Last time, it was determined that the reason why Jill collapsed was that when Stormy scratched her, Jill was infected with a slow acting poison. The toxin had dealt serious damage to her spine, which left Jill paralyzed below the waist. Fay swore revenge against Stormy. We now fast-forward two weeks into the future from that day. On with the show!
Chapter 35: The Truth
Two weeks have passed since Harry found and destroyed the fifth Horcruxes. Two weeks since the Ramblers exterminated the dementors once and for all. Two weeks since Jill collapsed. In that time, the fight against the Death Eaters had slowed down almost to a stop. There were no further killings, no sightings of demons, zombies, trolls, giants or any other dark creature working for Voldemort. One of the worst things about war isn't the death or destruction. It's the boredom.
To pass the time, Harry and Ron continued their martial arts training under Max. Hermione decided to join the bandwagon, and was being taught by Fay. After two weeks of hard physical exorcises, Harry, Ron and Hermione were sore, but in top shape. Laura had decided to help out with Harry's mental defenses. "From what you told me about that creep Snape," said Laura, "Your mind needs a good, strong defense." Lara told Harry to think about a brick wall. "The bigger and thicker, the better. Add a few spikes to the wall, maybe some oil traps as well." Now why couldn't I have learned this instead of Occlumency? thought Harry.
Meanwhile, Bloom told Harry and the others about her dimension. She, Harry and Will compared differences between each other's Earth. Meanwhile, Tecna and Timmy were recounting what they were doing just before the school year ended for them. "We discovered a dual wormhole phenomenon." "What's that?" asked Irma. "It's when two wormholes connect two points of space, one opens first, then the second opens some time later." Said Timmy. "This event was a once in a life time opportunity." Said Tecna. "If only I knew what wan waiting at the other side of the universe." "What was waiting?" asked Ron. "A vast Galactic Empire of bi-pedal, space faring insects." Said Timmy. "We just barely escaped with out lives," said Tecna, "Which goes to show that scientific exploration hasits price." (Note: The events described by Tecna and Timmy are furtherexplored in my next story; Twenty-nine Hours. Read it, you won't be dissapointed)
Meanwhile…
"So John Kerry won the 2004 election in your world?" asked Bloom. "He did indeed." Replied Will. "I guess it all depends on the little differences that determine history." Said Harry.
Elsewhere Max and Steve were talking about some of their more silly adventures. "We've dealt with some pretty strange things," said Max, "But this one is just plain stupid. Towards the end of April last year, former Vice-President Al Gore came into the office in D.C. saying he had information that could save the human race from a fate worse than death." "What was it?" asked Taranee. "At first, we thought it was one of the usual end-of-the-world plots, but it wasn't." said Steve. "Gore showed us a drawing of what appeared to be a demon. It was as if someone crossed a human with bear and pig DNA. I asked Gore what it was, and he replied 'Man-Bear-Pig.'"
"'Man-Bear-Pig?'" asked Helia. "That's what Gore said." Replied Max. "Out of respect I humored him. I asked Gore what Man-Bear-Pig was, and what it could do to threaten the human race. He replied that Man-Bear-Pig would wipe out the human race with Atomic Wedgies." At this everyone burst into laughter.
"Was Gore high, or something like that?" asked Cornelia. "I fear to wonder." Said Steve. "I think losing the 2000 election unsettled him." Said Max. "I told him that The Ramblers only respond to real threats. He replied that we weren't taking him 'cerial,' to use his words. He ran out of the building yelling that nobody took him 'cerial' anymore, and ranting about Man-Bear-Pig." (Note: To my knowledge, Al Gore is not crazy, and there's no such thing as Man-Bear-Pig.)
Harry, on the other hand, had taken advantage of the lack of Death Eater activity to catch up on lost time with Ginny. "Harry?" asked Ginny, "What's going to happen to us once this whole mess is over?" "I really haven't thought that far ahead." Said Harry. "I had hopes of becoming an Auror, but the way thing's are going, it won't be long before I have to face Voldemort." Harry didn't want to talk about Voldemort. In his pocket, next to the fake Horcruxes, was a small box he recently purchased from Diagon Alley. He and several of our heroes went there to relieve the boredom. In the box was a small gold ring set with a Peridot, Ginny's birthstone. Harry bought it as a promise ring. He was waiting for the right time to give it to Ginny.
Just before Harry was about to decide that this was the right time, there was a teleportation flash just in front of him and Ginny. "Young love is so beautiful!" "Jill!" exclaimed Harry. Indeed it was Jill. She was sitting in a chrome electric wheelchair. "We're you spying on us?" demanded Ginny. "Let's just say my eyes are open." Replied Jill. "One of these days," said Harry, "You're going to tell me what that means." "Of course," said Jill, "Anyway, how do you like my new wheels?"
Before Harry could answer, there was a shout form the house. "Jill's Back!" Soon, everyone minus Hermione, Ron, Timmy and Tecna were clustered around Jill. "I thought you were out of the picture!" said Fay, who looked happier than Harry had seen her before. "The doctors said that as long as I stayed in this wheelchair," said Jill, "I could still be involved. I've never failed to finish a mission, and I'm not planning to start" "The mission is that important?" asked Bloom. "Keeping humanity safe is my life's work." Said Jill. "I'll continue working until they nail my coffin shut."
Suddenly, there was another teleportation flash. And there stood a man in his early twenties. He was tall, had dark brown hair, and had a Canadian flag patch on his Rambler jacket. "There you are!" he exclaimed at Jill. "I told you to wait for me." "And I told you Aaron," said Jill, "That I can take care of myself." The man called Aaron turned to Max. "I swear Max, one of these days, you people are going to drive me crazy with all the stuff you do to yourselves."
He then saw Harry. "Forgive my rudeness," he said as he shook Harry's hand, "Dr. Aaron Spartan MD." He turned back to Jill. "You. If you ever want to walk again, stay in that wheelchair until I say so." There was another teleportation flash, and Aaron was gone. "Aaron is the team doctor," said Max, "He's a genius like Virgil. Only Aaron chose medicine and Virgil chose science."
Just then, there was a loud beeping from Virgil's PDA. "Sh$t!" exclaimed Virgil. "What?" asked Will. "Someone's trying to use my laptop!" Virgil ran back to the house. "What's so bad if someone uses his laptop?" asked Stella. "If anyone but me tries to access secure information, it'll explode, killing whoever's trying to access it."
A few moments ago…
"Dear six-nine-so-fine," said Virgil as he typed into his laptop, "Sorry I haven't been able to talk recently. I've been occupied keeping the world safe from drug lords." He paused and said to himself, "I wonder if she gets that I work for the ATF yet?" His thoughts were interrupted by Laura. "Oh, you have got to see this!" said Laura, "Get off the computer and come look." "I'm busy." Said Virgil. "Doing what?" snapped Laura, "Sixty-nine-so-fine aint going to love you!" "It's six-nine-so-fine for your information!" snapped Virgil. "Virgil, do I have to remind you why your last girlfriend dumped you?" asked Laura. "Now get off the computer, you have to see this to believe it!"
Virgil put down his laptop and followed Laura. Unknown to Virgil, someone was waiting for this moment. "It's now or never." Said Hermione, as she, Ron, Tecna and Timmy went up to the laptop. "You realize that if we get caught," said Ron. "What's Virgil going to do, expel us?" asked Hermione as she began typing. "Well, are you sure you know what you're doing?" asked Ron. "It's like riding a broomstick Ron," said Hermione, "Once you learn, you never forget."
"What are you looking for?" asked Tecna. "The real reason why The Ramblers are here." Answered Hermione. "I believe Harry when he said that there's more to them than they say." She stopped typing. "I need his password." "Let me try," said Tecna, as she pulled out a small device. "This will let me decipher his password." She plugged it into the laptop, and began decoding the password. It took only a few moments. Ron bent over to read the password. "'OoGhIJ MIQtxxXA?'" said Ron, not sure he pronounced it right. "What's that?" asked Timmy. "Well, it's been a while since I watched Star Trek," said Hermione, "But it sounds like Klingon."
"It's the Klingon phrase for 'Superior Galactic Intelligence.'" Said Virgil as she took his laptop back. "It should be 'Superior Galactic Idiot' since I'm an idiot for leaving my laptop alone." "I'm sorry," said Hermione, "I've should have asked." "Even if you did ask," said Virgil, "The computer will only respond to my DNA signature. If you had hit enter, the computer would have exploded."
Max then entered the scene. "Why?" he asked. "I just wanted to know the truth." Said Hermione. "I doubt you can handle the truth." Replied Max. "Tell them anyway." Said Jill. "They've earned the right to know." "Okay then," said Max, "but it won't be my fault if you're shocked by what you hear. The Ramblers were originally sent here to recover a rare and powerful historic item that was stolen by the Death Eaters."
"This item was taken from the most secure, most guarded vault in the Library of Congress. The thieves just popped in, took it, and popped out. This happened just hours from when you said Dumbledore was murdered." "What did they take?" asked Harry. "The Necronomicon." Answered Max. "Impossible!" exclaimed Hermione. "The Necronomicon is just a legend. A myth." "The Chamber of Secrets was a myth," said Ron, "Why not this?" "Because Ron," said Hermione, "The Necronomicon is supposed to be the oldest and most dangerous book in the world."
"Believe me," said Max, "The Necronomicon is real. I should know; I had more than one opportunity to destroy it." "Why didn't you?" asked Harry. "The administration intervened. The first time, they wanted to use it as a weapon. The second time, they wanted to preserve it for it's historical value."
"Why does Voldemort want it?" asked Will. "The book contains instructions for summoning demons. We've all seen the results." Indeed we have thought Harry. "But that's only the tip of the iceberg. The last seven pages of the book are written in rongo-rongo." "That's the language they found on Easter Island." Said Martin. "It's identical in speech," said Max, "But nobody can read it." "Not even me," said Virgil, "And I'm one of the smartest people on the planet." "Be modest, will you." Said Steve.
"Anyway," said Max, "The last seven pages are rumored to contain a ritual. This ritual is supposed to make anyone who performs it correctly a living god." "If Voldemort can translate the pages," said Harry. "Then he'll truly be unstoppable." Finished Max. "That's why we're here: Recover the Necronomicon at all costs. Everything else is secondary priority."
"When you mean everything else is secondary priority, does that mean that you didn't have to help us?" asked Will. "Our orders were to recover the Necronomicon. If it could be done without joining up with you," said Max, "Then it would have been done." "So why did you decide to help us?" asked Harry. "It's because this fight is now personnel." Answered Max. "You want the truth? Here's the story:
FLASHBACK
"There it is, Ken," said Max, "The most dangerous book in the history of mankind, and they have it where anyone with a glass cutter can get to it." Man and Ken Somerset, a.k.a. 'Blade-Fist,' were in the bowels of The Library of Congress in Washington D.C. Before them, in a glass case, was a book. At first glance, it looked like an ordinary, weather beaten book, yet it was not. The Necronomicon was rumored to be bound in human flesh, and penned in blood.
"I think you've seen 'National Treasure' too many times Max." Said Ken. "I've never seen 'National Treasure'," said Max, "But that's beside the point. They should have it in a more secure location. There are people out there who would kill to get their hands on this book." "If it's so dangerous?" asked Laura, who was also in the room, "Why does it still exist?" "I tired to get it destroyed," said Max, "But the damn bureaucrats have put their foot down. So it stays here."
The three Ramblers left the Library some time later. "So what are you going to do with your time off?" asked Ken. "I think I'll head west to Hawaii with Leon," said Max, "Climb a volcano while we're there." "I'm going to spend some time at home," said Laura, "Catch up on some reading. "I'm heading over to Virgil's place." Said Ken. "He's having trouble with his girlfriend, and someone should be with him to make sure he doesn't do anything stupid."
Six hours later, Max and Leon Smyth-Falcon, a.k.a. 'Cajun Man', was waiting in the lobby in LAX, waiting for their transfer flight to Hawaii, when his cell phone rang. "Hello." Said Max. There was a moment as he listened to the other end, before horror dawned on his face. "What happened?" he asked, not believing what he heard. "When?" Max then checked his watch, "We'll be there as soon as we can get a flight back." Max deactivated his phone. "What's going on?" asked Leon. "Vacation's over," said Max, "Someone stole the Necronomicon."
Four hours later, Max and Leon were in the security room of the Library. They were watching the security feed of the room where the Necronomicon was kept. As they watched, Max saw some one appear in the room, blast the glass case with something, grabbed the book, and vanished. "Definitely wizards," said Leon. "But whose wizards?" asked Max. Just then, his cell phone rang again.
The caller ID showed it was the Prime Minister of Great Britain. "Yes Mr. Prime Minister." Said Max. Max listened before answering, "My team will get right on it." Max hung up and turned to Leon. "Well Cajun Man," said Max, "It looks like Voldemort is back."
"We'll need the regular people," said Max, "Jill, Virgil, Fay, Laura and Ken. We'll take the new guys as well, Zarnald, Simon and Steve." "If Voldemort does have the book," said Leon, "Then we're up sh$t creek without a paddle."
INTERRUPT FLASHBACK
"It didn't take much to determine that the Death Eaters were the ones who stole the book." Said Max. "A few days after we arrived here, Fay, Steve, myself and Ken Somerset were fighting a group of those demons. We were looking for leads to the location of the Necronomicon. Ken got separated from the rest of the group, and tried to take on a pair of Death Eaters alone…"
FLASHBACK RESUME
Ken Somerset, sometimes called 'Blade-fist,' stood surrounded by several Kandarian demons. "You f#ck#rs think you can take me?" he yelled at the creatures. They charged at him, but Ken wasn't concerned. In fact, he looked like he was having the time of his life. His right hand glowed red, and he began to slice at the demons. Every time he made contact, the demon contacted fell dead. "Is that all you bastards got?" Within moments, the demons were all slain. "F#ck$ng waste of my time!" said Ken as he began to head back towards Max and the others. But, he was stopped by the appearance of two Death Eaters.
"You f#ck#rs want a piece of me?" yelled Ken, his hand glowing red, "Well come get some!" "Avada Kedavra!" yelled on of the Death Eaters, and Ken was hit by the killing curse. Yet, Ken still stood. "By the Dark Lord!" exclaimed the other Death Eater, "He's still alive!" Ken however, was in bad shape, as proved as he coughed up blood. "He won't be for long, he's spewing blood." "You f#ck#rs think that," gasped Ken, fighting to stay alive, "That just because you have power, that you can just walk over the rest of us. Well you're wrong. The human race has lived through many crises before. We'll do it again. We shall survive." He gave one final gasp, and fell dead.
"Is he dead now?" asked the first Death Eater. "He is now." Answered the second one, as he raised his wand into the air. "MORSMORDE!" yelled the Death Eater, as the Dark Mark was set up overhead. Just then, Max had arrived onto the seen. He saw Ken on the ground and the two Death Eaters. "Get away from him!" bellowed Max as he charged and threw a Distructo Disk. The energy disk's aim was true as it removed the head of the Death Eater that killed Ken.
The second Death Eater stared in horror at his decapitated companion, and apparated out. "Ken!" yelled Max as he rushed to Ken's body. Steve and Fay had also arrived. "What happened?" asked Fay. ""Oh my god!" exclaimed Steve, "They killed Ken!" "The bastards!" exclaimed Fay. "Damn it Ken! I told you not to go off on your own!" Lamented Max. Just then, there was a small voice, coming from the robe pocket of the slain Death Eater. "Zukov! Zukov! Answer me!" Max reached into the pocket and pulled out a small crystal sphere.
"Voldemort I presume?' said Max. There was a moment's silence before Voldemort replied. "Who are you and why are you interfering in my affairs?" "You can call me 'Distructicuss Maximus.'" Said Max. "As to why I'm messing with your business, that's simple: You're minions stole something from the U.S. government. I'm here to get it back." "And what do you think my friends stole from your government?" asked Voldemort. "You know damn well what your people took!" said Max, "So here's the deal: give back the Necronomicon or else." "Or else what?" "Or else I'll tear your organization down around you, and cut your f#ck$ng head off."
"Just who do you think you are?" asked a different voice on the other end (Wormtail), "John Wane?" "Actually I'm a Clint Eastwood fan." Replied Max, "You know, the whole 'Man With No Name' thing appeals to me." "You really think you can stop me cowboy?" asked Voldemort. "Alive or dead," said Max in a good Clint Eastwood impression, "It's your choice. But I'm coming to get you." Max then crushed the crystal in his hand. "Now what?" asked Steve. "Now, it's personnel." Said Max.
"You shouldn't let your feelings get in the way of your mission, Max Kildare." Max spun around, and there was The Stranger, his face hooded, but his glowing blue eyes clearly visible. "You again!" exclaimed Max, "What do you want this time?" "Just to deliver a message." Said The Stranger. "I'm all ears," said Max, "But make it short."
The stranger began: "This shall be your greatest and most dangerous challenge yet. If you are to achieve victory over the forces of darkness and chaos, you must hold true to your resolve, and remain true to your friends." "Yes I'm sure this'll come in handy when we're facing a homicidal psychotic wizard," said Steve, "But now's not the time. So if you have anything else to say, say it."
"I have one more thing to say," said The Stranger, "Keep your eyes open for Harry Potter and Wilma Vandom." "Who?" asked Fay. But The Stranger was gon. "I hate it when he does that." Said Max
END FLASHBACK
So that's what made Voldemort lose his cool that day thought Harry. "You've meet The Stranger before?" asked Hermione. "Twice," said Max, "Each time he said something both wise and cryptic that didn't make sense at first. Then he disappeared." "So now what?" asked Ron. "Now, no more secrets." Answered Jill. "Now, we really work together. Right Max?" "Of course." Answered Max.
The end of chapter 35. So are the Ramblers really going to work with Harry without any secrets? Next time, Harry gets an unexpected surprise. See you next time!
