Harry walked into Danzo's office with Isabel and found the man speaking with a familiar soldier. "Hello again, Stephen," said Harry. The man turned around and nodded.

"You as well, Mr. MacGrath.. Ms. Daniels, pleasure to make your acquaintance," said Stephen.

"Isabel," said Danzo. "This is Major General Stephen Hacket of the United States Air Force. He's the one who commissioned the building of Harry's design. I asked him hear with you and Harry to discuss recent events."

"This have something to do with Sakura's message while we were in Lyon," asked Isabel.

"Yes," replied Danzo. "See, apparently someone Imperiused one of my men to help with the launching of the ship."

"Someone stole the ship," asked Hacket. "Well where is it?"

"It's not stolen," said Haruka as she and Sakura walked into the room. Sakura made a mad dash for Harry and tackled him to the ground, hugging him tightly. "There was no one inside it when it took off, it just started up on its own."

"Someone just happened to know it would be doing that and helped it along," asked Isabel.

"More than likely someone working for Kessler," said Harry as he pulled himself to his feet. "Do you know where it went?"

"We managed to track it," said Danzo. "And you're going to want to see this." Danzo pressed a button on a remote and a television screen turned on beside Isabel. The three of them looked at the screen and saw a projection of the ship leaving Earth and heading towards Mars. "It's heading for Mars."

"Well, now we know it can operate in space…"

"At least you're laughing about this," said Stephen. "What the hell happened to the ship that made it go haywire like this and take off on its own?"

"Maybe it was something Kessler did with my mind and the programming. I've made it no secret that he planted his knowledge in my brain, and Holly has expressed concern for him doing something else as well."

"Do we have to worry about anything like this happening again," asked Danzo.

"Possibly if I'm the one doing the programming. I suggest having someone like Gaige take over the programming for the next ship if that is the case. You have a deadline to meet."

"You're surprisingly calm," said Isabel.

"That's Harry's Machine Mind," said Holly as she appeared. "His encounter with the mother Storm Dragon has increased his emotional output. He's having trouble keeping his emotions in check, so he adapted his mind to be more practical like a machine's. Like mine. While I understand and can feel emotions, I tend to keep them under the surface. Harry started doing the same."

"Harry…"

"It's temporary," said Harry. "Human minds were never meant to interact with a dragon's like mine did. I'm just trying to adjust to my emotions being on the same primal level as a dragon."

"Well," said Sakura. "At least you're like you're favorite animal now."

"Now's not the time for jokes," said Haruka. "We need to figure out what we're going to do about the ship."

"When is it getting to Mars," asked Harry.

"Based on the projections," said Danzo. "Three years."

"It doesn't line up with Revelation Day? There's a surprise…" Harry looked at the screen as another event came to mind about when the ship would arrive at Mars. Keeping it to himself, he turned to Stephen. Can you contact NASA? Ask them to have Opportunity keep an eye out for any anomalous entries in the atmosphere?"

"We don't even know where this thing could be landing, if it'll land at all," said Stephen. "How would we know where to even send Opportunity?" Harry looked at the screen closely before something inside him screamed where to go. Harry pointed to the southern hemisphere.

"Here. Solis Lacus. The eye of Mars."

"How are you so sure?"

"If I were going to uncover something, reveal something, it'd be there. Volcanic region. High sandstorms. The canals that could've been rivers. Prime place for a buried city."

"Now you're talking nonsense. Don't you think we'd have found evidence of life ever existing on Mars by now?"

"Not by looking at the surface," said Isabel. "I hate to admit it, but Harry's right. There have been multiple theories about the eye acting as a prime location for some kind of civilization. With the number of sandstorms Mars experiences on a daily basis, a city being buried under sand isn't outside the realm of possibility. Look at Egypt. Letopolis, what we know today as Ausim, was buried under sand for years before it was uncovered in the New Kingdom. But at the same time, the thought of other life out there, now or in the past, it's kind of… jarring."

"You're just worried there might be life out there more intelligent than yourself," said Harry.

"Not the point… If we're going to encounter other forms of life later down the line, would they have magic? Is it unique to us? If not… then what else isn't unique. This kind of thing would turn the whole world on its head. It would also mean the religions of the world would… be beside themselves. Their whole outlook relies on humans being alone in the universe, that God made us and us alone."

"Idiots…"

"Harry, it's about faith. This kind of thing would break that faith."

"Unless you're a Scientologist," said Sakura. "Oh, they're just going to love it if their belief was proven right." Harry's eyebrow twitched and he sighed as he pinched the bridge between his eyes.

"Oh, there's a can of worms I really don't want to open," he said before turning to Danzo. "Can you please keep us updated?"

"Of course," said Danzo.

"Miss Daniels," said Stephen. "If I could…"

"I don't make contracts with the military," said Isabel immediately. "The answers no." Harry sighed before waving to Sakura and Charging them back to the company. He turned to her as she waved him off. "I know what you're going to say. Save it. I don't make deals with the military."

"Wouldn't Elijah…"

"Don't. Bring. Him. Up. Just… Go get your new suit and let's head to the hospital. Sasha's waiting for us."

"I'm… not feeling well…"

"Well good thing we're heading to a hospital. Yeah, didn't think that through, huh?"

"Dammit."

"What is your deal?"

"He's afraid," said Holly. "It seems to be the one emotion that still affects his mind."

"Self-preservation. And since he's about to hold a baby…"

"Whoa," said Harry. "No one said anything about holding her. I thought I was just going along to… observe."

"Dude, you've faced down terrorists without so much as batting an eyelash, but a baby scares you?"

"They're small. And fragile. It's not like technology. I understand technology. But babies… No."

"Boy, you are going to be a lot of help when Daphne and Susan are pregnant, I can see. Come on. Your mom will kill you if you're not there to see your Godsister." Harry flinched before Charging to his room and coming back within a few minutes. "There you go. Come on, let's go." Harry grumbled before putting his hand on her shoulder and Charging them to the hospital Sasha was at. When he arrived, he spotted Cindy waiting for them, arms crossed and foot tapping.

"You're late," she said.

"Ooh," muttered Harry. "Disappointed mother stance. Haven't seen that one used before."

"Get used to it. After Lyon, you're on a leash."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Come on. Sasha's been expecting you." Harry hesitated and grunted as he was pushed forward.

"Get moving," said Sam behind him as she pat him on the back.

"Thank you, Samantha."

"Hey, kid's not gonna do anything without a push." Harry walked into the room and spotted Sasha and Zed smiling at a bundle in her arms. Sasha looked up and smiled at him.

"Hey, Jack. You took your time," she said.

"I… didn't want to come…"

"I feel offended. Come here." Harry grumbled slightly before stopping as he sensed someone behind him and aimed his Arc Gun behind his back as he felt a blade at his neck.

"Who the hell are you?"

"She's a friend," said Isabel. "Yumie. Be a good girl and put the katana down. And give Yumiko control. Now." Harry turned around and spotted a woman of Japanese descent wearing the robes of a nun with a katana aimed at his neck. There was a malicious look in what little he could see of her eyes which were hidden behind black bangs and saw them soften, their orangish glow dimming down as the katana was hidden away. "Sorry, Harry. She has a split personality. Made worse by the fact my dad absorbed her soul and released her essentially making her a dhampir in her own right."

"So, she's you're sister, technically."

"Hello Yumi," said Sasha. "I take it Father Anderson sends his regards?"

"Hai," said Yumi. "The College has convened to vote on the next Pope. He needs to protect them as a Paladin. Since I was excommunicated, I came in his place." She turned around and smiled at Isabel. The two women shared a hug before Harry spotted something peculiar happen behind Zed.

"Um…" Holly turned and spotted the same thing as Harry as Sasha turned to Yumi.

"Thank you for checking up on me, Yumi," she said. "I know Father Anderson was worried about me when I went into labor in the middle of the experiment."

"Guys…"

"What experiment," asked Isabel as she turned to Sasha.

"We found an unknown substance," said Yumi. "The last few months, we've been studying it. We wanted you to help with the research, but you were busy at that magic school."

"So we offered our services," said Zed.

"Guys…," said Harry.

"What substance," asked Isabel.

"It's amazing, Boss," said Zed. "It actually has…"

"Guys," shouted Harry. The adults turned to him and saw Harry and Holly pointing behind Zed. They turned and spotted the empty bed beside Sasha in the middle of a glowing blue energy field and lifting off of the ground. Because of Harry's shout, Sasha's daughter began crying and the bed shot towards the small group of people. Harry used Electromagnetism to catch the bed in the air and prevent it from hitting anyone as Sasha started calming the baby down. "Jesus fucking Christ that was close."

"Hey," whispered Yumi.

"Oh, shut up." He floated the bed back to its original position and looked at Zed. "Let me guess… this substance has Anti-Grav capabilities…"

"Yes… actually."

"And your daughter has absorbed those properties…"

"Seems like it, Jack," said Sasha as she finally calmed the baby down.

"What exactly did you find?"

"An unknown chemical compound that seems to be naturally made," said Yumi.

"I've seen that glow before," said Harry. "Me and Holly both have and so has M. A woman from the trip in Japan used that very power to stop a car from crushing people in the street. Whoever she was, she knows how to hide. I've been trying to find her for weeks and I'm guessing Harper is trying as well."

"Who's Harper," asked Zed.

"Jack Harper is M's employer. I met up with him at an abandoned genetic research bunker outside of Lyon. Whoever was running it was trying to mix human and dragon DNA."

"That's insane," said Sasha.

"Well, whatever else was down there killed a whole nest of dragons. And its loose on the world. I think Harper wants whatever it is."

"Could he have interest in anything else that was down there?"

"Me and Holly scrubbed through the files. Everything was either destroyed or erased completely. I doubt there was anything left but the corpses of failed experiments and ashes of burned documents. They were thorough. Harper told me it was most likely one of Riddle's former followers. A man by the name of Barty Crouch Jr."

"I remember that name," said Sasha. "He was one of Riddle's lieutenants. A mad genius, apparently. And he's working on genetic experiments?"

"I think so."

"If his reputation is to be believed, he'll be dangerous. As well as whatever he cooked up in that lab."

"Back to business. You said you found this substance that did this to my Godsister." He turned to Yumi.

"It was an excavation site in Africa," she said. An old cave was uncovered and there was this chemical found in a quartz cave floating in the air inside the cave."

"Wait, where in Africa?"

"The Congo Jungle."

"Lightning City," said Zed. "Just before Sasha went into labor, we ran a current through the substance and that's what caused the Anti-Grav properties."

"That cave must've been electrically charged from the constant storms," said Harry. "Creating the effect in the cave. As for the baby…"

"I've been working with it for months now," said Sasha. "I could've absorbed whatever energy it was emitted. As for how little Olivia is doing that, I'd say her nervous system is interacting with the element in her system."

"Element," asked Isabel. "I thought it was a chemical."

"We've taken to naming it after Adreas von Antropoff's concept from 1926," said Zed. "Element Zero, based on its Anti-Grav properties." Harry groaned and gripped his head as a Kessler Node activated.

"Element Zero." Images of objects being raised by the same blue energy, a woman manipulating an object's mass with simple gestures and Kessler creating a device using the Element Zero as a conductive current, generating high speed projectile weaponry. "This is the catalyst to the future. But it's also a stagnation. It has so much potential, but don't rely on it." Harry spotted a hospital and a woman with red hair walking into it, a man with short brown hair helping her along. She looked to be about nine months pregnant. "It can do many things on its own. But mixed with magic." Harry watched as the hospitals lights all across the building flickered for a moment from the outside. The view shifted downwards at a pair of hands and lightning arcing between them. "In some cases it causes our latent magic to evolve. But in all cases with magic, it does something else. It grants a resistance to radiation without igniting our magic. You'd need to be in the womb for that to occur. Now, it doesn't always spark up our magic in such a way." Harry saw flashes of the same woman. "If you see this when I think, Hecate is the key."

The view shifted again to look in a reflection as Kessler looked back at him. "I've marked you as my Apprentice, Harry Potter. You are like me. Our magic will bring on a new era. A new age of magic. Element Zero is the starting point, but do not rely on it. I can't explain why, but all you need to know is that while it can lead to great things, it'll lead to the same thing that plagued the Wizarding World for years. Stagnation. I won't live to see the new era, Harry. But you, the First Technomancer, will. I don't know how far along in my plans you will see this, but when you do, things will start playing out in ways to shape the future. Who you trust is your choice. What you do is your choice. There's only one way to stop the Coming Darkness and for that to happen, the Beacons need to shine the way. Unite the Worlds. Mundane, Magical, Hidden. Your fate changed the day I had my vision, Harry. For that I'm sorry. But I trust you can do this. Just take your time. The future isn't going anywhere. The present is here. Just make sure you're ready for what's coming. And you'll have help both from your own selection and mine. I've arranged for you to come across a readily available source of Element Zero. A Crate. It won't open normally. First, you'll need to find the Light Shining in Darkness. Godspeed, Apprentice."

Harry blinked and shook his head. "You ok," asked Isabel.

"Kessler Node," muttered Harry. "I need to step out for a bit." Harry went out into the hall and turned to Holly. "A Light Shining in Darkness. The Node told me that's how we open the crate. Apparently he has this Element Zero in it. Claims that plus Hecate can give people a resistance to radiation. If that's the case, we have our solution to how we can extend space exploration to the Magical World."

"Can we trust Kessler's word," she asked.

"I don't know. But I'm inclined to believe him. Not once have things gone out of his planning and predictions. He accounted for all of it. The targets in Lyon, how to unify the Worlds. How to progress my understanding of Technomancy. The Commander, Element Zero, all of it has been a part of his plan."

"Harry, even a Seer can't account for all things. Look at this logically."

"I am. Kessler wants us, the Beacons, to shine the way forward for all three Worlds."

"Three?"

"Mundane, Magical, Hidden. The High Elves, the Fae, any race that has been hiding for millennia from the Worlds of Man. There's not much spoken about them because the Magicals think they're all dead. The Mundanes think they're myth."

"How would we even get in contact with them?"

"I don't know. There has to be a way…"

"What are you thinking?"

"Hedwig. She can find them."

"Don't you think people would've tried using mail owls to find the elves already?"

"You forget how many people in the Magical World lack common sense. Magic can do all of this magnificent stuff and people take it for granted. And because of that, they close off the possibilities. I'm not a simple mage, remember? I'm a scientist. Let's finish up here and then I'll see if my theory is right. If I'm wrong, we'll find another way. Maybe Izzy can think of one."

"Think of what," asked the dhampir beside him. Harry jumped and growled.

"Why must people continue to do that?!"

"Because you're easy to startle. What's up?"

"Do you think Hedwig would be able to find the Hidden World races? High Elves? Dwarves? Fae?"

"What brought this on?"

"The Kessler Node. He mentioned that Revelation day is not a forced event. The Wards protecting and hiding both the Magical and Hidden Worlds are failing. My guess is because of the radiation in the air because of testing and bombing. The Wards are magic. Radiation is Anti-Magic. With how much ambient radiation is being increased in the atmosphere, it's no wonder the Wards are dying. Revelation Day is coming soon. All three worlds need to be prepared. But we need to contact the Hidden World first and make sure cooperation is possible between all three."

"You'll need some way to bridge the gap between humans and the Hidden Races. Like the Technomancers are supposed to for the Mundane and Magical Worlds."

"I think two of the Beacons are supposed to do that."

"I agree," said Holly. "Technically, the Veela are member of the Hidden World. True Veela colonies are hidden away from human eyes while half Veela live among us. That being said, Gabrielle may be a way to bridge not only Mundane and Magical but Human and Hidden as well."

"Then there's the last Beacon. Kessler told me the last two wouldn't be entirely human. Gabrielle was half Veela. Maybe this last Beacon is a half human half elf. Or dwarf. Or even Fae. They could even be dhampir for all we know."

"Not likely," muttered Isabel as she brushed a bang out of her eyes. "So this last Beacon is more than likely a halfling from the Hidden World. Which means they may have a mistrust of our world."

"Which could lead to problems if we don't contact them before Revelation Day."

"I don't know if Hedwig would be able to help with this. She's a great owl. But the Elven and Fae Wards are a cut above our own. She might not be able to get through them. But I think I know of someone who can…"

"Who?"

"Elijah's uncle, Eobard. The Last Soul Mage."

"Well where is he?"

"He's dead."

"…Did you get kicked in the head in Lyon? We're in a hospital if you need a check-up."

"Shut up. He was an explorer. Elijah told me he did a lot a traveling and made a lot of notes about the hidden magics he uncovered. Perhaps he found the Hidden Races and left a journal on them. Only thing is, he probably destroyed all of them. He would've left them to Eli, but he passed before Eobard. I can try checking Crowe Manor if there's anything, but if not we can try Hedwig."

"Where's Crowe Manor?"

"I… don't know."

"I'm starting to lose a lot of faith in you."

"Hey, at least I'm trying. Look, we'll figure this out. We've got two years before the Wards come down. We got this."

"I hope you're right. Because if we fuck up, we're looking at severe damage control."

"By the way, the Node told me what's in the crate and how to open it, but the clue was vague."

"Alright, what's the clue?"

"He said in order to open the crate we need to find a Light Shining in Darkness." Isabel rounded on him instantly and stared wide eyed.

"Oh… crap baskets…"

"What?"

"Of all of the stories Eli told me, it had to be that one."

"Izzy, what's going on?"

"A soul devoured by a Dementor. Eli once told me that by using a unique magic called Soul Sight, if he looked at a Dementor he could see all of the souls it had ever consumed. Like stars in a night sky. Lights Shining in Darkness. Son of a bitch. We need to find a soul in a Dementor. Or just a specific soul in general and we have no idea who's we're looking for."

"We have to. In the crate is Element Zero. Enough for us to synthesize a modified Hecate to help give Magicals a resistance to radiation so going to space won't kill them. We need to find it. We have to. If we don't, the Mundane World will leave them behind, and magic will continue to die off. It won't stop at the Wards. It'll keep spreading until there's no magic left on Earth. I won't let that happen."

"How do you know?"

"It's the only logical conclusion," said Harry and Holly together.

"If ancient Wards are dying off even after being sustained by natural magic for millennia, then that means all magic will follow soon after. It could take centuries, or a few years if things come to war. Which is what we're trying to avoid in the first place. If we need to find a specific soul, we can exercise every monster until we find it."

"Whoa, hold on there, cowboy. You don't even know if you can exercise a fucking Dementor of its souls in the first place. And second, getting too close to one means potentially having your soul sucked out instead."

"I know the risks. But we need to do everything in our power to prepare people for Revelation Day and then the Coming Darkness. Without these risks, we're looking at disaster."

"We have two years," said a voice behind him. Harry turned around and spotted Cindy standing a few feet away. "Two years to work towards the future. Not everything needs to happen right now. Take things at a slower pace, Harry. We'll get things done. If Kessler is as good at planning as we think, he'll have accounted for us wanting you to take a breath and slow down. This is a turn in the track, so to speak. You need to slow down, not speed up or everything veers off course. Understand?" Harry stared his mother down before sighing.

"I just… I'm worried. If we fail, it's all over. I'm worried if I slow down, I won't be able to keep my wits about me when the Darkness is here. I…"

"For now. You need to focus on being you. Being a kid. The First Sons are in retreat and likely won't try another major engagement until they can bolster the numbers they lost in Lyon. Now, you can have a proper school year. Not what this last one has been. And your life can be normal for once."

"Normal," asked Isabel. "We're about as far from normal as…" The dhampir clamped her mouth shut as Cindy gave her an evil look that promised torment if she didn't stop talking.

"We'll work with the others to get preparations under way and we will be ready. Not everything has to be done by you." Harry sighed before sitting down on the floor.

"You're right. I've been taking all of this on by myself and haven't really asked for help outside of ideas. Truth be told, I'm tired. This whole year, the last four years, actually, have been extremely tiring. I've been trying to quicken my pace instead of going slow and I'm burned out. I should've really started listening to all of you months ago but… I was being stubborn. Kessler had all these plans, he trusted me with his knowledge and named me his Apprentice. I guess I just… let my ego get the best of me. Developed some sort of complex about it…"

"At least you realize it," said Isabel. "Anything else you want to get off your chest?"

"I… let the Commander get away…" Cindy and Isabel stared at him for a moment before sighing.

"What am I going to do with you," asked Cindy.

"Anything but lock me in a cupboard, please." Isabel smacked him upside the head lightly.

"Not funny," she said with a smile.

(Hidden Sanctuary)

A girl woke up and yawned as she stretched. She sniffed and the air smelled like smoke. The sudden smell jolted her fully awake and she jerked out of her bed. Quickly dressing she left her bedroom and found her home aflame. "No… no, no, no!" She rushed out of her house and blinked as smoke and the sun blinded her slightly. The tree she called home was on fire as well as the neighboring trees around it.

"Arya," shouted a woman nearby. "You need to run! Get out of here!"

"Mother?!"

"Run! Go! It's after you!" A roar overhead alerted Arya to a beast, the likes of which she'd never seen before.

"What in the name of Gaea…?"

"Arya, run!" Are gasped as he mother enveloped her in a blue energy field and pushed her towards the tree line. Arya looked behind her and spotted her mother trying to lift a branch off of one of her neighbors as the beast was seen in the sky.

"Mother!"

"Arya," said a man with a bow as he ran into her. "Get moving now! Don't look back!"

"But…"

"Dammit, Knife-Ear. Go!" He picked her up and attempted to shield her eyes from the events behind him. No such luck. Arya watched as her mother managed to knock one of the beast's horns ahead of the man carrying her as it breathed a combination of fire and lightning down on her, roaring louder than anything she'd hunted before. Arya felt the Wards of her home pass over her as the man picked up the horn on the way out of the Sanctuary. They looked behind them as Wood and High Elves escaped the Sanctuary and used magic to disguise themselves as humans. The air still smelled of burning wood and the screams of those still trapped in homes slowly started dying down before a roar sounded once more and lightning shot into the sky before the air went silent.

"And you must be the princess," came a soft distorted voice behind them. She gasped and turned around before backing away from a man in a silver mask. "Well. It seems my pet has drawn you out. Good. Pleasure to meet you, Beacon of Unity!" He raised a wand sparking with lightning and aimed it at her before firing a bolt right for her head.

(Author's Notes)

And I'm back! *Ducks under torch.* Alright! Here's what happened. I tried to get this chapter out before the hiatus. I tried. Then I got too busy at work to write anything before my laptop was borrowed by my brother for some reason or another for a month. I did try to get this chapter done, if this and the next one seem a bit rushed it's because it kind of was. I had written out two chapters and was in the process of editing them when all this happened. But I'm back now so expect weekly (hopefully) updates for this and other stories. Side note, A new story has been added to my list, it will be updated on a month to month basis. It is a Fallout Story unrelated to my original one, A Verser Takes on the DC Hellhole, and focusses on the Chief, former head of security for Vault 28 located underneath the Alamo. Feel free to read and, hopefully, take an interest in either one as well as my other stories as well. I know I say this a lot, but those other stories haven't really gotten frequent updates mainly because of how few people seem interested. As you can imagine, seeing those with so few people interested kind of influenced how often I update. I'm not going to constantly update a story if no one is going to read it, there's no point. A story like my Apex Legends: No Ultimate won't get as many updates with only about 10 people interested when this and Revival of Soul Magic that received a massive following in the same amount of time if not shorter. If you're interested in more of my other stories, please follow and review letting me know. That's all for now, until next time, Y'all!