Veritas

Part One: Dawning on the Horizon

Chapter Ten - EVE

The security breach of the Veritas network provoked a lot of concern from the higher offices, which led to the head of the Veritas, Alpha.  The emergency security breach required a swift course of action.  The people in charge of the network began to do the work of figuring out how someone managed to breach the system in the first place. 

Another group was dispatched to find more information about EVE.  They had to send the information another way.  Jason was trying his best with his computer to look for information from their end.  Percy had to make a few more calls.  He was probably not going to show up for work on Monday, which would not only arouse suspicion with the Ministry, but with the Order as well.

Percy placed his priorities with the Veritas.  If there was a security breach, it would no doubt affect everyone involved.  It did not matter to Percy what happened in the Ministry or with the Order.  Percy was prepared to send a message to the Ministry, telling them that he could not come to work.  He was simply going to say that he was ill.  Jason and Percy couldn't just take a portkey back.

Jason kept working for hours on end, trying to figure out what happened.  "Can they send any messages?" he asked after four hours of working nonstop.

"It may not be safe to do so," said Percy.  "We've entered lock down.  We can't send anything for the next twenty-four hours.  We can't even use owls or the telephones."

"I don't see why we can't use owls, Percy.  EVE only attacked the network, so the phones can't be used, but owls should be," pointed Jason.

"We can't be sure of anything at this point," said Percy as he paced back and forth.  "Either way, we have to find out what's going on."

"Did you get anymore calls?  What about the voice?" asked Jason.

"The voice was very faint.  It sounded strange.  I've heard computerized voices before, but it sounded human," replied Percy.  "The person was asking me for help.  Do you think that someone accessed EVE to send the message?"

Jason looked thoughtful for a moment.  "That's a possibility.  People say that the corporation that built EVE also violated a lot of human rights.  Although, it couldn't be proven.  The authorities dismissed the people who reported as conspiracy nuts," he said.

Percy paced again.  "I'm not sure if the voice was even human," he muttered.  "It's just weird.  Why would this person contact me?  There are other Veritas agents in the area.  I was only supposed to be here for the weekend.  And with the time change, I'll already be missing work at the Ministry.  Someone has to cover for me there and come up with something."

"Maybe, that's it," said Jason thoughtfully.  "This person knows that you are only in New York City for a limited time.  And this person also knows that you're from England."

Percy's eyebrows creased with thought.  He paced again.  "You're also different from the other agents, aren't you?" pointed out Jason as he continued looking through Percy's computer.  "You're awfully young to be an agent.  At least you appear to be." 

Percy collapsed onto his bed.  He had not slept since he found those messages waiting for him on his computer.  He was exhausted.  Glancing up at the ceiling, his thoughts whirled around his head, trying to come up with an explanation.  His brain was too tired to come up with one.  Percy realized that he was affected by what the Muggles commonly called "jet-lag."  Despite, the fact that he had Apparated to New York rather than taking a plane, his body felt the lost hours.  It was now affecting his brain.

"Go to sleep," muttered Jason.  "I'll just order room service.  I'll wake you up when I have something."  He could not stand anymore of Percy's pacing.  It was nearly driving him mad.

Percy closed his eyes.  I just need to rest for a while.  Just a little bit.  He surrendered to slumber.

It was already Sunday in England.  Everyone had returned from Diagon Alley without incident.  Hermione was already happily reading her new spell books for the next year.  They had a lot of time on their hands.  The visit to Diagon Alley was early just in case anything happened that they had to concern themselves with. 

Apparently, Percy's birthday had rolled around, but he was no where to be found.  Molly was looking frantically at her clock from time to time, but it only said that Percy was at work.  She thought of sending him a present, which she had picked up at Diagon Alley.  She and Arthur went there early to pick out something for Percy.

"Arthur, it says that he's working," said Molly.  "It's like he's forgotten what day it is."

"Maybe, he just doesn't feel like celebrating," said Arthur.

"What are they talking about?" asked Harry quietly to Ron.

Ron was cleaning his broomstick.  "It's Percy's birthday today.  Last year, we didn't exactly celebrate it.  You know because of what happened."

"Mum's worried.  Ron, why don't you lend her Pig?" suggested Ginny.

Hermione looked up from her book and said, "Harry, what about Hedwig?"

Harry and Ron looked at each other and nodded.  "Hedwig's never failed to make a delivery before," said Harry as he and Ron stood up to go to the kitchen.

Molly and Arthur looked at them as they came in.  "Mum," started Ron, "I was thinking why don't we just send an owl.  Harry and I could send our owls out so that Errol doesn't have to go.  If you send him, Percy will have to wait until next year to get his present."

"It's not that simple, Ron," said Arthur.  "It's been a bit strange.  You see most of the time, Percy answers his letters from the Ministry.  But, he's not there this weekend.  Also, your brother never gave his forwarding address to the Ministry when he moved.  The Ministry always keeps regular addresses of each of the employees.  It's just easier on the owls."

Ron glanced at Harry for a moment.  They knew that Hermione and Ginny were probably listening from the other room.  "It doesn't hurt to try, Mum," said Ron.  "We could just send the owls out."  Harry nodded in agreement.

"Your father might be right.  Percy probably doesn't want to celebrate," said Molly.  "He's too busy with work."

"No one is too busy to get a birthday card, Mrs. Weasley," said Harry.  He did not like seeing her that upset. 

"Percy might think that you're still mad at him, Arthur," said Molly quietly as she glanced at her husband.

Arthur shook his head.  "I'm not mad at him anymore.  Just because we had a fight, doesn't mean he stops being a member of this family.  And we're all on the same side now, Molly.  I've talked with him at work, and everything seems fine."

"Then, where is he, Arthur?" asked Molly.

"I have no idea, Molly," replied Arthur sadly.

Ron and Harry did not look at each other, but started to think that there was something going on with Percy.  No one had any idea that things were about to get interesting.

Jason made a breakthrough after a few more hours of work.  He decided to wake up Percy, but found that he was already sitting up.  "How did you know?" asked Jason.

"I heard you stop typing long enough," said Percy as he stood up to stretch.  "What did you find?"

"I found out that the EVE is in New York.  Upstate New York to be exact.  It took a while to trace," said Jason, not getting into the specifics.

"Where is it exactly?" asked Percy as he came up from behind.  He looked at the map that Jason had on the screen.  "Is that the building plan?"

"Yeah, but something strange about this.  As if it wasn't weird enough to start with.  It was a little too easy for me.  Like someone left the backdoor open for me to go through," said Jason.  "I've got a bad feeling about this."

"I've had a bad feeling since this started," said Percy. 

"What are you going to do?" asked Jason.

"I have no idea.  Without any orders from headquarters, we're pretty much stuck," answered Percy as he looked at the screen.  "It does not look like it would be that hard to get inside.  Not for a wizard away."

"Hey…why don't we do a rescue mission?" suggested Jason eagerly as his eyes widened.  "This person probably does need help."

"Or it could be some kind of elaborate trap," pointed out Percy.  "Either way, this security breach will have to be dealt with."

"You mean that we have to get inside this thing?  It's called the Fortress," said Jason.  "That's what the plans say anyway."

"Who said anything about us?" asked Percy.  "You're not an official agent.  You haven't had the proper training and you're still in regular wizarding school."

"But—"

"No," said Percy forcefully.  "Besides, you have skills that can only be used outside.  If something happens to me, someone has to send a report in."

Jason scowled at him and folded his arms over his chest.  He was no child.  He was sixteen years old.  But, something in Percy's demeanor told Jason not to further challenge him.  Percy looked like he was in deep thought.  He was coming up with a plan.

"In cases like these, a field agent usually has to report back to headquarters or the nearest headquarters prior to going on a mission.  However, we're on lock down, so that is not feasible at the moment," said Percy thoughtfully as he recalled the field operations manual.  "So, that means that we could do an emergency mission."

"Are you serious?" asked Jason.  "We could do a mission."

"Yes, but you would have to stay here.  We can't have both of us in there.  I can use my magic to get inside and disarm things that way.  It wouldn't be that hard to do.  You can also guide me to the computer once I get inside."

Jason decided it was a fair compromise.  He was not completely shut out, and he had to begrudgingly admit that Percy was right about everything.  Not that Jason would ever voice it out loud.  He did not do that to any adults.  Jason did not respect any form of authority. 

"We have to move quickly and dissolve this problem," said Percy as he stood up.  "Let's get ready."

"Umm…not that I don't trust you, but have you ever done anything like this before?" asked Jason.

"No," replied Percy.  He looked through his equipment, which could not be opened by normal Muggle ways.  He opened a case, which had a Muggle weapon in it.

All Veritas agents, field or otherwise, were trained in Muggle firearms.  It was required because they had to venture into the Muggle world all the time.  The Veritas were careful not to use magic in front of the Muggles, and sometimes they had to make things look like what the Muggles would expect.

Percy put together a gun piece by piece.  He loaded the bullets into the cartridge.  Percy had had a lot of practice, but he had never used it in the field before.  It was the first time he ever had a field mission in the Muggle world.  He had to calm himself.  He could not afford to lose his cool.  He slid the cartridge into the gun and locked it in.

"Whoa," said Jason when he came in and saw the gun.  "You're going to use that?"

"If necessary," responded Percy evenly.  "You will have to use your computer from here.  Keep a lock on me at all times."  He went through the equipment and found the ear piece he needed to maintain contact.  He handed the other piece to Jason.  "You are not leave and come after me under any circumstances.  If anything happens to me, get out of the hotel and keep my cell with you."  Percy took off his cell phone and handed it to Jason.  "Do you understand?"

Jason blinked as if he had been stupefied.  "Do you understand?" repeated Percy.  "Are you all right?"

"Maybe, this is a trap," said Jason. 

"Possibly, but either way we can't wait around here and do nothing," said Percy.

"That's not what I meant.  What if it's a trap for you specifically?" asked Jason. 

"Yes, I was thinking that, but we haven't got much of a choice," replied Percy.  "Just stay here.  I'll Apparate over there and I'll turn on the communications."

"You mean to tell me that you can transport, let alone Apparate, with Muggle contraptions that run on electricity?" asked Jason incredulously. 

"I got here by Apparating.   The Veritas know how to keep everything compatible, so to speak," said Percy.  "Someone will explain it all later to you if you want.  It's time."

"Fine," said Jason.  "I'll monitor you from there.  I'll see if I can break into the security system and take it down.  Give me five minutes from the point you Apparate from before moving at all."  Percy nodded.  The plan was that he Apparate to one part of the Fortress that had minimal security measures.  "And one more…" Jason stopped.  Percy had already Disapparated.  "Good luck," whispered Jason.  "You're going to need it."

Percy Apparated just outside the compound.  It looked peaceful enough.  He saw two guards stationed at the front.  It would take only a weak stunning spell to knock them out.  He looked at his watch and turned on his ear piece, waiting for Jason to respond.

"Are you positioned?" asked Jason.

"Yes."

"Okay, I'm almost done.  There.  Go."

Percy Apparated forward.  He immediately stunned the guards with his wand.  The Muggles would not be able to trace it as easily.  He walked through the inside.  He noticed that there were cameras, but they turned off.  He walked forward carefully.  "Where?" he whispered.

"The whole thing is like a maze," said Jason.  "I'm trying to figure out the shortest route there.  The main computer room is on a sublevel.  That's where EVE is."

"Which?"

"It's on the last sublevel down.  There are thirty sublevels."

Percy knew there was more to the building than the outside.  From the outside, it looked only six stories high.  Most of the building was underground, which reminded Percy of the Ministry.  He kept going, looking for a stairwell.  He froze when he heard the sound of footsteps approaching.  Percy quickly activated a Disillusionment Charm to blend in with his surroundings. 

"I didn't here from Jackson and Richards for a while.  The cameras went down," said one of the guards.  There were three of them.  Percy could not let them find the other guards.  He stunned them before they could move.  They doubled over onto the floor.  Percy very carefully stepped over them.

"Where?"

"Whatever you do, don't take an elevator.  That's American English for 'lift.'  There's a chance that someone can shut it down.  I'm trying to take control of the building, but something is happening.  EVE isn't helping anymore."

Percy looked around.  He had to find a stairwell.  Jason was right.  He could not take the elevator.  He also had to keep his other senses open.  The hall was dark, but it looked very elegant from what Percy could see.

The floor was fine marble, most likely Italian.  The pillars looked Greco-Roman.  Carvings of vines wrapped around the pillars, climbing up to the ceiling.  The ceiling had chandeliers hanging from them.  The glass was like crystal tears, but there were no paintings.  The ceiling had arches that curved in a welcoming manner.  It was deceptively beautiful.  None of the things, Percy was looking at were very welcoming.  He did know much about the people who ran the building, but the rumors of violations against human rights hung over him. 

"Percy," hissed Jason's voice.  "You need to get to the stairwell.  I know the way.  Where are you positioned right now?"

"Main entry hall."

"Go forward until you reach the next hallway.  Keep going until you reach a fork.  Take the right and keep going.  You will pass some locked doors.  Don't stop for anything.  You have to keep going.  You'll find a stairwell.  Keep going until you reach the bottom level."

"Later."  Percy cut him off and kept going, following Jason's directions.  He could hear the sounds of more guards coming.  He had to stun them as he kept going.  Percy ducked around a corner, and whispered into his mouth piece.  "I can't keep this up.  I'll never get to the sublevel this way."

"Let me access the cameras," said Jason.  "Give me a minute.  Don't move."

Percy held his breath, waiting for Jason to say something.  He heard the sounds of more guards running around.  He could hear them scrambling and panicking, which was something he could use.  "Lock everything down!" shouted someone.

"We can't.  The security system is down.  We can't access it.  Five of the men are down.  I have no idea what hit them," said another.

"What about EVE?" whispered someone.

"Never mind that," muttered the first person who spoke.  "We'll have to do a manual lock down.  If the person is still inside, we'll trap him in."

"Hey," said Jason finally.  "I've got access to the cameras now.  I'm seeing them.  They're going to lock you inside."

"It doesn't matter.  I can get out," said Percy.  "I should have just Apparated straight inside.  It's nothing, just Muggle contraptions."

"That's it.  You can short out the equipment," said Jason brightly. 

"No," whispered Percy.  "If I use too much magic, the wizarding authorities will catch on.  Besides, we don't know what this building is.  There could be magical things that we don't know about."

"Okay.  I guess I could do something.  After all, I'll be out of this country by the time they figure something out," said Jason.  "I'll cut off the power source, but it will take out the surrounding complexes.  And there's a backup generator for the Fortress."

"How long?" whispered Percy.

"Let me see," said Jason.  "Damn.  I'm sorry.  I can only take it down for three minutes before the backup generator activates."

"It's enough.  Do it."

"Okie, dokie."

The guards started to move the doors.  Percy did not panic because there was no way they could hold him inside.  He could get out very easily, even without Apparating.  He heard the sounds of great metal doors coming down and sealing off sections of the Fortress.  Suddenly, the lights started to flicker.  They went out in succession.  Finally, everything was black. 

"Go.  Three minutes."

Percy started to move from his spot.  He ignored the sounds of the guards running around and shouting about the lights shutting off.  "Stop it!" shouted the head guard.  "Shut the Hell up!  There's a generator.  It will kick in any minute."

Percy noticed the edge of panic in his voice.  "Can you do something about the generator?" he asked.

"I can't.  It's contained within the Fortress," said Jason.  "I know where it is."

"Never mind that.  Look for the shortest and fastest route out of here from the lowest sublevel," said Percy.

"Will do."

Percy did not have to ask for more directions.  He had to phase through a metal door to get through the next hallway.  It was one of the magical techniques taught in the Veritas Training Requirement.  The field agents were sometimes called "wallwalkers."  They could break through almost any barrier and make magical barriers at will.  Percy was very well trained just as any Veritas agent.

He finally reached the stairwell and went down the stairs.  It seemed endless.  He kept going deeper and deeper.  Percy thought that he was traveling to the depths of Hell itself, but it was getting colder as he got deeper.  He was getting worried about whether or not Jason could contact him at all.

He stopped suddenly because he had noticed that the numbering was gone.  It stopped at twenty.  He glanced at his watch.  He had been moving for two minutes.  It was now the third minute.  He had to get to the bottom by that time.  "Forget it," Percy muttered as he phased through the remaining stairs below him.

Percy barely stopped at the bottom.  There was another metal door.  Percy took a deep breath before phasing through it.  "Lumos," he whispered in the pitch black darkness.  The tip of his wand lit up; his eyes quickly scanned the room.  Nothing could have prepared him for what was inside.  Most Muggles would have been horrified at the sight.  Percy gasped as his eyes widened.

Sublevel Thirty was unlike anything Percy had set his eyes on, Muggle or otherwise.  It was a room filled with wiring.  There was a large contraption in the middle of the room.  All wires converged on it, joining to create large tubes.  It was white like a large egg.  More like a pod.  There was glass on the outside.

Inside was a naked girl suspended in liquid.  Her eyes were closed and her head was bald.  There was a mask over her mouth.  Percy shined his wand on her, careful not to look at her body.  He looked at her face.  He reached his hand out.

"Percy, do you read me?" came through Jason's voice with an edge of dread.  "The generator will kick on soon.  The fastest, shortest exit out of there with the least trouble is through the sewer pipes.  Or you could just Apparate out.  Did you find EVE?  Percy?  Do you read me?"

"Yes, I've found her."

Written by kirikarin

Beta Read by IvyDragon

AN: I am bad at giving specific dates in stories.  I usually avoid doing so because I want the story to be read without dates in mind.  I normally put birthdays down because people like to look up zodiac signs and stuff like that. However, Percy's birthday is in the summer time.  According to GoF, just before the World Quidditch Cup, the Weasleys talked about Apparating.  Percy had only passed two weeks prior to it.  So, I'd estimate that his birthday is sometime in August.  I place him as a Leo.  This part of story takes place about two weeks before the first of September.  About the whole owls thing, a spell has been placed on agents of the Veritas that prevents regular owl post from reaching them unless they want to be found.  Too Matrix-like for anyone's tastes?  I don't plan on doing that.  It's just really a more anime like devise. 

kirikarin.livejournal.com

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.