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Interstellar Academy
10: Captured
Here it came: Spring break. The one time of the year where everyone used this very week as an excuse to act like an idiot. Nova's family didn't need her, so she decided to spend time with Charlotte. Helena had gotten a break from her studying abroad and decided to join in. Before they knew it, the whole gang was back together, regular- despite Jim's broken leg.
They were at the beach, lounging and plotting their week long festivities.
"What do you wanna do?" Charlotte asked to no one in particular. Then she turned to Nova. "I bet your planet has to be holding some type of party, right?"
Nova's eyes widened at being put on the spot, then sat up on her elbows, contemplating a moment. "Not as far as I know. We don't party, really. We just plot the deaths of others, have brief celebrations, go on to the next." Nova shrugged. She acted so nonchalant about her planet's unnecessary slaughtering and hostile take-overs.
"What are you gonna do when you're queen, Nova?" Helena asked, a bit annoyed. "You're nothing like that. I couldn't see you taking over an entire planet. Unless it was bunnies or something."
Nova sniffed defensively at her, then said, "Well, if I'm lucky, my older brother will be the heir."
"He's your twin, Nova."
"And more bent on destroying other planets than I am." She sighed. "Now I'm depressed."
"OH LOOK A CHANGE IN SUBJECT!" Charlotte pointed upward, and of course everyone followed her direction. This caused a small spurt of laughter.
"Onto real business, people," the green-skinned alien said, clapping her hands for emphasis. "It officially starts in two days, and we need to find somewhere we can go in that short amount of time, have some fun, then be back in time for exams."
They put their heads together, having formed a star with their lounging bodies. Then Jim looked over at Nova. "You miss swimming, don't you?"
She blushed under his gaze, almost losing her train of thought. She composed herself enough to nod at his question.
Being a sunmaid, it was easy for her to change by will. But there were two things that made her change involuntarily: plasma (which was why she couldn't come into contact with Morph) and water. She wished she could swim in the ocean like everyone else, but she couldn't risk being exposed. Half the people here were treasure hunters, and finding a rare creature in their midst was probably the best way to get yourself caught, killed, and hung in someone's living room.
She shuddered just thinking about it.
"How about Sunset Port? It's not too far from here, and it's pretty much secluded."
"It's because of those scary rumors," Helena said, shivering. Ruse rested a reassuring hand on her shoulder, which she took instant comfort in.
"Rumors?" Nova turned to him, confused. "What type of rumors?"
"Like that the Port is haunted and full of spirits." Jim rolled his eyes. Obviously, he didn't take the rumors seriously.
"Oooh, sounds like fun!" Charlotte hopped to her feet. "Let's do that! We can allow li'l Nova to swim, and then go on a ghost hunt!" Before anyone could protest, she'd rushed off to the dorms, holding her ears and singing obnoxiously to drown out any negative words.
"She's so stubborn," Nova giggled, helping Jim to his feet. "But are you sure it's secluded? I just… if I got caught…"
Jim shrugged. "I'll just have to blast 'em down."
"Jim-"
"I'm kidding." He ruffled her hair. "No one's going to catch you. No one's gonna do a thing while I'm standing there. I mean, look at this thing!" He gestured to his leg. "This can, you know, break your head open or something. Hard stuff."
She laughed at his mild humor, extending her arm so he could use that as a crutch. He kept "forgetting" his crutch in his dorm, but she knew the truth. They could do mild couple-y things, and no one could really accuse them. She was helping a forgetful friend walk around. No harm in that.
And during Spring Break, maybe they could go from mild to fiery couple-y things?
Nova's cheeks burned at the thought, and she faced the ocean to hide her face.
They'd packed and left that night, triple checking they had all the money and supplies needed for a five day, four night trip.
"Helena," Stav complained, throwing his head back. "We've been over this list a billion times. Stop. Just, let's go. Get on the longboat."
Ruse and Nova had rented two longboats: one for their luggage and one for the people going. Ruse steered one and Jim the other. Nova wasn't comfortable with Jim steering a longboat- or doing anything strenuous- but he insisted that since he'd had the most experience out of all of them, that it made the most sense he steer one ship.
It took half a day to steer out there- they realized halfway there that leaving right before sundown was probably a bad idea- and instantly checked into their two rooms for a night's rest. They woke up mid-morning, Nova wide awake in the girls' room, throwing on her bathing suit.
"Nova, it's eleven in the morning," Helena groaned, glancing at the automatic clock with the holographic image of the time.
"I know! And NO ONE IS OUTSIDE. No one! I'm taking advantage of this!" Nova was about to leave when her friends called out to her.
"We want to see!"
Nova's eyes widened, confused. "See what?"
"YOU, stupid." Helena rolled her eyes. "We know how you don't like being looked at like a prized cut, but seriously, after all the stories, we really want to see."
Nova bit her lip, but a smile was ghosting on her lips. "OK. But be quiet!" The other two girls changed and ran to the beach, towels in hand.
They escaped to a more secluded area. As they lay down their towels and Nova was about to run off, they heard the faint sound of people.
"Oh no!" Nova grew nervous, then smiled brightly when she noticed one of them wobbling, and a familiar mess of brown hair. "Oh…"
Helena and Charlotte snickered at Nova's reddened cheeks, but she ignored them.
"Care if we join you ladies?" asked Stav in a falsely formal voice.
"Only if you race Nova," Helena challenged, eyeing them both.
Nova and Stav glanced at each other, then she shrugged. "You really don't have a chance, robot."
"OH IT IS ON." Stav took off the shirt he was wearing then ran to the shore. Nova joined him there looking back at Helena for a signal.
"Ready?"
They bent their knees.
"Set!"
Now they placed the balls of their feet deep into the sand.
"Go!"
Stav had the running advantage- as long as Nova had feet, she would be slower.
"I don't see Nova winning this one," Ruse said, already doubting her.
"You've seen nothing yet, friend. Watch." Jim pointed to the sunmaid.
And before their eyes, as she finally dove into the water, they watched the water around her turn a crystal white then shift around her body. The next time she came up, it was to gain an advantage by flipping ahead of Stav. Her white tail shone in the light, and stars clung to her loose hair like ribbons. Stav almost stopped in his tracks, but kept pushing forward.
"How far out are they going?" Charlotte asked, growing worried.
"There seems to be a boat out there-" Helena began, as if to mark the line. Then she repeated herself, the words sinking into all of their heads. "A BOAT."
They began waving their two friends down, hoping to get their attention. Stav stopped first, noticing their waving. Nova stopped right behind him, swimming up beside him. "What are they waving about?"
Stav used his eyes to magnify them. He initially believed they were cheering them on. Then he noticed their panicked behavior. He focused strictly on them and zoned in with his ears. "Boat?"
Nova gasped, turning around. The boat was coming for them quickly; no doubt they'd seen Nova's tail.
"I was so careless!" she cursed herself, swimming back toward the beach. "I have to go under for awhile. Tell them I'll be fine, but to go back to their rooms and NOT TO SAY A WORD."
"Aye aye!" Stav swam back to the beach, meeting up with them. When they asked questions about Nova's location, he reiterated what she'd told him to say.
"What if their poachers!" Charlotted said, holding hair nervously.
"Then, like Nova said, we don't say anything." Jim looked at each of his friends in the eye. "Not a single word." They nodded solemnly and headed back to their rooms. Jim waited a couple hours before hobbling back. The boat was still scanning the area. He heard a hissing noise not too far from where he was standing. He searched for the culprit then found her.
Nova had his herself in some foliage growing by the shore just left a ways. He wobbled over to her, leaning against a tree and looking as casual as possible.
"Why haven't you gotten out yet?"
"I can't start walking until I'm completely dry. I don't know how long that could take. And they could see me by then." She sighed. "I was silly and careless. I should have been looking more cautiously around me."
Jim plopped onto the ground and reached and hand out to her. She instantly took it. Her skin felt strange, rougher than usual. He knew it was her sunmaid skin, scales having dominated the other layer. She bopped her head out and then her torso, watching the boat's position to make sure she was completely safe.
"Hey, don't worry. I'm here. So you'll be fine." He bent down low enough to kiss her forehead.
When the boat looked like it was turning away, she hopped out of the water and took Jim's towel, trying to dry herself off quickly and efficiently. Her tail disappeared and her legs came back, her skin the soft texture he was used to.
"That was close…"
"It was indeed!" Jim and Nova whipped their heads around at the new, unfamiliar voice. A man in a scuba uniform approached them, a collar in one hand and a rope in the other. Anyone with eyes could see both were tampered with.
No doubt used for special sunmaid catching reasons.
"You could have actually gotten away! That would have been a shame, yes?" His voice was muffled by his scuba mask, but he spoke loudly enough that his words were still clear.
Nova stood up, helping Jim to his feet. He pulled out a flintlock and pointed it at their newest enemy. "I really don't want to have to use this; if it looks tampered with, I won't get a passing grade!"
"Then step aside, little mister, so I can take your friend here for a spin." One could hear the smirk under that horrible mask.
"Try it, 'little mister'," Jim mocked, readying his weapon for the first shot.
From behind, Nova felt someone put pressure on her neck, a weight suddenly on her shoulders. She shot her hands up, and someone grabbed hold of one, whirling her around to catch the other. Restraining the girl's hands was rather easy- she was too shocked to say or do anything about it. Finally, she let out a scream, but not to warn Jim of the new person who'd shown up.
A lightning hot pain ran through her whole body, sending her tumbling to the ground.
"Nova!" he hollered, about to turn around when someone smacked him with something blunt in the back of the head. He instantly fell to the ground, face first, his head throbbing. His vision was too blurred and becoming blacker from the blow. Then everything around him went dark and disappeared.