Starstream Academy (The Navigators Book 1)

by Alexandria Smith

  I slowly opened my eyes and frowned at the white above me. What in the world? I slowly sat up and looked around nervously, I had never been somewhere like this before. I slowly stood and looked around before shuffling forward, looking up when I heard a laugh. The laugh sounded crazed and I shivered as the laughter continued and I gazed up into the darkening white around me. I swallowed as my heart began to pound as I watched a single black eye appear in the “sky” of this place. I shifted back before my eyes widened as the sinister laughter stopped then erupted around me again. “So you’ve finally returned Betty Joe? Sylvester? Amelia? Brenda?” the voice questioned as I moved back.

  “What….who are you talking about?” I asked weakly, the laughter returning, but louder and more crazed.

  “Who are you now? You’re not the others, but you feel like them,” the voice hissed. I grimaced and shuffled back before my eyes widened in shock and building horror. The single eye widened before an echoing laugh returned, but louder. “You’re the newest one. Rose Mary,” the voice said in a silky voice. My instincts were screaming at me to run, but part of me knew I wasn’t going to get away. “We’ll meet soon enough Miss Neutral,” the voice said before I felt my stomach drop. I felt weightless and everything suddenly went dark as I fell into a hole.

  I jerked awake, sitting up and looking around frantically as my heart thudded in my chest. I sucked in a deep breathe while trying to remember where I was. The dorm was mostly empty and I could feel a pair of eyes on me. I quickly turned my head and found Gypsy was staring down at me with worry on her face. I relaxed a bit before turning back and rubbing my eyes before rubbing my whole face. “Omega?” I heard softly whispered. I frowned in confusion and looked to Gypsy, who was now blushing a bright red and looking away from me.

  “Omega?” I said curiously, but she waved it off before clearing her throat.

  “Nothing. Are you alright?” she asked in concern. I sighed softly before looking away and rubbing my eyes again, then running a hand through my hair.

  “Yeah. I’m alright. I wasn’t expecting……I just had a nightmare,” I said simply. I looked to her and she looked even more concern so I waved her off. “I’m fine. It was just realistic,” I said warily. She frowned and I shot her a tired smile before grimacing when I realized my uniform was now soaked with sweat. “Ugh.” I groaned, scowling as I pulled off my grey uniform jacket. “I’m going to take a shower,” I said. She nodded and I frowned, knowing she was going to tell the others. “Please just…..keep this between us,” I pled, watching as she bit her lip before reluctantly nodding.

  “Just…if you have another nightmare tell me.,” she said slowly. I nodded and she sighed as I slipped from bed. I made another face before heading over to my dresser and grabbing my spare uniform. I grabbed my towel and shampoo before frowning and looking to Gypsy.

  “Did Lollipop take my shampoo again?” I asked. She looked to me in confusion before blushing and shaking her head, awkwardly rubbing the back of her head.

  “Uhh…..I took it. I ran out of mine and I like the way it smells,” she said before giving me a weak smile. I rolled my eyes before reaching into her drawer and pulling out my shampoo, waving to her as I left the room.

  “I’ll see you at dinner!” I called before heading down the hall and moving to turn left for the second set of bathrooms.

  “Navigator Jones!” I heard called. I frowned in confusion before looking up and at a tall and imposing figure. It was the girl from the first day, the one who looked like Princess Shi-Pluma. I entertained the thought of walking away, but remembered a moment later that she was one of the “popular kids”. I ground my teeth briefly before slowly heading over to her. She was grinning and holding a small bundle of clothes like I was.

  She nodded to the shower room at her side and I shifted in place. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you about how I treated you,” she said, opening the shower room door. I reluctantly entered the room before following her towards the showers, stopping near some of the lockers alongside her. “I’m sorry about that first day,” she said as she opened a locker. She motioned for me to do the same and I did awkwardly, shoving my things into it.

  “It’s no problem,” I said, looking to her as she smirked slightly before adopting a sorry expression. I looked down quickly and began to unbutton my shirt while she laughed.

  “Still it was rude of me. My name is High Princess Shasha of Verdonia on Planet Sark,” she said. I frowned and put my shirt into the locker before beginning to work on my pants.

  “Are you related to Princess Shi-Pluma?” I asked. I heard the rustling at my side stop and peeked over to the side, blushing when I realized I was eye level with something I rather not see. I looked back into my locker with wide eyes and Shasha let out an unusual sound.

  “You know my younger sister?” she said in a light almost airy tone of voice. I frowned and looked up this time at her face. She was frowning and looked almost annoyed.

  “Not really. I met her at my family diner around the time it was attacked by Grizzly Growler,” I said. She let out another sound and I looked to her, she looked surprised and a smile was beginning to appear on her face. Something within the smile was….off and I looked back to my locker, putting my pants then underpants into it. I quickly wrapped my towel around myself before heading toward one of the shower stalls, listening to Shasha pad after me.

  “You were the tiny waitress she spoke highly of?” she said offhandedly. I frowned and slipped into my shower, closing the curtain before tossing my towel over the side of my stall.

  “Yeah. It was an interesting day!” I called, not know what I could exactly say to her. We showered in silence and I grumbled when I sniffed my shampoo and realized Gypsy had mixed in her own. I just shook my head, not too irritated since the scent was pleasant, and washed up before quickly shutting off my shower. I was disappointed when Shasha did the same and I grabbed my towel before drying myself off. I wrapped it around my chest and grabbed my toiletries before heading out.

  “So I was thinking that you could come sit with me and my friends,” she said. I frowned deeply before looking back at her. She wasn’t looking at me, grinning widely and looking proud of herself. I could feel a snide comment rising, but forced it back before looking forward.

  “I was thinking that I could eat with my team,” I began, but she just laughed and gently patted my shoulder.

  “Of course, but come on. You should hang out with us Navigators. Bird of a feather right?” she said before moving past me and heading over to her locker. I scowled after her before sighing silently and moving to my locker, quickly drying off and dressing. I fixed my shirt and looked up, finding Shasha was holding my tie. “You dropped this,” she said lowly. I moved to take it, but her hand twitched back and I curled my fingers. “I’ve noticed that your teammate…Alpha Pup Gypsy fixes your tie for you. I could do it if you don’t mind,” she said. A dark thought ran through my head at her words, but I shook it off and nodded slowly.

  “Sure,” I grumbled, straightening out and grimacing slightly as she began to tie it. It felt……wrong to say the least and as soon as she finished I grabbed my things and headed out. I heard her say something, but ignored it as I rushed to my room and inside, sighing softly before running a hand through my damp hair.

  “Rosie?” I heard mumbled. I looked up and found Gypsy as messing around with something on my bed and Lollipop was holding my VISOR. I walked over to the dirty clothes chute and tossed my soiled uniform down it before walking to my bed, tugging my tie out as I did so.

  “Yes?” I asked as I freed my neck. Lollipop walked over and passed me my VISOR before raising an eyebrow.

  “What’s wrong with your tie?” she asked. I made a face before looking to Gypsy, who was now standing and looking down at me with a frown on her face.

  “Shasha tied it and it felt weird. Can you redo it Gypsy?” I asked. She brightened and moved Lollipop out of the way, causing her to huff before grin slyly. I frowned a
t her as I passed Gypsy my tie before rolling my eyes when Lollipop made a kissy face behind Gypsy’s back. “Shasha wants me to sit with her and her friends,” I said. Gypsy’s hands stilled while her face fell and Lollipop made a noised of irritation.

  “Don’t do it boss. Her friends and her are assholes,” she growled out. I frowned deeply and looked to Gypsy, who was now just messing with the end of my tie.

  “When I refused to join the Navigator program my cousin took my place. She and I are contestants for the Alpha throne on my home planet and the council woman position. My cousin hangs out with them,” she said with a scowl on her face. I frowned deeper and gently grabbed her hands to stop them from fidgeting. She jumped slightly and I squeezed them before shrugging.

  “I don’t need to sit at the same table as them,” I mumbled, but Gypsy withdrew her hands and shook her head.

  “We don’t want you to sit with them, but you should. I’ve heard stories about the Higher Princess,” she said with a pointed sniff. I frowned before sighing and putting on my VISOR.

  “Well I should head out then,” I said before waving to them weakly. They mirrored it, Lollipop looking irritated and Gypsy slightly disappointed.

  When I arrived at the mess hall, I slipped into the food line, listening to the dull din around me. I felt a hand on my shoulder and looked up at Shasha. She was grinning and nodded her head to the left of us. “Are you going to be joining my friends and I?” she asked curiously. I nodded slowly and a bright smile spread across her face. “Wonderful! I know the girls and Ruter will be happy to meet you,” she said as she lifted her chin. I tried not to frown at her before looking back and frowning when I found that Silver and Leatre were looking at me. Leatre looked nervous and Silver slightly put out when Shasha placed a hand on my shoulder. I quickly turned back and put some food on my tray before following after her.

  We walked through the mess hall and to small round table where five other people were speaking to one another. As we came in close, one of the girls looked up and I was surprised with how similar she looked to Gypsy. She gave me a grin before pulling off her VISOR and nudging the girl at her side. The girl shot her a glare before looking up and blinking once then twice.

  She looked like Eagalia, but her tattoos were in the shape of a vulture and red. She grinned as well, her hand coming up to adjust her VISOR. Shasha cleared her throat and the rest looked up, all of them grinning at me after a moment. “You’ll come to find out that we’re the best of the best Rosie. We’re top of our classes and it’s only natural that you should be hanging out with us,” Shasha said before taking a seat.

  I tried not to shiver and took a seat at her side, recoiling when a gangly limb suddenly appeared in front of me. “Sorry. I’m N,” a low voice said. I quickly looked up and at the alien girl across from me. She had long uneven arms and an elongated torso. Her long black hair covered most of her face and her eyes were completely black from behind her VISOR.

  “Rose Mary,” I said tightly, shaking her hand before pulling mine away and lowering it.

  “I’m Ranger!” the Lup at my side said. I looked to her and was surprised to find a frown forming on her face.

  “Are you okay?” I asked, grabbing my fork to begin to eat.

  “Yeah…..” she grumbled before beginning to stuff her face. The others introduced themselves, Liornia, Tem and Ruter, before Shasha began to talk and I stopped listening. I sighed lightly before looking at my friends, who were watching me with frowns on their faces.

  Chapter 9

  Neutral

  I groaned internally as sweat poured down my face and grimaced when my partner stabbed me in the chest with his fencing sword. “Parry four isn’t coming faster enough Jones!” I heard the instructor yelled. I felt like tearing off my helmet to tell him something, but stopped myself.

  “Want a break?” my partner asked. I nodded and we quickly moved off to the side before stripping off our helmets and sighing in relief. Fencing was difficult, but fun and right now I needed something fun in life. I was beginning to think that the headmaster wanted to kill me with homework. On top of that the others were beginning to become distant. I sighed softly before leaning against a wall and sliding down, my partner doing the same. I knew that it had something to do with Shasha and her friends monopolizing my meal times for the last two weeks.

  They had scared off Leatre and Silver while Gypsy and her cousin couldn’t stay near each other long enough to talk. They just kind of growled and huffed at one another. Lollipop had almost punched Shasha in the face and when I stopped her, she stormed off. We weren’t talking right now.

  I shook my head before rubbing the sweat off of my face of and standing. A wave of dizziness hit me and I blinked several times before sighing in relief when the spell passed. I had been having weird dizzy spells and dreams for a week now. They were almost like memories in the way they played out and they were concerning. I nodded to the fencing area and my partner nodded before putting on his helmet while I did the same.

  We both headed over and took our former positions before beginning to fence again. Our fight began to become intense as I allowed my ability to take over, slipping past his guard to score a point. I heard him laugh and grinned before moving back and to my old position, waiting for him to do the same.

  When he was ready, we quickly went back to dueling, his arm moving in quick. I stumbled back before blocking the attack and trying to retaliate. He managed to move just out of my reach and I back pedaled, cursing when another dizzy spell hit me. This one was more intense and I put my hand to my head, blinking again and grunting when my partner stabbed me in the chest.

  I waved my hand to show I was done and began to head to the wall again, stumbling slightly and falling forward before I could stop myself. I heard several shouts of alarm, but it became a dull sound in the background of my pounding heart. Something rolled me over and my helmet was stripped off, but I felt my eyes slowly shut before I passed out.

  Black and white clashed above me as I ran, looking back and watching two large figures grapple. The white clad figure shoved the black figure back and I looked around, the area lighting up white for a brief moment before it became a dusty grey. I frowned deeply before turning around and gasping when the black figure ran for the white, knocking it down. I swallowed in fear and shuffled back when the white figure punched the black in the face and the area around me began to melt, colors moving into place around me. I shook my head and blinked rapidly until the walls stopped bleeding, revealing I was in some kind of battle field on a starship. The silver walls were destroyed and I looked down. I was dressed in some kind of fighting uniform and bleeding from my chest, blood soaking the armor near my heart.

  I looked up and at the two wrestling figures on the ground, stumbling forward before falling and grunting when I hit the ground. I slowly looked up at them and watched as one of the men lifted his head to look at me. His black hair was crazy around his face and his eyes were pitch black. They widened and his mouth slipped into a grin of crazed glee before he was tossed to the side. The other man sat up quickly and looked to me, his white eyes widening and with a jolt I realized I was looking at a younger version of the headmaster.

  I jolted awake, sitting up and breathing heavily as I came completely conscious. A gentle hand touched my shoulder and I flinched to the side before looking up at Leatre. She had recoiled as well and I took in a deep breathe before rubbing my face. “I’m sorry,” I said quickly.

  “No no. Are you okay? You looked like you were having a nightmare,” she said lowly. I shrugged before looking to her and frowning in confusion for a moment. The last thing I remembered was being in fencing class.

  “What happened?” I asked, leaning back in my seat and against some pillows. Leatre frowned before shaking her head and leaning forward a bit.

  “You fainted in class. I heard that they called Madam Matron and she got really mad. She called us out of class to be with you. Lollipop and the others left to go get us
dinner,” she said before leaning back. I frowned before looking forward when the curtain around my bed was opened and a tall man poked his head over.

  Like N, he was unusually tall and uneven, his long arms past his knees and his torso much longer than normal. He was bald and black covered his eyes completely. He was wearing a medical staff uniform and walked over, his long hand coming up and touching my forehead.

  “How are you feeling?” he asked before withdrawing his hand and looking at me curiously.

  “Better. I’m hungry though,” I said weakly, looking passed him when the door opened to the room and the others walked in. I felt a wave of relief when they smiled at me and jogged over. The man let out a funny sounding hum before heading off and the others moved to my side.

  “Rosie! Are you okay?” Silver asked, worry on her face. I nodded, but Lollipop scoffed before placing a tray on my lap and sitting to my right.

  “You passed out. You haven’t been sleeping because you have too much work on your plate. I told Madam Matron. She looked like she was going to kill someone,” she said with a smirk. I couldn’t help, but smile at her then began to eat, feeling better as I did so.

  “Are you sure you’re alright?” Gypsy asked from my left. I nodded then paused before slowly shaking my head. I finished the food in my mouth before looking down at my food and beginning to pick at it.

  “No. I’ve been having some weird dreams lately,” I said slowly before looking up. Gypsy frowned deeply while the concern on the others faces deepened.

  “I thought you said you’d tell me about your dreams,” Gypsy scolded. I pouted and Lollipop snorted.