Jim hoisted himself up onto the top of the rock wall beside Sy. His partner was curled slightly forward with his hands cradled into his chest. Jim frowned. "Let me see."

Sy held them out hesitantly. Ugly red burns cut across the center of his palms and through his fingers. "I grabbed your line without thinking when you started to fall."

Jim winced. "Those look bad. I'm so sorry. How close are we to the end?"

"This is it. Just got to zipline down and we're finished."

Jim sighed with relief. "Good." He grasped the draw string for the closest line. A green flag went up from the post at the bottom so he began to pull. Slowly he drew it closer.

Beside them one of the Hamzak twins - Jim had no idea which one - secured his line. A green skinned boy walked over with a smile. "Hey Hogarth," he addressed Hamzak's first year partner, "just wanted to ask if you minded if we took this line after you."

"Not a problem!" The friendly teen answered brightly.

"Actually, we'd rather go first." The new boy shoved him off the edge, back down to climb the rock wall again.

Sy flinched. "Hurry, Jim. It's getting vicious."

"I just need a second more." He swiftly started to undo the buttons that ran down his chest. "We'll get through this. I've got you."

Sy glanced at the handle bars. "Think you can hook me on?"

Jim nodded. "Yeah, I can do that. We'll hook to the same one, each take a side." He shrugged his jacket off and grabbed the handle. Carefully he wound the fabric around it several times. "Grab that."

Sy reluctantly obeyed. "Thank you. I think it'll help."

Jim switched their clips from the safety tethers to the ziplines. First one clip, then the other. Never unhook everything at once. It was a good way to get seriously hurt. "Alright, we're set. Ready?"

Sy set his jaw and nodded. Jim grasped the handle bar beside him.

"Three. Two. One."

The two boys leaped off at the same time. Together they whizzed down the line, rushing towards the ground. Jim couldn't help but smile. This was the closest thing to free he had felt since he had given up solar surfing to join the academy. He threw his head back, pure joy exploding from his lungs.

"Whooooo hooooooooo!"

He never wanted this to end. He threw his arms out and let the harness support him. His body tipped backwards and for a moment he felt like he was flying. The world whizzed past upside down and the rush of air blew his hair back out of his face. Everything they had gone through was worth it for this last challenge.

Unfortunately all too soon the line approached the ground. Jim sat up, now facing Sy. He realized he hadn't thought this part through very well. As they reached the ground he did his best to run backwards.

His best wasn't enough. His legs tangled with Sy's and he took them both down. Their momentum dragged them across the ground for a minute before they came to a halt laying in a tangle on the mulch. Sy looked slightly stunned. Jim started to laugh.

His partner stared at him, confusion and disbelief crossing his face. Jim only laughed harder. He squeezed Sy as he buried his face into his new friend's shoulder. He was certain he felt tears of joy stinging at his eyes. Though it may have been tanbark.

Sy couldn't help himself. He started to laugh as well. He hugged Jim just as tightly and the two of them lay on the ground howling.

Sargent Wilskin kicked Jim's side. "Get up you two. You're hogging a line for someone else that needs it. We've only got four set up, so let's move."

Jim disentangled slowly, wiping tears from his face as the last few snickers escaped through his answer. "Sorry Sargent. Getting up now." He unhooked Sy first then himself. The sargent flicked up a green flag at the top of their post. As soon as the signal was visible some boy started drawing the line back up to the top as fast as he could.

Jim shook himself off and moved them both out of the way. "How'd we place, ma'am?"

"How would I know? Between a third and two thirds. You're not the last ten. Now get out of here. You're filthy and I want nothing more to do with you today."

Jim winced. Two thirds was not nearly good enough. He'd be hearing about this from both Braxton and Matt. "Yes ma'am."

Sy had his hands cradled to his chest again, though now Jim's jacket was wrapped protectively around them. He grimaced as he raised his eyes to Jim's. "Do you know how to get to the med bay from here?"

Jim nodded. "Yeah, I got you. Keep your eyes out for Matt or Brax, yeah? I don't think you've introduced me to any of your friends yet."

Sy shook his head. "I transferred in a little late. Haven't had much time to make friends. Besides, I've been focused on my lessons. I have a lot to live up to."

Jim glanced over curiously. "Family in the forces?"

Sy nodded. "My mother's side. I actually transferred here because I have family here. They, um, requested that I study here."

Jim wrinkled his nose. He didn't like the idea of Captain Amelia watching him that closely. The first couple years you failed at practically everything. He couldn't imagine the pressure of having someone close to him, and higher ranking than him, watching the messes he got himself into. But he certainly wasn't about to offend Sy by voicing that opinion.

"Is that one Braxton?"

Jim drew out of his thoughts to take a look. "No, Braxton's the cyborg that cheated in the beginning. That's Matt." He raised his voice and his arm, waving it through the air. "Matt!"

His friend turned to them. When he smiled, his straight white teeth shone bright against the deep black of his skin. Even his red eyes practically glowed when he was happy. He waved back then turned and darted the other way.

Jim grinned. "He must know where Braxton is. We'll wait here a half second while they catch up. How's your hands?"

"Hurts."

"At least we have off tomorrow. I swear that the officers expect us to get badly injured, Sargent Wilskin's classes are always the last one of the week."

"Maybe they do." Sy shrugged. "I think I see your friends. That one is Matt, so he must be Braxton. The other one is from my class. Goes by 628."

Jim was glad that Sy had given him a heads up, because he certainly had not remembered. "Thanks."

The small groups merged together moments later. Braxton slapped Jim on the back, not seeming to notice his wince. "How was that for a challenge! I could just walk across most of them no problem. 628 was fantastic, simply went along for the ride, no issues! Even managed to help me out a couple times! Best partner I've ever had."

The small alien puffed up in pride, his chest swelling and his ears standing upright. "Takka!"

Jim rolled his eyes. "One of these days, Brax, Sargent is going to put netting across the top of the whole course so you can't just cheat your way through."

"Until that day, these legs were totally worth the upgrade! Guess who placed first again."

Matt slung a dark arm across Sy's shoulders. The boy's pale skin looked almost translucent against the contrasting pure black. It almost hurt Jim to look at the two of them together. "So did you hold Jim back, or did he hold you back?"

"He held me up," Jim countered swiftly, "and hurt himself for the effort. We need to walk you oaf, we're heading to medical." Matt's head snapped towards Jim, his face contorted in concern. Jim waved his fears away. "Just rope burn. How'd you guys make out?"

Braxton shrugged carelessly. "Unscathed, as usual."

Matt sighed reluctantly. "My partner twisted his ankle real bad when he came down that zipline. I got knocked about the head a few times, but nothing that I haven't done to myself before."

Sy frowned. "Where is he now?"

"His friends took him to the infirmary."

628 twitched his ears. "In-fiiirm-a-ryy?"

"Med bay, you ball of goof!" Braxton grinned and tossed him into the air.

"Wheeeee!"

Matt rolled his eyes. "It's goofball, Braxton, not ball of goof."

"Maybe on your planet." Braxton smirked and tossed his partner in the air once more.

"Wheeeeeeeee!"

"Jim, catch!"

"What?"

"Wheeee-oof."

Jim could only watch as the small green and yellow creature sailed right past him and into a callbox post. 628 picked himself up and shook out his ears.

"You okay little buddy?" Braxton held his arms out for his partner. 628 launched himself forward, leaping gracefully past Jim to throw his arms and legs around Braxton's middle. "Guess so!" Braxton scratched his head. "Almost there anyway! I can get the nurse to check you out."

Matt took the lead. His rowdier friends followed after him, still jostling each other as Braxton made fun of Jim for coming in so late.