Mar-Sa The Ultra-Girl Book One/Part Three The Girl of Tungsten Steel A HEROINE IS MADE, NOT BORN by Jim Robert Bader September 4, 2001 (First Copyrights Only) 00000000 000 000 000 vvvvvv 000 000VVVVVVVVVVVV000 000 VVVVVVVVV 000 000 VVVVVVV 000 000 VVVVV 000 000 VVV 000 00000000 Mar-Sa The Ultra-Girl by Jim Robert Bader Book One/Part Two The Girl of Tungsten Steel Chapter Twenty-Three. Preparations "Interesting, most interesting," the somber man remarked as he studied the report, "So your instincts were correct in this, Ariel. Our friendly resident alien has indeed been entrusted to very good hands I see, and the progress that she has made thus far..." "It's only speculation based on observations taken from a distance so far, Magnus," Ariel replied, "For understandable reasons we are keeping a wide perimeter around the farmhouse residence, which necessarily prevents our gaining more detailed information concerning the training methods so far employed, other than those that we can observe from a great distance." "But still," a woman sitting near to Magnus remarked, "It is a remarkable degree to which she has come in such a very short timespan. Normally it would take years to teach someone even the most basic elements of the martial arts, yet she is progressing by leaps and bounds that even I find astounding." "Perhaps so, Ms. Jones," the blond haired man replied, "But Katie is...quite strict about maintaining her privacy, so we do not know all of the details of just how much Ms. Summers has improved as a fighter. She has also been forced by Katie to cut back on the number of times that she appears in public to perform the extraordinary services that have become almost routine in the headlines. This reduces our chances to witness, even indirectly, the degree of improved control and coordination that must certainly result from Katie's rather unorthodox training methods." "So what's the problem?" asked yet another woman who just then came into the office, "You trained under Katie yourself, you ought to know as well as anyone how effective her methods are, David." "I know the means by which Katie shared her knowledge with me, Ms. Tessmaser," Ariel replied, "But I dare say that she would use very different methods when dealing with a woman, especially one whose physiology may differ significantly from our own..." "Anne does have a point, however," Magnus said as he leaned forward in his chair, steepling his fingertips together while resting his elbows on his armrests, "We know that Ms. Cross's methods are highly effective, and I can vouch for the reliability of her clan arts. I am content to allow matters to progress as they are in regards to Ms. Summers and her training. What does concern me, however is the other related matter, the potential threat that is now posed by her own people." "I see what you are getting at, Magnus," purred the first woman in an unearthly trill that attended her every pronouncement, "You are concerned that we know far too little about our potential enemies, and that an agent sent to our world by them could prove a greater threat than any we have before now witnessed. You wish to know if these...Wolframans...might possess special weaknesses that can be exploited..." "It would help if we had a few aces up our own sleeves," Ariel agreed, "And I, for one, would sleep better knowing that we had an equalizer." "Agreed," Magnus said, turning to the unearthly redhead, "Have you any suggestions of your own in that regard, Astarte?" The woman smiled at him with eyes as opaque as one-way contact lenses, her arching brows and other peculiar features betraying a distinctly non-human character to her exotic lineage. Again when she spoke her words had a curiously trembling echo about them, as though spoken not quite in synch with her immediate surroundings, "I might have a few ideas in that regard, Magnus. As someone who specializes in the unusual and bizarre, I feel uniquely qualified to offer the observation that for every strength there is a weakness, that for every advantage nature gives us there is a corresponding disadvantage that can be exploited." "Sounds almost egalitarian," Anne Tessmaser remarked, "Anything useful we might divine from all of that?" "It is simply...a thought which occurred to me a while ago when reading her earlier reports," the unearthly woman named Astarte Jones replied, "Two elements that spring immediately to mind...the first being that she has heightened perceptual abilities such as hearing, taste, smell, touch and eyesight. Note how she admitted in her interview that she perceives some colors very differently from the normal human spectrum, rather much like my own ability to see life auras. I suspect that further tests will show that she has four distinctive eye cones, not three, as is our normal perception. In addition to seeing black and white, red or green and blue or yellow she may also have an additional cone that can discern into the Ultra-Violet and Infra-Red range of the non-visible spectrum..." "I follow you," Magnus replied, "That would also account for the unusually large area of her eyes themselves, perhaps an adaptation to seeing in extremely dim lighting roughly a thousand times dimmer than our sun, and shifted to the red end of the spectrum." "But how does this help us?" Ariel wondered. "Bright light might be a problem for her if it were to, say, extend to incandescence," Astarte explained, "Temporary flash-blindness is theoretically possible, though with her ability to heal back it might not last more than a few seconds..." "That could be enough," Magnus mused, "And that might indicate similar weak areas, such as loud noises or harsh smells..." "Also a potential susceptibility to certain kinds of neurotoxins," Astarte added, "It might be possible to paralyze her with the right combination of gasses, though, once again, this would likely be only a temporary advantage." "The problem would be knowing what kind of toxins would work on one of her people," Anne further noted, "And I very much doubt that she would be eager to volunteer to be a guinea pig, even if we were to ask her nicely." "Then too," Astarte resumed, "There is the other possible weakness that I have observed...her dense molecular structure. If the atoms in her body are as tightly compressed as indicated by her considerable body weight, then she might, theoretically, be vulnerable to certain types of sound vibration, or even acute wavelengths of energy that might resonate with her but go unnoticed by normal humans." "A sonic disrupter might be effective," Magnus considered, "Or a meson canon. Of course her ability to generate strong telekinetic shields might well cancel out the effects of both devices..." "This is pointless speculation," Ariel sighed, "We need to know more, and for that we would have to have someone at the compound who could conduct scientific tests and determine if we are whistling in the dark or truly are on to devising an effective countermeasure." "I'm also less than keen about the way we're talking about Marsha Summers as though she were a potential enemy," Anne further cautioned, "Just because we know that there are others like her who could be a danger is no reason to treat all the people of her world as potential threats who have to be countered by lethal measures, David." "I never said that I considered her an enemy," Ariel replied, "And I wholeheartedly endorse the idea that she might one day be brought in as an ally to work with our organization, but still..." "I think that, given the right presentation, she might well be agreeable to consider us as her allies," Astarte mused, "And as someone who was converted to your cause only a few short years ago, I do feel rather uniquely qualified to present Marsha Summers with a proposal of mutual assistance." "You are volunteering for this assignment?" Magnus asked the half-human princess. "I would welcome the opportunity to speak directly in person with both Mar-Sa and her companions," the redheaded woman replied with a sensual purr that sounded almost predatory, "As you know I am deeply immersed in several rather personal projects of my own at the present, but I believe that I can spare the time to pay this farmhouse a cordial visit." "Then I will leave the matter to your discretion," Magnus replied, only to pause as he noted a light appearing on his desk. He glanced at his personal secretary then touched the button himself and said, "Yes?" "It's me, Sir," a familiar male voice responded. "Ah, then come inside, Paul," Magnus replied, touching another pad to release the privacy locks on his office doors, "You've been expected." A moment later a brown haired man with opaque glasses wearing a casual suit and trailed by a seeing eye dog filed into the room together, nodding his head in the general direction of his co-workers before saying, "I've just come back from one of our research facilities, Magnus, and I believe that I have a candidate in mind for that certain project you mentioned." "Ah yes," Magnus nodded, "The candidate...one Joseph P. Campbell, I believe?" Paul Hudson smiled, his dark glasses gleaming in the light as he responded, "I never got used to the way you do that, and if I didn't know any better I'd swear you were a mind reader." "Your talent, not one of mine I'm afraid," Magnus replied, "But I do try to keep up on the daily briefings that cross my desk. Is Mr. Campbell fully briefed on what may be required of him should he accept this assignment?" "I think so," Paul half-smiled, "As much as any of us know what we're getting into here, and you should have seen him all but jump for joy like a little kid. He's both eager and ready to go, but first we need to obtain permission from Ms. Cross..." "Which will not be easy," Ariel observed, "I know Katie, and she's not given to trusting outsiders without more...preparation." "Then I believe that task falls to me then," Astarte smiled, "Consider me your pitch man from this stage onwards, Magnus." "Just be careful not to divulge too much, Astarte," Magnus urged, "Your appearance alone might disturb and frighten them, and if you have to reveal the full nature of your origins..." "Then I will be in good company," Astarte replied, "As one alien to another, Marsha and I should be able to relate, and as for Ms. Cross...well...you know that I can be...very persuasive." "Just don't underestimate Kate, Ms. Jones," Ariel cautioned, "She may have an active libido but she's also highly trained and disciplined to resist your kind of persuasion." "Then I look forward to the challenge," the redhead rose fluidly to her feet and inclined her head towards the others, "And after all, with the fate of an entire world hanging in the balance, you know that I always rise to meet a challenge." "Especially when you're the one who usually gives other people a rise?" Anne coyly asked. "That goes without saying," Astarte replied before turning and taking her leave of the sanctum sanctorum of her ageless benefactor... Kas-Par paused long enough to be scanned and cleared by the security monitors before proceeding further ahead into the special wing of the training complex, his expression set and grim as he contemplated the impending mission. At the end of the corridor he read a warning projection cautioning visitors that the area in which he was about to proceed was subject to potentially hazardous radiation levels, but he ignored these as just routine security propaganda. In reality the complex was designed with a very special purpose in mind, and the radiation levels here were well within normal toleration. The only unusual readings that could be noted here was an intensive saturation of Biosolar energy, collected and stored by special surface units and concentrated here to bombard the chamber that he entered with around ten times normal Bioenergy levels. At once Kas-Par could feel the difference in the air, the surprising lightness to his step brought about by a combination of the Bioenergy and special floor- plates set to reduce the gravity to around half of normal levels. It was really a quite extraordinary feeling, as if a vitality filled every cell in his body with new life levels and new potential. He knew that a single step forward might easily carry him across the length of the room so he had to move with caution, moderating his movements so that he did not overcompensate and cause a loss of dignity unworthy of his station. And he needed to call upon every ounce of his pride of command in order to deal with this situation. The young man residing here under observation was the key to their plans for retaking the rebel and founding a presence on a distant alien world. But, more than that, Kas-Par had a personal stake in the training of this particular security agent since this was also his son and heir, the rightful inheritor of whatever legacy Kas-Par had to pass on to a younger generation. In his son Kas-Par saw much of himself, and through him also saw the potential for a future for Wolframa, and yet, in so many ways, he was also a virtual stranger, someone whom Kas-Par had watched grow to maturity from a distance, having only played a minimal part in his formation, and the largest portion of that was in fathering the boy in the first place. To look upon him now was to become aware of how much time had passed since Kas- Par was a fresh cadet newly graduated from the academy. The younger man was tall and slim and moved with a grace that only youth could manage. Like all Ninjarman males he was golden skinned and had the metallic hair coloring that distinguished the northern race from all others, and yet to see him training now was to feel a sense of animal-like power being held within a cage. He had the look of a creature from one of the Bio-research facilities that kept alive the last remnants of otherwise extinct species, only this one very much alive and active. Kas-Trol was sparring against several drones that hovered in the air and circled around the young officer looking to attack him, four highly advanced stunner- equipped anti-riot Droids wove about and attacked according to no set pattern, attempting to simulate the effects of battling a living opponent. Despite their considerable sophistication and coordination, however, the four drones appeared to be the ones on the defensive as Kas-Trol constantly out-thought and outfought them, moving with a speed, power and agility that frankly astonished Kas-Par, who looked on with frank amazement. Kas-Par had seen transmissions of his son in earlier practice and had committed every report about him to memory, knowing by rote the details of his considerable progress. In all categories Kas-Trol was performing above all expectations, further confirming the potent effects of Bioenergy to enhance the abilities of a normal human subject. With half the gravity and ten times the Biosolar energy to draw upon the boy had increased his physical power by a factor of fifty, his strength and resilience fantastically augmented to truly superhuman levels, which also seemed to correspond to other changes that had taken place for him, such as the increase in his speed and mental activity, to say nothing of the increased perceptual ability of all of his physical and psychic senses. This was still a far cry from the thousand-times-normal levels recorded by their probe, yet Kas-Par was just the same impressed with his son's accomplishments. Kas-Trol moved with greater speed and agility than anything humanity was supposedly capable of achieving and his fists and kicks were lashing out with lightning effect to batter away the droids while keeping them continuously off- balance. If anything he appeared to be merely toying with the devices as if confident that he could overcome them at any time that he desired. It was sobering to notice how much he was holding back against these semi-intelligent devices and he wondered how high the difficulty setting was upon their attack profiles. It might well do to recommend giving his son much tougher opponents for future sparring, and he rather imagined that Kas-Trol would welcome the additional challenge. But still, in spite of his obvious new capacity, there was something else about Kas-Trol that deeply concerned and troubled his father. He could not quite put his finger on what it was that was out of place about the young man, but perhaps it was the calm and calculating way that Kas-Trol behaved while preparing for this mission. The potential risks of mission, the odds of never returning home, and the prospect of exploring a new world all seemed to have no visible effect upon his outward behavior. His Psychological evaluation profiles left little clear picture to what was actually going on inside the mind of his son and heir, other than to indicate that he had an above average intelligence rating and performed adequately on all of his performance test scores and had always demonstrated great loyalty and proficiency in his assignments. There was no hint of anything irregular and out of the ordinary, other than a strange detachment between his intellect and his emotions... And that was what Kas-Par found most troubling, the sense that there was something missing about his son, something that was not there, that ought to be in evidence but was not. He did not have a term for it, did not understand the finer points of the Mental-Behavioral sciences, but he knew that it was not normal for a young man to show no concern for his own welfare. The very possibility of being elevated to something akin to the ancient Gods once worshipped by their people seemed to matter little to the young man, not even after having witnessed the recorded images of the rebel, Mar-Sa, which Kas-Par freely admitted had affected him in a very deep and troubling manner. At length Kas-Par decided that he had quite enough of playing the observer and called out, "Command Override, Units disengage attack protocols." The four drones immediately broke off their buzzing engagement and stood down from their attack positions. Kas-Trol turned around and, for a brief instant, Kas-Par thought that he did indeed see a flash of genuine emotion in the younger man's expression, but then it was suppressed under a mask of control as firm as any lockdown, as though his emotions simply shut themselves off and left the intellect in command as Kas-Trol straightened up and assumed a ready stance. "Father," he said, then he saluted and added the word, "Commander." "At ease, my Son," Kas-Par said firmly, "You've come along very well in your training. I see that you are adapting well to your training." "The technicians have provided me with what I need for my regimen, Father," Kas- Trol replied, nodding towards the four drones, which had returned to their moorings, "Though these units are proving inadequate to properly test the full range of my abilities. I respectfully ask that they be upgraded..." "I will see to it myself that you are assigned more advanced attack drones," Kas-Par replied, "The Council is also pleased with the progress that you have made, and they have every confidence that you will perform your duties adequately when the time comes to deploy on your mission." "Thank you, Father," Kas-Trol replied, "May I ask when I am to begin my assignment?" "Just as soon as the techs get through working the problems out of the retrieval process," Kas-Par replied, adding obliquely, "You know how techs are, they are never satisfied unless they are feeling overworked and frustrated." That remark should have earned a smile or a laugh, but there was no response from Kas-Trol other than to give a pointed glance at his father that left no hint of any real emotion. Instead Kas-Trol seemed to be waiting for his dismissal, as if the rare visit from the man who had sired him was but another routine detail to be endured, not enjoyed. "Continue with your training," Kas-Par said after an awkward pause during which things that might have been said seemed trivial and unimportant, "If you have any special needs, inform the techs and I will see to it they are provided." "Thank you, Sir," Kas-Trol replied, "I am certain that your time is valuable and I appreciate you reserving this portion of the day to investigate the progress that I am making. I believe that I have reached the furthest extent that I can go training under the current levels of Bioluminescence. I recommend doubling the concentration of Bioenergy so that I may condition myself to operating at a higher level...and return the gravity to normal so that my muscles and bones do not atrophy. That is a suggestion, sir, not a request." Kas-Par studied the young man before nodding, "I will pass along your recommendation. If you feel that you are ready to intensify your training to the next level, then I will consult with the Med-techs to gain the clearance you will need for your...upgrade." "Thank you, Sir," Kas-Trol replied, "Then with your permission I will resume the rest of my training." "Carry on, my Son," Kas-Par saluted the younger man, then turned away to hide a troubled expression, recalling vividly that brief flash of emotion that contrasted so harshly with the controlled demeanor that he was displaying at the moment, the look of intense rage and annoyance that had been swallowed up in an instant, as though behind the mask of aloof discipline there lurked a very different man, one Kas-Par did not know, nor was he certain that he wanted to know, the effect of that look being altogether...chilling... Phoebe and Mar-Sa sat facing one another, their bodies at rest while their minds were deep in meditative trance. In this heightened state their psychic bonds were even more intense than usual, even the breaths they took seeming to become synchronized, the flow of thoughts and emotions between them filling them both like water poured from one to the other and back again in a steady stream of shared essence. Every inch and fiber of their being became aligned as the beating of their hearts became slow and regular until they came more and more into harmony, the quicker, stronger beats of Mar-Sa's pulse becoming evenly paced with Phoebe's own more natural rhythm. And watching them to the side with more than normal human senses of her own, their Sensei studied the pair and observed the energy flow through her two favorite students, sensing the increase in power levels of the one working in parallel tandem to the growing strength of the other as the union between them both grew stronger the more they practiced. Having recently begun to share in their nocturnal bedroom habits she was uniquely positioned to sense the relative strengths of their mutual Ki, and from that she could determine the progress that they were making and decide the course of their future training regimen. As matters were improving she felt confident that even her own Sensei would judge them well by his admittedly more exacting standards. At this level of training words were unnecessary to convey both intent and meaning, and when she judged the timing right she projected the commandment to begin with a nearly audible, **Hajime!** As one her students began to move, each rising from the floor in perfectly coordinated movements, one foot set forward as they rested their weight momentarily on the other knee, then smoothly they rose to both feet and assumed matching postures, facing off together with hands and arms extended, making a saluting motion as a token of mutual respect before turning to their instructor and saluting her, then tuning once again and assuming ready stances in preparation for the beginnings of their first kata. It was a series of motions that they had been practicing for two weeks now, working their bodies into condition so that they could perform as Katie directed the basic martial arts maneuvers that constituted the basic level of unarmed fighting. On the surface these movements appeared simple but in actuality they required perfect grace and balance, placing one foot forward while the other remained back, hips squared with rear knee locked to firm the posture while they moved one arm into a punch and the other arm assumed a side-guard position. Aiming the fist at the correct angle was also important, straight ahead with the first two knuckles aiming squarely at an imaginary target, the other fingers rolled into a "hammer" position to concentrate the force of the hand into a solid attack that would convey the energy of the entire arm and body. This punch was followed through with a blocking motion, followed by another punch as they stepped forward into a new stance, transferring the energy of their forward motion into another punch, then pivoting on one foot and spinning about to deliver a back-fist punch, using their other arm in a blocking motion while they readied to continue their moves into yet another stance with a fist cocked and held at the ready. They had gone through the same motions day after day, one movement flowing into the next with the practiced ease of a formal dance. Mar-Sa and Phoebe were performing the identical motions in coordination with one another, holding their pace to match that of the other while Katie studied their postures and was ready to criticize any perceived flaw or slackening of effort. For both students it was a considerable challenge, made more complicated by the heavy weights that they were wearing on their wrists, ankles and hips. Even in regards to their handicap Katie refused to permit the slightest irregularity or imperfection in their routines. Any mistake committed by either one of them would cause Katie to halt their motions and have them resume their stances before repeating the katas all over from the beginning. As unfair as this seemed it was having a result in that the two novice students were beginning to act more and more like a team, their attacks and blocks mirroring one another in spite of the vast differences between their relative size and body masses. It also meant that they were getting very good at the performing of these motions, rehearsing them over and over again until the moves were second nature and flowed from the heart with nearly perfect coordination. So far they had managed to master a grand total of four complete katas, basic motions that Katie insisted were the foundation to learning even more complicated maneuvers. The progress was slow yet the results were impressive, and now even Phoebe moved with confidence and an even posture while Mar-Sa found moving at a slow and steady pace was having the effect of making her more aware of the little muscle flexing motions that were needed to achieve a higher state of control over her strength, speed and dexterity. She now knew how to strike a normal human without killing him, even as she could now shatter a wall of steel with one punch, whatever amount of force would be needed to do the job intended. At last, after what seemed like hours of intensive effort, Katie at last called a halt to their ordeal and permitted her students to rest and recuperate, which meant to "walk it off" around the dojo when all Phoebe wanted to do was collapse in a pool of exhaustion. Even Mar-Sa looked tired for all that the sun's energy continually sustained her, and for all that some of her energy trickled over to Phoebe the both of them looked and felt as though crawling back into bed would be a very good idea. Unfortunately they knew that this respite would only last a few moments at best, so they intended to make the best of it by breathing heavily to restore their aching lungs to a sense of proper enervation. "Nice and even, both of you," Katie directed as she watched them slowly circle the room to keep their bodies limber so their muscles would not have time to cool down and begin to tighten up once again while their ligaments and joints remained flexible and their cardiovascular systems remained enervated and ready for more action. "Stay limber and stay sharp because once you've got your second wind I'm going to teach you both a brand new kata..." A heartfelt groan greeted this revelation though neither Mar-Sa nor Phoebe felt prone to object too loudly. Katie could be a harsh taskmistress in normal training but she was even worse when she got irritated, and when she said that they would learn a new kata it meant that they HAD BETTER learn that kata by the end of the day or else face discipline that would make the strain they felt now seem like a cakewalk. Even Mar-Sa shuddered at what Katie might have her do as punishment for her lack of enthusiasm and obedience, knowing by now that it was better to go along with the dark-haired woman's demanding routines. Katie was the sort of person who could assert her authority over most any kind of situation, and when she told Mar-Sa to do push-ups or knee bends she could make her do them over and over again until she lost count of the number of repetitions performed. It brought home to her the degree to which she had placed herself into the safekeeping of her new earthbound teacher. **Tough workout, huh?** Phoebe asked through their mental rapport. **Yes, very,** Mar-Sa agreed, glancing towards their Sensei and hoping that Katie would not pick up on their covet exchanges. **Never knew Katie was such a martinet,** Phoebe complained, **My arms feel like they're ready to fall off, and my hips are killing me! These weights are such a pain to work with...** **Consider yourself fortunate that we are still training under Earth gravity and not the gravity of Wolframa,** Mar-Sa noted, **There you would feel as though you were encased in lead and breathing through liquid. Your lungs would be unable to process enough Oxygen to sustain consciousness and your heart would labor constantly even when at rest just to pump blood at a normal level. Even the merest act of standing up and walking would be taxing...** **Yeah, I get all that,** Phoebe replied, **Count my blessings and all that, huh? Of course I'll bet Katie'll think up a way of even trying to duplicate that...** **What a marvelous suggestion,** they both heard Katie mentally cut in on the conversation, **It just so happens that there's a pool attached to this house, and it occurs to me that training underwater might well substitute for working under a heavier atmosphere, especially with the right breathing equipment.** Both Mar-Sa and Phoebe winced as one, then the latter said aloud, "Me and my big...mouth." "Sensei?" Mar-Sa asked, hoping the other woman was only teasing. "Well hey," Katie shrugged, "You know I'm always eager to find new ways of testing my students, and as long as you think of it as training..." "Training?" Phoebe murmured, "Sounds to me more like torture." "You think you've got it rough now," Katie ominously chuckled, "Just wait until you get to the more advanced levels. That's when you'll really be looking back on these times as the good old days." "Eeeeyesh..." Phoebe winced, leaning closer to Mar-Sa and saying, "Just why are we doing this again?" "Because we volunteered?" Mar-Sa replied in what was becoming their standard stock answer. "You volunteered," Phoebe countered, "I was drafted!" "Come along you two," Katie waved a hand, "If you've got enough energy left to chat that means you can get in a few more repetitions, and it's time you learn the fifth kata. You're taking much too much advantage of my generous good nature slacking off in mid-motion. How do you expect to call yourselves a decent pair of Ninja..." "Who says I want to be a Ninja?" Phoebe countered, "I thought this was about teaching Marsha how to defend herself, not turn into some kind of Kung-Fu assassin..." "That's Chinese," Katie said sternly, "This is Japanese, and for your information, young lady, being a Ninja involves a lot more than just being some hired thug who goes out and kills people for a living. Ninjutsu is about life, it's about staying alive and completing your assignments. Espionage is a time- honored means by which governments wage low-intensity warfare without relying on guns and missiles. It's about information gathering and intelligence, learning the probe the secrets of an enemy and determine their weaknesses, and to know when and if they pose a danger to your loved ones. Above all else a Ninja is a protector of her clan, and a Kunoichi Ninja is especially devoted to protecting both her family and loved ones from all potential dangers, past, present and future." "But isn't this a rather secretive way of going about that, Sensei?" Mar-Sa asked, "I have a life in the light of day, you know, a public presence that I keep and maintain by doing good works for people who need me. Phoebe is right that I would not enjoy these arts so much if it meant having to dwell eternally in the shadows..." "Light and shadow are contrasting opposites, Marsha-san," Katie replied, "You can't really have one without the other. They balance and compliment one another, just as there is a hidden side to everyone and everything that you encounter." "Okay," Phoebe said, "Maybe that's true about most people, but Marsha here doesn't have a dark side. She's pure light and sunshine, Katie, there's nothing dark about her!" "And the agent they're sending to take her out?" Katie asked, "You think he's gonna be all sweetness and light when he comes to get you?" "No," Mar-Sa admitted, "I don't imagine that the Council would choose an Agent who was less than thoroughly ruthless in the performance of his duties." "So he's the dark half to your light," Katie pointed out, "A guy from your planet, possessed of the same kinds of powers as you, and devoted to the service of pure evil. How are you gonna fight someone like that unless you understand the way he thinks and acts? You have to know what's going on in his mind if you want to outthink and outfight him, Marsha-san, and that means studying the shadow to your own light..." "You mean think just like him?" Phoebe winced, "Ewww!" "Not exactly," Katie replied, giving Mar-Sa a serious look before asking, "Why do you want to stay on our world?" The question surprised Mar-Sa, but she had a ready answer, "Because I love it here, I love the people of Earth and I want to continue to enjoy your world's freedoms..." "And why won't the Council want to just let bygones be bygones and let you live out your life in peace?" her Sensei inquired. "Because to do so would be tantamount to admitting that what they stand for is a lie," Mar-Sa answered, "It would betray the foundations of their belief and admit that our people could have a life outside of the domes, denied freedom and even simple enjoyments..." "And what happens if they win?" Katie continued. "Then...the Earth will be ravaged and its resources plundered to sustain our domes and maintain the power of the Council," Mar-Sa slowly considered the words as she said them, now fully appreciating their meaning. "And you don't want to let that happen, right?" Katie asked. "No," Mar-Sa replied, "Even if they only sent drones they could overwhelm the Earth's defenses within days if not just hours. You saw how powerful the Rover droid was, and that was not even a combat model. They have larger and better equipped modules that they could deploy if their aim was to destroy the military units of your world and enslave your people." "But suppose this agent is simply the vanguard of a much larger force that might follow after him," Katie suggested, "And if he establishes a beach-head of his own..." "That won't happen," Mar-Sa declared forcefully, "I won't let it happen!" "You?" Katie sniffed, "You can barely perform four katas adequately, and you hardly even know how to throw a decent punch. What are you gonna do against a guy who's probably trained for this his entire life?" "Anything that is necessary," Mar-Sa replied without flinching. "Even to kill him if it comes down to that?" Katie added softly. This time there was a slight pause, and Mar-Sa had to look down before saying, "Yes...even if it must come to that. I do not want to take another life, let alone that of a countryman, but if it becomes a choice between that and the people of your world, of you and Phoebe..." "Then that is what we are training for," Katie replied, turning to Phoebe, "And you, young lady, are training to become a real asset and not a burden to Marsha here. Don't you realize that the harder you train the better she improves? You two are linked together, and that means what affects one of you has a big effect on the other...get it?" "Ah...yeah," Phoebe said meekly, "I get it..." "Now then," Katie smiled, "If we have that out of the way..." All at once Mar-Sa felt something impinge upon her consciousness, hitting her almost like a brick between the eyes as an image suddenly formed within her mind of a man trapped and helpless among the burning timbers of a collapsed structure. A second was all it took for her to reassert her self-control, but when she straightened out again she knew that her two companions had picked up on her mental images and had witnessed the exact same vision. "What the heck was that?" Katie asked. "Looked like a fire to me," Phoebe turned and looked at her taller companion, "Marsha?" "I have to go," Mar-Sa said as she straightened up, "Somebody needs me..." "Just like that, huh?" Katie asked, "In the middle of training?" "Katie!" Phoebe rounded on her mentor, "Some guy's life is at stake here! You wanna quibble about the timing?" "Oh, all right," Katie made a dismissive gesture, "Go do what you have to do, but when you get back we're going get that fifth kata down, and I won't have any more back-talk, you got that?" "Hai!" her two students said together, using one of several Japanese words that were becoming a part of their daily lexicon. Not needing to be told that they were dismissed the both of them turned and hastily exited the dojo. Moments later Mar-Sa stood dressed in her red, blue and purple "costume" and was winging it over the skies of Napa valley, heading in the direction where her clairvoyant senses indicated was the location of the present emergency. Almost absently she switched on her headset communicator and said, "Phoebe, do you read me?" "Loud and clear, Marsha," came the audible reply via a clip-on ear-ring, "I've got a big confirm on that fire...it's a building over near Fresno, I'll give you the exact address in another moment." "Right," Mar-Sa said, "Then I'd better wing it there fast if I want to get there in time." So saying Mar-Sa levitated herself into the upper atmosphere, traveling within minutes to sub-orbital elevation before leveling out and angling herself down again to let the gravity of the Earth reassert limited control, thus adding to her downward momentum. Using her telekinetic shields she shaped the flow of the air currents around her to allow for a smoother decline, she easily sloughing off the friction of the winds that whipped past her at supersonic speeds, traveling at close to Mach Two without hardly leaving a radar signature in her passing. It still amazed her that the people of this world were using a primitive band- wave of radio emissions to track moving objects in the air. With her telekinesis she was able to absorb these band waves without bouncing anything off that could be radar detected, and thus she was entirely stealth capable as she came in on a glide and slowed her momentum down while following a trail of smoke to its source, which turned out to match exactly at the coordinates that Phoebe had just given. "Confirm on that, Phoebe," she smiled a bit grimly, "You were dead on the mark...as usual." "Of course," her cocky side-kick-slash-secretary replied, then added in more serious tones, "How bad is the fire, Marsha?" "Bad enough," Mar-Sa said as she approached the flame-engulfed building, "I'm going in for a closer look. About nine stories tall, the fire's on the seventh level..." "Got it," Phoebe replied, pausing to type in new commands through her console as she used the in-built sensor array that had been installed with Mar-Sa's costume to get a computer analysis of the problem, "Fire's swept through about three levels, but it's concentrated on the seventh. Can't tell if there are any people up there...too much heat and smoke..." "Guess that means it's up to me to find them on my own," Mar-Sa decided even as she slowed her glide to carry her through a wall of smoke and into the fire, automatically adjusting her telekinetic shields to filter out the smoke while she shifted her vision to the Infra-red range of her visual spectrum. There were too many heat signatures to sift through all around her, but with her second eyelid she was able to filter out the brighter spots from the cooler ones and by this means discern objects through the haze of the smoke, particularly objects that were small and huddled in corners attempting to escape from the heat and asphyxiation. Her Telepathy told her the rest, let her know that there were people alive on this floor and in desperate need of rescue, so she wasted no time accommodating to their desperate needs. The only hesitation came when she paused to study the extent of the fire and the damage it had caused, and then she acted as best she knew how, extending the reach of her telekinetic field to smother the flames and reinforce the integrity of the nearby structures. This allowed her to move through the room unaffected by the heat as she reached the side of the woman and her child whose escape had been cut off by the flames, and while she could tell that they were both overcome with the smoke they were still very much alive and thus still capable of being rescued. Getting them out of that inferno was even less of a problem than getting in, simply gathering the two victims into her arms and then "pushing" her way out through the nearest wall, selecting the coolest path available to carry her charges to safety. Once out into the open air it was a simple enough matter to glide down to the ground several floors below, landing next to the firefighters and paramedics on the scene, who quite naturally were as surprised to see her as one might expect, superheroes being a rarity even in a place like Fresno. Getting them to calm down after she used her golden glow to help the woman and her daughter was something else that was rather to be expected, that being the standard reaction most normal people had to her overt displays of the paranormal. In situations such as this Mar-Sa had learned that leaving them guessing was far preferable to staying and offering a lengthy scientific explanation, and-besides this-there were other victims in need of her service, and the more time she wasted the less were their chances for survival. Flying back into the burning building she was struck by the fact that she could see others moving around from inside the growing conflagration, firefighters and rescuers struggling against the heat and flames to reach what victims they could save, stumbling blinding through the smoke with crude axes and extinguishers, the hoses carried by some being unable to reach above the first few floors, and water pressure being inadequate to lift the extinguishing foam high enough to reach the building's upper levels. In spite of these limitations the men and women of this brigade were willing to plunge their lives into danger, to risk certain death if the building were to collapse on top of them, or if their breathing masks were to fail in any way. Truly this amazed and impressed her every bit as much as her powers must have impressed those other people on the ground. It clearly defined true courage in her eyes and inspired her to go on ahead to reach those people that could not be reached through conventional methods, and to put her powers to good use taking out those flames that she could reach while leaving the lower level heroics to the professionals trained to handle such situations. After all, she was not there to take anything away from these people but rather to put to service her own supernormal abilities, and so she aimed herself towards the source of the greatest danger, the presence that had drawn her to this place which was close to the center of the seventh floor. Breaking in there was just a matter of choosing the best path for getting through the fire without doing too much more damage to the building itself. Haste was necessary, of course, so she did not need to be gentle about the way in which she kicked in doors and broke through walls, doing her level best in passing to smother as much of the flames as she could in her passage. When she got to the center of the floor in question she encountered the worst of the flames, literally the very heart of the raging inferno, and surrounded by this was a fallen figure laying beneath a heavy support beam. The life essence that she sensed here was weak and ebbing, so she knew that she had to move with more speed in order to arrive at his side before it became entirely academic. The beam itself was only a couple of tons in mass, easily lifted and hefted to one side, but the man himself had suffered extensive burns all over his body and had been overcome by the smoke, his breathing mask having failed him when the heat melted the plastic. There was no time to get him out of there, she realized, just as the flames themselves were sure to bring this floor down upon both of them if Mar-Sa did not act quickly. Seeing no other recourse but to smother them fast, she squared her stance and summoned her power, focusing on the sun far above the roof over her head, and then she drew upon its renewing energy to surround them both in an expanding bubble of force that she projected outward in all directions. When her telekinetic field met the flames they were absorbed into nothingness while her powers strengthened molecular bonds and refortified the burning timbers and red-hot steel, causing the catalytic reaction that sustained the fire itself to flicker out as she drove the fires away from them both, creating a sphere of cool relief to give them the respite that they so desperately needed. Once the fires had been driven back far enough Mar-Sa was able to change the nature of her projection, to relax her telekinesis while drawing again on the golden radiance and projecting it down through her arms and into her hands, and with this she knelt down and transferred a large portion of her energy into the fireman's body in order to heal him. She could feel the immediate results as screaming nerve damage was instantly soothed and charred flesh fell away to be replaced within seconds by newer and healthier tissues. Cooked human meat became less roasted and the sickly stench of burning flesh slowly was banished as all throughout the body of the man the warming light of Mar-Sa's Bioenergy did the work of repairing the damage, even to the broken bones and crushed pelvis of the firefighter. Mar-Sa paused to reset the bone of the man's leg before continuing further to fuse the damage tissues and cartilage together, and gradually by turns she felt the system shock he had been suffering ease away into a more natural state of rest. In less than a minute the man was no longer suffering lung damage from both heat and smoke inhalation, and he had every likelihood of surviving on his own, provided that he got out of there and to the proper medical attention he would need to manage the rest of his healing. And just in time, Mar-Sa reasoned, for the flames were starting to smolder once again since the fire on the level below them was by now so intense that it would likely burst up through the floor at any second. Mar-Sa lifted her patient onto one shoulder and made a hasty exit out of there, breaking through any obstacle that got into her way before leaping free to the open air and safety, just seconds before a wave of explosive heat shot out at her like a vengeful creature morally offended by her departure. Again she delivered her charge into the hands of the other professionals, and then once more she turned and headed off towards the building, pausing just long enough to regather the energy that she needed to continue the task of rescuing more people. Minutes later she appeared once again bearing yet more overcome victims to safety, only this time she was starting to tire since the more she used her healing ability the more tired she become and the longer it took for her to recharge her psychic batteries. She kept this up until everyone who could be saved was carried forth to safety, and only then did she pause to relax and allow the sun to recharge her psychic batteries while she took stock of her situation. The building was even more in flames than before, but she could sense few people remaining within it, and the strain of using her Infra-red vision was starting to hurt, like staring at a candle for too long. Her eyes were adjusted to much lower illuminations than this, and even with her regenerative abilities to heal back any nerve damage, the constant strain was starting to tell. Instead she focused upon her ears, which could also perceive sounds with a hundred times the clarity of normal human hearing. From that she could discern tiny noises above the rumble of the conflagration, and that told her what she needed to know. There were men still inside the building, and some were trapped near to the lower levels. She turned to the nearest fireman and said, "I need a hose, can you make one available to me?" "Ma'am?" that worthy gentleman replied, then pointed to a hose presently being manned by three other firemen, "We got line number three, but we can't get it high enough to do any good..." "How much pressure can your pumps take?" Mar-Sa asked, reckoning that she would have to move quickly. "Not enough to get it up to thirty meters," the man answered. "It will do," Mar-Sa said, already in motion as she rushed to where the men were wrestling with the hose and with as much politeness as haste permitted she convinced them to surrender the hose into her possession, then at once took to the air, linking her telekinesis with the hose to reinforce its integral structure. "Phoebe," she said aloud, "I need some backup here...can you give me a reading?" "Sure thing, Marsha," Phoebe replied, "Sensors are functioning, what can I get you?" "Give me a breakdown of the building's integral structure," Mar-Sa called out, "And cross reference its profile with the extent of the damage it's sustained so far." "Got it," Phoebe replied on her end, rapidly working the keyboard, putting to work the various processors and interlinked data-systems that comprised her current work station, which operated on a level far beyond that of an ordinary earth-based PC. Almost like something out of a movie she called up an image on a flat-screen monitor then said, "Got it...the building's taken a pretty bad hit but she'll stand for another five minutes. That won't be the case if you knock down too many more walls, though..." "I figured as much," Mar-Sa said, "But if I were to shoot, say, four or five hundred gallons through the window on level six, do you think the place can take it?" "Possibly," Phoebe replied, "But don't put it in all at once...try being selective..." "Got it," Mar-Sa affirmed, then opened the valve on the hose and aimed the stream at the window in question, using her telekinesis to help "lift" the water and add a bit to its trajectory as she sprayed the floor, aiming for concentrations of heat as she swept the hose over the entire room, then flew around and aimed at an opening that she had created to catch more flaming areas, working all along the floor through every open window until she had extinguished the core of the flame itself, and then she moved up and did the same thing for the seventh level. The water had the advantage of not only suffocating the flames but rendering its fuel unusable, though a cloud of steam rose up to add to the confusion of her visual senses. She kept at it all the way up to the eighth floor where she stopped as the hose could not reach any higher, nor could she managed to channel the water any further. By now the flood of water had extinguished the fire on the fifth floor, however, so she decided to abandon the hose and take the fire on directly on the ninth level, aided by the fact that the steam had condensed and was rendering damp every surface not presently on fire. That made her job much simpler as she used her Telekinesis to snuff out the flames at a distance, making passes with her hands while directing in her mind the vital energies to blanket the entire area and put an end to the top part of the blaze. Once she was finished she studied the area, checking every source of heat to make certain that they would not flare up again once her back was turned, then she surveyed the condition of the building itself and determined that it was not in immanent danger of collapsing. Once that was concluded she spoke aloud again and said, "Phoebe?" "All clear from here, Marsha," Phoebe replied, "I think you saved the day once again, time to head on home before Katie gets worried." "Right," Mar-Sa nodded, faintly amazed herself that the strenuous labors of a frantic half an hour did not leave her feeling more tired than she was, even granted that the sun was still bright enough overhead that she had plenty of Bioenergy on hand to replenish what she had expended. Once going all out like this would have left her feeling totally bedraggled, the stress of pushing to her limits leaving her exhausted in mind and body, so much so that a nice, long rest would definitely be called for. As it was she felt good to go for another ten or fifteen minutes, certain proof that her new training regimen was having results of an unexpected beneficial nature. Hard as Katie pushed her, this felt like nothing more than yet another training exercise, and she kept expecting to hear a critique from her Sensei pointing out the flaws in her technique and suggesting ways in which she could improve her performance while cutting down on her time expenditure. The sound of footsteps approaching reminded her that the firemen were now at liberty to approach to the upper levels, but before the first one could set foot on the ninth floor she turned and called out to them, "Don't come up here...it's not safe for you! There's too much damage and it's not safe even for me to strand here!" The lead fireman halted where he stood at the top of the stairway, surveying the damage with a sweeping glance and immediately concluding that conditions were as dangerous as she indicated, seeing that entire walls had been destroyed while much of the level had been gutted down to the bare skeleton of steel and concrete supports. He signaled to his men to back away, even as they crowded up behind him to get a better look at their benefactor, to which Mar-Sa could only smile and nod before taking off through a gaping hole that had been left in the ceiling. She wondered exactly what sort of thoughts would be going through the minds of these men and considered lingering behind to scan them telepathically, but thought better of the privacy invasion. She hoped that they would not resent too much her intruding on their turf but also felt certain that they would appreciate the degree of her assistance. She knew that she did not exactly possess a license for this sort of thing but without her intervention lives would have been lost and the building would itself have fallen. Even so her appreciation for their tenacity and courage was only increased at the thought that they would have risked coming to the rescue of anyone left on the upper levels. It truly was extraordinary what normal human beings could do in adverse situations, and she was only too glad to have been able to assist them. Rising back up into the sky she winged her way back towards the farmhouse, delighting on the freedom of her ability to soar among the clouds with no sense of limitation, free to go wherever she desired and be wherever she wanted to be. It truly was miraculous this gift of flight and the freedom to travel and it made her all the more consciously aware of how precious a thing it was that fate had given to a simple girl from a place called Ninjarma. For all that she could literally travel the globe in a matter of minutes, though, she knew that there was only one place where her heart desired to be, and that was at the side of her loved ones, to sacrifice a bit of her freedom for the sake of a brighter future. Mid-way back to the Napa Valley, however, she heard her beloved Phoebe say, "Mar, are you still there?" "Yes, Phoebe," Mar-Sa replied, "What is it?" "Got word about a shootout happening out in Sacramento. Got time enough to swing over that way?" Mar-Sa calculated the distance from her current position and replied, "I'm on it. Give me the coordinates and address and I'll be there in another ten minutes." "Better hurry," Phoebe urged, "It's a hostage situation. Some guy's holed up with his Ex and is threatening to kill his own family. A real nut job by the sound of it, but the Police think he's serious..." "Then I'll make it five minutes," Mar-Sa replied, already angling her trajectory towards the upper atmosphere so that she could hit supersonic speeds without doing too much damage at the ground level. At thirty thousand feet she could really move without too much air friction to impede her, and by shaping her shields into the form of a lifting body she could glide back to earth without needing to coast along the way. And as she flew she was reminded of the downside of human beings, the dark side to their nature that often crawled up from a pit of endless despair to threaten the happiness that they could create in the most adverse of situations. How to account for a people who were alternately so blessed and yet so cursed with dissatisfaction? Surely they should know how good they had it when compared with the less fortunate souls that dwelled in other parts of the planet, yet somehow they never seemed to entirely find satisfaction in what they possessed, wanting for more than even that to which they aspired. Truly people such as these needed to be inspired, to imagine, to dream of their good fortune and take pleasure in what they had been given by the fates. Someone had to tell them that they were surely the most fortunate people in all the known universe, and that no matter how dark it might seem the light was still all around them. Mar-Sa did not harbor illusions that she was some sort of divinity and was all too aware of her human flaws and imperfections, but if she could inspire other people with her story and her demonstration of good works, surely that might make a difference in a few lives, possibly even give hope and comfort to those in need of a symbol. Heather Holberg certainly seemed to believe her capable of such a thing, and with only a couple of weeks away from her magazine debut she had convinced Mar-Sa that a public appearance would be worth a thousand lesser acts of kindness, to say nothing of the effect it would have on human civilization to finally have proof that they were not alone in the creation. In truth Mar-Sa was looking forward to the event with great enthusiasm, and with Katie's permission to attend the festivities she had every confidence that the day would be one of the most extraordinary in her young existence. But first she had an emergency to settle, a madman to calm down and yet more victims in need of rescue, and she had to do it soon because she sensed a growing apprehension that seemed to settle over her whenever innocent lives were about to be threatened. Already she could see the outskirts of the capitol of California state looming down below her as she angled in for a steep dive towards the residential districts. She prayed that she would be in time to avert a tragedy and would not arrive to find herself too late to make a difference. It was all a matter of proper timing and good fortune that she might find the wife and her daughters still among the living, for some fiends killed well before their crimes could be discovered, in which case there could be little else to do but to bring the murderer to justice. At times such as those she could even grow to understand what Katie meant when she said that some people did not deserve to continue living... Almost...but still the thought of taking a life held no appeal to her, for life was precious and beyond even her ability to recall once forfeit. Her brief brush with Phoebe's mortality had taught her that, and so she would approach this crisis humbly, all too aware of her limitations but not intending to let the weakness of another serve as the excuse for murderous intentions. It was life that she intended to honor, and so in the name of life she descended upon the scene of a near-tragedy in the making, fully intending to once again make a meaningful difference... Back at the farmhouse Phoebe leaned back in her chair and heaved a sigh of relief, "That was close! The creep was about to open fire when Marsha landed, but she put a stop to that real fast. Wife and kids are alive, just shaken, and ex-hubby's on a one-way trip to the booby-hatch care of the state..." "Waste of tax money if you ask me," Katie sniffed, "But I guess if you catch enough of these guys to study them you might find a cure for his hang-up, bur probably not for the stupidity of any woman who'd have him as a husband in the first place." "C'mon, Katie," Phoebe sniffed, "You know Mar can't go around killing creeps just to improve the gene pool, especially not with cops and cameras present. If she started doing that then they'd declare her a menace and try to lock her up like a criminal herself. Besides, it ain't really like it's a fair fight, them with their guns against Marsha." "I know," Katie replied, "And it's probably a good thing that I don't have her kind of power, 'cause I know a lot of guys in the Middle East who wouldn't still be breathing." "Well," Phoebe said, "Anyway, the point is that Marsha's done another good deed and she's on her way back home, so you can put us both through the wringer again, like always. Gotta admit it's pretty neat the kind of team the two of us make, huh? I mean...this set-up Marsha put together so I can give her tech support while she uses her superpowers to fight bad guys means that I can have a part in her adventures without having to risk my neck on the front lines." "Yeah," Katie had to grudgingly admit as she studied the work station that she had helped to program and put together, an expensive little hobby that was proving more than worthwhile since the interlinked system of monitors and relays allowed them to tap into the Net and interface with even the most secure government channels, allowing them to monitor events throughout the world from the comfort of a home office. The room itself (which Phoebe had jokingly dubbed "The Fortress of Solitude") was a special portion of the farmhouse that had been reconverted for this purpose, and the drain on their electricity bills was substantial as a consequence since these computers ran 24/7. That the room served as both communications central and high-tech workroom for Mar-Sa and the endless stream of projects that she indulged in when not training in the arts. It was filled with devices, both partially and completely constructed, that were Mar-Sa's attempt at recreating the technology of her world as well as to better study the technology of this world, the Earth, in order to trace a linear gestation from one science level to the next. That Katie could not even name half the devices that she already saw hanging on the walls or on display upon various shelves only indicated the progress that Mar-Sa was making using her advanced scientific knowledge. When they were ready to they could sell the patents for these devices and live on easy street for the remainder of their mutual existence. When Mar-Sa was on a mission this became Phoebe's work station, and the former office secretary proved to be more than capable of handling the multi-tasking chores that were required of such an assignment. Given several keyboards and multiple processors working to coordinate an incredibly rapid exchange of data- flow, coordinated with the transmission system that Mar-Sa had rigged to work along the E-space channels that her own people used for telecommunications (a concept which had yet to be discovered by conventional Earth science) Phoebe had mastered them all within a week, further proof that her own brain was working more efficiently than normal, making a relative genius out of a nominally bright and infinitely adaptable young woman. Katie admitted that she was both impressed and proud of her former roommate- turned-student. Phoebe had blossomed tremendously from the time before encountering Mar-Sa, and thanks to the two-way mental link they now shared she had begun to tap into a trickle of Mar-Sa's own incredible vitality, experiencing a heightening of overall abilities that made her stronger, smarter, faster and generally more healthy than at any previous time that Katie could remember. Phoebe's normal enthusiasm and exuberance for life had in turn been transferred over to Mar-Sa, creating an almost unbeatable combination. Katie herself was only just beginning to appreciate how deep and meaningful were the ties between both women, bonds made much stronger by both their emotional nurturing and the sex they shared together, physical and spiritual contact that had forged a link that was mutually beneficial. Even so she was very much aware that Phoebe was the weak link in this partnership and had to get toughened up and fast if she were to continue to be a helpmate for Mar-Sa, which was the real aim of her being a part of Mar-Sa's training. As one girl improved the other one did likewise, and their symbiotic union doubled and redoubled at each aspect of their training. Already they were both far more advanced than the simple novice students that Katie pretended they were, knowing how far they had yet to progress if they were to become a truly awesome team. Risking Phoebe on the front lines was never to be an issue, but having the physical side to her training be stressed insured that Phoebe would instinctively understand and react to Mar-Sa's needs, which in turn meant that Mar-Sa herself would always have a "spotter" to back her up in the form of her lover, Phoebe. Of course there were still issues that needed to be resolve besides their training, and as Katie's gaze wandered off to one side she was reminded pointedly of just such an example of an unresolved issue. There in one corner of the cramped workshop was the glistening metal sphere that had attacked them only a few short weeks ago, the alien machine that had come close to killing them all, which Mar-Sa insisted on keeping as a personal project to work upon. The sphere was currently opened up and sitting in two separate sections, but even dismantled like this it had a sinister character about it that left Katie feeling vaguely uneasy. The device represented the technology of an alien world, and as such contained a treasure trove of scientific advances just waiting to be discovered. Being a bit technically oriented herself, Katie would have normally been tempted to study and explore the significant construction of such a unique wonder of science, but instead she felt reluctant to touch it as if fearing to spark it back into malevolent life, at which point all her training as a Kunoichi would amount to nothing. "You feel it too, huh?" she heard Phoebe say, "That thing is spooky. Call me crazy, but just looking at it makes me want to call on an exorcist. I wish Marsha wasn't so convinced that she can change its programming and turn it into something useful." "My," Katie said facetiously, "Aren't we feeling superstitious?" "Well, don't you feel like that?" Phoebe reasonably asked, "I mean, given everything else that's happened, what's to say that thing isn't possessed of an evil program?" Katie was about to concede the point when they heard the phone ring, which was quite unexpected since they had an unlisted number. Katie glanced at Phoebe, who immediately ran a check through her systems then looked up and said, "It's clean." "I sure hope so," Katie replied, deciding to take a chance by picking up the nearest receiver and saying, "Mushi, Mushi. Can I help you?" "Yes," a curiously melodious voice replied over the speaker, "May I take it that this is the Cross residence? I am an associate of Ms. Holberg, and she was kind enough to grant me access to your number." "And who am I talking to?" Katie asked, noticing how Phoebe was working the keyboard to get a trace on the caller ID system, which meant that she would pinpoint the speaker's location within a matter of mere seconds. "My name is Jones...Astarte Jones," the curiously melodious voice replied, "Owner and president of Jones Industries. I would like to know if it would be convenient for you if I might drop by your residence for a friendly chat. We have a matter of mutual business to discuss, and I prefer to conduct my interviews directly in person." "I'm sorry," Katie replied, "But my house is presently under strict quarantine. I can't have any visitors at this time. If you want to meet with me personally then you'll have to set up an appointment with my secretary," she nodded significantly at Phoebe, who got the hint and switched on her own headset channel. "Hello," she said pleasantly, "Would you care to set a time and date of your convenience when Ms. Cross can be available to speak with you in person?" There was considerable amusement in the oddly quavering voice of the woman as she said, "Never mind. I will call upon you again at another time when we both may speak freely. Be assured that I am a friend and mean only the best for both you and your...client, Ms. Summers. You may be assured of my discretion, nor is it my intent to interfere in any way with your training. Do give my regards to your better half, Ms. Winters, and until we meet in person...sayonara." The line clicked and went dead from that point onward, so Phoebe hung up then turned a questioning look towards Katie, "What the heck was that all about?" "I dunno," Katie frowned, "But somehow I got a hunch that Ari's involved with her, whoever she is. Trust that Limey to fool around with everything female on two legs..." "Ah..." Phoebe glanced down at one of her monitors and said, "I...don't think so. At least...I'm not sure if she's got anything to do with Ariel, but...ah...well...I think you had better see this, Katie." "Huh?" Katie asked as she moved to stand over her blonde apprentice, only to lean forward with a start as she said, "You just called that up?" "No," Phoebe replied, "It came up on its own...weird, huh? And look, it's an encrypted message file about someone named Astarte Amanda Jones, and look at that file! Wheoooo..." she whistled off-key in appreciation. "Huh?" Katie frowned, "Says here she's loaded...a shipping and transport magnate operating out of San Francisco, estimated worth...just under a billion dollars?" "No picture, though," Phoebe noted, "I wonder what somebody like that wants with Marsha?" "I don't know and I don't like it," Katie scowled, "Whoever she is she must have a lot of pull to get in touch with us through Heather. Might do to call Holberg up and ask if she really did refer this lady. In the meantime run a virus scan and a diagnostic just in case we've been hacked. A page like this doesn't just pop up on a screen unless somebody's been tampering with the programs." "Right," Phoebe said, already working the controls, "Running a scan right now. If there's a bug or a tapeworm attached to that file we'll find it..." Unnoticed by either woman, however, a spark of light seemed to briefly flare and hover over the inactive Rover probe unit, then it descended into the machine and caused another series of sparks to flare around the interior for several seconds. The Faerie light had faded away by the time Katie did chance to glance in its direction, but since she sensed nothing out of the ordinary she decided that she had imagined seeing a light dance about out of the corner of one eye, so she turned back to finishing off the data file as it told a curious story, and thus she missed seeing another red light briefly light up over the AI processor of the inactive droid, only to gradually fade away once again, leaving little sign of its presence in its passing... For comments and criticisms contact me at: shadowmane@ridgenet.net X Page 138 of 138 Mar-Sa, the Ultra Girl Book One/Part Three By Jim Robert Bader Chapters 20-27 First Copyrights Only -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- If you wish to check out my other works, Please check out my Fanfiction webpage at: http://s11.sexshare.com/~jbader/jimbader.html All related chapters of this series can be found there along with my other works.