Chapter Fourteen

Fred Joins the Fight

Fred leads the crew to the practice room knowing Sky was going to sleep a long time before going back to work on the ship. Unlike the others, he didn’t rely on pure magic. He picked up a medium semi-automatic high calliper rife. It was empty of live rounds but had compressed gases that simulated the kickback equal to the real bullet discharge. The sim would provide the rest sound, muzzle flash and damage did on any impact.

Todd saw Fred pick out the rifle and said nothing till they got to the practice room. “I have to ask what’s with the gun. It not like we’re going to run out of magic or anything. The new spells are amazing and very accurate you don’t need to carry any bulky firearms.” Everyone but Joe nodded in agreement to what Todd said.

Fred smiled. “I always like to take this little guy with me, and even with nearly unlimited magic, there are still things it can do magic can’t. Plus, Sky gave me some interesting magical upgrades to try out as my upgrades. The spells are useless to anything but a projectile weapon. But I’m eager to try them out.” He passed through the doorway first, and everyone followed after. Todd Courtney and Heather had a surprised look on their face. They must have felt their strength boost up; he was the strongest unaltered with magic.

“What’s with the holograms”? Fred said as he looked around the room. The two androids were standing off to the side of the entrance and looked quite different. He couldn’t put his finger on it right away, but it was how they seemed to shift from one foot to the other that made them appear unsettling. Not to mention they had faces and red mage robes with the cowls pulled back. Their faces looked fierce and foreboding. “What did you do to my two sparring androids? They’re moving as if anxious for a fight or something a little more sinister. Did you carry them out and back in through the doorway”? Fred said with a tiny bit of apprehension in his voice.

Todd answered him. “It’s a training simulation Conny and Swan came up with from a mixture of different one around the Empire. And yes, the two androids were carried out and back in. The new spells did too much damage to anything that we hit, and they couldn’t heal them completely without being carried out and back in. One heavy bag is now half the size after being blown to atoms. The healing spell brought back only half of its original size. We thought it was amazing to do from nothing visible. So, we carried out the heavy bags and the two sparring androids.” Todd looked around to see if the two ladies wanted to add anything before continuing. Fred just listened and waited for him to finish before asking any questions keeping a placid face more suited for a poker player.

With unease, Todd resumed telling what they did. “Conny and Swan offered to help be taking over the androids and constructing the simulated gauntlet for us to train. Mind you everyone has been different, and this one seems to be no exception.” He takes a closer look at the androids and sees them moving with the rhythm of a fighting dance only very subtle. If he hadn’t been studying ancient martial arts recently, he would have never noticed the Capoeira movements(Afro-Brazilian martial art). He decided not to tell Fred what he suspected.

Fred looked at Joe. “Did you know about them using the two practice androids like this Joe”? He asked with the same face as serene as a sleeping giant.

“I found out after I joined my first round. I didn’t think much of it till just now. I don’t see much of a problem though. The Androids have been very challenging, and a great help is honing our skills as an elite squad of fighter. A couple more days of this intense training they might be able to pass the tests we gave while training.” Joe said looking to the three newcomers.

“I don’t see a problem I just wish you informed me of something like including the AI taking control of my androids.” He looked to Todd, Courtney and Heather I would like you to inform me of any decisions when affecting my personal toys. But I’m glad they’re of good use.”

After hearing Fred call them personal toys, he realized they had no markings like they should have to be Empire property. “I’m sorry I didn’t think they were your personal androids. Not many people have one let alone two. If I had known, I wouldn’t have touched them.” Todd sounded every bit sincere in his apology to Fred. The Empires fleets equipment was for any official use. Personal ones you don’t touch because of the price tag.

“Not to worry what done is done and no harm inflicted on androids. Well, we’re not getting any younger let me give this a try.” Hefting the rifle up. As he walked up to the opening to the simulated gauntlet Conny and Swan come up to him.

“Hi, Captain Fred Sir. I take it you’re going to join us in the next training session. Are you going to try out the upgraded spells Sky gave you for your firearms? Swan and I look forward to training with you.” Conny said, and the two oddly dressed androids saluted and ran off through the doorway, and a heavy looking door shimmered into existence sealing it behind them.

Joe approached Fred. “Would you like to take the point? I think the others would like to see what their Captain is made of and why they would give such a nice ship to two men,” Joe said with a wink at the end.

Fred smiled knowing Joe liked to spring surprises. “I’ll take up that challenge, and I saw a brief vid of your training to know each one was more difficult. Let’s see if I still got it where it counts.” He turned to Todd, Courtney and Heather. “I look forward to seeing you guy’s up-close in combat. Todd which of your team take point most often? I want that person to be my six. I know what Joe is capable of. I want to know who is the most capable on your team.”

Todd smiled. I thought I mentioned before Jane is our default point man. We change it up once in a while, and we train, so everyone is proficient at point. But Jane is the best hands down none of us can hold a fire to her. I would be next than would Courtney or Heather they’re to match to choose evenly.” Todd said looking at the magic twins

“Okay, then it’s going to be me then Todd, The Twins and rear-guard Joe. Got it any questions before we go”? Fred looked around and seen them all in agreement. “Conny is the gauntlet ready”?

There was a chime just like when school was about to start. They all would have laughed if they weren’t going to have a super hard time passing this gauntlet sim. Fred walked to the door studied it and drew three lines on it. With his left hand, he flashed three fingers, and with his right, he activated three separate spells. Two were for his rifle, and the other one was for the door. The barrel of the rifle had two spell circles flash down the barrel. The last spell blow-in the door and six pieces went flying into the room. Two feet on either side of the door exploded outward. Pieces hit Fred, but a quick healing spell fixed him up. He flashed one finger and darted through the door his rapid-fire proceeded him. Each shot neatly dropped their targets. The two androids were among them; more targets dropped as he proceeded. The enemy came faster than the last gauntlet, but Fred’s rifle swept back and forth flashing as if on automatic.

Todd had a spell ready to fire at any target that escaped Fred’s barrage of gunfire. It seemed to Todd that Fred was every bit as capable as he ranks proclaimed. For a man his size, he was no easy target. The way he moved reminded him of Jane training in V.R., They both moved with unbelievable grace and confidence in their shots and movements. Knowing each shot met its mark and no movement wasted. He watched Fred’s hand go to his wrist MAD and tap to cycle to a spell with practiced ease with no hesitation in the gunfire. Seconds later a spell circle appeared above him and quickly descended over his body. Then Fred disappeared.

Courtney watched Fred in surprising admiration as he tags each seemingly endless attackers. He moved like Jane, they both moved as if they rehearsed it and as if in a flowing movement of a deadly dance. He even used a few spells in-between shots which she was sure no one else could see from their angle. It was hard not to watch and while knowing you had to look out for your targets. In the first five minutes, she only had to cast two spells to bind enemies that were behind objects Fred and Todd had bad angles for. She saw a scoop like marking noting where they were. She was sure that was the spell Fred had used to inform her of the targets where about. Courtney watched Fred cycle to a spell. After he cast the spell, he disappeared. The targets kept dropping even faster and in a pattern that seemed to move quickly up between the dropped targets. Every target was bound up neatly, Fred was firing some spells in the bullets.

At first everyone but Joe thought Fred cast the new cloaking spell. But once the first three rooms were cleared Fred’s large frame came into view from his hyper speed. “The spells on the rifle works well I’ve cleared the next three rooms, but their pouring in like crazy. I suggest we use the new hyper-speed spell to finish the sim. It allows you to think just as quickly as you’re moving. So, there is no drawback with using that spell. It’s not liked a stealth spell where you’re trying to hide from someone. I suggest you do it quickly because we're about to be overrun by new targets. Everyone brought up their MAD’s and brought up the spell and cast it.

Heather felt the spell wash over her and seen it going over the others. Her senses felt the targets come into range and slowed down as they entered the room Fred had cleared. She watched Fred move off, and it seemed in normal speed. They joined him as he ran through to the room the foes were now entering at a super slow pace. Fred was going just as fast as when they first started. Then she realized the spell worked better than she could’ve thought possible. The previous spell just increased your physical speed but did nothing for your thought processing. Before you moved faster than thought and it was dangerous to move without thinking ahead.

Now you could move and see everything as if you’re walking in leisure. She modified for more than combat. If used it could mean life and death with your advantages over the enemy. The spell is going to be a game changer for the team if this is sustainable for longer periods. It was too late to ask Fred if it took a lot of magic, but then again with them linked to Sky, they pretty much had infinite magic to use. She still had to do very little as they raced through the simulation. She thought it was almost comical the way the two A. I’s were trying to catch them, but they were moving too quickly in the new hyper speed. They finished in record time as Fred mowed down the last three targets with ease. It was surprising because it included the two A.I. controlled androids.

Joe placed a hand on Heather's shoulder as he and the others panted for breath. “That was one of the most intensive spell upgrades yet. Conny and Swan couldn’t move fast enough even to come close to getting us. Sky is my new hero, and I don’t care who knows it.” He paused “Well maybe I won’t tell her, I’d hate her to have more joking fodder. But when I see her next, she’s going to get a big hug and a kiss on the cheek. Plus, I’m going to adopt her.” Joe said with a huge smile striking a hero’s pose; chest puffed up fists on hip his head held high.

Everyone laughed. It was Courtney who shot him down. “I think Jane may have a huge problem with that if Fred or the Knights don’t. She just got the sister she always wanted, and you think you’ll take her away just like that.” Courtney got a hi-five from Heather.

“We all would like to get to know her better after this mission. So far, she an amazing girl with a huge heart. I think by the time this mission over we’ll owe her a lot more. She’s done more for us in the three days I’ve known her than any other person, except Heather.” Courtney said with her arm around Heather who dropped it after a Fred gave them an eyebrow raised look.

“So, I guess I won’t be adopting Sky, but I’m still her third father.” He said while still smiling.

Fred coughed to get everyone’s attention. Everyone looked at Fred and went silent. “I would like to make two teams and go head to head with two A.I. combatants. Todd you and your team against Joe and me. You can have the two androids also to see if it will make it a little more equal. I don’t expect you to be able to beat us just not to get tagged out too quickly. If you want, you can get any weapons to use. I’ll be using this little guy again, so I’ll give you some time to get anything.” Fred slung the rifle over his shoulder and made his way to the starting point.

Todd walked up behind Fred put a hand lightly on his shoulder. “Do you think you can keep up to us outnumbered almost three to one? I think we’ll take you up on getting additional weapons. I’m sure the ladies like myself have a few favourites to choose from now that you showed us that a magically enchanted firearm works exceptionally well.” Todd said with a grin. As the group got to the exit, they left the room also. Todd, Heather and Courtney headed towards the docking bay to get their additional weapons. The two to ladies acted like school children going on a trip.

“Can you believe how fast Fred moved even before he cast the hyper speed on himself? It was like watching Jane but a huge hulking frame and not as sexy.” Courtney said giving Heather a wink.

“I have to say though Jane looks sexy even when she’s prepared to kill. Fred kind of looks unnatural when he moved like that. Maybe he has something from Sky even he doesn’t know about.” Heather stopped talking for a second remembering Sky fighting herself. “I still can’t wrap my head around how good Sky is at fighting, and she claims she hasn’t even a month of training. I wonder if she can get any better or is there a limit of how good you can get. At nine years old she’s just incredible.”

“L..” Courtney about speaks but went speechless as they walked into the cargo bay. Everyone mouth was open as they stared at the new ship in the open space. It was near twice the size of their scout ship. It has windows and had holes in where landing gears were supposed to be put in place later. To them, it was just after lunch and Sky nearly finished the main body.

Heather ran ahead and walked to the missing loading hatch. “Let’s go inside for a quick look? I want to see if you can see through the wall like I overheard someone say”? She looked up seeing the wall, but something wasn’t quite right. She didn’t put any thought into it till she hopped up onto the deck and looked around. None of the outer walls were visible from the inside. Part of the roof was missing, and the parts that were there were translucent, almost invisible. “Interstellar space dirt, I can’t believe what she’s done. You guys have got to see or are not see what she's done. I’m going to the bridge.”

Todd was about to tell Heather to get down, but the look on her face told him she was deaf to the universe. He heard her curse and told them they had to see for themselves. Then she took off for the bridge. “We might as well take a quick peek too. It’s not like we’re going to run a sim in here that takes hours.” With that said they both hopped up on to the deck. Just as their feet hit the deck their jaws dropped down. The sight that greeted them was unfathomable. As they looked around through the ship, they heard Heather gasp.

“This is incredible; you’ve got to see this. Sky did not finish The bridge but,” Heather went silent. “I’m not going to say more you’ve got to see this with your own eyes.”

Todd and Courtney walked quickly to the bridge and to see what Heather was talking about. They saw her as they walk towards the doorway and she had an ecstatic smile on her face. When they crossed the threshold, they realized what she was talking about other than the doorway and the floor you could see the outside of the ship. It was more like standing on a raised platform than the bridge of a ship. Their mouths also opened speechlessly and took in what Sky had built so far.

“I can’t believe she has done all of this by herself, in only one actual day time distortion or not. There must be something we can do to help her, even if it a tiny thing. I can’t stand by and do nothing and let her go on her own.” Todd had no idea if anyone was listening and didn’t care really. He had just wanted to voice his frustrations of not being able to help.

“I feel the same way! I would do almost anything to be able to help Sky finish this AMAZING ship.” Courtney punctuated amazing just in case the two A. I’s were going to show up. “I wonder if sky would let us help her in some other way than just cast healing spells. There has got to be something we can help her with the actual building of the ship and parts.”

Heather still in awe of the sight put an arm over her shoulder from behind and her face next to hers. “I feel the same way Corry honey. Maybe we can ask Swan and Conny if there is something we can do. They seemed willing to help Sky too.”

“As amazing as this is, we’ve got to get back to training at least, so it doesn’t seem we’re trying to avoid going against Fred and Joe. We still have to prove we can do this. I think they have a lot to show us and I don’t think it is going to be easy. But they’re going to give us the crash course on multiple engagement battle tactics.” Todd said walking towards the exit of the bridge, waving the ladies to follow him. “After we can ask him about helping Sky, so he knows we are not trying to get out of training. So, let’s give him something to remember that we’re not just good we’re are ELITE”! Todd’s words were just what they needed to get them back on track.

They hopped from the ship Sky was building and headed for their ship pushed to the side of the huge room. Even with the two ships and half a house sticking out of a pocket space it seemed empty. The three quickly walked over to enter and retrieve their handheld weapons. Todd grabbed a large semi-automatic rifle and a handgun. Courtney and Heather both grabbed identical submachine guns and two handguns. None of them resembled the guns used in the past. These were all magically enhanced and needed no traditional ammo-clips like the old hand-held weapons. The guns now had pocket spaces for both ammo and used no casings.

Some of the more expensive upgrades reloaded casings in the pocket space. Some went as far as giving you an option of types of bullets. You no longer needed to sight along the barrel of the weapon. What was in the gun’s sight was displayed in their retina of the dominant eye. With practice, this was a far more efficient way of sighting a target. The latest and greatest guns had magic bullets they could fire along with more traditional projectile bullets. After retrieving their guns, they couldn’t help but look at the ship that wasn’t there two days ago.

“Let’s double time getting back to the practice room. We have a lot to accomplish in very little time.” Everyone agreed with Todd and used the hyper-speed spell to get to the practice room.

Sky woke up snuggled against something warm and cozy. She flushed pink as she woke up using Jane’s chest as a pillow and quickly pulled her head away. She didn’t know how to go about getting out of bed to relieve herself without waking her sister. It was solved by a smiling face that turned to her with a light kiss on the cheek.

“Morning my angel did you sleep well? You tossed and turned for a bit till I hugged you, and you settled into right back to sleep.” Jane reached up and pushed back Sky’s hair from her face and couldn’t resist giving to a person who’s done so much for her another light kiss on the other cheek.

Sky’s felt rested and truly loved by Jane. She kissed her back and nuzzled into Jane’s neck almost forgetting her bodily needs. “Oh, I need to use the bathroom could I crawl over you for a second. Don’t move I’ll be right back.” She said sliding across Jane’s toned abdomen under the light sheet that covered them.

“Sorry, little angel but I was waiting for you to wake up before going myself. I’ll use the twin’s washroom next-door, I don’t think they’ll mind since we shared one for the last five months.” She said throwing back the cover and swing her legs down. She watched Sky’s hair swish as it followed her through the door. Jane thought Sky looked so cute as she watched her walking around in the bunny onesie. It was hard to believe what the small girl was capable of. With increasingly pressing needs she went to the neighbouring washroom and relieved herself of all her morning tensions. After washing her hands and face, she went back to find Sky with a damp face peeking out from under the cover with her sea blue hair and white bunny ears framing her face. Jane couldn’t imagine how the young girl could mean so much to her, so quickly. “Are you a bunny or an angel”?

“I’m a bunny, have you ever snuggled with an angel before”? She said peeking out from under the cover her light blue eyes showing.

“Yes, I have, she was in the sky on a cloud, and it was beautiful. I’m going to snuggle up to an angel pretending to be a bunny soon too. Just as so as I brush my teeth, my stuff is in this washroom.” Jane said moving past to the washroom.

Sky was silent and thinking of Jane and the upcoming mission. “I have to finish the ship for everyone to be safe. I can’t quit, I won’t quit. I love my new friends too much to let them down. I even like Todd and how he keeps trying to find something his better at than me.” She said to herself under her breath next. “Jane do you like me? Do you think I’m a monster”? She said pulling the cover over her head as if to fend off any negative answer.

Jane was In the washroom with her mouth full of spit and paste. She almost swallowed to answer her quickly causing herself to gag and cough. She rinsed her mouth out in record time. Take the briefest time to rinse her toothbrush. She quickly dashed to the bed to see the top of Sky’s head with the sheet over it, her fingers gripping the fabric tightly causing it to tare slightly.

Jane reached over and pulled the sheet down as she spoke. “I love you Sky. You’re an angel and not a monster at all. You have super strength, vast amounts of magic and impossibly smart. You are the kindest most loving person I have ever met. You’re my best friend hands down.” Jane finished pulling the sheet down and climbed in next to her. “Do you think I would snuggle up to a monster? I don’t want to hear you call yourself a monster ever again. Everyone on this ship would die for you with no hesitation. Nobody would die for a monster; they would only die for an angel. Maybe a cute little bunny too.” She said giving Sky’s nose a quick tweak before pulling into snuggle and sleep.

“I love you too. I think I love you as much as mommy and daddy because we have to love each other. I love Fred, Joe, Todd, Courtney and Heather too. But not like you, you're super special to me. I don’t want you ever to leave me.”

Sky jolted up with a sudden revelation. “I know you can’t go to school with me, but could you live in the same place. With the upgrades I made, I have lots of money, so you don’t have to work in the military anymore. Please be my big sister forever.” Sky said with her face in Jane’s shoulder.

“Angel, dear I would love nothing more than to stay with you but, I have a service term to meet. They don’t train you for free you have to work for them for a certain amount of time. I have an obligation to the military for fifteen years or more. I can only leave military premature if I die or I’m injured and can’t perform my assigned duties. Besides how can you make friends at school if you have an older sister hanging around”?

Sky looked up at Jane. “You’re the coldest sister around. If I made any friend I bet, they would love to freeze with you.” She said smiling up to her.

“I think you mean coolest and chill not freeze. Old saying sometimes loses a lot of the proper words over the centuries. I think half of the old saying we use a wrong anyways. So, say what makes sense to you. I’ll freeze with you anytime I can.

“I thought you died two or more times in the new practice room. So, you can leave service anytime you like now. The only person who didn’t die was Joe as far as I know. Todd burned you guys to a crisp with that light spell remember. I just had my clothes burned off I would have been embarrassed if you guys weren’t ashes at the time. They came back when you did so Todd didn’t see.” Sky said with new hope about Jane joining her at school.

“Sorry, my sweet angel I’m pretty sure it would have to be a permanent death not for a microsecond. Nice try though but even when the rogue mages are captured and brought to trial. There are always places they need soldiers like us. But if you want, I’ll come whenever I’m off if you still feel that way. I’m sure I’ll finish school well before my next off duty cycle comes up and I’m around to join you.” Jane hugged Sky enjoying the feeling of closeness she had not felt in the years since her body augments. Now we could sleep a little longer. Tomorrow we’ll figure something out; it’s a new day and full of possibilities.” Jane said giving her another hug, closing her eyes to sleep.

“Your right tomorrow is a new day, full of possibilities and wonders too. Goodnight sis.” Sky said kissing her neck because she didn’t want to move too much and promptly fell asleep.

Fred and Joe were planning on how the simulation should be. I think it should be in a building setting or a large ship setting. Maybe with a little space walking involved they may have to board some ships through access hatches or holes cut into the sides of ships. They have the magic to spare now, and I think they should take full advantage of it. I know the rogue mages won’t be holding back at all.” Fred said leaning over a few schematics of possible hostile engagement scenarios. “What do you think Joe”?

Joe looked at the possible scenarios and gave them some measured thoughts. “I don’t know how many planets comfortable; breathable air has so entered a ship or building with none is a good idea. I think no matter what they do they should have a breathing spell on themselves at all times. Plus, since they have the magic now an environment incantation also would be a good thing too. We should have them enter from no gravity right to high gravity and always no breathable air. The hostages are in stasis tanks, so there is no need to have environmental control outside of them. Sky might have to take the tank and all. Now that I think about it freeing them won’t be that easy. The tanks might even have bombs attached to them or something just as unpleasant.” Joe stated with him all the business side. He was a top notched tactician, and it showed.

“I was going to get to that later, but you’re right a lot of the places the hostages are won’t have environmental control. I think a lot of the fights will be to defend them. So, we’ll use that in most of our scenarios. So, first space to ship, ship to ship, ship to ground and ground to build al in various gravities.” Fred had just finished talking to Joe when Todd, Courtney, and Heather walked through the doorway. The schematics vanished before they could see what was on the table.

“Captain Fred Sir we have all the gear we think we’ll need for any incursions. Unless there is something you can think of that might help on the mission.” Todd and his team stood at attention waiting for further orders.

“Joe and I were going over some of the things you might be up against. Did you think of possible spacewalks high and low gravity scenarios? How about no or low breathable air”? Fred said raising an eyebrow as if he might catch him off guard.

“Captain Fred Sir our combat suits have all of those built in. With these suits, it lets us think about fighting and not about breathing or keeping warm or cool. I’m sure if you want Sky could tweak them a little too since she loves to do that. I think she could find a few things to tweak.” Todd said with a grin across his face.

“You shouldn’t rely on her so much, but now I think about it she did say so was going to give everyone something before the mission starts. I’m sure it will be all the tweaking you could hope for and dream of. Sky cares a great deal about us all and will do anything to keep us safe. But even with her help, it’s going to be something you can’t imagine.”

FredWe’re going to be fighting mages with more than three elemental affinities and gifts they weren’t born with. Some may even use chaos magic against us. We don’t know what it will do to our shields. So, we’ve got to be ready for anything and everything.” Fred spoke to them pacing back and forth in front of them making subtle hand signs to see how observant they were. “So, if you have no questions we’ll get started.” He was happy to see they turned and let the room as one, just as he signed to them. He did it so they could set up the first mission. Two flashes told them to come back into the room where Conny and Swan were to give them the jiff of the operation.

They stood in an open ramp into space with a ship below them and no visible openings. The android that looked like an older silver-haired Sky gave them the info they needed. “Inside the ship below are two or more dozen people in stasis tanks. There are at least twice that protecting them maybe a quarter of them are full mages with four elements and boosted magic wells. They will be using very powerful castings and many with talismans on top of that. Space jump is not going to be easy. Once you break through expect all hell to break loose.” Conny said then waited for any questions.

Todd being the mission leader asked the first questions. “Do you know where the tanks are, and the most combatants are situated?

The older black-haired android answered him. “We believe the tanks are near the rear of the ship and are in non-climate-controlled rooms. We have no idea about their appearance. I think most of the combatants are at the front on the bridge and near the back ready to protect the tanks. You’ll most likely know where the tanks are by the resistant’s you meet.” Swan stood back from the hatch giving everyone room to see.

Todd looked for a porthole and seen someone looking out past them. He knew they were in stealth mode and could not see them. Everyone gets ready to jump after casting the new stealth spell. Courtney, you take point, Heather you follow after. I’ll take Conny and Swan with me and open two holes into the ship on either side of that porthole. Once the air vents don’t go in before filling the room with binding spells. I don’t care if you aim, hit everything you see moving big or small. Use the binding spells on the firearms you’re carrying. You should do that now before we start.” He held up his two large handguns together and cast the binding spell on them.

Todd still wasn’t sure of the second spell Fred had used on his weapon. Once his text completed their preparations, they took a position for the jump. It was about fifty metres to the other ship not a problem for a space jump. “Cast the hyper-speed spell once you’re in contact with the ship.” After he held up three fingers and folded one down then another everyone tensed, he jumped before he folded the last one. He landed a few seconds before everyone and sketched out a circle and with an x through the centre. He moved to the other side and did the same.

The rest of the team landed and waited for him to finish. The team cast the needed spells and Todd once again held up three fingers and folded one down. His other at the wrist readying the spell as the third folded he hit the key. The spell was activated and blow in the two sketched marks sending in chunks of metal inwards. Shortly after the air started to blow outwards. There was no sound as the magic bullets fired at everything that moved coming out of the holes the man standing by the porthole was one of the many people suck out into space.

Courtney was the first one in followed by Heather, Todd and then the two androids followed him. Courtney and Heather were tagged almost right after entering. Todd managed to free them while almost being tagged himself. They moved like lightning with magic bullets just behind them. They could see where the shots were coming from and could do little to fire back. They still manage to clear the room they entered, but Fred and Joe had them pinned in the room. The infiltration was not going to be easy even with hyper speed.

Todd and the two androids come up with a plan of baiting Fred and Joe’s fire. The plan was to jump across the threshold firing as fast as they could through the doorway hoping to score a few hits.

When they jumped, all five fired at Fred and Joe, their shot bouncing off an angled shield of magic. All five were tagged almost at once. Just as Fred and Joe stepped out of cover, the two androids fired binding bullets at them, locking them up. Todd had no idea how they did it, but it worked. Hey, ended up finishing their mission with no further trouble.

As they went back to the starting point, Todd had to ask. “How did you escape the binding spell when I could see it around you? It’s not possible to move even slightly. Todd and everyone else was anticipating the answer.

“I had an unbinding spell and a faux spell set for when or if I was tagged. It had a slight time delay just in case a teammate could free us and save the spell. I’m surprised you all don’t have the two that are in the spell database. There is one that revives you, but to everyone, you still seem dead. I imagine it could come in very handy. No one shoots a bunch of body parts.” Conny said with a wicked grin.

“It’s more effective casting it before you go into battle your body is ready at any given time. To be remade whole with only a fraction of a second memory loss during battle. I think Sky thought of it as a no brainer. Since the revive spell was next to the dispel casting, That’s probably why she didn’t mention the spell. she didn’t think she needed to tell you about that one either.” Conny put her head down and shook it side to side. She just took too many things for granted. I guess we can’t all be geniuses.” Conny looked up again with a chuckle and smiled.

“Very funny I think I’ll have Sky take out your sense of humour because it’s not working right,” Joe said with a dead serious face. His face only cracked when Conny and Swan’s faces grew slack. “Got yeah with that one.” Everyone even the androids laughed.