Author's Note: Yay, back with the third chapter! Here to relieve you all of the cliffhanger I left you with. Oh by the way, the motto of the Academy is Latin for "To the Stars, Ever Faithful." Not like they actually speak Latin in that particular universe, but hey, still sounds good. Anyhow, please enjoy this chapter of Gravity!

march 6, 08: okay, the end of this chapter has been edited for those who've already read this one. enjoy the add-on!

Chapter three:

INTERSTELLAR ACADEMY

Ut Astrum, Umquam Fidelis

Jim stared up at the words, suddenly feeling very small. This was his future, right there in front of him, and it was still so far away. The rain beat down on his shoulders, and he squinted as he gripped the bars of the gates to see what lay inside. The blurred outline of a large grey building was all that was visible. Amorphous squares of yellow light shone as windows in the grey mass. He knew he must look like a little kid standing there in the rain with his face pressed between the bars, but at that moment he didn't care. He was that close…

A rectangle of light appeared on the building, and the silhouette of a person was inside of it. Jim straightened, watching the figure run towards the gate with an umbrella over their head and a lantern swinging at their side. When they reached the gate, Jim recognized the man as a Bastian, the same race of feline people that the Captain belonged to. He had large green eyes and jet black hair and the same cat-like features, so much that they could've been related.

"Can I help you?" the Bastian said, raising the lantern. His voice was rich and deep.

"Uh---"

"Out with it, boy. Or haven't you noticed its raining?"

Jim bit back a sarcastic remark and said, "Captain Amelia sent me, from the Legacy---"

His eyes widened in interest. "Amelia? Really?" The Bastian shifted his umbrella to the hand holding the lantern and pulled out a key, with which he unlocked the gate and pulled it open just enough to let Jim in. Then he shut and locked it again.

"After hours, you know," he said in response to Jim's raised eyebrow. "Can't just let anyone in."

The sarcasm wasn't lost on Jim as he followed the Bastian up the wide cobblestone walkway. When they got closer to the Academy he saw that it was built like a palace: a large columned entryway framed by angels, and two long wings that stretched into the foggy distance. It looked to be at least three stories and the façade was made of the same white marble that seemed to be the bones of the city. The lawn was well maintained and benches were scattered here and there, and though no one was outside due to the rain, Jim imagined it was well trod when the sun was out. He could see inside the lit windows now, and it looked like the inside would be just as grand as the exterior. The Bastian took him to the pair of massive guilt slabs of wood that served as doors and opened one, letting a sliver of warm light fall on Jim. His eyes widened as he stepped inside.

The foyer was immense, with vaulted ceilings and two large fire places on the opposite walls. Chairs and sofas were spread around, as well as a few tables. Portraits hung on the walls of ships and famous captains. Everything was warm and inviting but at the same time so overwhelming that Jim thought he might fall over.

"This is our Common Room," said the Bastian, putting up the umbrella and lantern. He straightened out his blue jacket and held up his chin. "If you'll follow me please." He promptly turned on heel and walked toward a large staircase. Jim stared at the stairs, still taking everything in. The Bastian rolled his eyes and sighed.

"If you don't mind, you're dripping on the carpet."

Jim jumped and jogged to the stairs. The Bastian shook his head and continued up the steps, closely followed by a less-than-attentive boy. Jim was led up the stairs and into a small hall with a single door at the very end, which they stopped outside of. "Wait here," the Bastian said before knocking and then slipping inside.

Jim waited for the door to click shut before falling against the wall with a sigh of relief. Maybe he'd make it after all, he thought, brushing his sopping hair out of his eyes. Maybe---

"Boy?"

His eyes snapped open. The Bastian was back, holding the door open for him.

"The Admiral will see you now."

Jim straightened, his mouth agape. "What? The Admiral?"

The Bastian simply grinned, showing off some rather nasty canines, and showed Jim into the room. He stepped in, taking in the long windows and velvet draperies and emblazoned wallpaper before settling his gaze on the desk across the room.

"Come in, boy," said the figure behind the desk. Jim immediately obeyed.

The Admiral was a large man well into his forties, but strongly built and in his prime from the look of him. A hero of the Battle of Procyon, he was a prime example of the excellence that the navy produced. He had salt-and-pepper hair and clear blue eyes and a square jaw, and his expression was set and stern. Jim felt himself draw his shoulders back without thinking. This guy wasn't going to be pleasant.

"Sit down, boy," Admiral Roark said without looking up, pointing towards a chair with his pen. Jim did as he was told, not saying anything. He just watched the Admiral finish writing. When he set his pen down, he fixed an iron gaze on the boy in front of him, looking his face over, it seemed, for any cracks. But Jim didn't shrink back; he just kept his eyes locked on the Admiral's until he cleared his throat and shuffled some papers.

"Lieutenant Andrews tells me that you've been sent from the Legacy." He folded his hands and fixed Jim with an intent gaze. "Is this true?"

Jim nodded. "Yeah, Captain Amelia---"

"You're the boy who found the map?"

He gritted his teeth and nodded. When were they going to look and realize that we wasn't a boy anymore? He was seventeen for god's sake.

"Interesting." The Admiral was silent a moment, then said, "I assume she sent you to us with some kind of proof?"

Jim sighed. Here goes nothing…

"She did, but I lost it."

The Admiral raised an eyebrow. "Lost it?"

"Actually, it was stolen."

Both eyebrows went up. "Stolen? Not in Carviene."

He resisted the urge to scowl and say, "Hate to break it to ya…" He settled for a nod and a "Yes, sir."

The Admiral cleared his throat again. "What's your name, boy?"

"Jim---James Hawkins."

He grabbed some papers and picked up his pen. "And you wish to attend this Academy, Mr. Hawkins?"

"Yeah, I do." The Admiral glanced at him, and he added grudgingly, "Yes sir."

"Well, Mr. Hawkins, do you have the funds to pay for this kind of education?" He smirked. "Or was your money stolen as well?"

Why I oughta… "Yes sir, it was."

"That is a shame."

He was starting to like the Admiral less and less. Then again, he reminded him of a certain pirate that was his close friend and mentor, and that had to count for something. Maybe there was more to Admiral Roark than what Jim saw in front of him.

"I suppose I could call on Captain Amelia to speak for you in person," the Admiral continued, "but I'm afraid she's away on holiday---"

"She's in Arletham."

The Admiral raised his eyebrows. "The coast?"

Jim nodded, enjoying the one-up. "Staying with my mom." And the Doc, he added silently, but he thought best to leave that part out.

"I see." He looked at some more papers for a while, and then cleared his throat and folded his hands. "Well Mr. Hawkins, I cannot allow you to attend my Academy without the proper funds, that's just the way of things." He held up a hand to quiet Jim, who looked like he was about to spit fire. "However," he said, "Captain Amelia is a fine spacer and I take her judgment very seriously." The Admiral fixed Jim with a hard gaze. "If she believes that you of fine Navy tar, then I shall see to it that you are taught here." Again he held up a hand. "But---," Jim fell back into his seat with a scowl, "I will have to speak to her before I make my decision."

"Oh."

"Tomorrow I go on leave to the Space Port to meet with the House of Lords. I shall stop in Arletham on the way and speak to the Captain there." He leaned back in his chair. "In the meantime, I believe it would be best for you to remain here. We can't have you running around the city unsupervised."

Jim could have passed out from the amount of energy it took not to roll his eyes.

"Does that suit you, Mr. Hawkins?"

Jim nodded. "Yes sir," he said through a clenched jaw. The Admiral clasped his hands together.

"Well then, now that that's settled…" He pulled on a rope next to his desk and the door opened and the Bastian came in.

"Yes, sir?"

"Lieutenant Andrews, please escort Mr. Hawkins down to the servants quarters. He'll be earning his keep here till I return."

Jim shot up and sputtered out, "What?!"

"The first rule of discipline you must learn, Mr. Hawkins, is that life is not always easy. Lieutenant, if you please."

The Bastian --- Andrews --- stepped forward and waited for Jim to stand. But he was still staring incredulously at Admiral Roark. Why? Why did they always insist on making him a slave?

"Mr. Hawkins?"

Jim rolled his eyes and stood, muttering "Yes sir," and walking around the chair.

"That'll do. And Mr. Hawkins?"

Jim sighed as quietly as possible and turned back to the Admiral.

"Know that sarcasm and disrespect are not values we take to kindly in this Academy. Do your best to remember that and you might just survive."

He hadn't looked up from his papers, but Jim knew he wasn't lying. He hated it, too.

"Yes, sir," he said, and he meant it.

"Good. Then we have an accord?"

Jim nodded.

"Excellent. Lieutenant?"

Andrews nodded and went to the door, obviously expecting Jim to follow. But he kept staring at the Admiral.

"Thanks," he said.

Admiral Roark paused and looked up, looking Jim over for the first time since he'd arrived. He didn't say anything, just sized him up, then nodded. Jim nodded back, then went to the door and followed the Lieutenant out.

"You'll sleep here," Andrews said, opening a door and showing him in. They were in the east wing of the Academy, where the servant's quarters were located, near the kitchens. On the way the way they had passed through the mess hall and then the more formal dining room, with its chandeliers and polished wood tables, and Jim has been both impressed and disgusted. It was his future he was staring at, but at the moment the opulence didn't suit him. They'd gone though a door that led off the dining room into a faintly-lit hall. "Servant's hall," the lieutenant had said cheerily, showing Jim along. "This one goes to the kitchens, that one to laundry. Runs like clockwork down here, Hawkins, it's really quite impressive." Jim had just nodded and followed the Bastian silently, brooding over his enslavement.

His room was small but well-furnished, with a good-sized bed and a chest of drawers in the corner. A wash bin stood off to the side, as well as a writing desk.

"You'll be woken tomorrow by the head cook, Mr. Smrott. He'll inform you of your duties then." Andrews was silent a moment, then asked quietly, "Did Amelia really send you?"

Jim nodded. "Yeah. Why?"

The Bastian smiled ruefully. "She's my cousin. I haven't seen her in a while and it's good to know that she's still about."

"She's in Arletham---"

"I heard, staying with you mother. I'll just have to drop her a line then, shall I? Would you mind if I had the address?"

Jim didn't mind and gave it to him, then thanked the lieutenant and said goodnight. The Bastian smirked and left, and Jim shut the door behind him and then turned back into his room.

He didn't want to think that it wouldn't be bad, because he knew better. Things could always get worse, and they usually did in his case. Sighing, he walked over to the bed, dropped his bag on the floor, and fell face first onto the bed. The mattress and blankets were soft, and Jim groaned. He'd wanted a blow to the face, not a soft landing. He rolled over and folded his hands behind his head, staring at the ceiling. A wave of exhaustion swept over him, and he felt his eyelids grow heavy. He barely managed to kick off his boots before he fell asleep.

That night he dreamt of violet eyes.

Author's Note: okay, i like that ending a lot better. i had that last little snippet written and it was going to be the beginning of the fourth chapter, but i decided I liked it better as the end of the third. please review and tell me what you think!