Chapter Ten

Prepping For Battle

Todd walked into the practice room first and didn’t feel any different this time and frowned. Courtney was next and didn’t get the same rush as before she just noticed a slight tingle. There was no rush of power. Heather was right behind Courtney and almost ran into her when she stopped to ponder if anything was wrong. Heather didn’t even take notice of the slight sensation ripple through her body. It wasn’t like the first time in the practice room when Sky was the first one.

“That’s what missing; Sky was the first one in the last time. She passed on everything she had to us. This time it’s just Todd’s natural strength and not even his magic well size would make any difference because we link to Sky’s wells, so our magic has no difference.” Courtney stated to anyone listening.

“So, what do you want to try the spells on”? Heather looked around at the nearly empty room. There were just two heavy punching bags and a small room off to the side with weights and other equipment. “I know we could put the standard shield on the heavy bags and practice the offensive incantations on them. Then we could put the new shields Sky gave us and see how well they work and how much it takes to blast through it.”

“I think that’s a good idea and it makes a lot of sense too. I think there are some simple sparing androids in the equipment room we could shield to have a few moving targets. I’ll carry them out and back in again. Maybe we can get Swan to control them to give us a real challenge. What do you think ladies are you up for some target practice”? Todd cracked his knuckles as he finished talking.

“I think they’re both great ideas, but don’t take out both androids. I want to try the new directional healing spells. We need to be able to heal each other and not the ones we are fighting. Well let’s get started we need to take advantage of all this power and make it our own. At least while we have it.” Courtney said placing two different shields over the two heavy bags. With the nearly limitless magic at her disposal, it seemed like child’s play casting the spells.

Todd was just in the equipment room when Heather used the first ranged spell. It was a little like an explosive bullet. It used all four of the gifts and was a little overpowered. It hit the standard shielded heavy bag and detonated on contact with the shield. The effects and sound were nothing less than astounding; The magic bullet hit the dead target centre passing through the standard shield with ease the flashing light and the deafening sound was not really what took their breath away. It was the fact there was nothing left of the heavy bag it was gone. Even most of the chain holding it was not there. As the spot in their vision came back. Courtney tried the healing spell but put little faith in the outcome.

To everyone’s surprise, it started to reappear just a lot slower than it ever happened before. When there was something there it seemed instantaneous; now it took more time as if the spell was reconstructing it from nothing. When the healing spell finished, the heavy bag was half the original size. It was the same looking just smaller.

“I’m glad we’re trying it out on the heavy bags and androids. I would hate to become Sky’s younger sister. Still, that spell is impressive it pulled quite a bit from what seemed to be nothing.” Courtney looked over to Todd. “Maybe we should take everything out and back in we’re going to use as practice targets. I think the rooms healing spell might do better than any healing spell we can cast. In any case, it’s worth a shot because if everything is going to be even a third smaller, we’re not going to have anything to shoot at really quickly.” Courtney said moving to help Todd carry out an android. Heather dispelled the shield she had made on the heavy bag and unhooked it while levitating it to herself.

She was expecting a little more weight but was happy it seemed much lighter than its namesake. Heather followed Todd and Courtney out almost dropping the heavy bag after crossing the threshold. Todd was strong physically as well as magically. Heather cast the familiar strength spell, and it seemed even lighter now. Todd led the way in again, and hardly the felt any sensation.

Todd lower the android he was holding, and Courtney followed suit. Once they laid on the floor, Todd went about activating them. Before he could, they stood with mechanical ease and almost seemed graceful in their movements. Their bodies shimmered, and a ghost image appeared around them. Soon taller more mature looking Sky’s around eighteen nineteen stood before them. One with silver blonde hair Courtney the other with shiny, silky black hair Swan.

“We are here to help you with the practice of your new magical power and spells,” Swan said. “I’ll monitor you all the time and be ready for any commands you may have.”

“We are even capable of casting shields on ourselves and others within the short range of our ships. We could help you in some way, can we not”? Conny asked of the team before her.

“Conny how is that the spell only brought back half of the heavy bag and not the whole thing? Whereas the room brought us back whole and intact after being burnt to cinders.” Todd inquired of the AI.

“It’s not the room; it’s the spell in the doorway that does it. When you pass through the spell, it analyses your genetic makeup and makes a copy of you when you enter. It just reverses any damage to you. That is possible because the spell in the doorway used all five gifts. You and your team only have four of the five gifts and lack the full effect of the true spell.”

“Why didn’t she give us all the gifts if it can do so much more than just the four? Could it be she doesn’t trust us enough yet and is holding back”? Todd asked looking at his team to see if they agreed with his question.

“I don’t know her reasons for not sharing all of her gifts of the elements. But I do assure you it’s not out of lack of trust. She has not shared all her elements with Fred and Joe yet either. When you came into this room after Sky how did you feel with all five elements? She can control herself easily. I believe she doesn’t think anyone else can just yet.” Conny was looking over her android body as she was talking. Swan was testing her movements in the android.

They all looked at each other and stayed silent for a moment. It was Heather that broke the quiet contemplation. “I guess what she gave us is more than we ever dreamed of no use being greedy. We can learn how to use what she gave and not let her gifts go unappreciated. We came in here to practice, and we are going to save many lives.”

“You said it, girlfriend, let’s get the show on the road and see how the new spells work,” Courtney said using her tablet to throwing the new shield spell over the practice over the androids. “I know you can use the shield spells yourself. But it’s us that need the practice not you.”

Todd used the same spell over the heavy bag to get ready. They moved to opposite sides of the room and readied for firing on moving targets and one stationary. He used the same bullet type spell Heather had used, the flash of light, and the thunder shook everyone after their sight returned they could not see what they felt. The bullet just managed to knock the heavy bag swinging violently with no damage and the shield was intact. The new shield spell was going to save lives.

“Before we go and destroy all of Fred and Joes toys, let’s make sure the auto-heal works. Let’s all fire at the heavy bag at once with the bullet spell and break the shield.” Todd checked his tablet for any eye protection and found one under Auto Tinting Sheild. “Use the tinting shield in front of your field of view; it should prevent the temporary blindness.” He cast the incantation as he let everyone know where to find it.

They all readied multiple shots aimed at the target. With a shout from Todd, “now,” they fired at least two shots each. Auto Tinting Sheild protected their eyes, but their ears were not, and neither were their bodies. The blast picked them up off the ground and hurled to the wall behind them. It was black for a fraction of a second, and they knew they had just died. They laid against the wall in crumpled heaps. The heavy bag seemed unaffected although no shield. “We know the new shield has its limits and not to press our luck when using it, but we still don’t know if the auto-healing spell works on things completely blown away,” Todd said picking himself up not even dazed from being reanimated. The two sparing androids had not moved with the blast.

Conny cut in. “The heavy bag was regenerated after the blast just like you. I think you didn’t need more than four of the bullets to break through the shield and destroy the heavy bag.” Conny continued. “If you had used the new shield on yourselves you would have been unaffected by the shock wave from the detonations. It will have deflexed any indirect hits on it, but since they all were pretty much dead centre it couldn’t hold off more than three direct hits’. Now we suggest you try moving targets and even some that fight back. Swan and I can shoot a marking spell. It will flare red if it hits you any place it would have done damage. It would not cause any injuries even if it hit you unprotected.”

Todd thought about it. “It sounds like a great idea, but we need some types of cover and other obstacles to move around to simulate a battle better. We could cast a few barriers around of different sizes. Normally it would be too wasteful to use so much magic; but right now, we have more than enough to spare. Heather, Courtney could you two go around casting various shapes of barriers that you may find in a colony ship and settlement. I want it to look as real as possible. It would be best if they were a solid colour and not transparent.”

It was Swan who stepped forward and spoke. “I think it would be more efficient if Conny and I created a special op’s training ground out of solid barriers. We can even make so pop up figures also, friend and foes too. We have a few special op’s training ground blueprints and sketches of some in our databases.” That would leave you all be clueless of the layout for added difficulty.”

Todd was not sure just how much more intuitive the new AI system was, but he liked it. “Sounds perfect go ahead. We’ll wait in the far corner and ready the spells we want to try.” Todd turned to face his team. We are going to try as many as we can in the next hour. Then the same in the next hour, we keep going till we’ve tried them all.” He watched them nod in agreement. Around him, an opaque ball went up blocking the view of the entire room.

This ball was a shield blocking everything including the ceiling. “This is going to be interesting I bet. If you get marked wait till you or someone else cast a healing spell on you before proceeding. We’ll stop after the hour or when we are all disabled.” Todd paused for a second. “Swan, could you mark the nonfatal being yellow to orange and the fatal hits red? That way you know for sure if you could cast healing if your hit. You can decide if you would be able to heal the nonfatal from the colour and where hit.”

“And that’s why you’re the leader of the Quad Squad. Well, right now the tenacious three maybe”? Courtney said looking for reaction to the new team’s name and got it in the form of smiles.

“It’s going to be amazing, using all this magic and powerful spells.” Heather sounded ecstatic and seemed happy.

“Don’t forget we can use our gift to see the layout easily enough. I wonder if we can tell if the pop-ups are friend or foe before actually popping up.” Courtney enquired to no one in general.

“ONE, TWO, THREE,” There was a countdown to what number they didn’t know and had not needed to know. Todd and crew were ready for the gauntlet to begin and had the ten spells already slotted in for quick access finding out the new system on the tablet had space for many more. It turned out the count was only to five. The shields disappeared, and there was a large door directly in front.

Heather reached out with a hand for the handle, and Todd caught it before she could touch it. He made the motion to keep quiet and pointed to her MAD tablet. She looked down to read. “We have magic to spare; there is no need to be conservative use magic if it will make things easier and safer.” She smiled to him and held up three fingers standing off to the side closing one finger. She reached for the door with kinetic power and ripped it out of its frame. The door exploded outwards to where a person would have stood opening it normally and a rush of fire followed it. They quickly shielded themselves and walked through the fire.

Todd was the first through and sensed a large man just inside a doorway to his left. The fire seemed to come from nowhere and did nothing to the new shield. He fired a bullet type spell that had a different effect that the explosive type. It did explode, but it froze everything for three metres including the man. He then fired a smaller explosive type bullet and the shattered the frozen man. The effect was almost just as he planned, but everything shatters even the walls for the three metres. No sooner the man shattered an android took his place and ran down the narrow hallway. Just before it could dart into another room lightening flashed around it burning it to a crisp. Before the sound of thunder assaulted their ears the android was move again and this time reaching the room.

The fire in the doorway in died down as Courtney dispelled it. “That one will come in handy, and it’s so simple of a spell.” Not only did the flames disappear but so did part of the barrier making up the training sim.

“Try and not use that one in here any more than necessary. We don’t need anything in here with the doorway into the room possibly dispelled. Something that powerful will have one wicked backlash if it were to break.” Todd let his words sink in, and the two ladies shuddered as they contemplated what he meant.

“So, we don’t use that spell in here then? I don’t think it’s worth the risk.” She was about to say more when two figures ran out from one room to the next only pausing enough to fire a spell at them. They all dove to the ground with arms raised firing a couple of spells each. They were astonished to see some of the spells follow the droid where they ran. The ones that didn’t follow hit the end of the hallway and blew a large gaping hole in the barrier before it reformed like it never happened. The two droids were out of sight, but you could still hear the spells contact the androids. There was a whoosh from the fire and a splash from the water. The two were caught in spells turning around the corner, and could not get free. The one could not move out from the frozen water, and the other just kept burning. “Other than letting the dispel casting I think it might be okay to use them all in here; but not directly against the actual walls, floor, and ceiling.” Heather was trying to be cautious; she wanted everyone to be safe. On the other hand, she also wanted to try all the spells and incantations Sky had modified for them.

“Sounds good let’s free the androids and continue, there is a lot of casting we’ve yet to try.” Todd waved his hand at the two androids breaking the spells that trapped them. No sooner they were free they ran into another room. “Let’s go after them and see if all of the castings are this powerful. I’m just glad she’s on our side. I would underestimate her as a threat to being young and small. She looks like an ordinary cute girl with long blue hair.” Todd said.

“So, you think she’s cute too. Did you see what Conny and Swan looked like older Sky’s, maybe mid-twenties? I think they look pretty hot if you ask me; but not as pretty as my friend, Heather here.” Courtney said putting an arm over the girl’s shoulder to placate any negative response.

“Well, she’ll is cute at any age if you ask me. I like having her as a sister.” A movement caught her eye and Heather whirled to see someone pop-up their head briefly before going back down. “It seems we have company.” Heather pushed Courtney behind a wall and followed. “We can talk about our new sister later; we’re trying out her gifts right now.” She pulled up the next casting and applied the necessary magic to it. A long shaft of ice formed and when the head popped up again this time a gun followed. As the gun was levelled at them the shaft of ice plunged into his chest freezing him solid. Just as this happened, more figures came out from behind various objects that should not have been able to hide more than a cat. Gunfire and the odd spell bounced off their shields, and the fight was on.

Courtney used a spell for rapid firing bullets of compressed air. Todd used one that was of water. Courtney’s bullets bounced off a shield until it broke through then shattered the target. Todd bullets took less time to break through, but the target just slumped over unmoving.

After the first multiple engagements, the assault things didn’t slow down. It was two hours later they had tried almost all the spells and incantations and picked out their favourites. The bullet types were by far the on top ten of all their lists. They were also the most destructive ones too. They were not for subduing the rogue mages. They were for killing pure and simple.

“We should try some of the binding spells too, next time. This mission is about capturing the rogue mages not killing them. So tomorrow whoever is not going to help we’ve got to train and get used to the magical pressure. I know I have a hard time not putting too much magical energy into the spells.” Todd looked around to see if anyone else agreed. He didn’t see nor hear had any affirmation to the fact had they. “I guess I was the only one to have that problem”?

“Well, I had a little bit of a problem at first with too much. Till I found out how much to put into the first three spells, then I just had to fine tune each one. I think you need to spend a little Time with Sky to have her show you how to regulate your magic more efficiently. We could tell you, but it’s easier when you see it for yourself. As a teacher, don’t look at her age or size it can mislead you. Just listen and learn from her; she won’t say anything to make you feel inadequate. At least not intentionally, she’s very patient and understanding with individual’s problems with what she is showing you. I wish she were the one teaching the arcane art to us when we were in school.” Courtney said, and Heather put a hand on her shoulder as if to agree with her.

There’s just something more profound seeing it work than using your imagination. More so when you hold the amount of magical pressure we now have, and potent too. So, when or if you get the chance before we get going on the actual mission, get her to show you the new system. It will be well worth it. It takes all lot out of the time it usually takes getting to the amount of magic to put into each spell. I think her system measures perfectly how much per casting needs.” Heather poked Todd in jest. “If you’re going to give this teacher an apple, make sure it’s frozen solid.” Todd smiled at Heather's sense of humour.

“I already have time set aside for managing the pressure of the well. At least I did, things just got more complicated in the last Twenty-four hours. I’m going to have to take a crash course just before we separate into different ships.” Todd said, and he contemplated the rest of the day. He felt an uncomfortable pressure and need a short break. He noticed how the two ladies seemed to shift a little more than usual. “Let’s take a break and rest and refuel ourselves.”

The two ladies smiled and grabbed each other’s arm and walked off. “Later Boss if we don’t see you in the room we’ll just hang out by the entrance, and fire binding spells at the two androids as they run around,” Courtney calls out to Todd over her shoulder linked to Heather's arm.

“Okay, sounds good but I think I’ll be back before you guys. I might grab some snacks from Rocssanna and William. They’re in a mess and seemed to be making some nature bars.” Todd said walking right behind the two ladies. “Do you guys feel like eating more often since we got here since we met Sky”?

“Yeah, I think your right, I don’t think it’s Sky as much as it’s us pushing ourselves hard to try and catch up to her. I think since we met her we’ve used more magic than in the last two years combined. Do you have any idea just how much magical energy we used training in the last two hours? Don’t forget a drop of hers is almost like three of ours and we’ve been using about thirty each casting and even more for the telekinesis spells. Had this been our magic we would have used all of it up three times over since we got here. I think using magic makes you as hungry as producing it in your body.” Courtney said just before tugging Heather into their quarters. Only giving Todd a quick “see you later” and a wave before the door slid shut.

Todd made a brief stop in his quarters to take care of some personal business; he was on his way. Moments later he found himself walking into the mess. Rocssanna was cooking up a storm, and four almost comically sized pot is boiling away on a table, not the stove. He could see the spell she was using, and it was like the spell he had used a few times. He never likes using magic to cook because it seemed wasteful to do. He sat down at a table not far off. He was about to say hi and as the words formed in his head a steaming plate of something came sliding under his nose. It was a plate of roasted meat of some kind; it smelled amazing and spicy. He looked over to William who smiles.

“Go ahead Todd and try it and don’t ask what it is because I don’t know really,” William said taking a seat in front of him. “Sky had dragged it back from the forest. She said it was stalking some people and was about to jump on them, so she threw a rock at it to distract the creature. The rock killed it. The people never saw the thing but heard the rock crashing through the woods. They ran off to get some help, so Sky picked the thing up and carried it home. Since after the attack they closed off the forest to the public. She might have saved four live and more afterwards.“ William paused. To help himself to a strip of meat before continuing.

“She regularly patrolled the forest afterwards and waited until something attacked her. She didn’t like the thought of a person getting mauled or even killed by some horrible beast. She tried not to kill anything to make them reconsider healthier food choices. It seemed to work too. There were fewer incidences of animal attacks after she started and she only killed four after the first weird looking thing. Two of them we ate right away because the meat was tasty and the animals were small. The other was a lot larger and good tasting too. But it was illegal to hunt any native wildlife for sport or food. You could only kill if it attacked you or someone near you. Sky saved about twenty from being killed and possibly more if they taught their offspring not to hunt humans. She never said she was going hunting; she always called it patrolling and saving lives.

Todd was intrigued at William’s story as he sampled to meat before him. It was not as tough as the other meat they had. It was quite tender and was as good as it smelled. “So, she always liked to help others even if they didn’t know about it.”

“It didn’t matter to her either way if they knew or didn’t know, praised or not it was to keep everyone safe. All she wants is somewhere to belong, somewhere to fit in. She’s just was never able to fit in until now. Everyone here so far made that possible. You and Fred see her as your rival in a lot of things. She looks up to everyone for guidance because you have more life experience than she does. If you teach her something, it’s only once. So, it doesn’t seem like teaching at all when you think about it. You should treat her as a young girl who wants to learn and show how things can be better if she knows how. You saw how she helped Jane; she could have done patchwork. But she doesn’t do things halfway as you probably know already.”

William watched Todd eat continuously and nod as he listened not realizing that he had eaten one-third of the plate. “Would you like to take some down to Heather and Courtney? I imagine they might be as hungry as you seemed to be. Don’t worry able the sudden change in appetite Fred and Joe started eating more once Sky shared her magic with them also. I take it she treating you and your team as older siblings. Or are your just good friends”? Rocssanna heard William ask and keenly listened in.

“Yes, Mr. Knight she says we her older brother and sisters. She’s closest with Jane though; it must be the touch thing. She tries not to, but she keeps on referring to most of us as squishy. I think I know what she means almost everything she touches is soft in her hands, right”?

Rocssanna walked up beside Todd. “Everything she touches she can crush or break if she wanted to. In the practice room now is just about the only place she can be free. Even with the strength suppression spell, she is super strong, but she is still adapting to the spell. She hasn’t broken anything in a while.” Rocssanna paused and was thinking. “Todd is there something you can cast that makes anything you’re touching unbreakable. Maybe that’s her secret she using magic to strengthen everything she touches.”

“That’s not it mommy; I'm just more careful about how I touch things.” Sky said walking into the mess with Jane beside her. “Hi mommy, Daddy Todd Sir are you having lunch now too? Jane and I worked hard and were super hungry. If it weren’t for the snacks, I think I would have died from hunger.”

“No, we just took a short break, and I passed by for some snacks. Using magic takes a lot of energy out of you.” Todd said with a smile glancing down at the small amount left. “Sorry if I sound rude, but if I’m this hungry I should get something over to the rest of the team. I wouldn’t want them to go hungry while I ate my fill.”

“That’s a good point you’re making. I’ll make some to go then for the girls’. William watched his little girl as he carved thin slices of an enormous chunk of meat. He cut enough to get two heaping plates and cast a stasis spell over them both. Todd was shocked how neat the spell was and how little magic it took for the spell to work. “That should be enough to hold them till lunch.”

“I hope so. Do you have anything to type of juice to drink? There is water in the room, but it would be nice to have something different than just water.”

“I’ve got just the thing, don’t ask what it is. I haven’t even told Fred and Joe, and they still love it. Just call it an energy drink if you want, it goes good with everything too. I’m sure you’ll love it also.” William said walking over to a cupboard and took out three canteens. He then reached deep into Rocssanna’s pantry handbag and pulled out a flexible hose with a tap on end.

“Is that the stuff I make by”? Rocssanna covered her mouth with a hand chuckling.

“That is our little secret baby girl; we can’t tell them till much later. Right now, I bet your starving”? Rocssanna patted Sky’s head and ruffled her hair. She got up and took two plates; one was large and the other comically huge. She and William filled the two plates heaping with steaming meat and vegetables.

“Thank you, mommy, daddy, I am a little hungry, and Jane is too.” Sky picked up her special fork and started eating right away

Jane sat next to Sky and said something with her eyes shut before she started eating. “Thank you, Mr., and Mrs. Knight it smells delicious. I can’t believe I’m so hungry when all I did was cast healings and moved a few things around for my partner.” She turned to Todd. “So how are the new spells and nearly unlimited magic working for you? I bet it feels great not worrying about conserving your magic in your castings.”

Todd smiled and nodded his head. “It’s an incredible gift given to us; we going to make her proud of her decision she made.” Todd reached around Jane and ruffled Sky’s hair. She blushed a bit and kept eating. “The upgraded spells are fantastic. I can’t believe how they didn’t improve them before now. They are larger and more intricate than the ones before. They also take less magic to power them with even more effective and powerful results. The new shields are incredibly strong too. It takes three direct hits to blast through the shield whereas the one everyone else has taken one to decimate it to nothing. After our snacks, we’re going to try some binding and disabling spells and the nonlethal castings. After all, we’re supposed to capture the rogue mages and not kill them. It’s nice to know if push comes to shove we can come out on top with no casualties. At least that’s what we are hoping for.”

Jane was going to try out the updated spells tomorrow and just wanted to hear his take on them. She thought about what he said and was looking forward to it. “Tomorrow I’ll be practicing with the updated castings and wouldn’t mind working with you guys. My focus is going to be on the binding, disabling and nonlethal spells. I will work on some of the lethal one’s also just in case we get overwhelmed. Plus, when the original plans we made the numbers were not known and still aren’t really.”

Sky looked to be mulling something over while she was chewing. She stopped for a second in deep thought and quickly smiled. She continued eating with her plate just about empty. Everyone excluding her parent wondered where all the food was going; her parents just stopped wondering. “After I finish the space ship I’m going to spend a little time training with you Todd. I have thought up a final spell to give everyone that could save your lives. It’s pretty complex but it shouldn’t take much magic to cast it, and it’s not something you can put on a hand-held MAD.” Sky looked down at her now empty plate. Mommy could I have a little more and some snacks for later.” She tried to use her puppy dog eyes, and it worked not that she needed to plead her mommy was more than willing to give her more.

“You know what I haven’t had to fix your utensils for a while now that you have that healing spell that seems to fix everything,” Rocssanna commented as she put another helping on her plate.

I haven’t had to cast healing on them. It seems like when I go slow and carefully enough the suppression spell can keep up with my movement. I’ll have to take it off when I go to put some of the ship parts together later.” Sky dug into the plate with enthusiasm and slowed down slightly when she noticed Jane still only halfway done.

“You don’t have to slow down for me; I’m a slow eater at best. I’m hungry, but I don’t have hollow legs like you.” She reached up and ruffled her hair.

“I don’t have hollow legs; I metabolize the food almost as fast as I eat it. So, there is lots of room in my tummy for more when I eat. Now that I’m using magic and a lot of it, the food is converted into magic.” Sky shrugged her shoulders not knowing what else to say. She just kept eating when asked her no further question.

Todd took the two plates and the three canteens; luckily the canteens had to carry straps. “I’ll see you all at lunch.” He paused as he slung the canteens over a shoulder. “I guess at your dinner time.” He said to Jane and Sky, he just waved to William and walked out the doorway.

“I guess we should get going soon too; a ship doesn’t build itself, at least not that I know of.” She looked for confirmation from Jane.

“Nope, magic is not even used as much as you are right now. The amount that used normally is only around five percent. From what I know of no one has ever sandwiched sigils and conduits directly into the structure. The ship you’re building is on a whole new level. I have no idea what the sigils and conduits are doing in the structure except that it won’t affect the strength the way you’re doing it. I don’t even think anyone has even conceived the way you’re making it. Even with multiple mages, I can’t see it possible let alone one. I should tell you that watching you mould and channel the parts is like, NO, watching history in the making. I don’t think any magic user would hesitate to give up everything they own to watch you channel the amount of power you are using.” Jane hoped Sky wouldn’t think she was saying it to make her feel good.

Sky smiled at the compliment and blushed slightly. “I have no idea how they do it normally. I’m just going by how the schematics look in the database. It doesn’t show individual parts, so some of the sigils on the ends are to fuse them when I put them into place. The whole structure will be tactically one piece once it’s finished. Even down to the main consoles and chairs bases will be part of the ship. Everything will be seamless that doesn’t move. There is, in fact, secret file on the concept of impregnating sigils into metal structures. It’s just that its never done on a large scale. It ’s done on small objects like knives and pieces of armour to give them unusual strengths and abilities. I just took it a little further than they have.”

Jane was almost beside herself at the girls over modesty. What this girl was doing was nothing short of miraculous. If she wanted to play it down who was she to press the fact? “I Just never thought of the forged magical items that way. They are made a lot different than you’re doing it though. I see them make a blade that never dulls and stays shining like it was always polished. The drawback was the process left it more brittle than its counterpart. You could start a renascence with so many different ways of doing things. I know one fact; money will never be something you’ll ever have to worry about.” She got up and stretched out from reflex than out of need; it was more of a dramatical gesture.

“You’re right though the ship is not going to build itself anytime soon at least until you think of a way.” Jane teased Sky and ruffled her hair a bit longer than normal. ‘This is too addicting.’ Jane thought to herself pulling her hand back with reluctance.

Sky stood and hugged and kissed each parent. “Thanks, mommy, daddy for the great food and snacks for later. Thanks to Fred’s suggestion I won’t need a nape till bedtime. So, I’ll see you at dinner time in two or so hours.” She picked up a large bag and took Jane’s hand leaving for the cargo bay.

Rocssanna calls out after Jane. “Take care of our little princess; she’s the only one we have and don’t overwork yourself trying to keep up with her either. We even can’t do it once she gets going.” She blurred from sight and appeared at Jane’s side give her hand a light squeeze. “Just take care.”

William was not surprised at his wife’s seaming over protectiveness. She must be feeling a little jealous of Jane’s place beside her daughter. From when she was four years old physical contact had to be a little more subdued because of Sky’s incredible strength. “They’ll be fine dear; they’ll look after each other, Fred, Joe and the others will likely pass by now and then to see how they’re doing.” He blurred from sight and was at Rocssanna’s side grabbing her around the waist. “Let’s get finished up and get some rest before lunch and dinner time.”

“Somehow I know rest isn’t what your thinking of, or want.” Rocssanna mued as she caressed the side of Williams handsome face.

Sky was a little embarrassed at her parent's display of affections. “Let’s go, sis; I wouldn’t mind finishing early and taking it for a quick ride. It would be fun being the first one to drive it, I mean fly it, or is it piloting it. Whatever I want to be the first in the captain chair. I really hope everybody in there doesn’t mind us taking a short break in there for something as selfish as a message. We are not the only ones working hard; everyone’s been doing so much for this mission.” Sky handed Jane two rock nuts and popped two in her mouth savouring the smooth texture and flavour as they ground down into a fine paste. Jane just crushed them and enjoyed the flavour as if they were flavour rocks. They headed for the door and headed for the practice room.

Todd was having a hard time controlling the flow of magic for the binding spells and some incantations. He was crushing and blasting them to pieces. He needs the extra strength, but he also needed the fine control he used to have. “It will come. I’ve just got to practice more. When Sky gets a chance, she’ll help me get it more precise before the mission. Then we’ll be set take them out of the universe.” Todd didn’t realize how he started to rely on a nine-year-old girl.

“Why the change of heart? How come you’re so accepting her help when you flat out refuse her help before? What made you change your mind about her”? Heather inquired. She never saw him change his thought of someone so quickly.

“I was jealous of her; she was able to help Jane the minute she saw her. All I could do was convince her she should carry on and that we were a team. Then she starts throwing power around like its air. It was even harder to take when I find out she was just new to magic. Not even a week and she could do so much. I had to work so hard to get to where I am, and life seemed to hand her everything. After talking to Fred, Joe, and her parents I knew she was different. I found out we’re more alike than I thought. She worked just as hard but in a different way. She had to control her strength so she wouldn’t hurt anyone. I had to build mine up to be able to defend myself and my friends. She had to learn to use less magic in she spells because she has too much. I had to train hard to build mine up and useless magical power to conserve. Right now, she is pushing herself almost beyond her limit for people and us she’s never meet. For what, to help where she can. She is someone I can look up to and relate. She is my little sister in heart. She may not have work for what she has. But she’s working with what she must to make everything better for the people she can, just like me, NO all of us.”