The next morning, Jim was awake and dressing when Andrea and Chloe Doppler burst in on him, squealing with delight and clinging to his arms and legs. "Uncle Jim, Uncle Jim, save us, save us, save us!!!" "From what?" asked Jim with a fantastic grin on his face. "From da monster!!!", yelled Chloe.

At that moment, B.E.N. playfully stalked into the room. Jim nearly fell over with laughter; B.E.N. WAS LITERALLY DRESSED UP WITH FOOD ALL OVER HIM!!!! His eyes were covered with two sunny-side up eggs, marinara sauce was splattered over his head, arms & legs, doughnuts were hung like bracelets on his wrists and ankles and a partially smashed gourd adorned his head like a turban. "Wheeeerrrrrreeeee aaaaaarreeeeee yooooooouuuuuuuu, little "puddy tats" I'm going to fiiiiiinnnnnd yooooooouuuu!!!! Chloe and Andrea shrieked even louder at this. Jim stood straight and shook his head.

"Okay, okay, B.E.N." "Yeah Jimmy?", B.E.N. replied as he lifted up the eggs on his like curtains. "Is breakfast ready?" "Yeah, Jimmy, all set and ready. Just do what I did and start with the-""NO, No, No, B.E.N.", Jim answered. "I meant to eat." "Oh, yeah, yeah, eggs and biscuits—hot and fresh from the oven with butter." Jim set down Andrea & Chloe, picked up his bag and exited to the hall with the girls and B.E.N. trailing him.

As Jim descended into the big dining room, he saw that his mother was speaking to a tall, broad-chested, eagle-like alien with a yellow beak and white & brown feathers. Jim recognized him immediately: It was his commanding officer, Vice-Admiral Horatius M. Valencia, the founder and head of the just newly formed Interstellar Navy Special Forces. He was the one who personally recruited Jim after his class graduation. The Admiral was well impressed with Jim's learning skills, past accomplishments and passion for repairing and building engines of any sort.

Jim eagerly accepted the request and was soon a member of one of the most highly trained elite, secretive, deadly and cunning group of soldiers in the universe. It was extremely exhausting work: The trainees learned to (1) run 8 miles in 3 & 1/2 hours; lift entire masts and beams by themselves & in teams, (2) build, repair and pilot complete skiffs, ships and ground vehicles, (3) repair, build, clean, load & fire over a hundred different weapons with 100% accuracy in ALL situations, (4) live and survive in any planet & climate while subsiding on any food or safe liquid (5) and treat any wound, burn, broken limb or even assist in childbirth!!! As staggering as it all was, NOT ONE TRAINEE EVER DROPPED OUT OR WAS DISQUALIFIED!!! And in a few weeks time, Jim was excelling very well !! He had placed first in mechanics, search & rescue, tracking, camouflage & stalking, weapons maintenance and was learning fast in teamwork skills, first-aid, marksmanship, roping & rigging and close-quarters combat. In few weeks, the entire class of 50 trainees would graduate as the very first company of Interstellar Navy, Special Forces.

As Jim walked towards his mother and the Admiral, they both turned their gaze towards him. "Morning Mom, Good Morning Admiral", Jim spoke with a crisp salute to the superior officer. Admiral Valencia returned his salute with a smile. "Good Morning to you too, Cadet Lieutenant Hawkins." Jim stopped in his tracks. "Lieutenant???" he repeated. "Yes, the Naval Board of Admirals has approved You, James Pleiades Hawkins, for the rank of Lieutenant of the Royal Interstellar Navy, Special Forces, in approximately two weeks." "Congratulations, Jim!!" exclaimed Sarah as she wrapped her arms around her son. "Huzzah !!!"Exclaimed B.E.N as he jumped on Jim's back. "Yaayyy !!!!". Andrea & Chloe now joined by Olivia and Adam grabbed onto and crawled all over Jim. Jim was laughing and grunting from all the weight that was pilling on him. "Okay, okay everybody, let's give Jim some room to breathe.", Sarah said. She turned to the Admiral. "I'm sorry, this is just the way that the kids and B.E.N. like to congratulate just about anybody." The admiral just shook his head. "Think nothing of it, Ma'am. Why, I've been a grandfather for about 6 years now and I still cannot find anything more exciting than seeing my four grandchildren." After several seconds, Sarah got the children & B.E.N. to get of off Jim. "See yoo lay-ter, Unca Jim", called Olivia as they ran upstairs. "Thank-you Olivia. I'll see you all around", Jim answered with a wave and smile. "I'll leave you two to speak together", Sarah said before moving off into the kitchen.

"Um, I hope I'm not being too...inquisitive by asking," Jim began, "But...." "Why the sudden promotion?" Admiral Valencia was excellent at discerning thoughts and minds. "Well", he replied with a few quick glances to see that no one was watching or listening, "It has to do with a secret matter that must be discussed at the Academy grounds. So, if you will come with me, you shall see what you are needed for." And so they left the Benbow together.