Season 2 - Chapter 3
Thoughts
"speech"
"Goa'uld speech"
SG SG SG SG SG SG SG
September 15th, 1998 – Battersea Power Station
"Prime Minister Blair, sir!"
We sit in our 'regular' conference room. The one with the comfortable armchairs, lovely river view, large whiteboard, and day-light projector. The same one that exists only when the Prime Minister is in the building.
"Amazing tea as always. English Breakfast, this time?"
"Dobby appreciates your enjoyment," Harry smiles lightly, in response.
"Dobby?"
"Dobby!" Harry calls, and our friend shows himself near the back door. "Meet Dobby – our house elf friend. He found us here and takes good care of those who know about him."
"Thank you for the tea, Dobby," Prime Minister Blair says kindly. "It's a delight."
"You is welcome, Prime mister." And Dobby fades with a bow.
"Women in Black?" he then asks with a raised eyebrow.
Back to work then.
"Sorry sir. It was Hermione and Harry's joke on the suit I was wearing at the office, and the whole spaceship thing. I did not even get the joke until they took me to see the film that evening. When we met the Americans in space, I didn't know what to say, so I went on with the joke, sir!"
"You misunderstand me, Wren. It's the perfect deniability," the Prime Minister smiles mischievously.
Wren? Nah, 'R' sounds much better
"Got a call, a few weeks back, from the US President. After a tedious conversation regarding our European allies, and mutual trade agreements, he delicately asked if I know something about a present the 'British WIB' has left at one of their airfields. I could easily say that even us 'Brits' don't have such an elaborated sense of humour. Luckily, it was a phone call, so I didn't have to worry about keeping a straight face."
Giggle
"Did he buy it, sir?" Harry asks, with a huge smile.
"Who knows. The Americans are an awfully hard sell these days. They are getting quite nosy as well, lately. The US Joint Chiefs of Staff probed Sir Charles Guthrie about 'off-the-table projects which should better be joint'."
"Did he elaborate, Sir", R asks.
"Just said it's for the 'good of the planet'".
"Another greater-good chap," Harry complains. "We had a bad experience with our old headmaster – long story," he answers the Prime Minister's unasked question.
"Also, your boss was contacted by his parallel with the CIA and was subtly asked if he is familiar with any incident in which our mutual agents have met, lately, under odd circumstances."
"Really? How did he answer?"
"After consulting with me, Stephen sent him a long list of agent encounters from all around the world, including a meeting between Miss 003 and an American operative, which turned rather torrid, while they were both 'on vacation' in Hong-Kong.
"Had to send poor Jane a bouquet and call personally to apologise. Promise her a rise."
"Blimey, poor Jane got a bouquet for having an active sex life? Some other agents might get rather envious," R remarks drily.
"Please don't be sour about this, Wren? Your own little project seems to be getting a life of its own, and isn't so little anymore. Might even get its own personal agency if you're not careful?"
"Please sir," R pleads. "Don't put me behind the inner desk with a pretty boy sitting at the outer desk, taking hats and brollies from the girls, reporting from actual field work?"
"Work life balance aside, the issue with the Americans is getting a little uncomfortable. My office received a call from that bloke Kinsey of Appropriations, demanding to receive an additional charge for the New-York reactor. The Principal Private Secretary talked with him and explained, patiently, that as far as he knew, the reactor arrives with a charge, sufficient for 20 years of use, under maximum capacity, and an additional charge isn't needed. The esteemed senator then moved on to intimidation and threatened to block funding to various joint projects in the Senate. Sir John didn't take it well, and explained that BCE is a private company, and has much more demand than capacity. He might have hinted that the Japanese are willing to pay a premium for an additional reactor."
"But you just gave them a container load of Naquadah?" Calvin asks R in surprise.
Keira laughs. While we look at her patiently. "Container load of good quality Naquadah, but they lack a Naquadah reactor capable of creating enough heat for further refining. Also, doing it out in space is harder for them. They can build with the Naquadah they have, but can't use it for power, sir"
Prime Minister Blair smiles over a sip of tea.
"There were signs of foreign agents milling around your part of town, Wren."
"Yes sir, I have also found signs of someone breaking into my flat. I'm staying here most of the time, and there was nothing there to find, but it was reported to the service."
"Finally, there was a new employee in my office, who raised Kingsley's attention, even though the service cleared him. An additional inquiry showed connections between him and a well-known local businessman, who apparently takes part in quite an exclusive international business ring. Surprisingly enough, a certain Senator is also a prominent member of that upstanding group.
"The man is spending some time at Her Majesty's pleasure. I gave the information to Stephen, and he's looking deeper into this. He has also contacted his counterpart in the NSA and remarked that it would be a shame if the relations between the UK and our closest ally would be soured, all because of one thoughtless Senator."
"Thank you for the information, sir." R remarks.
"Are we done for today?" The Prime Minister asks.
"Depends – Do you have 90 for a field trip? Who's with you here today?"
"Agent Mack is on my detail today," he answers, looking at R calculatingly.
"We have something interesting to show you. We can sign him in and take you for a tour, if possible?"
"Stealing another of my men, Wren?"
"No sir," she smiles. We need someone signed in, on your detail."
Agent Mack looks at R with a raised eyebrow as he signs the contract.
"Can we go now? Are we taking Precious?" The Prime Minister sounds almost giddy.
"Sorry, sir, we only fly to and from London at night-time." Keira replies and leads the party to the rings.
"Easy mate," I can hear R whispering to agent Mack on the way. "I understand it's all new, but you're in probably the safest place on Earth. No need to be all jumpy."
He does jump a bit when the rings fall but manages to control himself. When up, we find the Prime Minister and Agent Mack in the roof observatory, looking with wide eyes outside.
"Precious?"
"Over here sir," Harry leads us back to the rings, and up to Precious. "Here, you can take the throne," he chuckles, and points at it.
"I'll leave it for the Queen," Prime Minister Blair answers and is drawn to the front screen.
Beatrix elegantly walks past Harry to sit there and gets an evil eye.
"Here sir, take the co-pilot seat," R says, and gets ready to pilot Precious. "No seat belts, sorry sir."
The Prime Minister raises an eyebrow when a white mouse in a cage is positioned on the dashboard, but he was briefed regarding the limited access to the technology. Good news is that anyone can fly Frankenstein - problem solved.
R takes us up, round the moon. We make a short stop near the Apollo 11 landing site, then fly up to the wreckage of the Goa'uld ship. Coming back to the moon she hovers above a hangar, opened to space. Down there, we can see the beginning of a ship's Keel.
"HMS Hind, sir", R remarks.
"Privateers?" The Prime Minister smirks.
"Well, sir – it's a bit what we are. An armed force, half developed and financed by a private company, and totally off the books."
September 21st, 1998 – Hogwarts school of witches and wizardry
"Good morning Professor," Harry smiles at the Headmistress, as we walk into the main hall.
"Good morning," she smiles back. "What good winds have brought in some of this school's best fallouts, this lovely morning."
She is clearly still a little miffed about us cutting our studies short. The conversation noise in the Hall raises, as students discuss our unexpected arrival. We are quite well-known people, even if we are rarely seen in wizarding Britain anymore. Ginny and Luna rush towards us, for a hug.
"Moony," Harry greets his 'it's complicated' sorta uncle. Remus is back as a defence professor, and the school, students, Remus, and Sirius are all the better for it. There was a bit of a push back, but with Umbridge out of the Ministry, Malfoy dead, and the old-meddling-fool adventuring, the Headmistress, Lord Black and Harry got it through.
"Good to see you, Harry!"
As if the awkward vacation, two weeks ago, didn't happen.
"Do you have time for a defence master demonstration for my class? I have a Bogart for the students to face this week."
There's another murmur from the students for the news. Harry is reluctant, and frankly – so am I.
I'm not certain what a Bogart will turn into for me, but it's certainly not a Demantor, or Voldemort, or even the old fool. What I'm mostly afraid of these days is time passing by, while we're yet to be ready for the galaxy at large. Those unknown dangers that had the Alterans on the run and extinct also disturb my nights. How would a Bogart represent those fears? Just how can one make those ridiculous?
Harry evades the invitation. We have research to handle, a portrait to question, and Professors to meet. We will come by to his class, when done, and see how we can help.
Before we leave the main hall, Harry waves his wand above his head and points me to look up there. Everyone who's in the hall looks up and sees obscure Charm work concentrated in the centre of the ceiling. I see an emitter with power lines from the antechamber.
Great obscure magic of Rowena, my arse…
Not long ago I'd be horrified by such language. Smirk.
Our first meeting is with Professor Sinistra and is a complete bust. Galaxy map – sure. We would have known that if only we stayed for our seventh year and took Astronomy NEWTs. Planning routes? There's a theory being taught, but no practical application whatsoever. Doesn't know the origin of that theory – she learned it from her NEWTs books, during her seventh year, which she stayed for.
We thank her from the bottom of our hearts.
Next meeting is with Professor Vector. She certainly knows about Geometric Calculators. The fact that they help represent vectors makes her chuckle.
She has a sense of humour! Who knew?
She doesn't know where the design originated, except it is used in Astronomy. Never encountered a physical one. We show her the picture of the Port found in Giza – She has never seen anything like this. Can't even imagine what one would do with a calculator that big.
Our meeting with Professor Babbling was much more upbeat. She was genuinely sad to lose me before my final year, proud of my NEWT taken a year early, and delighted and impressed with Harry's OWLs he took, self-studying. Told me how high her expectations of me were, and how happy she is I keep learning Rune related subjects. Offering both Harry and I any help she can give, and an opportunity to study for a Mastery under her whenever I'm interested.
If only I had the time. Deep down I'm still my bookworm self.
We pass some time discussing Rune efficiency and different scripts. She acknowledges the efficiency of the Alteran script, though she calls it Ancient. She also acknowledges the fact that the Egyptian hieroglyphs are wasteful of magic, but says those Runes are robust, and will work after millennia of lying dormant.
She's intrigued by our research into the combination between Runes and advanced mathematics, though she doesn't understand our search for efficiency. According to her, Rune research is mostly focused on complexity and Magical seeping. Very little effort is directed into efficiency. Usually, she says, either a person is on hand to charge the Rune, or the original charge is preserved till the Rune activates.
The difference between a Master of Art and an industrialist.
She actually knows a few Rune Maters who left the magical world for the Muggle one.
How I hate this word!
We leave her office with three names. Two here in England, and one in Japan.
Our biggest surprise arrives just before we leave. Apparently, there is a way to collect and channel magic. She goes back to her room and returns with an arcane book to show us. There was just no reason to delve into this, she explains, since there is no known way to store magic.
Damn!
We are upbeat on our way to the Headmistress's office. We are really missing Professor McGonagall. We looked up to her for a long while. Although all of her faults,
Cough, too trusting of old fools, Cough…
She did try to do good by us.
"Is it that bad?" She asks after the pleasantries are done with and tea is served.
We're puzzled.
"Whatever you are doing, I know you enough to know neither of you would have sacrificed your education, unless something critical was at play. Now you're visiting to speak with the Headmaster's portrait? I do know just how much you detest the man. I understand it too," she finishes.
"Actually, we are investing in our education, more than ever before." Harry replays. "Mostly non magical science, but also advanced Rune research."
"And nothing is as bad as you fear, though there is a risk. Mostly we try to make sure, in advance, that this risk won't turn into danger." I try to soothe her anxiety. "Something came up, during our research, of which the old Headmaster might know more. You are welcomed to sit in and listen to our discussion." I offer.
The portrait is sadly as headstrong and self-centred as the man ever was. He was droning on and on about arcane forbidden knowledge and the risks of youth and inexperience. It took Harry calling the Headmaster shade himself, his sister and the late Flamel, for us to start and get actual information from him.
Not that he knew what that 'great next adventure' was all about. What he has in the afterlife was not adventurous at all, and nothing like what he expected to be waiting for a great person like himself. There was something explained in a book he once had, but it was about soul magic, and he didn't understand most of it, so he destroyed the book, for being 'dark'. He also took out Rituals, Arts, true Divination, Alchemy, and so many other fields of learning out of the school's curriculum, and dumbed down many other subjects, for that sodding 'greater tush'.
Language?!
By the end of the conversation, we just sat there in glum, while Ariana and McGonagall took turns shouting at the both of him. We now despise him even more.
Imagine that!
We are quite a subdued trio, walking down for dinner in the great hall. After dinner Harry accedes Remus' request and gives a lecture and demonstration in the great hall, to all students of all houses, while I'm visiting with Luna and Ginny.
It turns into quite an interesting discussion regarding magic in general, and involves Snape, and Professor Flitwick as well. We demonstrate all kinds of magic, talk about pure magic and the differences between branches of magic. Hold demonstrations of Duels, Charms, Runes, and unvoiced, self-focused magic. Snape is surprised to discover that it's a short step between Occlumency and the casting of magic without a wand. By the end of the evening, he manages a weak levitation. Unsurprisingly, it was the old Headmaster's idea to stop offering Occlumency studies to students.
I really have nothing new to say….
"Have you found any?" Luna asks me on our way to the guests' room. Ginny is head-girl this year, and I'm not above admitting some envy.
"Crumple-Horned Snorkack?" she adds when I don't answer immediately.
"Don't know that we did, but we haven't started any extensive exploration, so I'm keeping an open mind." I smile fondly at her.
Thank heaven I'm over my 'if it's not in the books it doesn't exist' phase.
"Will I be able to join in exploring?" Luna is now focused as I've rarely seen her.
"Are you taking Runes?" She nods silently. "Arithmancy?" She nods again.
"And Creatures," she adds.
"Will you be willing to invest a few more years in learning? In all those and non-magical science," I ask.
Luna smiles – she is as Ravenclaw as it gets.
"Be in touch when you graduate, and we'll talk with the right people," I promise and earn a hug.
Ginny is less enthusiastic. Her future plans include much Quidditch and very little studying, after school is done with. That's much better than Ron, who didn't plan for neither studying, nor working, but demanded a job.
September 22nd, 1998 – Hogwarts school of witches and wizardry
We start the next day with a visit to the room of requirement. That was Harry's idea, and what a brilliant idea it is. I ask the room for Alteran technology and get just what we came looking for.
The room is quite empty. In the centre of it is a table with very few items on it. Otherwise, the room has three doors leading out. One is to the main hall, where the Emitter is, with lines feeding it magic from deep underneath. Second door leads into a circular room which has the feel of a control room. Sadly, all the devices in it are missing, or in advanced stages of disassembly. Someone was busy dismantling the technology and taking it away, then stopped when almost finished. Third door leads to the heart of Hogwarts – its wardstone. I'm unsurprised to discover that the famed Hogwarts wards are connected to one of the large crystals. This one shines with a dull pink hue, which by now, I can estimate as half-charged. It's the state of the wardstone that almost brings tears to my eyes.
"What did the daft wizards do the poor thing?" Harry is muttering, looking closer at the crystal. Years at the hands of wizards and witches left the crystal covered with engraved Runes, doing a whole assortment of tasks, but mostly constantly sipping magic out of the crystal.
"It's so clear?" he points to the crystal connector. "These lines go to the wards. This is an interface for added connections. All they needed to do is make a separate wardstone, and connect it here, in addition to the regular wards."
"Well," I say after an additional examination. "The wards are easy to save. Just remove the crystal and insert a clean one, and they reset. Just, Merlin only knows where one can get a new and charged crystal, these days."
Back at the room we take a look at the items on the table. Most are almost depleted small crystals, and a couple of connecting bases. One item stands out, but I'm stopped by Harry's hand on my arm, before I move for a closer look.
"One of those." He says.
"Certain?"
"Try it yourself," he shrugs.
Already experienced with Alteran technology, I reach for it with my mind. It's so responsive, almost eager to connect, but I recoil from it with clear disgust.
Harry shrugs again.
"He ruined this too?" I ask. "It's probably the famed lost diadem of Ravenclaw. It was supposed to offer 'wit beyond measure', but it feels like an interface with something – must be learning related."
Harry shrugs again, and wraps it in a magical null box, for later destruction.
"Damn him, and damn the old man. Isn't it about time to destroy him for good?" I mumble.
"It's well past time, but we still don't know how to do it without me dying with him." Harry patiently replies.
Damn!
All fun lost, we hurry with the last of our meetings. Madam Pomfrey is only too happy to recommend a few good emergency healers, for us to contact. When asked, we tell her about curse breaking heavy explorations and research.
"Come back soon," Headmistress McGonagall wishes us when we step out of the main gate.
Finally, we walk into the forbidden forest for our last planned meeting of this trip. Not far into the forest we meet Firenze and Bane, watching over a small flock of Unicorns.
Bane looks up to the sky when he hears us approaching. "Mars is shining bright, lately," he remarks.
"Don't know. Couldn't find any difference, last time that I had a close look." Harry replays dryly. That gets a chuckle from Firenze and even a thin smile from Bane. Centaurs are much less aggressive now that most of the Acromantula nest was relocated from the forest.
"We came here to ask you about the galaxy navigation map ring," I tell them, while we watch the playing young Unicorns.
They both turn towards us sharply, startling us.
"Did you find it?" Firenze asks urgently.
"Did you dig it out?" Bane adds in his deep level voice.
"It must be buried back. We don't have the means to fight them again." Firenze adds.
"We don't have it. It's the Americans who dug it out and are using it." Harry replies. "We're doing our best to be ready."
This conversation is taking an unexpected turn.
"We can speak with our brothers in the lands on the other side of the Atlantis sea".
Atlantis, Humm. Centaurs don't do slip of tongue.
"It's not the magicals who dug the port. They will have to break the statute to do anything, and you know how American Mages are." Harry responds.
For a while, we stand together in silence and watch the Unicorn play.
"Where did they find it?" Bane finally asks.
"Giza."
"It's the one brought by the worms. The other one should be safe." Firenze remarks evenly.
"The other?"
"The Original port of the old ones. The one in the forest of the south pole." Firenze replies.
The forest of the south…
"Just how old is this bloody thing?" the question bursts out of my mouth.
"As old as the old ones" Bane answers. "Can you make sure it's safe?"
"Now that we know it's there?" Harry shrugs.
"And you're getting ready for them," Bane states.
"As best as we can."
"You know, the chances of anything coming from Mars are a million to one," Harry says. "For now, at the least."
"And still, they might come," Bane answers.
What?!
We're speechless. That makes them laugh.
At us!
Real people referenced in this chapter -
Sir Charles Guthrie: General - UK Chief of the Defence Staff
Stephen: Stephen Lander - Director General of the British Security Service (MI5)
Sir John : John Holmes - Principal Private Secretary to the Prime Minister
It was suggested to me, by one of my readers, to make a list of original characters. Thought it's a very good Idea. I actually have such a list myself, to help me write :)
I truly hope it makes the story easier to read.
Original team -
R - MI5 agent Rose Smith. Real name Wren. Former Tornado pilot, Electrical engineer.
Keira – Experimental Astrophysics.
Calvin – Computer science.
Beatrix Croft – Archaeologist. Daughter of that Lara Croft
Dr Seth Owen – MD
Craft design team –
Ted
Siya
MI5 –
Agent Sidney - sort of 2nd in command
Pilots –
Troy
Battersea clean energy company -
Francis Reads – CEO
Huge shout to flyboy38, my beta, who takes the time to make sure the story is a much better read.
Also to Dalwolf For doing Brit-Picking for, well - you all, and help my British.
Cheers!
SFD
