If only looks could kill.
Kate barely made it through the rest of the dean's speech. She just wanted to get away from Mr. Famous and his miraculous coin that was not a coin. Oh, she had heard about Hawkins— she had certainly heard about Captain Nathaniel Flint and his Treasure Planet, hadn't everybody?
But if there was one thing Kate despised more than anything, it was snarky little delinquents who thought they could get away with anything. And apparently, this delinquent could get away with anything: He clearly had the Dean under his thumb, and it sure was convenient he knew exactly what to say to get Mr. Onyx to side with him when he was in trouble.
He did seem genuine about Mr. Arrow's death, though.
Fine, maybe he really was sad about the late Samuel Arrow— but it still didn't change the fact that he lied to keep that creature. And she knew what she saw. She was right there when Mr. Onyx handed back the doubloon, and the face on the coin winked at her!
She was still fuming at the end of the day when she (rather dramatically) blew through the doors to the girl's dormitory, a large white marble room lined with simple double bunks.
Most of the other new arrivals were already gathered around two or three beds in their nightclothes and talking about the day's events. Naturally, the room quieted when they saw Kate.
She kept her head high, ignoring all eye contact with a well-practiced sneer, and chose an empty cot as far away from the other girls as possible.
Naturally, that was code for I love people! Come on over and chat me up, there couldn't be a more perfect time!. Two of the students, an Arcturian girl and a frog-like girl, saw Kate and sauntered over.
Oh please, no.
"Helga here tells me that you were the girl who talked with Hawkins," the frog-girl said, motioning to her nodding friend. "What was he like? Did he tell you anything about Treasure Planet?"
"Yeah, and was he cute?"
That's it.
Kate snapped to her full height and snarled "If you're so interested in him, why don't you talk to him yourself!"
That worked. There was now a sizable blast radius centered on her explosion.
Good.
Kate sat back down with a huff, just as another cluster of students entered the quiet room. Near the back was a human in a cobbled together low-backed wheelchair, with dark brown skin that contrasted with their baggy white uniform, and a shaved mohawk of wiry curls cropped close to the head. The human carried themself casually and languidly, as if unflappable- albeit a little bored.
They spun 360°, surveying the room and its inhabitants. They seemed to pick up that everyone in the room was avoiding Kate, then motioned to the cot next to hers.
"This taken?"
Kate glared and shook her head no.
The human didn't seem dissuaded (Which was impressive because Kate had a really good glare), just casually pushed themself out of the wheelchair and onto the bed. Kate saw that the human was missing their legs at the knee.
They made eye contact with Kate, and nonchalantly said, "You can ask about them if you want. A lot of people do." and then fell backwards onto the pillow with a sigh.
Kate grumbled, "I don't care." She started taking off her white academy jacket. "Does it bother you to talk about it?"
"No, not really. Other people tend to make a big deal out of it, though."
"Right."
Kate paused. Her anger had subsided enough for her to notice there was something familiar about this human: the hair, their mannerisms. Not as in someone she'd met before, no, it was more like… she had been like them. At least, a little bit.
Placing her jacket neatly folded on the cot, she said quietly: "May I ask what your… pronouns are?"
The human sat up, a little shocked. "You want to know my pronouns?" They laughed. "That's new." They turned to face Kate, and held out their hand.
"I'm Druva. I've been going by They/Them lately. And you?"
Kate took the hand and shook it. "Kate. I'm… going by She/Her…"
She paused. The other students had now resumed their conversations.
Kate leaned closer and lowered her voice more.
This human was like her.
"...lately, as well."
Druva's eyes widened in recognition.
"Oh. Oh! No kidding!" Druva marveled. "I never would have guessed, you totally pass."
"Pardon?"
Druva smiled and gestured as they spoke. "You know, you look like a girl."
"O-oh, well, thanks." She chuckled. "It's a wonder what you can do with a corset and a little padding."
Druva nodded sagely. "Definitely." They sighed, and laid back down facing Kate. "I'm glad I met you, Kate."
Meanwhile, Jim was on the roof. Students were not supposed to be on the roof.
Which was why he was on the roof.
He felt the cool concrete press against his head, and stared up at the twilit sky. The horizon was still aglow with remnants of vibrant pink and orange clouds where the sun had set nigh a minute ago, and stars were beginning to wink into view overhead.
The day had gone by in a blur of classroom lectures and students pointing and whispering when they thought Jim wasn't looking. It was strange. He was used to feeling invisible back home. Well, that is when he wasn't acting out in class. Really, that was the only time people had paid him any attention.
There goes that Hawkins boy. Throwing away his future.
Morph was busy chewing on a stray… something. It was hard to tell what it was when it was covered in saliva, but Morphe seemed perfectly happy to entertain himself with this new toy, er— meal, while Jim laid contemplating on the roof.
He wondered if his father had experienced something similar when he had joined the Royal Navy. Sarah had always said that he glided through life, and that everyone loved him.
Probably not, then.
Jim was so caught up in his thoughts that he didn't hear the trapdoor that led to the roof swing open, and two boys climb out. It was too late to hide when the boy in front said,
"Well, I guess we're not the only ones with this idea."
Jim scrambled to his feet.
"Relax," the boy in front reassured, "We're not supposed to be here either." He was human, with unkempt dark hair and twinkling eyes. The boy behind him was a tall and gangly Arcturian with sandy blond hair: Characteristic gray skin and round eyes, set wide apart in a thin face.
Both wore the standard cadet uniform, though the Arcturian sported a tweed newsboy cap against the academy dress code. At his side he carried a matching tweed briefcase, which he placed at his feet with loving care.
The human cocked his head to the side and focused on Jim's face. "Aren't you the Treasure Planet kid?"
Jim inhaled through his teeth. "That's… me."
"For real? You're James Hawkins?" He broke out into a delighted grin. "Wow, I‒ it's an honor to meet you! I'm sure you've heard that a lot today, but wow." There was something about this boy's smile that was infectious, like a disease you actually wanted to catch.
He fumbled in his excitement and stuck his hand out for Jim to shake. "I'm Hiro, and this is Jeffrey," he said, nodding towards the tweed rebel.
"I just go by Jeff." Jeff mumbled. He waved.
Jim took the hand and shook it, once. "Hey. I just go by Jim. It's only James when I'm in trouble." He smiled and thought of his mom. "Usually followed by 'Pleiades Hawkins'."
Hiro laughed good naturedly. "Alright, Jim it is."
Jim felt his face flush.
They dropped their hands, and Hiro turned to Jeff to say, "So, what have you got for us today?"
Jeff was sitting cross-legged on the roof and expertly opening a complicated combination lock on the briefcase. Jim and Hiro sat down across from him, and watched as Jeff finished the code with a click.
Carefully, he lifted the lid. A soft yellow glow seemed to spill from the interior, highlighting the contours of Jeff's face. Gingerly, very, very gingerly, he pulled out the source of the light, an oblong object wrapped in layers of cloth.
Hiro gasped, "Wait, is that what I think it is?"
Jeff looked up at them, smiled, and began to unwrap the object.
Jim stared intently as the fabric fell away, and revealed a golden-yellow crystal that radiated sunlight, capped on each end with copper electrodes.
"That's an Arcturian Solar Crystal." Jim breathed.