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Jim looked around as he stepped off the shuttle in Arizona. It felt strange to be back on American soil after eight months. After Russia, he had managed to work his way through a good deal of Europe and part of Africa – hitchhiking, picking up odd jobs for café owners and various other shops. Italy was really beautiful, he had to admit, and he regretted not spending more time in Nigeria, but he had a few things he wanted to check up on. So, after a brief stop in Alabama to take care of some legal issues, here he was.

His trusty PADD had come in handy, and he had managed to locate most of his kids. He had plans to see a few of them over the next week. He was starting here, in Phoenix, because April was currently studying at the University. Next, he would make his way to California; Kevin was living with his aunt and uncle in Sacramento, while Tom's cousin had moved back to Earth, and they were living in Berkley, and Cory had been taken in by a foster family in San Francisco.

He wasn't sure if he would actually make contact, but he needed to know that they were all right. His comm. chimed at that moment, and Jim took it out, smiling as he read the message from Pavel.

The younger boy had messaged and called him regularly over the last eight months, and even with the age difference, he liked the kid a lot. He felt like an older brother, and he liked being there for Pavel to come to for help and advice. He had talked the kid through several bouts of teasing – he had a lot of experience with that – and had helped when Pavel's parents got difficult. From what he had learned from Anya, their parents had been simple people who wanted their kids to have more in life. That was why Anya had ended up on Tarsus in the first place. Perhaps losing their daughter to their wishes had made them a tad too overprotective of Pavel, but Jim knew the boy was more like his sister than his parents may have wanted. He wouldn't be held back, and he wouldn't stay in Syurye any longer than necessary. He wanted to see the universe, the same way Anya had. Jim had told him about her desire to join Starfleet, and while he worried that that may have had some influence on his current plan, Jim suspected Pavel now nursed the same dream. He hoped that Pavel wanted to join for himself, and not his sister.

The most recent message included some physics questions that Jim was fairly certain wouldn't come up until one studied for a college degree, but who was he to judge. By Pavel's age, he was already studying for his first Bachelor's. He had told Pavel about his educational history, and that had inspired the young Russian to follow in his footsteps. He was currently preparing to test out of high school; his parents had reluctantly given their permission, so at least he hadn't needed to forge any signatures. Pavel was already looking into higher education, and turning quite frequently to Jim for advice.

Speaking of… that reminded him of the other reason he had for coming back to America. He had plans to head to the MIT campus in Massachusetts after his stop in Nevada. As much as he had enjoyed his traveling, he was getting kind of bored. He had applied to the distance-learning graduate program MIT offered, and they wanted him to come in for an interview. He had also applied for financial aid, as he would never be able to afford the education without it. He had looked around at other programs, but MIT had a renowned reputation when it came to science and engineering. He suspected he would need to take a few classes on campus, but most of the program could be completed through distance learning, so he wouldn't be too tied down.

Jim sent Pavel a reply, giving him a few hints to the answer of the problem he had posed, along with a subtle chastising that he wouldn't learn anything if Jim gave him the answer straight out. Once the message was composed, he put his comm. away and headed towards the transport that would take him from the shuttle depot into the city. There was a stop at the University campus, so it wouldn't take much effort to at least get in the same vicinity as April. Actually finding her, of course, was another matter entirely, but he would deal with that once he reached the campus.

The transport took about half an hour, so soon enough, Jim was getting off in the bright sunlight of midday. He hoisted his bag up on his shoulder, and shaded his eyes against the glare as he looked around. It was a pleasant enough campus, decorated with plants that thrived in the desert-like atmosphere. Groups of students were hanging around, sitting on the grass and studying or talking. Jim sighed wistfully at the sight. As much as he hated being tied to one place, and as much as he had enjoyed traveling over the last few months, it did get kind of lonely. The only friends he had ever had had been separated from him. Hopefully, he would be able to see some of them soon. Even if he didn't actually speak with them, just knowing that they were doing all right would be good enough for him.

With no better plan in mind, Jim just started walking. He wandered the campus for most of the afternoon, before he sat down outside the student center with a coffee and a sandwich, taking a break, as he had had no luck so far. Maybe he would have better luck if he just stayed in one place for a while.

He was about to give up and just try again the next day, when a group of students heading out of the student center caught his interest. Sandwiched between two guys was a very familiar brunette. She had definitely filled out more, and her eyes had lost the haunted look, but it was April, no doubt about it.

Jim hurriedly stood up and followed the group of three students, throwing his trash away as he passed a waste receptacle. He followed the teenagers as they walked across the quad, making their way towards what looked to be several residence halls.

Jim watched as the group sat outside in the dying sunlight, pulling out PADDs as they talked and joked with each other.

Jim also sat down, bringing out his own PADD, though he spent more time watching April than he did looking at the screen. She seemed to be happy, in good spirits, and healthy. His research had shown that she was a pre-med student, just starting her second year. He tried not to remember her acting as their CMO in that dark and damp cave on Tarsus. She had said she wanted to be a doctor. He was glad that she was following through with that dream.

He kept watching, as the sun continued to set, and finally, the group broke up, heading inside. April stood up and stretched, looking around. Her gaze swept over Jim's spot on the grass, and he hurriedly ducked behind his PADD.

When he looked up again, she was gone. He looked around, confused, and then jumped almost a foot when a familiar voice spoke right behind him. "You've been watching me for over an hour. What gives?"

Jim turned around quickly, and gulped. He hadn't decided yet if he wanted to actually speak with her. Apparently, she had decided to take the choice out of his hands. He coughed, clearing his throat, as his cheeks turned red.

April frowned and looked down at the boy. He was several years younger than her, definitely not college aged. He also looked strangely familiar.

Suddenly she gasped, the color leeching from her face as she dropped to the ground. "JT?" she whispered in disbelief.

Jim grimaced, and nodded, looking fearful of her response.

After a moment of shocked silence, she reached over and grabbed him in a tight hug. "Oh, I'm so glad you're here! I missed you so much, are you all right? What's going on, why are you here?"

The questions came fast and one right after the other, without giving Jim a chance to answer. He chuckled a little as April pulled back, amused at her response to his presence.

He shook his head fondly. "Nothing's wrong. I just wanted to check up on you." He looked down. "I just wanted to make sure you were OK."

April smiled and scooted a little closer. "I'm glad you're here," she repeated. "What have you been doing?"

Jim told her a little of his travels. He mentioned meeting Pavel, and hitchhiking through Europe, and told her about the reason for his coming back to America.

April snorted and shook her head. "No wonder you were so smart and such a great tutor," she mused. "You already had two degrees. Why in the world did you feel the need to repeat high school?"

Jim shrugged. It had seemed like a good idea at the time.

April sighed. "Well, I'm sure you had your reasons. Besides, it meant that we got to meet you, so it all worked out."

Jim smiled, knowing she was including Anya in that statement.

April looked around. "It's getting late. How about you let me buy you dinner." Though it was phrased as a question, Jim knew it wasn't. This was the April he remembered, the one who would give him that look and make him rest when he forgot, make him eat when he tried to give his share to the younger kids too many times. He smiled and nodded, as they stood up and headed off in the direction of a café April knew nearby.

Over the meal, the two continued to catch up on each other's lives. When it was over, April tried to get him to come back to her room for the night, but Jim refused. "I'm headed to California tonight," he told her. "Don't worry, I've got a place to sleep."

April bit her lip, but nodded. "You'll take care of yourself, all right?"

Jim smiled and agreed. "Only if you will," he replied. He then gave her his comm. number and told her to keep in touch, before giving her one last hug and making his way back to the transport that would take him to the shuttle depot.

XXX

The trip to San Francisco was uneventful. It was late evening by the time Jim arrived, so he made his way straight to the two-story home just off the Starfleet campus. He knew that Chris and Shay were somewhere near the Neutral Zone right now, but Chris had said that he would always have a place to stay if he needed it, so Jim was taking advantage. He entered the passcode to disable the security system, and entered the dark house.

He was too tired to do much more than make his way to the guest bedroom he had slept in months earlier, dropping his bag unceremoniously on the floor as he made his way through the room to the bed and collapsed onto the comfortable mattress, asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.

The next morning, he replicated himself some breakfast, before making his way to the Sunset District, where Cory lived. It was a weekday, so he knew his cousin would be in school.

Jim headed to Lincoln High School, and spent most of the morning waiting outside, just watching the building. He didn't know how or if he should approach Cory any more than he had known with April. He missed his cousin, but he still felt so guilty. He hadn't been strong enough to save Lisa. Because of him, Kodos had killed her, painfully.

A bell rang, and kids came pouring out the front entrance, most carrying trays or bags with food. Lunchtime.

Jim shuffled slightly, scuffing his feet in the dirt. He didn't know why he expected to actually see his cousin amongst the hundreds of students now eating their lunches, but hey, he had found April. Maybe he'd get lucky again.

It wasn't until the meal was over when Jim proved that even he could catch a break. Trailing behind a group of rambunctious teenage boys, was his cousin. After a brief moment of deliberation, Jim let out a series of whistles.

Most of the teenagers didn't notice, but Cory stopped, confused. He turned around and looked for the source. He knew that whistle quite well, having become familiar with it being used as a way of contacting the others on Tarsus. That particular tune was one they had used when returning to the cave after going on a run, to let the others know they were coming back, so they wouldn't be attacked as a perceived threat.

Cory's gaze narrowed on a lone figure standing across the road from the school grounds. He was taller and definitely healthier, but it was his cousin. Cory grinned widely and ran across the road, nearly tackling Jim in his eagerness.

Jim smiled tightly, and returned the hug. After a few moments, the two teenagers pulled apart.

Cory was still beaming. "Jimmy, I missed you so much."

Jim nodded, feeling a churning sensation in his stomach, even though he was happy to see his cousin. "I missed you too, Cory. How've you been?"

Cory took a seat on the grass, and Jim joined him. "Good," the teenager replied. "Mark and Hannah are really nice and understanding," he spoke of his foster parents. He looked down. "Nothing will replace my parents, but they're definitely better than I could have had."

Jim winced. He knew a thing or two about crappy home situations.

Cory saw the look, and knew what it meant. "What's going on with you?" he asked, hoping it would be good news. "Are you still living in Iowa?"

Jim shook his head quickly. "I skipped out about eight months ago," he admitted. "I just couldn't deal with Frank anymore." Cory rested a hand on his for a moment, trying to pass on his sympathy. Jim shrugged. "I did a little traveling in Europe and Africa, and now I'm back. I saw April yesterday."

"How is she?" Cory asked eagerly. He hadn't had any contact with the others since they had left the Seymour.

Jim smiled. "Good. Studying at Arizona State University. She's going to be a great doctor."

Cory nodded. April had done a good job of keeping them alive in that cave.

Jim coughed to clear his throat, and continued. "I'm going to see Tom and Kevin while I'm here as well."

Cory grinned. "Have you been keeping tabs on all of us?" Jim looked guilty, and Cory shook his head. "Come on, Jimmy, I know you're a genius. You knew where to find me, and April. You know where to find the others too, don't you."

It wasn't a question, despite the phrasing. Jim nodded slowly, and Cory stood up quickly. "Well, come on then!"

Jim stood as well, confused. Cory smiled. "You think I'm going to let you see Tom and Kevin without tagging along? Where are they?"

Jim shook his head exasperatedly, but amused. He picked up his bag. "Come on," he chuckled. "Tom and his cousin live in Berkley. Kevin's in Sacramento, so I'll probably head out there tomorrow."

Cory nodded. "I'm coming to Sacramento too," he stated.

Jim bit his lip. "You've got school," he argued. "I don't want to get you in trouble –"

Cory cut in, "I'm coming. We can always go after school lets out." His tone made it clear he wouldn't take no for an answer, so Jim just nodded and led his cousin to the nearest bus stop.

The two teenagers arrived in Berkley almost an hour later. Cory followed his cousin away from the bus station, trusting that he knew where he was going.

Jim led him towards the college campus. "Tom's studying at UC Berkley," he informed his companion.

Cory nodded. "Do you know where on campus you'll find him?"

Jim shrugged. "I managed to run into April," he commented. Cory raised an eyebrow, and Jim sighed. "I figure if we find the science building, we'll have a good shot."

Cory agreed, as the two walked through the campus, passing hordes of young adults as they made their way to and from class.

The science building was easy enough to find; it gleamed in the sunlight, the glass walls reflecting the brightness and throwing it back in their eyes.

Jim led Cory up to the entrance, and sat down on a bench across the path. They waited for a while, talking sporadically as they kept an eye on the entrance to the building.

"Are you sure this is going to work?" Cory asked as it neared dinnertime.

Jim shrugged. "No," he replied simply.

A few more minutes passed, and just as Cory was going to suggest trying again the next day, his attention was drawn to a young boy exiting the building. He looked younger than his classmates, and half his face was covered by a patch.

Cory shook his head. He should know by now never to doubt Jimmy.

He looked over at his cousin, and was surprised to see something that looked like fear on the older boy's face. "Jimmy?" he asked worriedly, "Are you all right?"

Jim took a deep steadying breath and stood up, nodding to show his cousin that he was fine. He then made his way towards Tom, Cory following close behind.

Tom was heading across campus to the bus station that would take him back to his cousin's house when he got a niggling feeling in his stomach. He looked around, confused, and his gaze focused on two teenagers heading towards him. He frowned. Most of the people he saw on campus were older than him, but these two appeared to be his age.

They walked up to him and stopped, and Tom furrowed his brow.

The one on the left was the first to speak. He grinned and launched himself across the short distance to hug the Berkley student. "Tom!" he grinned happily.

Tom gasped slightly as he finally placed the two teenagers. "Cory? JT?" he whispered disbelievingly.

Cory nodded as he pulled back, still smiling. "I missed you so much!"

Tom inclined his head in a daze, still surprised.

Jim moved forward slowly, hesitantly. Tom reached out, almost as if he didn't believe his friend was standing in front of him. "JT?" he whispered again, grabbing the boy who had saved him in a tight hug.

Jim wasn't going to admit that a few tears leaked from his eyes as he leaned into the embrace. "It's me, Tom," he replied, his voice just as soft.

Tom pulled back a few long moments later. "I wanted to say goodbye, in the hospital, but they wouldn't let me see you. Something about talking to an active witness. After they debriefed me, they wouldn't let me go back to Starfleet Medical."

Jim shrugged. "It's all right," he said comfortingly. "Anyway, I escaped a few days after you left."

Tom raised an eyebrow. Jim smirked. "I didn't feel like answering questions, especially since I knew what they would be asking." He looked down. "I didn't want to be offered up like a piece of property or something. That's how that Captain made me feel. I didn't want to deal with it, so I left."

Tom nodded, understanding. The trio began to walk across campus together, heading for the bus stop. "What made you look me up now?" he asked as they walked. He knew better than to ask how Jim had found him. His best friend was a genius. He figured Jim had been keeping tabs on him since he had left the hospital.

Jim bit his lip. "I've been in Europe and Africa for the last eight months or so," he informed his friend. "I got back to America a couple days ago. I saw April, and Cory," he nodded to his cousin, "and I'm planning to check up on Kevin as well, while I'm here, before I head to Massachusetts. I've got an interview at MIT, for their grad program."

Tom grinned, happy for his friend. "MIT won't know what hit them," he commented.

There was a devious hint behind Jim's responding smirk that made Tom and Cory laugh.

The three teenagers spent more time at the bus stop talking, until Tom had to return to his cousin's house, and Cory realized that he had stayed out past dinner. He grimaced before moving away to contact his foster parents to let them know he was all right, and that he'd be home before curfew.

Jim and Tom watched him speak on his comm. as they continued to talk. "What time are you going to see Kevin?" Tom asked curiously. "And where does he live?"

Jim smiled slightly. "Sacramento," he responded. "Cory and I are going to catch a shuttle up there tomorrow afternoon."

Tom nodded. "I'll meet you at the depot in San Francisco at three."

Jim raised an eyebrow. "Don't you have class?"

"I'd rather see Kevin."

Jim's smile widened. "We'll see you at three," he said, as Cory rejoined them.

Tom was the first to get on a bus, and Cory and Jim got on one that would take them back to San Francisco a few minutes later.

"Are your foster parents angry?" Jim asked worriedly. He hadn't meant to get Cory in trouble.

Cory shook his head quickly. "They were worried and a little upset that I didn't contact them earlier, but they were glad that I did let them know I was all right. They said we'd talk more when I got home."

Jim nodded, and the rest of the trip passed in silence.

They separated once they arrived back in San Francisco, with a promise to meet at the shuttle depot the next afternoon.

XXX

The next morning found Jim on a beach, watching surfers and swimmers. There were boats off in the distance, and for a school day, the beach was rather crowded.

Growing up in Iowa, Jim had never seen much of the ocean. He loved it though; it was powerful, and intense, and wouldn't bow to anyone. It was strong and resilient. Everlasting.

A shout drew his attention towards a group located in the surf. They looked to be teenagers, his age or a little older, and there was clearly an argument of some sort going on. He frowned; the way the disagreement seemed to be headed, it would probably come to blows in a few moments. He stood up quickly, and made his way towards the group.

He was a little too late to stop the altercation. One of the teenagers, an Asian kid approximately seventeen or eighteen years old, clocked one of the other guys with a hard right hook. He scowled as the man went down. "Next time you wanna drop in on someone else's wave, bro, don't."

His friends seemed to take offense, but Jim joined them, sliding up to the Asian guy's side, his stance balanced and ready for a fight. "Is there a problem?" he asked dangerously, his expression neutral though his eyes were sharp.

After a moment of silence, the three kids he had been staring at shook their heads sullenly and walked away.

Jim waited until they were gone before he relaxed his expression.

He turned to his side to see the Asian guy staring at him with something like confusion and gratitude in his expression. "Thanks," he told Jim, smiling. "I didn't really fancy three on one odds."

Jim nodded, returning the smile. "I figured you could use some help."

The kid held out his hand. "I'm Hikaru," he introduced himself.

Jim took the offered hand. "Jim."

"You surfing?" Hikaru asked, looking to see if Jim had a board.

Jim shook his head. "I'm from Iowa," he admitted. "Not much place to learn, if you know what I mean."

Hikaru smiled. "You got time now? Everyone should know how!"

Jim couldn't help but laugh. "If you're willing to teach, I'm happy to learn. I'm afraid I don't have a wetsuit though."

Hikaru shrugged. "No problem," he replied, leading Jim over to his bag. He pulled out a spare wetsuit. "Put that on, I've got a spare board as well. How much time do you have?"

Jim slipped into the wetsuit as he spoke. "I'm meeting friends at the shuttle depot at three, but I'm available tomorrow as well."

Hikaru nodded. "Well, we'll just have to do the best we can in the time we've got. I hope you're a fast learner."

Jim just smirked and followed Hikaru to the water after picking up the board the teenager pointed to.

The rest of the morning and early afternoon disappeared quickly as Hikaru showed Jim how to paddle and stand up on the board, before he deemed Jim ready to try for a wave. Jim did indeed prove to be a fast learner, and by the time he had to leave to meet Cory and Tom, he was surfing like a… well, not quite a pro, but he was definitely better than most beginners.

The two headed back to shore, both kids beaming with happiness. Hikaru grinned as they made it to dry land. "You're a natural, Jim. I had a great time."

Jim nodded. "Me too. That was so much fun."

He stripped out of his borrowed wetsuit and toweled himself dry before putting his clothes back on. "I'll see you tomorrow?" he asked, confirming.

Hikaru nodded. "I'll meet you by the rental shop," he pointed out the building located near the parking lot. "You can borrow my board and suit again, but it's an easily recognizable meeting spot." Jim agreed. "You up for an early start? It's much better before the beach gets crowded by tourists," he grinned.

Jim smiled back. "Eight sound good, or were you thinking earlier?"

"Sounds great," Hikaru replied, and the two teenagers separated. Hikaru headed back to the waves, while Jim left for the bus stop.

XXX

Seeing Kevin again was both easier and harder than the others had been for Jim. On the one hand, he had already gone through this meeting a few times. But Kevin had been so young. He had gone looking for JT, and gotten captured. Jim would never be able to forgive himself for that.

Fortunately, Kevin didn't hold him responsible, and was ecstatic to see Jim, Tom, and Cory again. He actually saw them first, as he walked down the street with his aunt and uncle on their way to the grocery store, and his enthusiasm made them all smile as he bounded towards Jim, throwing his arms around the older boy.

Kevin then gave Tom and Cory similar greetings, as his aunt and uncle joined them, looking confused and wary.

Jim took the lead with the adults, introducing themselves as friends of Kevin's, though he didn't say where they had met. By the way their eyes narrowed, he figured they probably guessed anyway. Fortunately, they didn't say anything, and though they remained cool and distant, they allowed the trio of boys to join them for the afternoon. They took Kevin to a nearby park while the adults did their shopping, and both had to admit, Kevin looked happier than they had ever seen him when they came to pick him up.

Jim, Tom, and Cory returned to the San Francisco area feeling much calmer and more balanced, having exchanged comm. numbers with Kevin, and seeing that he was doing well with his family.

Tom gave Cory and Jim a hug when they reached the shuttle depot in San Francisco. "You'll keep in touch?" he asked, pulling back and looking at Jim worriedly.

Jim smiled and nodded. "I'll be around," he promised. "If you need anything, just comm. me."

Tom nodded before he boarded the shuttle that would take him back to Berkley.

Cory left Jim soon after, needing to get home for dinner, already on thin ice with his foster parents after the day before.

Jim returned to Chris' house, eager to get some rest before he met up with Hikaru again for another surf lesson.

XXX

Hikaru was waiting for him when Jim arrived at the rental shop the next morning. The two spent the day riding the waves, only returning to land briefly for something to eat at lunchtime.

In between sets, they sat on their boards and learned about their new friend. Jim learned that Hikaru was seventeen and studying for his pilot's license. He was also a daredevil and an adrenaline junky. Whether it was rock climbing or hang gliding, Hikaru loved it. Jim could see the allure. He did have a bit of daredevil in him as well. Something he had picked up over the years of being put down and ignored. He never felt more alive than when he was a moment from death.

Jim almost wished he didn't have to go to Massachusetts the next day, but it would only be a short trip, and then he could come back. Or he could head somewhere else. He didn't have any real commitments, and he had saved up a little, and was getting better at bartering service for food or transport. He wouldn't mind going back to Africa, or perhaps Asia this time. Or maybe Australia. He'd love to see the Great Barrier Reef.

"If you could do anything, what would it be?" Hikaru asked late in the afternoon, as they rested on their boards out in the water.

Jim looked over at his new friend. "Anything?" he asked warily. Hikaru nodded, smiling. Jim shrugged, looking at the vast expanse of sea around them. "I don't know," he admitted. "I can't really picture myself doing anything indefinitely. I don't like to stay in one place too long." The way he said it suggested to Hikaru a story he would not enjoy hearing. "If I could be anything, I think I'd just like to be… happy."

Hikaru blinked. His new friend struck him as a live in the moment, fly by the seat of his pants type of guy. Someone who couldn't be restrained but was an overall good person. That answer though, it hinted at a sad past, a deep longing, and a desire to just be free. Someone who had been fighting to live his whole life.

Jim looked embarrassed, so Hikaru laughed lightly and agreed. "That does sound pretty good. I want to fly. I'm not really shy about how. Whether it's through the air or through the water. There's nothing as good as feeling weightless and free."

That was something Jim could definitely agree with. "Sounds good to me," he said simply, before positioning his board to catch an approaching wave.

XXX

After the oppressing heat of California, Massachusetts almost seemed like another world altogether. The wind coming off the water made the air cool, even in the springtime.

Jim made his way towards the administration building on the MIT campus as he looked around with interest. He had never been to Massachusetts before, and even with the lower temperature, he did admire the scenery. Flowers were in bloom, and groups of students were seated on the grassy quad.

Entering the building, Jim gave his name and was soon shown to the office of an admissions officer. The name on the door read Peter Campbell.

Inside, Mr. Campbell looked up at the entrance of the teenager, and smiled. "Mr. Kirk, I presume?" Jim nodded, taking a seat. "Welcome. How do you like the campus so far?"

Jim shrugged with one shoulder. "It's nice," he replied. "It's a lot different from Iowa."

Peter's smile widened. "Yes, I imagine there's quite a bit more water and fewer fields." He picked up his PADD and tapped the screen a few times. "Well, I'm very glad you could come out for an interview. Will your parents be joining us?"

Jim shook his head, hiding his wince. "No, just me."

Peter nodded slowly, frowning slightly. "Well, I'll need to get their signatures, to approve –"

Jim cut him off, jerking his head towards the PADD the man was holding. "You should have a copy of the forms there. I'm emancipated, so you don't need their signatures for anything."

Peter looked through the forms, and sure enough, he found the one Jim was talking about. He looked back up and smiled, nodding, not pressing the issue any more, making the educated guess that the teenager would not want to get into the matter. "Very good then. I just wanted to talk to you a little about your potential field of study, and get a better feel for you as a student and person. I have to admit, I was very excited to see your application come across my desk. I'm impressed with everything you've managed to accomplish. So what is it that draws you to the field of Engineering?"

The next half hour involved Jim and Peter talking about Jim and his passions, his likes and dislikes. After that, Peter took him on a tour of the campus, in particular the Engineering building. Jim was relieved that Peter didn't ask for more information. Getting emancipated had been well worth the effort, even if it hadn't been entirely by the book. Technically, his mother should have been present, or at least notified, but he had used a little loophole that he had found and exploited. By foisting him off on her sister, Winona had, in essence, given up her claim to him. For all intents and purposes, she had signed away her guardianship rights when she had sent him to Tarsus. When Marie and Terry had been killed, he had become an orphan. To a judge, a sixteen-year-old genius with two bachelor's degrees had a reasonable means to support himself, and had been willing to sign off on the emancipation. It had been a good call on Jim's part to file the paperwork in a small town several states away from Iowa, where no one would have ever heard of him before, which was why he had made the stop in Alabama, before heading to Arizona. Being considered a legal adult would make things much easier for him.

By the end of the afternoon, Peter was convinced that they needed Jim to attend, and Jim was convinced that this was a good fit for him. Peter assured him that the distance learning program covered most of the curriculum for his chosen field, so he would only need to take a few courses on campus, and most of those were in the last year of study.

They returned to the admissions building and Peter's office, and spent some more time talking about financial aid. Peter unofficially offered Jim a full ride, and after filling out the necessary forms, the meeting was concluded. Peter reached out and offered his hand. Jim took it, smiling.

Peter returned the smile. "It was a pleasure to meet you, Jim, and may I be the first to say, welcome to MIT."

Jim nodded. "Thanks," he replied.

Peter walked him out of the building, and said his goodbyes after telling the teenager that someone would contact him within the next few days.

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