Chapter six

Sky’s Curious Nature Shows Through and

A Reason She Needs Schooling

William got up and walked to Joe and Fred who also got up. William shook each of the men’s hands in turn and said. “Thank you for helping our daughter. We love her so much and hate to see her in any pain. There were times before she complained about her feet burning and we could do nothing for her. Looking back now it was more likely a small case of a magic burn.” Rocssanna reaches Williams’s side, and she too shook the men’s hands.

“Well, we will be off to wash up and get some rest.” With that said Rocssanna linked her arms in Williams and started to walk down the hall towards Sky’s, and their new room. Rocssanna, turning around as an afterthought, she warned Joe and Fred about that Sky’s curiosity knew no bounds. “Sky is a good girl, but she thirsts for knowledge and loves to know how things work. She has taken apart almost everything we own and put it back together with her calling card.” Reaching into the pocket of her summer dress she pulled out a small card. It simply read. “If broken and needs fixing call Sky’s repair services.”

Fred took the card and chuckled. “I don’t think she’ll be able to dismantle anything on this ship; everything’s protected by powerful magic. It would take an archmage to break the spells to be able to open anything.”

Rocssanna called out after turning to leave “I Just had to warn you about her, not that knowing will help stop her, and she never means to do any harm. If you seem to like something she wants to be able to fix it if it's important to you. Knowing she’s going to dismantle something never helped us either. We never actually caught her taking anything apart, just her business cards “.

Fred and Joe started walking toward the bridge and didn’t give the warning much thought. On the bridge, the two men looked forward to the upcoming fight. “We should make a plan on what we are going to do about the ships in orbit. The pirate ship will probably come for us once we get into space. The other ship will probably follow us to where ever we go. We have no way of stopping or fighting them with what we have. We’ll have to notify the fleet commander of our situation with the Bright Whites ship and the alien ship.” Joe said as he started to get set for everything with the upcoming assent into space.

Fred finished what he was working on and turned to Joe. “I guess we could get some sleep too while we wait to wake our guests. It should be daytime by the time we get them up. Sky should still be sleeping for quite a while after yesterday’s magical and physical battle. I can’t believe she’s only nine-years-old. She will need some special training for the magical power she holds”. Fred turned to Joe. “Imagine what it would to be like Sky, to hold magical power like that. Not to mention her tremendous strength and speed!”

“You wouldn’t know what to do with all that strength and speed. You most certainly would even have a clue what to do with all that magical power flowing out every pore of your body. That would be like holding the power of several archmages or something like that. Plus, she can cast spells without saying an incantation, just a simple gesture. I bet after she learns a little more magic she wouldn’t even need to do that. I believe she’s going to be an amazing Grand Arch Mage one day. I bet by the time she enters her teens she will have reached legendary status.” Joe said imagining how it would feel to have power as Sky has.

Fred looked to Joe and smiled shaking his head side to side. “Is she going to be your new hero? I bet Sky’s your hero now, and she’s not even ten, I’ve got to admit though she has the potential to be great someday, someday soon if there is a call for the insane amount of magic that is. I might become a fan too if she can stay the kind sweet young lady she has been so far.” With that little bit of teasing, Fred and Joe headed off to their separate sleeping quarters.

Moments after Fred and Joe entered their rooms the little girl Sky, jerked up wide awake. Sky was disorientated with her unfamiliar surroundings. Flicking her finger, a small bright globe of light appeared, lighting up the room. It was casting shadows, which she didn’t like so with a wave of her hand. It flew out and multiplied, so no shadows were cast anywhere, not even under the bed. Satisfied the room contained no hidden threat she got out of bed to investigate her new surroundings. With the multiple globes of light, it was hard to look around, so she thought of a way to hide the spheres of light. With a wave of her hand, she hid the light spheres from sight and not the lights effects. Happy with her accomplishment she continued to investigate her new room. Sky remembered all most everything as if in a daze. Now awake she was going to see it all with open eyes and fully conscious. She noticed on the wall by the door a light switch, with a thought she turned it on and put out her magical ones. The light was inferior to hers, so she brought hers’ back and turned the ships lights off in an instant. Sky found. Lately, she needed no gesture and little thought for the task. Lights now of any kind were now super easy, before now flicking them out just made it easier to keep them small and not so bright. She saw a small information terminal to the side of the room, opposite of the bathroom which was holding her interest now. There were no switches or user interface devices. Not knowing how to turn it on, she considered going to ask Fred or Joe of how to use the terminal. She thought it wouldn’t hurt to probe the terminal; maybe she could figure it out herself. With a wave of her hand, she investigated the terminals inner workings and found herself blocked by some strange force from accessing it beyond the surface. The sky was not out for mischief, so she thought she had every right to access any information it could give her. It was an information terminal, and it was in her room’ why not! Sky waved her hand again, with a slight popping sound the terminals monitor came on. With a smile, she pulled and sat on a very comfy looking chair and tilted the monitor for optimal viewing. She looked at her hands with a smile and thought to herself ‘This was great if I’m very careful I can now touch things with my own hands. I don’t have to ask for help or use my special rubber sticks to move things anymore; thick rubber gloves would still help though.’

Fred was getting out of the shower when the onboard computer gave him a warning of an attempt of unauthorized access to the terminal guestroom two before he could react seconds later access was granted. Fred thought to himself, that’s Sky’s room, she should not be up anytime soon, and would likely sleep through anything. Who would be at her terminal trying to access it failing and then gaining access within a blink of an eye? Joe would have been granted access instantly by proximity. It didn’t make sense someone other than crew allowing access. Fred asked the onboard computer A.I. “What level of access was granted to the guest, in room two and by who?”

The computer answered in a rich mature female voice. “The guest in room two was granted complete access, by the guest in room two.”

Joe was getting into bed when he heard the computer's warning and Fred’s subsequent questions. He was in complete shock at the computer's answer with the impossible. As a failsafe, the computer should have disconnected the unauthorized terminal from the internal network and set the room on lockdown, informing the guest as such after the first warning. Not knowing what was going on he thought better safe than sorry. “Computer disconnect the terminal in guestroom two, and bring up a one-way vid link with the guest in question.”

The computer's response stopped both Joe and Fred in their tracks. Sorry, you have no authority over the terminal in guestroom two or accessing a vid-link to the guest, but have been granted permission for a vid call by Sky Knight. Their vid screens popped up with Sky’s face filling the view wearing a long-eared hoody blocking the sight of the room’s interior.

“Hi Mr. Fred and Mr. Joe, I didn’t know you were awake and didn’t want to bother you with possible silly questions, so I was going to ask the computer about stuff. For an AI, she seems very nice, and we get along very well. By the way, Mr. Fred calling a little girl in just a towel is somewhat inappropriate.” Sky said, then she covered his half of the vid screen with her hands.

Fred heard a snicker from Sky and Joe. “Sorry, the vid was supposed to be one way. You were not to see Joe or me for that matter.” Fred said pulling on a pair of his uniform pants, not thinking of sleep anymore.

“Well, I changed that, I think it’s rude you see me, and I can’t see you. If you can’t talk face to face, don’t talk at all. While we’re talking about rude, you should ask for vid call, a cute young lady, not just initiate a one-way vid call. It’s a good thing the computer gave me full access, or you could have possibly seen me in something inappropriate.” Sky started to laugh at the serious tone she took, and the bewildered look on the men’s faces, once Fred had his pants and a shirt on. “I had you guys almost pink with embarrassment, that was too funny. So, what’s up to Mr. Fred, Mr. Joe, why such a late call if you don’t mind me asking?”

Fred cleared his throat and talked with as much authority as he could, using his powerful voice that made most people cower in fright. “We were informed of unauthorized access, then instantly, authorized access to an information terminal in your room. Which should not be possible without my authorization, not even Joe can do that without my say so. Do to certain safeguards put in place over the guest terminals. We were worried about your safety and the safety of the ship. There are reasons for us to be on guard, that you do not know of yet. Could you stop using the information terminal for now till we find out who hacked the system and granted that terminal full access? “

Joe cut in and initiated a one-way vid call to Fred. “Fred, it may not be safe for her to remain in her room; we should not take chances with her or her parent's safety. Two ships are orbiting in space right now, interested in the magic Sky holds. Who knows what that ship in the other dimension is capable of? I wouldn’t put it past the pirate ship The Bright Whites to have a trick up their sleeves too. “

“Joe, it might be a good time to wake up Rocssanna and William to let them know of the possible danger in Sky’s room.” Fred was leaving his room and give additional orders to Joe. “I’ll escort Sky to a new room, and you wake her parents and tell them what is happening. Things could get ugly and quick with this many unknown variables. Be on your guard and ready for anything and don’t get sloppy “.

“You guys I can hear you, and could still hear you, remember full access! No one hacked the computer; I just asked it for full access through the terminal's interface after it first denied me on to the servers.” Sky did not want her parents woken up for something she did so soon after meeting their new friends. “I can fix any problems I have caused if you want. I’m good at fixing things; you could ask mommy and daddy in the morning, no need the wake them now.” Sky then wondered about the other ships in space. She turned her awareness to the ceiling of the ship to see what they were talking about. She saw nothing but a few satellites. “I don’t feel anything like ships up there right now. Are you sure there is something there.”

Joe and Fred were almost to Sky’s room when they heard her answer. Fred knocked on Sky’s door and asked to enter. Joe knocked on Rocssanna’s’ and Williams’ door to wake them and inform them of the situation in Sky’s room.

Fred heard Sky’s answer to come in and before entering had a shield up and ready for any possible trouble in Sky’s room. When the door opened, he was standing off to the side, taking a quick look around he saw the bed was made and Sky at the information terminal. The rooms’ lights weren’t on, yet it was brightly lit with no visible light source. She was alone in the room, and no one appeared to hide anywhere. She was in a cute fluffy, fuzzy animal onesie pyjama with hood and floppy ears and a short puffy tail. Fred found it odd she was looking for something on the ceiling while pointing and counting out, one, two, three”, and was looking around more, only to find none. “Three that’s all I can feel up there, no spaceships today, just the three satellites that are always there.” She said to herself. Sky noticed Fred entering her room a little strangely, and it gave her pause. “Oh hi, Mr. Fred, nice to see you dressed in proper clothes.” Squinting her eyes, she noticed something odd around him it was a bubble surrounding his body, to Sky it didn’t look or feel right. With a simple poke, she dissipated his protective shield with a slight shutter from touching it. She smiled thinking she did him a favour for getting rid of the ugly bubble. No wonder he came in peeking around the corner as he did. I would have been embarrassed to be in a bubble like that too.

“You could see my shield; it takes a complex incantation to see a mage shield?” Fred wondered who could have taught her a complex spell like that. “Sky, it should have been next too impossible for you to break with anything short of a very powerful disruption spell, and the backlash of breaking my shield should have sent you flying along with everything else nearby.” Fred forgot what he was doing in her room for a moment

“I thought I did you favour popping that ugly thing, Mr. Fred. You wanted to be seen in an ugly thing like that! I thought you like to dress nice and neat to cover yourself with an ugly bubble like that. What was with the bubble around you, it felt funny? It felt oily or greasy. My bubbles feel soft and flexible and very smooth; here feel it.” She made no gesture and said no incantation yet beckoned him in to feel her shield. He felt a little spent magic come from her as he approached closer out of curiosity. He came to a hard, inflexible, and smooth shield. He felt no other shield like it; it was like an invisible metal shell. “See it’s a lot nicer feeling than your ugly, brittle, and greasy bubble. Yuck!!”

“Well, mine was for protection in case a hostile person was in the room with you. I don’t like being sloppy about my guest safety.” Fred said pulling his hand from Sky’s shield. Fred felt a little humbled and inadequate by saying he was for protection and a nine-year-old girl pops it with a poking gesture not even making contact. “What do you mean soft and flexible? I’ve never felt anything so hard in my life.”

Sky gave Fred a dirty look and disregarded his last words. “You think I would let a stranger in my room, while I was sleeping, alone, by myself, without mommy or daddy in here. You’ve got to be extremely crazy to think that about a cute young lady like myself.” Sky looked up again at the ceiling. “Why were you trying to scare me with tails of pirates and alien ships coming to get me? I feel nothing but rocks and three satellites up there, nothing else.” Sky said scolding Fred with her fists on her hips in the animal pyjamas.

It took a lot of self-control not to burst out laughing at her antics. The fact that she was not frightened by his size or his voice surprised him. He thought she was making up being able to feel things into space. “I’m sorry milady for worrying your young heart, but there is something amiss up there in space. One is ship is cloaked, and the other is out of phase to our time; I can assure you they are there! Must you be a very brave young lady not to be afraid of me or my voice? “

“Oh, no you’re not frightened at all. You reminded me of the big grizzly bear in the petting zoo when I snuck in to play with it. It nibbled on my head and gave me gentle hugs and cooing the whole time till it fell asleep”. She told Fred and brought up a finger to her lips. “That’s our secret now; don’t tell anyone even my mommy and daddy.”

With a sudden burst at the door, the Knights came to their daughter’s rescue, or not. Sky suddenly jerked her hands to her side trying to look innocent. “Sky are you alright, did anyone come in the room”? After she answered “NO,” they continued. “And you let nobody in until Fred knocked on your door,” William asked, feeling relieved at his little beasty daughter turning her head from side to side causing her rabbit ears to flop around. Satisfied with her answer, He quickly disregarded the possible danger and thought of more pleasant things. Like how she was so cute new PJs. He knew Sky would look so huggable in the animal onesie.

Rocssanna looked relieved to seeing her daughter up, awake, and didn’t seem in any danger or pain. “Is everything alright Honey, no bad dreams while you were sleeping? “

“No Mommy I had a dream, but it wasn’t scary. It was full of huge spiders like the ones I pushed. The difference was when they popped their insides were full of the hard candies l like to eat. Thinking of candies, I’m hungry again.” Sky brought her hand to her chin as if thinking and looked to Fred and Joe giving them a hidden mischievous grin only they could see. “Now that I think about it Mr. Fred and Mr. Joe tried to scare me with tales of Pirate ships and aliens coming to get me.” Sky then ran into her mothers’ embrace receiving a hug; it felt nicer without her suppression suits on. It was also a relief not to feel like you were going to get crushed by your loving baby girl.

William turned to Fred and Joe now somewhat angry, “What does we’ll talk about it in the morning translates into scare my angel in the middle of the night. Do you have any idea how dangerous it is to have her jumpy or when she has nightmares? We went into her room many times to find everything crushed to the walls and Sky huddle in the centre with just her tattered nightdress and a torn-up blanket, of which I might add you probably couldn’t even lift. You have no idea what dangers you put yourselves in. This spaceship could not possibly withstand the magical or physical forces she holds. Our house is so much stronger than this tissue paper plane. The time she blew the windows and doors out of our house. That was just two years ago and after last night. Who knows what she is capable of now after that battle, I know one thing, with little thought she could pop your ship like an overblown balloon. You and your ship would be like a smudge across the planet’s surface. “

“Daddy, I’m right here, I can hear you. I only meant to tease Mr. Fred and Mr. Joe a little bit, those guys wouldn’t and couldn’t scare me, even if the ships in space are real, which they’re not. But now you’re scaring me more; I’m not some monster. I have no magic because magic isn’t real. Magic isn’t what suppressed my strength; it was technology, not magic; he used a computer to help me. If there was such thing as magic I could make a flame appear in the palm of my hand”. Sky held up her hand palm up, and nothing happened.

Fred went to Sky and knelt by her side. “Magic is real, and it does exist but doesn’t work like that, it takes an affinity to fire to make it without an Incantation’ Even then it takes years of practice to create a flame from nothing.”

Sky wanted to believe that magic is and was real because she liked to fantasize being able to use it. But on the other hand, she didn’t want to believe it was real, because it meant her parents have been lying to her, her whole life. Sky now knew what she felt her whole life, that tiny tingling feeling when she made something happen; it was magic. Sky, still holding out her hand, she asked her parents, “Why would you lie to me, your little angel? Did I do something wrong when I was young to get you upset with me, was I not a good girl for you”. She had tears in her eyes when she stomped her foot; a flame shot up from the palm of her hand. The flame shot straight to the ceiling. Sky didn’t look phased at all, unlike everyone else in her room. Sky acted as if she knew it would happen and lost all facial expressions. Sky had no more tears running down her face. Fred being by her side looked to her hand and felt no heat from the flame.

Sky turned to her parents.” I have magic, I know magic, I am magic, and I want to be taught, magic! Please no more lies about magic.” Fred, Joe, William, and Rocssanna’s jaws gaped open as she raised her other hand and arcs of electricity danced across her fingertips. “I have a memory of when, and where, I do not know, but I know I hold all five gifts of the elements like no one before me. I am here for a reason, and I was born for a purpose, teach me for I hold, life, and death. “Sky brought her two hands together, and a shock wave knocked everyone back a metre (three feet) or so, Fred was knocked down and back the farthest, being so close to her. When they all got reoriented, Sky was passed out peacefully asleep on the floor. Her hoodie pushed off her head and her voluminous sea blue hair all about her.

The three people looked at each other, no one was hurt, but startled and scared maybe, even the Knights, the mighty tiny Titans could feel that the magic their daughter held could hurt them. For the first time, ever in history Titans, had a reason to fear magic. Rocssanna broke the silence, quickly going to her daughter. “That wasn’t only our daughter speaking just now; something else is in with her. She’s a good girl; she’s always been a good girl. She has a kind and gentle soul, and she’s lived with handicaps no one else could fathom. Imagine not being able to touch your friends, because brushing them could crush their bones or cause serious bruising. She has never touched another being but Willy and I. Any other physical interaction with other kids. She couldn’t swim, she couldn’t play any sports at all — nothing physical with anyone including us to a degree after she turned four-years-old. Any kind of outburst could cause a loss of lives; with a wave of her arm, she could break and or destroy tens of metres (thirty to sixty feet) of property. None of this happened because she brought up to love life and would do anything in her power to protect it. She became hyper-aware of her surroundings, so as not to hurt someone by mistake. She has made no real friends to prevent anyone from getting too close, don’t forget a hug can kill, even her most gentle ones could hurt us. I could not do what she does, I have no idea where she gets her inner strength, but she has it. My baby needs help; she needs to learn who and what she is.” Rocssanna had Sky’s head in her lap gathering her hair and combine it with her fingers. Rocssanna reached and grabbed for William’s hand to squeeze it. He was there right alongside his loving wife, who took her clutched hand bringing it to his lips, he gently kissed it.

“We will find someone to teach her, now we know that she has a good heart. Sky’s our little angel, but we had to know, who she was to become, an Angel or Demon. Sky will be as a blessing for every good person she meets and us. Once she learns to control her almost limitless power.” William scooped up his wife and child and carried them to Sky’s bed, setting them down gently. Fred and Joe were still in shock; they have both seen powerful full trained mages use two elements but never at the same time as Sky had used them. Now they knew why she was not taught magic or of its real existence before now.

Fred got up on shaky legs, not knowing if they shook from fear or excitement. He knew one thing; he was going to help this child in any way he could. A quick look at Joe he knew he felt the same way. He couldn’t give her a normal life, or an easy life, but a fulfilling life with meaning is a possibility. “William, Rocssanna, the academy Joe and I first went to was the top school for starting magical studies. From there it depended on what your magical aptitude is. I’m sure she will be sent to the best school on a scholarship after even applying. I and I’m sure Joe will sponsor Sky to apply to the school. Magically we weren’t the greatest, but overall, we still graduated with honours. That’s why we have this ship, and no other crew, any more people on the bridge would most likely get in our way. Joe and I work well together because we both don’t like to slack off from hard work.”

“What Fred is suggesting is the right thing to do, and of course I will sponsor Sky to attend. If you want, we will take you there as soon as we leave orbit. The pirate ship should present no problem with this state of the art ship and top-notch crew. The captain is a pretty good man too.” Joe said. He looked at Sky’s peaceful face as she slept. “We never meant to scare Sky in the least. We were informed of the information terminals unauthorized access in her room when she should have been sleeping for at least another ten to twelve hours. Then an instant later the person in her room had full access to the whole system and was the new authorizer. We came to see what was happening. On our way, we in overtly talked about the pirate ship and the Aliens’ ship. We thought we had a one-way vid call. We should have been the only one with vid screens. But she had a vid screen and heard everything we talked about. It wasn’t our intention to talk to her about the space ships; she somehow hacked an unhackable magic AI system in seconds. Sky did it all without touching anything.” Joe was getting ready to leave to check on the computer system for any other surprises.

Fred thought of what she told him. “Sky said she just asked the computer for access and she got access to everything.” Fred noticed a look of realization on Williams' face and then the same look on Rocssanna’s’ face, they didn’t look upset anymore. They sure do cope and deal with things quickly, Fred thought to himself.

William turned to Rocssanna. “All the video channels being unlocked was Sky’s doing I bet. Did you pay for the anniversary gifts and catering this year? “

“No, I thought you did it as a surprise for all the hard work I’ve done, but if you didn’t, who did”? William and Rocssanna gazed down at the peaceful sleeping little girl. “The delivery service said it was all paid for in advance, a tip included. This is one time I’m glad she didn’t think big.” Rocssanna bent down and kiss Sky’s forehead. “Well it seems not only people can’t deny her anything, but electronic, and computers bend to her will too.”

William with another shock of realization looked to Fred and Joe. “Does Sky seem spoiled to you? We just noticed we deny her almost nothing she asks for, what if she was unknowingly using magic to get whatever she wanted.”

Joe paused at the door. To him, Sky seems like to stir things up for a little childish fun and get into some mischief, but nothing hateful or insidious. “Did Sky ever asked for something extravagant or out your habit of buying her.”

Rocssanna thought for a moment before answering with a “Yes, we bought her a new high-end military grade tablet last year and replaced the old vid screen in the living room when she asked us to.” Rocssanna had a look of horror on her face “My baby has been manipulated us with magic, how are we going to cope with her now.” Rocssanna had new tears running down her face. “Maybe teaching her magic wouldn’t be a good thing to do.

William went pale and started to wring his hands. “Dear, Honey, Sky asked me for a new tablet for school and her research because the one she had was too soft and she was fixing it constantly. The one she asked for was top of the line military grade and was much more robust. She pointed out that she was low maintenance and didn’t ask for much, and the old one lasted two years even being so soft, and she did her repairs to it. I told her to ask again in front of you, and I’ll help convince you if it looked like you were leaning to no. You didn’t need my convincing after hearing her case. The vidscreen was, me too, I had asked her to help convince you, and we needed a new one. Sky did so well stating her case for the vid screen I wished I had asked her sooner. She never asked for something she didn’t need or could use to make things easy for us. She didn’t use magic; she used reasoning. I was cheap and then selfish, sorry dear, it wasn’t Sky, it was me.”

Rocssanna’s tears dried up instantly and brought her face up to glare at Willy. “I knew it was you are wanting the vid screen; I was looking for a way to shame you into admitting to it for almost a year. I finally got you. 0WCH! What the….! Sky just smacked my arm.”

“Don’t be mean to Daddy you wanted a new vid screen too.” Sky seemed to still be asleep through the exchange.

Fred and Joe chuckled shaking their heads. Fred spoke to no one in particular. “Sky seems to be alright, and Joe and I have a ship to run. It looks like you have something to think about also. Just remember we’ll help as much as possible, for Heroes of Legends you weren’t treated very well. From here on I will help you get the treatment you earned and deserve and are due for your great sacrifice.” Fred and Joe then left the room. They were in deep respect of the two Heroes of Legends and endeared to one of the most powerful beings in known space, who was wearing an animal onesie.

Fred remembered just after the door to Sky’s room closed” Joe, did you notice anything odd about Sky’s room the whole time you were in there? I noticed almost right away; but felt nothing from the oddity, I just saw the effects”. Fred wanted to see if Joe noticed it as well.

Joe looked questioningly at Fred. He didn’t see or feel anything odd in Sky’s room. Maybe it was about her magic or even her onesie. “No, I don’t feel or see anything different or odd about the room. Should we go back and see if there is anything wrong? Maybe someone is doing something that you can’t feel, and can’t see”? Joe seemed confused at Fred’s relaxed attitude at what was something wrong. Joe put his hand on Fred’s shoulder and stopped him. “What is it that you see and why aren’t you doing something? Is Sky in trouble shouldn’t we move her to a new one just in case”?

Fred turned and looked at Joe with a scowl. “Do you think I would let Sky or her parents be or stay in any danger of any kind? I guess you never noticed the light in the room was not on, and there was no visible form of light. Someone cast a powerful light spell in that room. There is more to Sky than just a cute face and a onesie”.