the room. 10 minutes later Erin appeared at the door holding a plate of sandwiches and cookies and a jug of apple juice.

"Mum said you might be hungry. I'll just go, I don't want to stall you." She turned to leave.

"You don't have to go Erin. Come eat with us you idiot." Junior called.

Her head peeked around the door and a smile broke across her face.

"No, no you're fine. I said I'd help with the garden. I'll come see you before you leave though!" With that she vanished from sight again.

"God, she's annoying sometimes." Junior groaned, helping himself to a sandwich.

"You seem really close."

"We are. I'll miss her."

"You'll see her in about 3 months or so."

"Yeah I know."

"You're twins right?"

"Yeah. I don't know who's older though. Mum and dad never told us. Wanted us to night fight about or something."

Ella smiled and started folding all the clothes Junior was keeping into the case.

"Your friend, the one you said has a journal. Are you close?"

"Yeah, I guess. He's a lot older than me but he's always been a kind of brother too me." She saw Junior smile sadly. "I'll introduce you to him. I think you'll get on well. I could tell you a little about him so you're not stumped for conversation starters?"

Junior nodded and Ella continued. "Okay, well his names Up, and he's 34 although he looks a lot older from what he's been through and his hairs greying from stress, but he's everyone's favourite although Up kind of keeps himself to himself. He's got to mentor a girl. She's called Taz, you'll meet her, she's all right, but she can get a little violent from time to time. Up doesn't tend to stick to her as much as he did. She's almost done with her training. But there still good friends. Erm, Up loves reading and all that stuff, he also specializes in combat and science, so you if need extra training then Up could always help you I'm sure. And don't take him too seriously. I know I said he's everyone's favourite but he's not the kind of guy that wants a lot of friends. If you two are friends, which I'm sure you will be, but really,don't take him seriously, he's real sarcastic and jokey. But he can have a temper if you're not his friend and wind him up."

"What if we don't hit it off?" Junior asked worriedly.

"I'm sure you will, he likes the quiet life when he's not out on missions." Ella zipped up the case and dragged it over to the door. "You sure you've got everything you need?"

"Yep." He said looking round at room.

"What about these? Don't you want to take these?" Ella asked, holding out a few medals.

"They're only swimming ones. I'll give them to mum. I'm sure she'll like them." He took the medals from her and quickly went down the stairs. Ella watched him go and sat on the bed. She picked up one of the cookies and nibbled slowly, getting lost in her own thoughts.

"Penny for your thoughts?" A voice near her ear said. Ella jumped as she turned to see Junior, jacket in hand.

"Just thinking about your relationship with your sister. You ready to go?"

"Yeah. They're all down there. And I was going to ask earlier but, how are we getting there?"

"Your dad's got these pods working. We're going to be using them to get there. Then they will be deactivate. You're not the only one leaving today you know."

"Who else is there?"

"I don't remember all the names, we're meeting them at the front of the academy. Don't worry, you'll be fine." She added, seeing the pained look on Juniors face.

Ella swung the backpack onto her shoulders and grabbed the handle of the suitcase, Junior stood awkwardly next to her, he felt rude making her carry his things. "I'll take the heavy one if you want."

"No, it's fine. I've got it. You can take this if you want?" She threw the backpack across the room and Junior almost missed it, catching it only by the strap. They made their way down the stairs and into the hallway. Junior unlocked the front door and they stepped out onto the lawn where they met with Robert, Daphne and Erin. Daphne was the first to reach him, her eyes watery as she pulled him into a tight embrace. Junior struggled helplessly against her. "My son, soon to be a Starship Ranger," she hugged him tighter and he eventually managed to worm out of her. Robert approached him and gave him a quick slap on the back, Junior grinned sheepishly at his dad. "I'm sure I don't need to wish you good luck. I'll see you up there." Junior looked over at his sister, she shook her head and hugged him. "I'll see in a few months. Don't you worry." She pulled away as Ella appeared. "We have 2 minutes till the plates deactivate. Come on." She hurried Junior to the plates before turning back to the family.

"I'll look after him," she said smiling at Daphne.

"I don't doubt it, I've heard many things about you." His Mother said, tears threatening to spill over.

"If he needs anything we'll send it on," his dad added.

"I don't see why we're acting like we'll never see him again. I'll be up there soon. Dad works there and he and mum can go visit him any time." Pointed out Erin.

Ella laughed and turned back to the plates with his suitcase in hand. They both stepped on, glowed blue and we're gone. Junior stepped off quickly and helped Ella with the suitcase, not that she needed it. She beckoned him over to where a clump of people were standing. They gathered around a pleasant looking middle aged man, who was checking off names written on a scroll. They made their way over to him and he greeted Ella with respect, ticked off Juniors name and the two walked to the back of the clump.

"Well if it is the little shrimp." A rough voiced shouted from behind Ella and Junior. They both turned to see a muscular, black haired boy grouped with three other people, Junior sighed and turned back. "Come here to follow his daddy's footsteps." Another mocked.

"Junior, who are they." Ella asked, quietly.

"The one with black hair is John and the dusty haired one is Marcus. But don't do anything rash. They have something against me because of my dad." Ella nodded, Junior wouldn't be safe around them guys. She said she'd protect him. That is what she planned to do.