A/N: SHOUTOUT! Thanks GreekFreak101 for favoriting, following, and reviewing me! It means the whole world!

Interstellar Academy

11: Rayn

Nova only glared at her captures, unable to say a word. They had left Jim on the beach, which she expected. She was also glad of this; she hated the idea of him risking his life AGAIN to save her. There were powers and abilities Nova possessed no one knew about, and she wasn't about to reveal. No, if she did…

She shook her head.

It was too risky; she wasn't in control.

With a huff through the cloth on her mouth, she stared around, unable to recognize her surroundings. The boat's edge was rather high- or she was just short- and difficult to see over. She could see splashes of water and the sky above.

"Don't worry. You'll be A-OK when we land," promised a sailor darkly, his bright yellow eyes trying to see into her soul. She had to look away.

They finally arrived at their destination- she assumed- and didn't struggle as they placed a rag over her eyes and shoved her forward. Though she was apprehensive, if she could get an idea of where she was and somehow get a signal out, she could be rescued in no time.

They pushed and shoved her this way and that, until finally it stopped. No warning, no anything. She tripped over herself, convinced they still wanted her to walk. They simply laughed at her clumsiness, not bothering to help her up. She pushed herself to her feet with her knee and stood still, waiting for the next course of action.

Her heart has beat this quickly before- but only one thing (or person, rather) could cause such a heartbeat. Panic had never struck her for reasons other than HIM.

It was so frightening she could cry.

They removed her blindfold. Her eyes were struck by a blind light. As her eyes focused, she noticed the room was lit only by a single light bulb. Below it was a tank.

She wiggled backwards, wanting to get away. She didn't want to be some show to these… these cretins! Someone threw her onto her feet, two men grabbing her by each leg and one from her underarms. She struggled, but it was no use. They tossed her into the tank, hands still tied. She instantly transformed, and she watched the animalistic gazes of her kidnappers.

Finally, after gawking and poking for a couple hours, they left, triumphant in their catch. She head vague discussions of what they would do to her: prize, money and fame were the top three words used. When she was alone, she began crying, uncaring of the crystals falling to the bottom of the tank. They could have them.

They would want to know where more were. They would hunt her family. They would start an army of their own. They would take over everything she ever loved. They would rid of her once she could no longer offer services.

Someone came back, and she shied toward the back of the tank, staring widely at the boy who'd returned.

He had dirty blond, shaggy hair with bangs that consistently fell into his green eyes. He only watched her, as if calculation, sometimes looking above and around her, pressing a pale hands to the glass. She stared at him warily, unsure of his next move. Finally, he found a chair off to the side in which she couldn't see- the bulb's light wasn't that strong- and brought it to the tank. She swam around frantically, trying to stay on the move, so he couldn't touch her.

"Come up here, please."

His voice was rather deep, but held compassion. Nova knew she shouldn't have surfaced, but something inside her compelled her to. She peeked her head up, looking pleadingly at the boy. He reached out gently and took the rag off her mouth.

She breathed in heavily from her mouth, gulping in as much air as possible. Then she couldn't help but ask, "Why are you helping me?"

"Because my friends are in the wrong; anyone with eyes could see that." He gestured for her to turn around, and she did. He cut the ropes off her wrist, then jumped down and came back with a couple towels. "I'll help you out and dry off."

It took a while, but soon she had her legs back.

"What are they planning on doing with me?"

"They want information from you," the boy filled in, taking a different way out than the others did. He motioned for her to follow, and she did. "They want to find more of you. Most of them have searched their entire lives to find your kind. My father is one of them."

"I see." She was correct in her theory then. "I don't want you going against your father."

"I've been doing it for years anyway," said the boy, rolling his eyes at her with a smirk before continuing forward. "What were you doing on the Island anyway? Didn't you know that's a frequent fishing spot."

"I do now," Nova grumbled, crossing her arms. "My boy- er my friend, he was convinced no one really traveled there."

"Oh? Well, he's not really wrong. Not particularly right either." The boy shrugged. "By the way, I'm Rayn."

"Nova." The girl scratched her head, then said. "Thanks for doing this. I know you're making a giant risk by doing it."

"Don't mention it." He then faced her darkly. "Seriously, don't."

She nodded quickly in promise and continued following him a few more minutes. Finally, she could see light.

Sunlight; she would recognize those rays anywhere.

"We're here." Rayn pulled out a set of keys and unlocked a gate, then another as they walked on. "I'm going to find a longboat then take you back to the Island."

Nova nodded, waiting inside the entrance of the gate for him to return. When he finally did, he gestured her rush on, the longboat awaiting just beyond the shore. They hopped in, but just as they were about to leave, someone shot at the boat, killing the engine.

"BLAST IT!" Rayn cursed, glaring at the fire's target. His father. "Dad, this is wrong! Just let her go!"

"No real son of mine would ever go against his father! NO REAL SON EVER!" The man fired at them again. Both of them dove into the water, Nova changing and grabbing Rayn. Then she swam in a general direction, just wanting to escape the attacks upon them. The sun set once she found a place to hide- a small cove quite a bit a ways from where they started.

Having dried off, Nova joined Rayn inside the cove, holding her knees to her chest and staring at the fire he'd built aimlessly.

"I'm so sorry, Rayn," she said softly.

"He's been saying stuff like that for years, Nova; don't apologize. It's really not your fault."

She only nodded, scratching behind her head and yawning.

"It's late. Why don't you sleep?"

Nova nodded again, making a small mound to rest her head on in the sand and laying down, her back to Rayn.

"Something's wrong, isn't it?" Rayn guessed, scooting close.

"I just… miss someone. And I wish they were here. He always had answer to everything…"

"You're boy- er friend?" Anyone could hear the smile in Rayn's question.

Nova brushed the sand from her hair and sat up fully again, facing him sadly. "Yes. We… have a complicated relationship. But even so, we work so hard to protect each other. He had gotten injured severely because I didn't rescue him in time, like is our custom, if you would so like to call it. And now he cannot come and rescue me. I messed up for him, for my friends by putting them in so much danger, for you…"

"Quit blaming yourself for everything." Rayn now sat beside Nova and wrapped an arm around her; she was shockingly cold. Though his jacket was still a bit damp, it had dried quite a lot by the fire. He took it off and wrapped it around her shoulders. She didn't protest, but shivered appreciatively. She rested her head on his shoulders and sighed. "Nova, I know that things are hard. I wish I was faster in the escape, it was sure-fire-"

"No, your plan was perfect, Rayn." She looked up at him gratefully, green eyes shimmering in the firelight. "Honestly, I would be Goddess-knows-where by now if you hadn't rescued me."

Rayn chuckled and rubbed his hands against her arm, mostly in an attempt to warm her up, if only a little bit. He pushed her closer to the fire, which brought back memories of the first night at the Academy, and caused her to flinch.

"Trust in me," he said softly.

With that, she finally passed out.

A/N: This was horrible because there wasn't a lot of Jim-action, but mostly mentions of Jim. But does Nova have a new love interest, hmm? ;) Keep reading please, and thanks to all my supporters!

And if I'm making Nova look out to be a whore, I'm sorry! But you also have to take into consideration she's 16 and her feelings fluctuate like any teenager!