Jim and Joshua were sitting in their longboat in silence as it piloted them back to the academy. They couldn't shake the feeling that everything had ended inside that black hole.

Two teachers were waiting on flight platform for incoming students, when they saw Jim and Joshua's longboat landed. They walked over to greet the three returning students, but were suddenly concerned when they only saw two. Jim and Josh got out of the boat and looked at the teachers.

"Mr. Hawkins, Mr. Cain. What was the emergency! Where is Miss Reigns (Sarah)!" Said the teacher. Jim and Josh looked at each other and then at their teachers with expressions of hopelessness.

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A week after all the students had returned and all those who had qualified had graduated, a funeral for Sarah was held on her home planet, Ander. Teachers, students, and parents attended, including Jim and Joshua's families. Since there was no body, they simply used an empty coffin and buried that.

Jim saw Sarah's parents, they looked miserable. He took the time to build up the courage to approach them. They saw Jim walk towards them. He looked at them apologetically and said "I'm sorry. It's my fault that this all happened. I should have kept an eye on her." Jim hung his head low. Sarah's mom moved towards Jim and lifted his head. "Thank you…for being her friend."

Jim couldn't believe it. She wasn't angry at him in the least; even though he was the one who failed to catch her when she fell, and he didn't stay with her to fix the solar surfer that would have saved her.

Sarah's parents left to go back home and Jim took a deep sigh. Jim heard someone walking up from behind, but didn't turn to see who it was. He didn't need to once he said, "I can see why you would be unwilling to speak to them. I wouldn't be surprised if they blame you for what happened to her. They're probably just didn't say anything because there's all these people around."

"It's really a shame, she was a beautiful girl." Tristan said. Jim turned and gave him a mixed expression of anger and despair. Even now, Tristan didn't have any emotions other than his own pride. "Go crawl into a grave, Tristan. Sarah's corpse, where ever it ended up, has more heart than you ever could." Jim walked to his mother's side as she was standing in front of the girl's grave. Jim put his hand on her shoulder and said "Let's go home."

"I'll be coming with you." Joshua said.

"But Josh, what about finding a ship to join?" Jim said.

"It's okay. I can always join a ship when I feel like it, but right now I'm still a little shaken up to be flying again."

"You're welcome with us anytime, Joshua." Said Jim's mom.

Jim and Joshua went back to the Benbow inn; where they had a celebration for Jim and Joshua graduating in one year. Joshua had a good time despite the fact that his friend had died recently. He even found a nice girl while dancing. Jim on the other hand didn't have as good a time. He did dance a little and he was glad that he was able to see his other friends there, but he could let go of the self inflicted burden on his shoulders.

Over the next two months, Jim never rode his sola surfer and worked hard in the Benbow, and Joshua worked in a mechanic's garage. Jim and Josh got many letters requesting their help on ships for special expeditions, but they turned them all down. That is until that one day that Jim was sitting by the window and messing with the halo-shades. Just as Jim hade switched them to the tropical setting, Joshua burst in with a half opened letter from the Galactic Expeditions Guild.

"Jim! Jim!" Josh said breathlessly elated.

"J-Josh? What happened? Did Lexy (the girl Josh met at the party) ask you out or something?" Jim said.

"No! Jim…they found her! They found, Sarah!"