Gods among us - A Harry Potter and Battlestar Galactica crossover

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Author's Acknowledgement: Thank you to my Technical Guru XRaiderV1and my Beta Rhynimy.

Re-edited on the 20/10/2015

Last time:

"Sir," responded the corporal as he and his three squadmates moved slowly in to the rear of the ship.

The four marines soon swept the small ship and then checked the two bodies on the floor. "Sir they are both alive but unconscious. The air is pretty stale in here. I'd guess life support is down."

Kyle looked over to the med team and nodded to the ranking medic who quickly led his two-man team aboard. Kyle followed and waved the marines back. "Stand down marines."

The leader of the med team looked up when and saw Kyle approaching. "Sir they are pretty badly dehydrated and knocked around from oxygen deprivation. I'll need to move them to Life Stations."

Kyle gave permission but with a caveat. "Do it but keep them under guard for now."

Chapter 2

Kyle Brack watched intrigued as two deck engineers with over twenty combined years of experience tried to decipher just how the strange ship actually operated. Eventually, Chief Marcus Gray shared a look with Petty Officer Sarah Nova before turning to Kyle.

"Sir this is so far beyond my, beyond our understanding that we can't even confirm that this ship even has engines."

Sarah passed what looked like a shaped piece of glass to Kyle. "Behind what we think are control panels we found hundreds of these crystals. If I had to guess, I'd say that they are part of the ships operating system. Neither of us has seen anything like it."

Kyle examined the crystal but couldn't see anything to help him understand. Handing the crystal back, he looked over the strange consoles. There was something he needed to ask much as he feared the answer. "Could it be Cylon?"

Marcus shook his head, "No not unless they have changed the basis of their technology completely."

Sarah opened another panel. "The other problem is that as far as we can determine this ship is dead. There is no power at all in any system that we can find. The Gods know that I could be wrong, but something tells me I'm not."

Kyle nodded as he considered his next move, "Any suggestions?"

"What have the two pilots told us?" Marcus asked.

Kyle shook his head, "Nothing they're still in Life Stations. Hopefully when they wake up, we'll get an answer to our mystery. Till then we'll need you two back at your posts."

"Frak …..sorry sir," Sarah looked more embarrassed than apologetic. "It's just that it's not too often that fleet deck engineers get the chance to figure stuff like this out."

Kyle smiled at the engineer's enthusiasm. "I know you two are pretty stretched right now with repairs. I'll make a deal with you. You can continue to try puzzling this out but only when you and your crews are off duty, deal?"

"Sounds good Sir," agreed Marcus as Sarah nodded.

It was a relief to see members of the crew enthusiastic about something. Hopefully, a few more of the engineers would get on the project as well. "I'm due on duty. Keep me in the loop."

oOoOoOo

Kyle had just arrived in the CIC when Lieutenant Aren Callet the acting Tactical officer called out a warning from his station. "DRADIS contact. IFF detected….it's Colonial, a merchant vessel."

"Sound battle stations," ordered Emma. "It could be a trick sir," warned Emma.

Kyle nodded, "Acknowledged, Open a channel." Seeing the crewman at comms nod he picked up the headset and depressed the talk button.

"This is the Colonial Battlestar Triton hailing the vessel approaching our position. Please confirm your designation and intentions. You are to immediately hold your position. Comply or we will open fire." Kyle keyed the mike off and looked around the CIC. "Let's see what she does. Bring all batteries online and get a Viper flight ready to launch."

"Sir the Merchant vessel is complying. We have a response."

"Put it on speakers," ordered Kyle.

"Triton…..This is Captain Sevran Tor of the Caprican merchant vessel Athena's Bow. Thank the Gods Triton. We thought we were all alone out here!" There was a lot of emotion in the merchant captain's voice.

Kyle keyed the mike live, "Athena's Bow this is Triton Actual you are among friends citizen. Hold your position and I'll have two Vipers escort you in."

oOoOoOo

Captain Sevran Tor was a middle-aged merchant fleet veteran. Well over 6'2 tall with short thinning hair. His rugged face showed his emotions as Kyle shook his hand, an odd mix of relief and fear. "Thank the gods we found you, Commander."

"It's Major Captain and you are welcome. Believe me, it was a relief for us to find you out here. You are the first vessel we've seen since we escaped the Cylon attack." Kyle was surprised by Captain Tor's reaction. The man actually shuddered. "Are you alright Captain?"

"You are not with the others?"

Kyle hesitated unsure as to what was going on, "No we are still conducting repairs to our FTL drive after the initial attack. Have you seen other fleet ships?" He found himself holding his breath awaiting the answer.

There was another flinch. "We….encountered a small fleet of Colonial ships, no Battlestars they did have two heavy gunships and some commandeered freighters."

"What happened Captain?" Kyle had to ask even though he was beginning to suspect that he wouldn't like the answer.

Captain Tor looked away for a moment before turning back to Kyle. "The day after we jumped away from the Cylon attack on Libran we came across another ship the Demieter. She was a short hall freighter carry refined Tylium ore. She had virtually no supplies aboard and we did. So her captain and I decided that we had best run together until we could meet up with the fleet. Hades we didn't know what the frak was happening. Apparently there were other survivors. A fleet of them with the Galactica but we missed the rendezvous. We were so fraking relieved to see Colonial military ships. We thought we'd been found by the fleet."

"What did they do?"

"They commandeered the Demieter. When Jackson, their captain objected the bastards shot him. Then they executed the rest of the crew save for two female crew. I don't want to think about what happened to them."

"You've got to be fracking…" Kyle trailed off. This was serious and as acting commander he didn't have the luxury of anger. "Captain, given our current condition we have little ability left to chase down renegades. That said I still want a full statement from you and from your crew. They may have escaped for now but if they manage to elude the Cylons and we catch them later I want a full case against them."

Captain Tor nodded, "I understand Major."

"Is your ship in good working order?"

"To be frank Major no it is not. We were due for some heavy duty maintenance on Libran. I don't know how long the old girl will hold together. My boys and girls have been working overtime to keep her running."

Kyle considered the situation. The captain of the Athena's Bow was an experienced merchant officer. If his crew were also experienced, "Captain given our own losses I would welcome your crew aboard the Triton."

The Merchant captain frowned, "I don't know that I much like being pressed in to service."

"Oh, Gods no you misunderstand me, Captain. I meant as volunteer civilian crewmen. I won't deny that we need help, but I refuse to press anyone to service. Forced conscription is illegal and I'll not break the law even in these circumstances. You are just as welcome as passengers."

Captain Tor visibly relaxed. "Thank you, Major, I'll let my crew know."

oOoOoOo

Two hours later the crew of the Athena's Bow were being escorted to their berths. Most were looking around the Battlestar with varying levels of interest at the scale of repairs underway. Most merchant spacers had some basic engineering training and took note of the sheer scope of the repairs.

One greying veteran whistled softly as he passed a pair of engineers stringing wiring along the deck alongside a bare metal bulkhead, "Looks like she took a right battering."

The man alongside nodded, "Hope she's still up to it if the Cylons come looking for her."

The older man nodded, "So do I Kaine. Let's get our gear stowed and we'll find an engineer and see what we can do to help."

oOoOoOo

Life Stations – Battlestar Triton

Hermione Granger woke with a blinding headache. Opening her eyes, she squinted at the bright light. Almost immediately a face entered her vision. A surgical mask hid most of the persons face. The person was saying something but Hermione couldn't quite place the language. Obviously she was in a hospital or something similar. Most probably a non-magical hospital given that they were using surgical masks and had electric lighting. The person was joined by another who also seemed to be asking her questions based on the tone.

Still feeling a bit fuzzy headed she shut her eyes for a moment trying to clear her head. How had she gotten here? They were trapped on the ship and they had tried to…HARRY. She attempted to sit up, but something was restraining her arms and legs. Turning her head she caught sight of a mop of familiar black hair, "HARRY!"

Struggling against her restraints she tried to get a better view of Harry as the people around made soothing noises as they gently tried to restrain her.

"My friend, is my friend okay?"

It was very clear that the people caring for her didn't understand her. There were more words spoken in the same strange language accompanied by worried looks and the same soothing gestures. After a few moments, she calmed herself and began to consider her situation. Yelling and thrashing around to get free would probably get her sedated. She could move her head so she used it to nod toward Harry. After a moment or two one of the people seemed to realise that she was worried about Harry. One of the people gestured toward Harry and nodded several times apparently indicating that Harry was okay.

Finally, the medical staff withdrew leaving her alone although it didn't last long. Hermione was trying to think her way through the situation when a young woman appeared spoke briefly to the medical staff and then came and sat by her bedside. The woman was dressed in what seemed to be a uniform of some sort so maybe she was a policewoman or perhaps a military officer. The woman smiled in a friendly fashion which faded when she saw the wrist restraints. Turning she called one of the medical staff over and after a brief discussion the restraints were removed. Hermione was tempted to jump up and check on Harry immediately but instead focused her attention on her visitor.

The woman began speaking apparently asking questions in the same language used by the others. Hermione was about to shake her head when she thought she recognised a phrase. The woman had asked her name in heavily accented Latin.

oOoOoOo

Life Stations was fairly quiet when Ensign Sarah Paul arrived. Spotting the serious face of Doctor Jackson talking with two nurses she walked over and reported her arrival. "Doctor you requested a communications specialist?"

Jackson initialled a form and handed it back to one of his staff. "Yes, I did thank you for coming so quickly. One of our two mystery patients is awake."

Sarah glanced over at the bed and caught a glimpse of the woman on the bed. She seemed to be looking at the other unmoving figure in unmistakable concern. "What has she said so far?"

Doctor Jackson shook his head a look of frustration on his face. "Nothing that we can understand and it's pretty clear that she doesn't understand Caprican. I tried a bit of Leonese as well."

Sarah nodded in acknowledgement of the doctor's efforts. "Well, that narrows the choices down a bit. I had better get started."

As she took a seat by the young woman's bed, she noticed the restraints. "Doctor, are these restraints really necessary. The poor woman must feel like a prisoner."

Doctor Jackson grimaced, "We restrained her more because we didn't want her to hurt herself if she awoke in a panic. You are quite right its past time to remove them now she is awake and aware of her surroundings." One of the nurses quickly removed the restraints.

Looking in to the eyes of the young woman Sarah decided that she start simply. "What is your name?"

The patient could obviously hear, but there was no hint of recognition that she understood the words. With a mental shrug, she continued asking simple questions in every one of the eight languages she spoke. Finally in frustration she asked in Old Gemenese a dead language used only by scholars.

"Quis est vos nomen?" What is your name?

The reaction from the woman in the bed was instantaneous.

oOoOoOo

"Quis est vos nomen?"

Hermione's thoughts went in to overdrive. Why would anyone be speaking ancient Latin? Regardless she now had a way forward. "Meus nomen est, Hermione. qua sum Ego?" My name is Hermione. Where am I?

Hermione could see the medical staff moving closer apparently watching the conversation, but she kept her focus on the woman as she answered.

"Vos es in tabula Battlestar Triton. Operor non fatigo vos es tutus," you are on board the Battlestar Triton. Do not worry you are safe.

Hermione felt her stomach drop as she mentally translated the oddly accented Latin. Harry had saved them but by the sound of it, they were still far from home. Glancing at Harry and seeing that he was still apparently unconscious. "Quis est res per meus amicus?" What is the matter with my friend?

"Sit puteus, vos es valde felicis potuisse instituo." He is well, you are very lucky to have been found.

Hermione breathed a sigh of relief at least Harry wasn't badly injured. He was probably sleeping off magical exhaustion. That was one less problem on what was a growing list. Now it was time to find out just how bad the situation was.

"Operor vos usus nostrum capitale?" Do you have our possessions?

"Medicus servo lemma." The doctors have kept them. Hermione breathed a sigh of relief.

She spent the next hour trying to answer Sarah's questions without giving too much away. Wherever they were, it was not Earth unless it was Earth of the far future or something equally bizarre. Some of the questions were obviously important, but she lacked the context to answer. With no idea what Cylons were. The twelve colonies was a meaningless term.

There were questions about their ship and the start point of their journey. Where had she gone to school? Thank Merlin for the language barrier ancient Latin gave her an excuse to 'misunderstand' questions.

As soon as the officer had left a nurse had given her a sealed plastic bag that contained all her possessions. Smiling her thanks to the nurse she tore the bag open and tipped the contents onto her bed. Her wand was there unharmed still attached to her belt. The disillusionment on the wand holder was still operating. Moving slowly she tucked it up the sleeve of her hospital gown and whispered a sticking charm on the holder. Looking around she saw no one looking so she slipped out of bed she slowly padded over to Harry drawing her wand as she did so. Touching her wand tip to his arm she whispered a quietly as she could.

"Enervate"

Harry's eyes shot open, "Mione?"

Hermione pulled Harry in to a hug even as she whispered in to his ear. "Harry we are safe. But right now I am not entirely sure where we are or who our hosts are. They speak an understandable form of Latin. But I'm pretty sure that they are non-magical. Be careful what you say until we are safe to talk. I'm going to have to teach you a more permanent translation spell."

As soon as she let him go the medical staff that had apparently seen Harry awake gathered around his bed. One of the nurses gently touched Hermione on the shoulder and gestured toward her bed. With a final glance at Harry, who met her eyes for a moment, she nodded to the nurse and complied. Next chance she got she'd teach Harry the translator spell. She had a strong feeling that they would need it.

oOoOoOo

Commanders Quarters – Battlestar Triton

All the department heads made for a crowded cabin, but this was one meeting that Kyle did not want happening in the CIC. There were far too many things being juggled by the inexperienced command staff and mistakes especially mistakes in front a nervous crew could severely erode both confidence and morale.

Kyle waited until everyone was seated before beginning. Turning to Lieutenant Dontas the most senior engineering officer he started with what was becoming his standard opening question at every meeting. "Okay, first things first how are the repairs on the FTL proceeding?"

Richard Dontas smiled for the first time in three weeks. "We cycled up the main relays successfully. Main powers good and we now have every main relay replaced in core flight systems."

Kyle wanted to be very sure he understood. "So FTL is good to go?"

"Yes, Sir, as of a few moments before this meeting."

Kyle felt a weight lift from his soul as Richard spoke. Now they had a chance. He gave the comments and expressions of relief a few moments to pass before asking his next question. "Combat readiness?"

Richard nodded, "Sir we have eighty percent of the point defence systems back up and eight of our missile tubes working."

"Good enough Lieutenant. Pass my thanks on to your engineering crews." Kyle stood as he spoke. 'Well, people the Triton has its teeth back. What about its claws, Smash how do we stand?

Hector drained his drink before straightening in his seat. "We have two squadrons of twenty Vipers ready for action. We have twenty-three Raptors aboard that are operation. Six of which are rigged for SAR. The problem is reserves. With our pilot shortage, we have can't actually launch more than two squadrons."

Kyle accepted the report with a nod before turning to Emma Boyd. "What about Operations?"

Emma handed a folder to Kyle, "The new command crew readiness reports are done. The short version is that they are coming along well. After this, I'll start running some FTL simulations to guarantee we'll be up to speed."

Placing the folder on the table Kyle pushed it to the side. "Thanks, XO okay so last thing for today our mystery guests."

Emma pulled out a second folder, "Ensign Paul's report is an interesting read although I'm not sure that it clears up any of the mysteries. So far as she can tell they understand Old Gemenese. The female who has given her name as Hermione Granger apparently speaks it fairly fluently. The male Harry Potter apparently understands enough, but we needed Hermione to translate in to whatever language it is that they are speaking to each other. She gently interrogated them, but we didn't get much information certainly not the information we wanted."

"I dislike the fact that they may be withholding information," added Hector with a scowl.

"Could it be the Cylons?" asked Richard Dontas.

Kyle looked over the scant information in the report. They needed more information but with everything going on this wasn't the highest priority. "Once the Doc clears them I want you to put them in separate secure quarters. Not the brig just somewhere under guard. Emma, I want you and Sarah to get some answers. Until we know otherwise, I want to treat them as potential hostiles. They arrived on a type of ship we have never seen before using technology that two engineers assure me are not colonial in nature. Given these facts, I'm disinclined to give them the benefit of the doubt."

oOoOoOo

Harry pulled his boots on with a sense of relief. Being dressed again was meant that he could perhaps get clear of what this spaceship or Hospital or whatever it was.

Hermione watched her friend with amusement as he muttered and then dressed. "Honestly Harry you carry on like you've been a prisoner."

"I don't like hospitals," Harry clarified in a put-upon tone of voice.

"Well, apparently we are being moved from here. I gather from the fact that we now have soldiers guarding us that they realised or at least suspect I wasn't being entirely truthful. I don't know how we got here, but I suspect our answers are in the ship, where ever they put it If we are going to escape then the sooner, the better I don't fancy hanging around on an unknown ship in the middle of a war zone."

Harry tapped his wand that was now hidden in his wrist sheath. "Why don't we just disillusion ourselves right here and do a point me spell? It's not like the MOM is going to know we broke the statue of secrecy."

"We might be able to get away from the guards but how long can we stay hidden if something goes wrong? Think for a minute, if we simply disappear they'll be searching the ship and we don't know how effective their technology will be."

"Okay, so what do we do?"

Hermione looked down at the floor, "I don't know."

Harry patted his friend on the shoulder and sat next to her on the bed. "We'll work it out together. We'll keep our eyes and ears open for opportunities and be ready to move quickly when an opportunity does present itself."

oOoOoOo

Daniel Erikson was rejoicing being free of the confines of the Athena's Bow even if he was less than comfortable being aboard a Colonial Battlestar. When the Colonial Lieutenant allocating duties had discovered that he was a trained field medic he had been immediately drafted to Life Stations. Expecting to be packing supply cabinets instead he found himself pressed immediately in to service suturing a bad cut suffered by one of the deck crew. He hadn't noticed that Doctor Jackson was watching him work.

The Doctor had nodded at him "Not bad you have good hands. Nurse Pallindo please enter Mister Erikson in to the medical log as a volunteer medic."

Today had been quieter and he had spent most of his four-hour shift packing Field Medic kits for issue to the Marines. Given how quiet it was Doctor Jackson and one of his nurses were currently racked out in the duty office leaving him in charge of the depopulated Life Stations. Pouring himself a drink of water he glanced over at the only patients. So far the two of them had done nothing but talk quietly in whatever language it was that the spoke. Given how polite and self-contained they were he was quite surprised at the presence of the two marine guards. Still he had a job to do so he filled a water jug he carried it over to the two of them and set it on the table with a smile. Receiving a smile from the woman he nodded and headed back to the duty desk. He had just reached it when the door swung open admitting a colonial officer and two Marines.

The officer waved him over. "Is Doctor Jackson in?"

"He's in the duty office I'll go and get him for you." Daniel quickly woke Doctor Jackson, who pulled on his white coat and followed him back to the duty desk.

Doctor Jackson raised his eyebrows at the four Marines in his Life Stations, "Ensign is there a problem?"

Ensign Paul shook her head, "No sir I'm here to transfer our two guests to their new quarters. Do they have medical clearance to be discharged from Life Stations?"

"Yes, ensign they do. May I ask where they are being moved to?"

"Sir Major Brack wants them in secure quarters until we can confirm their origins."

The doctor frowned, "Surely you do not mean the brig Ensign."

The ensign quickly shook her head. "No sir normal berths, but under guard until we can determine if they are a threat.'

"Very well I assume that you are going to explain to our guests what is happening?"

Sarah looked a tad uncomfortable even as she nodded, "Yes sir I'll do my best. We may need to sedate them if there is a problem."

The doctor nodded and passed Daniel his key, "Daniel, please draw up two five millilitre syringes of Philyzene in case it's needed."

Daniel went to the drug cabinet and did as ordered. Something was not right here Philyzene was a heavy duty tranquiliser. Capping the two syringes, he handed them to Jackson. "Here sir um...with respect Doctor are you sure about Philyzene?"

The doctor made a sour face as he checked the dosages. "I don't want blood spilt in my Life Stations Daniel. If things go to Hades, I want our two patients out for the count. Better a Philyzene hangover than broken bones. Now let's stand back in case things do get out of hand."

oOoOoOo

Harry could sense the change in atmosphere in the Life Stations. There were now four soldiers in the room and the Doctor looked miserable. "I don't like the look of this Hermione."

Hermione nodded in agreement and loosened her wand in its sheath. "Don't do anything stupid Harry. Sarah is here so hopefully we can work this out without making things escalate."

Sarah walked to stand at the end of Hermione's bed flanked by two of the Marines. "Hermione I need you and Harry to come with me."

"Where are we going?" Hermione's question was polite, but her expression hardened as the two Marines stepped closer to the bed.

"You are being moved to secure quarters." One of the Marines stepped forward a pair of handcuffs in his hand.

Hermione could feel Harry's concern growing as his magic surged around him. Overhead the lights flickered. "What about Harry?"

Sarah could sense Hermione's distress and tried to calm the situation. "You are not going to be mistreated. Our safety regulations mean you must be restrained before we move you. Do you understand?"

"Hermione what is happening?" Harry asked.

"I don't know I think they are separating us." As she spoke the two Marines moved to either side of the bed. The first took a firm hold of her arm left arm and then the second took her right.

Sergeant Millas was an experienced man who was chosen for this job because he had also served a tour in a military police unit. Unfortunately, it was the wrong type of duty if you wanted gentle. Exactly as he had been taught he firmly pulled the girls arm up behind her back snapping one cuff on before reaching for the arm being held by his fellow Marine.

Hermione Granger cried out in pain as her arm was twisted up behind her back.

Sarah winced as Hermione cried out, "Sergeant we don't want them hurt!"

The lights flickered again and this time several of the medical monitors either died or started beeping.

"What the frak is causing that?" asked one of the Marines on the door.

The guard holding Hermione's left arm shifted his grip and paused as he felt the leather wand holster. Sergeant, she's got something strapped to her arm I can feel it through her shirt.

The Sergeant reacted immediately and tried to minimise Hermione as a threat forcing her forward as if trying to make her head touch her legs. Unfortunately, the other guard still had her arm. Another exclamation of pain escaped her lips as she reacted to having someone stretch her shoulder the wrong way.

Harry moved.

oOoOoOo

Harry pulled his own wand as his feet hit the floor. A simple gesture and the Sergeant slumped stunned to the floor.

Doctor Jackson immediately hit the panic button on the desk sending an emergency signal to CIC.

Raising his wand, he pointed it at the other Marine Holding Hermione. "Let her go." The Marine may not have understood the words but Harry's intent was obvious.

Sarah stepped forward with her hands held high to show she didn't carry a weapon. "Marine stand down, Harry you need to think ...through...we didn't mean to hurt Hermione."

Harry's wand didn't move away from the Marine even as he noted the two marines on the door raise their weapons. In his poor spoken Latin he tried responding. "back...stay." Overhead the lights flickered as Harry's magic pulsed around him.

"Harry don't I'm okay...argh." Hermione could feel her friend's magic coiling around him and tried to defuse the situation, but her attempt ended when the Marine still holding her arm tightened his already painful grip.

Sarah stepped forward again, "Harry put down...weapon. This is a mistake."

Harry kept his wand on the Marine still holding Hermione's arm behind her back. "Tell him let go."

Sarah repeated Harry's words and the Marine slowly released Hermione and took two steps backward.

"I've had enough of this shite Hermione. Let's get the hell out of here." Harry waited until Hermione was by his side before whispering for her to shut her eyes. He cast a silencing spell and then gathered as much of his magic as he could before casting the Auror equivalent of a flash bang, " Perspicuus Mico." Praying that the blinding bright had disabled the guards, he quickly disillusioned himself and then Hermione.

Pulling Hermione along behind him he headed for the door.

As those in the room slowly recovered from the deafening noise and blinding flash one figure watched them go a puzzled expression on his face.

oOoOoOo

Battlestar Triton - CIC

"DRADIS contact…right at our extreme range, It's not Colonial," reported Lieutenant Aren Callet.

Kyle cursed under his breath before responding. "Get the CAP there now. I need to know if it is a Cylon."

Aren listened to his headset for a moment before replying. "Sir we have two Viper's accelerating to take a look now. CAG wants to know if we want a second squadron in the air?"

Kyle moved to the DRADIS display, "Who is on route?"

"Trojan and Scatter Sir, they are two minutes away."

"Sir we have an emergency being declared in Life Stations," announced Aren.

"What great Fraking timing," Kyle hissed in frustration. Get a squad of Marines down there. Callet where are our ships?"

Aren listened to his headset then looked up, "Sir Trojan has made contact. It's a Cylon Heavy Raider. Trojan is requesting instructions."

Without taking his eyes off the DRADIS Kyle gave the order. "Weapons free Lieutenant I want that Raider destroyed."

"Sir Trojan reports that the Cylon has jumped."

Kyle didn't reply as he silently cursed their ill luck. When he looked up, he made sure his face was once again neutral. "Okay so not long people until the Cylons know where we are. Navigation plot a jump for the moment we get our CAP aboard. Emma, what is happening in Life Stations?"

Emma frowned as she held the wireless up to her ear. "I'm still trying to determine that Sir. Ensign Paul reports that our guests have escaped. The Marines are searching the ship now."

"Find them Emma. I want to know what the frak is going on. Take charge of the search."

oOoOoOo

Moving as quietly as they could Harry and Hermione made their way through the maze of corridors. Every so often when they reached an unpopulated area Harry would cast a point me spell confirming their course. After a while, they were started by a large klaxon and a voice over. Almost straight away they began to see more and more people in the passageways so Hermione cast her translation spell on them both. They missed the announcement but continued on. Eventually, they reached a large busy space. All around the deck there were ships in various states of repair.

Hermione tapped Harry's arm and pointed toward the far side of the room. Harry turned and immediately spotted the odd-looking ship.

"That has to be it," Hermione murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Let's go," Harry replied.

"Wait look there are guards." Hermione pointed out the four armed men positioned near the ship.

"I see them. The door at the back is open." Harry started to move toward the ship but stopped when he realized that Hermione hadn't followed him.

"Well, we should be able to seal it if we can get aboard. Please stop a minute. I'm worried Harry I have a bad feeling about this."

Harry stopped and turned his face toward his friend. "What choice do we have? God knows where they were taking you. There is no fucking way I was letting them drag you off."

A bit surprised by his passion Hermione nodded.

"If things go pear shaped we'll have to play it by ear. How about we apparate back to that empty corridor where we last cast the point me?" Harry had waited for her nod before he took her hand. "Let's go."

Moving carefully they made their way across the crowded space. It was close, but they managed to reach the rear of the ship. Hermione quickly studied the wall looking for something to close the hatch while Harry kept watch.

With frustration in her voice Hermione whispered, "I can't find anything. Bloody hell something must close the hatch."

Harry stepped backwards as he examined the roof and nearly fell when his foot caught on a cable running from the hatch to the outside. He automatically caught himself but somehow managed to knock over a tool box. Outside the ship, two of the guards looked up and began to approach the ship raising their weapons as they came.

"Hermione seal it," whispered Harry as he raised his wand.

Hermione raised her wand to touch the hatch, "Propinquus quod obfirmo."

With a grinding noise, the hatch slowly began to close. Hermione kept her wand touching the door as she poured magic in to the spell.

The guards outside were yelling warnings as they moved toward the hatch.

"Come on Hermione!"

Afraid the guards were about to fire Harry raised a reflective shield designed specifically to stop solid objects.

"What the frak!"

Harry spun to see a young woman in orange overalls carrying a coiled cable standing in the hatch that led to the control room. Dropping the cable she rushed to the hatch reaching it just as it closed plunging the ship in to darkness.

"Well that is just fraking great," muttered the woman. "I'm stuck here right in the middle of a Cylon attack." After a few moments, the woman produced a torch. "Right the chief got this open once before so there must be a release here somewhere."

oOoOoOo

"What happened?" demanded Emma as she reached the knot of Marines, deckhands and engineers surrounding the stranger's ship.

Chief Gray gestured toward the ship. "The damn hatch shut with one of my deckhands still inside. Now we can't get it open."

Emma frowned as she considered the situation. "Is there any way our two fugitives could have gotten aboard?"

The senior Marine shook his head, "No way Sir. We've been right outside since the alarm was raised. There ain't no shadows to hide in they would have had to walk straight past us."

All of them paused as an announcement sounded over the speakers warning of an imminent FTL jump.

Emma could see the CAP flight ships being wheeled back in onto the deck. "Okay, Chief well let's get the CAP secured and then we'll get your knuckle dragger out."

oOoOoOo

Harry was seriously considering stunning the woman but held off. He was creeping over to where Hermione had been standing when he felt what he could only describe as a ripple run through him. The odd feeling passed almost instantly leaving him feeling light-headed.

"Lovan etus nome?" The woman froze pointing her torch at a nauseous looking Hermione, who was blinking in the direct torchlight. "Corvus nullos!"

Harry cursed whatever it was that had happened had disrupted their spells. He had to act fast. Raising his wand, he took aim at the woman but stopped when Hermione made eye contact with him and subtly shook her head. Unfortunately, it wasn't subtle enough and the woman spun around immediately spotting Harry.

With a wave of her wand, Hermione restated the translating spell.

"What is going on? Hold on you're the two people from the ship. " The woman pulled a long metal tool off her belt and held it out like a weapon. "Get back."

"We don't mean you any harm," Hermione assured the woman.

The woman snorted, "Like I'm going to take your word on that. How did you sneak in here?"

"Look we are just trying to get out of here," Hermione explained. "We didn't even know you were aboard."

"So you're just going to steal the ship?" Her makeshift weapon came up again.

Hermione smiled reassuringly, "Well it was ours before it was yours so I could say the same to you."

"I….I suppose. So what now am I a hostage?" The woman asked as she slowly lowered her makeshift weapon.

Hermione shook her head, "God no you can leave as soon as we figure out how to let you."

"What do you mean how? This is your ship isn't it?" The tone was sharp, but she looked genuinely puzzled.

"Now that is a long story. The short version is that we found the ship and through a number of….mistakes we ended up here."

"So you don't know how to operate the ship?"

"Not as such no," replied Hermione.

"Then we need to get the hatch open. I'm sure the chief is probably working on it, but anything we can do to help ourselves is a good idea." The woman slotted her tool back onto her belt, "My names Rebeka."

Hermione waved her wand at Harry, who gave a half-hearted wave, "Harry."

'And I'm Hermione. Rebeka, what were you trying to do on the ship?"

Rebeka shrugged, "We had been running some tests trying to get something to power up. The chief hasn't been able to restore power to anything at all. I'm only here because the chief needed the power cables."

Hermione accepted Rebeka's explanation at face value, "Right well first up we need a better light source. Harry?"

Harry hesitated, "Are you sure Hermione?"

"We're all in this together," explained Hermione.

Harry raised his wand and cast a light spell.

"What are you..." began Rebeka only to trail off as light flooded the chamber. Her eyes flicked from Harry's wand to Hermione "How did he do that?"

Hermione gestured toward Harry a wry smile on her face, "For now let's just say that Harry and I have some special abilities available to us. I promise we'll explain later."

Rebeka was looking back and forth between the Harry and Hermione with shock and fear clear in her expression "I…..but…what are you?"

Hermione sheathed her wand and held her hands up, "We are people just like you and right now we are people with a problem. I promise I will explain but for now we need to work out exactly what the situation is. Do we need to tie you up or will you help us?"

Rebeka was silent for almost a minute looking back and forth between Harry and Hermione. "I'll help, but you owe me a proper explanation."

oOoOoOo

Battlestar Triton - CIC

"Jump complete. No DRADIS contacts."

Kyle looked around the CIC seeing the relieved looks passing between his people. "Okay, people let's keep focused here. I want a CAP up as soon as possible. Let's make sure that we haven't got any unwelcome neighbours."

"Sir I've got the XO on wireless."

"Put her through," ordered Kyle as he pulled on a headset, "Report Emma."

oOoOoOo

Chief Gray shrugged, "We've tried a cutter, but we can barely scratch the surface. Whatever this material is….well it's amazing. It's barely even transferring the heat. I hope your two runaways know something about this we could use this stuff in hundreds of ways."

Emma and Kyle shared a glance at the Chiefs commentary.

"Can we blow the hatch Chief?" asked Kyle.

The Chief shook his head, "I doubt it Sir but even if we did we could kill Rebeka."

"I'll check with the Marines," offered Emma. "Maybe shaped charges would do it."

Kyle shook his head in frustration, "Chief do whatever you have to. Emma, I want you back on to the hunt for our two missing guests. I'm not going to have two potentially armed fugitives running around the ship."

"How do you want us to play it, Sir?" Emma asked.

Kyle knew exactly what she was asking. Did he want the Marines using lethal force? "Emma I want them alive unless there is no other way."

"Understood," Emma acknowledged before walking over to the cluster of Marines.

Kyle turned to the Deck Chief, "Chief let me know if you need anymore manpower."

oOoOoOo

Harry cursed as his spell worked properly. On their last visit, Magic had 'woken' the ship. Now spells were normally working. Well, spells that didn't affect the ship were working anyway. "Hermione, you used a sealing charm on the door why won't an unsealing charm work?"

"I tried already it's almost certainly warded," replied Hermione. "The Egyptian wizards used a similar warding scheme to protect their tombs from theft. A null magic field built in to the stonework. This isn't quite the same. Here I think it's either the materials or some aspect of the technology. Which is all very interesting but it doesn't explain what happened our why it's different now. Morgana this is frustrating."

Rebeka was meticulously searching the bulkheads trying to find any sort of release for the hatch. "Can you two read this writing?"

Hermione shook her head, "No I'm afraid not."

"Not even with your," Rebeka wiggled her fingers.

"No sorry that only works on spoken languages." Hermione tried to hide her sigh as Rebeka returned to studying the wall. The young deckhand had apparently gotten over her initial fear and was now asking questions as she tried to figure a way out of their situation.

"Is it getting stuffy in here or is it me?' asked Harry.

Rebeka looked up from the bulkhead a frown on her face. "It is a bit…Oh, Hades there is no life support!"

Harry looked a bit puzzled, "Is that bad?"

"Very unless you know a charm to create oxygen," replied Hermione.

Rebeka did some quick calculations. "In a space this big we've maybe got enough air for another few hours and that's a big maybe."

Harry felt like punching the wall. "So what now, do we apparate out and hand ourselves over for whatever bloody experiments they think up. Remember the hospital ward Hermione they were handcuffing you and taking you away. I'll be damned if I'll simply hand you over for that." Responding to his anger Harry's magic was responding. Although only visible to Hermione Rebeka could still feel something building in the room. To her, it felt like a huge static charge building.

Hermione looked a bit shocked by his vehemence, but Rebeka actually looked frightened. "What happened?"

"They hurt her when they came to take us from Life Stations."

"Okay, I understand you are fraked off. If it helps I can tell them what's happened here. Surely they'll understand why you didn't tell them." Rebeka kept her voice level as she tried to calm the suddenly tense situation.

Hermione cleared her throat, "Harry I'm out of idea's here. I think we need to consider that we may have no choice but to accept that we can't use the ship. We know it was damaged before we tried to apparate out. Maybe we can eventually fix it, maybe not. We can't do anything if the air runs out. We will have to deal with the people here sooner rather than later. We can't hold three bubblehead charms indefinitely."

Harry looked down at the floor for a moment before looking up and replying. "Then we do it as ourselves. The statute of secrecy is worthless out here so I'm not hiding what we can do. Let's negotiate from a position of strength."

Hermione frowned as she considered her response carefully. "The statute may be redundant, but it was in place for a reason. People fear what is different. I understand your reasoning it's just that….Harry what if their fears override their sense. It's why the wizarding world has been separate for so long."

Harry gestured toward the dead control panels, "You said it yourself what choice do we have?"

Harry and Hermione spent the next twenty minutes giving Rebeka a brief rundown of their recent history.

oOoOoOo

Daniel Erikson was confused as to his purpose. For so long his life had been simple. God, he had been running for years with a singular purpose in mind, Survival.

He had once been a part of a larger purpose. A purpose he had believed in. Then it had been hijacked by a man he thought his brother. Plans had changed the purpose had become clouded with hatred and rhetoric. God's message had become twisted and subverted. He had spoken against his brother. He had appealed to the others to find a better course. Then they died. He had learned what was happening and he taken the cowards way out. He had chosen the path of survival.

It was simple if lonely life. He would take a new identity and live for a period as that person before moving on. He was always careful to stay off the DRADIS. He chose simple jobs, short-term jobs where he could move on as he needed. The Athena's Bow had been his home for seven months. He had known his place there. He was Daniel the ships medic and cook. Simple jobs he had undertaken with care and pride. Now things had shifted again.

He had seen the stranger bring forth his power. Dealing with the threat the Marines posed. He had never seen anything like it. Were they like him something not human but mimicking the shape? Was this the reason he was here. Was there some greater purpose something more than the random happenings that had been his life these last few years.

For the sake of his sanity, he had to find out.

oOoOoOo

"Okay, I'll test apparate. See you in a sec." Harry first disillusioned himself and then concentrated on the spot just outside the ship. He half turned and disappeared with a soundless displacement of air. His appearance outside the ship went unnoticed. There was still a lot of activity but importantly the immediate area was clear so he apparated back inside. Once back inside he ended his disillusionment. "There was nothing impeding the apparition and the outside is clear."

"Are we ready then?" asked Hermione.

Harry and Rebeka nodded.

Harry disillusioned himself and watched Hermione do the same. After she had faded to a distorted outline, he turned his attention to Rebeka. "Okay, Rebeka this will feel a bit odd like you are being squeezed all over. Don't panic. After we arrive, you remember what you need to do?"

Rebeka nodded, "Find the Major and tell him that you want to meet. I remember Harry. I may only be a knuckle dragger, but I'm not stupid."

Harry took Rebeka's left arm, "Here we go. Hermione you ready?"

"Yes," confirmed Hermione with a slight tremor in her voice.

Rebeka's sudden appearance outside the ship caused a shocked crewman to drop the half dozen metal struts he was carrying. Chief Gray looked up from the cutter wielding crewman he was supervising in annoyance, but the rebuke remained unvoiced at the sight of Rebeka.

"Rebeka….frak me you did it!" Chief Gray tapped the crewman in front signaling for him to cease working. "Thank the Gods we were getting worried. Are you hurt do you need Life Stations?"

"Chief I'm fine, but we've got to get the boss down here."

Chief Gray nodded slowly taking Rebeka's request at face value. "Okay Bek hold on the XO was just here." Seeing a Marine watching the Chief waved him over. "Marine could you let the XO know we've retrieved our lost crewman."

The Marine nodded and pulled out his wireless.

Chief Gray handed Rebeka a water bottle and she took a long drink before nodding her thanks. There was a small group of deck crew now gathered around them.

Tom Cotti collected the parts he dropped shaking his head in confusion. "It's like you just popped out of nowhere."

Chief Gray looked his crewman over carefully. She looked well enough. "How did you do it, Bek? We were starting to get worried."

Rebeka smiled, "It's a great story Chief, but I think it's better if you hear it alongside the boss."

Chief Gray was about to ask something else when Emma appeared followed by two Marines. "Chief you needed me?"

Rebeka straightened her shoulders coming to attention. "Sir I have been asked to organise a meeting with Major Brack."

Even without the formal language Emma could see just how serious the young woman was, "A meeting with whom?"

"That would be the crew of our mystery ship Sir."

Emma's eyes narrowed as she considered her next move. "You have seen them?"

Rebeka nodded, "I was on the ship with them. They helped me get out after the ships systems failed to work."

"Marines get a perimeter in place. Chief pull your people back," ordered Emma as she turned and pointed at Rebeka. "Not you crewman, you can start explaining."

oOoOoOo

Kyle sat back in his chair and studied the young woman standing at attention in front of his desk. She was standing painfully straight with a very serious expression on her face. At any other time, that would have generated a private smile. "At ease Crewman, you wanted to speak with me about our mystery guests?"

Rebeka relaxed slightly as she began to explain her request. "S-Sir I….that is….Harry and Hermione want to organise a meeting with you to discuss and end to their….um… situation. They are prepared to answer your questions within reason."

"I see," replied Kyle. "Crewman I mean no offense, but I don't understand what you hope to achieve here. I'm disinclined to negotiate in absentia with people that attacked our people."

Rebeka sensed Harry's touch on her arm. Harry and Hermione were good people caught it a bad situation. She had to try. "Sir…..I've seen a few things while we were trapped on their ship. With respect whatever you are thinking I would urge you to talk to them. They are afraid of us Sir. That's why they attacked. They thought you were separating them so you could torture them for information."

Kyle shared a look with Emma, who nodded. The incident in Life Stations had been reported to Emma by Ensign Paul. The Marines involved had been far more physical than their mission required. The report had suggested that the Marines had spooked the two fugitives. If they are truly frightened of being tortured, that would certainly qualify. The question, of course, was why the thought they would be tortured. Questioning, Hades even interrogation was not torture. He hoped any Colonial officer would not follow such an order.

Kyle nodded, "Well I'm willing to meet them. How are you in communication with our guests?" Almost immediately he could see the relief on Rebeka's face.

The occupants of the room heard two voices saying something in an odd sounding language and Harry and Hermione appeared with a slight shimmering as their disillusionment spells ended.

The stunned silence remained unbroken until Harry stepped forward and nodded. "Thank you for agreeing to talk with us."

Kyle tried to get his voice working, "I…how did you…."

"Perhaps we should explain," offered Hermione.

Crew and Passengers of the Battlestar Triton

Commanding Officer: Major Kyle Brack

2IC: Lieutenant Emma Boyd

Acting CAG/Raptor Squadron Leader: Hector 'Smash' Golan

Doctor Stephen Jackson – CMO Triton

Lieutenant Eli 'Whiplash' Corven

Lieutenant Taran 'Chaser' Sul

Lieutenant Aren Callet – Acting Tactical Officer

Junior Lieutenant Scott Barrington – Navigation Officer

Ensign Sarah Paul – Communications Specialist/Linguist

Sergeant Major Richards – Senior surviving NCO – Triton Marine detachment

Chief Petty Officer Markus Gray – Deck Crew Chief

Rebeka Toll – Crewman - Engineer

Daniel Erikson – Medic/Chef crewman from the Athena's Bow