Deputy Commander Brookes arrived into academy control that had all of the cadets in the room facing the direction of the window and visible scared, worried, and concerned for the missing personnel. She cleared her throat loudly enough to draw their attention toward her. Paul, Adrian, and Tee Gar shifted toward the deputy commander.

"What happened?" Brookes asked.

"Gampu and Laura fell into a black hole," Tee Gar said.

"Captain Gentry," Brookes shifted her attention on to the blonde. "Report."

Chris was looking out into the stars focusing on the black hole when the sharp comment yanked him back into reality then he turned toward her.

"Permission to lead the rescue party," Chris requested.

Brookes looked toward the black hole then back toward Chris.

"Permission granted," Brookes said.

"Oraco," Chris said.

Brookes stopped Adrian from going along as half of the team splintered off out of academy control.

"You are needed here to keep contact with the search party," Brookes said. "Contact all Patrol Ships regarding this development. They may have popped up somewhere in the galaxy."

"What if they can't find them?" Adrian asked.

"Then they were lost in the line of duty." Brookes said, reluctantly. "Tell Captain Gentry to call off the search if they can't find the seeker."

"Oraco," Adrian said.

Brookes turned in the direction of the concerned and scared cadets.

"Return to your programs, cadets," Brookes said.

The cadets returned to their tasks.

"What a tragic way to end the greatest career in the federation," Brookes shook her head then went out of academy control.

The walk to Gampu's office was a deliberate slow one when it came to acting as the new commander of the academy. Not often did commanders who went missing come back. Deputy Commander's were reminded of that every year as officers part of Star Command. Anomalies happened one way or another taking away promising officers and superior officers. As Commander of the academy, she would be exempt from the rule and be part of the academy for three years as the head. Not as a subordinate but as the superior officer and someone else was to replace her.

Not losing Gampu always outweighed keeping the much experienced and wised somewhat immortal being capable of educating different generations at a time regarding the mistakes of the past and how to be better than it. To oversee their progress as maturing peacekeepers. The most qualified person in the galaxy with hundreds of years under his belt. Keeping Gampu outweighed the worse case scenario of reckless and immature cadets instigating mayhem in the galaxy in the name of boredom and avoiding doing very important programs.

And normally, when it came to small or important matters Gampu's wisdom proved to be right. In time, his wisdom regarding the young boy would turn out quite well. The thought of replacing him was disturbing. To a finer point it was surreal that it was happening at all. She only had a few days before the next Deputy Commander would arrive to the academy and she would be right back in space. Being head of Star Command was a temporary position. Just long enough for a new posting to become available. Yet it was a very important assignment.

Three long years at the academy overseeing the growth of teenagers into adults (most of the time) wasn't as appealing as overseeing the protection of the academy and the federation. Three long years, the mere idea of it, could easily make her hair grow gray over the hour just thinking about what she would have to deal with. She wouldn't be around when her first teams graduated.

A thought that she liked. She didn't like to attend another graduation. The last graduation under the commander's watchful eye was enough. Brookes waved her hand in front of the panel in front of the doorway then it opened allowing the deputy commander to enter. She walked into the office then approached the desk. She turned it around and with some work it was just the way that Brookes liked it.

"Out with the old model and in with the new. . ." Brookes said, tapping her fingers on the desk.

It was difficult to imagine that the new model was not going to be orange but a yellow variation of it facing away from the door. She pressed down on the chair then watched it decompress and become a small rounded object with a black top. She picked up the object then slipped it on to the desk. She tapped her fingers on the desk looking on toward the screen.

"I can't believe I have to tell his charge that he could be gone," Brookes said. "All that knowledge." She shook her head. "Gone."

The desk was facing toward the clouded windows instead of facing away from it with her back to the door. She didn't need to be facing the door to see who was coming out as she knew who she was expecting. And it looked a lot better with cadets facing her desk. The two chairs were unfolded then put away on the back of the desk right behind the console itself. There was the sound of the door console being rung so she raised her head with a sigh then turned around.

"Come in,"

Peepo entered the office.

"I have been told that I would find you here,"

Brookes had a small bitter smile.

"Your style has changed in the last seven years," Brookes said.

"Your voice has matured into the person that I knew was in there," Peepo said. "You have not changed much in that regard."

"Peepo. . . " Brookes said. "Do I have your cooperation overseeing the academy?"

"Everyone has my fair cooperation," Peepo said. "Long as I am required to serve with them."

"Good, good," Brookes said, seating on the edge of the counter. "Does this apply to more than today?"

Peepo's head whirred in alarm.

"He will be back," Peepo said. "He always returns."

"And if they do not find him. . ." Brookes said. "What then?'

"I will go on," Peepo said.

"And Loki?" Brookes asked.

"Loki will be my responsibility," Peepo said.

"If he gets into very big trouble," Brookes said. "I am not going to be light on him as Gampu would."

"Then you will be out of a officer," Peepo said. "If he cannot be allowed to be human then I cannot be allowed to be serving."

"Peepo, that is not what I am saying," Brookes said.

"That is exactly what you have told me," Peepo cut her off. "You made the largest mistake in federation history in your first year."

"This is different-"

"Gampu forgave you,"

"What kind of academy are we if we forgive a child and let them come back?"

"You would be reflecting the values that the federation was founded on,"

"The federation was not founded on letting children serve as officers!"

"We have child prodigys serving in the federation, officer,"

"No-"

"We graduated several last star year," Peepo said. "Loki's mistakes are worth forgiving. You said so yourself, but in a lot of words. That it was a good idea to have someone of a new species being studied in the academy under careful watch."

"So, if he doesn't come back then I expect to lose a valuable asset to the continued working of this campus,"

"Yes," Peepo said. "Affirmative."

"You are dismissed, Peepo,"

Peepo didn't budge.

"I didn't come here on orders," Peepo said. "There is a old word that is common in every language. And one that I like the most."

"Yes?" Brookes folded her arms.

"You're holding a double standard over Loki and I do not like that," Peepo said. "Permission to leave. Sir."

"Permission granted," Brookes said.

Peepo floated out of the office.