“Jarvis will be military grade, then? He mentioned something about upgrading himself when I graduated from basic training.”
“This will expedite the upgrade and grant you clearance far beyond what a grunt would have. However, you must use discretion in sharing this information. Share classified intelligence with the wrong people and they will ask where you obtained it from.”
“Which can lead to awkward questions,” I surmised.
“Indeed. May I?” He waved the wand.
“Of course.”
He pressed the light-emitting end of the wand to my temple and I felt a slight vibration from it.
Update received, Jarvis announced. Installing. A second passed. Update installed; military grade programming and level one security clearance unlocked.
Awesome. So now I would be privy to all the Federation’s secrets. Only fitting for the supreme commander’s daughter.
“Back to the anti-gravitons,” I said, a question burning inside me. “Why did I absorb them and none of the others? I thought at first it was because of my undead nature, but it didn’t affect the others.” And they all died, I thought grimly. All except Julianna. I wasn’t strong enough, wasn’t fast enough, to save them.
My uncle nodded. “I took the liberty of drawing blood while you were sleeping and...”
“How long was I asleep? The last thing I remember was falling to the floor of the silo.”
“You were asleep for three days as the virus and your nanites worked together with emergency injections to repair the damage from your fall. You sustained multiple breaks and fractures in your legs and arms and your hip was shattered.”
“Ouch,” I said, wincing just hearing the extent of the damage. No wonder I’d passed out.
“Getting back to my original answer,” he sounded like he didn’t like being interrupted while lecturing. “Your genetic structure possesses something the other recruits did not contain.”
“What?” I asked, sensing he was waiting for such a question.
“Your father’s genes.” He held up his data pad and a chart of several symbols and codes appeared. “This is a chart of your genetic code directly after you rose from the dead. We noticed at the time specific genes that closely matched your father’s and aunt’s genes. However, they were dormant, meaning you did not manifest the time-bending or shadow-walking abilities they did.”
He swiped and a different chart appeared, with different content. “This is your genetic code after the accident. Those same genes are now active but mutated. They emit an energy I’ve never witnessed. My theory is you absorbed the anti-graviton energy as it pulsed out before its collapse and, because your gene were pre-disposed to special abilities, only dormant, they absorbed the energy and used it to mutate and ‘awaken’ in a sense.”
“The sabotage mutated my genes?”
“Correct.”
“The glow I saw - it was the gravitons and anti-gravitons? Black and white respectively?”
“I believe so. A similar phenomenon is observed by mages when they, we, manipulate matter and energy. If gravitons are indeed an energy source as I postulated, then it technically makes you a mage. A highly specialized gravity mage, but a mage by the technical definition.”
“I don’t want to be a mage,” I protested. “I want to be a ranger.”
He smiled. “You can be both, you know. My niece and nephew serve in the armed forces and are accomplished mages in their own rights. Also, this newfound magic of yours saved your life.”
“Yeah,” I said, haunted by the realization. “I would have been mush like the others if this hadn’t happened. My father will probably want me to return home after almost losing me for a second time. A third, if you count my dying from the virus.”
Jason laughed lightly. “He was quite tempted to order the Nightblade here posthaste, or have my wife or daughter bring him, but I talked him out of it.”
“Because it wouldn’t do for the supreme commander to be seen caring about a single recruit, right?”
He shrugged. “It would have blown your cover, that’s definite.”
“How is Julianna?” I asked at last.
“She’s well. She sustained less damage than you - it seems she fell on top of you - but she had fewer nanites to stem the damage in the minutes before medics arrived on the scene. She is in the room next to you.”
“What facility are we in?”
“We are in the premiere military hospital on the planet.”
“I can continue basic training after I recover?”
“Yes, you can. I spoke to one Captain Wilson and he indicated both you and Julianna would be welcomed back to training with no penalty imposed. However, we need to explore your new abilities.”
I furrowed my brow. “You mean like how I manipulated the anti-gravitons?”
“Precisely. I hypothesize you possess the ability to manipulate both anti-gravitons and gravitons, like two sides of the same coin. Much like pushing and pulling, or positive and negative charges of a magnet, gravity can pull, as we classically have observed, or it can repel, as we artificially observed in this facility. Therefore, I believe you can shift your ‘polarity’ for ease of explanation to apply the effects of gravity or anti-gravity to a person or object.”
My eyes went wide as the implications of his words sunk in. “I floated in that chamber. Does that mean I could fly?”
My uncle grinned wide. “Now you’re catching on. And that is only the beginning. Unobstructed by the pull of gravity, and with no need to breathe, you could even fly in space. Or so I predict. We will need to run a battery of tests to analyze the full extent of your abilities.”
From anyone else, the word “analyze” would have filled me with more concern. As it was, it evoked images of poking and prodding and running on a treadmill with wires stuck to me. “I hope you won’t treat me like a lab rat,” I warned. Special or not, I wouldn’t be treated like a prisoner.
“We would never do that,” he protested. “Not to you and not to anyone. You have my word.”
I sighed. “I know, and I’m sorry I thought that of you. It’s just that this is a lot to process.”
He took my hand in his. “I understand. I felt much the same when I learned of my powers for the first time.”
“You mean, you weren’t born with your powers?”
“Your father didn’t tell you?”
I shook my head. “We haven’t exactly had a lot of time to reminiscence about ancient history yet. I’ve only known his true identity for a few months.”
“Ah, yes, I forgot.” He cleared his throat. “Well, you’ve heard the legends of how we arrived in Tar Ebon’s greatest hour of need, yes?”
“Vaguely.” History hadn’t been my favorite subject. “But I assumed you just came from a far-off land.”
“That lie of omission is intentional,” he admitted. “The truth is far stranger and not many would have accepted it. The truth is we came from another planet.”
“Like in a space ship?”
“No. That was the Founders. They arrived in ark ships that crash landed around the planet. No. My twin sister Ashley and my friend John arrived through more unexplained and mystical means. We still don’t know the true means by which we were transported from Earth to Tar Ebon. Not yet, anyway. The same happened to your father and aunt twenty years before we came to Tar Ebon - they too were ripped from Earth and flung to Tar Ebon.”
“Wow, that is far-fetched,” I admitted. “And you didn’t have magic when you arrived?”
“If we did, we were not aware of it. It was only later that we discovered our magic and went to the Tower for training.”
“My father and aunt Bridgette went to the Tower?”
His face fell. “Sadly, no. Their story is quite a bit darker.” He paused for a long moment. “They were abducted by an evil man and his band of assassins. Your father managed to escape, but your aunt remained in their clutches, naught to be seen for over a decade. Your father never ga
ve up searching and joined the military of Tar Ebon. He rose to a high rank over the course of nearly two decades before finally being reunited with her. It was shortly after their reunion that the three of us,” he tapped his chest, “arrived.” He smiled. “In fact, I met Bridgette while she attempted to sneak in and assassinate the king of Tar Ebon.”
“Really?” I asked, horrified. “Did you stop her?”
“Actually, I saved her. The king was prepared for her, and an ancient nullification field blocked her shifting abilities, so she would have been impaled by several crossbow bolts if not for my timely appearance. There is more to the story, but we will have to save that for another time. The point is, I too went through a period of adjustment to my powers.”
“And then you ended summoning tornadoes during the Battle of Pelinor Fields and bringing down the storm wall,” I said, recalling those two testimonies of his power from history. “It seems you adapted well.”
He nodded. “And so too will you, with training and time. I did not become the powerful mage of history without much training and time. Remember that, when the path you travel seems difficult.”
I smiled. “I will.” Then I frowned. “I felt so helpless in that room. I barely saved Julianna’s life. I can’t help thinking if only I’d been stronger, or if only I’d had better control of my power...”
“Thoughts like that are slippery and dangerous,” my uncle cautioned. “They can lead you down a path of despair if you are not careful. If I thought of all the people I might have saved, it would drive me mad. Focus on doing your best to save those you can and don’t feel it is your sole responsibility to save everyone.”
“Thank you, Uncle, that makes me feel better.” I put my hand to my mouth. “Oops.” I’d used his family title. If anyone was listening...
“It’s fine. There are no bugs in this room. But outside we should use discretion if you wish to continue down this path with your identity. I cannot show favor to you during the testing.”
“I understand. I’m used to being nobody special.”
“Good. Now, if you’ll excuse me, there is someone here to see you. Just remember your cover.” He walked to the door and opened it.
Terrence - I mean Uncle Morris Halbert, stood there, grinning like a fool. “There’s my girl!” he roared, bringing a smile to my face and tears to my eyes. He clapped Uncle Jason on the back as he passed and then embraced me as the door to the chamber slid shut. “I was so worried about you, dear, when I heard the news.”
“I’m all right, Uncle Morris,” I said, emphasizing his cover name. “And I have some news.” I went on to relay the summary of my uncle’s conversation with me.
When I finished, he whistled. “Whew, miss. First you get super speed and strength, now you can control gravity? What’s next, you start shifting like your cousin?”
“Hah! I doubt that would happen.”
He shrugged. “You never know. Do you want me to be there for your training?”
“You know that wouldn’t work,” I said. “I can’t have my ‘uncle’ there for my training, no matter how much I might wish you were.”
“I suppose you’re right. I’ll be around if you need me, though.”
I bowed while sitting. “Thank you. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I want to go see how Julianna is faring.”
Terrence gave me a hug before departing. I rose from my bed and made for the door, but the door opened again before I reached it.
Captain Wilson, the battalion CO, stood there.
I halted, then came to attention, wincing slightly, and saluted him. “Captain Wilson, sir.”
He returned my salute. “At ease. How are you feeling, recruit?”
“A little sore, sir, but on the mend.”
He nodded. “Good, good. Doctor Thorpe explained his hypothesis regarding your newly developed powers. I am setting up a training facility for you to test your powers ASAP.”
“Yes, sir.” I’d expected no less. A potential weapon? Of course the military would want to test it out. I was only just imagining the implications.
“Here are the coordinates,” he handed me a card with coordinates written on it. “Meet me and the doctor there tomorrow at oh eight hundred hours.”
“Of course, sir.”
He nodded, then paused. “I’m sorry that this happened to you. I believe you and your fellow recruits were targeted because of your status as undead.”
“Oh,” I said. My uncle hadn’t shared that theory with me, but I could hardly share that intel. “I wasn’t aware of that.”
“Yes, the FIA believes it was sabotage, but they did not specify the motive. Hatred for our kind is high, recruit, and I find it as no surprise if that hate was their motive.”
“I understand, sir. I hope the FIA catches them soon.”
“As do I.” Without another word, he turned and left the room.
Time to check on Julianna and get a good night’s rest. I had a feeling training was going to be intense.
Chapter 18
“Again!” Captain Wilson shouted from the sidelines. We stood amid an ordnance testing ground, which struck me as odd. But I suppose it made sense considering we didn’t know the full extent of my power - and considering the power of the singularity the day before.
I swiped sweat from my forehead and grunted. I’d lifted this crate over a dozen times already, and it was harder than I thought. I could do it one more time, couldn’t I?
I stuck out my arm, hand spread, and concentrated. Then for the fifteenth time I envisioned the white anti-graviton energy stretching out from the center of my palm toward the crate. It obeyed my command and snaked out of my hand. It wrapped around my target and, to my eyes, the crate appeared surrounded by a white mist. Now the hard part: tightening the anti-graviton lasso and lifting the crate. Condense, I ordered in my mind, and the mist shrank until it formed a cube matching the shape of the crate more precisely. Lift, I thought and envisioned the cube of anti-gravitons rising into the air. They obeyed and the crate lifted once again into the air. I heaved a sigh of relief.
“Good,” Captain Wilson said, tapping away at his data pad.
Beside him, my Uncle Jason watched, small smile on his face. He was watching scientific history being made. “How high can you lift it?” he asked.
I shrugged, still maintaining the connection. “I can find out.” I turned my attention back to the floating crate and tried to direct it to go higher. It floated higher for another five seconds or so, then stopped and I felt an intense strain on my mind. “Can’t...extend,” I gasped. I released my hold on the lasso and the energy dissipated. The crate fell back to earth and shattered.
“Can you explain what you saw,” my uncle asked.
“It’s like a rope extending from my hand to the crate, then spreading out and surrounding it.”
He nodded with understanding. “Ah, so it appears to work similarly mechanics-wise to the magic mages possess. Once you’ve encompassed the crate, try cutting the rope, as you described it, but maintaining your concentration on the anti-graviton blanket, as it were.”
I frowned. “But once I cut the rope, won’t that destroy the energy flow? Or interrupt it?”
“It shouldn’t. If my theory is correct, your brain is visualizing a rope as a visual aid to know where to summon the anti-gravitons to surround the crate. When you cut the rope, but maintain your concentration, the anti-gravitons will continue to exist in our world. You don’t need the rope to summon anti-gravitons.”
“If you’re correct,” I pointed out.
He gestured. “By all means, proceed.”
I cleared my throat. “Can I have a bite to eat and a drink first?”
He smiled. “Of course, where are our manners? Let us take a fifteen-minute break and then resume.” He turned, as if remembering his manners. “If that is all right with you, Captain.”
The captain looked displeased, but nodded. “Fifteen minutes. This is important training and we have no time to waste.�
�� He’d only said that a dozen times since I started earlier that morning. He stomped off toward the sole building at the top of the ridge behind us.
“Do you think I’ll ever get the hang of this?” I asked as I sat down on a bench and pulled sandwiches, some fruit and a couple bottles of water from a bag. My “uncle” Terrence had gone on a food run for me, so that I could avoid military rations as long as possible. Then again, I was planning to become a Ranger, so I’d have to get used to rations. Still, I wasn’t a ranger yet.
“It’s only been a few hours, Rachel,” he said as he sat next to me. He didn’t eat, even when I offered him a sandwich, but he did take the bottle of water I offered. “Remember the analogy about learning to ride a bike? You won’t learn to master your powers overnight.”
“Tell that to Captain Wilson,” I said gloomily.
“He is a rather intense man, I agree. But he’s just trying to do his job. This is boot camp, after all. He’s in that hurry up and train mindset.”
“Yeah, I suppose.” I sighed. They’d laugh if I said not having Julianna on the sidelines bothered me. No sooner had she woken up this morning than they’d sent her back to the base camp to resume training. She hadn’t suffered any physical damage, and she didn’t have any special powers after the disaster, so there wasn’t any reason to either hold her in the hospital or bring her here to practice a new power. But it still bothered me to be relatively alone.
Fifteen minutes later, on the dot, we were back at it. The afternoon flew by as I continued to lift crates and other objects, metal, wood, plastic and more, into the air or practiced moving it with my mind. I wasn’t moving the objects so much as directing the anti-graviton cubes surrounding the objects where to go. And it wasn’t always cubes - the anti-graviton shroud could form-fit around anything.
“I want you to try to fly,” Captain Wilson barked.
I opened by mouth to protest, but a sharp glance from my uncle stopped me. This is what I was here for. “I don’t know how I would do that,” I admitted.
Ghost Ranger Page 15