In the middle sara chron.., p.23
In the Middle (Sara Chronicles Book 2), page 23
Chapter fifteen
The morning went better, on Thursday. Wednesday had been a pain, but not special. Just boring. It was hard to pretend not to be using her powers for the day. Still, things were looking up a bit. For one thing, Sara hadn’t had to bother with sleep, so had managed an extra eight hours of useful work. She altered her power set to work at a very low level. One that wasn’t triggering the device she was carrying with her at all. That, once she had a chance to actually examine the sensor in the camera, wasn’t all that sensitive.
Meaning that her simply changing shape, which was a very efficient process, wouldn’t be noticed at all. Even things like running standard telepathy, or holding invulnerability wouldn’t trigger it. There could be a blip, when those abilities first came online, so she’d done what Marcia had instructed, and used her powers to not get caught. Taking the device over, so it read what she wanted it to.
Which, she realized, meant that she could do anything she wanted. As long as cameras were avoided. The wrong people, as well. Sara had to consider that, as she stood in Levit Park, the large wooden covered picnic area being cleared of tables and benches, and the open walls sectioned off with canvas tent material.
She’d been there the entire time and had to admit that she didn’t know exactly who was responsible for getting it all done. Rather, she watched the men and women doing the work, and read their minds, so understood they’d just been hired for the day. The trick there was that none of them seemed to know who was paying them. They were, all of them, just local people. Given a decent amount of money to make sure that everything went well. Not even one of them was Infected.
At four in the afternoon, exactly enough to be impressive, considering the time rate differences, a light started to glow in the sky. It was bright purple. A moment later, another came into being, a smaller craft, that shone silver. Followed, finally, by a black and purple one. They were cheery seeming, at least to her, since she recognized the idea. Jump Ships. Piloted from a different reality.
They were also about ten or so miles to the east, over the IPB base, or nearly so. Part way toward town. They just hovered. Sara blinked, and reached into her schoolbag, pulling her communications device. They had a communications hub there, at the base, for cross world use, but also one for special unit work, that had been donated to them, about a year prior. Tim Baker had given it to them.
Focusing, just a bit, she worked out who was in the lead craft, which, not surprisingly at all, was Tor. She heard his thoughts, which were focused, but clueless as to where he was supposed to go, exactly. The other pilots were in the same basic state. The black and purple craft was piloted by Prince Dareg, which was a shock to her. The silver had Tim Baker in the pilot seat, which was, to her way of thinking, simply correct.
Sara didn’t really know Dare Canton at all, though. She’d met him, a time or two, in passing, but other than him being huge and pretty good looking, she had no real data on him. It had simply never come up in her world.
Tapping Tor’s name, which was on her device in the main people she’d been contacting of late, she waited. The man actually startled a little, when the device on his hip started to glow blue.
A moment later, his face showed in her palm, grinning.
“Sara! We’re here. I’m… Not certain where to land? At the base?”
“Nope. We have a spot set up, in town. Turn west? Um, toward the Pacifica, if you were back home? It’s pretty much in the same place here, even if things look a little different on the ground. Watch for airplanes! I don’t see any, but a jump ship is far more maneuverable. If anything comes, go straight up. Nothing we have can do that, so it should be the safest move, for now.”
Senator Roberts, who had been looking up, standing not too far away, walked over. The man was fit, for someone in his early sixties. He had a full head of gray and black hair, and some lines on his face, without it being a massive problem for him. When he smiled, it seemed almost real, even if he was a politician.
“They’re nearly here?”
She nodded.
“About ten minutes out. They’ll get here faster, but we’ll go slow on the landing, so no one gets scared. Tor, guide a little to your right. Not much… There. Now, straight. Don’t go fast or you’ll miss us…”
The bright dots all moved as one, the other pilots not being foolish, even if they weren’t in direct communications. After a few minutes, the craft not speeding, she spoke again.
“You’re directly over us. Can you see the large field, to the north? That’s where you should land. Here, I’ll get with the others.” She nearly tabbed off, then went very still.
After all, she couldn’t possibly know who was in each craft, without using her abilities. Senator Bob Roberts, who worked with the President, was standing right there, too. Not noticing anything yet, but being too obvious could give her away.
“Who’s in the other craft?”
“Timon and Dare. Dareg Canton, on the handheld? My son.” The man sounded almost proud on the last words.
“Got it. I’ll have Canton land first, since he marked his craft out as being from Noram, using their royal colors. Then Timmy, and you. I’ll get in touch with each of you first, so we can time things. We need to get the arrival on camera.” After all, if the event worked, they sort of needed the free advertisement and Jump Ships were, if nothing else, cool.
Tor nodded, the screen going back to default, a moment later. Before she could even find Dare Canton’s name on the device, the Senator started to call out, waving.
“Media! They’re setting up to land in the field, over there. Stay on the edges and you should be able to get some great coverage of it! Over there!”
The men and women with the cameras hustled, almost jogging over, with their media face people and sound crews struggling to keep up. She recognized a few of them, including Mike. Her personal friend. Oh, he didn’t know it, but the cameraman had once thrown a pie eating contest, to keep her from being outed to the world as a massive threat. That protection had lasted about fifteen hours, but the man himself had tried to help her, even endangering his livelihood to do it.
Which meant that Sara started walking toward the right spot, using her handheld at the same time, hoping she didn't trip over the uneven ground. Not that it was bad that way. It was a bit plain, as parks went, but well cared for. Senator Roberts followed her, for some reason, not getting more than ten feet away. Most of the other people, the crowd waiting to see who was coming, if anyone, or to get help, did the same thing. Morgan was back a bit, as was Peter, so she turned and waved to them both, to close in.
They were locals, after all. Also, rather ordinary seeming school kids. Doing that got first Fox, then Fiona and Parker, as well. Her team. The school one, at least.
They didn’t run up on the Senator, however, standing back, a small way.
Tabbing her device had a face coming up so fast that it had to mean Dare Canton was either warping time directly, or had super speed. Nothing else would allow for that kind of response time.
“Sara?”
“Hello, Dareg! Thanks for coming. We’re going to stagger the landing, with you going first. On the far side of the field, away from me. Can you get a bead on my location? Um… Everyone wave your hands.” She did that herself, with her left. Her friends and the Senator did it, which, oddly, had the whole crowd doing the same thing. Dareg chuckled.
“Well, that looks friendly! I should land at the far side? There should be plenty of room for all three craft. Awaiting instructions.”
“Understood. Please move into place, descend to a hundred feet, and hold? Then we’ll get Tim to do the same thing, followed by Tor. I need to hurry, so this looks right. We need to let the cameras get in place and to make sure they have you covered that way.”
“Moving to that position now.”
The craft caused a stir, since the glow faded, showing a sleek, almost CGI looking spacecraft. One not too big, being about the size of a semi-truck. Possibly being about fifty percent larger than that. It was impressive. Fancy even, and still in purple and black.
She worked fast, trying to get with Timon before Dareg had to hover for too long.
“Go.” The man sounded blank.
“Move to match Dareg’s craft, in three, two… Now. Hover at a hundred feet, about fifty feet away from him. Is that safe enough? We have more room than that, if needed.”
“That’s good. Doing that now.”
Then she explained the rest.
“I’ll have Dareg land, slowly, when everyone is in place. When he touches down, you’ll go, then Tor. You won’t get an order to do it, so use your best discretion as for timing. It isn’t that important, but we’re on camera. Well, you all are.”
That got a laugh.
“I understand.”
She had to repeat the orders for Tor, but they all managed to get into place pretty well. It wasn’t precision flying or anything, but at her request, they descended, one after the other. Then sat there, waiting for permission to disembark.
Waving for her people to follow her, including Bob Roberts, she moved in and then gestured, smiling, for everyone inside to come out. It was a larger array of people than she’d been expecting, thinking they might have ten or so mage students, over all. Clearly, that was about what was going on, as far as those people went. There were others there, however.
“Oh, my.”
The Senator turned to look at her, smiling.
“Is there an issue?”
She simply nodded, as the giants walked, staying toward the back and letting the student mages, some in red robes, others in simple waist wraps with shawls over their shoulders, move forward. Three of the people were Ysidril. Countess Thomson was there, along with Dumas, and her husband.
Behind them was King Alphonse and Queen Abbie.
“This is suddenly a state visit. That’s the King of Noram, and the Ysidril, the four-armed man in the back, with all the scales? He’s the High Leader of Mars, Hess. We have several ancients, which we can ignore, for now, other than as people, but that… You’ll need to greet them. Um… We need everyone to bow. The whole crowd. Go halfway down and hold it.”
She cheated then, doing something that made her camera, in the bag she had with her, her blue school pack, beep at her. It wasn’t an angry sound, but it was audible. She slapped up a power to control others, and made them think that it was their idea to suddenly bow. No one was going to be fooled, she had to think.
Still, almost as one, everyone there did it. That caused the collected people on the other side to stop, and do the same thing. Matching them. Bending in half, or striving to go lower than that, even. She had to help get the Mages from Soam to do it, because they didn't really do that sort of thing there. Then, whispering, she spoke to the Senator. Who she hadn’t had to influence at all.
“You stand first. Then the rest of us will.”
When that was done, she gestured, for the man to move toward the new people.
As she passed, she spoke, softly again.
“Mike, Rene, move behind us. Fox, Fiona and Parker, pull to the left of them. Everyone else stay back. Um… Connie? With your people, but behind them. I’ll signal if you get to move forward.” If the other news people were pissed at not being called into play that day, they didn't grumble about it to her. Then, she was walking away. Not even looking back to see if anyone else was there with them.
She could feel that it was taking place, however. Tor, Tim and Dareg all moved forward, as well, as Sara scrambled, trying to work out what to do.
Senator Roberts stopped, about ten feet away from the men, who were all dressed in fine military style, black, but in velvet, so they wouldn’t be seen as hostile, and bowed again. Which was exactly correct.
It was an actual rule, after all. When in doubt, bow. You might look naive, or be considered a fool… but you wouldn’t be thought of as rude.
Everyone bowed again, even the people behind her, since she prompted them to, with only about a hundred violations of the law, since using Infected powers on people outside of certain self-defense situations was illegal. Then the man next to her stood up, smiling.
“Welcome and thank you all for coming. I’m Senator Bob Roberts. The City of Mulberry welcomes you as well. Everyone is eager to get right to work. I believe that we have some volunteers, for your people to work with?” He turned around, searching with his eyes, a bit desperately.
Sara nodded.
“We do, Senator. Volunteers, please move forward? Morgan, Peter, raise your hands. Everyone here for life changing, please center on these two!”
That, impressively, had at least forty people shuffling forward, out of the crowd of over one hundred. Tor bowed, meaning they all had to stop and do that again. When they stood up, the man, grinning like a fool, shook his head.
“We hadn’t imagined this many would be willing to aid us in our practice!” He called out then, in two languages. Vagish and Soam. Asking the students to move forward.
Sara waved toward her remaining school pals.
“Interpreters, please see to the Mages and their clients.” It wasn’t exactly what was planned, but they all moved, and started to speak the needed languages, getting everyone to move toward the roofed area, with its makeshift walls. They had to set up some chairs, but someone had, wonderfully enough, brought in a hundred of those, for some reason. Folding ones, but the workers didn't wait to be asked twice, when it was suggested that the people being helped would need that sort of thing.
It still bugged her that she didn't know who was paying them, but it was a thing she could try to work out later.
Connie, the news talking head, pushed her way forward, looking fierce and ready to start shouting questions. Mike, doing his job, brought the camera around, to get her in the shot. Alphonse was standing back, unguarded, with his wife, next to the Ysidril. The man, a true giant, being over nine feet tall, stared at the odd happening, seeming almost ready to say something.
Holding a black, foam tipped covered microphone, Connie suddenly bowed. The Asian woman did it commoner fashion, with hands on her thighs but went politely low. Without Sara even having to take control of her mind. Sara did that as well, and so did most of the rest of the crowd. Even Mike, holding the camera, did something like a careful curtsy. Which was odd looking, but seemed to work for everyone there. Senator Roberts had to stand up first, then he made the mistake of looking at the media personality.
She held the microphone out.
“Senator Roberts! Can you explain the event here today?”
The man smiled, then, not hesitating nearly as much as Sara would have been doing if the question had been made to her, he spoke.
“This is the first test of a new program, put together by the President and Sara Chambers. A civilian operation, to aid those Infected who have first mode issues. The IPB program is still going on, but a few people were a little uncomfortable, for various reasons, going to another reality. So, being good friends and allies, people from another reality have come here, to do that work. For anyone who wants it. I have that right? They don’t have to be Infected?”
Sara nodded, since, for some reason, Mike had turned the camera toward her.
“That’s right. If you show up, and have an interesting idea, you can have cosmetic and healing work done, as well as changes made, up to a class two level, if you want to try having a power with no downside. They can’t do everything, but again, if you present them with an interesting idea, you’re more likely to get priority that way. Police and military personnel will be given a pass to the front of the line, as well, to get alterations that will aid with their duties. Other first responders as well.”
After all, letting the public have powers, and not doing that for the cops would have them all freaking out. Keeping the level of power low was just about not making the world a worse place. The truth was, with the few tens of thousands of people who could be changed, over the next years, if any of them went bad, as a class two, Sara could handle them all by herself.
At the same time, it would make things more fun for those coming in, to do the work.
The Senator spoke again, his eyes pleasant seeming.
“That’s right. Now, we have some wonderful people to meet. Important ones. There will be more bowing. Who’s introducing them?”
That, it turned out, was Dareg, who moved forward, and spoke in unaccented English.
“This worthy is my father, Torrance Baker. The Ancient of Vagus, and trainer of Mages in that land.” He stopped then and looked at Sara, sending her a message on what felt like a beam of focused thought. She actually felt it hit her in the head, like someone tapping a finger on her forehead.
She got the idea, so explained what it all meant.
“Ancient means very long lived. He’s responsible for all of Asia, in his world. They have a king as well, who does the real ruling. Basically, he has all the responsibility, without any of the praise for the job, to keep him from getting a big head. That’s important for anyone who’s going to be around for a while.”
Dareg nearly laughed, but nodded.
“About like that. Next to him is my uncle, Timon Baker. Ancient of Austra and accomplished builder of renown.”
There was another look at Sara then.
“Australia. A builder is a type of wizard. He saved their world once, feeding almost everyone for about ten years when the crops failed. The same large food units are being used in Africa and France, here, donated by the man himself.” She bowed, meaning everyone else had to, as well.
Then, not bothering with himself at all, Dare turned, and gestured.
“Here we have King Alphonse Cordes, of Noram and his lovely wife, Queen Abumantali.”
They both moved forward, holding hands, and bowed as one. Everyone got the drill, so she didn't have to influence even a single person in the crowd.
Sara spoke when Dare, playfully, gestured at her.
“King Alphonse took the throne half a year ago, in their time. His father stepped aside, when he turned forty, as is their tradition. He’s known for his good works and easy-going demeanor, as well as his intelligence. Several programs that impact us here have been quietly guided by him, behind the scenes. We aren’t supposed to know that, but he’s pushed for us to be allowed to use the magical lesson stones and suggested the food aid I mentioned a bit ago.” She glanced at the Queen, and smiled, not knowing anything about her at all. Still, Sara was a telepath, so simply asked her what she wanted to be known, mentally. “Queen Abumantali Cordes, popularly called Abbie. She’s a medical doctor and geneticist. Also, roughly the Princess of Afrak, which as you probably guessed, is Africa, over there.”
