Free Crash Landing by Zac Harrison

in his chair, looking pleased with himself. As usual, G-Vez was by his side. “He’s half-Gargon. Graal’s favourite. You get the idea.”
    “And I’m useless at Galactic Geography,” moaned Emmie, slumping over the desk until her forehead rested on its bright surface. “No matter how hard I study, I can’t seem to remember anything.”
    “Well, look at it this way, Mordant was right about one thing: however bad you are, I’m worse,” said John sympathetically. “You won’t be bottom of the class at anything while I’m here.”
    Emmie turned her head towards him, silvery hair falling over one eye. “Like to bet on that?” she asked mournfully.
    The door slid open. A great black shape slithered through the door on thick tentacles.
    “Good grief, what’s that?” yelped John.
    “Doctor Graal,” hissed Kaal.
    “No way,” whispered John, shocked. He had seen some strange creatures since coming aboard Hyperspace High, but none so downright ugly as Doctor Graal.
    The great octopus creature reached the desk at the front of the lecture hall and turned to face the students, oozing red eyes sweeping along the rows of desks. Without so much as a “Good morning,” Doctor Graal opened her rubbery mouth and, with a stern squelch, said, “We will start the term with a quiz. Question one: What is the name of the longest mountain range on planet Chole Prime?”
    One of Mordant’s tentacles shot into the air. John instantly saw the resemblance to Graal.
    “Mordant. Yes?”
    “The Skivrak Range, Doctor Graal.”
    “Very good. Where would you find the continent of Mest?”
    Mordant’s tentacle reached into the air again. “On planet Zelastian.”
    “Excellent. What is the name of the only known planet to have no land mass above sea level?”
    This time, Mordant didn’t even put up his tentacle. “P’Sidia!” he shouted.
    “Bravo, Mister Talliver,” said Doctor Graal, clapping two of her own tentacles together with a slapping noise. “As usual, you are extremely well informed. But let us see how well your classmates have prepared. Lishtig ar Steero,” she continued, turning to face the purple-haired boy John had met the day before. “The surface of planet Selleticon is formed of what type of rock?”
    Lishtig stared at the ceiling, tapping his forehead furiously with one finger. “Wait, I know this,” he muttered. “Umm... is it sedimentary rock?”
    “Correct,” said Graal, with obvious distaste. “Emmie Tarz, what process gives gas planets bands of different colours?”
    Emmie looked stricken with fear, her face grew even paler, and a bead of pearly sweat broke out on her forehead. “I don’t know,” she croaked.
    The teacher’s red eyes glared at her. “Just as I have come to expect. The answer is belt-zone circulation,” she rasped. “Perhaps you might know the answer to this one: By what name do we commonly refer to silicate or carbon planets?”
    “I’m sorry, Doctor Graal,” Emmie replied in a tiny voice, slumping even further in her chair.
    John’s heart sank as he watched her eyes brim with tears.
    “Diamond planets. What is the name of the largest continent on planet Earth?”
    John could hardly believe his ears. He knew the answer.
    Emmie covered her face with her hands as Graal looked around the room. “This is what happens when you don’t study,” the teacher belched. “But Ms Tarz will have plenty of time to rectify her lack of attention in detention this evening.”
    “Oh no,” moaned Emmie.
    Seeing that Graal was looking away, John leant towards his friend. For once he felt grateful for the geography lessons back at his old school. “Asia,” he hissed in her ear. “It’s Asia.”
    Shooting him a look of gratitude, Emmie sat up straighter in her chair and said loudly, “Asia, Doctor Graal.”
    The doctor turned back to her. “Wrong,” she spat. “You really are the most utterly stupid student I have ever taught. The answer is Europolia. Detention starts