Chapter 13: Spectre – part 1
Jane stares at all the people standing in front of a rustic wooden lodge that looks like it's been repaired so many times there's nothing of the original building remaining.
Selene, the goddess she remembers seeing once on Mindoir just before she left for good, smiles, "This is your welcome to the N8 party."
Jane looks back at Petunia who now has a shit eating grin on her face, "But, what? What was the last three months?"
"That was the most basic training you needed to not kill anyone accidentally. Now you are ready to start learning. Officially, N7 training takes 8 months, that means that we don't have a lot of time to teach you everything you need to know. That's only around 7,000 years if we stay here the entire time. Which we won't as you need to practice your skills, and you need socialisation and to learn how to cope with your new lifespan."
Jane goggles at Petunia, "What?"
One of the other people laughs, "This is what I love about welcome to the N8 parties. The absolutely gobsmacked expression once they're faced with how long training is going to take."
Another person says, "Daphne, shut up. Can't you see she's overwhelmed."
Jane slowly turns around, to stare at Daphne, "Daphne? As in one of The Triplet's Daphne?"
Daphne nods and holds a hand out to one side as Jane's legs give way.
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A moment later Jane wakes up with a gasp. Crouching next to her is a white man with short cropped dark hair and deep brown eyes.
"Hi, sorry about Daphne and Hermione, they've been like that for as long as I've known them. I'm Sabastian Ashmead, the first N8."
Jane pushes herself into a seated position, "But they're goddesses, or occasionally gods."
Sabastian laughs, "Don't call them gods, it's a very sore spot for them. Hermione is frightfully smart, and can learn just about anything you put in front of her in the time it take to flick through the book. However, she doesn't have a deceitful bone in her body, and her out of the box thinking is equally lacking. Daphne, on the other hand, is the consummate slytherin, sly, cunning, ambitious, and scarily good at reading people. There's generally a betting pool whenever we get a new member, to see how long it takes for them to become overwhelmed when they meet the rest of us."
Jane shakes her head, "Huh?"
Sabastian sighs, "Hela is obviously your sponsor."
Jane looks around for Petunia, only to find her cuddled up with another woman, "Petunia's Hela?"
Sabastian nods, "She is, but she only uses Hela for official appearances so that she can go out with Karen, her bonded partner."
Jane sways a little, "Karen, as in archmagi Karen, the one who won't leave Earth because…"
Sabastian nods, "Yes, that Karen, and yes Petunia is that partner. Back in the sleeper wars they both had very close encounters with death, and their bond was stretched to the point Karen couldn't feel it. She thought that Petunia had died when she'd been pulled into the sea of magic… You might know it better as the aether sea. Anyway, when the books were written the author didn't intend the implication that Petunia was dead and gone. But that lot over there told them to keep it like that."
"But, but…"
"Jane, relax. With the exception of Selene and Lyassa, everyone else here is as human as you are. It took me a while to learn this, but they really are just people. All be it, people who will occasionally talk about life before computers and the aethernet as if it was yesterday. Just be glad you're not going to have any lessons with Hogwarts, as you've only got eight months for your training."
Jane blinks as another famous name from the history books is just dropped as though it's nothing, "I shouldn't be here, there must be some mistake."
Sabastian puts a hand on her shoulder, "Jane, you deserve to be here. If you didn't you wouldn't be here. You are officially the 10th N8. There's no application process to become an N8, you can only be sponsored by an existing N8, an N9, or one of the goddesses here. You should have been the 15th N8, but in the early days of the Systems Alliance, the ranking board demanded that a squad of elite soldiers were trained as N8's. I was the newest recruit of that squad. On paper we were perfect for the position, loyal, efficient, and well trained. The problem was arrogance, ruthlessness, and a disassociation between themselves and the humanity of their targets." A haunted look passes over his face, "We were trained up much like you have been so far, and we thought we knew everything we needed. Brass sent us out to one of the newest planets, where their intel said pirates were hiding out in the civilian population. Our task? To capture or kill the leader, and eliminate the pirates. They…" Sebastian's voice cracks, "Suffice to say, I tried to object, but they were used to operating in a certain fashion. Roughing up suspects to get information, bribery and intimidation. Then ruthless efficiency when eliminating the target. Only this time we had magic to help. It was sickening, and they just laughed. To my shame, I can still see how I could have crossed that line myself if we were still a mortal squad."
Jane shakes her head, "What do you mean?"
Gently, Sebastian asks, "Have you seen any of the Human First propaganda, and I don't mean the large billboards, I mean the introductory pamphlets."
Jane nods, "My father used to have some laying around."
"Did you notice how the 'facts' in the pamphlet looked reasonable at first glance, and even made sense if you squinted slightly?"
Jane shakes her head, "No. I've always had non-human friends, so they didn't."
Sebastian nods his head sagely, "Ah, well you'll be learning all about that in your time with Daphne. Suffice to say that for most humans, even magical humans, those initial pamphlets and books seem reasonable, later arguments seem understandable based on those initial pamphlets. Eventually, you see evidence that the things the pamphlets said are true, and the understandable arguments become reasonable. The same thing happens in a specialist unit like ours was. It might start with a punch or a slap of a reluctant informant. But then that gets results and you save lives. So you don't object when they go a little further next time. Before you know it, you're joining in and laughing about it with them."
Sebastian inspects his hands in his lap, "That's what was happening to me, except this time we had magic, and the goddesses were watching, and recording to prove a point. We were all court-martialled and sentenced to prison. That's where the goddesses stepped in again and revealed the reality of the situation to the assembled 4 star officers. We are immortal. No matter how long they threw us in prison for, we would outlive it, assuming we consented to stay in prison. That's when they let the Magi take over the trial and we were all forced to take a truth drug. In the end, I was the only one not sentenced to death. Instead, I was made a probationary N8 until such time as the goddesses felt I could be trusted with the power."
Sebastian looks up at Jane, "That's when they started the system of sponsorship."
The woman that was hugging Petunia, presumably Karen, walks over and places a hand on Sebastian's shoulder, "And since then you have proven us right time and time again. You really need to stop beating yourself up about being human. Remember, even the sidhe have their own bad apples."
Karen smiles at Jane, "Jane, welcome to the N8. You really should socialise, as all of us are going to be involved in your training. But first, I'm going to shatter some of your expectations about what the N8 are. The N8 are not a military unit, even though you have a military rank. We agreed to the formation of the N8 as a counterpoint to the Magi. Where the Magi order is devoted to the protection of their planet from Sleepers, and those who may summon them. The N8 exist to go out into the galaxy and protect it from threats like the Sleepers. 50,000 years ago, Realm:2 time, something wiped out the galactic civilisation that existed before ours. Unlike the mortals, between us we've seen enough to believe the myths. So far as the Citadel knows, you are the equivalent of their spectres. But now you know the truth."
Numbly, Jane doesn't resist as Karen takes her hand, and pulls her to her feet before leading her around the gathering.
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Jane glides across the dance floor in a cocktail dress and heels. Her partner for the night spinning her into a pirouette as the music comes to a crescendo.
Then everyone freezes and Daphne strides onto the dance floor, "What's going on in this ball, and what are the problems?"
Jane glances around the room "Those two groups are refusing to interact with each other…"
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Jane leans over a desk with a slab of marble in front of her. Carefully she positions her small chisel and taps it gently with the hammer in her hand.
A couple of taps later, and she has a neat line next to her Halgez rune.
From behind her Beth shakes her head, "Incorrect, your spacing is wrong, and the line isn't perfectly straight. Do it again."
Jane sighs as the shards and dust fly back into the groove, leaving the marble unblemished.
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Jane tiredly looks up from a dry old tome on magical farming and yawns. Sitting next to her, Hermione looks slightly disappointed, "You did well, but I think you're going to be more Harry's student than mine. Go and take a break and next time we'll start building up your foundation of utility spells and Harry can show you how to use them for other things."
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Jane winces as a small stone hits her arm. From her position 10m away, Petunia flicks another stone at her, which catches her in the shoulder.
"You're supposed to be stopping these. Come on, you know everything you need to do it."
Jane shakes her head, "It's not working, they're too fast."
"Bullets are even faster, and if you have to fight another magical their projectiles will be faster still. Stop thinking about it. You have your sensing circle, and you have your absorption field. When you sense something, you should stop it. No thinking, no reacting, it's just done."
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Jane sits on a hill with the Honoured Elder of the Yewglisten Clan watching the sun set.
"You life such a busy life. But you also need to learn how to slow down. How to do things, not with a purpose, but because they bring happiness or contentment. You wanted to know why you were spending so much time with our clan. This is why. Even Arch Magi Karen has learnt this lesson, and she's still as human as any human I've ever met. Maybe while you're here, you'll also learn more about being an adult, and what it means."
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Jane stands in front of a blank canvas next to Harry.
"Magic is an art not a science. It always has been, and it always will be. Like this canvas, you can make it do whatever you want, if you can envisage it. For people like my Hermione and the scientists on Earth, they need lots of tools and rules in order to make their art. For people like me, all we need is a paintbrush, pencil, or even just our finger. For now, I just want to see how creative you are."
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"Why aren't you knitting?"
Jane winces as she looks up at Minerva, "Um, I'm working on runes?"
Minerva just gives her a look, "That's no excuse. No matter what, while you're here you should be working on a project. Now pull out your knitting and get started."
Jane winces again, "Yes professor."
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Two weeks after her training started, Jane marches into the Generals assembly in her isolation suit. Petunia at her side.
Coming to a halt on the star, she comes to attention and salutes, "You wanted to see me Generals?"
The central General looks up with a tired expression, "Indeed captain. Thank you for being so prompt. We have just received orders from the diplomatic corps, through Systems Alliance Command, to cancel your Promotion to N8 and put you into the N7 program. I'm sorry captain. If it's any consolation, we have been able to have your mother, Hannah Shepherd, fast tracked to the sidhe clan on Shaanxi:12."
Jane opens her mouth to protest, and then closes it again as her lessons with Daphne come to the fore. Instead she looks downcast, "I understand sir. At least I'll be able to hug her again."
Behind her, Petunia looks equally disappointed, "I am sorry to hear you bowed to external pressure gentlemen. But if those are the wishes of the government, who am I to stand in their way." All of the Generals wince at that, "We will of course continue training Jane at our training grounds, where her PS status isn't a risk to the other recruits."
The central General nods, "That would be wise. We have already started to upgrade our own training grounds to accommodate PS-N personnel in the future. But obviously those accommodations will not be completed until after Captain Shepherd has completed her training."
Petunia smiles, "I'm glad we understand each other General. Come along Jane, we've wasted enough time here already."
Jane turns around and salutes Petunia, "Yes Ma'am."
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Once they've left the chamber, Jane asks, "What are we going to do, as I can't exactly stop being magical now."
Petunia smiles, "First of all, we're going back to your locker room, and you're going to change out of your suit. Then we're going to a Radio Shack in the USA to buy some cheap purely electric dodads. We'll leave most of them in my home here, and you'll be carrying one at all times. By the time we're finished you will be able to appear non-magical regardless of what you're doing."
Jane groans, "Really? Everything?"
Petunia nods, "Yes everything. By the end of your training you should be able to maintain a PS infection for years at a time, and operate your kit in Realm:15."
Jane's shoulders slump, "This is going to suck. Am I at least going to get out of the sword work then?"
Petunia laughs, "You must be joking, if anything your tutors are going to drill you even harder."
"Bollocks."
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Later, sitting around a campfire at the lodge, Jane and Petunia have both finished passing the memory of the brief appearance in front of the Generals around the group.
Daphne looks thoughtfully into the fire, "I think this is an ideal opportunity. I'll be gone for a couple of days Earth:2 time to verify this. But I think this is a move by Human First, specifically the faction that's started the Independent Human Alliance in Citadel space. I think that's the name they've settled on anyway. Publicly they've been playing up Jane's role on Elysium, especially her PS-N status. Privately they've also been increasing their demands that we stop patrolling human colonies." She looks up at Jane, "I'd have to check, but I think your rescue of the asari crew has probably hit the extranet too. At this point, I'd like to apologise, as it's my fault you were pulled off medical leave early."
Jane looks at Daphne with a confused expression, "How did you know? I'd not even been back on planet for two days."
Daphne laughs, "Did you forget who responded to your emergency beacon, and marked you? Good news, according to these papers, you have another four months training with us, as even the fast track N7 training takes 12 months. Just be glad you were an N5 when you came in, otherwise you'd be stuck with us for two years."
On one side, Beth shakes her head, "Daphne, you know we all get frustrated with you when you pull your seer act, so don't be so mean to Jane. I was born before you, you know, so…"
Daphne sticks her tongue out at Beth, "Just because I'm basically in charge of SA intelligence doesn't make what I do a seers act."
Beth sighs, "I suppose so, I think I'm going to dust off my stylus project and see if the eggheads can get it working. Even if they can't I'll teach Jane how to use a magical stylus to carve runes on most materials. That means that we can say we're using you as a test subject, and give you an excuse for being able to do some magic when you need to."
Jane nods, "Thank you, I can't imagine not being able to do magic anymore."
Petunia sighs, "I'll send a message to Selene and commission a new cabinet for you. That way you'll have a place you can still do magic safely."
Jane gapes, "You can't do that, do you have any idea how expensive they are."
Harry laughs, "I guess prospecting is going to be the next lesson then."
Petunia shakes her head, "No, Dark Walker training is. We need to get Jane used to keeping her magic levels at Realm:2 regardless of what she's doing. If she can't maintain the Prothean infection, the whole idea is scuppered. Don't forget that the military is starting to bring in new rules for ship based units based on Jane's response times, and since then Charlie's Angels, and The Dogs. Congratulations Jane, you've single handedly made the Alliance Navy look at quarian made I5 suits as a tool of war rather than a less comfortable I4 suit that can be worn long term."
Daphne leans back, a padded support appearing behind her, "Does anyone know what's going on with our Citadel embassy?"
Harry shakes her head, "No. Last I heard, Victoria and Sirius took it on themselves to relieve the previous ambassador after he deliberately exposed himself to Prothean Syndrome. They'll probably stay there for the next few hundred years, or we discover another species. I don't think she's forgiven Selene for being first contact with the turians."
Jane looks around the campfire as one of her illusions is shattered. She'd always imagined high level discussions like this would be held in wood panelled board rooms with a large desk and padded leather seats. Not around a campfire…
Karen walks into the camp, "Sorry I'm late. I did bring marshmallows and digestive biscuits though."
…toasting smores…
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"Jane."
Jane turns around from watching the streamers of magic run through the sky, "Yes Petunia?"
"I have here your OWL and NEWT scores, as well as your personal evaluations. I'm happy to say that you scored outstanding on all of the ones you took."
Jane smiles, "It's not as though those were hard considering all the personal tutoring I received. I'm more worried about their evaluations."
Petunia nods, "Well, we'll start with me then. I think you've done acceptably with your Dark Walker training. Though I'd require a far higher level of proficiency before I allowed you to take the oaths. Beth said that you're barely acceptable with runes, so keep practicing them. Daphne praised your occlumency, but said your diplomatic and subterfuge skills were poor."
Jane shakes her head, "I'm a soldier, even after all this time, that way of thinking just confuses me."
Petunia nods, "That leads on to the Honoured Elder, he still thinks you're too hasty, but you've got the idea. You just need to pay more attention to the world around you sometimes. Hermione and Harry both said you exceeded their expectations.Though Hermione's disappointed that you're more artistically minded than engineeringly minded."
Jane nods, "They gave me plenty of incentives. Where did they get their ideas from?"
Petunia laughs, "Pre-sleeper war film media mainly."
Jane puts her head in her hands, "Great, just great."
Petunia pats Jane's shoulder comfortingly, "It's ok, you've only got two more evaluations left, and one week Earth:2 time before you graduate."
Jane freezes and looks up, "They're not putting me up against him are they?"
Petunia laughs, "No, Beth has been working on something just for you. She says it will simulate some of the situations you may come across in the wider galaxy."
Jane winces, "I'm dreading it already. What do I need to do?"
Petunia nods approvingly, "We're running two tests at the same time. The second test is your ability to manage your magic, and it will run for at least a year. You're going to head to Earth and change into your old suit and omni-tool. You'll find a vial of the virus that causes Prothean Syndrome on the shelf of your locker. Drink the vial and then go to the clan. If at any point your virus load drops to zero, you have to restart the year. If your suit or omni-tool fail, you fail. Understand?"
Jane grimaces as she nods, "I understand."
Petunia adds, "Oh, before I forget, the swords master said that you can retry the task as many times as you want, and to try and enjoy yourself, as he certainly did. Well off you go."
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Jane sits on a chair outside a room at Sandhurst in her I5 suit. Sitting next to her is Petunia, sitting primly in an actual military uniform.
With a groan, Jane rolls her shoulder. Petunia looks at Jane, "Are you alright?"
Jane nods, "I am, I shouldn't have had another go in the simulator, I think I pulled a muscle in my shoulder."
Petunia nods, "At least you didn't die."
Jane groans, "Petunia, please don't. When they said it was based on a 1986 film directed by James Cameron, I had no idea what to expect. Then they told me that it was aliens through that door. The briefing before heading for the drop ship lulled me into a false sense of security the first time. Even the colony didn't seem that bad, until it did. Then there's the bullshit about saving one civilian. There was only one civilian that could be saved."
Petunia nods understandingly, "Did you have fun though?"
Jane give a broad smile, "Oh hell yes. Well I did once I worked out how to spread out my magic without raising my magic levels. I lost count of how many times I had to restart because I wiped out my infection."
Petunia smiles, "It was only 37."
Jane shakes her head, "Gee thanks, it's not easy you know."
Petunia puts a hand on Janes, "Jane, remember that most of us had to live like that full time for a while. It's easier if you start your training on Earth:2, but we didn't have the time for you to spend a month or so learning how to find and control your magic here."
Jane nods, and falls into contemplative silence.
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A few minutes later, a Major opens the doors, "N7 recruit Shepherd?"
Jane looks up, "Yes sir."
"The board will see you now. Hopefully I will be the one saying sir when you leave."
Jane smiles in appreciation as she stands. Together, Jane and Petunia walk into a large hall with a dozen Admirals and Generals standing around. All of them stop what they're doing and salute when they see Petunia walk in.
Petunia smiles and waves her hand, "At ease everyone, I'm here as a sponsor, not an official."
The Major stumbles over his feet as he simultaneously tries to salute the Generals, and goggle over the fact that they're saluting anyone, and turn around to salute Petunia.
Once he's recovered his composure, the Major points at a star on the floor, "Stand there Shepherd."
Jane marches to the star and turns to face the assembled board, before coming to attention and saluting.
An old grey haired Admiral waves his hand, "At ease recruit. I have to say that I'm impressed young lady, you have shown exceptional scores across the board. With one exception. Did they not have a driving instructor at your training grounds?"
Jane replies, "They did sir, and they declared me passable." It's even true, Harry taught her to drive using a conjured shell and broom charms. Then said she survived, and so passed.
The Admiral nods, "Indeed. Your examiners also passed you, but only because you set a new course record and the vehicle was still driveable afterwards."
Jane winces imperceptibly, as she may have used a little levitation to soften some of those landings.
The Admiral continues, "However, that is the only record that you've broken. After deliberation, we have decided that we can overlook the comments on your driving test, and just look at the pass mark. As such we have decided to award you the rank of N7, and the Military ranks of Commander and Lt Colonel. Commander Jane Shepherd, please step forward to receive your epaulets."
Jane takes two steps forward and comes to attention in front of the Admiral. There she waits patiently as he places a N7 insignia on a red background on the breast pocket of her uniform, and a single Commander epaulet on one shoulder, and a Lt Colonel epaulet on the other shoulder.
Stepping backward, the Admiral salutes her, along with the other staff members there. Jane salutes back proudly.
As she continues to stand there, the Admiral says, "You're dismissed, I believe you have an appointment with the doctor before heading back to Shaanxi for some R & R before your next deployment."
Jane salutes once more, "Yes sir! Thank you sir!" Before turning around and marching back to Petunia. Who similarly turns around and walks out of the door they came in.
