Chapter Seven

Space and its Battles

Sky woke up three hours after her magical outburst with no memories of the last exchange and no one wanted to push her to remember

They decided to have breakfast in space for Sky’s sake. She wanted to start her new life in new surroundings, so they all went to the bridge to watch the takeoff.

“Liftoff in ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one, and blast off, Blastoff. Why aren’t we blasting off, no flames, no roaring engines, nothing?” Sky was going from side to side looking out the viewports for something exciting to see other than the ground slowly moving away. “You said space was going to be a fun trip. Daddy has thrown me up in the sky faster than this.”

“Sky, I told you we have to clear one kilometre of ground before engaging full lift. Then it’s whoosh into space and possibility a couple of battles. Then wouldn’t that be exciting, a nine-year-old and you have your first space battle.” Fred was in his captains’ chair with the added instruments to make up for the small crew.

The ship reached one kilometre, and the hypergravity drive engines slowly increased their output increasing the speed of the ship significantly, the ground and the island dropped away in a blur. Sky was bouncing from viewport to viewport, she became like a streak of colour and her long blue hair cracking like a whip as she moved around, and then there was a tearing sound. Sky was nowhere to be seen, the clothes she was wearing fell to the ground in rags. Moments later a red-faced Sky in a pretty, blue dress came in picking up the pieces of her ruined clothes. “Sorry, daddy I don’t know what happened to my clothes. I was walking around quickly looking out the windows, and they came apart and fell off me in pieces. Then I ran as fast as I could and put on my dress. I hope Fred and Joe were gentlemen and didn’t look at me naked.”

“Honey you don’t have to worry; no one saw you. I saw you, running around, not walking, and I was going to say something about your clothes is ripping when they all fell apart, and you disappeared.” William was about to mention to Sky about the fact she now had only one new pair of clothes when the ship made a shuddering motion and stopped just leaving orbiting heights. William wondered what just happened “What just happened Fred? Why did you stop while just in orbit”?

Fred’s’ hands were a blur across the console in front of him. Fred’s answer was brisk before barking orders to Joe. “I didn’t stop we were stopped! Joe increase the shields too maximum and ready laser beams toward the cloaked pirate ship. I wasn’t expecting an inertia dampening net set out by what I thought were simple pirates.” They could see an outline of the net as the power in the shields went up and then dim as another net interwoven with the first net. The second net sucked out the energy from the shields.

“Fred the shields aren’t going to hold for too much longer with the Bright Whites draining them away like that.” Joe was trying different options to cause a feedback to the other ship but to no avail. That is when he noticed the pirate ship powering up their lasers with the stolen energy.

The captain of Bright White, Brakon hailed Little Tooth. “Ahoy there you, little imperial ship. I have you in my nets, and you have no place to go. If you want to live hand over all of the talismans you took from that battle and any other weapons you have”.

Everyone look at the forward at the viewscreen and seen the bridge of Bright White. It was filled with a grimy bunch of people and half-lings. Their clothing had no matching uniforms or even colour. The only thing they had in common was their white-toothed smiles. It was very disturbing to see so many glistening white teeth on the grubby crew.

Fred did not answer the grubby captain. He shuttered along with everyone else at sight and shut off the vid link. He turned to his crew. “We do not give in to demands of the enemy without a fight. Let’s see what we can do to these grubby looking pirates. There is a bounty on them too”. He said to his guest and one person crew before turning back.

Fred noticed the lasers on the pirate ship powering up too. “I don’t care what you do just give me shields, any shields.” There was a flash, and then there was a blue sky with light, fluffy clouds floating by. The sky lightened on and off and with no other change. Fred looked back to Sky seeing her point out to a cloud that looked like William floating by. “Sky, where are we? Are we still in space or did you send us somewhere”? Fred said looking at his instruments not believing what he was seeing.

“Mommy, doesn’t that cloud look like daddy? Oh, over there is one that looks like you “. Sky said to Rocssanna seeming not to here Fred.

Joe answered Fred before Sky did. “We didn’t move, but the new shield is Sky’s magical one if you haven’t guessed already. The shield is holding by the looks of it, and the laser that is firing at us is dropping in power. I guess it takes a lot of energy to power those huge laser cannons. Everyone looked at Sky; she was smiling. Then it changed to a frown, and even her shield started fading, and the sky changed colours. “They’re now draining the magic from Sky’s shield too and powering their laser with it. No wonder they were never caught; they have all the neat toys. We always suspected surprise, not superior weapons took all the other ships.”

“Sky can you see where the ship is now?” Fred was trying to sound not too pushy, so he didn’t frighten Sky with sounding desperate.

“Yes, Sir, Mr. Fred, and it's right over there.” When she pointed to the image of the sky, and it faded from view leaving what appeared to be open space. Where Sky was pointing a red circle with a shimmering outline of a ship within, lasers flashing at them. The lasers were getting stronger. “Look closer you can see two bright currents of energy going from our bubbles to the pirates’ ship.”

“Sky, how long can you keep up the shield up”? Fred wanted to know how they could retaliate. “Can we fire a laser through your shield? Fred asked her now treating her as part of the crew.

“Mr. Fred the bubble will hold as long as you want, I’m using the same trick against them and powering the bubble with their lasers.” She turned with a smile as if a battle of life and death happened every day. “Yes, you can fire anything through my bubble from this side, Mr. Fred Sir.” I’m having fun, Sky thought, it’s like I’m crew now and being helpful. I wonder if I’m going to get paid as part of the crew. Will I have to cut my hair? “Hold on; I feel a tugging from in that direction.” Sky reached out and pointed at the bulkhead and it turned invisible, it became a window into open space. Another circle appeared around another shimmering ship, but it looked a little different sort of half there. It was the alien ship they seen on the sensor the day before. “It’s doing something to my magic; I feel it being tugged at somehow.”

Joe turned to Sky. “Hold on we are going to stop the pirate’s ship then the alien’s.” He waved his hand over the console, and a bright light shot out from the underside of their ship, hitting the pirate’s shield, and nothing happened; but powered their laser cannons more. “It’s no use their going to keep sucking up all the energy we throw at it. Fred any ideas we don’t have any large projectile weapons on board, just lasers?”

Sky turned from the alien’s after glaring at them with malice. “Um. Excuse, Oh, permission to speak Mr. Fred sir? Fred answered with a “Yes.” “When I was sinking leaves on a pond, I threw rocks and I sunk every leaf till daddy stopped me because I was making too big of a splash.”

“No angel they weren’t rocks they were boulders.” William added.

Sky gave her father a cute scowl for interrupting and continued. “For bigger things, we throw bigger rocks!”

Fred answered her with a questioning look “We have no rocks to throw at them let alone big ones! How are we to throw anything while we are in space from our ship”? He tried not to sound condescending, but how could she think of throwing rocks at a battleship with shields.

Sky didn’t seem to register the tone in Fred’s voice before she replied. “Yes, we do Mr. Fred Sir they are right over there.” She pointed to another bulkhead that vanished to reveal a small cluster of asteroids. “We have lots of them right there.” Sky said smiling occasionally looking back at the alien ship and giving them a livid of look disdain.

Fred and Joe looked to each other and wondered how she knew they were there. Fred shrugged his shoulders and gave her a reply. “That’s nice but how do we throw them Sky? We can’t just pluck the asteroids and throw them can we”? Fred then felt bad for being so sarcastic and was about to apologize and quickly explain to her the problem with her idea. Before he could say anything else, she interrupted him.

“Then can I do it, Mr. Fred, whatever that other ship is starting to tug at my magic hard. I’m starting to get a burning feeling in my toes.” Sky lifted her hand as if to grab at the asteroids, and five huge chunks of the asteroids followed her hand as it moved, but from hundreds of kilometres (120+ miles) away. Each one stopped beside the ship in behind the other and reformed into perfect spheres. All of this happened just outside of their ship Little Tooth. The spheres were just on the other side of the net that held them from moving. She gave another quick look and a sneer to the aliens. She turned and faced the pirate’s still firing lasers. Sky is now facing the pirate ship, she reached out as if plucking one sphere as if it with her fingers. It was around a tenth the size of the pirate larger craft. Sky cocked her hand back like a major-league pitcher and then a blur followed by a gust of wind inside the bridge. Joe was blown into his console giving him a bloody lip. It took a second to be able to focus again after the wind inside stopped. The view of the pirate ship, The Bright Whites was now fully visible and had a big gouge down the side of its hull. “Oops so much for a warning shot. It’s because of those stupid alien guys.” She plucked another sphere from the short row, this one a little smaller than the first and gave it a flick towards the alien ship. It was too fast to see, and it hit the ship and partially passed through it, but some seemed to connect. It started to shimmered and faded from view until it was no longer there. “Well they're gone, for now, let’s finish this, I’m hungry, and my feet are burning. “We have three rocks left; let’s not waste them, and waste them.” Sky said pointing at the somewhat crippled ship. Sky reached out and snagged the rest of the spheres and readied to throw them. The Bright Whites seemed like they were breaking off their attacks and were trying to turn about. Fred noticed a large bay door opening that pointed towards them.

Joe jumped up waving his one hand, holding the other one to his lip and Sky released her pitchers pose “Woe, woe, young lady let me move first.” Joe looked around and moved beside Fred, who just chuckled — satisfied with Joe’s place being safe. He called out” let ‘err rip before they do.“

Sky cocked back her arm again; she didn’t hesitate to throw the spheres. This time the wind she made with the throw blew things around the bridge of the ship and William’s empty drinking cup smacked Joe in the side of his head. Sky heard the impact and turned to Joe. “Mr. Joe, you are fated to get hit by something when I use magic I guess.” The pirate ship The Bright Whites were almost destroyed completely only large chunks of scrap floating where the ship was. Only the two nets around their ship remained intact of The Bright White. “What do we do about the nets they are really big. You seemed to like their toys”. She said with a giddy smile. “Do you have a place for them on this ship, Mr. Fred Sir?”

Fred was contemplating what to do about the nets and how to get it off the ship after Sky asked. “We do, but??” He looked up contemplated what Sky was doing. She was moving her arms as if reeling in a rope, within a few moments. She was balling up two near invisible nets. Fred looked surprised once again; I’ve got to get used to this, seeing the impossible now possible. He said to himself. “Sky, I’ll open the cargo bay door on the underside of the aft of the ship you can put the ball of netting in there. We’ll sort them out later.” Sky looked at him with a questioning gaze. Fred forgot for a second she was carried on to the ship and didn’t see the ramp door. That and still was just a child who learned about certain things through vid shows. “You can put it in the big door on the bottom of the ship.” Fred watched Sky looking down towards the bottom of the ship. She pulled her hands apart as if dropping something and brushed her hands together as a job well done. Fred stood and walked to Sky who was standing proud after stowing the net away. She didn’t stand much taller than his abs. Putting a hand over her tiny shoulder. He too like Joe, couldn’t get over the fact that Sky was so solid to the touch, like touching a warm metal statue. Looking down into her tiny beaming face he said. “Good job young lady you were a huge help, and a great pitcher. I don’t think I’ll be swinging or trying to catch one of your throws; it could be life endangering.”

Sky looked so happy and curtseyed not knowing what else to do. But knowing it would probably not be safe to touch him back. “Thank you, Mr. Fred, Sir. I’m glad to be of service. You and Mr. Joe helped me so much it’s only fair that I help you. Um, could you help me again, my feet feel like they’re on fire.” Surprisingly Sky’s parents were quiet till she mentioned the burning feet.

Rocssanna rushed up to Sky followed by William and giving her hugs and kisses. “Here you go, have a couple of rock nuts. They seemed to help the last time you had magic burn.” William picks her up for a big hug, and Sky easily twisted out of his grasp.

“You guys are embarrassing me in front of my captain and crew.” Sky looked over to Joe and Fred with her face flushed you could see her go pinker. “Sorry, Captain Fred Sir. For my parent’s outburst on the bridge. I’ll see that I get the hugs and kisses later, on my time. I’ll accept a hug and kiss on the cheek from you and Mr. Joe if you are allowed and if you want, off duty that is “. Sky looked to her mother and father for approval and got as with a nod from each. “Can l have permission to leave the bridge and eat breakfast, Captain Fred Sir?

Fred turned and faced her, “Yes you may temp Ensign, Sky.” He a gave her quick salute and seen Joe giving her a salute too. “We will be joining you in the mess hall shortly. As for the hug and kiss on the cheek, I’ll take it now might as well test them on battle-hardened men, before some other beings you fancy. Someone should see how lightly you can hug and kiss a human being. Since humans are everywhere and all seem to like hugs and kisses. Just this once though, I am married with two children a little older than you”. He smiled at her. “I hope you and your parents can meet them someday soon. We can talk about them later in a mess.”

“Captain Fred sir. I am not a messy person, and will not leave a mess for anyone; you can even ask mommy and daddy? Maybe I don’t want to hug you or kiss you on your cheek if you keep implying I’m a messy lady.”

Joe started to laugh forgetting they were close to getting hurt or killed with a nine-year-old magic powerhouse saving them. This was going to be the best morning in his ever. Fred was stammering about the mess being the dining hall on a ship when he saw Sky’s face crack, it cracked into a big toothy grin. In a blink of an eye, he was hit by a rush of air and pieces of a blue dress then nothing. William smacked his forehead and muttered under his breath in sync with his wife. “She did it again.” Rocssanna and William went and picked up the pieces of Sky’s new dress from around a dumbfounded Fred. William was going to have to find Sky some of her old clothes in their house soon. That might prove to the fun unto its self. Before leaving they called out, “see you at breakfast guys.”

Rocssanna and William found Sky in her room wearing her onesie, and she looked like a sad little beastie. “Sorry, Daddy I ruined all the new clothes you bought me. All but my floppy-eared rabbit onesie.” She sat down on her bed pouting trying not to look miserable. “I guess I am a monster, look what I did to the pirate ship, all I saw was a threat, and I didn’t think of the lives on board that ship at all and I just wiped them all out in a blink of an eye. I thought it was fun too, throwing those rocks at them’ not once did I think of the other people on that ship. I’m a monster.” She said tears were running down her cheeks and her chest heaved racked with sobs.

Rocssanna went to her knees in front of Sky stroking her fuzzy head and ears. “You are no monster, and the tears proves it. Monsters don’t cry thinking they’re monsters. Monsters laugh knowing they’re Monsters. When we saw the pirate ship, Fred and Joe knew of them and tried to fire their lasers at them, no warning shot, blast them fast. They were probably horrible people on that ship one and all. So, dry your eyes you can’t wash the scum they were with your angel tears. If you want to cry, do it in the memories of their victims for they are no more”. Sky sniffled and wiped her eyes with her paw