"Why doesn't the academy have views of space?" Loki asked, strolling down the empty hall beside the commander.

"We have windows," Gampu replied.

Loki gave it some thought, looking toward the wall beside him, then his attention returned toward the commander.

"I will wa-wa-" Loki searched for the words.

"Rephrase," Gampu supplied.

"Rephrase that," Loki said, snapping his fingers. "Thanks. Why isn't there any windows available for cadets?"

"That is a good question," Gampu said.

"But?" Loki raised his brows.

"There are no buts," Gampu said.

"There feels like one coming," Loki said.

"There was a psychological study done a very long time ago that indicated it was best to leave space out for the academy personnel. In response, it was followed to the tea by the builders of this academy. Can't have too many windows. The first cadets that lived here found it a pleasing experience," Gampu looked off fondly. "The first set who had never served in space before. There were other sets who had served in space who worked here but they were bettering themselves. Watching the newer cadets shift from the Federation Academy stationed in San Fransisco to the Space Academy was the most honorable but perhaps the most beautiful experience-"

"And there is the but," Loki cut Gampu off

Peepo laughed.

"There it is!" Peepo agreed. "He was right about the but."

"Correct," Gampu said, bemused.

"So how did the study work for them?" Loki asked.

"Seeing only space when necessary helped them adapt to seeing it every day, day in and day out, from seeing blue skies or strange skies with clouds," Gampu resumed. "A memory that either fades or grows stronger for them the longer that they stay. A never ending night that becomes the norm for them until they are assigned to a planet bound post. We have the solar domes for that reason alone not just for survival drills. Academy Control was made the exception to the rule because it is a very important window. And that experience continues to this day with the cadets that walk these halls."

"If you're the commander then why do you need to read psychological papers?"

"It is my business to read papers relating to psychology when training the impressionable minds of cadets and deciding whether or not to let them go out to do very serious and dangerous missions,"

"Does that happen every day?"

"Yes," Gampu and Peepo chimed together.

"The most serious ones pertaining to the academy's continued survival relies on a group of volunteers," Gampu said. "Lead by the academy's brightest and loyal friend, Jason."

"So," Loki said. "Jason is the academy's knight in shining armor."

"That is a appropriate analogy, Loki," Gampu replied.

"Despite his track record of taking detours," Peepo said.

"He defends the academy from people while we deal with the matters that pertain to science," Gampu waved his hand in front of the panel. Gampu was the first to walk into the commissary. "And people in need of help."

"What a arrangement," Loki walked in after Gampu leaving Peepo behind. "I get the feeling that my father couldn't have done it better."

"It is," Gampu said. "Works both ways for us. He gets our hand in friendship and we get his hand in friendship."

"Is that how it works for the academy?" Loki asked.

"Outside of the academy, the currency is diamonds," Gampu said. "Crystals, gems, jades, rubies, silver, and all sorts of civilization trade fuel as currency."

Gampu gestured over the boy to his side then moved toward one of the stations. He slipped out several pieces of silver from his belt pocket attached to the waist belt. Loki eyed at the food packed in piles on each of the stations and the drinks that appeared to be freshly made from alongside the rows of food. The food was fresh, delights, every kind of food was there even ones that were not from Earth. The food all looked great to have for the young boy's stomach with their appealing aesthetic. Loki licked his lips eagerly.

Loki picked up a pink plate following the action of the elder then grabbed stash after stash of food including a cup. Gampu looked over toward the young boy, taking a double check, then replaced the cup with a more appropriate cup as Loki got more food using the silverware that was large to his hands. Gampu took out several small silver pieces then slipped them over the counter. All the while politely informing the cashier that he was covering the boy's nutritional needs. The cashier smiled in return then moved the silver into the register. He was handed two coins then it was put away. Loki turned away from the station.

"Your plate is very full," Gampu said, startled. "You must be starving."

Baffled, Loki looked toward the commander.

"Is it supposed not to be this full?"

Gampu had a fond smile down toward Loki.

"It will do for you," Gampu said. "It will do for you."

The duo walked down the hallways until coming into a rounded room with several support beams that made its shape up with the glass panels between the triangle structures that had rounded bulbs at each point. They sat down at the table then leaving only ten inches from between them. Gampu's eyes grew big then his eyes returned to their normal size as Loki was eating. He looked from side to side searching for any nearby cadet in the room that only housed them. With that done, Gampu's attention returned toward the boy.

"Loki," Gampu started.

Loki looked up toward Gampu.

"Yes, Commander?" Loki was confused that made it difficult at first for Gampu to continue.

Gampu got up then left the table but returned with several napkins.

"Chew with your mouth closed," Gampu instructed, handing a napkin out for Loki. "Please."

Loki took the napkin then closed his mouth but resumed chewing.

"Place the napkin on your lap," Gampu instructed. "Young men not having napkins on their laps when eating is obscene." Loki complied to the request even going as far to smooth out the napkin. "When I am done with you, you will know all sorts of table manners spanning the worlds in the federation."

"What is psychology?" Loki asked.

"It pertains to mind and behavior," Gampu said. "Cut your food up into edible bites."

"Yes, Commander," Loki said.

With ease, Loki sliced in half the piece of cake then took a bite out of the slice and chewed with his mouth closed. Gampu began to eat dinner while looking at the boy's progress and dabbing away at what crumbs that was collected among his mustache and along the edge of his mouth. Loki's eyes were focused straight on the appealing food that took up much of the space to the round pink plate. Within minutes, the piece of cake was gone and Loki was now trying to cut up a patty with a fork to no avail but was leaving plenty of holes in the plate.

Gampu got up to his feet then came by the boy's side and placed a hand on Loki's shoulder.

"Let me help you with that,"

Loki lowered his hand.

Gampu picked up the knife and fork then swiftly cut up the pieces with a rhythm and energy with delicacy until the pieces were in squares.

"That is how you cut up food," Gampu returned to his seat. "There are certain types of meat and chicken that are finger food then there are those that are not."

"Must be a lot,"

"You have quite a few finger food on your plate,"

"Show me,"

"If you insist. Tater tots are finger food," he pointed over the brown and yellow rounded clumps neatly packed together in a section of the plate. "Apples, oranges, grapes, chicken nuggets, and a energy block." his fingers ignored the mashed potatoes with gravy beside a pile of noodles that had bits of egg that stood out. "These two are fork food."

Gampu held up the silverware.

"This is a fork,"

Gampu then pointed toward the knife.

"This is a knife,"

The commander moved his hand toward a shorter piece of silverware with a rounded tip.

"And last but not least, this is the spoon,"

Gampu retreated his hand from the silverware.

"What is the last, Commander?"

"A spork but that is a edible eating utensil,"

"So not like this," Loki picked up the spoon then waved it.

"Yes and no,"

Loki tilted his head.

"It is a hybrid of a spoon with the tip of a fork,"

Loki lowered the spoon down beside the plate.

"So that's where the name comes from," Loki said. "I wonder who made that name up."

"Wondering about that is a rabbit hole you will never get out of," Gampu said.

"So it's a really complicated story," Loki said.

"It is," Gampu said. "Now, eat."