Phantom Academy

A Star Trek Story by Gadsdy

"Why are we here?" Captain Johnathan Ruttidge asked. He was thankful to be back on Earth after his crew left him stranded in the Beta quadrant. But, he was abhorred at being forced to sit in the waiting room of the Dean's office at Starfleet Academy. He would much rather be surfing or lounging on the beach right now.

He was top of his class in his day and graduated a year early. He wanted to get out of school as soon as possible. It was his belief that the only place worth being in life was at the top. The only reason he ever worked hard was to make his way to a high position so no one could ever tell him what to do.

Now, he sat with his fluffy blonde hair (longer than regulation allowed) flopping over his eyes as he talked. He looked over toward the other two beings in the room and waited for their reply.

"Obviously Admiral Binns has requested to meet with each of us." Stated Ocktal.

Ruttidge was already annoyed with this Vulcan and his pointy ears. There had been a few Vulcans on his previous crew and all they ever cared about was being logical. He turned away from the Vulcan to face the woman on his other side.

Her dark skin and stark forehead ridges were distinctly Klingon. She wore her hair in a long braid down her back. Ruttidge followed the braid with his eyes down to where it stopped at her waist.

"Stop staring at me!" She growled in an angry voice. Ruttidge quickly looked away.

Ocktal looked over at the Klingon and noted how barbaric she was. Yelling in an Admiral's office was as uncouth as it got. No doubt she was here to be reprimanded.

"Captain Ruttige, Lieutenant Ocktal, Commander Ma'ara; Admiral Binns will see you now." Said the upbeat secretary. All three stood and headed through the door.

Admiral Binns sat with her back to them as they walked in. The secretary quickly closed the door as soon as they were clear of it. With the door closed, Binns spun around in her chair and stared at them.

"The three of you are here because you're all very special cases." Admiral Binns said in a professional tone. Ruttidge knew what the word special meant in this context and he wasn't pleased. Ocktal was standing as tall and straight as possible as if he had been complimented. Ma'ara was standing with her fists clenched. Her expression was strained but she did not speak.

"Special how?" Ruttidge asked skeptically.

"The three of you have manage to plow through every position that Starfleet has to offer. There's not a single outpost you haven't been banned from or fellow officer you haven't rubbed the wrong way. Each of you is one wrong step away from being dishonorably discharged!" Binns was still smiling politely but her face started to turn red.

"So, if there are no positions left for us to be assigned to and we're not being discharged, what is happening?" Ruttidge asked. He was going to be thoroughly upset if he got called all the way in here just to be told he was fired.

"The three of you are horrible officers, but you weren't horrible students. In fact, all of you were damn near at the top of your classes. The fact that such fine students could turn out to be officers of your caliber leads me to believe that some of the academy's lesser students could one day become our finest officers. It is for this reason that I have decided to create the Starfleet Academy Remediation Program.

Normally students who can't handle the curriculum are encouraged to dropout, but not anymore. You three will be in charge of molding the minds of five of Starfleet Academy's underachieving students." Binns interlaced her fingers as if she were proud of herself.

"You want us to babysit five flunkies?" Ruttidge was annoyed at the thought.

"I do not do well with children or weaklings." Ma'ara spoke.

"What if we don't do it?" Ruttidge asked.

"Then you will be dishonorably discharged." Binns said coolly.

"Go ahead! Discharge me! I'm not attached to this job at all!" Ruttidge exclaimed. He was a Starfleet captain, not a babysitter.

"Fine. But I must remind you that being dishonorably discharged from Starfleet carries some heavy connotations. You will lose all of the power and respect that comes with the title of Captain. Also, the only jobs you will be able to get will be lackey starter positions. You'll be at the bottom of the totem pole where everyone else can order you around." Admiral Binns knew she had Ruttidge beat. She had known him since he was a student at the academy and had personally witnessed his disdain for authority figures.

"Ugggh I'll do it." Ruttidge said reluctantly. Ma'ara grunted in agreement as well.

"What about you Lieutenant Ocktal? You've been quiet." Binns asked.

"If these are your orders, I will follow them." Ocktal said succinctly. Binns leaned back in her chair, pleased. She gave the three officers directions to the new building that would house the remediation program.

The building was on the far east end of the campus. It had old style architecture circa the early 2100s. It looked run down and unusable.

"We're going to be working and living together so we should at least be formally introduced. I am Captain Johnathan Ruttidge but you can call me Rutty," Ruttidge said with a huge smile.

"Calling a superior officer by a nickname is inappropriate, Captain Ruttidge." Ocktal put an emphasis on the word captain.

"Rutty sounds like a demeaning name. It would please me greatly to call you that." Ma'ara stated.

Ruttidge knew that he was being insulted but what could he do? He had asked that they call him Rutty.

"I am Lieutenant Ocktal. Please call me as such," Ocktal said.

"Commander Ma'ara." Ma'ara stated. Ocktal repeated Ma'ara's name perfectly but Ruttidge couldn't do it. He kept pronouncing it as Maaaaara or Ma-a-ra.

"Calling me Commander will suffice." She said as Ruttidge tried to pronounce it once more.

"Well now that we have the name situation out of the way, how about we get to know each other. I was removed from my last post when my crew mutinied and left me stranded on Veronous 7. How about you two?"

"I punched my previous commanding officer in the throat. It was dishonorable but I do not regret it." Ma'ara was staring off into the distance as if she were remembering something amusing.

"You punched a superior officer and were not discharged from Starfleet? How is that possible?" Ocktal asked.

"I have never lost in battle and I am an expert on every man-made weapon from here to the delta quadrant. If Starfleet does not keep me, they run the risk of me fighting against them. They can't afford to take that risk." Ma'ara stated angrily.

"No one is questioning your usefulness to Starfleet, Commander. Lieutenant Ocktal, what happened in your last assignment?" Ruttidge asked to diffuse the situation.

"It does not matter what I have done previously. I am here now and I am more than qualified for this current assignment. Also, it is 7:55 and the students are due to arrive at 8. We should greet them." Ocktal stated robotically. Ruttidge flipped over his wrist to look at his analog watch. It was an ancient relic that he had owned his entire life.

How had the time gone by so fast? The students would be here any moment and their 'school' looked like it should have been slated for demolition 100 years ago. Not to mention, none of the so-called professors were getting along. Things were not off to a great start.

5 Minutes Later...

There they stood, five minds waiting to be molded, and Ma'ara hated them. That was an extreme thought and Ma'ara knew it but she often struggled with anger. From the looks of it, there were two humans (a female and a male), a Ferengi, a Vulcan, and a Klingon.

As the children bunched through the front doors of the school, the Ferengi bumped into the male human. His human form fizzled and he became a globby green being. The count was down to one female human and one shapeshifter.

"Welcome to the Starfleet Remediation Program. I am Captain Johnathan Ruttidge, to my left is Lieutenant Ocktal, and to my right is Commander Ma'ara. We are your professors. Are there any questions?" Ruttidge announced with all of the authority his rank afforded. As soon as he finished speaking, however, hands flew into the air. All of the students had questions. The first to ask a question was the human female.

"It feels like you are nervous and unprepared. Are you sure you're qualified to teach us?" She asked in an all-knowing manner. So now the count was down to zero humans, one shapeshifter, and an empath. Ma'ara immediately put her guard up. Betazoids have always freaked her out with how they always know what you're feeling.

"We were chosen specially for this assignment." Ocktal replied to the Betazoid. She backed off after his reply. He seemed so sure in himself that it made up for the nerves Ruttidge displayed. Ma'ara and Ruttidge stared at Ocktal with shocked expressions. It was almost a lie, or as close to a lie as Vulcans ever got.

"Where do we sleep?" Asked the shifter.

"Uhhhh...." Was Ruttidge's only reply.

"When will we eat?" Asked the Klingon. He looked famished.

"Well....you see...." Ruttidge didn't have an answer for this either.

"Who is teaching what?" Asked the Vulcan. He spoke just as calmly as Ocktal.

"That I can answer! Commander Ma'ara will teach battle strategies and Lieutenant Ocktal will teach..."

"Basic medical techniques and first aid. I am a doctor." Ocktal interrupted Ruttidge's sentence. Ma'ara was shocked to hear this. It seemed like doctors needed more compassion than Vulcans could manage.

"I'm sorry, are you telling me that you're Doc Ock?" Ruttidge asked with a starry-eyed expression. No one else knew what he was talking about.

"I prefer to be called Lieutenant Ocktal."

"Oh, come on! The great ancient comic book villain? Am I alone here? Ok whatever let's just go inside." Ruttidge said with a pout.

"Wait! What will you teach, Captain?" The Vulcan asked to Ruttidge.

"As Captain, it is my duty to delegate, not to teach." Ruttidge said confidently.

"This is not a ship but a school. It is only logical that you teach as well." Said the young Vulcan. Ocktal nodded in agreement. Ruttidge sighed in defeat.

"What do you suggest I teach?" Ruttidge asked sarcastically.

"Perhaps Earth history would be appropriate." Said the young Vulcan, unaware of the sarcasm.

"Haha! Because he's human!" The shapeshifter blurted out. Ma'ara rushed to him and grabbed his collar, he had reformed into a human male.

"You will respect your Captain!" She growled to him.

"Yes Ma'am." He replied as he broke shape and fell back into his natural green gelatinous form. He slid right out of her hands.

"Thank you, Commander. Cadets Attention!" Ruttidge ordered. The five students stood straight with their arms by their sides.

"Introduce yourselves!" Ruttidge ordered next.

"Cadet Celia Bergiuese!" Said the Betazoid, loud and forceful.

"Cadet Beltrax!" Said the shapeshifter. He had only partially reformed into the human male again.

"Cadet Dorn!" Shouted the Klingon. Ma'ara was impressed by his volume.

"Cadet Lott." Said the Vulcan. He did not yell, or maybe Vulcan yelling is that quiet.

"Cadet Nebe." Said the Ferengi in an almost whisper. Ma'ara noticed for the first time that this student was female. She had seen very few female Ferengi in her lifetime.

"Very good Cadets! Welcome to the Starfleet Academy Remediation Program! Let's get your bunks assigned!" Ruttidge stated as he turned on his heels and headed down the long front corridor. Everyone followed him.

At the first door he reached, Captain Ruttidge announced that it was the first bunk. He then hit the wall panel, revealing not a bedroom but a large kitchen. Ocktal just sighed. It was utterly illogical to assume that the first door in such a large building as this would lead to a personal space. It made much more sense from an architectural standpoint for this room to be a public area, and indeed it was.

A few of the students snickered at the Captain's mistake. Cadet Lott was stoic and the only sound coming from Cadet Dorn was that of his stomach growling. As the professors, and only adults in the room, Ocktal knew it was their responsibility to provide the growing children with nourishment.

"Perhaps after we assign personal quarters, we should make dinner. The three professors can take turns cooking each day." Ocktal stated as he looked into the primitive appearing kitchen. He would love to have a computer to create synthetic meals but this building was not afforded with that technology.

"You want us all to cook?" Asked Ruttidge. He was taken aback by the suggestion.

"It is the only logical option." Ocktal replied.

"I am a fantastic cook." Said Commander Ma'ara. She was boasting about herself but she still sounded angry as she spoke. Her emotions seemed inappropriate. Then again, most emotions seemed inappropriate to Ocktal.

"Can you make Heart of Targ?" Cadet Dorn asked with a growl.

"It is my specialty." Commander Ma'ara replied. Cadet Dorn's stomach growled loudly.

"I will make it today." Commander Ma'ara stated with a pleasing smile on her face.

"Yes!" Cadet Dorn exclaimed.

"I don't eat. My nutrients are absorbed through the skin." Said Cadet Beltrax rather matter-of-factly.

"Lucky you." Replied Cadet Bergiuese under her breath. Commander Ma'ara hung back at the kitchen to prepare breakfast as the group moved on. Eventually, Captain Ruttidge did indeed find the bunks. There were four rooms each with two sets of bunk beds inside.

"Alright room assignments! These four rooms must be used by all eight of us. Professors will sleep separately from students. Commander Ma'ara will get her own room of course. Lieutenant Ocktal and I will bunk together in room 102. Cadets Bergiuese and Nebe will share room 103. Cadets Dorn, Lott, and Beltrax will be in room 104." Captain Ruttidge announced.

"Actually," Interjected Cadet Beltrax. "I prefer to room with the girls. They seem cleaner." While speaking, Beltrax's voice became higher and hair grew longer. He became a she.

"Beltrax?" Questioned Captain Ruttidge.

"I prefer to be called Bel when I am female and Trax when I am male, if you don't mind." Said the now female Beltrax. Ruttidge just stared at her, not sure of how to respond.

"Are the other students alright with Beltrax's choice." Ocktal asked. It was important that all of the students felt comfortable together to prevent disputes.

"Ummmmm..." Cadet Nebe seemed unsure of how she felt.

"You will have to stay female at all times. It is the girl's room after all." Said Cadet Bergiuese.

"Fine." Replied Cadet Bel.

"What if I want to take off my clothes?" Asked Cadet Nebe, meekly. It was a well known of the Ferengi culture that women were expected to stay at home and never wear clothing. As a member of Starfleet, Ocktal had assumed that Cadet Nebe had refused these antiquated beliefs, but perhaps not.

"I am asexual. You have nothing to worry about with me." Cadet Bel stated.

"I have the appropriate appreciation of the feminine form. Feel free to express yourself as you see fit." Said Cadet Bergiuese.

"Their room sounds awesome." Said Cadet Dorn in an envious tone.

"I am concerned that my cleanliness has been challenged." Cadet Lott spoke as if he were unsure if he should be insulted.

"I won't deny that I'm messy. Clothes only need to be picked up off the floor right when you're about to put them on." Cadet Dorn said proudly. Cadet Lott looked at him in silent contemplation.

"All right Cadets! You are to retire to your quarters until breakfast is ready." Captain Ruttidge stated.

The students dispersed somewhat apprehensively. Most of them carried suitcases into their quarters. Cadet Bergiuese had by far the biggest suitcase out of everyone. It was deserving of its own bunk. Cadet Lott carried only a small satchel with the bare necessities. It was practical. Cadet Nebe had no suitcase at all. The only clothes she had were the Starfleet Cadet uniform she was wearing.

Commander Ma'ara declared that breakfast was ready over the intercom system and Lieutenant Ocktal reluctantly left his room. He had gotten involved in an interesting medical text and lost track of time. The students also filed into the hallway. Cadet Dorn rushed past everyone on his way to the dining hall.

From the kitchen, Commander Ma'ara brought out a plate containing a slice of bread and a large piece of meat for each person. Cadet Dorn ripped into his food as if it might get up and run off. Lieutenant Ocktal sniffed the food. It did not smell unpleasant, contradictory to how it looked.

"A most delicious battertoast and heart of Targ! My compliments!" Cadet Dorn said with a full mouth.

"Targ do not roam freely on this planet. I could not find any to cook for breakfast today." Commander Ma'ara stated regrettably. After hearing that heart of Targ was no longer on the menu, the other cadets tried the food. Lieutenant Ocktal took a modest bite. The meat was tender and surprisingly flavorful.

"Not heart of Targ? Tastes like heart of Targ." Cadet Dorn spoke and swallowed at the same time.

"What this planet lacks in Targ, it makes up for in pig. The hearts are very similar." Commander Ma'ara replied with a content smile. Everyone but Cadet Dorn stopped eating.

Instead of eating a pig heart, most everyone just nibbled on their battertoast. Commander Ma'ara and Cadet Dorn were the only ones eating the meat. Dorn also ate everyone else's leftovers.

"Take the rest of the day for yourselves. Class begins tomorrow at 6." Captain Ruttidge said with a sly smirk. They were getting up at that hour but he was not. It was a Captain's privilege to delegate duties while he rested. No one would see him before noon tomorrow.

A loud banging came at the door over and over. Ruttidge tried to ignore it but it just would not stop. He rolled over and saw his alarm console flashing 6:45. Why!? He went to the door panel and opened the sliding door. There stood Ma'ara with steam billowing from her ears.

"There is no holo-suite in this building!" She yelled loudly enough to wake everyone, if Ruttidge hadn't been the only one still asleep.

"Yes, this building is old and lacking many of the amenities we are accustomed to." Ruttidge replied with his eyes closed and his head leaning on the door frame.

"How am I supposed to teach combat strategies without a holo-dojo and holo-weapons?" Ma'ara banged her palm on the door frame causing strong vibrations to go through Ruttidge's brain. His thoughts immediately flashed to the fact that she punched her last commanding officer in the neck. He lifted his head and looked at her alertly.

"There is a gymnasium in the north wing. Use that as your dojo." Ruttidge said calmly as to not upset her more.

"And my weapons?" Ma'ara asked.

"We must make do with what we have." Ruttidge said replied.

"Hand to hand combat it is." Ma'ara said with a pleased growl. She turned on her heels and left his doorway. As soon as she was out of sight, Ruttidge collapsed back onto his bed.

Ruttidge awoke again and saw that the clock face 7:02 then he noticed an eerie presence standing over him. Ocktal stood there with his arms crossed.

"What's up Doc?" Ruttidge asked, still a little groggy.

"Did you give Commander Ma'ara permission to do hand to hand combat with the students?" Ocktal asked seriously.

"Probably, why?" Ruttidge asked.

"Because four of her five students are now lying in my infirmary with broken bones." Ocktal's monotone voice contradicted the urgency of statement.

"So everyone went down except for Dorn?" Ruttidge asked.

"No, Cadet Dorn was defeated first. Lott was the only survivor." Ocktal said with an emotionless face.

"Ok good to know." Ruttidge said as he tried to roll over.

"You have to stop her." Ocktal said, preventing Ruttidge from sleeping.

"Why don't you stop her?" Ruttidge tried to close his eyes and imagine Ocktal gone.

"She is ranked higher than me. It would be inappropriate." Ocktal raised his voice slightly higher to make sure Ruttidge couldn't fall back asleep.

"Why stop her at all then!?" Ruttidge whined as he flailed in the bed.

"Because there will be no one to teach to if she kills all of the students." Ocktal said calmly. Ruttidge just lay there staring at the ceiling. What did he care if Ma'ara murdered the students? He didn't want to teach them anyway. Then he remembered that this was their last shot. If they failed here, Ruttidge would have to start over in an entry level position. The idea made him jump out of bed.

As Ruttidge raced to the gymnasium, Ocktal was close behind. They reached the scene just in time to see Cadet Lott get flipped. Ocktal ran to the cadet's side and checked for a pulse.

"Why?" Ruttidge asked Ma'ara as he gestured to the unconscious Cadet Lott.

"You told me to work with the tools I had. These are my tools." Ma'ara replied as she held up her fists.

"This has to stop, NOW." Ruttidge ordered.

"It is a shame. Hand to hand combat is a very important skill in Starfleet. It seems that even some of the highest ranked officers ascend so quickly that they never quite learn how to fight." Ma'ara said as she wiped her sweaty hands on a small towel.

"Are you talking about me?" Ruttidge asked.

"Maybe." Ma'ara said as she threw down the towel.

"You are mistaken Commander." Ruttidge replied through gritted teeth.

"Prove it!" Ma'ara yelled as she came at Ruttidge with a roundhouse kick. Ruttidge wasn't prepared at all for a fight. He just stared wide eyed at Ma'ara's impending kick. As her foot got closer, Ruttidge closed his eyes to brace for impact. That impact never came. Instead, Ruttidge heard a large thump.

Upon opening his eyes, Ruttidge saw Ma'ara on the ground in a daze with Ocktal standing over her. He couldn't believe his eyes. Had Ocktal really defeated Ma'ara on behalf of him?

2 Days Later...

The students were all in the infirmary meaning no class could be held. There was a more important matter on hand than the injured students however. Ocktal had beaten Ma'ara handily in the gym and she couldn't stand it. There had to be a rematch.

She knocked on the door once, twice, three times and no one answered. The room could not be empty. Lazy captain Ruttidge never woke up before lunchtime. Even on his days to cook, breakfast was served at noon. Ma'ara continued to knock.

After three more knocks, Ruttidge finally came to the door. He looked sleepy of course. It was only 10am. As soon as he opened the door, Ma'ara rushed in.

"Ocktal you patak! Where are you?" She yelled as she went around the room.

"He's in the infirmary, duh. Someone has to take care of the injured students." Replied Ruttidge. He snatched a pillow from Ma'ara's hand and placed it between his head and the wall. Ma'ara headed out of the room, toward the infirmary.

Stepping into the infirmary was like stepping into the past; not a fun, nostalgic past, but a past where everyone dies of dysentery. The students were all lying in metal framed beds. On the far end of the room was Lieutenant Ocktal's desk.

"I want a rematch!" Ma'ara screamed as she reached the desk. Ocktal stared at Ma'ara with indifference.

"You caught me off guard! That is the only reason a Vulcan would ever beat a Klingon in battle!" Ma'ara yelled.

"She's right. Klingon's are the strongest fighters in the Universe. Lieutenant Ocktal just got lucky." Came a husky voice from one of the beds. It was Dorn.

"Oh please Dorn, you were the first to fall during combat class last week!" Celia exclaimed. Ma'ara remembered it well. She had flipped him so quickly. Visibly upset, Dorn jumped out of his bed and landed on his good leg. He then hopped over the Celia's bed.

"I won't even respond to that statement because I'm sure you can feel my emotions, empath!" Dorn replied through bated breath.

"Is that why you've been sent to the reject academy? A Klingon who can't fight is useless in Starfleet!" Celia replied.

"Obviously we all have shortcomings. We were sent here." Lott added. Ma'ara was annoyed by his voice as it reminded her of Ocktal.

"I won't stand for such things being said about me!" Dorn exclaimed as he hit his hand down on the tray next to Celia's bed. Medical tools went flying across the room. A thermometer flew into Beltrax who had morphed back into green gelatinous form. The thermometer became stuck in the center of Beltrax.

"A little help please?" Beltrax asked. Nebe stood with her left arm in a sling. She hesitated slightly before sticking her right arm deep into Beltrax and pulling out the thermometer. A shiver crawled up her spine as she dropped the moist thermometer onto another medical tray.

"Thanks, I owe you one." Beltrax sighed. Nebe replied with a simple smile and walked back to her bed. Back at Celia's bed, things were heating up.

"You were trying to hit me with those medical tools weren't you!?" Celia accused.

"You tell me! You seem to know my emotions better than I do!" Dorn yelled back.

"I knew something like this would happen. Starfleet should have just expelled us instead of sending us here. We are hopeless." Beltrax stated sorrowfully as the slime form dripped onto the floor in despair.

"My mother was right. I should have never left home. Maybe they will still take me back." Nebe spoke softly to herself. Ma'ara had come here for a fight with Ocktal, not to witness a fight between the students. She ordered the children to calm down. They ignored her as they were too engrossed in their own issues.

Dorn had both of Celia's wrists grasped tightly in his hands. Beltrax's gelatinous form had slid under his hospital bed and made no moves to get out. Nebe was curled up in the fetal position just staring off into space. Lott wasn't moving at all. His eyes were closed and he hadn't moved since the last time he spoke.

"Things are getting out of hand. We should call Captain Ruttidge." Ocktal stated. Right before Ocktal hit the wall panel to make the call, Ruttidge walked into the sick bay.

"Why aren't the students in class?" Ruttidge yelled.

"They are injured captain. I already informed you of this." Ocktal said, confused by Ruttidge's anger.

"Doesn't look like they are injured to me. Their yelling can be heard throughout the building! Dorn and Beltrax aren't even in their beds!" Ruttidge continued to yell.

"There has been some disagreement....." Ma'ara tried to explain but was cut off.

"A disagreement? I should have expected as much from the Starfleet rejects. Listen to me cadets! You are here to learn because you are incapable of surviving at Starfleet Academy. You should be ashamed of yourselves! Sit down, shut up, and learn something for once! You should be as quiet as ghosts in these halls because from the grades I've seen, your presence doesn't even deserve to be known in this place!" Ruttidge ranted.

"Rutty..." Ma'ara began but was cut off once more.

"You are no longer allowed to call me Rutty! You and Ocktal are to blame for this idiocy! The shortcomings of the students are in turn the shortcomings of the teachers!"

"No!" A scream came from one of the hospital beds. It was Nebe. She got up from her bed and walked right up to the captain who stood an entire 2 feet over her.

"We are Starfleet cadets! We were chosen to be among these ranks! We just need a little more help than others. Isn't that what this place is meant for?" Nebe crossed her arms after speaking, standing her ground wholeheartedly.

"Yeah! And, we're not ghosts. If anything, we're phantoms!" Beltrax said as she formed back into Bel. Everyone stared at her, slightly confused.

"Phantoms?" Ruttidge asked.

"Yes. Unlike ghosts that go around unknown, phantoms are present. They haunt you until you force them to leave. The five of us aren't leaving until we graduate from this hell hold and get back into Starfleet Academy." Bel stated proudly.

"Ok then. If you will excuse me I have a phone call to make." Ruttidge said before exiting the room. Once he was gone, the room breathed a sigh of relief. Nebe collapsed into a cross-legged position on the floor. Bel's form broke slightly.

"Good job Nebe. You too Bel. I really like the word phantoms" Celia stated.

"Definitely. Captain Ruttidge has got another thing coming if he thinks he can get rid of us phantoms." Dorn stated as he let go of Celia's wrists.

"Perhaps, instead of Starfleet Remediation Program, this place should be called Phantom Academy." Lott finally spoke. A ruckus came up from the other students as they were excited by the idea. Ma'ara stood silent in a state of shock.

"We should go talk to the captain." Ma'ara said. Ocktal nodded in agreement. As they walked out of the sick bay, voices of the students called after them.

"You're good teachers!" Yelled Celia above the other students.