It was the last 9 days of their time at the academy, (Time flies am I right? We're only in the 9th chapter XD) and it was time for the final test of the year. Don't go and think this is an ordinary pencil & paper test CAUSE IT ISN'T! All of the students were gathered in the hall and all of the teachers were in the front of them; ready to give them their final test.
"Students, the staff would like to congratulate you all on making it this far. Now it's time to see which of you will be graduating this year and which of you will be staying for another year." said the principal. "It's time for your survival test! You will be put in groups of three depending on who you work best with. Each group will have a navigator, a mechanic, and a student in the combat class."
"This group will be put on a small uninhabited planet for the last week of your enrollment here. If your group manages to keep a stable lifestyle over the course of the week then you will all graduate!" Jim heard this and was happy that either way he would get to stick around with his friends. "The groups that you have been submitted to are posted outside the hall on the billboard and so is the list of the supplies you will need. You have today to prepare and then you leave tomorrow. Now go get ready!"
With that all the students filed out to see their groups and get the list of supplies. After everyone had seen their groups and gotten a list of supplies, they returned to their dorms to prepare.
"So we only have 8 days left then we find out if it's over not." Jim said.
"Yeah. Time really seemed to really fly by."
"Anyway, according to the list the mechanic of our group, that's you Josh, can bring materials to making anything that we might need to build something. What do you plan on bring?"
Joshua held up the material used to make a solar sail and a small engine. Jim smiled and said,
"I guess that means we'll have a way of getting around out little planet, Where ever it is."
"Yeah, as soon as we build it. We were lucky to get paired with Sarah, but then I guess it's not a surprise. Where is she anyway?" Josh asked.
"She already finished packing so she went to the library to find out as much as possible about the planet we're being put on. Once we're done we'll meet up with her in the library."
They headed for the library and found Sarah in here normal seat hidden behind the geography books.
"Hey, Sarah. What did you find out?" Jim asked.
"Hey, guys. I didn't find out much. All there is to know is that it's small, has lots of trees, and varying levels of elevation." She stated, standing up from her chair.
"That's our girl! We're so lucky to have you; you navigational genius!" Joshua said, putting his arm over her shoulder.
Sarah laughed and said, "Flatter will get you everywhere!" "Okay, come on. We need to go over our supplies one more time before we leave tomorrow. I'm glad we don't have to wear our uniforms during this test. I always hated this uniform." Jim said.
With this, the three of them returned to there dorms and got some rest for what would be their last week at the academy this year.
Jim woke up and changed into his favorite outfit from his home on Montressor. Joshua was wearing a pair of loose fitting pants and a long sleeve blue tunic-like top. They made their way out of the main hall where students were all waiting in groups of three. Everyone was chatting or looking up at the ship Jim recognized as the R.S. Legacy. Jim pointed this out to his friends, and they smiled up to the ship that would be taking them to their temporary 'home.' They said this as an inside joke.
As everyone was boarding the ship, Jim noticed a locket hanging around Sarah's neck that looked like the one his mother had. "Sarah, where did you get that locket? I don't remember you having it before." Jim asked. "Oh, my parents sent it to me just the other day. They wanted me to save some memories from my last couple days here." She said holding up the small gold locket.
She held down a small button on the top of locket and it recorded a short image of Jim and Joshua setting their luggage down on the deck and smiling at her. Sarah let g of the button and the recording stopped. "Memory saved!" she said with a wink.
The teachers wished the students luck and they were off!