Chapter One

New Crew

Fred entered the cargo room to meet the new crew and asses the damage. Moments later and his jaw dropped at the new size of the cargo room. A room made with a pocket space as big as this one would have cost three times the entire ship. “Sky.” He said with a note of frustration in his voice. “I said with room to move around; I didn’t mean run around!“ He growled. ” There is no time to change anything,” he said running towards the lowering ramp of the scout ship, and two women came out, one facing forward with her weapon drawn. The other one held a levitation field with a writhing body in it. Fred made a hand sign, and the woman lowered her rifle.

Joe ran to the writhing body as another person who was reinforcing the levitation field came out last. Joe looked over the woman, and he did not see any visible wounds. “What happened to her? Let me try a healing spell. Better yet we’ll get Sky to do it.” Joe said looking to Fred, and he nodded his agreement. They were shocked to see Sky already walking forwards in tears.

Sky could see the magic spells around the tortured woman. She could see a network of crisscrossing insidious spells that made tampering with them on the woman possibly fatal for most mages. She knew she was not most mages. She had caused this woman pain; she was the unseen attacker, and she was going to make things right.

The man stood in front of the woman to bar her way. “No one uses magic on her; you do you die.” He said to bring up a lethal powered spell.

Sky with tears still running down her face walked right past the man who towered over her without a flinch. She raised her hand over the woman who did not ever show any sign of Sky’s approach. The man watched in shock when Sky raised her hand over the woman and what seemed to him a solid ball of magic spells. He was shocked to see she had no wrist device, yet he still acted. Without much thought, he drove his fist augmented with superhuman strength right on top of her head. Had he hit her in any other direction she would have been sent flying. Luckily for Sky, it didn’t have any effect on her, but the man’s hand shattering against her hard head. Sky didn’t even notice the blow she was so intent on helping the woman. The spell Sky held faded, and the woman’s body went limp. Sky turned to the man cradling his shatter hand who was in shock, looking at his comrade’s body going still. At first, he thought the worst; then she rolled over in the levitation field in a peaceful sleep. Sky voice broke him out of his stupefied gaze and sent a chill down his spine. He also didn’t see that everyone else shutter at her voice also. “Who in the blazing stars did this to her.” In her anger, her sea blue hair unbraided as she shook in pure rage. Her beautiful hair roiled around her making her look twice her size. “I want to hunt the evil spaced dung and strip the person of everything they have and leave the lump of flesh conscious in a stasis field for a hundred years. I’ve fixed what I can for now, but the horrors she’s been through is unthinkable.” Sky’s angry contorted face softened as a set of blue eyes in a beautiful face gazed up at her. The woman eyes open and smiled. “I’ve seen you in my dreams, are you an angel”? The woman said reaching out to Sky slowly.

Sky took her hand, and the woman gave it an ever so gently squeeze. “Yes, I’m an angel, and you must be Jane Condor, I’m Sky Knight. Jane pulled Sky in for a hug and was amazed at the feeling of this angels’ hair; Jane buried her face in Sky’s thick sea blue mane. For the first time in what seemed like forever, she was now able to touch another person without hurting them. How could she, it was an angel she was hugging.

“Am I dead or is this like a type of limbo where I can go back to my body if I want”? She said just noticing everyone looking their way. Todd was cradling his left hand protectively. Courtney and Heather both had some serious bruises and possible fractured bones. There were also two men who were going to meet before they had been attacked by magic. It was strange, the magic came from nowhere, and she was the only one with harmful effects. Her body started to feel like a magic burn. The only difference was it started all over at once as if someone used a healing spell on her. That couldn’t have been a healing spell no one was close enough, and there was no spent magic from a spell.

Sky kissed her forehead. “No silly you’re not dead, and you’re still in your body.” Sky noticed everyone around them speechless. She spotted Todd’s bruised body, mangled hand and the two ladies batter bodies with little thought she cast a healing spell. A shimmer past over their bodies and all their injuries were gone the present ones the ones from the past already healed, but they never got the chance to notice before Jane let out a scream and started to writhe in pain. Sky stroked Jane’s soft skin on her muscular arm. “Your skins so soft and not squishy like everyone else’s.” Sky pushed Janes hair out of her face and noticed her pointed elfin ears. “Oh, Jane you have a beautiful face, and I love your ears.” Sky couldn’t resist tracing the outline of Jane’s ear.

“How can you be an angel and be seen by the living. But you must be an angel I’m back too normal, and you can heal without magic; I felt no spent magic wash over me when you healed my teammates.” Jane said in a soft deep melodic voice.

Sky saw Fred’s look of wonder and remembered just then at what he said before they got here. About waiting to show any advanced healing spells and the pocket space spell. She even demonstrated an inverted spell that was supposed to be impossible. Sky mouthed sorry to Fred then she answered Jane. “You’ll have to ask my mommy and daddy about me being an angel. I could only do so much, for now; it will take some time to undo all the damage the spaced dung of a mage has done to you. It was as if the miscreant tried thousands of half-completed spells on you and then made them tamper proof at your expense. It will take me days to undo what the person did. I can’t do it all at once. Your body could not handle the strain of all the magic even with the spells.” Fred coughed loudly cutting off Sky’s words.

“She’s no angel, but she is quite a gift from heaven and pain at times too. I would like you to keep anything outside of the mission to yourselves if that is possible. She’s nine years old and has had a rough life till now. I want to give her a better life at least until she is a young lady.” Fred said passing Todd to ruffle Sky’s hair.

Joe came up beside Fred. “Sky’s like the sister I never had and I will do anything to protect her as you demonstrated for your crew.” Joe also ruffled Sky’s hair and ran his fingers through her sea blue locks.

Todd watched his new captain, second and even now Jane still dolt on the young ensign, who looked way too young to be crew. He tried to make light of his earlier actions. “What’s with the hair thing is she like that Bubba guy with the belly you rub for luck.” He said reaching over to stroke her hair himself. “Am I going to,”? Todd stroked Sky’s hair and went silent, and he was in shock. He never felt anything like it. He didn’t notice someone clamp onto his wrist and pain shot up his arm. Jane had grabbed his wrist and broke it.

Jane had a look of shock and confusion. She only meant to give his hand a little squeeze in warning. Before she realized what was happening she could not stop before his wrist had been shattered. With a freight, she pulled away from Sky holding her out looking for any damage she may have caused. Then realizing she was holding her, she snatched her hands away. “I’m so sorry for hurting you. I could touch again; you must think I’m a monster. I would have never hurt anyone without due cause. I’m so sorry Todd, I’ll heal you once I find my MAD tablet.” She was looking at his wrist when a ripple past over it.

Todd looked at his hand that had been healed for the second time, and it didn’t seem that bad before the healing he could remember all the bones in his wrist crushed to splinters; but not that much pain. The scars his stepfather put across the back of his hands and wrist were gone too. “No harm done Jane and Sky here, doesn’t look hurt at all. I guess she is pretty tough.” He said remembering slamming her on the top of her head in a fit of uncontrolled rage. Had she not used some magical protection she would have been a splatter on the floor.

Sky looked back to Todd and noticed his ears with more of a point to them as Janes. “I like your ears too, Todd Sir, but they’re not beautiful as Jane’s.”

Todd quickly brought his hands to his ear’s and felt the points that weren’t there for all most ten years. “What happened to my ears they were normal before I got here”? Everyone noticed Todd’s ears were different than his service photos.

“I wish my ears were pointed too. I will keep my ears the way they are. I am proud of what and who I am just like everyone else should be. Todd sir, I don’t know what race you got your ears from, but you should embrace what and who you are. I don’t like people who put others below themselves because of race or beliefs. To change yourself because of what others say goes to show a weakness of character. It also gives power to those who believe they’re right in their personal beliefs against others.” Sky could see what she was saying upset Todd. She stopped speaking, so she did not make him any angrier.

Todd decided he wasn’t going to like the little brat who spoke way too freely without thinking. She did have a point, but he didn’t have to like it, or her for that fact. It had cost him a pretty copper coin to fix the hack job his stepfather did on his ears. He was going to find a spell to fix it, even if it was temporary. “I was fine the way my ears were, and as soon as I’m off this ship, I’ll get them fixed again. Don’t worry your pretty little head over my pointy ears.” Sky just shrugged her shoulders and let the sarcasm wash right through her.

Fred was going to have a talk with Todd about his conduct with the young girl. He seemed a little to free with his sarcasm. Before he could say anything to that effect, William caught his eye and shook his head, NO. A brief look at Rocssanna, she too motioned not to get involved.

The girls all know what Todd went through about his ears and what it meant to him not to look like a fairy folk.

Courtney and Heather went up to Jane. “Hold still Jane I want to see if your skin had at least turned back too normal. The little girl said your skin felt soft and not SQUISHY”? Courtney stroked Janes' arm, and her skin was still like metal. Perplexed she stoked Sky’s shoulder if anything it felt even harder. As her fingers brushed over Sky shoulder, she touched some of her hair. She stoked sky’s hair again intentionally this time. “Honey, I mean Heather you’ve got to feel how amazingly soft this hair is. Sky how do you get your hair so soft? I can barely stop feeling it. Courtney said as Heather started to stroke her hair wide-eyed.

Fred coughed out loud “I’m sorry for breaking any strange kind of bonding you and your teammates might have. But you shot across the cosmos for a reason not to fuss over ensign Sky luxuriously soft tresses of hair.” Fred said smiling. Now that our support staff who are also Sky’s parents have graced us with their presence. I would like to have some formal introductions at least. Fred called for roll call. Sky stood beside Joe, Rocssanna, and William stood next to Fred. Todd, Courtney, Heather, and Jane waited opposite of Fred’s crew. That’s when the size of the room hit them. They were too occupied with Jane’s condition to notice the size of the room till now. Todd and his crew looked around the cargo room in awl for the first time. Fred glanced around quickly also taking in the room too. He had seen its new size moments before the new crew. “What never see an indoor foot-orb field before? Our little troubleshooter went a little overboard making the room big enough for your ship.” Fred said giving Sky a wry grin. Sky noticed her boots had a scuff in them and her face went a shade darker. She might not be at full blame I did tell her we needed plenty of room to move around. So, I never specified any size.

With that now aside I would like to introduce my crew. I’m your new captain Fred Smith, and this is your second in command Joe Smith.” The new crew had a shocked look on their faces. In the briefings, it just stated the first names now they see why. “Before you jump to any conclusions there is no relations for fifty or so generations. It is more likely one of you share a closer relative than Joe and me. Remember Smith is a very popular name in this universe.” Even with the revelation of their last name they seemed to watch Sky more than anyone. He continued with the introductions and gestured to Rocssanna and William. Rocssanna and William Knight, here is Sky Knight, our troubleshooter, and causer if you haven’t guessed already.” Fred answered their suspicions, but it didn’t seem real until he said it. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted two more Sky’s walk in one was Conny with the silver blonde hair the other was jet black. Fred had a suspicious feeling it was their new A.I from the scout ship. Fred shot a dirty look at Sky, and she shrugged her shoulders mouthing “It wasn’t me.”

Before Fred could investigate the four new crew members called out, “triplets.” As the new pair walked closer the black haired one seemed a little shy and hid behind Conny.

Joe was the one-two answer them. “No, they’re not triplets, the silver blonde is our virtual A.I and the other one, my guess is the one from your ship.” The black-haired Sky nodded with a timid smile. “And what should we call or do you already have a name.

The girl answered in very synthetic voice at first, as she spoke it smoothed out to a sexy woman’s voice. “I have a name, but I don’t like it. The computer is just too commonplace. You can call me Swan if that’s alright with you Todd. Todd blinked and tilted head to the side as if another perspective would help him see differently.

“I had no idea that you were that kind of A.I. I guess Swan is an alright name for a female A.I. So Why now and not before. Is there a reason you look like Sky Knight”? Todd said and looked to his crew to see their reaction. He heard mixed confirmations to the positive.

Rocssanna answered Todd’s last question. “All of the A.I. Sky has encountered to choose her as an avatar model, even after seeing me. As for anything else I don’t know.” William just stood there in disbelief at his wife’s joke that might take seriously.

Conny answered Todd’s other questions. “I gave her a little more intelligence than she had. I don’t have the gift Sky has, but it worked well so far. I was going to ask Sky to finish the enhancement so I’ll have a true virtual friend. I can’t seem to be able to give her true emotions as Sky can.” Conny looked pleading into Sky’s face. The sky was dumbstruck at Conny’s request she knew she would lose a close friend. Then again it could never be a truly physical one even if that’s what they wanted in the future.

The sky looked over to Swan. “Is this what you want true emotions? I can give them to you and take them away; but you’ve got to want to,” Sky didn’t know what to say. “Could we talk about it later right now we’re going through introductions, and there will be time after when everyone is briefed in what’s happening with the rogue mages.” Sky said trying to bury an emotion she had no name for.

Fred cut in, “Sky’s right we have a job to do, and we must know our crew before we start. So.” Fred gestured to Todd.

Todd stepped forwards. “My name is Todd; I’m the leader of the Quad-squad.” He made a quick salute. He was as tall as Fred or a centimetre taller. His build was just a little leaner. His eyes were a soft brown that showed confidence and compassion. His hair was dark and bristled short His skin tone was a little on the pale side. Sky kept having the urge to cast a healing spell thinking he might be sick. He carried himself well and moved with the same grace as Fred and Joe.

“Jane Condor is my second.” Jane stepped forwards and saluted Fred saying a quick SIR. Jane was on the short side at just 164 centimetres (5’-5”). Her body looked very powerful, and her skin tone was a deep brown kind of like the people from the United States of Canada or whatever it was called before the ships could fly. Her hair was in a large misshapen bun half undone to her recent pain affliction. Her eyes were the same deep blue as Sky’s. “This is Courtney Duffers; she’s part of the magic pair. Courtney stepped forwards and said a crisp SIR. She was tall, taller than Joe around 2 metres and had a build in-between Joe and Fred. Joe seemed a little taken back; he felt small looking across at the four people. Courtney had shiny black hair tied back into a short tail. Her skin tone was a star washed brown Todd introduced the last crew member. “This is Heather Gillard; she is the other one making up the magic pair. Heather stepped forward and called out SIR. Heather and Courtney were as close to twins as two separate earth race could be. There were two main differences skin and hair. The twins had Fred, and Joe dumbstruck.

Fred snaps back first to attend. “Well I bet you would like to get cleaned up and a good meal in you. Your new quarter I’m sure will be to your liking, and the food our chefs prepare is amazing. Ensign Sky could you show the ladies to the women barracks. Joe, you can show Todd the men’s barracks after you sign them in.”

Conny broke in. “I have already signed them in and a suggested accommodations assignment. I think rooming them in pairs will be best unless you want to share a single room all.” Conny said with an arm around Swan's shoulder.

Fred hid his smile “Conny while you’re visible you will refrain from virtual contact with other A.I computers.” Fred walked towards the exterior cargo bay door. He keyed the exterior doors shut. He turned address and dismissed the crew. “I’ll see you in three hours in the briefing room, ask Conny where it is if you don’t want to look around. There were a few modifications to a few of the rooms since leaving the last inspection. You might find the practice room very interesting if you practice with someone.”

Jane scoff at what Fred said feeling a little sense of her physical condition. “I haven’t done any physical training with other people. Since the changes, I can hurt others too easily with my new strength and hardened skin.” Sky stepped forwards and took her hand gently. Jane went to pull her hand back not wanting to hurt Sky accident but couldn’t. She gave Sky’s hand an experimental a super light squeeze. Sky didn’t flinch or even squish any; she barely felt her skin give. Jane looked almost into Sky’s eyes with sadness. “Did you have the same thing done to you is that how you knew to help me? When I catch that despicable miscreant, I’ll strip him of everything and leave the lump of flesh in a stasis-field for a hundred and nine years.”

Sky smiled and shook her head “No this is the way I am naturally, but I’ll help you strip the man down or maybe I could take all the pain you felt because of him and make him feel it. I have a feeling there was more than one mage involved. The spells on your body had all five elements used in the incantations. So, you can take the one, and I’ll take the others.” Sky said with a subdued smile.

“I think you have it the other way around; I am pretty powerful magically and can handle a little more than you little lady,” Jane said running her fingers through Sky’s hair.

Fred and Joe just about burst out in laughter after overhearing Jane. Fred walked up to Jane and Sky. “Jane see if you can feel for her magic.” Jane looked questioningly at Fred, who just nodded. Jane turned to Sky and opened herself to feel for magic. She felt something small coming from Sky; she almost scoffs at the amount of magic Sky seemed to hold. Fred holds Sky to drop the shield hiding her magic for a second.

“Do you want me to do it? I’ve never dropped my personal space since I was six when mommy told me not to show people my special abilities? I found a way of hiding it very close to my skin.” Sky looked to her feet, and Fred was about to tell her not to worry about it. “I do it just for a second only because you told me to. Then it goes right back up okay.” Sky seemed to relax her body, and she let out a shiver.

A wave of magical energy came out of Sky and passed through the room. Jane was the closest and was almost knocked over as the energy hit her. Fred faired a little better, and everyone else felt something akin to a gust of wind. Sky brought back her bubble; she used to hide her gift. Everyone in the room turned to her in amazement; even her parents were surprised. Jane after getting her balance stare at Sky, who at the time was thinking on how best to clean and polish her boots. Sky was worried now how everyone would treat her. She was going to talk to Fred for a month if anyone thought of her as a freak or monster. What happened next surprised Fred, Joe, and Sky.

Jane steps back, and Sky could see her feet doing so. Sky took a quick peek at Jane through her hair wondering what kind of facial expression she was going to see. She thought she would look on to a frightened, angry, or even jealous. But what she saw was Jane smiling giving her the once over glance.

“Girl, you’ve got some awesome magical power, but I guess you knew that and now everyone does. Up till now Todd was the most powerful mage I considered a friend. I think he’ll be a far second unless your parents hold more or is that why you’re so special. I would have said it was your amazingly soft and shiny hair that makes you special. You’ve got to let me use your shampoo or whatever you use as for the mages who used me as a guinea-pig. We’ll have to see if you can get to them first. For now, I would like to stow my gear and get some dinner. Just give us a minute to get our stuff from the ship. Jane ruffled Sky’s hair and quickly walked back towards the ship. Heather and Courtney followed, and both passed Sky running their fingers through her hair. Todd was going to do it too, but a glance from Jane before ducking into the ship made him think it wasn’t such a good idea. He just walked by fighting the urge and kept his hands to himself.

Sky was beaming with radiant happiness. They saw Sky’s magical power and seem to care about her and not what she holds. Fred smiled at her. “I bet you were worried about what they would think about you. I know you’ll get along with them. They all had something that made them more considerate than others. They were growing up just like you and had to be able to make a few good friends. They know what it’s like to be different even Joe and I had to fight for everything we have and the respect we earned.” He gave her a quirky smile and ruffled her hair. “And if it’s the shampoo that makes your hair that way I need some for my wife, Linda. I think it would be worth more than a red tome.

Sky smiled up at the giant and shook her head. “No, my hair was always this soft. I have to keep it tangle free, so no one will cut a finger or hand off. My hair can’t be cut with any blade.” She told Fred as his fingers slid through her hair.

Fred remembered about the tomes Sky said she would try filling. “By the way how did it go with filling the tomes? Did you get a chance to make many?”

Sky looked at Fred with a smile of her own. “There all golden so far.” Fred shook his head. “You shouldn’t just make red ones they sell well, but not everyone can afford them.” Sky looked to her boots yes definitely a polish is in order. Fred saw her look down to her feet which was her sign that something was up. “Sky when you said they were all golden so far, did you mean golden”? Fred gave Sky an exasperated look and made a tisk tisk sound before continuing. “You tweaked the tomes didn’t you”?

Sky nodded her head not looking up and answered him. “They filled so quickly so I made to hold about ten times more each so I could lower the pressure faster. I find when the wells get full I get anxious to use magic, and it takes a lot of spells to bring the levels down, so I don’t feel as fidgety, do you know what I mean”?

Fred contemplated what she just said. “You know what? I think I can relate to that, but it didn’t take long to drain the magic before. Now I feel constantly full but without the pressure now since you linked me to your wells. So how many of the golden tomes did you make so far”?

Sky looked up to Fred and stepped back, so she did not have to tilt her head back so much. Fred is seeing this got down on one knee. Sky said. “Thanks for the gesture. Your height can be a real pain in the neck.” She said with a grin knowing it was a cheese joke her father would be proud of. Fred sighed, wiped his hand down his face to hide his eyes rolling and the quick smile.

Seconds later Sky continued. “I have about four hundred with me.” Sky stated and reached into her pocket pulling out a stack of tomes. And giving them to Fred. He took the stack of golden tomes and inspected the one top. It was the runes a gold colour, and unlike the other tomes these seemed to be embossed runes. He could also feel the magic in them waiting to be released. The tome had the water element on it and the one beneath it also. Fred was about to ask Sky if they were all the same and she had a stack with the air element in her left hand. “I have three more stacks in my pocket fire, earth and lightning.”

Jane had just exited the ship and seen Sky reach into a pocket inside her jacket. It didn’t seem odd at first till she pulled out a large stack of what seemed to be some gold tomes. Fred was looking one over when Sky retrieved one more stack, reaching deeper this time. Jane could feel the others coming off the ship watching and watch the exchange with her.

Fred didn’t see them or hear them. “Sky I can’t take them now I have nowhere to put them. There’s too many for me to carry.”

Sky smirked. “You’re silly you have a pocket right here.” She said tapping his shirt pocket with the tomes she had in one hand.

“Very funny that pocket might hold two dozen are sticking halfway out that leaves fifty-one left in this bundle alone.” Fred said not getting Sky’s off sense of humour.

Sky placed one bundle down and pulled at Fred’s pocket. He was expecting a tearing sound but heard nothing. Looking down it seemed to have stretched out, and Sky proceeded to stuff the bundle of tomes in from her other hand. He didn’t know what to say as she picked up the one off the floor and stuff it in too. She was also reaching into her jacket to get the others when she could hear laughter coming from the scout ship, and she froze. Fred looked over at the new crew soon everyone was laughing. He looked down to see what was so funny and Sky had one of her arms up to the elbow in his shirt pocket. Her other arm was deep into her pocket.

“Sky I know you mean well, but I’ve told you to ask before you use magic on anyone and particularly the pocket space spell. I don’t like repeating myself.” Fred chided Sky. He wasn’t really mad, and an actual pocket space pocket was going to be handy. But Sky had to stop doing stuff like this all the time.

Sky was embarrassed again, and Fred just scolded her. She felt childish just then, and she pulled her hands out and was about to turn and run to her room. Sky’s eyes were welling up in tears as she turned and stepped into Jane’s body. She didn’t want to look up till a gentle hand stroked her back soothingly, and before she knew it, she wrapped her arms around Jane Sniffling. Jane wasn’t much taller than Sky, so her head fit just under Janes' chin. “Well I know now who to ask for a loan, you and Fred seem to have deep pockets and their full of gold.” Sky had to look up to see who could make a joke worthy of her daddy’s cheesy ones. Looking up she looked into eyes the same colour as hers. They were gentle, kind and understanding. Sky didn’t just make a new friend but had an older sister now. Sky just realized Jane’s body was harder than her parents and seemed almost as strong.

“Sky, we’ve got our gear now, so we’re ready to haul as.” Jane said looking to the young Sky and continued. Our stuff to the new quarter if you’re finished lining captain Fred’s pocket with gold.” She turned to Fred. With your leave, Sir.”

The sky turned to Fred. I’m sorry for stretching out your pocket. If you want I can fix it later, for now, they’ll hold all the tomes I made. Do you still w Jane plucked one from the top, and her eyes opened wide at the touch. Because it was her elemental affinity, her body absorbed some without unsealing it. The rush of power made her head spin, and she felt giddy. “What kind of tomes are these I just touched it, and I’m overcharged”?

Sky took the tome back and examined it. Her eyes lit up in recognition. “That was the last one of the batch I forgot I was filling them and put some more magic on top kind of like frosting. So, a magic user just touching it with a matching affinity can absorb it I guess. It’s not harmful. You’ll be okay right”? Sky said with deep concern in her voice. Heather and Courtney came up with their duffle bags.

“You sure know how to juice someone up, girl. You wouldn’t happen to have an earth, water, or lightning tome in there would you.” Courtney asked in an obvious joking tone.

“No Fred’s got all of the earth, water, and lightening. Anyway, only the top five tomes got the extra on top.” Sky was smiling again because they seemed like nice people.

Heather stepped forward. “You mean to tell me that was just residual magic that flooded her well so much and not the actual tome. What’s the content of the magic of a gold if red supposed to be the top of the list”? Sky had given away so much already she looked to Fred for hint whether this was to be a secret or not. Fred just shrugged his shoulders.

“Well let’s hope you don’t have to find out. Let’s get to the quarters and put your stuff away. Then we can have lunch soon my mommy’s making homemade stew.” Sky was handing Fred the last bundle of tomes. She knew why Fred didn’t absorb the magic frosting. His body was always full to bursting since the magic links. “Bye captain Fred Sir., Joe Sir. And Todd Sir we’ll see you in the mess.

Joe made it out first with Todd lugging his duffle bag behind. The men’s quarters were opposite of the women’s, and the doors were staggered from each other. After leaving the cargo bay, the ship looked like a reasonable size. As they walked the corridor through the ship, Joe pointed out the various rooms in the ship. The new crew were all impressed with how clean it was, and how well maintained. Todd had mentioned since he was here he could get some of the new spell upgrades now that he had the time. Joe smile “Yeah I heard they were pretty good.” Which confused Todd because most of them were submitted from their ship Little Tooth. But he let it pass thinking he might be acting modestly.

It wasn’t a far walk to the barracks they passed Fred and Joe first then one was the around the opposite corner was the personal supply and weapons room. Todd tried to casually ask Joe what kind of weapons Little Tooth had used to take out the Bright Whites. Did you use a super-powered magic spell, a high-powered laser cannon, or rockets? The battle description was classified so since we're a team now you can tell me right. Joe got to the men’s quarters he turned and answered Todd

“It wasn’t really necessary to make it classified; it was deemed unbelievable so to make it simple. We used rocks made from asteroids and threw them at near light speed. It is surprising what low tech can do.” Joe opened the door and was shocked; it was three times the size it was the day before and twice the size of his room. Todd pushed past Joe and considered the room size. It was huge by ship standards and the beds were twice the size normal bunk beds were in space ships. The footlockers seemed the same. Joe entered the room after him, and Tod was a little disturb by what Joe said next probably not meant for him to hear. Something about getting the girl Sky in his and something, making it bigger. The locker doors were not your standard thirty centimetres. Opening the one he was going to use made his jaw drop. They weren’t lockers, but walk-in-closets. Todd had no idea what to do with all that space. He was wondering what the ladies would think when he heard squeals of delight coming from across the hall; he just found his answer.

Sky showed them her room first, possibly her and Jane’s. Courtney was the first one to comment on the bed size. “The beds are big enough for two people.”

Heather let out an uncharacteristic squeal when she opened one of the lockers to an actual walk-in closet. “These rooms must have cost a fortune. How did Captain Fred convince the top brass that this was necessary to have for his crew? If all the rooms are like this, they could have built another ship with the money they spent on the extra room.”

Sky blushed “I like them big because if I toss in the night, I’m less likely to hit anything in my sleep.”

Jane nodded in agreement. “I know what you mean. I’ve put my hands through more walls sleeping after my transformation than I care to say.” Courtney and Heather just chuckled to themselves remembering visiting Jane and seen her repairing a wall in her bedroom.

Heather grabbed Courtney’s hand. I guess we get the next room. On their way out Heather spied the small door connecting the rooms. “What’s with the on-suite door”?

Sky: “I think it’s for when you forget your towel you don’t have to walk in the corridor all wet or something. They do lock from both sides so you can make it more private for each of the women quarters.”

Courtney turned to Jane and Sky. “I hope you don’t take offence, but we would like the doors locked most of the time. We haven’t any rooms to ourselves for years, and we would like to take advantage of it while we can.”

Sky didn’t know what the girls would need privacy for when for privacy meant being alone. “Okay, I don’t have a problem with that.” Sky turned to Jane with sad, downcast eyes. “I guess you want some privacy too won’t you”?

Jane didn’t know who or what could have made her crave affection so much, but she was going to be this young girl’s sister, friend and comrade. “Nope, you’re stuck with me for the tour young lady so deal with it.” She gave Sky a light punch in the shoulder like she used to do her teammates. If it weren’t for the fact that Sky’s shoulder felt like solid steel, she would have apologized profusely. As it was Sky just glowed with happiness.

Conny appeared before them in a flash. “This is a ship-wide alert. The aliens have been spotted coming our way. It seems their ship was repaired and it will be in attack range in five minutes. I have no way of protecting you, and we have one old thermo-nuke left in your sack of rocks. Your new shield will prevent them from attacking from two of the previous dimensions but that leaves five more they’ve been known to occupy. Fred and Joe are coming to help with the magic burn.” Conny turned to the door as Fred and Joe ran in to help.