Chapter Text
○°•{Two Years Later}•°○
○°•{The Interstellar Space Academy}•°○
Jim Hawkins had thrived at the Interstellar Space Academy. The navy's rigorous training program emphasized hands-on work over lectures, perfectly suited to his natural talents. His knack for building solar surfers translated seamlessly into ship repair and design, earning admiration from his instructors. Jim’s ingenuity shone brightly, often surprising even the most seasoned engineers at the Academy. With three years left in the program, he was on track for a coveted position in the Terran Empire’s navy if he maintained his performance.
Meanwhile, Jim and Sarah had rebuilt their relationship through monthly letters. The Benbow Inn was thriving, thanks in part to Ben, the ever-cheerful robot, who was a hit with customers, much more than the moody teenager who waited on their tables years ago. Morph, now a beloved mascot under Sarah’s care, added to the Inn’s charm, zipping around tables and delighting guests. Regulars brought friends just to meet the little creature. For the first time in years, the Inn felt alive with warmth and laughter, and Sarah couldn’t be prouder of both her son and her business.
Jim’s letters home were filled with updates about his accomplishments. Though his first weeks at the Academy had been a challenge, he quickly rose to the top of his class. His grades were nearly perfect, and his instructors frequently praised him in letters to Sarah. Her replies often included glowing updates about the Inn and heartfelt words of encouragement. Their correspondence brought them closer than they’d been in years, and for the first time, Sarah felt like she truly knew her son again. Life, it seemed, was finally moving in the right direction for both of them.
Jim yawned as he stepped out of his last class of the day. Hours spent grappling with uncooperative tools had left him drained. He rubbed his eyes and stretched, trying to shake off the fatigue.
A tall Canid with yellow fur threw an arm around Jim's shoulders as they walked down the hall. “Hey, Jim! Come to the mess hall with us!” the Canid grinned, his eyes alight with excitement.
On Jim’s other side, a petite Felinid with curly orange fur chimed in, “Some upperclassmen are hosting a pie-eating contest.”
The Canid raised a triumphant fist. “And I’m gonna crush those amateurs!”
The Felinid rolled her eyes. “Aris, you barely survived the hot dog contest last month. How do you plan to eat your weight in pies?”
Aris puffed out his chest. “Training, Sil. This stomach is a finely tuned machine now!” He patted his belly proudly.
Sil smirked. “Ah, so that’s why you’ve been eating like a maniac. I thought it was just a dog thing.”
“Har har.” Aris turned to Jim. “C’mon, Jim, you’re not gonna miss watching me dominate, are you?”
Jim slipped out from under Aris’s arm with a wry smile. “Sorry, not today. Got something to do.”
Aris’s ears drooped briefly. “Your loss, pal. See you later!”
“I’ll go with him,” Sil added, laughing as she darted after Aris. “Someone has to keep him out of trouble.”
Jim chuckled softly as he made his way to the student mail cabinets. He’d been eagerly checking every day for Sarah’s monthly letter. Today, his heart leaped when he spotted an envelope with “Montressor” scrawled across it.
He ran down the long hallways of the Interstellar Space Academy. As he reached his room, and examined the handwriting more closely, his brow furrowed. The letter was from... Doppler?
That’s weird. He thought no more about it and ripped the letter open, eager for news of Montressor. He read through the first paragraph, then stopped. No, that can’t be right. Jim sat down on his bed, panicking slightly. I must’ve read it wrong. Jim nodded to himself. Yeah, that has to be it. Jim lifted the note and reread it, very slowly this time.
Jim, my boy, I hope this letter finds you well during your training at the Interstellar Academy. I am writing to you against your mother’s wishes on a topic that has been worrying me. There is news that I believe you should know. It is with great sadness that I inform you that your mother is very ill.
I understand that you may be taken aback by this news. Your mother has been sick for quite some time. You may be wondering why she opted to keep this information from you. Please understand everything that she does; she does for you. Your mother made this decision to spare you from worrying about her while you were busy with schoolwork. She wants to ensure that your grades don’t suffer because of her. I feel you should at least know of her condition.
Amelia and I have been taking care of her for these past months, and I assure you that Sarah is getting the best care that she can. We are doing everything in our power to help her, and you need not worry.
I am very sorry to tell you this, but I feel that you should know. Please take care of yourself, my boy. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask.
With Regards, Dr Doppler.
Jim clutched the letter in his hands. How could she not tell me? Jim didn’t know what to do. If I leave school, she’ll be disappointed in me. But if I stay here, I can’t take care of her. Even if he didn't have to worry about Sarah being disappointed that he left, he still wouldn't be able to leave. The Academy was very strict about students staying. They had breaks for the summer and spring, but the Academy was very adamant that students who left would be dropped out of classes. They covered so much material each day, and the school didn’t have time to catch students up that missed. And on top of that, transportation was only available to students when it was time for the breaks. But Jim couldn't wait that long.
Curling into himself, Jim buried his face in his arms. He tried to hold back his tears, but when the first sob escaped, the floodgates opened. He cried until exhaustion overtook him.
Jim’s alarm rang, and he woke up feeling like shit. His throat was dry, and he felt heavy. He moved on autopilot, getting ready for the day and preparing for classes. Jim left his room. Sil and Aris were already walking to the mess hall for breakfast. Jim really didn’t feel like talking to anyone. He slowed down so he didn’t get too close, worried they would notice him, and made his way to the mess hall alone. When he got food, he passed the table where he, Aris, and Sil would usually sit. Sil’s ears perked up when she noticed Jim. “Hey!” Aris waved enthusiastically at Jim. He stopped when Jim walked past their table without a word. Sil looked at Aris questioningly, and Aris just shrugged. They watched Jim sit down at an empty table in the corner of the mess hall. “Maybe he's just tired?” Sil reasoned.
“Yeah, probably," Aris mumbled, worried about Jim.
In the corner of the mess hall, Jim stared blankly at the wall. He didn’t feel like eating anything. He sat there, his mind wandering. He couldn't stop thinking about Sarah. She was sick, and he couldn't be there with her. Jim didn’t notice when the students left for their first lessons. A large Zirellian woman came by, cleaning the tables. She noticed Jim and looked at him sternly. “Oi kid, you’d best be gettin’ to class. Your teacher won’t like that you’re skipping.” She looked at him and immediately noticed he wasn't feeling well. “You alright, Hon?”
“Yeah. Yeah, I’m fine.” Jim gave her a tiny smile. He picked up his tray full of food and threw it in one of the trash bins.
Jim trudged toward his first class of the day. Normally, it was his favorite, but today, he wasn’t looking forward to it. He just wanted to be alone. Entering the classroom, he quickly made his way to a row of empty seats, ignoring the buzz of conversation around him.
“Jim!” a whispered voice called. He glanced over to see Sil and Aris waving him over. Jim managed a small, strained smile that didn’t reach his eyes and continued past them. Sil turned to Aris, mouthing, What’s going on? Aris shrugged, their worried gazes following Jim as he slumped into a seat, away from any other students.
The instructor stepped up to the front of the room, clapping his hands to quiet the chatter. “Today,” he began, “we’re starting a new project. Over the past few weeks, we’ve studied the components needed to build a ship. Now, it’s time to put that knowledge to the test. Each of you will construct your own longboat.”
Excited whispers rippled through the class. Jim straightened slightly, his interest piqued.
“Once completed,” the instructor continued, “we’ll open the construction lab’s roof, and you’ll have the chance to fly your creations.”
A flicker of excitement stirred in Jim. An idea formed in his mind, and for the first time all day, he felt a spark of motivation.
“All materials are in the construction lab,” the instructor concluded. “If you have questions, come to me. Now, let’s get building!”
As the students filed through the door connecting the classroom to the lab, Jim found himself moving with purpose. He knew longboats inside and out—he and Silver had spent countless hours repairing them on the Legacy. With Silver’s lessons still fresh in his mind, combined with his training at school, Jim was confident he could build one faster than anyone else.
For the rest of the class period, Jim buried himself in his work, meticulously piecing together the frame of his longboat. Sil and Aris worked nearby, exchanging worried glances as they watched him immerse himself, unresponsive to their attempts at conversation.
When the bell rang, signaling the end of class, Jim packed up quickly, brushing past his friends as they tried to stop him.
After school, Jim returned to the construction lab, as had become his habit. He often stayed late, pouring extra hours into his projects. His instructor admired Jim’s dedication, frequently praising him as the best student in the class. On this day, as usual, the instructor greeted him with a smile and handed him the keys, trusting Jim to lock up when he was done.
Jim worked tirelessly, staying long into the night. His longboat was taking shape faster than anyone expected. Each class period, Sil and Aris tried to reach out, but Jim avoided them, keeping his focus on the project. One particular evening, when Jim had worked late into the night, he had finished his creation.
With careful precision, he tightened the final screws and connected the last wires. Stepping back, he studied the sleek frame of his longboat, circling it to inspect every detail. Satisfied, he climbed inside and powered it on.
The gentle hum of the engine filled the lab as the longboat slowly lifted off the ground. A thrill coursed through Jim—it worked perfectly. Lowering it back down, he jumped out and sprinted to his room, a decision solidifying in his mind.
Jim stuffed clothes into a bag, slinging it over his shoulder as he raced back to the lab. He didn’t have much time. He knew opening the roof would be loud—too loud to go unnoticed—but he had no other option. Leaving the keys on his instructor’s desk, he hesitated for a moment, guilt gnawing at him. He understood the trust he was about to break, but the urgency of his mission overrode his hesitation. He had to see his mother.
Throwing his bag into the longboat, Jim rushed to the control panel. His finger hovered over the button to open the roof. Taking a deep breath, he pressed it.
The grinding of machinery echoed through the lab as the roof began to part. Jim flinched at the noise, his heart pounding as he scrambled into the longboat and powered it up. The patrol robots would be on their way any second.
As the roof fully opened, Jim pushed the throttle forward, tilting the longboat upward. The lab doors burst open, and the robots rushed in, scanning for the source of the disturbance. But it was too late. Jim’s longboat soared into the night sky, leaving the academy behind as he set his course for Montressor.