Chapter Twelve

Knowing One Place and Weakness

“If you want to hop up on top, we were just about to start putting the bulkhead and interior walls up, Sir.” She turned to Jane and asked her to go to the front of the ship and be ready with the spell to fuse them. As she spoke to Jane two pieces floated over the ship as they all hopped on to take their positions. Sky brought the pieces together the last tiny bit by hand ensuring a perfect fit and Jane pressed her two fingers on the colour circles. Then Sky lined them up on the ship, and Jane repeated the process. The outer hull seemed less substantial as if becoming. “That’s funny. I would have thought it would only happen after all the piece were put together. The translucency could become a problem if this continues becoming see-through as we go.”

Fred and Jane didn’t quite understand, and Fred had to ask. How are you making the hull invisible? Just stop the spell if it becomes a problem.”

“It’s not a spell really; it’s just part of the engraved spells that I thought would only activate when fully assembled. There is no real problem for me. I can see everything just fine. It’s Jane how is going to have a slight problem with fusing the pieces.” Sky leaned out and looked at the hull from the outside and seen it looked solid. “It might not be the problem I thought it would. The only thing is the big finish of the bulkhead and hull. I was hoping we could all wittiness the hull and bulkhead go invisible. I guess we’ll have to settle with just being in the ship once its last piece put together.” She sighed in jovial resignation. She was bringing more parts over as she answered Fred.

Jane and Fred followed Sky around the floor of the ship as walls and bulkhead were put in place. Jane fused them, and Fred cast the occasional healing just in case. The last part to be put in was in the bridge where the front viewport would have been. The bridge looked enormous without anything on it. Looking around you could only see the interior walls as Jane fused the last piece into place that changed to as everything became one solid piece. All the walls on the inside of the bridge became like transparent glass showing a view to the outside as if standing on an open deck and not a bridge of a ship. The only thing you could make out was the doorway leading off the bridge; it had an azure blue outline.

Fred and Jane looked around in ah. “This amazing Sky how did you do figure out how to do this. I’ve never seen anything like it, at least on this scale.

“Will the ceiling of the ship have a similar view also?” Fred asked Sky while looking very much like a fish his mouth opening and closing as he spoke. Jane just looked like she was catching a fly.

Sky was overjoyed with their reaction. She thought to have the outer walls already transparent would have taken away the final effect. It seems she was wrong in her assumption in the overall effect. “I never came up with anything new really. The translucency is just new ways of applying the magical technology that exists already. I just took it to the next step and gave it my customary tweaks.” Sky paused and looked up. “And you’re right the ceiling will be transparent and the floor too if you’re tracking something that flies under the ship.

Most of the magic sigils and runes used here were meant to be drawn on the surface you’re looking beyond. The one magic circle I used most is used by obstetricians to see the baby inside the womb. I just tweaked it a little, so I can have them able the run together and overlap each other. There are other spells I used that were for completely distinct reasons. So, slight with a modification they could work for us in a new way. I love magic; it’s so versatile and can help in so many ways. Almost all of this was made possible with magic.” Sky walked over to Jane. “I know you probably want to look some more, but we’ve got more work to do before lunch.” She turned and called out to Fred. “We’re going to do some more work and make dinner later. So, hang out in here or outside the more intricate spells you seen in the model ship for observing are not cast yet. I’m going to cast them last, sorry if you were planning on using it to watch us outside.”

Fred wasn’t even thinking in those lines. That not what I was thinking at all, it’s just that an upgrade like this could only be done with magic. I think this is a great idea and I wonder why no one has thought of it before.”

“Well, we’ll see you when you come out. Once we leave the ship, any sensing of what’s on the inside won’t work. All we can do is see the ship nothing else.” With that said they seemed to walk on air after they left the doorway.

Fred wondered if they were going to be visible from the bridge anywhere, they went. He was going to let her know just in case it was a small flaw in her plan. Almost right away Sky started the layout of one of the top pieces, and Jane took her spot off to the side after casting the healing spell. She moved almost too quickly to see as part after the part was laid out. He noticed six tubes leading from outside of the ship; they slowly started to move over the parts that were laid out. After a moment’s hesitation liquid metal started to spray out of the one tube, coating the magical form after it was completely covered the second hose started to draw runes and sigils among lines. No sooner the whole surface was covered in various markings they were covered with more of the liquid metal after they were cover none of the markings were visible on the surface, some showed on the edges. That’s when he just noticed two others made at the same time.

Sky walked over to the finished piece and with help floated off to the side, and she started to draw out more of the forms as three more were being made simultaneously. Fred couldn’t fathom how any group of mages could do this let alone one person. Joe was right in his eyes; she was already a legend in the making with what she’s done so far. As far as he was concerned the ship, she was building was going to be legendary too. Even after this mission, it will be as a ghost that popped up from nowhere tearing them a new one. He decided he shows to get some exercise in because they were getting closer to the rogue mages system. Once he left the bridge, he walked the corridors, and everything seemed strange. He caught the odd glimpse outside of the ship when the bulkhead was visible through doorways of exterior facing rooms. He just put it off as the ceiling not being there, and it was like his ship it just had extra rooms.

He just realized the rooms seemed smaller because the spatial distortion spells were not used yet. Each room was going to be changed in size using the power of magic. The size of the new interior would outclass most starship cruisers and be multiple times deadlier. It seemed strange to him at the featureless walls and floor. Everything was smooth and whitish from the metal used. Most ships had something or other running on the ceilings or corners of the walls. The ship was still being built so he would have to see when finished. He exited the ship through the loading dock since there were no doors, he took a small hop to get down. He had to walk around the now filling forms as Sky was working drawing out more as three more pieces.

Sky noticed him looking closer at the runes and sigils as they were being drawn with liquid metal; it was a special type and colour of metal. The actual metal she used already had sigils and runes on them. The ones that made-up lines had geometric shapes repeated over the entire surface.

He was itching to ask Sky thought of doing so later after seeing the look of concentration on her face. He also realized she wanted him to step back so she could cover everything with the liquid metal. He left with a wave and a sorry because instead of finishing covering it with metal, she unceremoniously pitched it out the cargo ramp door and redid the whole thing. He admonished himself as he left her and Jane to finish their work for the afternoon.

Joe could not find anything to help Sky finish the new ship. There were things she had to do by herself; no one could do. Even making a toilet was with magic runes and sigils within the material she planned on using. He could not understand how magic could be used in a simple toilet, but it was there. He decided to practice with Todd and his team he might not be going together with them. But practice is practice and from what Fred described this was not going to be a pie walk.

When Joe reached the practice room, it had changed greatly. He noticed anything barely as he passed through the doorway physically, magically he felt a loss. But the room was completely different it was like a darker version of a gauntlet he ran in the elite training where he met Fred for the first time. When he reached the starting point, he could he gunshots and explosion going off and the occasional cuss word coming from within. Smiling to himself after hearing a string of profanity he decided to wait for them to restart. The wait was not long after Courtney colourful outburst. She emerged talking to Todd and Heather seeming to be very upset, to put it mildly.

“I can’t believe Conny and Swan are just AI’s. Back in basic we went against AI’s all the time and controlling much better-built training droid then those outdated models. Too bad they couldn’t come with us on the mission. When I asked one of the two why not the side it had something to do with crossing the threshold of the doorway. Their ability would be lost once leaving the room. But this gauntlet is one of the most gruelling ones I’ve ever even heard of let alone tried.” Courtney was saying as she wiped sweat from her brow.

“Todd, I don’t know what you and Sky gave in the other room, but I want some of that too. It’s like night and day in there with you. I swear we’re almost getting in your way in there. You were good before just a few overpowered spells, but now? Each casting you throw now is perfect and precise. What happened in there? Did she share some of her brain power or something or give you something extra we don’t have”? Heather asked not even trying to be subtle.

“She showed me the same things you were, and I Just understood the same complex system she uses to regulate her flow of power. You might be able to come up with one better to suit you and your understanding. Right now, I have it down to a science of power control.” Todd said smugly. A little too smugly and received a jab in the side of his ribs form Heather's finger.

Courtney noticed Joe first and snapped to attention giving him a curt salute. “Joe Sir nice to see you. Have you come to train with us we’ve booked the training room for today with Conny”?

“I was hoping I could join you in training. Fred is busy going over some of the upgrades to the magic spells on his MAD tablet and the details of our upcoming mission. I still need a little more practice with the excessive magic Sky gave me, us now. Do you think I could join you in your gauntlet simulation? I could use a little distraction and the practice and try out the upgraded spells and incantations.” Joe knew they would let him join so he stood with confidence.

“So, you want to train with the elite team. That’s fine with me, you can take the point, and we’ll back you up.” Todd said a little too arrogantly for his taste.

“Sure, the thing I hope you can keep up. By the way, I’ve not only trained with the elite, Fred and I trained the elite for a short period. Only two people out of forty passed our course. We were given this ship because we were too hard on the trainees. Two that passed our course are now the elite instructors.” Joe said back just as smugly.

Heather and Courtney were wondering if there was going to be some other kind of macho display.

After the gauntlet course was reset Todd swept his arms in a gesture to the entrance. Joe stepped forwards and took point. He held up his wrist MAD and said, “capture mode on.” Turning to the others, he addressed them. “Try and keep up and I’ll leave some for you. Just watch my back, and you’ll get some trying to sneak up from behind. If you go in with the stealth casting on, they’ll not see you before it’s too late. Just make sure you get them all before they can warn any of the other of your presence.”

Just as he finished, he darted through the doorway spells flashing. As impressive was Todd, Joe was twice over. He was a whirlwind of destruction and binding just about everything that moved. He was right about a few coming up behind him. They were easy to pick off after Joe went through the enemy never popped out after him and the androids never stood a chance. Near the end of the gauntlet Joe was hit multiple times by the two androids he hit earlier. None were fatal hits, and he still managed to finish the gauntlet.

“I didn’t know the practice androids could release themselves. I guess it makes sense though; it would hardly be a test if you didn’t have move targets and a few more shooting backs.” Joe sounded a little out of breath as he spoke.

“That was a pretty impressive show. You managed to bind eighty-two percent of the targets by yourself and only took any hits at the very end. On my first run through I only managed seventy-five percent of the enemy targets.” He never mentioned the fact that the first one was the easiest and that they progressively got harder. “I guess you weren’t lying when you said you trained the elite instructors. Why where you two in the middle of nowhere just watching for some magic anomaly so far out in space? If you this good shouldn’t you be on some other more covert missions.”

Joe laughed. “It a long story, to make it short one of the ladies I was seeing had connections, not in my favour. He was not happy and ever since given only simple tasks that didn’t allow us to shine as we had planned. I don’t regret my actions for myself, but I do regret that they Fred punished along with me. I think after we complete this mission, we’ll get the recognition we deserve. And get some missions that are more in our skill set.” Joe finished with a somewhat wistful look.

“So, you got side showed for being with the wrong woman at the wrong time. Was it an admiral’s daughter, granddaughter or maybe even someone’s wife”? Todd pressed Joe without mercy for answers.

Joe also noticed the two ladies listening in. “Sorry, that’s classified information. It was kept from the public, for what I know now a good reason. So, you won’t get any more from me, at least till you get proper clearance.” Joe smiled while pointing to the starting point of the gauntlet. “Let’s see if we can go even faster if we take a running rotation of point. That way everyone gets a chance at all positions.”

Everyone liked the idea, so they walked to the entrance of the simulation. As everyone walked, Joe gave them instructions on how to be more effective in the simulation. “Since having a new awareness, it’s easier to do. Just remember to have at least three targets always even if it’s just one person. With your new awareness, you can see ahead you can see most of the enemy before they see you. If you use the new stealth spell, you can go around unseen. Take out the ones that have the best position first because they are mostly very experienced and possibly leaders. If you have to punch holes into the place, they’re behind it could take them by surprise and draw out other targets.” Everyone nodded seeing his point and understanding his tactics. They reached the exit and wanted for the gauntlet to change for a different scenario.

“Heather you up the first point then Todd, Courtney and I’ll be rear guard. Todd, you’re the leader of the crew if you see any mistakes let them know right away before they can repeat their mistakes. We’re doing this because sometimes the point is the first person taken out of action and you need someone able to take over. It’s best to be prepared for it and not be taken by surprise. In a lot of combat situations when the point man is taken out, they think they have the advantage. That’s not the case if the next man is ready to take point next and save the first.” Joe looked over everyone quickly. “You guys ready”?

Todd raises a hand, and Joe nodded to him. “Listen to Joe what he says makes sense, but don’t forget to listen to your guts too. If something doesn’t feel right, make it right and let someone know. With our new awareness and the magic, our enemy holds we are somewhat in the dark with what they can do. Hopefully, the MAD tablets they have are slow and can’t keep up with the new spells. Most likely that is not the case; the chaos magic is very complex and seems to cause erratic behaviour. So, don’t go by what you think they would do but can do.” Todd nodded to Joe who just said, “well said.”

“Heather point,” Joe said as he stood behind Courtney.

Heather walked to the front with two casting circles ready. Joe has seen this done but never like the idea, until he saw the spells she had used. The spell circles where within her cloaking spell, so no one other than them seeing the castings ready. Holding up three fingers signalled she was ready to start. Lowering one finger, she pointed to Todd than the door. She held up her palm to stop him. The next thing was to get them all to move back four steps and held two fingers dropping another. When Todd using telekinesis to open the door. The door and a metre on either side exploded outward just where the two people who would be first through the door.

Heather burst into action both arms raised firing multiple binding and the occasional concussion blast. She made it to the first doorway and cast a healing spell to a hostage. The man never moved, but she felt better for doing it. She watched Todd take a point next as Courtney and Joe come in through the doorway. Heather was now rear guard and Courtney; Joe was front support. The simulation was more difficult than the previous one, but everyone worked incredibly together. Todd left no one unbound as Courtney took the lead. She had two spells ready just like Heather. She was every bit as efficient as Heather proved to be Joe now knew this wasn’t their first time on point. The two ladies were almost just as good as Todd, who might have been number three to pass their course. Several times through this sim lethal force was necessary and done without hesitation. By the end of the simulation they were all hit at least twice non-fatally by the two androids Conny and Swan were controlling. It was a shame that they couldn’t come on the mission.

“So, I see that it was not your first-time taking point. Why didn’t you say something before, when I was talking about how important it was to be able to take all spots in the team”? Joe inquired.

They shrugged their shoulders, and Courtney put a hand on Joe’s shoulder and squeezed it. “We could see you missed instructing by the way you lit up while you were talking. The men you passed taught us well. They never told us or anyone who trained them, but they did say it was the hardest two years ever. You drilled into them the importance of being able to do more than one thing. So, we always did different positions while on patrol.

Mind you when we are in the circumstance when we should take on the task of clearing a building Jane is point or second. She makes it look effortless. No one hit her once after training for six months. She’s the only reason Todd here didn’t object to Sky going with just one person to rescue the hostages. She is the best and holds the undisputed record in the most difficult gauntlet sim. I wish I were half as good as she is.” Courtney said is an all too serious tone. She gave Joe’s shoulder another squeeze before letting go. “Your new daughter, our new sister is in the best possible hands.”

Joe smiled at the gesture. He felt relieved the gesture and knowing how much confidence they had in their teammate abilities to help Sky get the job done. It was also hard for him to believe a young girl could make such a big impact on his life in such a short period. Sky’s outgoing and good nature was infectious; you just had to love her as if she was your daughter.

“Let’s run it again the same way but with no mistakes. We’ll go a little slower and be a little more thorough in the sim. I know we can get it done with no hits through the shields.” They made it back to the starting point, and the sim reset to a new layout. Joe noted it was different as the inner walls took form, but no targets were spawned just the two androids. Which Joe found odd, he found out why just after Heather ripped the door off its hinges. As Courtney charged through the doorway the enemy started to spawn from nowhere; they were spawning in every possible nook as if uncloaking.

Courtney could sense the two androids but couldn’t see them. She signed to Todd about not being able to see the androids but thought she knew where they were. Todd just signed back go for it, and she did. She jumped out from cover in a dive firing four rapid casting to in each place she thought the androids could be. One was to knock out what shielding them and another to bind them. They were hit almost simultaneously and taken down by the spells. As she hit the floor, she was still firing the binding spell at different targets. Although the pop-ups were just like unjointed mannequins, they could still fire the marking spells.

Two spells bounced off her shield as she slid across the floor. She slowed before reaching the cover she was diving for, but Joe pushed her along with a kinetic push. She was right somehow; they cloaked themselves from sight. Looking back at the bound pair she knew that this was not going to be a stroll in the small field in the city. The enemies kept coming, and it was hard to move forward even a little. The four had to fight teeth and screw to gain any progress they were in almost constant engagement. They were pinned down many times and had to do for some, would find suicidal maneuver. But the four highly skilled team it was hardly suicidal, it was though not easy. They managed to pull off each one with no fatal hits.

By the time, they made it through three hours had passed they had slowed significantly from physical and mental exhaustion. If it weren’t for there heightened skills and the limitless magic Sky had provided, they wouldn’t have made it half as far. The four finished the sim with no fatal hits and few that would have been crippling. Only around twenty shots, they had to make were fatal to the enemy.

“Conny, Swan, what the blazing star was that all about. There is no way in a supernova it is going to be like that — it not like we going to fight so many powerful mages. There is no way in a blazing super, supernova they’re going to have cloaking shields like those. Why were you trying to kill us all off like that”? Joe sounded extremely upset at the simulation and how long it took.

“How do you know what they do and don’t have? Can you honestly say hundreds of sociopathic mages can’t come up with deadly and crazy spells? Remember they follow no rules or restriction the rest of us are. We don’t know how many people they tested with their hideous spells and incantations. Don’t forget we’ve figured out they had something to do with Jane’s transformation. She might have been one of the hundreds they tested their spells on in fake clinical trials. We know that place was open for three years running tests of various kinds. Some seemed legit till the new Doctors took over. That clinic was one of how many? So, what do you think of them possibly knowing some advanced spells Sky inadvertently gave them. What can their twisted minds and no ethics do with magic? Swan and I have emotions now, and we care very much about your well bring. We are not going to let you go without preparing you for the worst possible scenario.” Conny was joined with Swan as she defended their actions in the sim.

The four didn’t know what to say. They were all surprised at what the AI said. They knew the two AI had more awareness and emotions. What didn’t they know was how they felt towards them? Joe addressed Conny. “So, you care about us how what made you form this bond with us?

Conny and Swan both sighed in exasperation. “What do you think for the last three years you’ve always treated me with courtesy, you and Fred. After my new awareness, you accepted me as part of your crew and not just an enhanced AI. So of course, I care about you guys.”

Swan addressed her ship’s crew. “Todd, Jane, Courtney, and Heather you’ve always treated me like crew. I didn’t even have half of the awareness Conny had in the onset. You talked to me about everything; now I have a deeper understanding of what we talked about. I can’t help but to care about you know. I can’t go with you outside of the ship, but I can have you ready for anything we can think of. After your lunch play, time is over. It’s just going to get more difficult we have many more surprises for you. So, get some rest and a bit to eat, if you can bring the captain in with you. From the way, Jane strength and armoured skin these mages might have a bonus which we haven’t added to the sim yet. You may even want to see if Captain Fred would want to join you in the next mock battle. We would like to see everyone leave as super-elite soldiers. Sky isn’t the only ones making modifications either; we have some software proposals for the combat armoured suits also.” Swan stood beside Conny holding her virtual arm as she spoke.

“Thank for caring enough to put us through such a hard sim for our benefit. And we look forward to an even more difficult sim after a little rest. Would you also like to inform a doctor to give me a colonoscopy while you’re so concerned about our health”? Todd said in a joking tone. The others chuckled behind them

Swan smile. “Done, would any of you ladylike one as well there free for people in service to the empire. It won’t take but a second, and you can get them all at once if we ask now. Three days after the mission baring any complications, you’ll have your appointment.

Everyone but Todd laughed at his expression. He didn’t know what to say as Swan made the appointment. He was going to explain sarcasm and that he wanted to cancel the appointment. Just as he could form words Swan winked at him. “What was that all about, the wink”?

“We are on silent running; no outgoing communication till after engagement starts. I know you were being sarcastic and wanted to try a joke Conny said would be funny.” Todd laughed now with everyone more so out of relief than anything funny.

Heather interjected. “Think about all the healing spells that were cast even in the sim. Hey, were wide range healing spells it would be virtually impossible to have anything wrong with you. I knew she was joking I guess if it was me get the test, I might have panicked too. I needed the laugh I guess you’re a little mentally tired too from trying to make it through and keep everyone alive.”

“Let’s say that I’m just relieved to know I’m not going to be probed by an alien. Let’s make way to the mess hall and get lunch. Sky is going to be having her dinner with Jane.” Todd turned for the exit and started walking. The rest followed even the two AI’s out the door.

Sky was finishing one of the last pieces of the top of the ship when her tummy let out a loud rumble. Jane heard the young girl’s hungry stomach and made her decision. “Let’s go for dinner and see everyone before we have to clean up and go to bed.”