Grimms nodded, but he knew the official line. “Supposedly, the Elif have been watching us for quite some time. We assume these things were added while they watched us, without us being aware they were there.”
The chief shook his head. “I don't buy it, Commander. We have been watching our solar system for a good long while. The Elif have tech and magic that blows us out of the water, but we were still pretty good at observing our little corner of space. When the Elif arrived, we caught the light burst their warp shed when they entered our system. Granted, it was only an hour or so before they made orbit, but we did see them. Even if they used tiny probes, we still would have seen something. We know that if something works with magic, it must have a mage powering it; since they have a low presence of mages, they would have had to have a piece of tech watching us, and that means it would produce heat or radio or Gamma or x-rays, or something. They wouldn’t be able to rely on passive sensors to gather all the detailed info needed to make these kinds of changes to the ships designs. We would have had a clue it was here, but we had nothing.” The chief raised his eyebrows in a conspiratorial way. “All I’m saying is that something isn’t adding up. These ships are too perfectly designed for humans.”
Grimms happened to agree with Chief Sabine, but couldn’t really put a finger on why that bothered him so much. In the end, however, he reckoned it didn't really matter why the ships were so well made for them, as long as he would be able to use them to the best of his ability.
He raised his mug to the chief. “Something to think about. How about we take a look at the rest of the ship?”
10
Cora had gone to pick up some Chinese food for them, and to stop at a pet store for food bowls and a litter box along the way, leaving Sara alone in their dorm with “the cat thing” and the problem he had brought with him.
Sara felt naked without magic. It was odd for her to think about just how much she relied on its comforting buzz in the back of her mind. She didn't use it in everyday life, like some mages she knew, but she did use it for defense. Not having it made her feel like she was walking through a hall of knives without any protection. The idea was a little crazy when she thought about it; she was on a thoroughly protected campus.
The problem would come when they were assigned to a ship in a few days, when she wouldn’t be able to perform even a small force spell. She would need her powers to run a whole starship, and if she couldn't tap into them, then both she and Cora would be tossed out.
Once Cora returned from her errands, they enjoyed a quick dinner while going over the text they had used to build the spell. Alister was curled in Sara’s lap, being no help to her whatsoever. Cora finally gave in after a few hours and started for her bedroom, but halfway there she came back.
She kneeled behind Sara, who was sitting on the floor, and wrapped her arms around her sister.
“Sara, you know I love you more than anything, right?” Cora said quietly.
Sara reached up and squeezed Cora’s arm around her neck. “I do. And I love you too. Why?”
“You did really well in the final. I don’t think I said that after.”
“Um, thanks,” Sara said, knowing there was more.
“You need to figure this out,” Cora said, waving a hand at Alister. “I know you will eventually, but I really need you to try and make it sooner rather than later.”
“I’m trying. I really am.”
Cora nuzzled in and hugged Sara tight. “I know you are. I’m just really scared for you. For both of us. You really screwed up this time, Sara.”
There it is. I knew it was coming, Sara thought with a sad smile.
“Cora, I promise you, I will not let you down.”
Cora didn’t say anything for a full minute, like she was letting Sara’s words sink in. Then she squeezed Sara tight and kissed the top of her head. “Goodnight, weirdo.”
She stood and walked to her bedroom.
Sara watched her close the door, wondering if she really had screwed it all up for good this time. She went back to the text and read the whole passage again, but she was distracted by Cora’s disappointment and was unable to concentrate. She dropped the tablet on the coffee table and put her face in her hands.
“This is getting me nowhere. Fucking hell, Alister. You’re no help at all. I thought I was supposed to be more powerful with you, not completely helpless,” Sara whined.
Alister came awake with a start and immediately stood on his toes and stretched. He jumped onto the table and nosed open the container of Kung Pao.
“How can you still be hungry?” she asked, as he dragged a piece of chicken from the paper container.
Alister shook his head as he took a bite of cold chicken. “Merow.”
Sara growled with frustration. “If we can't make this work, we are all screwed. We’re going to be assigned to a ship tomorrow afternoon, and if I can't power that ship when we get there, then we are out. Like, completely out. I don't think you grasp just how screwed we would be. They would take me in to study why I can't cast all of a sudden, and that would lead to you. Do you want to be poked and prodded in a little cage for the rest of your life?”
“Merp,” he said, shaking his head. His ability to understand her had taken some getting used to, but now she was just frustrated they couldn't communicate better.
Sara looked at him. “Too fucking right, it would suck.” She rested her face in her hand. “We need to get this working. I need to be able to cast if we are going to control a starship,” she growled.
Alister flicked an ear, his large yellow eyes unblinking.
“This is a big deal. We’re the first class to graduate after the first fleet was completed last year. Ours will be the first ship of the second fleet, and we need to make a good impression. Being a captain has been Cora's dream for as long as I can remember. If we can't get this magic thing figured out – and I mean quick – then I don't know what she will do.”
Alister nodded, then ate another piece of chicken.
“How can you eat that? It has got to be spicy as hell. Cora likes her mouth to burn for days after eating Chinese for some strange reason.”
Alister shrugged. “Merow,” he said, licking his lips.
“Well, it’s all yours buddy. You and Cora can fight over the spicy,” Sara said, making a face at him.
He continued to lick his lips.
“Is there nothing you can do? I really need some help here…” She trailed off, hoping he would pick up the narrative.
He cocked his head, thinking. “Merp,” he replied, squinting his face in a look of concentration. He sat like that for a few seconds before blowing out a breath, and looking to her expectantly.
She cocked her head back and looked behind herself exaggeratedly, “Was that supposed to do something, or were you trying to poop on the table?”
He gave her a sour look, licking at his overly spiced lips again.
“Okay, okay. Sorry, but you did look like you were trying to poop. I take it you were trying to do something?”
He nodded. “Merp.”
“And it didn't work?”
He nodded again. “Merp.”
“Did I do the summoning wrong?” she asked, slightly horrified.
Alister cocked his head and squinted a little.
“Not exactly? So, I got most of it right?”
He nodded. “Merp.”
She wiped at her forehead, “Whew, at least I didn't fuck up too much. So, do I need to do more to finish?”
“Merp,” he nodded.
“Will I be able to cast in the next,” she looked to the ceiling, doing some quick calculations, “three days?”
Now it was Alister’s turn to look at the ceiling, “Merp?” he somehow made it a question.
“Probably?” she hoped.
“Merp,” he nodded.
She sagged with relief, “Thank god. I was about to really freak out, man. Okay, so we’re waiting for some kind of connection to form? Like the spel
l needs time to mature?”
He stood up excitedly. “Merp!”
She smiled, “Good. Okay, now were getting somewhere. A few days. I can handle that,” she said, standing and clasping her hands over her head, she stretched till her fingers nearly touched the ceiling. She put the leftovers away and turned out the lights.
“Goodnight, Alister. See you in the morning,” she said, looking around the empty living room. “Where did you go?”
“Merow,” came the high-pitched voice from under her comforter.
The little sneak had climbed into her bed when she wasn’t looking. She thought about throwing him out, but she felt comfortable with him close by.
“I guess we should get used to being together all the time. It’s me and you, little guy,” she said, throwing the covers back and roughing up his head.
He gave her a look like he couldn't believe she would do such a thing, but he curled back up and was asleep before she was even out of her clothes.
11
“I think it’s a time thing,” Sara said to her sister, seemingly out of nowhere.
Cora looked around for some context, but found nothing, “Uh, what?”
“Mine and Alister's magic,” Sara explained. “I think it’s a time thing. We were talking last night, and I figured out that the spell needs time to attune to the two of us, our connection or something. Alister made it pretty clear we should be good in a day or two,” Sara said, not looking at Cora, but taking in the manicured trees and lawn as they walked. They had spent the morning at graduation, listening to speeches from the administration, and then the early afternoon at the reception. Alister had hitched a ride in Sara's purse, hiding from the rest of the graduates and coming out only to steal bites from the table when no one was looking.
“A day or two? Sara, we’re headed to the Commander’s office right now to, hopefully, get our assignment. You will need your powers later today if you’re the controller, tomorrow at the latest. I don't know that we have a day or two,” she said, pulling at Sara's arm.
The emails with the graduates’ assignments had come during the reception; unlike the rest of the graduates, their emails only said to meet the Academy Commander in his office.
Sara turned to her. “Let’s just see what the Commander has to say. Maybe we will have a little time. It will be fine. Trust me.”
“We don’t even know if we have a ship. The email said nothing about an assignment.” Cora looped her arm through her twin’s as they continued toward the administration building, her attitude bordering on morose.
They made it to the Commander’s office with five minutes to spare, and took a seat in the waiting area. The secretary was not at her desk, probably enjoying the day off for graduation.
After a few minutes, Cora broke the silence. “I wonder if we should knock on the door? How is he supposed to know we’re here?”
Sara shrugged and got up, crossed the small waiting area, and rapped quickly on the frosted glass window in the door.
“Enter,” a deep voice said distractedly.
Sara motioned for Cora to join her and opened the door, making sure Alister was hidden in her bag.
The office, sparsely decorated in military tradition, was quiet, and Commander Gregson was seated behind a large, wooden desk. He was an older gentleman, probably in his mid-sixties, but still in fine shape. He looked up from the tablet he was working on and gave the women a smile that Sara was sure had melted hearts back in the day.
“Captains, please, have a seat.” He indicated the two chairs in front of his desk.
“Thank you, Commander,” Sara said, feeling a swell of pride at being called by her new rank. “What can we do for you, sir?”
The commander leaned back in his chair and folded his hands together over his stomach. “To tell the truth, I’m not exactly sure what this meeting is about. We’re still waiting on one more.”
Cora cleared her throat. “I suppose we are a little early.”
The commander shook his head. “You’re fine. I prefer people to be a few minutes early. How was the ceremony? I had to step out after my introductions,” he said, effortlessly making small talk.
“It was wonderful. The speakers were engaging without being long-winded. A nice change from our university graduation,” Sara said, looking to Cora with a smile.
Cora nodded, “Yes, a famous reporter spoke then, and I think it was a two-hour speech. People started leaving because it was unbearably hot, and the ceremony was taking so long. This was a nice change.”
Gregson smiled, “I’m glad we kept everyone’s attention without overstaying our welcome. Plus, today’s weather was—” He was interrupted by a knock on the door, and he told the newcomer to enter.
The door opened, and in stepped an Elif officer. He was a lieutenant, by his stripes, but he had the air of a scientist more than an officer. He was slightly stooped and looked uncomfortable in his dress whites.
“Hello, I’m Lieutenant Commander Hilf. You must be Commander Gregson,” he said, holding out a hand for a shake. “And you must be Captain Sonders.” He extended a hand to Cora, then Sara.
It was always odd to Sara how the Elif treated every set of twins as one person. Though she was encouraged again at the title of ‘captain’.
After introductions, he pulled over a third chair and unceremoniously plopped down into it. He pulled a tablet from his shoulder bag and without further comment, began pulling up images and files.
After a few minutes of uncomfortable silence, he looked up at the three others in the room and began. “I assume you two have received your orders?”
“Actually, Sir, we only received an email telling us to meet here in the Commander’s office,” Cora said, sounding hopeful.
Commander Gregson cleared his throat. “I apologize, Captains. My secretary must not have thought of how that would look to you two. You have been assigned to a ship called the UHS Raven.”
Cora snatched Sara’s hand, which had been laying in Sara’s lap, and gave it a squeeze of excitement while keeping her face calm. “That is wonderful, Commander. Thank you.”
Sara knew Cora wanted nothing more than to scream with excitement, but also knew she would never do such a thing in front of her commanding officer. Sara gave her sister’s hand a tight squeeze in return and threw her a smile.
Cora had been thinking they had failed the final, but Sara knew better. At least she kept telling herself she had known better.
“This is a contract for service. It is a little different than the standard contract, and if you decline the offer, you will be assigned to another ship, no harm done. After reviewing your final exam from the recordings that were sent to me, I think you may be the captain we are looking for,” Hilf said, and Sara guessed he would have pushed a pair of glasses up his nose, if he had been wearing any.
Cora was reviewing the contract of service, so Sara took the lull in conversation to clarify why they needed a new contract.
“What’s so different about UHS Raven that we would need a new contract?” Sara asked as politely as she could, while her nerves rattled at her lack of magical abilities.
The Elif officer’s face lit up with excitement, “The Raven is the first ship to utilize the new controller tank setup. It’s an old design that we are eager to implement, now that the first fleet is ready and patrolling the Sol system. It integrates the controller completely with the ship, to the point that the controller becomes the ship, in a way.”
“Are you saying that the controller is a permanent fixture in the ship, and not just utilized in battle and warp duty? But no one can be on all the time. When would you sleep?” Sara asked, her brows knitting in concern.
“That’s the beauty of the tank system. There is no need to come out of the tank. All your nutrients will be provided, and REM cycles are induced, cutting sleep time to short bursts. Your subconscious would maintain any spellforms during REM cycles. The benefits of the system are undeniable; response times are cut down to
the speed of thought, and situational awareness is enhanced exponentially. The controller would not feel as though they are cut off from the people on the ship, so much as they would experience everything on the ship. The amplifiers are able to produce fivefold the power output of traditional setups.”
Sara had her doubts that the controller wouldn't feel isolated from everyone if they spent all their time in a tank. “It sounds rather lonely. Have the tanks been tested long-term? Are there any drawbacks to the system?”
“The tanks have been thoroughly tested, I can assure you. We Elif would use the system ourselves, but we cannot make the system work for our physiology. Otherwise we would not have needed to come to Earth and ask for your help. Trust me when I say the system is the most advanced in the galaxy.” He beamed with pride at that proclamation, as if he had invented the system himself.
Cora looked up from the tablet. “It says here that the term of service is only two years, then we would have the option to re-up at that time, or retire. That seems a little short. Standard service from the academy is eight years.”
The lieutenant squirmed uncomfortably at that for a moment before answering. “The Raven is what you would call a ‘special operation vehicle’. It is designed to operate on its own with minimal support for long periods. While the tank system has been thoroughly tested, we are still worried that it would wear on the user too much in actual operation. This ship is our real-world test, so to speak. The shortened term reflects the heightened nature of the danger the crew and controller would face. Think of it as hazard pay on steroids, if you like. If you decide to re-up, the term would be for another two years, with the same conditions at the end of that term.”
“What if we go in, and our psyches can't take the stress? Are we just stuck there for two years?” Sara asked, concerned how she was going to pull this off with Alister. He couldn't very well go in the tank with her.
Genesis: War Mage: Book One (War Mage Chronicles 1) Page 6