A/N: I know the previous chap was a bit short, hope this one's a little better - introducing a new character. Please R&R, I welcome criticism too.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

Chapter 2

Two weeks later

"JIM! You forgot your biology kit!"

Jim ran back for what seemed like the tenth time to collect random forgotten artifacts from his ever-meticulous mother. They had gone to collect most of his school supplies from Spaceport Crescentia while other more obscure items were mail-ordered from the Academy's supplies. Jim couldn't believe how much was required for the school, from specialized stationery, textpad and textchips (electronic versions of textbooks), kits for all sciences, as well as four different uniforms for different occasions – everyday, casual, sports and formal. All this would surely have put a huge strain on their family's financial status if it wasn't for the few jewels Silver had supplied Jim before escaping on the skiff.

Satisfied that he really had everything this time, Jim gave his mother a tight hug, knowing how hard it was for her to let him leave for school for six months at a time. Because Montressor was in such an obscure part of the galaxy, Jim would only be able to return for the summer and winter breaks for the next four years of schooling. He brushed a stray tear from his eye before facing his mother again, putting on his brightest smile that exuded all the confidence he possessed.

"Just do your best Jim, you know I'll always be proud of you."

Sarah Hawkins smiled warmly at her son, swelling with pride, and happy for his bright future.

"'Course mum."

With that, he waved farewell as he jogged onto the transport that would bring him to the spaceport, where the Academy ferry would pick him up.

At the spaceport

"Where is it Morph?"

Jim had decided to bring Morph along, knowing that his company had the power to brighten his day no matter what, and that he wanted a reminder of Silver to give him inspiration. Right now however, he was feeling slightly deflated, as he heaved his heavy suitcase along the docks of Crescentia, unable to identify the Academy's ferry. His eyes swiveled between docks 5 and 6, trying in vain to spot the dock printed on his letter: 51/2. Believing there had been some mistake, Jim was about to call Captain Amelia for directions when he saw a rectangular portal materialize before his eyes right in between docks 5 and 6. With an excited squeak, Morph dashed into the portal, leaving Jim to struggle with his suitcase ten meters behind.

As Jim passed through the portal, he was strongly reminded of Treasure Planet – before him was a grand ship, magnificent as the RLS Legacy and sparkling like the mountains of gold in the core of Flint's Trove. A hoverbot appeared by his side and motioned for his suitcase, which it transported to the ship's cargo hold as another two bots ushered him aboard the ship.

Jim looked in wonder down the red carpeted corridors of the ship, resembling a cruise vehicle more than a school ferry. All of a sudden he felt completely out of place, in his green shirt and baggy jacket. He noticed that most of the rooms were empty, deducing that Montressor must have been one of its first stops, being on the outskirts of the galaxy.

"Welcome aboard the Academy Ferry. We will now be proceeding to our third stop. We will arrive at the Academy in about 7 hours. Enjoy your trip."

Jim nodded absently as he wandered down the corridor, intending to find the single other occupant of the ship for some company. He finally found the last room at the end of the corridor occupied and was pleasantly surprised to find another human girl, around his age, with a head of short, neatly-cut, jet-black hair, thin, rectangular-rimmed glasses and slightly oriental features. She was bent over her textpad, intently studying its contents and furiously copying notes into a small notebook, completely oblivious to Jim's presence.

"Ahem," Jim cleared his throat softly.

Jerking her head up abruptly, the girl quickly kept her textpad and notebook, stood up and extended a hand to Jim in an absurdly business-like fashion.

"Hello, nice to meet you. I'm Jade Subaru Triton from the planet Earth. You are?"

"Jim Hawkins," Jim replied, gingerly taking her hand, which she pulled back after one brisk shake. If she was glad for the company, she did not show it, and neither did she seem to have any inclination to start a conversation. Her textpad was out once again and she continued her previous engagement of copying stuff into her notebook.

"Er, so what's it like on Earth?" Jim started awkwardly, deciding that he'd rather have a reluctant bookworm for a conversation partner than no one at all for the next 7 hours.

"We're about 50 parsecs away from the Academy, in the fifth arm of the galaxy. Most of the planet is covered in water with about 30 percentof land, and humans are the only intelligent species on the planet. I had a good look at Montressor on our way here, I take it it's a mining planet with a rich source of granite and arcturian crystals. It also used to be covered in water till some time in its recent history where a meteorite impact evaporated the liquids, that's why it switched its industry to mining. Am I correct?"

"Er, yeah, I guess." Jim stuttered, not being quite ready for an assault of intellectual questions about his home planet, whose geography and history he had never quite paid attention to in school. It suddenly occurred to him that this girl might not be a first-year at the Academy like he was, accounting for her vast knowledge of a planet she probably had never even set foot on, so he ventured another query, mentally preparing himself for another onslaught of encyclopedic reciting. He got it.

"Oh I'm sixteen and this is my first year in the Academy, like you. It's really quite an honor for me because this is the first time Earth's International Space University is sending a candidate for the ISA. We've been very closed off from the rest of the galaxy for a very long time, the astronomers there had never been able to establish contact with other intelligent life forms in space till less that a decade ago. I recognized Montressor from the databank textchip the Academy provided us, I was really very surprised that we stopped there at all considering its remoteness; just as surprised as the ISA allowing a candidate from a technologically backward planet such as Earth. You must be very exceptional, I've read that although the ISA candidates are selected on a meritocracy basis, most students come from rich backgrounds."

"How'd you know I'm a first year too?" Jim replied bewildered, not having fully digested the rest of her narrative quite yet and attempting to buy time for that.

"It's simple, the older students will look much less clueless. Furthermore you obviously haven't read the Academy dress code," Jade flicked the back of her hair with her pen to indicate Jim's ponytail.

Academy dress code? This was something Captain Amelia hadn't pointed out. He figured that anything she didn't mention couldn't be too important, and decided to ignore Jade's last comment. They spent the next half hour engaging in conversation, which consisted more of Jim asking questions, being treated to a highly informative monologue, then contributing a few disconnected phrases of his own in response to Jade's questions on Montressor and the Etherium in general. Treasure Planet never came up.

Over the next two hours, the ferry started getting more filled up as stops were made around the galaxy arms, before taking a spiraling route toward the galaxy center. Jim had decided to move up to the deck of the ship for the scenery, leaving Jade in peace to continue her advanced studying. (Jim had found out that besides having read through the Academy code of conduct, she had also studied the entire first semester's work for 8 out of 10 subjects and was in such an uptight mood because she had intended to finish all 10 subjects before leaving for the Academy. Jim couldn't think of any response to this except to quit prodding her with questions and leave her in peace.)

It wasn't long before there were other students milling about the deck, catching up with classmates or simply enjoying the view like Jim. Unfortunately, not all the Academy students were quite as good-natured as those Jim had seen so far.