Forums » Sci-Fi Roleplay » An unexpected future (1x1)

Kayleigh just stood there with a blank expression for a time. "Eh.. Kayleigh Simmons.." She replied. She didn' really see any reason to hide her identity anymore. She was here now, and looking at this place... She didn't plan on leaving it.

Dawn nodded, "The first step is starting Kayleigh's training to control her magic. Once she has sufficient control over herself... well, we'll decide her future course when we get to that stage."

"None o us are exactly teachers, Dawn." Jerian pointed out.

"We just have to see where her natural inclinations lie. We have three people on this team capable of using magic; offensive wind magic, general defensive spells, technomancy and fire magic. We shoul find something there she'll have an affinity for."

Kayleigh started to feel a little bit more comfortable by now and she loosened up a bit. "When I first used... magic... I couldn't see anything. It just felt like an incredible force pushing the man backwards and throwing him away. I'd say it was wind, but then again it wasn't.. It didn't feel like wind." she explained. She didn't really know how to explain her experiences otherwise, and she shivered slightly when she thought of the man who's neck she'd accidentally broken.

Dawn nodded, "That's how it usually happens. Elemental invocation is mostly advanced magic, only a few people use elemental magic instinctively."

"Like me." Jerian said, "My first spell was a blast of air... or maybe it was summoning an Aeriad. I wasn't exactly in a clear frame of mind at the time."

"Anyway, right now you won't be able to d much with your magic consciously, but now that it is awakened it'll react to strong emotions and other stimuli." Dawn said, "The first stage of training for most magic0users is to learn focus and conscious control over their magic, and the ability to shape it and suppress it. Within The Society that stage of training normally takes place at The Academy over at Central Command... which is in Tibet."

"We call the first-stage trainees Neophytes. Most take about a a year or two of study before they progress to Squire, where they get training in the field." Jerian said, an odd nostalgic look on his face, "There's a lot to learn, and Central is a pretty amazing place."

Dawn shook her head, "But I doubt you'll want to be sent to the other side of the world, and the training season for the new Neophytes is already half over."

Once again, Kayleigh's eyes widened at the thought of going to Tibet. She'd never been that far out before! Actually, she'd never been out of the city as far as she was right at this very moment. However it was all really overwhelming, and she was glad she wouldn't get sent to Tibet right away - it'd be too much.
"I'm glad to be able to remain here for the moment." she said with a smile.

Dawn nodded, "Since we recovered you, Cell Theta has been charged with you training and education up until the next season at The Academy. At that point it must be decided where you go from here. We can send you to Central, get you trained, and you would become a member of our order. As a magic-user, an Initiated, you will see the world differently from the Uninitiated, the regular humans, you can go back to your apartment and try and resume your normal life... but as we've already told you it won't be the same... and there are dangers out there, creatures that will sense your awakened magic... and you'll be fair game."

Jerian nodded, his expression serious, "As a member of The Society you would be taught advanced magic, combat skills and other things to help you survive, however you would become a member of our order for the rest of your life... there are privileges and protections involved with being a member of The Society, but dangers as well. You could think of us as a police force for the supernatural world. We protect normal humans as best we can, but that also makes us targets. We have more resources and better training than most, but it is a dangerous life."

Dawn nodded, "A life few choose to live, most of us are people who suffered some attack by a supernatural creature, many lost friends, family... and that spurred them into joining in the war. Others, like you, discovered their magical or psionic potential and were recovered and trained and decided to join up. A few of us though... well... we never really had a choice in the matter." She glanced at Jerian, a slight frown, "And sometimes I wonder if people like that don't regret not having a normal life."

Jerian smiled slightly, "For some of us, this is a normal life. Anyway, is there anything you left at your apartment that you might need? If we're going to bring you up to speed as quickly as possible you may as well stay here for a few days."

Kayleigh shook her head. "No.. As I said before we left, what little I own is right here with me. I don't have anything else that can't be replaced." she replied shyly. She wasn't sure what the two of them thought of the poor, so she was cautious. She'd met plenty of people who tried tot ake advantage of her for it, like for example those men in the alley...

Jerian nodded with a smile, "Saves me a trip then. I guess you like the simple life then? There's a lot to be said for it. I didn't have much growing up, but I was happy enough." He glanced at Dawn and gave her a nod, "Your dad saw to that, and I'm grateful to him."

She smiled, looking away, "Thank him, not me."

"I don't think he'd appreciate a thank-you call from a lowly Paladin like me." Jerian said.

"Lowly? Hardly. You're barely below me in the pecking order around here." She said with a snort, "Not bad for a boy who doesn't exist."

Jerian grinned "Yes, well, your father was good teacher." He glanced at Kayleigh, "You've had a hard day, and I'm sure there's a lot to take in. You can have your pick of rooms upstairs, we can start your training tomorrow if you'd like. Nothing too strenuous at first; just a few exercises and meditation lessons. Control of magic means control of the mind after all."

Kayleigh nodded as she felt tired all of a sudden just by hearing those words. "Thank you." She smiled warmly at both of them. She left them, walking u the stairs and opening doors to rooms until she found an empty room that looked out over the garden. She immediately ran for the bathroom and took a hot shower - the first one in years! back in her flat, Kayleigh has had no warm water for years, not since her parents got missed. She enjoyed the shower for a while, until memory of her parents overwhelmed her. She sunk through her knees to the shower floor and curled up as the water ran down her body. She just cried and cried, both out of sorrow and despair for a now uncertain future.

A good hour later she turned off the shower and dried herself off. Not even bothering trying the wardrobe for clothes, she just crawled in bed naked and pulled the blankets up over her shoulders so that only her nose, eyes and hair was still visible. She sobbed slightly for a while longer before she finally fell asleep and drifted away to the land of both dreams and turmoil.

Jerian and Dawn were both sitting in large armchairs in one of the sitting rooms a little while after Kayleigh had left them. Dawn had a cup of strong black coffee in her hands and she sipped from it occasionally, her expression pensive, "I've been thinking... about a lot of things. You don't talk much about your life before Cell Theta."

"You have my records." Jerian said with a shrug, "Look it up."

"There's a hell of a lot of stuff that's above my clearance level. I mean... that mess in Calais back in-"

"You know I can't talk about it." Jerian said, "And I wouldn't even if I could."

"I know I can trust you, Jerian, and I know I can rely on you... but since Tech's always stuck in his lab and Kate's not exactly the kind of woman you could see teaching..."

"And you're busy keeping the rest of us in line... so you need me to teach Kayleigh about magic." He finished.

"Can you do it? You've never struck me as the patient type."

"I'm... complicated." Jerian said with a wry smile, "I think I can handle her. Besides, there's a hell of a lot they don't teach you at The Academy, a hell of a lot of stuff they can't, but I've got enough experience to at least give her some pointers... keep her in control."

She sighed and shook her head, "One of these days you're going to have to come clean with me, Paladin. You can't always brush me off with excuses like 'it's classified' and 'I'm complicated'... one day you'll have to learn to trust me enough to-"

"When I was little, your father told me something once. 'All things have their purpose and a time to fulfil that purpose, some things just have to wait longer than others'. I know I can trust you, Dawn, but... I'll talk about what I'm allowed to, but only when I want to."

Dawn stared at him for a long, silent moment and then nodded, "Fine. I have a lot to think about, and I have to file a report to Alpha-Gamma on our new arrival... you are dismissed, Paladin."

Jerian drained his cup of tea in a few long gulps and stood up, saluting, "Goodnight, Commander."

Dawn nodded and Jerian withdrew. She stayed there, sipping her coffee for a long time, gazing at nothing and deep in thought.

Kayleigh slept long. When she awoke, the light was already shining brightly through the large windows and she could hear the birds singing their songs. She rubbed her eyes and slowly hoisted herself up to sit straight. She looked at herself and realized what she looked like. She got back to the bathroom and cleaned herself up a bit. When she was finished, she walked out again and opened the wardrobe.It seemed like she was in luck! it was stiffed with clothes for her to wear.

Kayleigh finally came downstairs into the lounge . She was wearing black wide shorts and a dark pink tank top. Her hair was combed and she had even applied a little bit of make-up, making sure she didn't turn herself into a clown the first time she used it. She sat down in one of the armchairs, not really knowing what to do now, so she just waited for Dawn or Jerian to walk in on her as she closed her eyes and enjoyed the birds' songs outside.

It was neither Jerian nor Dawn that entered the room first. Instead, it was A tall blonde woman in her mid-twenties. She was wearing tight-fitting jeans and a long white shirt. The woman stopped as soon as she spotted Kayleigh, she seemed to weigh the other woman up for a moment and then walked over, "You must be Kayleigh, the magic-user Jerian brought in. My name is Kate, but most people 'round here call me Arrow. I'm the Senior Knight Guardian of Cell Theta."

Kate smiled slightly, "Must be hard. I remember when I first learned about... all... this." She gestured vaguely around the room, "The War, magic, the monsters." She shook her head, "I wouldn't go back though. I'm important here. I'm not just some faceless office worker, I'm doing something worthwhile... dangerous as all hell maybe but still worth doing."

Kayleigh was startled at the sudden new face. She hadn't expected another person to be here, but then again it's only normal that more people than just Dawn and Jerian would be living here. "Y-yes, I'm Kayleigh." she replied shyly. She obviously wasn't good at meeting new people. "Are you a mage too?"

Kate gave her a smile and nodded, "Yeah, as I said, I'm a Senior-rank Guardian. Defensive-magic specialist. I guess you're new to all this, huh?" She shook her head, "I remember when I was recruited... They told me so much stuff, some of it was just... mind-blowing, you know? I had a horrible headache for three days straight from it all." She frowned slightly, "Or maybe that was the after-effects of the sedative..." she shrugged, "Either way it was a lot to take in... of course you've got it worse than me. I was picked up by an older, more experienced Cell than this one. Theta's only two years old... well, the current iteration of it anyway."

Kate sighed, "'Tis a dangerous world out there. The previous Cell Theta got themselves wiped out. No one's entirely sure what happened, they just dropped out of contact whilst out on some hush-hush secret mission or something. There's all sorts of rumours around the debacle, but the brass are awful tight-lipped about it." Kate smiled suddenly, "You met Seth yet? He's Jerian's partner, our recon specialist. You might want to watch out for him, I bet he'd love a chance to spook a newbie."

Oh, just great, a pranker. Kayleigh's seen a lot of pranking at work and at Ronno's, It was one of Samm's favorite pastimes. Immediately on guard for a hiding fourth person, she shook her head. "No... I haven't seen anyone but you, Jerian and Dawn." she replied.
She had to admit to herself that so far she really liked Kate. She seems to be the one who understands her the most so far, or at least the one who shows that she understands her the most. Either way, it made Kayleigh feel good. Made her feel like she wasn't the only one. "I'll keep my guard up for him." she said with a little smile.

Kate laughed and shook her head, "Be on guard? Oh! Oh dear... You don't know what Seth is do you?" She laughed again, "Our dear recon specialist, and co-prankster, isn't a Human. Well, not exactly... any more." Kate's face went slightly more serious, "Tell me, do you believe in ghosts?"

Kayleigh sighed. Of course. "Well, since I just learned of the existance of magic, and the fact you battle demons... I suppose ghosts exist too..." she replied. She should've known.

Kate nodded, "Well, you're learning fast at least. Took me until my first tangle with a poltergeist before I finally started believing in ghosts. I wasn't the sharpest arrow in the quiver when I first joined up." She snorted, "I couldn't tell a Gryphon from a Hippogriff or a Pixie from a Sprite. Still, if Seth gives you any trouble, just tell me or Dawn. We'll sort him out." She smirked, "He might be dead, but that just means all his punishments are fates worse than death."

Kayleigh looked around with a distrusting look. "Does that mean he can kill me if he wants?" she asked cautiously. She certainly hoped not - living in a house with a potentially lethal ghost prowling about wasn't really her idea of a 'better life'...

Kate's eyes widened and she gaped at Kayleigh for a moment, "Kill you!? Why in the Three Planes would he want to do something stupid like that? No! Seth's actually a pretty nice guy, once you get passed all the wisecracks, pranks and his... juvenile sense of humour. Besides, he's a member of The Society. He's spent the majority of his existence helping protect people like you." She chuckled, "The worst he'll do to you is pull some stupid prank on you... or 'accidentally' float in on you in the shower. Although the last time that happened... well, he learned exactly what a Senior-Grade Knight Guardian and an Elite-Grade Commander can do to make a dead man wish he was deader."