Chapter 3
Mechanical Conundrum
The students' first week back at the Academy was just as busy as they had suspected. Jim, Alice, and the rest of their friends got their expected schedules the night before their official first day of classes. As Jim looked over his schedule that morning after role call – where the students were supposed to line up outside their dorms for punctual inspection – he was pleased that he had most of his classes with at least one of his friends. The six of them sat at their familiar table in the cafeteria with the exception of Anne Marie taking up a seat beside Doug who didn't seem to mind the arrangement. Ray, however, did.
As Jim walked to his mechanics class later in the day with the dark skinned boy he made a point to bring it up.
"I just thought he was going to show her around and be done with it," Ray grumbled. "I didn't think this was going to be a permanent thing."
"Why do you care if she sits with us? She's new and scared. Doug's the only real friend she's got. Besides, nobody else has a problem with her," Jim replied as they headed down the hall to the room at the end of the corridor.
"She's just…she's just too weird," Raymond muttered. Jim shot him a look.
"You know, you're acting kind of rude."
"I don't care if I'm acting rude!" Ray threw up a hand since his other was still hanging onto his books. "She's just too comfortable with him and I don't like it. I'm supposed to be Doug's go-to guy, not her," he snapped. It finally dawned on Jim what was going on and he had to laugh.
"Ray, are you jealous of Anne Marie? Afraid a girl is stealing away your guy time?" he joked. Ray rolled his eyes.
"I'm not jealous of her. If anything, she's jealous of me," Ray snorted.
"Ri-ight," Jim laughed when Ray swung a good-humored punch at his shoulder.
"Don't mess with me today, Hawkins. I'm not in the mood."
"Oh lighten up it's our first mechanics II class of the year," Jim smiled. "Aren't you glad to stretch your skills?" It was true, ever since Raymond was five years old he had been tinkering with anything and everything metal. He had been required to take Mechanics I before Mechanics II their previous year and he had always complained they weren't acknowledging his superior skills. Raymond had made top of that class. Jim wasn't too far behind. Although he had been building solar surfers since he was eight he wasn't used to the technology aboard greater galleons.
As they entered the familiar classroom they surveyed their new classmates. Several of the cadets Jim recognized and he waved to a few who called out his name and asked how he was doing.
"Fine, how about you, Brian?" Jim grinned, taking a seat and leaning back to address the alien boy behind him.
"Eh, another year, what's the big deal?" he joked. Jim opened his mouth to reply when another voice entered the conversation.
"Hey, Hawkins."
Jim's eyes snapped up, his heart leaping into his throat when he realized who had addressed him. It was Robert. There was no doubt in Jim's mind now that the boy was stalking him like an oppressive shadow waiting for the right moment to strike. Jim turned to face the boy, his blue eyes flashing.
"What do you want, Rob?"
"Whoa, you don't need to get so defensive. I just wanted to admire that shiner on your face. How'd that happen anyway?" he mocked. Jim clenched his fist and turned away, trying to breathe deep. If Rob didn't leave now Jim wasn't convinced he could hold himself back from another fight. "Aw, sorry, didn't mean to hurt your feelings."
"Lay off you pig headed brute," Ray snapped. Robert sneered.
"Look who's talking, shrew."
"Who you calling a shrew?" Ray roared, leaping to his feet. Ray had always been defensive of his smaller than normal height. Whereas Jim and Doug continued to grow, Ray seemed to remain at a constant level of five foot four.
"Ray, ignore him," Jim grabbed the boy's sleeve and tried to pull him down.
"Better control your pet, Hawkins. I might step on him sometime."
"Oh that is it!" Ray snarled, curling his hand into a fist right as their professor, Mr. Harckham, walked into the room.
"Peters, in your seat now! I'm going to pretend I didn't see that. And who are you?" Harckham asked, staring Robert down. The bully seemed to lose his courage.
"Robert Clark," he replied.
"Well then get your lower bottom into a seat, Mr. Clark," Harckham ordered as he set his papers on his podium in front of the room. Robert slumped away as Ray also fell back into the chair beside Jim. The boy grumbled under his breath and Jim slapped his back in thanks. Mr. Harckham began the lesson with the usual round of rules and safety regulations when it came to dealing with heavy machinery. Jim enjoyed his classes mainly because Harckham did not tolerate any funny business, but highly encouraged creativity. At times he could even be a bit eccentric. It was nearing the end of class before he finished up with the safety lecture he'd been preaching to his students rapidly taking notes.
"Well, that about wraps up the major pointers for today. Tomorrow we're going to get to work on our first big project of the semester. Since we have a limited amount of time remaining I'll only explain the basics. You and a partner are going to get together and build your very own fast flying machine. You'll have access to all of the tools and doohickeys in the back there. You have two weeks to complete this project. Whether it be a longboat, a solar surfer, or any other airborne apparatus, you must have it constructed and in working order by the deadline."
"Why's that, Sir?" a student in the back inquired. Mr. Harckham smirked.
"Because ladies and gentlemen, you're going to fly them in a race."
Jim and Ray looked at each other, exhilaration evident in their expressions, as the rest of the class broke out into excited chatter.
"Partners?" Jim asked raising his hand. Ray shot him a devilish smile.
"Partners," he agreed, clasping Jim's hand in a firm shake right as the bell rang announcing their next class. The rest of the day passed by in a blur for Jim. He knew that with Ray's excellent mechanic skills and Jim's ability to pilot just about anything made them an unstoppable team. Even the thought of Robert in his class couldn't dampen his mood.
"Jim? Jim, are you awake?"
Jim grunted in his sleep and rubbed his head against the stack of books beneath him.
"You need to get up," the voice persisted. Jim's brow furrowed, determined not to come back to the world of the living just yet, when he felt someone's fingers against his side. His eyes snapped open and he let out a yelp, jerking awake to see Alice standing over him laughing.
"I didn't know you were ticklish," she giggled. Jim colored.
"I'm not ticklish," he muttered, realizing he had been drooling in his sleep. He wiped the spittle off his mouth and slid his books out of Alice's view in embarrassment.
"Oh really?" she arched a teasing eyebrow and crossed her arms. Jim gave her an even look.
"Yeah, now why did you wake me up?"
"Because your mechanics class starts in ten minutes," Alice replied, nodding to the clock suspended on the library's wall. Jim groaned as he began gathering his papers and blueprints. Alice watched him. "How's the solar surfer coming along?"
"It's fine. Ray just wanted me to look over some of these blueprints. I really think we're going to blow this thing out of the water," he told Alice, smiling as he got to his feet and stretched.
"That's great," Alice praised. "So have you decided who's going to fly it yet?"
"Me," Jim answered, rubbing his neck. "Ray's the one coming up with all of the design ideas. I'm just trying to improve where I can. The materials we can use are like nothing I'm used to when building my old scrappy solar surfers at home. Usually I just had to take some stuff lying around town," he shrugged. "We decided I should pilot it, since I've had plenty of hands on experience."
"Yes, you most certainly have," Alice laughed. "And you still won't get me within twenty yards of that death machine." Jim smirked.
"Aw, come on, you know you like it. No one can stay away from the freedom forever."
"I wish that were true. I just don't know if I'll ever amount to a good spacer if I can hardly scale a shroud," Alice sighed, her shoulders slumping. Jim gave her a sympathetic look.
"You're doing fine, Alice, really. After dinner tonight let's hang out, I've still got to tell you about the design process," he grinned. Alice had to chuckle at the way Jim's blue eyes lit up just mentioning a solar surfer.
"Sure, but you should get to class, or you're going to be late," she warned, once again nodding to the clock. Jim noticed the limited amount of time he had left.
"Uh-oh," he muttered before leaning in and kissing Alice's cheek. "I'll see you at dinner!" he called over his shoulder as he ran from the room, the librarian shooting him a very disapproving glance. As Jim sprinted through the halls he tried his best not to send others sprawling. Several times he jumped out of the way at the last moment. By the time he reached the mechanics room his professor was just arriving as well. Jim ran up out of breath as Mr. Harckham, carrying a cup of coffee, gave him an odd look.
"Running out of time, Hawkins?" he teased.
"Hey, time flies," Jim answered making his professor chuckle as they entered the room and Jim headed over to the table Ray was working on their propped up solar surfer.
"Well, it took you long enough," Ray grunted as he stared hard at a piece of the engine he was working on. Both Jim and Raymond had changed out of their Academy uniforms to save their formal clothing from any grease stains. Ray's shirt was already splotched with every industrialized liquid available. He was wearing a tool belt around his hips, a wrench behind his ear while he used a screw driver to tighten some bolts.
"What's that?" Jim asked, ignoring his friend's earlier comment.
"Do you want the long version or the short version?"
"Short version."
"This is going to connect the solar sail to the engine. I'm trying to find a way for it to suck in a greater amount of solar power to make our machine go faster," Ray scratched his head.
"Want me to take a look at it?" Jim offered. Ray passed it over to him. Jim squinted and bent over the machine. He poked around with the wires for a long moment before rearranging a few. "Do you think that'll work?"
Ray stared down at it before his face lit up.
"Perfect! You should head to the back and try to find some cloth for the sail. Maybe we could even tweak that so we'll have more solar crystals taking in more power," Ray jerked his thumb over his shoulder.
"Yeah, that'd be great," Jim smiled as he left their table, heading to the back of the room where he spotted Rob working on the very miniature sized longboat he was attempting to build. Jim tried not to snort and silently goaded himself on the fact that Robert didn't know two drubloons about real engineering.
"Hey, Hawkins!"
Jim internally groaned and turned around to face Rob sneering at him.
"You think that splinter you call a board is going to take down our longboat?"
"Shut up, Rob," Jim rolled his eyes, reaching for some solar sail fabric. He was not in the mood to deal with the bully today. So far his morning hadn't been that bad. His and Ray's solar surfer was coming along great and he had a date with his girlfriend to look forward to that night. Jim was determined not to let Rob sour his mood.
"Scared of a little competition, Jim?"
Jim whipped around in surprise at the newer voice joining the party. Out from underneath the longboat slid Brian. He passed Jim a cheeky look. Jim was appalled.
"Brian? You're working with Rob?"
"Yeah, I don't see what the big deal is."
"I just didn't think you'd waste your talents on this guy," Jim joked, jerking his thumb toward Robert. Brian gave Jim a serious look.
"You may have been a hotshot in finding Treasure Planet, but because of you the war with the Procs has started. I guess you can't win all the time, eh? I just don't think it's fair for you to judge other people when you've screwed up more than anyone else in this school." Jim hadn't been expecting that response. He took a step back. Brian had always been short and to the point and now Jim's fears had been proven true. Bancroft T. Thatcher's column had reached other cadets' ears.
"How can you say that? We were outnumbered, there was no way we couldn't hand over the necklaces," Jim argued, his fists clenching at his sides.
"I don't know why the great Captain Amelia didn't turn around in the first place. Thanks to you, Ray, and the others aboard the Legacy the galaxy is at war," Brian retorted, getting to his feet.
"None of us started the war!" Jim spat, but even as the words left his mouth he knew his argument was at best a weak one.
"Really?" Brian scoffed, crossing his arms in a sort of challenge.
"That's all anyone is looking for at the moment, a scapegoat. All you want to do is point fingers instead of trying to solve the problem," Jim growled.
"You're the problem," Brian's voice elevated a pitch making several students turn to face them.
"Am I, Brian? Then say it to my face. Say it, name off all of my faults," Jim took a menacing step forward.
"Oh you have plenty, Jim, and vanity is at the top of the list," Brian sneered. Jim's glare was ice cold.
"And who's been feeding you all of these things? Rob?" he demanded. "I can't believe you don't see through his lies!"
"What lies? At least his parents are struggling to send him to a better school. You got in free because you sucked up to that weak feline captain."
"She's stronger than you, that's for sure," Jim snapped. "Besides, I proved I was good enough to get in because I have real talent and didn't leech off my parents' money."
"Your parents don't have any money to leech off of in the first place. Or should I say parent? Where's your daddy, Jim?"
That set Jim off like a spontaneous solar flare. Almost as if a furnace had erupted inside of him, he started toward Brian when someone caught his arm and tugged him back.
"Jim, no!" Ray cried. By now the room was almost silent as the students all turned to experience the fight about to take place. At the same time Ray jumped in, Harckham looked up from his desk.
"Hawkins!"
Jim stopped and allowed Raymond to force his fist down. He was seething with anger now, especially since Rob leaned against his longboat and smirked, knowing he had beaten Jim for the first time without even having to raise a fist.
"See me after class," Harckham ordered. "Now everyone back to work! I don't want to see any more scuffles."
Jim turned to Ray who wore a solemn expression.
"Let's forget about it," the shorter boy suggested. "You head up front, I'll grab the solar sail." Jim ducked his head as he walked to the front and their desk where he began to twirl around a wrench, deep in thought. The more time swept by in the class the more Jim began to feel guilty. He had almost lost control. He couldn't lose control here. Robert had wanted Jim to start the fight, it was the only way for him to get into serious trouble without drawing attention back to the bully himself. The more Jim thought about it the more he realized it was an ingenious plan. A shiver ran up his spine. Robert was smarter than Jim had given him credit for. That set Jim's teeth on edge, but if Rob could play his cards so could Jim.
As the bell finally rang for the end of class Ray gave Jim a comforting pat on the back as the other students emptied out, most of them shooting Jim sympathetic or mocking looks. Within moments it was only Jim and Harckham left.
"Approach my desk, Jim," Harckham called him forward. Jim did as he was told, looking down. Before his professor could even begin Jim opened his mouth.
"I'm sorry, Sir. I don't know what came over me. I didn't mean to do that. It won't happen again," he blurted out. For a moment Harckham looked surprised before he shook his head.
"I'm happy to hear that, Hawkins. You're a good student and I'm proud that you understand your actions today were not very exemplary." Jim nodded. "But I'm afraid I'm still going to have to ask you serve a detention with me tonight."
"What?" Jim's head snapped up, his mouth hanging open flabbergasted.
"I'm not sorry, Mr. Hawkins. Becoming a true spacer is hard work. It's important always to understand how your actions affect others, that's what makes a good captain. Today I witnessed a young lad about to throw a punch at his fellow cadet. That is unacceptable behavior especially if you're crewing with people you don't necessarily enjoy, yet they are still placed under your command. As the captain you are the figurehead of justice and order. I think this detention will teach you a bit about discipline and will help you think before you act while faced with a similar crisis in the future," Harckham responded.
"But, Sir, I had plans tonight. Is there any way I could serve it tomorrow?" Jim asked, begging his lucky stars to take pity on him.
"I'm sorry, Jim, but you'll be serving it tonight."
Jim tried to suppress his groan. His body visibly deflated at his night alone with Alice now being ruined.
"I am fair, Jim. The only reason you're serving this detention is because I believe it will help you become a better spacer one day. It's my duty to prepare you and give you the tools necessary to reach your goals. Discipline is one of those tools, dismissed."
As Jim sulked out of the classroom he felt as though a weight had dropped on his chest. His day, that had started out so well, had plummeted and only within the first hour. He didn't think it could have gone more wrong.
A/N: Well it's about darn time I uploaded this chapter, sheesh! I keep you guys waiting too long, don't I? Man, I'm really sorry about that. Anyway, this chapter was a lot of fun to write. Now, I know these upcoming chapters won't be as epic because they're all taking place at the Academy, but I'll still try to spice them up with some drama and romance ;)
It is important for me to write these chapters because they help provide a basis for a lot of things that will continue on throughout the rest of the story. So, now you all probably understand why Ray is jealous, eh? And Jim's got a detention! :o Shame on you, Jim, your mother would not be proud. Haha just kidding XD And, are you guys all pumped to see how their solar surfer comes along? I hope you are, the race is going to be epic! (At least, I'll try to make it epic -.-)
Thank you to all my lovely readers!
Special Thanks goes to: PartofYourWorld-ArielMermaid, lazyX1000, and Hang Tuah! You guys are awesome!
