Chapter Three

The New Crew Trying Out The Enhanced Training Room

Fred stood up and addressed the crew. “Once you get cleaned you I want to meet me in the briefing room. Since we have a small crew, we can all fit. So, come in proper attire and have your hair styled within regulation. Meet me in two hours. We have much to discuss, and one of the mages took already presumed dead by our guess. We have no ideas about others, and I would like to make up a plan. Before we head off to bed tonight.” Fred picked up his bowl and spoon carrying it to a bin placing it inside. As he left, he called out to William and Rocssanna. “Thanks for another great meal. I'm looking forward to some more of your great cooking.”

Todd got up and thanked William and Rocssanna. He watched everyone else doing the same. “He gave us two hours does anyone want to see what so special about the practice room? It’s at least an answer you can get by just walking into it.” Joe made a strange sound and covered his face if he took a few seconds for him to reply.

Joe couldn’t hide the smile on his face. “I’ll have Sky lead the way; you’ll find it more entertaining that way. Just don’t ask her to spar with you unless Conny’s there with you. Better yet not for a while till you feel comfortable around her and you got to know her a little better.” Joe left as if holding in a laugh.

After everyone thanked Rocssanna and William for the incredible meal, they headed for the practice room.

Todd motioned to Jane that he wanted to walk beside Sky and she reluctantly stepped behind. She seemed so short and small to him, yet she just ate four times he did. Todd had some questions and now was the time to ask them. “Sky you seem to know a lot about magic how many years have you been studying. You must be a really good student to know so much.” He wanted to keep his questions easy at first. He was still upset at what happened to his ears and what she said about how she felt about changing them.

Sky pondered his question and decided to tease him a little. “Oh, magic and I go way back it’s got to have been almost a hundred, at least a hundred. Fred taught me well showed me a spell or to. He did teach me how to regulate my magic. Now my control is like a fine edged knife.”

Todd was confused. Sky was ten years old tops how could she have a hundred years. You don’t look over ten, how could you have a hundred years of studying”?

“I thought you would have known that was too many years. I’m nine years old almost ten, and I’ve been practicing magic for just over a hundred hours.” Sky said with a quirky smile. They walked by their quarters and the showers almost to the practice room

Todd didn’t know quite what to say. “I have a hard time believing you, but a lot of the things I’ve seen you do so far I wouldn’t have believed if I didn’t see it for myself.” He didn’t know what to make of this little girl who seemed to outclass him magically. He needed more info on this strange girl and her cryptic answers. “So how many elemental affinities do you have”?

Sky just smiled and turned after reaching the practice room door. “I’ll let the room answer that and I would like to ask you all to let everything that goes on in this room stay in this room.”

Todd looked back at the ladies behind them with a shocked look. It was Jane who asked the obvious question. “What do you mean by that”? Jane knew it wasn’t what they thought if it were someone much older would have meant.

Sky didn’t know what was so difficult to understand. “The magic through this doorway into this room will make you like the person that went before you. Since I’m going first, you all will have similar strength and speed. You will all have the same magical affinities. The strongest person will stay the strongest, and the weakest will only be weaker by a fraction. So, I want to keep anyone from finding out about this room who might find a way of exploiting its properties. Sky watched everyone’s face to see their reactions. “Oh, and you can’t get hurt for long, and you can’t get killed. But a broken neck will make you black out for a second. I think being cut in half would have the same effect if you care to try it. I strongly suggest you don’t. The injury might go away, but the mental picture will remain if you can remember. I personally don’t want a memory like that.” Sky turned and entered the practice room and felt the now familiar sensation of passing through water. She turned to halt anyone else going through. She laughed a little when Jane bumped into Todd as she rushed to see what Sky was talking about. Sky stood straight and tall. “Welcome come to my world come this way.” Sky said beckoning them to enter.

Todd didn’t feel anything before entering till he passed the door frame as he entered he could feel the magic at work on his body. He had an ability to see active spells and the ones in the doorway were too numerous to separate let alone count. The power was incredible as it washed over him. He stumbled out the other side of the doorway. The spell itself was about twenty-five centimetres (11.5 in.) across. A rush of magical energy engulfed him, and he had a feeling of unlimited power.

Jane stepped through, and it felt like passing through a field of energy to her. She took a few quick steps to move away from the door and found herself halfway across the room. She turned to look at Todd; Sky watched the others come into the room. Heather and Courtney were holding hands as they came in the room.

Heather released Courtney’s hand as the magic passed through her. She closed her eyes as she stepped through enjoying the feeling of pure spell power. She couldn’t feel it until she touched it. She relished the energy then it was over. Her eyes flew open as she could feel a new sensation like an idea yet to form, but you knew it was going to be a great one. She didn’t even realize when she opened her mouth in rapture.

Courtney rushed through to her it felt like a splash of icy cold and boiling at the same time. Her legs buckled from the magic hit her. She jumped up and kept going almost to the ceiling feeling something slow her down. Looking down she could see Sky laughing pointing at her. She felt a little embarrassed at Sky pointing at her the whole way down. Sky did something strange; she made a swiping motion after dropping the pointing finger. Todd was frowning at Sky’s behaviour until Sky made the swiping motion.

Todd felt the energy and wanted to see the others reaction before trying something with the new magic he felt. As Jane passed through she vanished for a split second and reappeared halfway in the room. Heather looked like she was having a body orgasm as she passed through. Todd knew when she felt the new magic in her when her eyes flew open, and her lips parted in a gasp. Courtney was the type to jump into the water to get it over with and deal with the temperature either way, hot or cold. After coming through she stumbled and used little levitation spell to get to her feet quickly, he saw her use it many times, and it saved her more than once. But this time she rocketed up as if shot from a canon. But before she could hit the ceiling something stopped her. The spell was still active, but she floated down with Sky laughing pointing at her the whole way. She was the only one laughing once Courtney touched the floor Sky made a swiping motion and Courtney’s spell vanished. I quickly looked closer at Sky trying to see what she used to dispel her magic and seen nothing.

Sky noticed no one was laughing. “Sorry guy’s I should have had you prepare for the magic you would hold. Fred and Joe had already been prepared for it somewhat their first time. Just try to think of using a touch of magic than a tenth of that, for what you would normally use. Try a simple light spell to see what I mean.

Todd was the first one to try a spell the light spell was six metres across and burned everyone in the room but Sky. She dispelled the magic sphere to allow everyone to heal. Todd picked himself off the floor and seen Jane, Heather, and Courtney doing the same. “I could have sworn I burned to death just then. What’s with this room does it amplify magic or something? That was supposed to be a big ball of light, not a micro star. Sky I thought coming here would answer a few questions not give me a thousand more.” Todd was trying not to be upset at the little girl. There was just something about her rubbed him the wrong way. As he thought about the little time they spent together, she used a lot of magic, and the whole time she only used one visible spell casting, and no spent magic washed over him like others who used magic. The others even just now were visible. He was in the dark it creeped him out not seeing or even feeling a spell being used by her. To him it just felt unnatural, it was as if hearing a person talk and their lips were closed not even breathing.

“Okay, I guess that didn’t work if you want. I’ll show you what Fred showed me to regulate my magic. Since it’s like my magic, you hold I could show you how Fred, Joe, and I do it now. Just come closer so I can show you in a bubble.” Jane then Heather and Courtney stepped closer to Sky. Todd looked around the room and spotted two lumps of ash. Sky followed Todd’s gaze. “Those are the heavy bags you burned up. They never passed the door, so they don’t have a reset. Try the new healing spell on your MAD device and fix them.

Todd didn’t feel comfortable around Sky. He couldn’t see her other than a little girl, then again couldn’t stop the feeling she outclassed him magically even more than he could imagine. She could be so kind as to think of others before herself. He watched from a distance as a sudden sphere engulfed them. He saw the complex spell circles of a type of shield just much more complex. He could see the girls stagger a little and he hesitated to rush over to them. They stood up and moved around on the spot with mouths gaping wide, looking at something he couldn’t see. He could not feel magic coming from the spell she cast and seen nothing even forming. He reflexed on what he knew of her, and it was frightfully little. He didn’t even see her MAD device she’d have to had. Watching the girls point and move their mouths as if speaking, he suddenly felt left out of something important.

Rather than feel sorry for himself, he tried the healing spell Sky had suggested. He could try it twice the see how much magic to use. He turned to the first pile of ash, any magic not used by guilds shouldn’t have much effect on so much damage. He found the new spell it had a smiley face next to it and “For Little Tooth’s’ Crew Only.” He thought “must be a secret spell.” He cast the spell it over the ashes. It had four elements whereas he only had three. The new MAD device could sense the magic he held and only allowed the spells he could cast. He thought what the burning star and activated the spell. There was a wave of spent magic wash over him the ashes lifted and reformed into the heavy bag once more. Todd was impressed that it was a good spell to have. He turned to try it on the other heavy bag and froze. Above where the ashes were, a brand new heavy bag. Confused he hit the heavy bag lightly and it swung out as if hit by a flying car. It was a fake; it was too light and ways too soft. Not caring what happened to the fake heavy bag he kicked it to vent out a little frustration he had built up. His kick landed in the dead centre of the bag. Rather than sending the bag swinging again, it cut it in half and igniting some of the contents. He quickly looked around and just seen the girls in their own little world he now wished he had joined them.

The ladies stood around Sky and seen Todd not join them. Jane saw the concerned look in Sky’s eyes. Todd was having a bad reaction to Sky because it was the first time he was blind to someone’s gift. He could sense her magic and it didn’t even look impressive. When she dropped her shield, it must have made him feel less special, from there everything she did was as if she was hiding everything from him.

Jane didn’t think Todd was going to join them. “Sky, Todd likes to puzzle something out on his own and right now there’s a lot he needs to puzzle out. So why don’t we make it a lady’s thing and you could show us girls. It would be one of the first times we get ahead of Todd in anything.”

Courtney saw Sky mood improving and went for the closer. “Why don’t we show him what girls can do if we stick together and then let him see what we can acomplish.” Sky surprisingly had no real reaction to that. Courtney would have thought Sky would have been jumping to show off what girls can do.

Sky gave Courtney a strange look. “I don’t like to show off. I just do what I must do. I do like to joke and tease a little. Showing off can hurt someone’s feelings and make them feel less of themselves. I know I have lots of magic and I like to share knowledge to those who will use it for good or to benefit others. Let me show you how Fred, Joe and I regulate our magic now. Don’t be alarmed at what you see it’s going to be a visual representation of my magic well and how I control the flow of magic to the spells I use.” Sky waved her have around as if drawing a circle in the air. Instantly a clear bubble enclosed them. “I think I’ll let Todd see us so he won’t feel alone in the room.” She gave him a small wave but he turned his head and didn’t see the small gesture. “Okay everyone, take a deep breath and hold it and close your eyes’. Jane watched what the other would do. Heather raised her eyebrow took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

Courtney did the same. “The last time I didn’t pay attention and lost my breakfast. Lunch was too good to waste.” Jane did the same, and soon they all were taking deep calming breaths.

Sky could still see them with her eyes closed. Once they all were breathing deep, she cast the spell to show her mindscape around them. “Alright I should have you sit, but you can’t get hurt in here so you’ll be fine if you fall. You can open your eyes now and see my magic wells.

The girls opened their eyes to five swirling coloured tanks surrounding them. Courtney grabbed on to Heather's arm and pointed towards the top of one of the tanks. Heather was the first one to get her voice. “Why are to tanks so big, they are just a mental image of the magic you hold? Even if you hold this much magic, it doesn’t have to be this big make them smaller so there easier to work with.” Heather looked to the other girls to back her up. The two girls nodded in agreement.

Jane touched Sky’s hand. “She right, it would be easier to manage if the tanks were a more reasonable size. After all, it just how you perceive what your magic looks like.” Jane looked around and felt tiny enclosed by the huge tanks. Jane turned her head taking in more of the details she noticed a complex set of valves behind Sky. What’s with the valve system it looks pretty complex.” Jane said motioning behind her. The other ladies looked around Sky to see all the different pipes and types of valves.

Sky looked down to her feet and blushed a bit. She swiped at the image behind her not even looking making the tangled mess go away and was replaced by five sets of two simple valves. It was much basic than before. “Oh, that was how I modified the system Fred showed me. I don’t think he likes me tweaking everything so much.

Sky had a hard time explaining just how much magic she held. “I know this is just in my mind and what I perceive my magic to be will be. If you bring a glass of water into your mindscape and take a sip, it would be just like drinking water normally. If you take a barrel of water and shrink it down to the size of glass, now take a sip of water. Each sip how many mouthfuls of water did you drink. Jane, come here and let me give you a single drop of the lightening element.” Jane walked over to the indicated valve. Gently took her hand and put it under a spout while turning a handle to let a single drop escape on to Jane’s finger. Now use that to cast a light sphere.

Jane looked at Sky. “I can’t activate my tablet with the drop on my finger.”

Sky smiled thinking how the method Fred taught her was now standard on the ship. “Jane just picture the spell as detailed as if it was from your tablet and flick out the lightning with the light sphere in your mind.”

Jane was going to say it’s not that easy. Still, she flicked her finger, and a huge white ball of light came from her finger along with a wash of spent magic. Sky waved her hand and dispelled it instantly with a smile. “It’s not that easy to do magic, how is that possible”?

Sky watched Courtney’s and Heather’s reaction also. “You know the light sphere because it’s one of the simplest and most used. The spell circle is in your head already it doesn’t need to be physical to work; it helps to see it in front of you. To make her point, she motioned up, and a vibrant blue light sphere appeared halfway up the centre of the tanks. There was no spent magic wash after the spell.

Heather while looking up asked. “How can you use magic and not have a wave of spent magic and not even make a gesture or use a word of power”?

Sky smiled and was not willing to let that feline out of the bag just yet. “A cute little girl got to have her secrets you know. The point I was trying to make is getting sidetracked.” The tanks around them started to shrink slowly at first then quickly till they were the size of a small water tank with the same valve set. “Now that is all the magic in those tanks is the magic the same or is it super condensed. Do you want to try it this time after seeing what a drop of the slightly condensed magic did with a simple light sphere? Heather, do you want to see if it’s still just a regular drop of magic or ten thousand litres in that single drop. Magic has no real effect on me, but I’m not even sure if you’re vaporized by a light sphere if you can be brought back.” Sky turned to the ladies growing pale at what she just said.

Courtney cringed. “I can’t believe you have that much magic. You’re making the tanks that big to compensate for your size and age. I’ll try the magic and show you that it’s all in her head.” Courtney said trying to show more confident than she felt. She stepped forward and went to turn the valve herself, and Jane quickly grabbed her hand out of reflex and let go in the same instant.

“I’m so sorry for hurting you. It’s a good thing the spell heals you instantly. Jane said apologetically

Courtney looked to her arm pondering what she was talking about. She didn’t even squeeze that hard. That’s when it dawned on her. This wasn’t the old gentle Jane; this was the steel hard super strong Jane now. Yet it didn’t even hurt in the least. “I’m fine, remember we’re all like Sky now we have all her strength and body structure. Wait for a second if what you say is true we all should have the same magic you have so our wells are just the same right? So why can’t we use the same magic as you”?

Sky tried to think of how to tell her; it’s just the tools, not the knowledge she has. Sky’s smile spread on her face. “Do you know how to paint pictures or draw”? Courtney shook her head saying “NO.” Sky smile changed to a smirk (unintentionally). “If I gave you paints of all the colours you could imagine, and all the brushes ever conceived, and a canvas to paint on. Could you make life like a masterpiece without knowing how to paint? Right now, I’ve given you the tools and the paint. The canvas is all around you. Now let me teach you how to paint a pretty picture.”

Courtney couldn’t speak. Everything she said hit a cord. The magic she held right this second was astounding, and a girl new to magic was going to show her how it’s done. “Okay Show me what you’ve got. If you think the size of the tanks were right who are we to judge before getting the full picture.

Sky smiles again. “I can’t tell you right now, but my abilities have to do with the fact I’m not human being. I can do things no one else can do, even those of my race. I can use magic with no MAD device I’ve never had one and never will need one. There is only one spell that I can’t quite puzzle out just yet. All the spells so far are like squares and circle. Jane, I’m sorry I haven’t found how just yet to turn you back. What they did to you was on a genetic level. You have none of your original pattern in you as a reset point. I need something fresh to sample from to turn you back completely.

Jane was surprised at what Sky had told her. Doctors were only able to tell her that after days of testing. Sky didn’t even get a blood or skin sample. “I was told some mages can revert my condition if I can get the right funds. I have to have something to work for; you can’t take away my hope of being normal again.” Jane looked to Heather and Courtney for some backup.

“I think your wrong Sky it is reversible and we are going to make it happen. How can you say it’s impossible when you’ve only been studying magic for less than a week”? Heather said the Sky with a scowl.

“I never said it was impossible. I just haven’t found any spells to help yet. Right now, your genetic make-up is more like mine than human. Who ever did this to you tried to make into something different altogether. The mages who did this to you wanted a new race of beings. I know four different spells that would have the effects you were looking for without any physical side effects, while being totally reversible.” Sky went to Jane’s side I didn’t mean to sound like there is no hope, it’s just going to take a little longer than I guessed. Your right there are magic users who know more spells than me. I see any of the spells that made you it would be easier to untangle them. But for now, I’ll just have to unravel them slowly.” Sky exclaimed lightly stroking her back trying to take away some of the sting she unintentional gave her. “I can show you guys how to control the magic you hold here and maybe later if you have some spells you want upgraded I can do that for you to.”

Sky turned to the valves once again. You should just make a mental image of tanks like these and valves that have a pressure reducer and a simple on and off valve. Adjust the valves to release a mist of magical energy from each tank for now later once you get the hang of it you can customize the valve system into something a little more complex.” Sky went to the first valve it was the lightening element. She turned the first valve open full and slowly opened the pressure valve till a mist came out. She let the mist touch her index finger then cast the light sphere. It was a small bright sphere close to the size of her fist. While pointing her finger at it, as she slowly turned the valve it grew in size and intensity. That’s how you can regulate your magic using valve systems for your magic. Try it out and you’ll see it’s much easier this way, go ahead and try it. Just image your magic wells just like these and use the magic as it comes out.” Sky watched the ladies close their eyes almost at once as they tried to picture the magic well as huge tanks with valves attached to them.

Heather was to first to open her eyes and cast the light spell. It was a bright pinkish colour a little larger than her head. Courtney was next, and her light spell was a just as big and a deeper pink colour. It appeared easier to look at but not as very good at illuminating for any distance. Jane’s light spell was a bright white with a tint of blue, about the size of two balled fists together. They took turns making them grow bigger by turning up the magic.

Sky noticed Todd looking overseeing them having an interesting time. She felt bad that he didn’t join them. She created a clone of herself and walked outside of the bubble when no one was watching she thought. They couldn’t see outside of the illusion, but they still knew what she was going to do.

“Todd Sir how’s your practice going so far? Have you got the right amount of magic worked out”? Sky said watching him tap the heavy bag. He didn’t answer her just shook his no. Sky watched him perform a roundhouse kick just touching the heavy bag, then reversed to a spin kick to hit the other side just as lightly. He even had more grace and fluid motion than Fred which impressed her greatly. “Todd, what degree master are you? You move efficiently and have quite a lot of control even with your new strength.”

Todd smiled maybe this is where he could knock Sky down a bit from her high pony. No one knew he almost tested as a grandmaster in the Imperial Martial Arts. He had a feeling that it was rigged and he should have passed, but there was only one place you could go to get tested. “I went quite far in my training, and I’m good I guess, I failed my last test though and couldn’t advance any further. Have you started your basic martial arts training yet? I could teach you some if you don’t have to go back to help my crew out anymore”? Todd replied nonchalant, trying to sound impassive and looking over to the group in the bubble still seeing four of them. “Are you here or in there because you can be into two places, can you”? Todd was thinking if she says “yes I can” I’m going to flip.

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Sky smiled. “Oh, that one is just a shell, it’s got nothing inside. I don’t think they can see or feel the difference. So, we’re good out here we can see in; they can’t see outside of the bubble.” Sky had an idea Todd was holding back, so she opted to do the same. She wanted him to trust her and didn’t want him upset with her. She might even let him win if he tries hard enough if they spared. “Fred and I had a couple of lessons, and I did well in my training. If you want, I could use some more training. There is an old saying, the biggest room in the universe is the room for improvement. I’m all about learning if you ask my mommy and daddy. They say I’m a sponge for knowledge and food.” Sky said walking closer to him stopping a few steps away. She stood straight and bowed at the hip. “Todd, would you be willing to teach me more in the ways of martial arts”? Sky did not come up from the bow until Todd answered her.

Todd looked at the tiny girl before him who was probably the most powerful magic user ever and still willing to bow to someone inferior to herself. He could not hold his dislike of her attitude towards his ears. He knew that it was not done to hurt or to belittle him. It was just how she felt from her limited wisdom do to her young and sheltered life. Todd could only smile “Yes I’m willing to teach if you’re serious about learning the Imperial Martial Arts. But you’ll have to tell me how far you’ve got in your training so far”? Sky stood straight hearing him say yes.

Now Sky was going to have to tell him about how much she knew, which was pretty much all of it. “I know enough to start sparing with Fred and Joe. In this room, right now you can move faster than you could before and not notice. Maybe after once or twice you’ve been in here for more than a few minutes. If you were to watch a recording of yourself while you were punching and kicking the heavy bag all you would have seen is a blur. Training in this room can be extremely fast. Plus, I have a special bubble I can place around you that lets me see all around you at once. So, I can be an almost perfect student if you let me cast it.” Sky said trying in vain to keep a smile off her face.

“So, you’ve spared with Fred and Joe, did you win”? Todd wondered just what this tiny girl could do.

“No, I only JUST beat Fred. I didn’t beat Joe. Don’t forget in this room now there is only a slight difference in strength. So, it’s more about how well you move and what you know. Right now, I’m just a little stronger than you. Please don’t think I’m trying to brag; I’m just saying what I believe is true. If you doubt could you lift the heavy bag without any effort before.” Sky hoped he would still train her.

Todd thought about the way it was super easier to destroy the heavy bag now and that he had all five gifts right now. “Before we start and you cast your, could you show me what it looks like, the spell you want to put on me.” Todd wanted to know how Sky hide her spells. He gazed upon her expectantly hoping she would agree.

Sky thought about his request and wasn’t sure if she wanted to reveal so much to him. “I can show you, but it’s different than any other spell or incantation you’ve ever seen before. You’ve got to trust me that I’ve used the spell successfully four times. The first-time Fred didn’t even notice; I asked permission as I did you, but I never gave him any indication I cast it. I didn’t want him distracted trying to see if he felt the spell.” Sky held up her hand, and a ball of spell circles appeared.

Todd couldn’t make out any of the spells just the tiny spell circle. “Could you make it big enough I can see them. I can’t even see the structure of the spell let alone what magic they require.” Todd watched as the spell grew and like he first assumed it wasn’t one axis point but all of them. He frownd as he studied the spells seen that they were to converge into one. Todd read in his recent magical studies some mages with wild theories of such spells that ordinary MAD devices couldn’t handle such complex spells and had to be done by separate mages to achieve such a spell but was extremely hard to coordinate and many times lost great deals of magic in the process. Large pocket space spells were such spells but only worked Y axis. Todd marvelled at the spells complexity and wondered how many years it took to come up with the spell. He couldn’t make out much of the circles in the spells when it stopped expanding. “Why did you stop the expansion of the spells? I still can’t make any of it to get the way it works. It must have taken years to put these spells together.” Todd said to Sky not taking his eyes away from the spells until he heard her speak. He heard the words clearly, but he couldn’t comprehend what she was talking about. “Could you repeat that for me I don’t think I heard your words quite right”?

“I said Todd Sir it’s about to hit the bubble were the crew is in. I don’t know what spells they will try, and it might activate one of the spills in these arrays. As for how long it took to come up with this spell, a couple of minutes I guess. It’s a little more complex due to the fact I didn’t want spent magic spilling out and the aliens tracking it. Plus, if you can see or feel it’s there, it may distract you some from the reason it was made.” Sky repeated hoping he was paying attention enough the second time. He seemed to get more upset the more she spoke.

Todd gave her a look of what seemed like disdain. “You’re kidding me right; it took you a couple of minutes to work out this spell. Are you being serious or just playing me for space dust”? He walked straight up to her towering over her tiny form glaring down at her. “How can I take you seriously if you can’t tell a simple truth? All you’re doing is spinning tales of fantasies standing on someone else’s greatness.” Todd had no idea where she got the spell from, but it wasn’t hers’ he was sure of it.

Sky looked him right in the eyes, not in the least intimidated and smirked. “Your right it didn’t take me a couple of minutes it was more like seconds. If you doubt my abilities search through all your spells on your MAD device and see how many were modified since you got here. I modified them while half my body felt like it was burning. Mind you more were simple spells hardly any over six tiers high. Look you’ll see that I’m not lying, I don’t lie to make myself look good or anyone to feel horrible. I lied to you to make it seem possible. Minutes to me would be like days to you it not what I can do; it’s what I am. It is my racial heritage that gives me my abilities to think quickly. So, before you go jumping to conclusions look at facts.” Sky retorted to Todd’s allegations. She could see Todd’s agitation at the fact he was not intimidating her even slightly. She saw no reason to be frustating him further and stopped talking.

Todd looked down into the tiny girls’ eyes and seen no fear at all. She had a lot of guts to stand up to him that’s for sure. He took a step back, and she did the same matching him. The spell she was showing him faded away. He did as she suggested and checked the updates. The entire inside of the wrist tablet was new. The software was new too. He checked the spells that were updated in the last four hours and almost all of them were done at the time during her battle with the aliens. He checked some of the more frequent spells he used. The ones he knew like the back of his hand, a few he modified himself and only shared with his crew. The ranged punch he had been one he changed and was proud to have could improve something everyone thought was perfected over a hundred years ago, the spell he was looking at was just a little different than before. He studied the spell, and it used all the elements he possesses. Looking closer this one could give the punch an extra kick with fire, lightning, or air. The spell also seemed to use less magic than before. Every spell he checked was different a little, to totally different. “How did you do that, change so many spells at once”? Now he was surprised at her gift not as angry. This tiny little girl’s got more magic talent in her little finger than a room full of grand mages. Todd thought to himself as he appraised her. She was smiling; she had won her case. She had a special understanding of magic and the way it works. He was going to learn all he could from her and in return teach her martial arts. So, it was going to be an equal trade. “Okay let’s say I believe you and can cast that spell, but only cast it on me too.”

Sky nodded he head gleefully. “I cast it on Fred before we sparred and he didn’t like it. He said it was too confusing for him to see me from so many different angles.” Sky wanted to say she could watch over a dozen at once with no difficulty, but Todd might think she was bragging. “So, I’ll cast it on you then onto myself for you to see. I don’t think even your modified MAD device could handle the spell. We’ve got to be quick Jane wants to show you some of the new spells her able to do since she is free to use all the elements right now. They’ve fined turned their magic from a trickle to a raging flow. Todd turned to see Heather burn away Courtney’s uniform right off her body and the fire charred not even her hair. Once the flame stopped the uniform appeared like it was when she walked in. Courtney retaliated with burning her clothes away then blasting her with water so her clothes couldn’t reappear. Just as the transition went from flames to water, the bubble turned opaque. Sky turned to Todd. “You didn’t need to see that; now I think we have a little more time. Are you ready to see me from a thousand different angles each angle you can zoom in and out as much as you want”? Todd nodded his head that he was ready.

Todd braced himself closed his eyes, and it didn’t matter even with his eyes closed he could still see a thousand different angles of Sky. He started to get a headache instantly. His brain couldn’t comprehend full vision times a thousand each one slightly different than the next. Todd stumbled to his knees, and his regular sight came back instantly. “How can you look at so many different images at once? I got a headache instantly, and you can watch and manipulate them all at once”? Todd said getting up off his knees with Sky’s tiny offered hand. He pulled on it to see just how strong she was. There was no give to her arm as he pulled himself up.

“Yes, I can like I said before it is part of my racial heritage, not a talent or a gift. It’s something my people can do as we grow up to do thousands of things at once.” Sky wanted to hug Todd but she was afraid he wasn’t the hugging type. She smiled at him as he released her hand. Sky said something and his headache was gone. “I’m ready for my lesson unless you want to spar to see where I stand in my training? Or do you want me to go through the katas to show you what I know”? Sky said with a smile tilting her head back to look up at him. She felt strange now that she knew it would be completely different had she be in her true Titan form. Knowing she would be over forty metres tall made her smile even more.

Todd found her smile contagious and smiled back. “Let’s see you do the katas you know? Don’t worry if you forget any of it. I’ll correct you after each kata you’ve made a mistake on.” Todd stood back and called out begin. Todd watched in awl from the first kata to the last. Each kata she performed her pace quickened till almost her whole body snapped as she moved and he could keep up as she performed them flawlessly. Her movements flowed like an eagle on a summer’s breeze; but made a kitten look as ferocious as a dragon. Todd saw no mistake even as closely as he watched. What was he going to teach her in return? Todd found a secret book of ancient martial arts and was written over a thousand years ago, by Bruce Jee or Bruce Lee depending on who you ask. It was a style called Jeet Kune Do. He could teach her what he could make out of the old text he kept in a stasis field.

“Sky I’m going to show you a very old technique since you seem to know the Imperial Martial Arts a passible level,” Todd told Sky. But what he left out, it was at a grand master’s level. He’s never seen anyone perform the katas back to back so gracefully and yet seem so deadly. I haven’t perfected the movements, but I’ll show you what I know.” As Todd took his stance, Sky stood in front of him taking the same pose. As Todd move Sky mirrored him perfectly right down to the spacing of his fingers. Watching her was too distracting, and he tuned her out and went through the movements not watching what she was doing. When he was finished, He asked her to do it again by herself. She had the same fluid motions as before, but they didn’t quite match what he showed her, they looked better, but they stiil weren’t the same.

Sky listened to Todd say that he was going to show her the famous actor Bruce Lee’s martial arts Jeet Kune Do. She felt her heart flutter she had watched every film she could on him and only found five. It was a shame she couldn’t find more. One was not a movie but part of a training vid with almost a full kata she had memorized. She took the same stance as Todd and went through the movements. His movements weren’t like in the vid but very close. He must not have seen the vid to make some of the mistakes he made. She was going to have to show him the vid when they had time and maybe the movies too with everyone. When Todd finished and asked her to show him what he did. She decided to show him what she could from the vid, then what Todd finished it where the vid left off. It surprised her she almost had the whole thing. Sky went through the original first Jeet Kune Do kata the way the founder did it but had to finish the way Todd did it.

Todd clapped his hands feeling better; she wasn’t perfect after all. She even made a few mistakes, and got some completely wrong and even added some of her own parts. “You did pretty well for your first time through. But this is not something you can adlib and tweak like a spell. These are motions I studied year in a manual with a few other very experienced martial artists. You can’t just change something like this on your own. Now let’s go through it again.” Todd was really happy that she wasn’t perfect after all. He had thought she makes mistakes like everyone else right till Sky held up her hand. “Yes, Sky what is it”?

“Sorry to interrupt you Sensei Todd Sir. But I have an actual vid of Bruce Lee performing almost the whole kata. My kata was about Ninety to ninety-seven present accurate until the last few movements, which is where the vid left off.” Sky told Todd with a blush. “Bruce Lee was the reason why I asked Fred to teach me martial arts.” Sky couldn’t believe the look in Todd’s eyes. She thought it would have been anything but excitement.

“You have an original vid of Bruce Lee performing a kata in Jeet Kune Do. Was that what you showed me just now? I got most of it right and I was guessing at some of it, the manual was pretty beaten up.” Todd approached Sky taking her hand and going on to his knees to make them more eye to eye. “Could you show me the vid and anything else you have on Bruce Lee, that’s his real name right “?

Sky was taken back by his change of attitude towards her. Now she seemed his best friend. “I’ll share the five vids of Bruce Lee if you share your manual with me? Maybe together we can put together the whole Jeet Kune Do style as it was over a thousand years ago, wouldn’t that be something knowing a now ancient martial arts style. I bet we would be part of a very small group of people to know it. Isn’t it exciting we get to Kung foo fighting”? Sky was so happy she hugged Todd and she didn’t care if he liked it or not it was just her nature to hug people when she was happy.

‘What’s with this tiny thing hugging a giant like me for’? Todd thought to himself. ‘Does this girl have no fear’? “Alright, alright that’s enough of the hugging young lady. We can watch the vids later. We’ve only about ten minutes left before the briefing. Do you still want to spar a little before we go to get ready”? Todd asked Sky. She answered him YES, a little too quickly for his comfort. She had told him she had just beat Fred and they weighed about the same. ‘Fred has more muscle, but I’m taller by a little bit.’ Todd thought

Sky performed two backward flips she bowed to him and took a fighting stance. “Are you ready Sensei Todd Sir? Don’t forget you can’t get killed or even seriously injured for long, so don’t hold back I won’t, much.”

Looking at the tiny girl, I called out “ready.” She disappeared on a flash she was inside my guard punching me in the lower abdomen sending me back a couple of metres (six feet). I had a feeling she held back too. I felt a bit of pain then nothing. Before I could react, she was in my guard again this time I managed to sidestep the blow, but I missed judged her and grabbed my left arm spun around and bared my arm in a lock with her legs. I was about to tap when I felt a little pain, and she released my arm. She was faster than I thought possible. I had a feeling she was allowing me to get used to my new strength and speed.

Sky watched Todd, and he wasn’t used to the speed quite yet I had to show him how fast he could move. Fred and Joe could work up to the incredible speed as equals. She had to wait for him to catch up. He was getting into it but time was running out. Jane, Courtney and Heather were going to walk out of the bubble to show Todd what they could do with all five elements. Sky slowed a little and made a tiny mistake allowing him to grab her arm and twist behind her back. She could have gotten out of it easily enough. But Jane and Courtney came out first and spotting Todd holding her in an arm lock.

Jane walked over. “I thought it was strange you tried to sneak off to join Todd. So, who got the idea of sparring without us”? Jane turned to see the bubble fade leaving Heather and another Sky standing facing each other. Todd let go of Sky’s arm, and she did a flip with a spin to land facing Jane and Courtney, who walk to join them.

The Sky that was fighting with Todd spoke when Jane heard the soft thump of Sky landing before her. “So, you want to spar with us a little we don’t have much time though. Well, there are six of us pick one and start sparring. Sky was a little disappointed when Jane choose to spar with Todd saying it was three years since they sparred last. She couldn’t argue with that, and then Heather paired with Courtney. Sky felt left out until she realized if she sparred with herself no one could get hurt and she could go all out.

Jane and Todd quickly got into their old routine of trading punishing blow even more so because of the little difference in strength. Todd was the better fighter and had the speed and not far off from the skills department. She just never cared for the grading system, so she never went to get her level tested after she became proficient enough. She still trained hard but only to satisfy herself.

Heather and Courtney were both whirlwinds of kicks and punches. They had a gracefulness and the skill most fighters would envy they could press Jane even Todd in a sparring match when it came to speed. It was just Todd’s and Jane’s kicks, and punches were harder and wore the two out quicker. They were going to have to try either Todd or Jane in this room because physical injury heals instantly, so it had no influence on the fight.

The two Sky’s charged each other, jumping with a flying kick. The soles of their boot exploded on contact, and before they hit the ground, they’re back in one piece. The blows they traded sounded like a thunderstorm. Neither Sky wanted to lose to the other. Armbars or leg locks all ended with something getting broken. The fight they were having was getting more and more intricate in their movement. Soon the others stopped sparring to watch in awl at the two Sky’s battle. It was if physical fighting wasn’t enough, they had to start with magic too. Soon kicks were followed by a ball of fire or a punch with arcs of electricity. Blasts of air would send one of the two Skys rocketing across the room with her landing on the wall and push the other to the opposite side of the room. Frequently one of the spectators was knock off their feet by deflected blows of wind. Flips, spins, and cartwheels were used often. Fire, lightning and blasts of air, if they were in the right location earth and water would have also been used.

The fight ended just as suddenly and only because their time was up and they had to get ready for the mission briefing. The others all watched with eyes big as saucers as one Sky pulled the other into her body, and jogged forwards a little out of breath as if she was out for a quick run.

Sky looked at the new crew members and wondered if they thought she was a monster now. She just proved to Todd that she was taking it easy on him and that he didn’t stand a chance at beating her. What she was expecting were nervousness and apprehension. What she got was cheers and applauds from everyone in the room. She was so surprized they liked watching her fight herself.

Todd jogged up to her. “That fight was unbelievable. I never saw anything so intense in all my life, live or on vids. Your skill level is almost untouchable. I hope to train with you more, and when we get some time we can go over that manual. I judged you wrong, and I’m sorry, I thought you as a brat with a lot of power and liked to show off. You like people and your power shows you off.” Todd patted on her back with a huge smile. “You can be on my crew any day.” Before Sky could respond Todd was pushed aside by Courtney and Heather.

“You were so star-blazing I can’t believe the way you used so many different spells one after the other while fighting with your fists and if didn’t see it or get knocked down by the odd deflected spell. I couldn’t even feel any of the casted spells you two threw at each other. I felt no magic being used that pretty impressive in itself.” Courtney hugged Sky. “If you want to spar with me just let me know, and Heather and I will be there in a heartbeat if we’re free”?

Heather hugged Sky also. “For such a tiny girl, you sure can move. Todd was right I have never seen moves like that even in fiction movies. You’re like my new action hero. You’ve got to show us how we can do magic like you and still fight as intense as you just did.”

Jane was last; she slid her arm under Sky’s. “You are so full of surprises. I never knew you took martial arts. You must have been studying since you were around two or something to get that good. Here I thought you were a one trick horsey. Only to find out you can do magic like no other but fight the same way.” Jane leaned over and gave Sky a sisterly kiss on the cheek.

Sky was almost in tears; she was so happy the new crew seemed to get along with her as well as Fred and Joe. “I will happily try and show you how I do can use Magic and fight at the same time. But I think it’s more to do with what I am, than who I am. Even if you can’t cast spells and fight, you’ll be more likely to be able to cast spells in more um, intense situations. The fighting, I watched a lot of vids with fighting but never tried doing it. I took gymnastic ballet when I was two and three years old. The martial art I just learned a couple of days ago,”

Jane gave her a one-armed hug. “That means your even more special doesn’t it guys? Never think you’re a monster if you have true friends and a family who loves you. If you want, we can go for tea and get ready for the briefing if we hurry.” Jane grabbed Sky’s hand and went to pull her along like an older sister dragging her home.

Sky stopped and turned to the group following them. I must remind you once we leave the room everything goes back to the way it was. So, after we go through the doorway, it all stops, and Jane and I can hurt you unintentional again easily at least till I can undo the spells around her. Which I’ll do gladly free of charge once I figure out how to do it safely.” Sky gave Jane’s hand a squeeze of reassurance while telling them.

They walked through the doorway and felt like they lost a tiny piece of themselves. Sky lost a connection she had with her crew members. Todd was the first to break the silence. “I think we should watch the old vids in the practice room so we can try some of the moves we see performed. I would also like to watch Sky perform the kata alongside Bruce Lee. I think that would be amazing to see and maybe we can after studying the manual finish the kata with CGI.” Todd sounded like a kid with a sugar rush, all smiles. They all said yes to that and thought it was a great idea. They would get together when the time presents itself.

The ladies decided to grab a quick shower before the briefing. Once in the showers, Sky’s age made itself know, and while not alone anymore she was still different than the other girls. Jane picked up on Sky’s mood and confronted her. “I think I know what’s bothering you right now, but it’s something you have got to wait for. Only time can change you, little sis. We all were where you are now and other than appearance, it’s still just more flesh in different places, that make us different. So, don’t go all self-conscience on us and finish your shower. The briefing starts in ten.” Jane said about to slap her on the back and hesitated then slapped her. She remembered while outside of the practice room, Sky was the only one she could touch without even a possibility of injuring her.

“Thank Jane ma’am; I did feel a little down because of feeling small around you guys especially you Courtney and Heather, you’re so much bigger than me. Next to you two, I feel so small. If it weren’t for my butt, I would be flat as a board.

Jane, Courtney and Heather chuckled at Sky’s reference of a wooden plank, somethings never change. Jane ushered Sky to get towelled off. “Your nine-years-old I didn’t develop till I was twelve and even then, look at the difference between myself and the magic twins. Jane motioned to Courtney and Heather's upper endowments with her hand. “I guess I didn’t drink enough milk when I was young.”

Courtney looked to Heather and laughed. “Milk or anything else has nothing to do with these when we were kids, we were lucky to get two meals a day, two days in a row. We were the ones to bring the food for the other orphans when the house mothers gambled the food money away.” Heather hugged Courtney to comfort her when she started to shake from the memories.

Heather wanted to get her minds off their past, so she brought up their futures. “The briefing is in a few minutes; we’ve got to get ready for the meeting soon.” She grabbed Courtney arm and pulled her to their quarters, waving to their neighbours. “We’ll see you in five.” With that’s said the door slid shut after they cleared the doorway.

Sky grabbed a bottle of water and poured it into a metal cup her daddy left behind for heating. She focused on the fire element and the water boiled instantly. She placed two fresh leaves into the teapot, after she poured the scalding water over the leaves too steep. Jane was half dressed by the time Sky started. While Sky was dressing, Jane went to pour the tea. She had a feeling something was different with this fine tea set. When I came to her, she almost dropped the teapot. It was fine china very delicate pieces of art, and it wasn’t being crushed by her strength. Sky smile at the puzzled look on her face. With her shirt half buttoned she picked up a teacup with her little finger in the air, she took a dainty slip, batted her eyelashes and made a contemplating face. “The tea is quite scrumptious if I don’t say so myself.” They both laughed at Sky’s attempt to mimic an aristocrat woman.

Jane was fully dressed and was putting up her surprisingly long hair. “Finish getting dressed, and I’ll help you with your hair then we’ll have the tea.” Jane watched Sky’s hair move on its own while she finished buttoning her shirt. The braiding was different but very bit intricate as it was before. Jane couldn’t believe how easy she did it while not even looking in a mirror. “I guess you’ve been doing that for a long time to be able to do it so well. Could you do my hair too I’ve never had a fancy hairstyle like that before”?

Sky was pulling on the boots and said okay to Jane only giving her the briefest smile. Jane turned her back to Sky, and she felt her hair being moved. Sky walked by not seeming to pay attention after hanging her towel and facecloth she turned around to see Jane kind of upset. Sky gave her a questioning look.

Jane pointed to her hair. “Aren’t you going to finish with my hair? We don’t have much time left”? Sky smiled and handed Jane a thick rubber covered hand mirror her had since she was four. Jane’s face flash with three expressions, frustration, shock and glee. Her hair was now a work of art. Thick braids came down from the front halfway down her ears and made their way to a single braid that coiled its way into a bun held by no apparent means. “It beautiful, how long did it take you to learn to style your hair”?

“I’ve just started doing it with magic when we first made it into space, and I became part of the crew.” Magic makes things so much easier, doesn’t it? To think of how many things, I could have done if they knew how I would have turned out. But who’s to say how different I would have turned out if I knew of magic from an early age. The power I had and if I unleashed it at the slightest provocation could have been devastating.” Sky pondered while finishing her tea. She looked towards the ready room. Jane followed her eyes seeing only the door. “Jane ma’am I think they’re waiting for us, we’re not late, but everyone’s already at the briefing table and have virtual files in front of them.

“I just wish I could have had more time to enjoy the tea,” Jane said tipping the teacup back trying to get the last drop. “Ensign Sky what can’t you do with magic. Looking through walls seems to be pretty handy.” Jane got up and followed Sky out the door. They quickly made their way to the ready room for the mission briefing.