Finding a Navigator

***NOTE: This story is a prequal/backstory to the previous two stories I've submitted ('Alien Pictures' and 'The Painted Candle'). They all make sense on their own, but if you like one of them you might enjoy reading the others too. Thanks, and enjoy!

“Crap,” Finnian muttered to himself as he walked down another street that obviously was not where his graduation was being held. As frustrated as he was, he couldn’t help but chuckle at the irony of his situation. He had just completed his four-year training course to become a captain of his very own spaceship. Although he did well overall, and even graduated top of his class in spaceship flight and maneuvering, he had just barely passed his navigation course. He thought back to his last conversation with his navigation professor.

“Although you might not find it as fun as flying through an asteroid field, good navigation is one of the most important traits of being a successful captain.” His professor had explained. “Afterall, intergalactic space travel is all fun and games until you get stranded in the cold, dark, emptiness of space with no idea on how to find your way home. I’ll give you a passing grade because I believe you do have what it takes to become a successful captain, but I strongly suggest that the first thing you do is hire a good navigation assistant to join you on your ship.”

Finnian had tried to blow off what his professor had said at the time, but getting lost on the way to his own graduation only confirmed the undeniable truth. Finnian just didn’t have a head for navigation. He loved to look at the stars, but he saw them as a work of art, not as a navigation system. As an avid photographer, he hoped to make a career in exploring the far reaches of space and taking pictures of beautiful galactic formations that no one had ever seen. But he couldn’t very well do that if he didn’t know how to get to those new places and then back home. So, Finnian promised himself that the first thing he would do as a captain would be to hire an excellent assistant. But first, he had to find his graduation.

***

The day after graduating, Finnian was already on his way to Rewtoophown University, or RU for short. RU was the best navigation school in the star system, and he figured there was no better place to find a new assistant. Once he got there, he set up a booth on the main campus with a sign that said, “Hiring Ship Navigators!” It was the common practice to look for new job candidates in that way, and Finnian saw several other similar booths nearby. After looking at the competition he wrote “Adventure Awaits!” on his sign, and then sat back and waited for the candidates to come.

And come they did. First it started with one or two people at a time, but by mid afternoon there was a line of almost 20 university students at his booth who were looking for work. It was exhausting to talk to each of them and try to figure out who to hire. Most of them were very qualified, but quite honestly, they were all so boring. Finnian couldn’t imagine himself trapped in his small spaceship for weeks at a time with someone who could only think about star charts and directions. He sighed as he looked up at the next candidate in line.

“And I’m top of all my classes and I love navigating and I love directions and I love math and I love measuring and I love the stars,” said the applicant standing in front of him.

Finnian paid more attention to that last statement. “You love the stars? What do you mean?”

“I love the information they provide!” the Regomian said. Regomian’s were known for their loud voices and confidence, although they usually only stood about 4 and a half feet tall. This one was eye level with Finnian when he was sitting down.

“You like the information they provide?” Finnian asked. “What about their beauty? Do you ever like just looking at the stars?”

“Umm…” the Regomian replied, a little caught off guard. “That would be like looking at an equation and not solving it. Stars are a puzzle, and I like solving the puzzle. Other than that, they don’t provide me any enjoyment.”

“Good to know.” Finnian said, “Put your name and contact information here, and I’ll get ahold of you later if you get the job.” Like that would ever happen. How can you not like looking at the stars!?

As the afternoon went on with many more similar conversations, Finnian couldn’t help but notice a young Grebotrabin man sitting on the grass nearby, taking pictures with an old-fashioned camera that printed them out right away. The Grebotrabin was then carefully pasting those pictures into a homemade looking notebook he had with him. Finnian didn’t know much about Grebotrabins, other than their bizarre features. They had green skin, four arms, three eyes, and two antennae sticking out of the top of their heads. The young man he was looking at though didn’t stand out to him because of his look, he stood out because he was the only student Finnian had seen so far who wasn’t engrossed in studies or applying for jobs. He was just spending the afternoon taking pictures of the plants, rocks, and other common objects around campus. Finnian made a mental note to go talk to him once he was done with all the job candidates.

After what felt like an eternity, the sun began to set, and all the students started to head home. Finnian quickly interviewed the last candidate standing in line, and then frantically looked around for the young Grebotrabin man he had seen earlier. He did a full 360 degree turn looking, and then did it again in the other direction, but he didn’t see him anywhere.

“Gosh, I’m an idiot,” Finnian said to himself as he packed up his booth. “The only student with an ounce of personality outside of studying, and I missed him. Why didn’t I talk to him sooner? He even had an ARV-3500 camera! I didn’t know those existed anymore. Well, I guess I’ll just be stuck with an agonizingly boring assistant.” He looked down at his sheets of names as he said the last part, and started to walk through the grass, his thoughts completely absorbed in what to do about choosing a navigator.

Suddenly, his foot hit something and he fell to the ground, dropping all his stuff.

“Oh no!” Said a voice right next to him. “I’m so sorry, sir! I didn’t mean to trip you! I was just lying here enjoying the view of the three moons and I didn’t see ya coming. Wowza, you sure were carrying a lot of stuff!”

“That’s alright, don’t worry about it, it was my fault anyway” Finnian replied, quickly gathering his things and trying to hide his embarrassment of tripping over someone. The person he tripped over started helping him pick things up. He was very fast at it. It helped that he had four arms…

“Wait a minute, it’s you!” Finnian yelled, realizing that he had just tripped over the Grebotrabin he had been looking for.

The Grebotrabin man handed Finnian the rest of his things, and then looked down at himself and smiled. “Well, what d’ya know, it is me!” He then looked back towards Finnian. “Wait, do I know you?”

Finnian reached out his hand. “Sorry, let me introduce myself. My name is Finnian. I recently became a captain over an intergalactic spaceship, and I’ve been here all afternoon looking to recruit a navigator to assist me on my travels. I couldn’t help but notice you earlier. I’m a photographer, and I saw you taking pictures with an ARV-3500.”

Finnian was going to continue, but his new friend cut him off. “Wowza! A captain of his own ship! It’s good to meet you, Captain Finnian! My name’s Quixly.” Quixly then did an awkward, but enthusiastic, salute with both his right arms.

Again, Finnian was going to say something, but Quixly kept talking before Finnian could get a word in. “Ya said you’re looking for a ship navigator? Well, you’re in the right place! RU is the best navigating school this side of the Domman star system. Did ya find anyone good?”

“Actually,” Finnian said quickly, before Quixly could change the subject and cut him off again. “I haven’t found anyone yet.” He looked down at Quixly’s camera again. “Tell me, Quixly. Why did you spend all afternoon taking pictures? Was it an assignment for one of your classes?”

“Nope!” Quixly said, still standing in his salute. “I did it because I like taking pictures. It’s a great way to appreciate the beauty all around.” He looked back up at the three moons, now clearly visible in the dark sky. “One day, I’d love to travel the galaxies taking pictures of everything out there. I’m sure there’s some real neat stuff in space that would make great pictures! But, that’s just a dream. I suppose it’s unrealistic to expect myself to ever be able to do that. So, I’m satisfied with just taking pictures of rocks and plants around here.”

“You’re joking.” Finnian said.

“No, I’m serious. Taking pictures of local stuff is very satisfactory.”

“Quixly.” Finnian continued. “First off, stop saluting me, you don’t need to do that to ship captains, especially not this one.” Quixly dropped his arms down and relaxed his stance. “Second, that’s exactly what I want to do too! My plan is to travel the universe taking pictures of the beautiful sights no one has ever seen! I’m already a captain and I already have my ship. I just need a navigator to help me out. And you’re studying at the finest navigation school around. Do you see where I’m going with this?”

“I think so, sir.” Quixly said. “You’re pointing out how crazy it is that we both have the same dream! Well, hopefully one day you can find a good navigator. And hopefully one day I can apply to work with an intergalactic space captain. Anyway, it was great to meet you, Captain Finnian! Have a good life!” With that Quixly turned around and started to walk away.

Finnian just stood there frozen. What kind of person is smart enough to get into RU, and yet dumb enough not to see the opportunity of a lifetime standing right in front of them? He was debating if he should try to stop the quirky Grebotrabin to offer him a job when Quixly turned around and laughed.

“Wowza, sir! You really fell for that, didn’t ya? You really think I’m that dumb?” Quixly laughed and then jogged back over to Finnian. “Of course I know what you were saying! So, how do I apply to work for ya? Do you need my transcript? My resume? Letters of recommendation? My favorite color? I’ve never done this before, I don’t know how it works.”

Finnian chuckled. “No, I don’t need any of that. Do you think you’d be a good navigator?”

“I think so.” Quixly replied.

“That’s good enough for me!” Finnian said. “I’d love to have you on my crew. So, what do you say, would you like to officially accept a job as my navigating assistant and explore the universe?”

Quixly’s jaw dropped. “Really sir? Do ya mean it? Wowza! Yes, I’d love to! Yeehaw! I’m gonna go explore the universe!” Quixly then started doing an awkward happy dance.

“Great!” Finnian said, doing his best to ignore the random dancing. “Then meet me here tomorrow morning and let’s put together a plan on where we’d like to travel first. We’ve got some awesome journeys ahead of us.”

“Yes sir, Captain Finnian sir!” Quixly responded. “I’ll see you here tomorrow!” He saluted again, and then ran off in the direction of the dorms, yelling an occasional “Wowza” and “Gee-wiz” as he went.

Finnian smiled and turned to walk away. There was something undeniably fun about his new assistant, and he had a feeling they would have a great time traveling the galaxies together. Finally, my dream has officially started. He thought to himself. He then looked around the dark campus. Now, which way do I go to get home again?