In the Middle (Sara Chronicles Book 2), page 1
The Sara Chronicles: Book Two
In the Middle
P.S. Power
Orange Cat Publishing
Copyright 2021
Chapter one
“Um…” Sara felt brilliant saying that, but the truth was, she felt honestly ambushed.
Set up and tricked, without her even having guessed that anything was planned to happen that day. Not to her, at least.
It was a good one, too. Short of actually sneaking up on her with some kind of psychic shield and high-tech camo on, what she’d just heard was, truly, close to perfect, as far as throwing her off her game.
“I’m grounded? I haven’t even broken any rules, have I? It seems a bit much to put me on lockdown for getting too good of grades, doesn’t it?”
She was sitting in Director Turner’s office, with Bridget and for some reason, Captain Simpson. He was one of the military people they had stationed at the base. The man was fit, even hard looking, but not a person she associated with being an asshole, in particular. The man ran joint P.E. classes for them, there at the IPB, so they’d met, about six or seven years before. He was a super soldier of some sort. That type of person had very little to do with her, day to day, so it had seemed odd, seeing an actual Army guy sitting there, when she was summoned into the room.
For what was nearly the first time, she seriously considered glaring at Marcia Turner like a petulant teen brat. Before she could do that, Simpson smiled and shook his head. It was pretty close to being charming, she had to admit.
“Not exactly, no. You can’t use your powers for six weeks, that’s all. It’s a direct order, from the President. You aren’t grounded, however. You can go anywhere you want.” He winked at her then, being fairly attractive about it, even if the move was out of place. Psychopaths did things like that. Not that the man was one.
“Well, at least if you get all the normal kid permissions taken care of, first. We want the whole thing documented, as well. You’ll carry a camera and make a report using it when anything substantial takes place. You know, if you mess up and use your powers without meaning to, or decide that we’re being stupid and do whatever you want anyway. That kind of thing?”
That sounded a bit different from what Turner had just said, but was in the same rough area.
“Um… Okay… Why? Or am I not allowed to know that kind of thing? It might help me plan what to do, if I know who to blame for this.” Also, the truth was, she felt curious about it. Angry, too, since someone was clearly singling her out for punishment.
Bridget fidgeted, but didn’t speak and Turner looked at her, as if annoyed.
The special forces Captain shrugged, as if they were old friends. A thing that was technically true. Work acquaintances, at least. To him she’d been in his classes about a year and a half before, after all. They’d gotten along even, since she’d been eight back then. On the good side, she hadn’t looked that way, actually having either been a large green, very female, orc, or choosing to seem exactly like she was in the moment.
So, he was treating her, more or less, like he would an adult. At least a young one. Not everyone there at the base had managed that, since she’d been back. About half of them, to be honest. The rest acted as if she was still actually nine.
The fit man, in his little Army outfit, took a breath and held it.
“I don’t have the whole story, but the basic idea is that you being a class ten has some of the cabinet and congress members feeling like scared little children, so they want to dominate you, to show they can. So, you get the idea, it was this, or you showing up twice a month for a spanking? Given that some of them would enjoy that in all the wrong ways, we went with this one. Think of it as a real exercise, if that makes you feel better. You can live your life, just with no powers. To prove to the world that you have control over what you do, day to day.”
She could kind of see it then, put that way. Not totally, but she really had basically done that already, the no powers thing, for years at a time, so it wasn’t impossible for her.
“I have work. Some of that is in a different reality…”
Simpson nodded. The man turned to her a little more, and gave her a friendly nod. It was clear, no matter what else was going on, that this man didn’t think she was a threat at all. Even sitting there and being annoying for his bosses, he knew she wouldn’t be doing anything all that bad over it. At least he seemed relaxed on the matter. Conversational, instead of walking on eggshells.
“Understood. So, Sara, how are you getting that kind of thing done, if you don’t have the crutch of super powers? I want to see innovation and good use of resources here. Also, you can’t just have super powered friends do it all for you. I mean, if it’s needed for work, over in Noram, then set that up, but here? Nope. You need to handle it like a fifteen-year-old girl. So… how are you handling that?”
She got the trick the man was using on her. Pretending she’d already agreed with him, or that she really didn’t have a choice in the matter. Neither was actually true, but Sara went silent, for nearly half a minute. The tension in the room rose, but only a little. That feeling was mainly coming from Bridget, who seemed to be getting ready to tell the man to shove his clever ideas up his backside. The woman was even willing to help him with it, by getting some lube. She nearly spoke the words, but fought against it, not wanting to be too impulsive about the whole thing, even if it clearly wasn’t fair.
Sara picked all of that up with hyper clarity. She was using a low-level telepathy at that moment, after all. It wasn’t enough to really read minds, since she was just getting back from school. Honestly, that one wasn’t even a power, strictly speaking. It was a thing that she’d learned to do, using special meditation magic, in a different reality. Field reading, they called it over there. It made school a lot nicer, if she didn't have to hear what everyone in the place was thinking, constantly. Not just about her, either. Not all of that was fun or flattering, but the real problem was just how much pain so many of her fellows there were in, almost constantly.
“I’m supposed to handle attacks that way, too?”
That had everyone looking at her, as if she were being stupid. Bridget shook her head, at least, finally giving in and saying what was on her mind.
“No… You’re way too big of a target right now. Asking that would be the same as telling you to lay down and die.” Again, she seemed ready to argue the point, and bounced a bit in her seat. Looking short and so light that it was hard for most people who met her to keep in mind that she was probably the strongest person, physically speaking, in the entire world. Except, possibly, Sara. When she wanted to be.
Turner cleared her throat. She played with some papers on her desk, but hadn’t actually looked at them, since Sara had come into the room. It was nearly fidgety, for the normally calm lady.
“That… No. I mean, sure, if you get hit with a real threat, but some school bullies or men with a few guns? We expect you to handle that kind of thing without resorting to powers. You can use your training, of course, so plan carefully and be watchful.”
Sara grinned. After all, she did have some real skills, if they were going to allow that kind of thing.
“Including my training in building?”
She expected that to not be allowed, but it was a real skill. Not derived from being Infected, even. She’d had real lessons and had been practicing almost every day, for the last month. More than that, even, since a lot of it had been done in Noram. She wasn’t just a kid now. She was a teen girl who was also a wizard. The words, thankfully being only in her head, sounded goofy enough that she wondered for a moment if they might let her use that kind of thing. It seemed, nearly, like a joke, after all. She’d just need to ham things up a bit, in order to sell the idea. Make it into something funny, or quirky seeming, that could be ignored.
Turner didn’t give her a conspiratorial nod, since that would be too easy. Also, too close to lying to other parts of the government, including her boss, the President. Instead, she waved at Simpson a bit. The nice-looking man, his face neatly shaved and uniform pressed, seemed questioning. Clueless as to what she was talking about, too. Sara smiled, charmingly, but didn't inform him about the topic.
So the Director ratted her out. Because, the woman wasn’t going against the power structure of the government so that Sara could have an easier time of things. Naturally. The Director didn’t hate her, but she was afraid of her, on a deep, decently well buried level. Meaning that on this one, she was probably more on the side of the President than on the girl who could destroy the world if she was having a bad day.
“That’s Noram style magic. It’s slow, but can be powerful. Most of the time they make amulets and things like that. The best practitioners can make spaceships and shields that can’t be easily gotten through. If she can use that, it’s basically a power. A class three ability for her, I think. So far. You aren’t that good at it yet, are you?”
Sighing, she had to nod. That was simply correct, after all.
“That’s not wrong. What about field reading though? That’s not a power. I mean anyone can learn to do it. It’s a bit like remote viewing, basically? Also, I could use a shield from there? Then, if I get ambushed because I’m not using my powers to pay attention, I might actually survive it?”
That would really help a bit, she had to think. She also figured that it wouldn’t be allowed. Just having a good shield like that would be the same as her being a class
Instead of answering, Simpson pointed at the ceiling with his right index finger, got up and walked out of the room. He didn’t go far. Not even out of total earshot. Not that she eavesdropped on him making the call he wanted. There was talking in hushed tones from the lobby, her name and then some decently cheery grunting going on. When he came back in, the man waved at her.
“Yes, on the low-level telepathy. The higher ups agree that anyone can learn that, so it’s fair game. Still, no more than that. You can’t use that magic, though. Since our people won’t be able to tell the difference between that and you using your powers carefully to get around the rules. Except to make one shield. For it to count you have to do it yourself and it has to be done before we actually start the clock on this. Will that work?”
“How long until the clock starts?”
The man actually looked at his watch.
“It’s four-nineteen… Now. So, call it starting at midnight, tonight, exactly? Then you go for six weeks. Nothing outside of the rules for that long. Keep that video log, of any time you accidently screw up, or use your powers on purpose. We already have a special camera for that. It has sensors that will record if you use too much energy near it. No fair just forgetting it in your room, even if that would work. We’re trusting you here. You have school, so we’ll get that part, the cam, cleared for there, as well?” He looked at Turner as if that might be her job.
Sara snorted. If the man was going to be a pain in her behind, she was taking her own turn doing that back to him.
“How about you get that cleared? Without leaning on it being an order from the President? I’m sure Principal Rojas will be thrilled to have me walking around with a potential invasion of privacy in my book bag all the time.”
She was, she knew, actually being a little passive aggressive, and nearly took it back, when Turner grinned, seeming bemused.
“That… Works. Not that I’m giving you an order, on that one. I’m not in your chain of command on this. Do what you need to, in order to make your orders happen. Still, I’d like to see what you come up with for that, if you don’t have rank to fall back on? It fits the theme. Plus, making you have to do that isn’t really outside of what even a depowered Sara might be able to set in motion… You know, why not do that, Sara?”
She scowled.
“Making a shield, from scratch, and messing with Captain Simpson in a passive aggressive fashion to show him I’m not going to be easily pushed around? That makes for a bit of a tight schedule. I need to make sure I have my face in order, too. I might still need to shape shift, each day. For real, I mean. Not just to break the new rules or something like that. I can probably go a few days without doing it, but I start to feel wrong if I go without changing shape at all.” She’d mentioned that kind of thing before, to her friends, but wouldn’t expect the Army guy to know that. They’d spoken at times, but only about running and exercise related things.
That honestly had been years before, for her, as well. Almost seven.
For him it was a lot less than that, so he looked at her, and seemed to be thinking of something related to that. How hard she’d always tried in his classes.
He shrugged, seeming to have come to a conclusion, based on her not being a brat.
“That’s fine. Just don’t shift into having any powers. Or, if you have to break the rules, for honest health reasons, report in as to exactly what you did and why.”
She wanted to be upset about the whole thing, since it was, clearly, a bunch of political nonsense, but instead she forced a smile, faking it hard enough it should, hopefully, seem real.
Blowing out a huge breath, she looked around the room.
“I need to call the President?”
For some reason, everyone in the room suddenly seemed worried. As if she were going to be actually asserting herself in a sane and realistic fashion. Possibly telling the leader of the free world to fuck the hell off, or perhaps to take his head and insert it in the rectum of the nearest jerk who had decided to bother her that day. It was tempting, but she actually got the general idea they were going for. Also, that she really didn’t want any of the men involved to turn their minds to kinky bi-weekly paddling.
Not that, when she thought about it, the idea was totally unpleasant.
Still, she knew, on some level, that she was supposed to think that kind of thing, old men slapping their bare hands against her tight buttocks, as being creepy. It was. She was almost certain of it.
Regardless, Director Turner dialed the phone and spoke, after about twenty seconds.
“Sara Chambers calling for the President?”
She doubted that was going to really work, since it wasn’t an emergency or anything. He had to be incredibly busy, after all.
There was a slightly breathless voice, about ten seconds later. As if he’d actually darted to the phone.
“Miss Chambers?”
She cleared her throat, the speakerphone being good enough to pick it up, even from six feet away.
“Call me Sara? We’re on speaker. Bridget Chambers is here, with Director Turner and Captain Simpson, from the Army. The room is closed off, is the line secure?” That was spoken to Marcia, who nodded.
“It is.”
There was a pause then, and the sound of people moving, in the background. Then a door opening and closing, giving a bit of dimension to the space. It wasn’t the oval office, she didn’t think. There was just the hint of an echo, that a round room really couldn’t produce. Not a small one, at least.
“It’s just me and Senator Roberts, for the moment, on this side. The line should be secure from this end, as well. What may I do for you, today? Is this about the… We don’t have a good name for it, do we? The new instructions we have for you?”
She nodded, even if she wasn’t going to be heard.
“I think so? Something about me going and spanking some of your staff, twice a month? It sounds a bit over the top, but I guess I can get a leather mask and a cute little outfit for it? I’m underage, though, so, how do we get around that?” She managed to deadpan the whole thing, since it was just a joke.
Inappropriate, but she was actually annoyed that anyone was going to bother her that much. Marcia positively glared at her, but Bridget and Simpson actually laughed, out loud. So did the President.
“That would be wrong, young lady. This is about you not being allowed to use your powers?”
“In a way. I get the basic idea, I think. Captain Simpson cleverly tried to turn it into an exercise, instead of making it seem like my civil rights are being violated. Which I’m pretty sure they actually are… To that end, I was wondering if I can get you to put some pressure down the line, through his chain of command, for me?”
There was a grunt. It sounded a bit stern.
“Possibly. What do you want? For him to be court martialed?”
No one even pretended that was going to be what she was asking for. Even the President didn’t seem to mean it.
“Nope. He mentioned getting with my school principal, to see about me being allowed a camera to record what I’m doing, power wise, if it comes up and I have to tattle on myself. I… Can sort of see that one. I mean, I tend to do that kind of thing so often that it’s really automatic, a lot of the time. Anyway, I want to float the idea that he has to try and set that up with her, without leaning on being military or working directly for you in this. I mean, guy off the street, trying to convince a school principal that one of the students needs to have a camera, all the time? That will be easy and fun for him, right? Good training, I bet. He’s Special Forces, so it’s good to push him harder than most would be.”
She didn’t know that, specifically, not having ever really looked into what that kind of person did in life, but the President made a sound that wasn’t all that annoyed.
“I think we can manage that. How do you suggest he get that done?”
She shrugged, looked at the man, who was actually attractive, being fit and lightly tan, with a full head of short, straight hair and blue eyes, and tilted her head.
“Honestly? He can probably just walk into the office and explain the exercise to Principal Rojas. She knows who I am, after all. I’m mainly just lashing out, since this is annoying. I’ll be hassling you over it, too, if I can come up with anything that isn’t way over the top that way. So, there… He has to go and do something! Ha, that taught him, didn’t it?”
