Chapter eight

The Magic of the New Crew (Part Two) Impossible Sky

Joe walked into the med-bay with excitement in his eyes. His first suspicions were right the examination table was like new, and the towels were one piece again even the dents on the floor were gone. Sky’s ruined and discarded suppression suits were separate and looked new. The colour of the micro chainmail was uniform and laying flat. Joe picked up the two towels and wondered if he should put them in the auto wash or away. He could smell a light floral scent, and they felt fluffy. He just folded them and put back in the drawer. He reached down to pick up the suppression suits and move them from the middle of the floor. His fingers couldn’t even slightly move them. They were unmovable even with his strength magically augmented. He could picture when Sky was bouncing around when he first used the spell to make her weaker. The spell he used was to make muscle-bound criminals of various races easier to handle by making them only able to move like a normal human. Sky seemed to have gotten stronger instead. He was going to get Fred to move the two suits as a joke.

He remembered why he originally came to the med-bay. He planned to recalibrate the medical and magical console. Then he was going to test his magic well and see what Sky had done to him. He felt that Sky had changed his magical make-up somehow. He ran the diagnostic program and found everything working perfectly. He hooked himself up to start the test on himself. When he reached out to initiate the test, he found himself shaking with anticipation. He forced himself to relax; he started the test. Almost instantly it beeped after the test started. He felt dejected, it hadn’t changed he thought, and his shoulders slumped. What could he expect, he knew months of rigours training only showed a minuscule increase, what could a heartfelt hug do? He looked to the display before shutting it down. He had to blink a few times to clear the surprise in his eyes. The readings of the test he was now a level five mage. He was still light years from Sky’s depth, but five made him one of the elite. He was about to call Fred when the com-vid screen opened in front of him.

Fred was there; he had a look of surprise on his face that was becoming more common since meeting Sky and her parents. “Joe. come here; you’re not going to believe what happened in the scrap bin.”

Joe smiles to himself “You don’t even need to say it but have I got some news for you, come to the med-bay, and you might have got something from Sky I got.” Fred was a little confused was Joe excited about catching something contagious, he thought to himself. ‘I’ve never felt better in my life, and he thinks we got the same thing.

“I will be right there.” Fred was not far away and was there in less than a minute. Joe was looking over the multi-use console of the med-bay. He was hooked up to it and checking his magic well, repeatedly.

He tried to hide his glee behind a look of apprehension. “Fred don’t be alarmed, but Sky may have affected your magic well. I hope it’s’ not as serious as what happened to me. Let’s get you hooked up and see what the damage is. I hope it’s not like mine because it would be too sad”. Fred just lifted his arm and placed the test pads on. Joe pressed the button to start the test for Fred. Just like Joe almost instantly the console beeped when the test was done.

Fred was facing away from the console when Joe looked defeated “What was your mage level before this mission started “? He asked just in case he didn’t remember correctly, but it was a huge stretch.

Fred not knowing what he meant. “You know I’m a level four mage and my elemental alignment is earth. Why are you asking that now, it’s not going to change at all without serious training for years? You know we’ve barely done any training on this mission. Has it hasn’t changed since our last test

“Well, training or not you are now part of the upper elite mages at level six. I think that hug Sky gave us bumped us up two levels somehow? I know it wasn’t the kiss on the cheek, because that kinda hurt”. He unhooked Fred's arm and started to put the pads and wires away. I take it you noticed everything on the ship is like new too thanks to whatever healing spell she used. Look at the table here not one scratch on it. I don’t even think the restoration spell would have worked so well. Rocssanna told me that when she takes magic from her well, it’s like from the bottom of a huge water tank. When I tested the size her well, it was much deeper than even you realized. It measured in seconds not milliseconds. Her well can’t be just in this plain of existence but in many different dimensions”. Joe took a seat on the newly restored medical bed. “Rocssanna also told me that was one of the reasons they never tried to teach her magic. She had no control how much magic she puts in any spell she tried. It took her a long time to get it under control because so much magic would flood through the simple spells would become huge. I figure what she called pushing was blasting pure magical energy as if from a high-pressure hose. Not telekinetic power or E.S.P. like they told her. When she grabbed and threw those spheres was more like a form of telekinetic power. She will need some training to regulate her magical power and bring it under control?” Fred took a seat across on the next bed, and they stayed in silent contemplation.

Sky reached her room in record time while walking, kind of! She found her new torn-up clothes whole again and was thankful to Mr. Fred and Mr. Joe all over again not having to wear last years’ rags. Not that she would call them rags, she picked them out of a catalogue herself after taking an interest for the first time. She was the one to put every tear and rip in the garments; they were her mistakes no one else’s. “I will wear those clothes to remember that I must be careful in how I do things still and forever.” Sky said making the vow to herself as she took off her onesie bunny suit folding it and putting on the pants and tee-shirt. Sky after changing her clothes she contemplated what to do with the rest of the twenty-four hours left in the day. She decided to ask Captain Fred what she could do as a new part of the crew. Her mommy and daddy were the cooks and cleaners, she thought. I was responsible for the bubble protection and throwing rocks. But that’s only in battle, but I can always make some more rocks now just in case there are no rocks around went we need them. I could make and put them in a pocket space like mommy’s pantry purse. She left her room to put her plans into action.

Fred and Joe jolted to awareness by the ships A.I. unit call to their attention of multiple objects on a collision course with the ship, and evasive action must be taken soon. A vidscreen appeared in front of the two men. Hundreds of round spheres were coming at them from all directions. Fred called out “Full shields all hands brace for impact.” Fred and Joe ran towards the bridge when they were about to enter; they stopped in shock. The sight before them was a very disturbing vision they could not fathom. In the middle of empty space, where the bridge should have been, was Sky! She appeared to be standing in a void. It looked like she was directing spheres of rock made from what they guessed were asteroids. Just as the first sphere was about to make contact, it vanished from sight. There was a disorienting feeling as they pass through them. The feeling kept coming as the ship was nearly bombarded by hundreds of various sized spheres. They stood at the edge of space where Sky floated in the centre Fred was knocked into the void by the arrival of William and Rocssanna, and fell to the invisible floor of the bridge with a thump. Sky turned and acknowledged her captain. She pretended his fall never happened, stood tall and saluted him. “Captain Fred Sir I’m just finishing gathering some rocks for our next battle for easy access. It must be working because who ever tried to attack us must have stopped once they saw all the rocks we have now.” Sky was beaming with pride at her accomplishment of averting another battle.

Fred got up on to his hands and knees; his mind was disoriented from the feeling of the spheres passing through a dimension so close to theirs. The fact he was virtually being surrounded by incoming projectiles from all directions, and on an invisible floor. He just braced himself with his hands on his knees, his eyes squeezed shut and waited for Sky to finish. He didbefore speak to her, not knowing if doing so would cause him to retch. Joe was leaning on the door frame for support not daring to venture out onto the floor he now knew was there. Seeing Fred’s distress gave him enough pause. William and Rocssanna just looked to one another and whispered to each other, ‘this is going to be a long trip.’

Only after the last sphere was put into what Sky called her pocket space sack of rocks, could Fred think of standing. His mind and stomach are finally able to settle before feeling capable of speaking. He gave Sky a weak smile trying to hide his discomfort. “Could you bring back the bridge please Ensign Sky?” No sooner than he finished asking the bridge was visible again. Fred took a deep breath and stood up on shaking legs feeling quite weak. He walked shakenly to his captains’ chair and sat heavily into it. Once the bridge was visible again, Joe wondered on to the floor he had not experienced what Fred had, but he still felt shaky. He could not get over the sheer display of raw power Sky used with not even slightest sign of strain. Joe had seen arch mages use their magic like Sky had but on a fraction of the scale. The difference was they were trained and had talismans helping to power the spells. Joe was voiced what he was thinking to Fred. “I have no idea what kind of incantation without written runes can make something go invisible as she had. The fact she kept it active while casting hundreds of other spells simultaneously is just nova”. Joe had a spell on his wrist tablet for an incantation to make something invisible but not to the scale Sky had done. He went and sat down on his chair in front of the main console and scanned the surrounding space. Not one speck of space debris or asteroid was near for hundreds of thousands of square kilometres around them. Only three satellites remained in close proximity of the ship. It slowly occurred to Joe the pirate ship, and many of the asteroids contained precious metals for building ships and certain magical objects that are hard to obtain.

Joe turned to Sky, who was observing Fred with a now worried look. He put the idea of separating the metals for later. He knew Fred’s nausea would pass soon and would not like Sky’s pity for something she thought was the right thing to do. He would have to give her a few tips on the Imperials Orders chain of command. “Ensign Sky front and centre.” Sky’s head snapped to Joe’s voice. It was hard to see her for the little girl she was after such a display. Joe could only see her as the most powerful magic user he had ever known or even heard of. To Joe, she was towering over everyone in the room, yet she didn’t act anything but humble.

“Yes um, Mr. Joe Sir.” She quickly walked in front of Joe standing to attention like the soldiers she seen on vid shows. Her thick wavy locks of blue hair shone all about her, her tee shirt not tucked in, and was not wearing anything on her feet. She looked like the cute little girl she was. Underneath all that, Joe knew differently, and recent performance just proved that.

“Ensign as second in command I guess it’s up to me to fill you in on the ship's procedures, the chain of command, and dress code. Do you understand me Ensign Sky?”

William and Rocssanna were happy to see Sky fitting in with her two new role models. They would be good to teach her some structure for her life to come, not only to do but to listen to others more experienced than her, before jumping in and doing what she thinks is right. They let Joe continue seeing their daughter in good hands.

“Yes, Mr. Joe Sir I hear you loud and clear, Sir. What are my orders Mr. Joe Sir?”

Joe stood up towering over Sky physically yet somehow she appeared to have a larger presence than anyone there. She still humbled herself to them and looked to them for guidance. “First of all, tuck in your shirt, fix your hair we can’t have your mop flapping around. You should put it in a bun or something. While Sky tucked in her shirt, the hair on her head started to move on its own. Joe tried not to look surprised after all this was Sky Knight, his secret hero. Her blue hair started to weave itself into complex braids no stylist could match giving them a hundred hours, then twisting again into an intricate bun on the back of her head. Her hair was finished just as she tucked the last edge into her pants. She now had two ringlets framing the side of her face, that looked very cute for a young girl, but not for the military. Joe cleared his throat. “The ringlets too.” The two ringlets pulled themselves up into her hairline and part of the complex weave. She did this with no movement while holding eye contact with Joe with her head tilted far back.

“Mr. Joe Sir I have no shoes that stay on my feet for very long. Maybe you could make some magic shoes for me. How about I bring some of my old shoes could you fix that pair like you did my new clothes. You did a wonderful job.” Sky looked up to Mr. Fred. “Or was it Mr. Fred who cast the spells that fixed our things.”

“Never mind about that right now, this is about following orders. We need to communicate with each other in order to prevent problems. Starting today, I will get you a uniform for you to wear while you’re on duty. I want you to keep it in top condition while you’re wearing it. You will address Fred or I as sir or Fred Sir for myself it’s Joe Sir. No need for Mr. While on duty during the day. Do you understand Ensign Sky of what I’m asking of you?”

Sky pondered his question if she wanted to play in their game. She had to play by their rules or not play at all. Sky also knew this was no game, no matter how much fun she be might have. “I have two questions before I unofficially join your crew, Joe Sir.” Sky waited for Mr. Joe’s answer; she received a nod. “Could you or Mr. Fred teach me how to use magic if it’s real? I have full access to the information terminals on the ship, could I have permission to use it more?”

Joe was not expecting the first question. He has taught a few spells to recruits, but no one held the type of magic Sky holds. A simple healing spell she tried to copy fixed the entire ship and everyone on it. What was safe to teach a powerful magic holder like her? Then it came to him, none. “Sky before I teach any kind of magic I need you to learn to take control of the power you hold.” Joe let Sky think about his answer to her first question.

“But how do I do that, Joe Sir? What do I do to meditate on power when I don’t know what that is”? Sky looked confused at his request.

Joe looked to Fred and seemed him watching with clear, thankful eyes. He didn’t need Sky to worry over little vertigo she caused him. “Captain Fred, permission to leave the bridge and get Sky a uniform and instruct her in basic conduct? I would also like to instruct her in basic self-reflection meditation on how to control magic flow?” Joe waited for an answer with patients thinking of what Fred’s just been through.

“Joe, you may get Ensign Sky three uniforms to wear, two recruits and one formal wear. You may also drill her on basic conduct how to stand to attention, salute, and how she should care for her uniform”. Fred left out the instructions on meditation because he had bad premonitions of Sky popping the ship with magical energy. He shuttered at finding out it was actually possible. “I will be the one to instruct her in anything to do with magic on this ship. I can see a very fine line of instructions are needed for her unique gifts. I will instruct her using my gifts, slowly”. Fred turned to Sky and pondered what to say to her. “I have a report to send to the Fleet Admiral, about our new guests and a possible new mission. Then I will meditate on how best to instruct you. I will help you reach enlightenment in how you control the flow of your magic”. Fred waved Sky over to stand in front of him. She moved over with an uncanny grace for someone her age. Sky with her hair up looked older than she was, but there was no hiding her youthful face. With Sky in front of him, he stood also and addressed her. “Ensign Sky, if you’re going to be part of our crew you need to listen to your superiors. What you did just now with the space asteroids and debris was not a problem in itself. Not clearing it with your captain and crew was. I was momentarily unable to perform my duties as captain because I did not know what you were doing. So, before you join my crew, you must agree to listen to Joe’s orders and mine. In return, I will attempt to show you how to manage your strength and magic through your self-awareness”. Sky looked to Fred and smiled her head tilted even further back to look in the eyes. Fred was still impressed by the way she stood her ground against such a large man as himself. Many full grow men buckled under his gaze and his deep, powerful voice. Sky like her father didn’t even flinch with her head craned back holding eye contact.

“Fred Sir, if my mommy and daddy allow it I will join your crew. I want to treat me as a normal young lady. I’m sorry for not telling you about Mr. Joe’s console and the rocks I collected. I promise not to do anything else without your permission”. Sky realized her mistake; she never told them about the console incident and hoped he didn’t notice the slip. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Joe looking over his console for any damage and found one of her personalized calling cards. It read ‘Sky’s repair services if this breaks call Sky and consider it fixed.’ Joe held up the card to let Fred see it. Instantly he knew that Sky was talking about Joe’s console, but had no idea what she did.

She decided to clarify what she did. “I wanted to see how it worked and scraped off some of the paint with my nails. I couldn’t get the colour back to what it was so I made all the colours on the bridge the same. I’m sorry if you don’t like the colour you can use your magic to fix it like you fixed our stuff and my new clothes. I like to thank the one who fixed our stuff that was really very kind of you”. She said looking back and forth between the two men with a smile of appreciation.

Fred looked to Joe to see what his take on the scenario. Joe shook his head ‘no.’ “I prefer not to have to fix every little thing with magic. I didn’t even notice the colour difference, so no use wasting magic on something I kind of like”. Fred really couldn’t see the difference without a reference. Well, we should get you dressed in a proper uniform and shoes, so you and Joe are dismissed”. Fred turned to where Rocssanna and William sat watching with peaked interest. “Rocssanna would you accompany Joe and Sky, to help her with some parts of the female issued uniform. It contained some basic toiletries for women; some of the items have no use for such young ladies”. Joe and Rocssanna both got what Fred was talking about almost at the same time.

Joe walked up and gestured Sky to follow. Sky saluted Fred and turned to follow Joe, who stopped and offered his hand to help Rocssanna up as a gentleman should. She just got up on her own to follow Joe and her daughter. Joe saw William sitting alone with nothing to do. “William if you’re not busy you could join us too if you want.”

Fred interrupted Joe. “I’m sorry, but I need Mr. Knight to help with the final draft of my report I’m going to send to the Fleet Commander. I need to make it as real sounding as possible so I need some information on how the Bright Whites could have captured our friends here for ransom”. He gestured to Joe to be on his way, and the two young ladies followed him. Fred noticed how gracefully the ladies walked they made Joe seem tall and lanky.

In a blur of motion, Willy was at Rocssy’s side. “Honey I’ll see you at lunch, I’ll get it ready this time. Someone was snacking on the leftovers and finished them off. I wonder who could eat a fifteen-kilo (33 lb) snack, hum; I wonder who”??? William and Rocssanna looked to Sky out the corner of their eyes. Sky had found her bare foot so cute she had to stare at them while a shade pinker.

Joe just chuckled to himself. “Well the day isn’t getting any longer Ensign Sky, so time to get you outfitted, looking and acting like a new officer of our crew.” William kissed Rocssy and Sky in turn and went to join Fred on the bridge.

The three walked down the corridor turning right before getting to the med-bay, down another corridor and stopped at a large door name personal supplies and weapons. Joe waved his hand in front of the door saying something in a strange language. Two doors slid open across each other from opposite sides. The two followed the grinning Joe in and his grin faded. He turned to look at the doors that stay open in wonder. “Sky did you get permission to go anywhere on the ship as well as access to the terminals”? Joe thought for a second. “Did you give your parents the same access you have?”

Sky looked to Joe kind of sheepishly. “Well you know they are my parents and for me their cute, young, and caring daughter to have permission to do things while they weren’t. It just didn’t seem right; we have access to everywhere but your rooms and supplies. That wouldn’t be right to go through your guy’s stuff, Joe Sir”.

Rocssanna didn’t look too surprised at Sky’s admission. “I had no idea she did this for us; it makes sense if you think about it. Sky has almost always asked for permission before she did anything, so it makes sense that we have permission to give”. Rocssanna ruffled Sky’s hair and gave her a big smile.

Joe just shook his head; this was going to be hard to break Sky of some bad habits. “the doors were supposed to make a loud sound and close without permission by the captain or myself.” Joe let out a sigh. “It spoiled some of my fun. Sky, for now, let’s get you into the proper uniform and the rule of conduct book”. Joe walked over to what looked like the huge vending machine. He indicated sky to stand in a place where there were two footprints. Sky stood in the designated spot. “We’re going to scan you for your size, so stand still.” Sky stood holding her breath perfectly still. Joe told the machine to scan for an Ensign’s uniform. From above Sky ring of magic passed over her, head to toe. Sky felt a tingling sensation on her skin as the ring of magic passed over her.

In this spot, next to her stood formed a grey mannequin what looked just like her. “Computer show me an Ensigns uniform in combat fabric.” A uniform slowly appeared onto the mannequin; it was like Joe’s but of a different rank. Joe walked around the mannequin, nodding in satisfaction. “Computer replicate two uniforms in combat material, double stitched.” Joe turned to Sky and told her. “This will give you a uniform with the added durability, because of your extra strength and speed. What do you think of your new uniform, does that meet your expectations of what you would look like”?

Sky walked around the mannequin, she stopped at the back and reached out to grab the tale of the shirt. Joe was about to tell her that she couldn’t touch the mannequin. But as the words sounded from his mouth. She tugged on the shirttail and made it a tiny bit longer. She continued to walk around and turned to Joe.

“Joe, can I have some skirt and tights instead of pants?” Sky said with a pleading look in her eyes.

Joe looked at Sky and shook his head. “Sorry, you can, but that is a custom modification. I’m not sure how to perform it on this unit.” The look in Sky’s eyes was not of disappointment but glee.

“Joe sir, will this look OK to you and Mr. Fred?” Sky was now pointing to a mannequin wearing a skirt and black tights.

Joe found it hard to hide the look of amazement from his face. “That would be acceptable for this crew.” He stammered. Joe smiled and knelt in front of Sky. “Could I ask you how you did that, change the uniform on a virtual model?”

Sky answered in a perky voice. “That was so easy. I just pictured what I wanted on the virtual mannequin inside the computer and it appeared on the virtual one here”. Sky pointed at the formerly faceless mannequin to Sky’s twin in the modified uniform. The virtual mannequin preened as it modelled the outfit. Sky addressed her virtual self. “Conny you look good as me in my outfit you should keep it.”

“I think I will; it does seem to suit the format on the ship,” Conny said and gave Sky a curtsy

“Who’s Conny and how are you moving the virtual mannequin like that, and why does it sound like the computer interface?” Joe asked in total bewilderment looking at the virtual mannequin looking at him. Joe almost fainted when virtual Sky answered him and not the real Sky.

“I had a lengthy two-second conversation with my now good friend Sky, and we decided I should have a body to go with my virtual intelligence. Since Sky and I have conversed so much, I’m going to be more like her. By the look on your face I see your shocked, but not to worry I will perform as before, just a little better. I believe with Sky’s magic power input I could use limited magic now. For example, I believe electric and magical bubble, I mean shields are possible. Sorry for the technical slip I’ll try and not let it happen again.” Conny told a baffled Joe.

Joe’s face was comical and wordless. He had no idea that Sky was interfacing with the A.I. computer so much, or even how. It defied all logical laws of physics how she did many things; it had to be magical. Joe surmised it had something to do with having all five elemental affinities or even the other entities fused into her, maybe both. Joe finally got part of his speech back, looking to a virtual representation of the AI computer interface, now known as Conny. “I can’t authorize the additions to your new interface myself; you must ask Captain Fred for his input and acceptance of any changes “?

Rocssanna looked to Sky “You had to model another one after you again, couldn’t you have used, someone like me this time. How many virtual intelligent versions of you do I have to look at?” The glare Rocssy gave to her daughter broke into a smile, “I know what you’re going to say, the same thing you always say, I don’t know why but they seem to choose me to model their appearances, maybe because I’m such a cute and adorable mommy.”

“Mommy, you know what I’m going to say sometimes, but the last parts were wrong, and I don’t say I’m adorable. Yes, they all seem to pick me. Not that I want to change the subject, but I think Joe had a formal uniform in mind too”. Sky turned to the 3D image of herself. “Conny could you show me the Ensign formal uniform now, while you replicate two of those uniforms, please.”

Joe was watching Sky interact with Conny, and he had to admit he might prefer the new interface. However he still couldn’t conceive how she did it, and he’s never heard of a computer using any magic other than converting it to power with machines. Joe watched Conny model the formal Ensign uniform for Sky. Conny had changed her hair; she had ringlets framing her face, which was only acceptable in formal settings. Joe looked a little closer and noticed a few more tweaks to the uniform; he liked it. “Sky you’re going to look beautiful in the formal uniform in about thirteen years, for now, you’ll look very cute.” He said looking back at Sky and Rocssanna who motioned him to turn back. Joe looked back to Conny and did a double take; it was a version of Sky in her mid-twenties, close to his age. She had a long French braid to the middle of her back with two smaller ones framing her face then sweeping back into the main braid. She wore only a touch of makeup to accent her mesmerizing eyes. Her uniform was filled out on the small side but in just the right proportions to her size of her frame. His attention was brought back with Rocssanna snapping her fingers in his face.

“Rocssanna to Joe, Rocssanna to Joe, come in Joe, do you read me. Your mouth sprang a leak and liquids are running out the corners of your mouth. You do realize that it is my daughter you’re looking at”. Joe looking away wiped his mouth and looked back fully chastised to see a young Conny again.

Conny looked to Sky. “You better watch out when you’re older, he looked like he was going to eat you whole. I also think he approves of the slight changes to your uniform’. She made a gesture to the shoot of the oversized vending machine. “Your duffle bag with your battle fatigues and basic toiletries are ready for your inspection Ensign Sky ma’am. Sky took the large duffle bag almost twice her size and picked it up with ease from the oversized vending machine. The magic suppression spell was not doing much to keep her strength down. She walked over to a table and neatly started to pull things out. One heavy jacket, two shirts, two skirts, four pair of black tights, four pair of socks, and a box with boots and polish. In another smaller bag four pair of white boyshorts underwear, and four of the tops that seemed only to cover her chest. Like the ones, her daddy bought but just a little plainer. Two washcloths, two towels, soap shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, and a small bag.

Rocssanna took away saying "these are for later, much later I hope". She opened the bag turning a little pink. “Yup much, much later. Joe why are these even in here”? Joe had a possible clue of what she was talking about but begged off ignorant.

“Why don’t you grab a shower and change into your new uniform and see how it fits?” Joe said to Sky as she walked back the vending machine pulled open a chute dropped her four-sport bras in.

She turned to Joe “The vests are too short for my liking.” A few minutes later a clear bag appeared sliding out of the large pickup area of the machine. She brought it over to the table and opened the bag pulled out four waist length tank tops. She smiled with satisfaction with the better fitting garments.

“Joe Sir excuse me, but I’m going to shower now and change in my room as you suggested.“ Sky smiled picking up her repacked bag.

It was Joe’s turn to surprise Sky. “Sorry Sky those quarters are for guests only; we have accommodations for the female crew on this ship too. It’s just down the corridor from ours there are no showers in the rooms and four beds in each of the three female quarters. The gang showers are down the corridor across from the men’s”. Sky eyes just about popped out of her head, and her mouth opened with no sound, and tears were starting to fall down her cheeks. Joe felt like a total piece of spaced dung for teasing Sky after seeing her face so full of emotions. Joe just about had tears of his starting and was about tell to her how he was teasing her.

Sky’s tears of joy ran freely down her cheeks; she was going to be crew; she was finally going to fit in somewhere she was wanted. She tried to stop crying, and Joe was coming to say sorry, but Rocssanna stopped him. Under her breath low enough Sky knew not to listen to. “Joe give her a moment to get a hold of herself before you say something we might all regret.”

Joe again was filled with apprehension on what to do. Sky had the magic, and or strength to rip the entire ship to pieces and no one could even come close to stopping her. ‘I’m a complete idiot to even think of teasing an emotional child like her”. Joe thought to himself. He just nodded to Rocssanna in acknowledgement.

Sky had a few sniffles and nodded to her mommy; she was okay. Sky walked up to Joe wiping the last of her tears with the biggest smile on her face. “Joe, till you told me about the crew quarters I thought you were just pretending to make me part of the crew, to make a little girls’ trip fun. When you gave me crew quarters that’s what made it real, I’m part of something, I’m wanted on a team, and now I’m part of something bigger than a trio with my mommy and daddy. I’m going to take a gang shower, get dressed, stowaway my gear, polish my boots and make my bed. I’m going to make you and captain Fred proud you made my crew; you won’t regret or forget your decision. Permission to leave Joe Sir?” She gave him a salute, and he saluted in return. She turned to her mother hugged and kissed her before telling her goodbye. “See you on the bridge or at lunch mommy.” She reached out and grabbed her duffle bag and the virtual interface Conny by the hand and pulled it with her as if she was real. “Come with me and help me get dressed after my shower. I’ve never worn so many thin layers of clothes before, so you’ve got to help me dress properly”.

Joe was going to mention the fact that the duffle bags had wheels on one end. He didn’t after seeing her handle the large bag as easily as a clutch purse.

Joe just watched the impossible yet again; he turned to Rocssanna. “Thank you for stopping me from saying it was just a joke. I think you were right if I had said it was just a joke she might have thought everything was the joke. She didn’t need to use the crew quarters; the guestrooms were just fine. I guess teasing her was kind of childish of me. It’s hard to see her as someone so young with the magic she holds. She can act so much older one moment and sound so young the next. I’ve looked after my nieces a few times, and they always acted most of the time immaturely. But Sky even her jokes as an older person might have. You know what I’m trying to say, right?”

Rocssanna looked up at Joe and nodded her head. “Sky spent most of her life with William and I, she had no real friends and couldn’t have friends very close to her age. We kept her in the dark about who and what we were. When we left the planet, we were micronized on wasn’t at all a joyous occasion. We weren’t to try and contact anyone on that planet after leaving. We were told to keep our destination a secret from everyone until Sky had formed her personality if she had a pure heart to seek out someone to teach her magic. If not we were to take her back to the outreaches of space and live out our lives, alone”. Rocssanna let out a sigh. Thank goodness, she is a little angel with a good heart. It’s too bad she’ll never have a physical relationship with anyone because of her density and strength”. Rocssanna’s last words she said were followed by a few tears.

Joe didn’t know what to say “Maybe she’ll come up with a spell or incantation to allow some lucky guy to be able to have a physical relationship with her.” Joe said with a slight grin.

Rocssanna smiled at that. “Lucky girl you mean,” was all Rocssanna said with a smile as she turned to leave Joe with his mouth open.

William is finishing with Fred, after fabricating a reasonable story of their capture and escape from the Bright Whites. And a report to the planet’s overseers was that of a mage battle over some very powerful talismans leaving everyone incinerated including the ancient forest and the talismans. He left Fred waiting for a reply to the two reports, to find Rocssanna in their room thinking. “Yes, honey we will tell her this afternoon about everything including the things that happened before her birth. She’ll probably like the time you tested her magic and the smirk.

Sky walked down the corridor pulling a virtual Sky with her to the woman quarters. “I’ve never lived by myself before. Mommy and daddy were always in the next room to me. This is going to be fun. I have three new friends and a job. I can touch stuff without crushing it, and walk without denting the floor. I can wear normal clothes if I’m careful. To top of all off magic is real and I can do it to”.

Conny stopped then Sky also did. “You considered me as one of your friends. But I’m just a computer with virtual intelligence and thanks to you a virtual body. Can I be someone’s friend?”

“Sure, you can, you’re my new girlfriend, and I’ve always wanted a girlfriend. You would be perfect, you’re smart, I can’t hurt you when I touch you, and you’re pretty”. Sky said giving Conny a hug being careful not to spoil the illusion she was not there. “Come on; this is my new quarters.“ She walked up to the sliding pocket doors that read ‘Women Barracks 1’. It slid open and they walked in the lighting was not the best, but it would do. She found small lockers to hang her coat, shirts, skirts and tights. There was a small dresser in which to put her underwear, tank-tops, socks and toiletries. The beds were bunked and just as comfortable as the guest’s bed just not as wide, they would be more than wide enough for her small frame if she were weak as a human. Just by the front of the room, there was a door connecting all the woman’s barracks leading to the gang showers. She undressed grabbed her towel, facecloth, and a small bag of toiletries and walked down the narrow hallway as she passed the other empty rooms she felt a little lonely. When she reached the gang showers, she felt tiny in the huge room. After looking around, she hung her things by the first showerhead. She turned to a still dressed virtual interface and asked. “Conny could you pretend to shower with me.” As she asked she started to look down to her feet. “I feel kind of lonely in a huge room made for half a dozen women? With just me showering I feel like I’m wasting water, could you please, it would mean a lot”. The shower next to her sounded like it came on, but she felt no heat or water. Still, there was her image getting wet under the shower spray. “Could you pass the shampoo when you’re done with it? You better hurry up we don’t have all day”. With a smile, she started her shower with her new girlfriend.

Joe was dumbfounded at Rocssanna statement about her little girl. Well, it’s not like its uncommon or anything. I just thought the person who could wield all five elements would be more normal; I guess it is part of the new normal.’ It was not like Joe to dwell on such matters and shook his head to clear his thoughts. I hope Fred knows what he’s getting into with training her.

Fred was in his room meditating on how to teach Sky on self-enlightenment through meditation. She had to get her magic flow under control and use what the spell needs not what pours out when she opens to its forceful flow. Fred always accesses his well as if dipping in a cup into a small pond, scooping what the spell required and not what he could pour onto it. But he had no idea how Sky used her magic with gestures, and no words of power said. He’s even seen her cast an incantation with just a thought. He never even seen her lips move when she cast the shield. But it was there; he touched it with his hand. Fred thought of. How should she envision her magic well as a lake, as a stream, or as a pool? He thought about what Rocssanna said about a huge tank with a faucet at the bottom. He decided to go with the tank, and now went about how to regulate the magical flow. Maybe I could show her valves she can visualize valves she can turn up or down. On, off, the pressure up, or down as she needed the magic. He thought he would try out his theory of the tank and special valves. He could visualize the large tank but a small one was always off to the side, and he couldn’t banish it for long. He left the smaller tank off to the side of the larger tank in front of his inner self. The tank was much large than he would have thought. Maybe it was the boost Sky had given him this might be a good thing with his added magic this way might be more efficient to his different sized cups out of a small pond. After attaching the two valves, he went about setting the pressure of the tanks first by opening the first valve and slowly increasing the pressure able to come out. Once he got his desired flow, he brought himself out of the meditative state. Now to try a spell, he visualized the light sphere spell and flicked his finger as Sky had, a ghost image of the light appeared. Reaching inside himself he turned up the pressure of the magic flow and the light took a solid form. Fred was amazed at a nine-year-old girl giving him tips on how to cast spells. He thought differently after receiving her hug; it changed him and his magic; it had a greater presence in him, more like a words failed to describe it. All he knew was he had more magic and control over it, all thanks to Sky. Fred was now confident he could help Sky with her magical control. He would show her the two valves and how they worked then how to meditate. Once she was in herself looking at her tank, he would teach her how to attach the valves to the tanks. Tanks?? He could not get the vision of the second tank out, so he approached it being small he could see in over the top. It was filled with crackling white lightening it. At first, he didn’t know what to make of it then he caught on that he knew a little lightening magic and he now had a second tank for the lightening element. With amazement, he thought of Sky’s five elemental affinities and he could picture five tanks, ten times the size of his. Now he wondered with the test would it combine all five or each one individually. He had no way of knowing if that was the case. He decided to use Sky’s light sphere as a benchmark to train her for the magical control test. Since the light sphere, she had a fair bit of control over already. “Think I’m ready for Sky’s first actual lessons in magic.“ Fred said to himself out loud.

“Computer, locate Sky and direct her to the practice room.” An image of Sky appeared before him in the ensign uniform. The uniform was modified but within regulations, and it looked great on her. “Sky I was not expecting you to answer so promptly the uniform looks good on you, and I like the skirt and tights. I called to let you know I’m ready to give you your first lesson”.

Sky did not respond right away, but when she did, it sent Fred for a loop “Sorry Captain Fred Sir I’m the computer’s new virtual interface Conny, I was told to ask for your approval of my new upgrades. I now have greater insight on situations, the ability to use limited magic, and a new visual interface”. Conny continued without pause. “Sky is now just finishing her shower with me and will be done shortly. I am presently telling her once she is done to meet you in the practice room A.S.A.P”. After speaking, Conny just stood there waiting for an answer, looking at an almost floored Fred.

Fred was puzzled at his interaction with his latest crew member, Sky. “Sky I thought you were finished with the games at least while we’re on duty. Why are you playing games with us now? You've dressed already so meet me in the practice room, and we’ll discuss your behaviour during hours on duty. If you want to be treated like an adult, you must act like one”.

“Captain Fred Sir, I’m not Sky though I may look like her. I take it you do not approve of the new virtual interface”. Conny’s image disappeared, yet the rich mature feminine voice remained. “Captain Fred Sir, I am the computer AI, and that was the body I chose for my avatar. Sorry if I startled you with my virtual presence. Sky is now changing into her uniform and will meet you in the practice room in five minutes”.

“Who authorized your upgrades and the avatar”? He felt like he just asked a redundant question because he already knew the answer. “How did she alter your programming for such enhancements, and since when did you prefer to be called by a name? What’s this about you being able to use magic”?

“Conny is my preferred name, and this is the avatar I chose.” Conny became visible once again as Sky. “As for how I have no idea how she did it, I had a limited awareness, then it was like everything became brighter and I could feel through the sensors like a person could.” Conny was looking at Fred with hopeful eyes”.

Fred looked at the new visual interface and considered it. To him the visual interface was okay, but it looked too much like Sky. “Okay you can keep the visual interface but you’ve got to change something so that I can see the difference between you and Sky.” Conny’s’ hair changed from the top first, like a wave her hair turned pink. Fred shook his head. “Not pink anything but pink.” As quickly as before Conny’s hair was a silvery blonde. Fred nodded his approval. “What about this thing about you being able to use magic now. I’ve never heard of any artificial intelligence using magic; it’s not possible”.

“Much like the additional programming I have no idea how I can but I can. I’m limited to mostly simple spells “. With that, Conny flicked her finger, and a small light sphere appeared. “Ha, it worked. I wasn’t sure it would work, but Sky makes it look so easy, so I had to try the light sphere too. I am pretty sure I can make a magic shield also, I’m pretty sure I can do almost any of the simple ones Sky has done till now”. Conny paused for a second “I cannot create an arc of power with magical energy.”

Fred was surprised at the flicking of the light sphere. He was going to get Joe to try it with his new power level. “Let Sky know I’ll be there soon and to assume the lotus position for me when I get there. With your new visual interface, you could show her how to do it”. Fred paused for a moment. Could you inform Joe I’ll be teaching Sky about how to control her magic and to be on the lookout for the alien ship”?