A/N: YAY! A new chapter! It's decent length, too. I'm going to be doing a lot of travelling for various things, so I'll be pretty busy. I'll write as much as I can while I'm gone and I'll update the next chance I get, which will probably be in about two weeks if I don't post another chapter this weekend.

Enjoy, and please review!

^^^^Thirteen years ago, on the planet Lorena^^^^

The man woke up slowly to birds chirping in the trees. He sat up as his consciousness returned.

He didn't remember being in a forest like this one before he fell asleep. Actually, he didn't remember much of anything before he fell asleep. He had no idea who he was or where he was from.

What am I like? He asked himself. He hoped he was a good person, the type of person people would want to be around. He hoped he had friends who would notice he was gone and come looking for him.

The man stood up. He didn't know who he was, but he knew he wouldn't find out until he came across civilization. Maybe then someone would recognize him and take him home.

The man began to wander. As he wandered, he came across a river running swiftly to the southeast. It was about eight feet wide. The man drank the river water thirstily and peered at his reflection as he did. He seemed about thirty, with strong muscles and dark facial expressions. He had a swaggering stance, long, black hair, and a bushy black moustache. He realized, shamefully, that he wasn't wearing any clothing.

He decided to follow the river, figuring that at some point he would reach a town along its banks. He walked. And walked. And walked. Day turned into night, and no town was visible on the horizon. The man's stomach grumbled, his feet ached in protest as he urged himself onward.

After another half hour of walking, the man finally took a break. He sat down by the river to rest his feet. So preoccupied with the pain shooting up his legs was he that he didn't notice another man approaching him warily.

"Greetings, stranger." The newcomer said, startling the man. "What is your name, and where do you come from?"

The man by the river blinked in surprise. "I don't know," he answered honestly, "I woke up in the forest a few hours ago, that's all I remember."

The newcomer had shoulder length blond hair and was wearing body length black robes. He held a wand in his right hand. How did I know what a wand was? The man by the river wondered.

"I am Marcus Ventrius, of Tara. You are thirty miles from my home city, which is over seventy five miles from any other cities. Have you been walking all this way? Why didn't you Apparate?"

The man by the river sighed. "I woke up in the forest, just as I sit before you now, only a few hours ago. I've walked since then, hoping to find civilization."

Marcus was impressed. "Merlin, the forest is a good twenty miles from here!"

The black-haired man shrugged. "As I said, I hoped to find civilization. Maybe someone would have recognized me."

Marcus chuckled. "Well, I may be able to help with that. First, you'll need a temporary name. I can't keep calling you Stranger after all, now, can I?" The stranger shook his head. "No, I didn't think so. Hmm…." His voice trailed off in thought. "Certus!" He finally declared.

"What?" The Stranger asked.

"Certus. It means 'determined' in the Ancient Tongue." Marcus explained.

The Stranger nodded. "Certus. It fits."

Marcus grinned. "Come, Certus, take my arm."

"Excuse me?" The newly named Certus asked.

"To Apparate to my cabin. It will take less time than walking." Marcus said patiently.

Apparate. The word rang a bell. Certus hesitantly grabbed Marcus's arm. A split second later, they stood before a small cabin on the bank of the river. It was two stories, made of wood with a brick chimney and a tile roof. The door was orange; the window-sills were an emerald green.

Marcus turned to Certus. "Wait here. I must warn my wife, Maggie, to conceal herself in another room before I let you in."

Certus nodded. A few seconds later, Marcus emerged again from the door and waved him inside. Certus followed quickly.

The cabin was much bigger on the inside than on the outside. It seemed like a mansion, almost. Long halls adorned with simple gold paint greeted Certus as he entered. The stretched from the left and right relative to the main room in front of him.

The room before him was warm and inviting. Plush lavender armchairs and sofas circled a wood table. A fire danced happily in a large brick fireplace at the end of the room. Bookshelves surrounded the room's walls.

Marcus had disappeared into another room, and held robes and undergarments when he returned. "Here. Put these on."

Certus pulled on the outfit and looked down at himself. The flowy black robes felt comfortably familiar, the lightweight pants just as comfortable. He still, somehow, felt naked.

"What's wrong, Certus?" Marcus asked when he noticed the man's frown.

Certus shook his head in confusion. "There's something missing. I don't know what it is." Certus answered.

Marcus laughed. "Your wand, sir, I'm sure of it."

"Why do you have a cabin this far from town anyways?" Certus asked, changing the subject.

"I research the local wildlife while Marcus experiments with new spells and potions to fight the Achnids and the Wraith." A new voice responded. Certus turned to the voice's source. It was a redheaded woman. She stood about five and a half feet tall and had long, curly hair. "Greetings, Visitor. I am Maggie." She introduced herself.

"I am Certus, as we've decided." Certus shook her hand. "What are Achnids and Wraith?" He was confused.

"The Wraith are beings of this galaxy that take away a human's life force with their hands." Maggie answered. "They have caused many deaths both on Lorena and on other planets."

"And Achnids – well, they're just as dangerous." Marcus continued bitterly. "The misguided fools are Wizards and Witches like us Lorenians. They terrorize and destroy any planet in this galaxy they cannot conquer. They believe that those with magic are superior to those without magic."

Certus grimaced. Neither foe sounded pleasant. Marcus turned to Maggie. "We must get him a new wand."

His wife nodded. "Certus, tell people in town that you are my cousin from Tralla to the north. Most Tarans do not travel so far away, so they will not know any different. Tell them that you are moving from Tralla to Tara, to live with Marcus and me."

Certus bowed his head slightly in appreciation.

"Come, Certus, take my arm. We shall Apparate to Tara's wand shop." Marcus declared. The two disappeared from the cabin.

Maggie shook her head, smiling fondly. That's my Marcus. She mused. Always bringing the stray dogs home.

^^^^ 13 years later, two days before present time, on Lorena ^^^^

The moths passed into years, the years into decades. Certus never remembered his past, except the magic that he exercised daily. Marcus figured that it was something so a part of Certus that nothing could erase those memories.

Certus eventually proved himself as a valuable Bernien, a warrior of Lorena. He worked his way through the ranks until he lead the Taran Berniens.

Marcus had been elected to the Prelium's office in Tara. The other Preliums chose him to be the representative leader of all Lorenians. Ultimately, everything fell on his shoulders. Certus could not think of a better man for the job.

Certus entered Marcus's office, mumbling the password and tapping the door three times. He was being briefed on a new mission for his Bernien troops.

Marcus looked up from his desk as Certus approached. "Ah, Certus, I have an important mission for you."

Certus nodded and sat across from Marcus.

"Now, as you know, we've received word of an Achnid outpost near Lorena. I want you to take troops and infiltrate the outpost."

"What's so different about this outpost from all the others?" Certus asked. It usually wasn't a big deal to infiltrate an Achnid outpost.

"Our intel suggests that the Achnids have partnered with someone. This outpost is the base of that partnership."

Certus nodded. If his forces could find out who the Achnids were partnered with, they might be able to fight against them. As it stood they'd be blind if they attacked. "Ill take a team of five." He got up and left the room to find his team. He thought he knew just the place.

Kleit Korit was sitting on a stool in the Taran Daily, Tara's one and only pub. He was enjoing a rare day off with his fellow Berniens: Machien Vellus, Darien Doren, and Cally Soronus. Cally was the only girl on the team, one of the few in Tara's Bernien forces.

"Honestly," Cally said, "The man told me that I was inferior to wizards because I was a witch." The group snorted. Cally was notorious for her support of women's rights.

"What did you do?" Kleit asked, though he already knew the answer.

"I sent him flying into the wall ten feet behind him."

The group laughed heartily. Cally had done this on numerous occasions, even in front of their CO, Certus Cantante. Kleit, and the rest of the team, swore that Cally and Certus had some sort of feelings for each other, though both of them were too stubborn to admit it. Certus never punished Cally for defending women's rights, but he always got on Machien's case for protecting a "woman's honor", as he called it.

"What did Cally do this time?" Their CO demanded as he came up behind them.

Machien groaned. "Can't we manage one day without you breathing down our necks?"

Certus grinned. "You know me. I'm determined to be a pain in the arse." He retorted, earning a series of eye rolling at the old joke. They all knew his name meant determined in the Ancient Tongue. "We've got an important mission. Gear up."

The others protested immediately. "But it's our day off!" Darien argued.

"Yeah, it is. And you're gearing up." Certus declared. "I'll explain on the way."

Kleit paid for their drinks and the team followed Certus out of the room. He wasn't surprised this had happened. None of them were. Something always came up on their holidays.

Nearly forty five minutes later, Certus's team was approaching Merlin's Portal, as the Lorenians called the Stargate. They each wore cloaks with engorged pockets, filled with every kind of potion they needed.

Darien ran ahead and punched in the address for the Outpost. They knew from previous experience that not all Wraith (or Achnid) outposts were well guarded.

All the same, Certus had his soldiers bring their Invisibility Cloaks, which they now threw over themselves. It was Lorenian law to carry the Cloaks at all times – they protected the wearer from detection, proving valuable when the Wratih came for a culling or the Achnids raided Tara. The secrets for making the Cloaks were passed on from generation to generation among Cloak making families. Luckily Lorena was rich in the materials needed for the Cloaks, or they would be incredibly expensive.

Woosh! The Portal roared to life. "Here we go again," Machien drawled before they stepped through the Portal.

Mere seconds later, the team emerged on the other side. They were greeted by a swarm of Wratih, all pointing their stun guns at the Portal.

Certus used Legillimency to tell his team what to do. The soldiers followed his orders, moving to the right and walking right past the Wraith soldiers to the forest beyond. When they were a good fifty yards away, Certus told his group to remove their cloaks.

"Well I think we know who the Achnids have partnered with." Darien said bitterly. His entire family had been wiped out by the Wraith.

"How will we get home now?" Machien asked. "The Portal's storming with Wraith."

"Who said anything about going home?" Certus responded. "We need more information."

"About what?" Darien demanded. "We know what we're up against now."

Cally knocked him upside the head. "We don't know what they're planning or why they've partnered together."

Machien nodded. "She's right, you know. The Achnids have lost just as many to the Wraith as we have. What are they doing as their allies?" His voice shook with anger. Machien had defected from the Achnid Army. He still had family and friends on Achnea. This was why he left – the Achnid leadership cared only about the Empire, not their people. They had no honor, no morals.

Certus looked thoughtfully at Machien. He never had completely trusted the man, but he knew he spoke the truth. No planet in the Pegasus Galaxy had gone untouched by the Wraith. He was concerned that Machien's loyalties would be called into question on this mission. Certus decided to keep a strict eye on him. "Let's fan out. Machien and Cally, you're with Darien. Kleit, you're with me. If you find something, send a Patronus." It was a much easier way to communicate than Legillimency, after all, and didn't need close proximination.

Kleit and Certus wandered off to the north, while Machien, Cally, and Darien wandered to the south.

"Why do you think the Wraith and Achnids have teamed up?" Kleit asked Certus.

The man shrugged. "I'm not entirely sure. It's possible they've worked out some kind of deal."

"What do you mean?"

"'I scratch your back, you scratch mine' sort of thing." Certus expanded. "Maybe the Wraith can have certain planets the Achnids have no need for."

Kleit shook his head. "That wouldn't make any sense. The Wraith can just take over any planet they want, without the Achnid's consent."

Certus nodded, pleased with his soldier. Kleit was brilliant, he gave him that. "There must be another reason, then."

Kleit's eyes widened and he shook his head. "No, it can't be…" he murmured to himself. "Do you think they'd be cruel enough to… offer a sacrifice to the Wraith in exchange for forces?"

Certus stopped walking and scowled angrily. "It certainly fits," he finally said. "I would be willing to bet money on that theory."

Kleit beamed at such high praise. Certus rarely complimented his team. They knew he wasn't trying to be mean or anything. Their CO used compliments as a reward for a job very, very well done.

They walked for a few more hours before backtracking to Merlin's Portal. It was useless. There was no sign of anything in the north. They now stood a good twenty yards from the Portal.

A silver mist appeared in front of them, startling the two Berniens. It took the form of a hawk – Cally's Patronus. "We're surrounded. We don't have much time. We were betrayed. Darien-" Her voice cut off.

A new mist appeared in front of them. It took the form of a horse – Machien's Patronus. "DARIEN IS THE TRAITOR!!! HE-" His voice screamed before it, too, was cut off.

Kleit stared at Certus in a moment of shocked silence. "What are you waiting for?" His CO demanded. "MOVE!!!"

The two beelined to the Portal, Wraith Darts flying overhead. They could hear footsteps pounding rapidly behind them. Achnids must have Apparated to the site the Patronuses had been sent to. They were following close behind the Berniens now.

"CLOAK!" Certus cried, throwing his Invisibility Cloak over his shoulders. Kleit did the same. They clung tightly to the silky fabric as they continued dashing to the Portal.

Oh Thank Merlin! Certus thought as they neared the Portal. Not a Wraith or Achnid in sight, and the device wasn't powered up. He quickly punched Lorena's address into the system and stood back as the Portal activated.

Kleit turned around to cover his CO. The Achnids were not far behind them now, and Darien was there at the lead. The traitor was shouting orders as if he was a commander himself.

Certus was too lost in his own thoughts to notice Darien. It seems the betrayal had knocked Certus's memories back from the depths of his mind.

He remembered his name now. He was Sirius Black, and he lived on Earth, in England. He remembered that his friend, Peter Pettigrew, had betrayed James and Lilly Potter to an evil wizard whose name he still couldn't remember. He remembered being accused for Pettigrew's crime and sent to a dark prison.

He remembered escaping – how, he wasn't sure. He remembered finding a young boy; Harry, he thought as he saw the boy's face. He remembered a werewolf – Remus. He remembered a veil. And then he remembered Lorena. How he got there, he had no idea.

"CERTUS!" Kleit screeched, not sure where his CO was. That was the only down side to Invisibility Cloaks. "WE HAVE TO GO!" A wave of spells and stun blasts fired upon the source of his voice.

His CO followed him through the Portal and they cast the spell to shut it down as soon as they got to the other side.

Kleit sunk to the ground, his head in his hands. "That BASTARD!!!" He screamed.

Certus looked at his last team member with concern. The man's arm was scorched. "Kleit, get up. We need to get you to the Healer."

Kleit looked at Certus like he was crazy. "What do you mean I'm fine-" he glanced at his right arm. His head grew dizzy, and everything went black.

A/N: It's sort of a Cliffhanger, I know, but it'll all be ok in the end. Trust me.