~One Year Later~
Jim and Josh were riding a speeding longboat headed straight for... the academy's graduation ceremony! "We're late!" Jim yelled over the roar of the engine for the 5th time. "And whose fault do you think that is!" Josh yelled back at him as he landed hastily on the academy's crowded landing pad. "It's not my fault I had to convince Morph to stay home and out of trouble!" Jim said back as they ran to the entrance of the main hall. In their rush they made the mistake of coming in too fast and making a lot of noise while crashing through the door. The entire main hall turned to the door and saw the captain and his first mate sprawled on the marble floor and looking up to the podium with embarrassed expressions. Sarah, whose hair had grown back to half of its original length and was braided again, was at the podium now. She smiled at them and waved her diploma in the air saying "About time you got here, Captain."
After the ceremony, Jim and Josh were waiting outside the academy for their soon to be new crew member. Sarah appeared from the ornamental doors of the main hall and her eyes landed on her two companions. Sarah raced towards them with her new found strength and speed and leaped into Jim's arms. They spun for a moment as Jim tried to regain his balance and Sarah was returned to the ground. "It was a hard year, although I bet it was much harder for Tristan." Sarah said laughing with Jim and Josh. "I'll bet. It was some of the best news we'd heard when you sent us the letter that Tristan had to go to the academy another year for failing galactic politics. Apparently he didn't get along well with others. Who knew?" Josh joked. "Yeah, yeah; don't forget the letter you wrote us about your first day back." Jim said trying to recall what Sarah had written.
"Oh yes." Sarah cleared her throat preparing to do an impersonation. "'Sarah, you don't know how much I wept at your funeral. I truly thought you were gone for good. Now I can spend another amazing year here at the academy with you.' And then I twisted his arm behind his back and said. 'You can spend this year by yourself and be happy doing so…who knew that the martial arts lessons that you paid for would help me out so much.' Oh, the irony!" Sarah finished her story.
"So Sarah, are you ready to get on board as our new navigator?" Jim said grinning. Sarah pulled her graduation gown over her head to reveal that she was already dressed to set out. She slapped a sailor's hat on her head and saluted him saying, "Ready to sail, Captain Hawkins!" Without a moment's hesitation the three of them jumped into the long boat and as Josh thrust the controls forward the engines burst to life and they took off leaving a permanent scorch mark on the academy's landing pad. The blast of the engines drew everyone's attention as they saw the 3 spacers sailing towards the R.S. Royal.
As soon as they docked the long boat below deck Sarah raced up to stairs to the upper deck. She gazed out at the etherium and let the wind catch her hair as she leaned on the railing. Josh took the wheel and Jim walked up behind Sarah and put his arm around her shoulder. "So then Miss Navigator, can help me calculate the direction to Montressor? I hear that there is a party there just waiting for a certain graduate." Sarah grinned and simply looked out in the direction of Montressor. "Port to starboard by 65 degrees, Captain Hawkins." "Alright then, Josh you heard our navigator." Jim called up to his first mate at the wheel. Josh saluted and the wheel spun around and the ship followed suit.
"Let's go home everyone."
~The End~