A/N: I'm going to skip to their senior year. There isn't much else for me to offer for their junior year. So here we are, in the final chapters, leading up to an ending I hope will make everyone happy.

Interstellar Academy

30: Senior

Jim put on his cadet uniform, it feeling strange against his skin. Nova's looked similarly, only she adorned a crisp white dress skirt instead of pants. The seniors stood in line, ready to give the orders for the week they were on the ship, instead of receiving them.

Nova, Charlotte and Helena, considered the strongest females in their class, led the girls' chores while their friends, Jim, Stav and Ruse, bossed around the boys.

The last semester of their junior year set them up for what was expected during senior year. The training became more vigorous and physical, but their little group managed to keep up and then some, proving themselves worthy to continue into their final semesters.

During the summer, the seniors were encouraged to become as physically and mentally trained as humanly possible, since this upcoming year was going to weed out the rest of those who didn't deserve to graduate. It was going to be a treacherous journey, but they were prepared.

They landed a week later, the seniors marching out first before the rest of the crew. Jim led the boys while Nova led the girls. They didn't even look at each other the whole time, focused on the task at hand- leading. The class was to meet in the dining hall, where the dean wanted to speak with them as a whole.

Sitting down, the uniformity ceased and the chattering began. Nova reached subtly for her boyfriend's hand, and he grasped hers in return.

"You guys still haven't spent a break together?" Ruse asked, surprised.

"We didn't have time this summer," Jim answered, caressing Nova's knuckles thoughtlessly with his thumb.

"He was helping out his mother, and I was with my brother, traveling."

"You two are seriously the worst couple in existence," said Helena, huffing and turning away.

In Ruse's direction.

All of them have been waiting for the two of them to make a move for the past three years. And you know what they say: third year's the charm.

"Seniors," the dean boomed over the microphone, his expression utterly serious. "I know that this next year will probably change the lot of you. And there's a chance very few of you will… make it any further." An ominous hush consumed them. This news, they knew. Jim and Nova snuck glances at each other, silently promising to stick it out to the end. "But times are also becoming grave, and if you do happen to leave because of that, know this: you made it farther than many would have bothered to attempt. For that, we are proud of you."

Nova knew exactly what grave times he was referring to. Her parents were losing control over their planets, and anarchy was building, verging upon war. If things got any worse, people would get drafted.

Jim would be one of them.

Once he turned eighteen, he signed the waiver that allowed him to be pulled from school if the need for able-bodied men grew. Though it broke her heart, the thought of him possibly going to war, she knew he would do it, if it meant keeping her safe.

"Let us, however, stayed focused on our goals, and stick right to them. Whatever path calls for you after this year, know that your time here was not a waste, and you will leave a trail of gold behind each and everyone of you. You are dismissed."

After dinner, the seniors were allowed to change to more casual clothing. Pulling on a pair of jeans and black t-shirt, Jim joined his fellow seniors at the beach for a small party. He wrapped his arms slowly around Nova, surprising her at first before she leaned back into him.

"I have two goals after graduating," Jim said softly, the mumbles of his fellow students fading into the air.

"Oh? What are they?"

"To captain a whole fleet of ships, first off."

Nova smiled back at him, her eyes glowing. "And the second?"

His smile was warm but scheming. "You'll find out eventually."

Someone had brought a guitar and improvised some local tunes. The young adults sang and clapped along, some of them even gathering around a bonfire to dance. Helena, tying back her hair, grabbed hold of Ruse's hands and pulled him to the center. The green alien, though evidently embarrassed, gleamed at the attention from his pink-skinned companion.

Nova's heart warmed as she watched them, glad that someone finally put one foot forward. She rested her head on Jim's shoulder, closing her eyes and allowing herself to melt into the moment.

"You're thinking about something," he said softly.

"Just you. And the upcoming year."

"Me too. And afterward."

"Mmmhmm…"

He held up her hand to his lips and pecked it lightly, sending a jolt through her, causing her to open her eyes. She gazed into his eyes longingly, but also with a sadness he couldn't quite comprehend.

"And to think," she whispered, so only he could hear her, "we met over three and a half years ago."

"The best three years of my life." He breathed heavily, as if inhaling everything going on around him to commit to memory. "When I first saw you, my whole world went into slow motion. All I saw, all I wanted to see, was you. You were stunning and beautiful, and your eyes when you looked at me for the first time were so wide and full of wonder. When we touched that first time, when I caught you, my skin felt electric. I still get that way." He looked back at her now, so she could truly see the truth in his words. "You fill me with so much emotion and so many feelings, I can't understand them half the time. But the other half tells me to just roll with it, and it doesn't matter if I understand right then because it still makes sense. To be with you and feel this way, it's natural, like breathing."

Nova's heart just about leapt out of her chest, his words hit right home. She felt the exact same way, breathless and yet alive around him. Though it was always harder for her to voice something so serious aloud. "I love you."

"I love you," he said, as if making a promise.

So the year progressed quickly. By the end of week one, they had developed enough bruises and sores to break a world record. As their days turned into weeks, the problems started to ensue.

People disappeared, students stopped showing up for class without even getting admitted from the school. Panic ensued all over campus, though the faculty tried to play stupid about the entire thing.

"Who do you think is doing it?" asked Charlotte in a low voice, as if she was trying to keep a secret.

"I don't want to think about it," Nova said, holding her stomach and pushing her tray away.

"They say the culprit is a fellow student, a senior," continued the blue haired alien, her eyes shining with scandal. "I mean, wouldn't that be weird, to know you could be sitting right next to a kidnapper?"

"Ch-Charlotte!" Nova said, her body beginning to shake from nerves.

"Hey, it's true."

"James Hawkins." A large mass formed a dark shadow just behind Jim, and he turned around to glare at whoever dared call him by his real name.

It was an officer, dangling a set of handcuffs.

"Can I help you?" Though the attempted to act nonchalant, inside he was screaming. He hadn't- knowingly- broken any laws since he'd been with Silver. What could he have done?

"You're under arrest." Another officer rolled up, using his large mechanic arms to pull Jim out of his seat while the other restrained him. "For murder."