Quest of Discovery
by Angie
Jim Hawkins sat impatiently in his seat. His was in the auditorium of the Interstellar Academy during an assembly that he thought would never end. It was 5 weeks before summer vacation of his 2nd year and the assembly was explaining "the big exam". Word around campus was that this test came around only once every 3 years. But so far all the principal was doing was babblering about how far the students had accomplished and other useless stuff. He decided to look to the side of him, then smiled at what he saw. He was starring at his roommate Angie. She was writing in her notepad like she always did when she was bored.
Angie hummed to herself. "So I lay my head back down.And I lift my hands and pray. That's it!" She wrote down that line down before she forgot it. Angie had been writing down the lyrics to "Only Hope" since she didn't want to pay attention to principal. Writing down lyrics to songs she liked was Angie's way of entertaining herself. Angie was a human girl with wavy shoulder-length dark brown hair and eyes to match. She suddenly had a weird feeling that she being was watched. She turned her head only to see Jim suddenly faced to the front of the auditorium. "He's probably starring at Cecile in the front row. But then again which guy isn't?" Cecile was also human that was pretty much every guy's dream. She had blond hair, a super-slim body, and high priced fancy clothes. Nearly every guy in the Interstellar Academy had a crush on her (even the ones that weren't human). Angie went back to writing very jealously.
"That was close", Jim thought. He didn't know why, but he had caught himself starring at Angie and feeling funny inside more than a couple of times. They had been roommates for about 6 months and had become very good friends. Jim could talk to Angie nonstop about solar-surfing and she told him all about her favorite kinds of music. They actually had a lot in common. They both had this spark that kept them going and they both dreamed of adventure. So he always enjoyed the time they spent together. Angie even taught him how to dance a couple of nights a week.
Finally the principal was explaining about the final exam. Jim nudged Angie in the arm with his elbow. She turned her head to him. "Now it's getting good", Jim said. They both faced the principal expectantly.
".Now there will be 50 top students that will be sent groups in of 2 to 25 different planets. Each group will spend 3 weeks on that planet with nothing but what they've packed and the survival skills they have learned these past years. These students are the ones who are most likely to become captain of their own ships or even fleets. I shall now read off the names of the students chosen and the planets of which they are assigned too. When I call you name please come up to the stage and receive the name of the planet you are assigned to. It will be handed to you on sheets of paper. The rest of you that are not chosen will take written exams. Alexander Baymon and Tamara Demoines."
"Jim, let me know when something good happens", Angie said and went back to writing.
"Okay", said Jim. He was trying to pay attention to the principal but his mind (and eyes) kept wandering. Wandering to Angie. For some reason he couldn't stop starring at her.
"Don't worry. I don't know what this means but I'm sure it happens to everyone", Jim kept thinking to himself.
"I hear your doing ok, but I just want you to know. I'm addict, I'm addicted to you. I can't pretend I don't care when you don't ask about me. Do you think I deserve this? I tired to make you happy." Angie was starting to write down the lyrics to "Addicted To You". She was writing down this song because she knew she had a crush on Jim. "Angie, people always say that friends who are guys will never be boyfriends", she kept thinking. And she had a reason to, (by her opinion) she wasn't extremely pretty or slim, so why should she even think of being more than just friends with Jim? "You're just a hopeless romantic, Angie. Completely hopeless."
Suddenly they both heard the principal say, ".James Hawkins and Angie Aguilar."
"Oh God", Jim said. He was going to be on a planet ALONE with Angie for 3 weeks. No teachers, and no students. "This is the greatest moment of my life", Jim thought. But he wondered why he thought that on their way to the stage.
"Great, I knew Jim was going to want to be with Cecile. Not too many people say 'Oh God' when they're happy! Well, it could be worse." Angie thought on their way to the stage.
They climbed the step to the stage and walked to the podium. The principal handed them 2 rolled up sheets of paper. On their way back to their seats they unrolled the pieces of paper. They both gasped as the read the name of the planet. In bold letters it said the word: EXAVEIVIA
Chapter 2:
"Exaveivia, Exaveivia. How on Earth did we get Exaveivia?" Angie said pacing around their room.
"Um, Angie, we're not on Earth, remember?" Jim said sitting on his bed. But he was nervous too. Exaveivia was a planet that no students had ever returned from. The weird thing was that their bodies were never found. They just seemed have to disappeared. The theory on campus was that pirates captured them all but no one was really sure.
"I guess you're right Jim. But still, what's going to happen to us? How are we going to get through this?" she sat down next to Jim.
"I don't know but we'll make it. We just have to stick together", Jim said while putting his arm around Angie's shoulders. She smiled at him.
"We better start packing", she said softly. "We'll be leaving in 3 days."
"Good idea", Jim said standing up. They quietly started to pack they bags. Soon the silence was really started to get to them, so Jim slowly asked, "Um, Angie, how about some music while we pack? You know, to pass the time?"
"Sure. I do have this one tape I got from my dad's collection", she said. Angie got the tape out of one of her drawers and put it in her tape player. She turned it on and the music started. Unfortunately, the song just made them cringe even more about their situation.
The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down Of the big lake they called "Gitche Gumee." The lake, it is said, never gives up her dead When the skies of November turn gloomy. With a load of iron ore twenty-six thousand tons more Than the Edmund Fitzgerald weighed empty, That good ship and true was a bone to be chewed
When the "Gales of November" came early.
Angie stopped folding one of her T-shirts and turned off the tape. "I don't think this is a good time to listen to "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald", what about you?"
Jim still looked a little uneasy but said, "Yeah, how about of those CDs instead?"
"I was waiting for you to say that", Angie said. She grabbed her turquoise blue CD holder and start looking for a good CD to play.
"Ah, I found one!" she said smiling. She found her CD player and put the speaker attachments in. Right before she put the CD in she show the CD to Jim. "Ike and Tina Turner", she said smiling. She put in and pressed 'Play'. The song started out nice and easy but then it sped up.
Left a good job in the city
Working for the man every night and day. And I never lost one minute of sleep When I worrying about the way things might have been.
"That's better", Jim said smiling.
Think we'll keep on turning. Proud Mary keeps on burning. And we're rolling Rolling, Rolling, Rolling on a river.
On the second verse Angie kept folding and packing her clothes, but sang along with the song.
"Cleaned a lot plates in Memphis. Pumped a lot of tanks down in New Orleans. But I never saw the good side of the city, 'til I hitched a ride on a river boat queen."
As she sang, Jim noticed some thing odd peaking out of one of drawers. When the chorus came he walked over to it a pulled it out. "What's this?" he asked holding up a white dress. Angie stopped singing and groaned at what Jim was holding, "Oh, that's just a dress my mom made me pack."
Jim stared at the dress. "What's wrong with it? White's not your color?" he joked.
"Very funny", Angie said slightly smiling. "For the record I think it's a nice dress but it's way too fancy for me to wear."
"What about on the boat ride to Exaveivia?"
"Jim, there is no way I'm wearing that dress. Especially to a planet where I don't know if I'll return from!" Angie shouted.
"Come on Angie, it's a big event. We have to look impressive." Jim begged.
"Oh yeah? You're not packing anything impressive!"
"Hey that's different! My mom was never able to buy something nice!" Jim said. "Just wear it until we get to the planet. You can change before we land."
"Jim, I told you I am not wearing that dress!"
3 days later.
"I can't believe I'm wearing this dress." Angie said. Jim had begged and begged and gave her such big puppy eyes that she couldn't say no. Right now they were on the boat to Exaveivia and they were the last passengers left. Exaveivia was a planet that was pretty far from the academy but the next closest planet 3,000 miles away.
"You know, I think the only good part about being sent to Exaveivia is that the Etherium is beautiful on the way there", said Angie.
"Yeah you do get a good view from here", said Jim. But he was talking about the girl that was standing to the side of him. "Jim, what are you thinking?" Jim thought to himself. He decided to talk about something different.
"I could never see something like this from Montressor. What about you?" Jim asked.
"Ha! The only time you can see this many stars is when there's a power outage", Angie laughed but her smiled quickly faded. She suddenly became very quiet.
"Still worried about Exaveivia?" Jim asked.
"Something like that", Angie said.
"What is it?"
Angie gave him no reaction.
"Angie come on, we've been friends for 6 months. You know can trust me"
She paused for a moments and sighed. "Ok, I tell you what's wrong. On my old planet I did have a few friends but I couldn't really trust them. Every time I was with just one of them we'd get into a fight and I'd have to apologize. I'm just worried that this might be another one of those times"
"Angie, you know that that isn't going happen with us" Jim said sincerely.
"How do you know?"
"Because", Jim said smiling. "We're not on your old planet. This time is different.I'm different."
"Thanks Jim", Angie said smiling, too. "Aww, isn't he sweet? Handsome and caring, and I get to be alone with him for 3 weeks! Yes!" Angie thought. She knew that she shouldn't like Jim so much but she did anyway. "Quiet you", she thought back.
Then a voice came through the intercom, "Attention all passengers, oh what's the point? To the last boy and girl on the boat we'll be arriving at your death trap soon. So get your bags and be ready to get out."
"Humph, that wasn't very smooth" Angie said smirking.
"I wonder where they hired him".
"Well since we'll be landing in a couple of minutes I'm going to change", Angie then walked off to the direction of the bathrooms. When she got there she tried to open the door, but it wouldn't open. "Great it's locked", she said.
With nothing else to do she found Jim getting his bag from the luggage room. "Looks like I'll be wearing this dress a little longer than I thought", she said to Jim.
"Door locked?"
"Yep"
Finally the voice on the intercom came again and said, "To the last boy and girl on the boat we've landed so get out! *sigh I'm too old for this job*"
"You ready?" Jim asked.
"Let me see", Angie picked up her bag. "Now I am."
They walked up the stairs to the first floor then down the ramp onto the planet. Seconds after they got off the ramp the boat took off, leaving them alone.
"Well, this is interesting", Jim said looking around.
"What do you mean?"
"We seem to be on a island"
"Whoa. So.what do we do now?"
"I think to best thing to is do find some shelter where we can sleep for the night. And the rest of our stay here is necessary"
"Ok, let's move!"
So they walked off inland of the island, not at all suspecting what was coming next.
To be continued.
by Angie
Jim Hawkins sat impatiently in his seat. His was in the auditorium of the Interstellar Academy during an assembly that he thought would never end. It was 5 weeks before summer vacation of his 2nd year and the assembly was explaining "the big exam". Word around campus was that this test came around only once every 3 years. But so far all the principal was doing was babblering about how far the students had accomplished and other useless stuff. He decided to look to the side of him, then smiled at what he saw. He was starring at his roommate Angie. She was writing in her notepad like she always did when she was bored.
Angie hummed to herself. "So I lay my head back down.And I lift my hands and pray. That's it!" She wrote down that line down before she forgot it. Angie had been writing down the lyrics to "Only Hope" since she didn't want to pay attention to principal. Writing down lyrics to songs she liked was Angie's way of entertaining herself. Angie was a human girl with wavy shoulder-length dark brown hair and eyes to match. She suddenly had a weird feeling that she being was watched. She turned her head only to see Jim suddenly faced to the front of the auditorium. "He's probably starring at Cecile in the front row. But then again which guy isn't?" Cecile was also human that was pretty much every guy's dream. She had blond hair, a super-slim body, and high priced fancy clothes. Nearly every guy in the Interstellar Academy had a crush on her (even the ones that weren't human). Angie went back to writing very jealously.
"That was close", Jim thought. He didn't know why, but he had caught himself starring at Angie and feeling funny inside more than a couple of times. They had been roommates for about 6 months and had become very good friends. Jim could talk to Angie nonstop about solar-surfing and she told him all about her favorite kinds of music. They actually had a lot in common. They both had this spark that kept them going and they both dreamed of adventure. So he always enjoyed the time they spent together. Angie even taught him how to dance a couple of nights a week.
Finally the principal was explaining about the final exam. Jim nudged Angie in the arm with his elbow. She turned her head to him. "Now it's getting good", Jim said. They both faced the principal expectantly.
".Now there will be 50 top students that will be sent groups in of 2 to 25 different planets. Each group will spend 3 weeks on that planet with nothing but what they've packed and the survival skills they have learned these past years. These students are the ones who are most likely to become captain of their own ships or even fleets. I shall now read off the names of the students chosen and the planets of which they are assigned too. When I call you name please come up to the stage and receive the name of the planet you are assigned to. It will be handed to you on sheets of paper. The rest of you that are not chosen will take written exams. Alexander Baymon and Tamara Demoines."
"Jim, let me know when something good happens", Angie said and went back to writing.
"Okay", said Jim. He was trying to pay attention to the principal but his mind (and eyes) kept wandering. Wandering to Angie. For some reason he couldn't stop starring at her.
"Don't worry. I don't know what this means but I'm sure it happens to everyone", Jim kept thinking to himself.
"I hear your doing ok, but I just want you to know. I'm addict, I'm addicted to you. I can't pretend I don't care when you don't ask about me. Do you think I deserve this? I tired to make you happy." Angie was starting to write down the lyrics to "Addicted To You". She was writing down this song because she knew she had a crush on Jim. "Angie, people always say that friends who are guys will never be boyfriends", she kept thinking. And she had a reason to, (by her opinion) she wasn't extremely pretty or slim, so why should she even think of being more than just friends with Jim? "You're just a hopeless romantic, Angie. Completely hopeless."
Suddenly they both heard the principal say, ".James Hawkins and Angie Aguilar."
"Oh God", Jim said. He was going to be on a planet ALONE with Angie for 3 weeks. No teachers, and no students. "This is the greatest moment of my life", Jim thought. But he wondered why he thought that on their way to the stage.
"Great, I knew Jim was going to want to be with Cecile. Not too many people say 'Oh God' when they're happy! Well, it could be worse." Angie thought on their way to the stage.
They climbed the step to the stage and walked to the podium. The principal handed them 2 rolled up sheets of paper. On their way back to their seats they unrolled the pieces of paper. They both gasped as the read the name of the planet. In bold letters it said the word: EXAVEIVIA
Chapter 2:
"Exaveivia, Exaveivia. How on Earth did we get Exaveivia?" Angie said pacing around their room.
"Um, Angie, we're not on Earth, remember?" Jim said sitting on his bed. But he was nervous too. Exaveivia was a planet that no students had ever returned from. The weird thing was that their bodies were never found. They just seemed have to disappeared. The theory on campus was that pirates captured them all but no one was really sure.
"I guess you're right Jim. But still, what's going to happen to us? How are we going to get through this?" she sat down next to Jim.
"I don't know but we'll make it. We just have to stick together", Jim said while putting his arm around Angie's shoulders. She smiled at him.
"We better start packing", she said softly. "We'll be leaving in 3 days."
"Good idea", Jim said standing up. They quietly started to pack they bags. Soon the silence was really started to get to them, so Jim slowly asked, "Um, Angie, how about some music while we pack? You know, to pass the time?"
"Sure. I do have this one tape I got from my dad's collection", she said. Angie got the tape out of one of her drawers and put it in her tape player. She turned it on and the music started. Unfortunately, the song just made them cringe even more about their situation.
The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down Of the big lake they called "Gitche Gumee." The lake, it is said, never gives up her dead When the skies of November turn gloomy. With a load of iron ore twenty-six thousand tons more Than the Edmund Fitzgerald weighed empty, That good ship and true was a bone to be chewed
When the "Gales of November" came early.
Angie stopped folding one of her T-shirts and turned off the tape. "I don't think this is a good time to listen to "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald", what about you?"
Jim still looked a little uneasy but said, "Yeah, how about of those CDs instead?"
"I was waiting for you to say that", Angie said. She grabbed her turquoise blue CD holder and start looking for a good CD to play.
"Ah, I found one!" she said smiling. She found her CD player and put the speaker attachments in. Right before she put the CD in she show the CD to Jim. "Ike and Tina Turner", she said smiling. She put in and pressed 'Play'. The song started out nice and easy but then it sped up.
Left a good job in the city
Working for the man every night and day. And I never lost one minute of sleep When I worrying about the way things might have been.
"That's better", Jim said smiling.
Think we'll keep on turning. Proud Mary keeps on burning. And we're rolling Rolling, Rolling, Rolling on a river.
On the second verse Angie kept folding and packing her clothes, but sang along with the song.
"Cleaned a lot plates in Memphis. Pumped a lot of tanks down in New Orleans. But I never saw the good side of the city, 'til I hitched a ride on a river boat queen."
As she sang, Jim noticed some thing odd peaking out of one of drawers. When the chorus came he walked over to it a pulled it out. "What's this?" he asked holding up a white dress. Angie stopped singing and groaned at what Jim was holding, "Oh, that's just a dress my mom made me pack."
Jim stared at the dress. "What's wrong with it? White's not your color?" he joked.
"Very funny", Angie said slightly smiling. "For the record I think it's a nice dress but it's way too fancy for me to wear."
"What about on the boat ride to Exaveivia?"
"Jim, there is no way I'm wearing that dress. Especially to a planet where I don't know if I'll return from!" Angie shouted.
"Come on Angie, it's a big event. We have to look impressive." Jim begged.
"Oh yeah? You're not packing anything impressive!"
"Hey that's different! My mom was never able to buy something nice!" Jim said. "Just wear it until we get to the planet. You can change before we land."
"Jim, I told you I am not wearing that dress!"
3 days later.
"I can't believe I'm wearing this dress." Angie said. Jim had begged and begged and gave her such big puppy eyes that she couldn't say no. Right now they were on the boat to Exaveivia and they were the last passengers left. Exaveivia was a planet that was pretty far from the academy but the next closest planet 3,000 miles away.
"You know, I think the only good part about being sent to Exaveivia is that the Etherium is beautiful on the way there", said Angie.
"Yeah you do get a good view from here", said Jim. But he was talking about the girl that was standing to the side of him. "Jim, what are you thinking?" Jim thought to himself. He decided to talk about something different.
"I could never see something like this from Montressor. What about you?" Jim asked.
"Ha! The only time you can see this many stars is when there's a power outage", Angie laughed but her smiled quickly faded. She suddenly became very quiet.
"Still worried about Exaveivia?" Jim asked.
"Something like that", Angie said.
"What is it?"
Angie gave him no reaction.
"Angie come on, we've been friends for 6 months. You know can trust me"
She paused for a moments and sighed. "Ok, I tell you what's wrong. On my old planet I did have a few friends but I couldn't really trust them. Every time I was with just one of them we'd get into a fight and I'd have to apologize. I'm just worried that this might be another one of those times"
"Angie, you know that that isn't going happen with us" Jim said sincerely.
"How do you know?"
"Because", Jim said smiling. "We're not on your old planet. This time is different.I'm different."
"Thanks Jim", Angie said smiling, too. "Aww, isn't he sweet? Handsome and caring, and I get to be alone with him for 3 weeks! Yes!" Angie thought. She knew that she shouldn't like Jim so much but she did anyway. "Quiet you", she thought back.
Then a voice came through the intercom, "Attention all passengers, oh what's the point? To the last boy and girl on the boat we'll be arriving at your death trap soon. So get your bags and be ready to get out."
"Humph, that wasn't very smooth" Angie said smirking.
"I wonder where they hired him".
"Well since we'll be landing in a couple of minutes I'm going to change", Angie then walked off to the direction of the bathrooms. When she got there she tried to open the door, but it wouldn't open. "Great it's locked", she said.
With nothing else to do she found Jim getting his bag from the luggage room. "Looks like I'll be wearing this dress a little longer than I thought", she said to Jim.
"Door locked?"
"Yep"
Finally the voice on the intercom came again and said, "To the last boy and girl on the boat we've landed so get out! *sigh I'm too old for this job*"
"You ready?" Jim asked.
"Let me see", Angie picked up her bag. "Now I am."
They walked up the stairs to the first floor then down the ramp onto the planet. Seconds after they got off the ramp the boat took off, leaving them alone.
"Well, this is interesting", Jim said looking around.
"What do you mean?"
"We seem to be on a island"
"Whoa. So.what do we do now?"
"I think to best thing to is do find some shelter where we can sleep for the night. And the rest of our stay here is necessary"
"Ok, let's move!"
So they walked off inland of the island, not at all suspecting what was coming next.
To be continued.