A/N: Is it moving too slowly? Too much incessant stuff? A lot of it is modified from my real life school experiences so I can tend to go overboard with details of lessons and stuff... please R&R, thank you Courtesy and Captain Amelia for reviewing!

Chapter 4

The glittering planet of Huxxub sparkled before their eyes, and many of the new cadets gazed, enraptured. Even many of the older students were stilled awed by it, rarely having the opportunity of seeing the planet from above except during term breaks.

"All cadets assemble according to year! First years nearest the exit, second years near the bow, third years in the center and fourth years near the stern!" the voice sounded over the ship's announcement system. Any regular person's shouting voice would not have been heard over the hubhub and commotion the students were making. Jim, Jade and Jeff were jostled toward the exit, the student body a fluid mass of 240 cream particles bumping into each other as they headed to their respective areas.

The ferry soon docked just outside the Academy grounds, where a figure was waiting for the first years in the distance. Jim, Jade and Jeff carefully made their way off the ship without getting tripped or pushed, and headed towards the figure, who was gesturing for the first-years to follow. Nearing the figure, Jim suddenly stood stock-still with realization, causing students behind him to collide with each other.

"C-C-C-CAPTAIN!" Jim spluttered.

"Yes James, spot-on as usual," Amelia replied, smiling at his disbelief.

"So that's why you left us early?"

"Yes that's right Mr. Hawkins, I'm glad you've finally figured that out, now if you please, there are 59 others here who need to briefed." The Captain gave him a friendly smirk, before turning to address the rest of the first-years, some awed that Jim was familiar with the Captain, others suppressing giggles at the exchange.

"First-year cadets, welcome to the Interstellar Academy. I am Captain Amelia and you will address me as 'Captain' or 'ma'am' at all times, is that clear?"

A chorus of 'yes' with some muttering was vaguely heard across the assembly of students. Captain Amelia, being naturally dissatisfied with such a response, treated these newcomers with the same tone she had used with Jim on the Treasure Planet voyage, eliciting the desired response after the third try.

"Very good. Now during your time at the Academy, you will be equipped with all the knowledge you need to become captains of ships in the Royal Intergalactic Navy, or for those of you on scholarship from your respective home planets, all the technological know-how for advancement of your planet's capabilities. We have reviewed your resumés and recommendations and have placed all of you into 4 batches, or houses if you please, which will serve as your family and home for your time here. For your first week here you will all have an orientation program as a level instead of as a batch, during which you will be in my charge. I expect all cadets to adhere to the Academy code of conduct. Any deviants will receive proper punishment and credit will be deducted from their batches. Are you all clear?"

This time the "yes ma'am" rang through clear and coordinated, prompting another smile from the Captain.

"Cadets, assemble in a straight row, I will be guiding you in the code of conduct, considering it is your first time here, and many of you, I am sure, have not yet read the Code's textchip." She continued, glancing briefly at Jim again.

Jim, Jeff and Jade assembled at the end of the line, the two boys fidgeting with their uniforms nervously, certain that the stern captain would have a few things to point out about their outward appearance, and each hoping she had not seen their past school discipline records. Jade, on the other hand stood at ease, a serene expression on her face, calmly waiting for the captain to go down the line of 59 other students.

"Boots, lace them up. Collar, straight please. Earrings, remove them. Hands behind your back…" Captain Amelia inspected each new cadet, sharply ordering each to tidy up an aspect or two of his/her appearance. She was used to this routine each year, nit-picking to the extent of perfectionism, keeping the Academy's standards high. The line moved like a wave, as each student bent down or turned around to correct whatever error they had made while Amelia moved on. It was almost fifteen minutes before she reached the human trio.

"Unclasp your fist from your jacket young man, it'll do neither your uniform nor your hand much good. Chin up please. Mr. Hawkins, I knew I didn't see you reading your code of conduct hm? Remove the earring, and much as I see that tail of yours as a trademark from our previous voyage, it has to go," She said, swiftly slicing the tail away with her razor-sharp claw. Jim's eyes widened in horror as felt her removing the tail he had carefully kept since eight, that had been a part of him since he'd been able to solar-surf. (A/N: Ah! I'm sorry for committing such a horror but it only makes logical school-rule sense)

Amelia turned to Jade, fully expecting to notice some rule-breaking. When she could find none, she looked harder, ears perking up with sudden attention and eyes going wide as they had when she first saw the map of Treasure Planet. The girl was standing at ease, chin up and confident, with her hair neatly-cut and her uniform impeccable. Even the captain circling her did not seem to unnerve her as she kept her eyes forward the whole time. With a sincere smile, Amelia departed from the end of the line to return to address the group. Jim turned to Jade in amazement, having been the only one to escape the captain's hawk-like inspection without a word or comment.

"Good, now that all of you have been briefed and are familiar with the basic rules, you will be separated into your batches, where your luggage is already waiting for you. After you have seen your dormitories, you will return to the main auditorium to be briefed on your schedule for the first week. The batches are Altair, Betelgeuse, Castor and Denube, each with a special trait which you will find out in due time. After I read your name and your batch, step forward toward the labeled lines behind me. When your batch is assembled, they will open into portals to transport you to your dormitories. Arame, Corrine, Betelgeuse. Akkon, Tombaque, Castor.…"

Each student stepped out from the row as his/her name was called, while the rest of the students shuffled closer together, watching the line grow shorter.

"Drake, Hiram, Denube" was called out, as the pale boy with the light brown hair Jim encountered stepped forward, a smug look on his face. Jim instantly made a mental note that he would bargain with the captain if he was put in the same batch. Preoccupied with this thought, he hardly realized he had been called to join Altair until Jade prodded him. To their great surprise, all three humans were placed in Altair, together with seven other boys and five other girls, including a felinid and a canid.

As she reached the end of the name list, Amelia gave one sharp resounding clap, and four mini-portals similar to the one that had opened at Crescentia opened to reveal pristine gray corridors leading to the four doors which led to the dormitories. The Altair dormitory was magnificent to say the least. In the midst of the modern technological wonder that was the Academy, the Altair dorm was small piece of tasteful historical grandeur, complete with fireplace, rosewood furniture, well-used yellow-cushioned armchairs, marble pillars and overall amazing architecture. All 15 newcomers gawped open-mouthed at their surroundings, while older students who had already settled in welcomed them warmly, every second-year searching for the first-year he or she was assigned to, to commence the buddy-system in-batch orientation. The room was circular with the batch banner strung up in the center, a golden cloth with the image of a bronze eagle in the center. Smaller corridors led away from the room toward the dormitories, girls on the right and boys on the left, with each corridor clearly labeled with the year.

Jim found himself partnered with a second-year canid boy, and felt very much like he was back in Doctor Doppler's mansion. He good-naturedly introduced Jim to some of the seniors they met, spending some time giving very practical advice on surviving homework in the Academy (such as taking note of which teachers did and didn't mind late work) as well as introducing the sporting events held over the course of the year. Jim was particularly interested in these, having had some form of experience in shooting during the Treasure Planet pirate escape as well as LOTS of space-racing experience from his solar surfer. He was then shown to his dormitory, which he shared with Jeff and a timid Velurian named Kaliro Mustaf. Jim had never seen a Velurian before, with their pale yellow skin, large black eyes and wide mouth, as well as 12 dexterous fingers on each hand, making them a race very skilled at small-part manufacture and research.

The first-years trooped down to the auditorium, guided by their buddies, an hour later to be briefed on the level orientation program. Captain Amelia once again stood before them on the podium, waiting for her audience to settle down from the excitement of their first day.

"Good evening once again cadets. Over the course of this week you will be given a tour around the school and its facilities as well as briefed on the various subjects and extracurricular programs in store for you over the year. Each student is expected to sign up for at least one extracurricular activity by the end of the week, and select which of your 10 subjects you wish to take at an advanced level. You will also have enjoyment, fear not, your seniors will be organizing cheer sessions and modern dance on Day 6 while you will be brought to the nearby spaceport on Day 7 to familiarize yourself with the neighborhood. I will be leaving you at the end of this week for a voyage, so from then on you will be in the charge of your batch leaders who are also your subject teachers. Student councilors from the upper levels also have authority in the Academy, whereby any misbehavior on your part will result in loss of credit for your batch. Exemplary performance in class will earn you credit, so I encourage you all to go for your lessons prepared." Captain Amelia finished, with emphasis on her last word.

As the muttering and discussion picked up, the new cadets were handed their schedule for the week, which included introductory lessons for each subject to help them decide if they were to take it at a higher level, facility tours, ice-breaker games, an inter-batch drama competition, modern dance, cheering and the spaceport excursion. The students were then ushered to the cafeteria where they once again separated into their own cliques to jabber excitedly about their plans for the upcoming events.

Two hours and a very full stomach later, Jim, Jeff and Jade trudged up to their dormitory and collapsed onto a three-seater sofa, grinning from ear-to-ear after their first day at the Academy. Jade was most excited about attending the introductory lessons, although she already knew what was to be covered, she calculated that with the limited schooling hours, she would only be able to take 7 subjects at an advanced level and wanted to choose these carefully. Jeff was itching to see the engineering facilities in the school, as well as get started with the drama and dance, being a naturally outgoing person.

Jim settled himself lower into the squishy sofa, considering what he was most excited about. Extracurricular activities, he decided, were most-awaited. But he had heard the captain reminiscing to the Doc about the fascinating lessons she had had in school, as well as seen the results of these in her excellent management of the RLS Legacy. Overall, he had to say he was looking forward to everything at the Academy, as he quickly changed out of his uniform and collapsed in bed, exhausted from the long journey and his mind reeling with anticipation.