Chapter Two

Enter the Aliens

“I don’t know what we can do about the aliens, but we’ll help any way possible,” Fred said trying to take charge and be the captain he is. “Alright anyone knows of any spells that can transcend dimensions we’ve got one nuke and a whole lot of rocks to throw. They are anywhere from one metre (3 ft.) to around one hundred metres (328 ft.) and my guess if we need bigger or smaller it’s not a problem. Ideas anyone”? Fred was surprised at the rooms size. Everyone but her parents were there; luckily the room was made bigger not two hours before.

“How do these aliens attack? Do they have to come into our dimension to attack us”? Todd asked Fred or anyone with answers.

Conny answered. “We’re not sure how they do it, but they found a way to syphon off magic spent magic or not. The last attack they were not in our dimension and so far, Sky is the only target. They pull the magic from her well fast enough to cause complete magic burn in seconds.”

The new crew looked at Sky. Jane held on to Sky hand. Is there anything we can do to help? We are all pretty powerful mages and trained fighters; we’ve got to be able to do something”?

Sky turned to Fred. “Captain Fred Sir. Can I be team leader for my defence I have an idea but I’ll need full cooperation from everyone if I’m going to attack and defend.”

Fred considered what she said. So far no one has come up with any ideas. “Okay, Sky since it’s for your defence. I’ll get you lead command.” Fred knew everyone heard Sky’s question and Fred’s answer, but he addressed everyone all the same. “Everyone till this attack is over Sky second in command, understood”? There was a unanimous, “yes Sir.”

Todd asked Sky. “Your orders Sir?” he was standing tall followed by everyone. Todd seemed a little reluctant to have her as his commander. He would have followed Fred’s orders and in doing so Sky’s.

Sky was about to answer when she felt the attack and froze from the almost instant pain of fire swallowing her entire body. Todd waited and thought maybe command was too much for her. She managed to croak out. “Joe Sir please cast the healing spell as quickly as possible and keep casting them.” Joe with no further orders he cast one healing spell after another. Incredible waves of spent magic washed over them. Soon Sky regained some of her control. “Okay that’s better, Conny see if you can locate the alien ship let us know verbally if you find it. Todd, Jane, Courtney, Heather, I’m going to have upgrade whatever you use for your MAD devices. Which of you have the best and up to date model”?

Jane brought up her wrist device first. “I thought I broke it before I got here, but it’s perfectly fine now.” Sky held out one of her hands; the other one was pinching the bridge of her nose. Jane placed her wrist tablet in her hand.

“Does everyone like Jane MAD device because you are all going to have one just like it? But about a hundred times better. And I’ll try and not to put an avatar on it that looks like me.”

Jane spoke up first again. “We all have the same type just different spells on them.” Sky smiled at that. “Alright, that makes things some much easier. Pulled a footlocker into the centre of the room and sat down holding Jane’s wrist tablet. Everyone but Joe watched Sky tapped the side of the device, and a shock passed through her finger scorching the covering. Sky looked around as if in another world. Every so often she would tap it again discolouring it more. Sky got up a little uneasy, placing the tablet down and held her hand over it. No one, but Fred and Joe knew what she had just done. Now they knew why to bridge console had to be repainted. She handed the device back to Jane. “I’m finished, I would like you to stand opposite of Conny and start up the dimensional alien detection spell, feed some magic into it. If you find the aliens let me know where and what dimension they’re in.” Sky turned to Todd. “Could you show me you’re MAD”? Sky smiled weakly and touched his device. It sparked, and the screen went dark. Todd looked shocked at the loss of his MAD device. Before he could voice any dismay, the screen flickered back on. Other than the scorch marks on it looked the same to him till he saw the new spells. Just about all of the spells he looked at were at least three times as complex as before. “Todd, could you start scanning below the ship and call out if you locate the alien ship as soon as you do. I’ll take it from there. I’ve got a nasty surprise for them.”

Sky Turned to Courtney and Heather. Without being asked they held out their wrist with their MAD device. She touched the device one at a time. They smoked and flickered off, and they waited, nothing happened. They looked up from the device to see Sky stager.

Heather put her hand under Sky’s arm to support her. Sky smiled. “Thanks, give me a second.” She took a deep breath and wave of power passed through her, and she stood straighter. “Okay sorry about that. Your MAD devices should be upgraded now. Courtney, could you start scanning overhead and call out any sign of the alien ship. Heather, I need you to get a gold tome for each of your elemental affinities and that of your teammates from Fred. Just be mindful of the tops that are your elemental affinities they may have frosting. Place them on their backs and run your finger from the elemental symbol to the bottom.”

Heather shook her head. “I’ve used tomes before, and that’s not how they work. Don’t worry baby I can handle them. It’s not my first rodeo.”

“Oh, so you’ve used gold tomes before? Here I thought I invented them just today. So, since I made them, you should know how they work and can’t possibly activate them by mistake and release all the magic in them at once. There is enough magical energy to fry your teammates alive with over ten times what they normally hold. So, if you want to help them, you will do as I ask, please. I don’t have the patience or time to be pleasant right now. Joe is casting healing spells to keep the magic burn down from my chest to my waist. I’ll say I’m sorry for being so blunt after we get rid of alien things.”

Todd called out “Directly above us theses a ship circling us just outside the area I’m scanning. I think they can sense the scanner spells. What do you want to do”? Todd looked away from the scanning briefly to see Sky’s reaction. She saw a wicked grim her hoped ever to see pointed at him.

“Good work Todd Sir. Just keep scanning as if you didn’t pick them up. Okay, Heather let me know when everyone has the tomes on them. I would be faster if help but I can only touch one person, and I’m not sure if she would mind a stranger touching her back.” Sky looked over to Jane who kept up the scanning as not to make them suspicious. Jane spared a single glance.

“Sky were going to be roommates scratching my back is going to be one of your new jobs. I outrank you; you know that right. So, get the tomes and slap them on.” Sky couldn’t see the smile, but she knew it was there she could feel it. Heather had a hand full of tomes, and there was a blast of magical energy.

“Fred Sir. Could I get a fire, lightning, air, and water tome”? Sky asked low enough no one else could hear and held out her hand.

Fred had a puzzled look on her face, and Sky just grinned nodding her head. “I hope you know what you’re doing”?

“Fred Sir. I would like to know if you could take the rest of the tomes and throw them out an airlock so I can use them on the outside. I’m going to need all the help I can get, and one more with four gifts will do it. Plus, I’m.” She paused to get her thought in order. “OOW, those stupid aliens are greedy. I’m going to have to start soon. Please hurry it seems there is a second phase to magic burn.” With no further hesitation, Fred cast a healing spell and ran to the nearest airlock and jettisoned the magic tomes. They were probably worth more than a small habitable planet. He ran casting another healing spell before he started back.

Coming back through the door, he cast another healing spell and Sky seemed to straighten. She had the back of Jane’s shirt up and had three of the tomes placed. “Jane you’re going to feel something different wash over you. Don’t panic it will be alright.” Sky reached around Jane’s torso from behind and hugged her.

Jane feel joy like no other; she felt truly happy for the first time since her change. There was another feeling almost like an extra something in herself. What else confused her was Sky placing the fourth tome on her back. “Okay everyone you’re going to feel something shift around you but doesn’t worry. I’m also going to let you see the space around you. I’ll start with the ceiling where the aliens are and continue around the room till the floor is invisible. I’ll mark where the ship is with a light orb around it. Your MAD tablets will have a telekinetic spell on it. Soon you will have magic bombs to hurl at them.” Everyone kept up the pretence of searching. A circle formed on the ceiling and it spread with surprising speed. Soon the whole ceiling wasn’t there, and a light globe was circling from above.

Okay I'll get out the rocks and arm them. This is where it’s going to feel swirly. Hold on to your tummies it’s going to be rough.” Sky opened her bag of rocks and started to bring them out. Everyone but Fred and Joe froze and stared at the various round spheres coming from under the invisible ship. As they rose from under their feet, gold tomes floated and stuck to the spheres. “Activate the spell and grab a sphere and get ready. When I grab onto the alien ship start throwing the rocks at them. I’ll make sure they go into the right dimension and hit them or cling to the ones they can go into. Once they can’t shift into another dimension, I’ll hit them with the coup de grace, the nuke.” Sky reached for the ship, and it stopped from moving. “Now start throwing rocks, you have to be close I can guide them in around it. I don’t think I can hold it long hurry.” Sky looked around, and she didn’t notice that everyone was on their knees before.

Fred and Joe were still casting healing spells as they got to their feet. Fred went to Todd and helped him up, and Joe helped up Heather. Once Todd was on his feet he activated the spell on his MAD tablet. Fred went and helped up Courtney. Jane got up on her own and activated the spell.

Todd was the first one to pluck one of the huge rocks and hurled it towards the ship. It was off by quite a bit, but it still veered towards the ship. Sky looked back to Todd with a smile. “Try and be a little closer and give me something to work with and make it easier.” Heathers throw was just as bad but veered towards the ship all the same. Courtney was having problems just grasping the spheres. Jane was in the same boat as Courtney. This wasn’t going quite like she planned the ship was going to get free if she didn’t get the thing going faster. “Okay let me show you how to do it.” Sky said looking away from the ship she was holding. Everyone looked to her, Fred and Joe had an idea of what was going to happen. Sky stepped out from herself, and the new Sky shuttered slightly. “Hay this body doesn’t burn.” She went over to Todd and stepped into him. Fred and Joe never saw this happen before.

“Todd, just relax and feel how it’s done. Relax I’m not going to hurt anything, think happy thoughts. Much better.” He heard her in his mind.

Todd didn’t know what to say when he gave in and let Sky take control of his body. It almost felt like he was doing it from a memory that he knew he never had. It was not his memory but Sky’s. He reached out with confidence plucked one of the rocks went into a pitcher’s pose drawing back his arm. When he threw the rock, it streaked across space to the alien’s ship striking it dead centre. Todd smiled. “And that ladies and gentlemen is how you throw a rock.” Sky stepped out from Todd, and he felt somewhat empty for a second. But he still remembered how to throw which he did quickly. Soon he was throwing as fast as he could move.

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Sky walked over to Heather, and she stepped back. “Please help Courtney or Jane first I can wait. Sky turned, and Courtney pointed to Jane. Jane had just managed to grab her first sphere. Sky walked to her. “Let me help you”? Jane was still feeling woozy from all the spheres coming from the pocket space. Jane nodded her head. “Sure, if you could help Todd like that I’m game. Just don’t go snooping around in there a lady needs her secrets.” Sky smile and stepped into her. Jane felt a warmth spread inside her and she felt confident and held the rock with ease. Just like Todd she drew back and threw the rock and struck the ship. Even with all the impacts, it seemed little damage was done. Jane couldn’t understand why she found this so difficult at first it wasn’t like she never did this she thrown rocks before at leaves in a pond and this was no different. It struck her then these weren’t her memories they must be Sky’s. The memories left her warm inside; she was loved and wanted. Sky stepped out of Jane and smiled at her. Jane didn’t move for a second and locked eye with Sky smiling.

“Heather, Courtney don’t be a newbie and be afraid of a shadow, you might even like it,” Jane said grabbing at another sphere throwing it with deadly accuracy.

Heather put up her hands “Come here Sky I’ll sample your wares what harm could it do”? Sky walked straight into her smiling and Heather felt something spread throughout her body and all the tension left she felt like she could take on the world. She reached for a rock and flicked it at the ship and hitting it with considerable force. The strike was nowhere near what Todd and Jane were doing. With a slight blush, she grabbed another rock and threw it like a major-league pitcher with great effect. Sky stepped out from her body, and some of the feelings left, but the knowledge to throw with telekinesis remained at least.

Courtney looked to Heather as if to ask how it was. Heather laughed “I’m not complaining.” She answered the implied question. She turned back and hurled another sphere.

Sky walked up to Courtney “It won’t hurt. I promise just relax, and I’ll show you what you need to know.” Courtney spread her arms as if waiting for an embrace and Sky walked in, instantly she felt lighter like a load was lifted from her shoulders. She felt like she knew so much and had no limits. She almost forgot about the battle and looked around at the possibilities. From within a voice said. “Focus at the job at hand.” She snatched a rock feeling the weight, but it felt light, but it was probably over one hundred tonnes. She drew back like she did thousands of time and threw the rock with pinpoint accuracy, hitting the alien ship. Sky stepped out from Courtney and most of the sensations left with her. The feeling and knowing how to throw the rocks stayed, and she had a feeling she forgot so much. She still felt pride in how well she could throw now. Sky went and stepped into the Sky holding the ship.

Heather was the first to feel a burn down in her toes then it went away just seconds later. When she grabbed another sphere, she felt it shoot up to her ankle then it went away. Courtney felt the burn next then Todd and then Jane last. It wasn’t long before the magic didn’t work; they were out of magic.

Sky seeing the rocks stop coming let go of the ship. She turned to the group behind her. “It’s a good thing I put away my tea set. Joe I’m going to throw the last rock you might want to put up a shield.” The new crew looked at one another confused why he was warned and not them. They tried putting up a shield like Joe just had but couldn’t. Before they could say anything in protest Sky pulled back and threw the last rock at the ship. The wind from Sky’s throw blew around in the small room, and something thudded against Joe's shield. There was a bright flash as the magic tomes released the magic they held all at once turning all the rocks around the ship to liquid. Sky formed a ball around the ship before space solidified the liquid. The battle was over, and Sky collapsed to the invisible floor shortly after the invisible room became visible once more.

Jane gently picked up Sky and turned to Joe who had two pillows at his feet. Jane was confused at the smile Fred and Joe had. Jane looked down at Sky unconscious face. “I’m taking her to the med-bay and get the treatment started. She must need magic now after using so much.” Jane thought for a second. I didn’t activate the tomes on my back I could give them to her. What elemental affinity is she, she’s got to have at least three”?

Fred looked at Jane holding Sky’s limp sleeping body. “How many gold stacks did you see her give me? Think about how you make a magic tome of replenishment”? Fred said raising an eyebrow with a smirk on his lips. Joe just about burst into laughter at the face Jane made and the rest of her crew.

“Take off all the tomes then and give them to her. I don’t need them; she does.” Heather pulled the back of her shirt up to have four blank tomes fall.

Heather picked up the blank tomes and passed them to Jane. “They’re used up, and we didn’t feel then activate at all how that is possible? I’ve used tomes like that before, and you always feel the surge when they activate, and those were orange ones.” It’s impossible to do that; no one can do that smoothly.”

Fred walked over to Heather and pointed at Sky. “What is impossible is telling her not to eat a lot of food after a battle, now that impossible. Tell me did you ever see a mage split and enter another person’s body to teach them something. Have you ever seen a mage touch a MAD device and update it with no prepared spells in advance? Think about this did you see here use any tech while she was casting? The sphere you used was about half of what she collected in about five minutes. You all went through at least three gold tomes, which are about ten times the amount of a red tome.” Fred paused for a second. “It may be around thirty times more depending on how she did it.” Fred gestured to Jane. “Quickly follow me we’ve got to get her help before she wakes up.” Jane followed Fred muttering about time he takes Sky’s condition serious. Jane had to sprint after Fred, and the rest of them followed. He stopped not at the med-bay but the mess hall where Rocssanna and William were cooking.

Rocssanna is seeing Sky being carried reached into her pocket and pulled out an egg-shaped stone. It smelled like roasted nuts and waved it under Sky’s nose.

Jane had to ask. “What kind of medicine is that it smells like a nut of some kind? She needs medical help, not food.” As if to defy Jane’s words Sky’s stomach growled fiercely and her mouth popped open even while sleeping. Rocssanna popped it into her mouth with a clacking sound as it hit her teeth. Sky’s mouth closed and you could hear the grinding sound as she crushed the nut with her tongue.

Sky smiled. “Mm smells yummy so good. Is that stew your cooking mommy? I’m so hungry right now I could eat a huge wild beast all by myself.” Without opening her eyes, she gently stroked Jane’s cheek. “Thank you, Jane, for carrying me to the mess and my mommy. I think you deserve a reward don’t you think so too, mommy? Could you give her a rocknut and see if she can eat one”? Sky opened her eyes to see her big sister with a tear in her eye. “I’m okay just tired and really hungry.” As if on cue her stomach rumbled again.

Rocssanna took Sky from a reluctant Jane and placed her in a seat in front of a comically big bowl. “You must be hungry Sweetling. I could feel your magic from the mess. Did you get them this time”? Rocssanna asked her daughter stroking her head caringly.

“No mommy I couldn’t do it. I think it’s an alien colony ship of tiny humanoid beings. There were even young ones right down to babies, I think. Most of them looked like they were starving and but some of them seemed fat and trying to take even more of the magic to eat.” Sky looked you to her Rocssanna with a really sad look in her eyes. “I wanted to punish the fat ones, but some of the ones carrying babies got in the way. I just trapped as many fat ones as I could and encased their ship in ten different dimensions, so we have time to get away. Mommy, I think I hurt a lot of them with the nuke the last time. Does that make me a monster for not checking first? Am I a bad person, I feel really bad, but I don’t want to feed someone who would take so much for themselves and let others starve. Mommy what should I do, the fat ones were so greedy. I connected to a starving baby and its mommy, and a fat one grabbed the link and starting to suck the magic like it was starving. The fat one even hit the mommy and thin baby. Mommy, they were so thin and the other ones so fat and round why would they not share equally”? Sky pleaded with her mommy for answers she couldn’t give.

Rocssanna held Sky face in her hands. “My little angel. We can’t always know how other races think and how their society works. We have no right to rule over others because of how they treat each other. But if they seek help from a stronger race, then yes, I think it’s fair to help them win their freedom. I will help if I can when and if they can ask for help.” Rocssanna held her daughter and kissed her forehead.

Jane could see this bothered Sky a lot and that the tears she had were real. “I’ll help to after this mission is over. It’s not just aliens that can be evil but people of our race. We should fix our problems so we can concentrate on others when we need to. You did what you could, and I bet you’re an angel to more than one person.” Jane said with deep heartfelt compassion.

“Thanks, that means a lot to me to know you understand and don’t think I’m a monster or a bad person.” Sky said with her eyes drooping shut. Her tummy let out a rumble to make sure it was not ignored. Jane and Rocssanna laughed only to hear that everybody was listening as well.

Rocssanna started to scoop out a huge portion of food into Sky’s bowl. Jane watched the chunky aromatic stew fill Sky’s bowl, and her stomach grumbled a little bit. Jane took the seat next to Sky; Heather sat beside her. Courtney sat across Heather. Fred, Joe and Todd sat at another bench with William serving from a different pot that was a little smaller than the one Sky was served from.

Todd looked at what Sky was eating, and William was still stirring theirs. “Does Sky have a special diet; it looks the same as the one in your pot. Whatever it is, it smells great.” Todd did a double take When Sky asked for seconds. He turned to William. “How is that possible”?

William smiled. “She’s always been a big eater and ever since she started using magic it doubled. To answer your first question, we are eating the same thing it’s she likes to eat it undercooked, so it’s not tender. She doesn’t like mushy food if she can help it. This particular meal you wouldn’t be able to chew anything but the spices. That is unless you can chew a steel bar like gum. I’ve tried it, and I hate the metallic taste.” William motioned to look to Sky.

“Jane, would you like to try some of mine before mommy overcooks it for everyone”? Sky asked holding up her spoon trying to get her to take some.

Jane felt a little apprehensive about taking it from her spoon. But he thought what the stars I might like it before it goes mushy. “Alright, I’ll try a little bit.” She opened her mouth and was surprised how hot it was; then it was the taste amazing. She went to chew the chunk of what she thought was meat it took her all she had to chew it. The flavour was amazing, but her jaw was getting sore from chewing. While Jane was attempting to savour the stew, Sky was finishing her second bowl. “This is good, but I think I’ll wait for it to get a little softer.”

“That’s okay mommy, and daddy like it softer too. Joe and Fred like the rocknuts I eat, but they can only eat them when I go into the practice room first.” Sky held up her bowl for thirds, and the pot William was stirring was finished. Rocssanna ladled out another half bowl for Sky.

Todd could not understand how Sky was eating her food so quickly with a regular size spoon. He counted the ladle scoops and the spoons Sky eat they were around two to one. But the ladle held at least six times the spoon did. “Sky is that a magic spoon? You finished your stew so quickly, and you’re eating no faster than I would.” Todd inquired hoping he wasn't rude.

Sky blushed, and Jane glared at him. William patted him on the back. “If I were you I would enjoy the stew and count it as one of life’s mystery’s you want to live long enough not to know. It’s is how it is. Now enjoy Rocssanna’s famous stew renowned around the ship where it gets rave reviews amongst the living.” William told him hoping he would read more into the words he might have implied.

Todd picked up his spoon and didn’t say anything till the flavour hit him like a meteor. “Wow, this is star field. I can’t believe it’s the food we’re going to be eating from now on. William, Rocssanna is this a regular dish you serve”? Todd was asking while everyone else was eating even Rocssanna and William now everyone was served. Todd looked around and seen the eagerness to get seconds was almost a competition.

Jane watched Todd as he had his first spoonful. It was good, but he was over exaggerating the taste. She spooned some into her mouth and wow holy grazing animal. It was amazing. Jane looked to Sky as if to ask the question. “Know what you want to say. It tastes better the longer it cooks, but it gets mushy. Most things I eat are mushy. Most people bit an apple and it crispy and has a crunch to it. To me, they’re like soft water balloons filled with pureed apples. Sometimes you eat them before they’re ripe, so they’re crunchier to eat. Just imagine everything you eat is mushy like they’ve been pureed and you bit into an apple that is not quite ripe. Don’t you think the firmness of the apple makes it taste so much better.”

Jane could see what Sky was talking about. She too didn’t like over-ripened food even though they were sweeter most of the time. Heather and Courtney could also relate to what Sky was saying.