Jim followed his classmates out the door. He set his paper on the stack beside their instructor on their way out. Puss had curled up in a sunspot ten minutes into their test and Jim wasn't certain he was still awake.

Matt and Braxton flanked him in the hallway. "Next up, navigation!" The cyborg slung an arm around Jim's shoulders as he gave him a wide grin. "You ready for this, Jimmy?"

Jim laughed. "Please. Astronomy is one of my better classes."

Matt couldn't help himself as he added, "Better than history, that's for sure. Oh hey, don't we have that tomorrow?"

Jim sulked at the mention of Naval History. He and Braxton had almost failed it last year. Matt had been at the top of the class. Braxton had insisted it was because Matt got assistance to ensure his literacy skills were able to meet the demands of the academy, but only behind closed doors and to Matt's face. They all knew that his scores were the results of hard work and hours of studying despite his disadvantage.

"If I trip him, do you want to steal his tablet?" Braxton asked loud enough for Matt to hear.

Jim grinned over at his friend. "You bet! We'll hide it somewhere he'll never find it. Like in the carnivore's meal line."

Matt rolled his eyes hard. "Cute guys. Very mature. Make fun of the guy that doesn't eat dead things. Good idea."

"Dead things are delicious," Jim countered without hesitation, "And you don't know what you're missing out on."

"Hours of vomiting, that's what." Matt shot back. "Can't say it sounds at all appealing to me. But if you like your dead things so much, I'll just keep the purps to myself next time they show up in my line and not yours."

Jim instantly snapped to attention. "I'll be good! Braxton, leave Matt alone, he doesn't deserve your bullying."

"If we're bribing you with food, I have bacon on my side."

Jim groaned. "Maybe I'll just ignore you both equally and let you figure it out." He led them into the next classroom. The room was virtually empty but for the students bunched together in their little friend groups. "You're both on your own. Only person I'm defending is Sy."

Braxton smirked. "Nothing unexpected about that."

"He's not here to defend himself, and I know you're not above taking cheap shots at him." Jim explained. "And it's not like you wouldn't be up in arms over 628."

"My little buddy is too cool for you guys to have anything negative to say." Braxton leaned back against the wall and crossed his arms confidently. "And he can take care of himself."

Their conversation was ended by the teacher standing at the front of the room. The squidlike man made his way across the room on his eight arms. His two long tentacles were held up, one wrapped around a tablet while the other tapped away at it. He was dressed in the sharp blue of a graduated spacer, though Jim had to wonder why his uniform was covering everything over his eyes instead of down near where his legs were.

"Good morning, class." The instructor's voice was heavily accented and punctuated by sharp clicking sounds. "Welcome to second year navigation and astronomy. I am Mr. Criccil. Usually I only instruct the third and fourth years, however we have an upgraded system this year and I have agreed to assist your class while Mrs. Gigzal learns the controls." He tapped something else on his tablet. Metal plates slid down over the windows and the lights dimmed to nothing, shrouding the room in darkness. From the ceiling a projection filled the room, small stars glittering on nearly every surface.

"As you may have guessed, like my fellow teachers, I shall be spending our first class testing your current knowledge. Use your tablets to list as many constellations and individual bodies as you can name. When you have completed your lists, send them to me. Once I have everyone, we shall name as many as we can as a class." The squid instructed them.

"To assist your memories, this particular display has been taken upon launch from Earth 987 in the Delta 3 sector. The dark space below your feet just there is the planet. You do not need to name any formations that are blocked by Earth 987." The squid settled himself into the only chair in the classroom. "Go on then, move about as you need and get to work."

The boys set to work listing the celeital skymarks that they remembered. Jim wandered through the near dark with his tablet in hand. Around him the faces of his classmates drifted by, illuminated only by their own glowing screens. He marked down another constellation and two more stars.

Finally his memory ran out. His eyes flicked across the various names to confirm he had everything he could possibly think of. Satisfied, he sent his list off to the teacher.

Braxton caught his arm as he lowered his tablet. "Done?"

"Yeah."

"Me too. C'mon, most of us who are finished are grouped together in the dark spot to stay out of the way." Braxton guided him over to where most of their classmates huddled together in a mass.

Perhaps fifteen minutes later and their teacher spoke once more. "That's everyone then. Very good, I am impressed with what I see." He clicked his way through his next instructions. "I shall call your names from the class roster. When it is your turn, either give me a name or say 'pass'. There is no shame in passing if you truly do not remember anything more. Questions?"

"No sir." The cadets answered in near unison.

"Very good. First, Aaron Milton."

"Piscis Austrinus." Aaron answered confidently. A second later and the named constellation dimmed.

"Aaxnuth Rilsin."

"Fomalhaut." The boy's deep voice came from somewhere above Jim's head and closer than he was comfortable with. He took a couple steps in the opposite direction. Fomalhaut blinked out completely leaving the fish with one less star.

Braxton was pleased that the teacher was calling them alphabetically by first name instead of last. For once he was near the front. He did not need to wait long for his chance to answer.

"zet UMa." His pleasure came through in his voice as he listed the one he had remembered. The aforementioned star group dimmed in response.

Jim nudged his friend with his shoulder. "Good one. I missed that one."

Braxton smirked. "I know." Jim rolled his eyes and settled back to see what else his class could name. The teacher lapped the group twice before answers died out.

"Pass."

"Zeffer Anguish?"

"Pass."

"Zunt Trill?"

"Pass."

"I believe that is everyone then." The teacher declared brightly. "Before I turn off the projection, does anyone have any last names they have remembered? Just call them out if you do!" When no one answered, the remaining stars winked out completely.

The lights turned on and the metal blinds started rising. The young men collectively yelped and shielded their eyes from the light's assault. Their squid instructor set aside his tablet so he could applaud them with his tentacles. "Excellent work boys! I shall have to compliment Mrs Gigzal on her instruction. You are farther along than I had hoped you might be. We have ten minutes until the end of class. Write down any names you remember that were unfamiliar to you. When you are finished you are dismissed for lunch."