DISCLAIMER: I do not own any parts of Treasure Planet; Jim Hawkins; Captain Amelia, Long John Silver; Interstellar Academy etc. The characters Ralph and Emma however, are mine.

Please read and review. Constructive criticism is welcomes, though there's no need to be rude about it. Enjoy!

Two years had passed since Jim had arrived at the Interstellar Academy. He had started almost immediately after his return from his voyage aboard the 'Legacy'. The voyage that took him to a planet never before truly believed to have existed and profoundly changed his life. Though in truth it wasn't the voyage that has changed him but the old cyborg he met. Jim hadn't spoken of old Silver since he arrived back on his own planet but he felt Silver's presence watching him all the same. Some kind of weird form of guardian angel in the stars.

Since his arrival at the Academy Jim had been subject to hard and intense training. He had learnt about ships navigation, galactic highways and solar systems, safety procedures in every circumstance, and of course mechanics. All too frequently a ship's engine would be broken or damaged and to know how to make emergency repairs could save a whole crew's lives. The academy was described by the recruits as a cross between boarding school, boot camp, and a holiday; adventure holiday anyway. However despite the hard work and tiresome days, Jim loved it. The place had become his sanctuary. A place where he could finally get praise for doing things he was good at, find solitude when it was desired at the top of the masts of the large training ships and also interact with other young guys and girls who shared a similar passion for adventure.

Unsurprisingly over the years Jim had made a reputation for himself in being able to fix and invent things from scratch. His recommendation from Captain Amelia had soon become known around the academy and knowledge about his antics on the voyage aboard the 'Legacy' was also commonly known. Of course the part about him befriending a dangerous pirate and nearly dying several times was left out.

To his resentment the reputation also produced a nickname for him: Stellar Hands. It was mostly people outside his circle of friends who referred to him in such a way so Jim tended to shrug it off with indifference. Still, didn't mean he had to like it.

For the time being however Jim was preparing for his latest assignment. Exam time had arrived at the academy and Jim was undertaking the biggest challenge so far. The practical exam was to sail a ship, with a crew around the galaxy in three days. It was possible. The test had been used for years as a final preparation for the young recruits. The course took them through nebulas, several solar systems and Jim and the recruits had to sail next to a shooting star for at least five thousand miles. Shooting stars were common upon the test course, and ironically the moving stars were the only predictable things on the course. The solar systems revolved at different speeds around their respective suns causing the sailing route to change all the time.

Jim was barely able to contain his excitement. Since his voyage before with Captain Amelia he had been itching to get back in a ship and sail the galaxy. Even more so since this time he was captaining the ship and crew. The examiner would be aboard the ship with them as well to observe that they fulfilled their objectives and to observe how they handled the situations, but he would have nothing to do with the running of the ship. He was only to intervene if it looked like there was going to be a catastrophe unable to be solved by the recruits. But Jim was sure he wasn't going to let this voyage go awry, not when it was him and eleven of his crewmates whose future was on the line.

The other recruits of the academy had gathered at the launch site. Two ships were competing against each other; a race of sorts. The 'race' between the two ships was the highlight of the end of term, even for those who weren't involved. It didn't have any effect on the outcome of the exam, the 'winners' not getting any extra credit, but it made the exam more fun for the participants. That and it allowed for the other members of the academy to do some secrets bets as to who would win. Under the nose of the professors of course.

Climbing aloft the sails to check that the rigging was secure Jim was smiling. Anticipation paced through him. Down below the rest of the crew did last minute checks, not wanting anything to go wrong before they had even left port. The rest of the academy was beginning to get restless as the time for launch crew closer.

Leaning down, a hand hanging onto a rope Jim called down,

"Hey Ralph! We all secure?"

"Secure as we'll ever be," The reply yelled back up.

The smile returned and Jim's eyes stared at the distant sky, "Showtime."

The two teams lined up on the platform. A speech was being made by the president of the academy on the procedure of the exam and when the deadline for the return was. He was speaking towards the gathered congregation but the words were really meant for the team members. Not that they were listening. All could be seen eying their ships, eager to get started. A few took glances towards the other ship as well, trying to suss out if they had any advantages. The answer was no, the two ships had been deliberately made exactly the same for the exam, but as was always muttered by the professors, 'just in case'.

Pulling his eyes away from his ship Jim looked across at the opposing team. He knew of all of them even if he wasn't friendly with all of them. He stopped scanning them when he noticed one of them was looking back at him. A girl who looked remotely like Captain Amelia. She had similar feline features; longer pointed ears, a slight sharpness to her teeth and flat nose. She smirked at him, her eyes holding what seemed to be a challenge. The contact was brief and the two of them quickly turned their attention back to the speech.

"Good luck to both teams."

The president finished his speech to a quick and light applause from the crowd. Jim doubted whether any of them had been listening to what he was saying either. Everyone was raring for the launch to begin.

"Well recruits, the time has come to truly show what your worth," Captain Amelia stood at the head of the two lines, hands clasped behind her back as usual. "Make us proud and try not to come back with too many fatalities. We would all like to go home as soon as possible, it being end of term and all." Her strong British accent echoed around Jim's ears and an unstoppable smile crossed his face, knowing her next words. "Good luck. Man your stations."

With that the crowd cheered and the two teams dispersed towards their respective ships. Climbing up towards the helm Jim glanced over his shoulder noticing Captain Amelia speaking to the girl he had made eye contact with a few minutes earlier. Both held their hands behind their backs and had tall postures. Their exchange was brief and as the girl sprinted off Amelia turned to look at Jim. Her hand raised and she gave him a short salute. Jim nodded in response, before returning to the helm. Ralph was waiting beside the wheel.

"This is going to be interesting," Ralph said.

"This is what we've been waiting for. Finally a chance to show what we're really made of," Jim responded, placing his hand on the helm.

"About time…"

A new man suddenly arrived on deck, looking every inch authoritative. The examiner. Jim and Ralph glanced him over once with their eyes before having their attention grabbed by a yell from above.

"Countdown to launch!" The loud voice echoed across the ship, a similar call emitting from the other ship seconds later.

Jim looked up to the top of the mast where Emma was stood. Nodding he gripped onto the helm and repeated his previous words,

"Showtime."