After Hunter had left the emptiness of their suite was painful. Each footstep an echo, her own voice greeting the silence. Part of her wanted the door to open with him or at least C.A.M looking to update her on what was going on. Then again C.A.M was a busy android so email was sufficient unless an emergency. Glancing at the brooding stack of files on the coffee table she had to laugh at the irony. For all the technology, all the gadgets and gizmos that came with it, nothing was more distracting and frustrating than a stack of files with jumbled papers easy to mess up with your own hands. That and paper didn't hurt as much if you threw it either.

"C.A.M."

Arms encircling the monstrous files, Jack headed out well aware that it was 3 am. Sleep would come when the caffeine supply ran out or when the damn android cut her off citing medical reasons. The tabs of the files were in some semblance of order. Class syllabuses on top, student roster after that and under it all was the files she had hacked into Fleet for. Secrets she thought they might be keeping from her and Hunter. Chaos was great, but going to war blind was asking for death.

"Yes, Jack?"

The voice slightly mechanical, but soft coming from her wrist computer.

"Can you please make an extra pot of strong coffee, maybe two. I am going to be in the living room with the actual working fireplace. Let me know when the house starts to wake."

"Yes, Jack. The house should start to wake about 5 am, but most will head into their labs or class till noon for lunch."

Nodding, Jack knew C.A.M could see her. The files sounded with a heavy thud on the wooden table top. Sinking into the leather couch with her legs crossed Indian style, the first file flipped open in her hands. Classes were important, to the coven, to the academy and to Hunter. It had been a long time since Jack had taught anything. Information was meant to be shared and expanded upon, but to stand in front of a classroom and go through the basics of interstellar travel and mapping star charts...it was all well and good, but there was so much that couldn't be taught with slides and models.

C.A.M silently set a thermos pot of coffee and a heavy mug on the table next to the files. She had been programed to keep an extra eye on Jack and with Hunter K'lar's extra requests before departing for his first Fleet mission, she was being more diligent in her duty than ever. Jack didn't even look up from the student file as she walked away, but that was just her nature.

"Thank you, C.A.M."

Jack blindly reached for the mug making mental notes about who would need a different type of homework, tactile versus verbal, versus visual students in each class. Like a detailed chemical equation, it needed to be balanced. She could almost hear Hunter's laughter.

"It is only a classroom, my Jack. Don't break it."

Even with all the members floating in and out of alchemy house it felt cold and empty without him. Shifting to pull her numb legs out from one another, knees tugged to her chest. Each toe wiggling over the edge of the couch. Finally, Jack tossed the file in hand aside, head leaning back to look at the ceiling as if she could look through it the stars and even then, without Hunter by her side it all felt frozen. Shimmering orbs of glass reminding her of the hollow feeling she could not escape.

Jumbo mug of coffee....

Check!

Clothing that is somewhat teacherish....

Check! Although when is leather and skulls ever not appropriate"

Right classroom and files...

Only one way to find out!

Jack walked through the door of the stellar masses class to 20 eyes looking back at her. Really' No one had dropped out yet' Wings flickering as she tried to get her barrings at least this promised to be an interesting day. 12 males students and 8 female. If this were Fleet the class would be a requirement and yet she had never been through the training, mainly being bord and curiousity had driven her to learn about stellar masses and their behavior. Time to shake things up.

"Hello. I will be your temporary teacher for stellar masses 102. My name is Jacqueline Absinthe, but please call me Jack."

One hand went up in the air shortly joined by others. Not the start she had hoped for, but at least this group was asking questions. Now by chaos may they be good questions. Pointing to the first hand belong to a brute of a young man named Brax.

"Jack, we have you listed as a possible guest lecture, but that begs the question what happened to Mr. K'lar. Are we to assume that his mission in aiding Fleet has been extended?"

Forcing up a smile, Jack braced with one arm on the deck behind her. Questions about where Hunter had gone to were expected. There really hadn't been much warning or information given to the students.

"Mr. K'lar is detained with Fleet and I will be here till his return. Due to the rather classified nature of his current missions I cannot tell you where he is or what he is doing. All that I can say is he checks on your progress when and if a transmission can be sent to him. Shall we move along then?"

Turning to face the first projected slide of a gas cloud. A breathtaking mixture of dust and gasses shimmering against the vast blackness of space. Jack had the privilege of swimming through something similar. Without warning a smart mouth piped up from the back.

http://img.ezinemark.com/imagemanager2/files/30002494/2010/09/2010-09-28-09-23-38-4-cold-cloud-of-dust-and-gas.jpeg

"First, we have studied gas clouds already. Second, you are listed as a specialist in mechanics through space not a working knowledge of space. There is a very big distinction between the two."

Glowing green eyes turned and narrowed to pick out the face from the darkened room. They would soon learn the flickering of her wings meant they were very lucky C.A.M had hidden all her wrenches from her.

"First, you have studied gas clouds, but you have no real working and applicable understanding to be able to do anything beyond repeat what you read in your text book. Secondly, the two are different, but stellar masses and mechanics in a spacial environment are dependent on each other. Or are you going to get out and push your spaceship out of gas cloud so you don't explode?"

Long and fluid strides took her figure to the very center of their vision. All eyes on her, Jack boldly stared back at them. If they thought Hunter was a challenge they were going to beg for him to come back.

"I am sure you can site that this particular gas cloud is compose of the glowing hydrogen, nitrogen, starlight and dust. I bet you could even tell me that hydrogen is red, nitrogen is green and the starlight appears blue, but that tells us nothing. How did these gases come together" Why here" What does all this mean for us other than it is a pretty little thing floating in Lagoon Nebula?"

Hand on her hip, Jack grinned. One they would come to know meant trouble for them.

"I expect you all here tomorrow. Suites, shoes and helmets will be provided. Leave the text books and egos at the door."

Panic made a young girl's hand flail in the air. Her question out before, Jack looked at her.

"What exactly are we going to do' What should I study and what do we need helmets for?"

It was oh so tempting to say for when she found her wrenches, but the poor thing looked like she was ready to throw up any second.

"You are going to herd gases to form your own cloud. Class dismissed."

Jack marched out, files in hand still smiling. Now what did she do with that crate of LED black lights"

Information and image found at http://leisure.ezinemark.com/impressive-space-photographs-in-september-7736695a55b7.html

Each of the students took a different start. Brax and a few of the other developed boys started pushing the stubborn sheep around getting the run around and the occasional sheep fart. A few of the girls searched for the pen with their name on it so they knew what direction they had to work towards. One young lady had taken to sitting on the grass talking to the red hydrogen sheep softly and if it were not for the glowing and darkness, Jack was tempted to start calling her little bow peep.

Off on the very corner of the grass that covered the floor of the gym, Jack had climbed into a life guard's chair to keep a clear view of all of them. C.A.M had been at least kind enough to leave a whistle for her to reel them in should things get out of hand. Oooh! Student down! Wincing as Brax had tried to run along the wet grass to herd his iodine and face planted. Setting the coffee aside, her hand covered her mouth so her snickering wouldn't be heard. Hunter was going to enjoy the video of this!

Well look at little bow peep go! The timid little girl who moments ago might of thrown up had her hydrogen sheep by the collar and gently leading it to the pen without issue! As time continued it was getting harder and harder not to laugh. A few of the girls had started working together, one taking the sheep by the collar and talking softly while another nudged it from behind. At least one pair of boys had taken to picking up the sheep gently and carrying it to the pen despite the flailing legs making it's body weight constantly shift.

"Ten minutes left!"

Jack's voice was easily carried over the group. Coffee polished off, she climbed out of the chair and back on the ground. There were many ways the students could have herded their sheep and they were showing her the many other ways she hadn't thought of, success or failure. She was feeling rather sorry for one boy. He had taken to acting like a herding dog, barking and pinching their legs, but he was not fast enough on all fours to keep the sheep moving together or in the direction he wants. A great roar came from one side of the sheep herd and to Jack's surprise Brax was losing his temper. A flailing red sheep bleating and all four legs running in the air making it harder and harder for his arms to hold the creature. Brax face was turning a lovely shade of red that she could pick up in the dim light. Clearing her throat she stepped in before something happened to the both of them.

"Hey! This is sheep herding! Not sheep hurling! Put it down! Besides that you are agitating hydrogen. Do you really want to blow up?"

Jack's feet moved cautiously through the group staring down Brax in case her warning didn't sink through his anger. Even more red faced than before, he set the sheep down only to watch it run away from him. Looking around the room, it made her smile with pride that a few had already completed the assignment.

"Keep trying, Brax."

The last few minutes of class passed so quickly. If there wasn't another class coming in to actually use this space as a gym, Jack was tempted to let them keep trying. Clapping her hands three times the lights came back on. Looking around to make sure she had their full attention, it was time to wrap this up.

"I believe all of you can safely say that gas clouds form for many reasons. Their order and full development unique on multiple levels. It is in these details that are not found in text books, but through diligent and through observation and testing that give us the tools to use or working mechanical knowledge to maneuver through space safely. Thank you all for your participation in this classroom experiment. I can safely say that your diligence has proven it should be kept as part of the curriculum. Well done to all of you."

Jack would wait in the hall for as they filed out from changing taking the time to answer any questions they might have. It warmed her heart to see their smiles and laughter at each other over the whole thing. Hopefully, Hunter would laugh too.