“I’ll admit that there are more ways to use an Optic than simply sitting on the ship.” Unranked Officer Albert Mayer said from behind his massive wooden desk, “But I need you to understand the senseless danger that comes from putting one of our more valuable assets on the front line.”

“I understand the risk, what I don’t understand is why it is acceptable for a Possessor or a Phantom to fight, but not us,” Jack said. This topic was not new to either man, but unfortunately, it was the one they fought over the most often. Luckily, his teacher welcomed and even encouraged questioning the way things were done in the past.

Space was the same on the Washington as it was on most vessels - cramped. However, the title of Unranked Officer came with benefits not offered to any but the seven founders of the AHF and the serum that granted their powers. And apparently, one of those benefits was a personal cabin, bathroom, living quarters, and yes, a massive office. It bothered Jack that someone was placed on such a high pedestal, but he figured that the next time he discovered the proverbial magic bullet that reshapes war for over a thousand years, he could change the system as he saw fit. Until then, things just were what they were.

“Jack,” Albert said patiently, just like he had every other time this subject arose. “How many Optics are generally in a basic training group?”

“One at most.”

“Right. And in comparison, how many Phantoms?”

“Usually anywhere between four and six.”

“Wonderful.” He replied, “Now answer this, can you rebuild your body in the event of a disaster? Or shape a shield capable of blocking most known projectiles? What about controlling the machines around you to protect you?”

“No, you know that.”

“Your right, I do.” He said, “The point I am trying to get across is that an Optic does not have the defensive capabilities of the other Corps, whether we like it or not. I understand your confidence and am glad that you want to make a difference, but risking our lives where there are already so few of us is foolish.”

Studying the dark mahogany desk, Jack thought over his next words carefully. “Albert, when the AHF was founded, there were no ‘traditional’ places for a soldier to hold other than the ones assigned in combat from before Li-Tech. When you were forced to fight, you found the place that you felt you belonged rather than what was honestly best for your people and your team. While I cannot speak for others, I can say that my personal experience – limited as it may be – has shown me that each and every soldier has to make that decision for themselves.”

“I disagree, your power is that of connection. To my knowledge, there has yet to be an Optic that has found his or her limits that couldn’t be overcome with training. So, knowing that, I can say that you are perfectly capable of fulfilling your role from either the ship or a rear operations base on the ground.” Albert retorted, voice starting to gain the hint of agitation that was so common when they spoke about this subject.

“Then tell me this; First Sergeant Summers is an Optic, yet he consistently joins the rest of our company on the ground. I’ve experienced firsthand what he can do with his power, and the level of precision he gains from its use. Are you telling me that Summers is a fluke or a fool?”

“Both!” Albert shot, “Damnit Jack, Summers is an anomaly that I have only seen a handful of times. But even excluding that, the man does not fight in close quarters combat as you so wish to do. He fights from far away and with a laser-sighted rifle. What you are suggesting is that you have enough stamina to maintain several connections with the enemy, in a large battle setting, and fight with a blade. I can’t do that, what makes you think you can?”

“I did it on Algol pretty regularly, I do it in the training room with my peers on a daily basis. I don’t see why training cannot provide me with a level enough footing to hold my own out there. In fact, I don’t see why being on the front line, feeding information to my Commander wouldn’t be seen as more advantageous. By removing the Optics from the front line, you are creating a massive gap in trust.” Jack said, passion overflowing from his voice, “How can the members of my squad trust my information if I am not there with them? How can I live with myself if they get hurt? How can I stop myself from becoming alienated from the rest of the AHF?”

The words ‘like you didn’t need to be spoken, both men knew and understood their implications in Jack’s words. Unfortunately, they were true, regardless of how staunchly Albert tried to ignore it. The problem that he had wasn’t fear of death, it was fear of loss. The truth was that he had seen just how deeply a commander could fall into the emotional rabbit hole, and he refused to allow himself to follow in those footsteps.

“Jack, I’m going to level with you.” Albert said after coming to a decision, “The truth is that I fear for each of my students, more so now that I am personally training you. Since you are one of only thirty that I’ve trained, and the only one that I see regularly. I feel personally responsible for both your health and career. I do not want to see such a promising student die because he had delusions of grandeur.”

It was the first time in a year that the man had spoken so openly regarding how he felt about his students. For one, Jack was taken off guard to see that he was more than just an assignment given to the Unranked Officers. Why hadn’t the man opened up like this in the past? It would have saved so much irritation on both sides.

“That said, I do not believe that you are a glory-chaser. Rather, I believe you are simply as concerned for the well-being of your squad as I am about you. But, you graduate from your second year of training tomorrow. However, you choose to fight will be up to you, and I can’t stop it. The best thing I can do for you at this point is to further your understanding of our power. Perhaps you can continue to grow and eventually become whatever it is that you’re striving for.”

Sitting back into his chair, Alberts's eyes began to glow with the violet light of the Optic Corps. His power had been a part of him for so long at this point it was more reflexive than an active decision. Jack wondered if the man even noticed.

“Drop yourself into the spectrum, Jack.” He said, eyes open but seeing the world very differently than he had just a moment ago, “Remember the exercise for reaching a target location that is farther than your current limit? This time, I want you to focus on pulling one string and connecting it to as many points as possible, but leave yourself as the middle instead of the endpoint.”

Jack followed along, the exercise wasn’t new to him, but the practice couldn’t hurt.

“Good, I see the strand attaching to you properly. Now, I want you to take four of those points and work on your speed of establishing and dropping connections. Just to add another layer of difficulty, I want you to do it with an object on both sides of the line simultaneously. This is an exercise to keep with you in the real world to help increase your effectiveness on and off the field of battle.”

Deep in the tapestry that was what we called light, Jack began to cycle through a series of eight viewpoints as quickly as possible. When first starting, he would have to drop a connection before grabbing another strand of light. Now, he was starting to be able to hold three strands of Light, but he could attach any one strand to nearly a dozen targets. Originally, the process of flipping between each turned his stomach, now he could change between each with great speed and no nausea.

“Now, add the third.”

Speak of the devil Jack thought, grabbing hold of a third thread and feeling the headache bloom behind his eyes. It felt like hours went by as he continued to try and join that third thread to himself, but after great pain and patience, it connected.

“Good. A fourth.”

“But sir?” Albert knew that he hadn’t fully grasped three strands, much less four. Near the beginning of their time together, Albert requested that he be called by his name instead of titles. Using one now meant that he was either very skeptical or very scared.

“At worst you walk away with a headache. At best, a new skill. Now, do it.”

The pain felt like a spike was being driven into both of his eyes, but ever so slowly, he reached back into the spectrum of light and tried to grab on to that fourth strand. Like grabbing on to a lump of red-hot coal, the strand finally came to him.

If he’d have stopped there, it wouldn’t have been so bad.

Without taking the time to overthink the action, he pulled the thread into himself forcefully. The heat and pain that was just a part of his imagination, exploded behind his eyes. With a scream he continued to push, tying the line to the nearest anchor point – Albert.

From one of his many points of view, he saw himself. The glowing veins framing his eyes had never faded as Summers promised, but now… Now the veins were not just glowing softly, but instead were shining with a brilliance that threatened to engulf his entire face. To his horror, the Light expanded, tracing itself farther down his face and neck than before.

“Drop them! Now!” Albert yelled, clearly seeing the pain etched on Jack’s face.

With much more effort than forging the bond in the first place, Jack released the strand that connected him to Albert. Even though the strand was gone, the pain remained in full force. With a gargantuan effort of will, he released the second of the four strands, allowing it to also return to its natural place in the fabric of existence. And for the first time in what felt like ages, the pain lessened but was not gone.

“You’re doing good Jack,” Albert said, “You are pushing your body and mind farther than ever before. Let go of the last two strands, and the pain will be just a memory.”

Jack returned his perception to the realm of light. He could still see the last two strands leading away, into oblivion. Releasing the third strand still took a massive effort, but unlike the previous two, the pain lessened drastically when it was gone.

The last strand.

Once it was gone, the pain would only be a memory.

Grabbing on to that final strand, an image unrelated to any of his viewpoints flashed through Jack’s mind; a man in red, holding a red sword standing above a black, slumped figure. From his position, it was clear that the man in red would plunge his blade through the heart of the other.

Then it was gone, slipped away as easily as the strand of light that brought the image in the first place.

“Good job today Jack,” Albert said, holding a handkerchief out for Jack to take. “I know it wasn’t easy, but pushing your boundaries is the only way to get stronger.”

“Thank you,” Jack said quietly, taking the cloth and pressing it to his eyes. When had he started crying? Was it from the pain? “I saw something in that last moment.”

“That isn’t so uncommon for someone like you and me.”

“True, but this was different. It wasn’t clear like a normal viewpoint, more like a pastel drawing of people I’d never met.” Jack said, removing the cloth and placing it on the desk.

“You may have seen a Light Remanent.” Albert explained, “Few ever see them, and of those even fewer understand them. To the best of my knowledge, they are echoes of a time or place that particular thread of Light has touched, or will touch. I wouldn’t put much stock in them though. Even if it were a form of divination, there are too many factors that can change the course of events. Which of course would mean the thing never happens.”

“So, it's just a cosmic anomaly that will possibly bother me from time to time?” Jack asked skeptically.

“Basically, yes. Are you ready for the graduation tomorrow?” Albert asked, not so subtly changing the subject.

“As ready as I can be,” Jack answered, wanting to know more. But after spending a year training under the man Jack knew that Albert would never talk about something he didn’t specifically want to.

“Good,” He replied with a nod, “I would tell you to go out and get some sleep, but I’m not stupid. I know that every member of Turaspeir will be out at one of the ship's bar’s drinking until they can’t see straight. So, rather than tell you to go to bed and you lying to me, I just want you to be careful tonight.”

Rising, Jack nodded his confirmation and walked toward the door.

“And Jack?”

“Yes?”

“If you see anymore Light Remnants, let me know. They may be nothing, but I still like knowing that they happen.”

“Of course, you have a nice night,” Jack said before stepping out of the office for the last time as a trainee.