The Next Lord of Kobol
Chapter 15 – The Girl in the Park
Disclaimer – Still just fanfiction
Acknowledgement – Thanks to BajaB, Nukular Winter, and Perspicacity for the feedback and Aaran St. Vines for the beta work.
Dear Maggie,
Hey! How are you doing? Things are good here on the greatest planet in the 12 Colonies. How's Craprica? Sorry, I kid. Okay, maybe I don't. Work is good, but I'm not sure whether I was cut out to be the manager of a bar. Sure making drinks and chatting up the customers is great, but managing is like all of the problems with none of the fun or tips, if you know what I mean.
Jessie had her coming of age party last week. I attached the pictures for when you need blackmail material. You might not even recognize her with that horrible dye job on her hair. I never knew putrid was an actual color. She's got a job at one of the bed and breakfasts the new members of our family run. 'Bout time that brat started earning her keep! I'm not sure how long they're going to stay in the family. There's been some friction on that end and you know how Headfather Isaiah can be.
At some point, I will have to decide if I want to stay a part of this family or go out on my own. It feels like I'm stuck in limbo right now. Deep thoughts from me? Who would have ever thought that would happen!
Anyway just a quick note to see what you're up to and find out how Uni is treating you. I know you're absolutely killing it!
Write back soon.
Love,
Shane
Smiling, Maggie closed the message. His messages always brightened her mood. She toyed with starting a reply, but she was already late for a grid date with Harry. While Shane could convey the things happening in his life in two hundred and fifty words or less, Maggie would end up writing a small novel.
Sliding her holoband glasses on, she activated her grid search and looked around for Harry. He was waiting for her in a room where a history vid was playing. Maggie sent her avatar in that direction while noting that it was another War documentary.
Harry's a little too obsessed with the war, she thought and adjusted her avatar's outfit to something that showed more skin. Let's see if I can distract him.
"Hey Harry! Sorry I'm late, I had to finish some work first. How did the Regional Three tournament go? Did you bag another Goldie?"
Harry turned from scanning the virtual battlefield. He'd been standing on the steps of a museum peering into the windows amidst the fighting on the streets. She recognized it as the Tragedy of Minoa. The Colonial Forces had broken the hold on the island and had all of thirty-seven minutes to celebrate their victory before the nukes fell.
Harry snorted. "Didn't make it to the end of the third level. Four player killers decide to get rid of me sooner rather than later. I managed to take two of them out, before they got me. I placed thirty-first. Zak got eleventh. The fifteen hundred credits would've been nice, but at least that E-Center Zak got to sponsor us paid for our entry fee and travel, so I didn't lose anything other than time and the game."
"Sorry to hear that," she said. "I dressed for a celebration, but I can change into something less flashy if you want? It seems a tad inappropriate given our surroundings."
His look of disgust faded as he took in her appearance, blinking several times. "No, that's okay. You look … really nice. We can go somewhere else … anywhere you want. I was just watching in some history."
He's so adorably naïve!
"Thanks," she said and called up a door. "How about you follow me and I'll make you forget about the mean gamers."
"Okay. I was hoping that you could've tuned in to the game feed if you got out of class early, but considering how it turned out it was probably for the best."
The door opened to a private room with a simple couch and low lighting. "I've heard the gaming circuit is pretty intense, even for someone with your natural talent. You're a nice guy and it is pretty cutthroat."
"Yeah," he agreed. "But I'm over it already. How was your day at Uni? You seem like you're in a good mood."
Maggie led him over to the couch and had him sit. She stood behind him and rubbed his shoulders. In truth, she didn't give very good massages, real or virtual, but Harry really enjoyed her attention.
"It was good. That one test I was worried about was delayed because the professor was ill, so I have more time to study for it. Good for me, but bad for the professor."
It was true enough for Maggie to not feel that guilty saying it. I used to joke with Cyrus that gaming would take over his life if he let it. Harry seems to be following that path, but it's nice to see him with a hobby.
"I have to tell you about something that happened," he said slowly and she felt him tense. "We were in a clan meeting and Ellen said she wanted to discuss a team strategy with me. She, well she…"
"Made a move on you?"
"Yeah," he said sounding sullen. "I didn't do anything. I told Zak, but he laughed it off and said to tell him if she does anything in the real world. I just wanted to make sure you knew."
"It's good that you told me," Maggie said. "And I think your friend, Zak, is right. It's just the virtual world. Sex in here is really doesn't count. I wouldn't be upset if you experimented."
Maggie figured that since Harry was drifting into the world of gaming for actual cubits, he had come along far enough to have a discussion. A momentary smile crossed her face as she pictured Harry squirming while her mother gave him a talk about virtual sex.
"I would," Harry replied with a slightly annoyed tone. "Have you been … experimenting?"
"No," she replied, leaning close and nipping him on the earlobe. "I haven't had virtual sex with anyone since we started dating in the real world. I figured it would upset you and from the way you are reacting, I figured right."
The poor guy still seems out of his depth! I wonder if he will ever be …
Harry turned and looked at her. Even though they were hours away from each other, his green eyes seemed to almost probe her soul.
"Thank you," he said. Simple words, conveyed with earnest conviction.
She couldn't be sure which of them made the first move, but they kissed. She'd been working with him on that in both worlds and his proficiency still wasn't all that great, but he more than compensated with intensity. Sometimes Maggie swore that Harry was like an iceberg and that there was so much more hidden below the surface.
Kissing in that awkward position became increasingly difficult and she pulled herself free of his embrace. His expression changed to a look mixing confusion with disappointment, but Maggie was in an exceptionally good mood today. She pivoted around the side of the couch where she'd been giving him the massage and climbed directly on his lap. Her hands ran through his hair and Maggie let loose some of her own inhibitions that she'd kept in restraint.
To her, the moment felt right. Harry seemed ready and she most certainly was.
"But if you ever get around to experimenting, Harry Potter. I think you should have something to compare it to. Do you want to?"
"Yes," he managed to say, and again those eyes seemed to shine, not in some cheesy avatar upgrade fashion, but with a hidden power that solidified their connection and made her feel as if a new layer of reality had been superimposed over this virtual one.
X-X-X-X-X
Harry apparated to the greenhouse, not wanting to squeeze into the tiny shower in the camper and thankful that he'd been there with a silencing charm and not down at the gaming center.
I would have been kicked out for sure!
"Does Master Harry need something?" Dobby asked from the main room.
"No, Little D. Just changing and showering before work. Does Winky have my dinner ready?" Harry said, perhaps a tad too fast. He certainly didn't want his elf to see. That would be a new level of embarrassment.
"Yes I do, Harry," Winky answered. He'd asked both of them to stop calling him their master. Winky was able to do it. Dobby? Not so much.
"Thank you. I'll grab it as soon as I'm cleaned up."
From the nightstand, he snatched a pepper up potion and downed it; making a mental note to use Helga's cup tomorrow to replace that one. Familiar steam vented from his ears and his strength returned. The night Sirius told him about that place where the Veela make people sign contracts, he'd said that sleeping with a woman could drain a man and almost guaranteed a great night's rest. Unfortunately, Harry had to start work in ten minutes and though he was positively giddy at the moment, he was guessing he'd be exhausted by the end of his shift. His friend Freddie had joked that V-sex was like a wet dream. Harry had experienced wet dreams before and what just happened was way better than that.
From all his recent gaming, his Occlumency and passive Legilmency skills had really sharpened and it had kind of kicked in there during Maggie's lesson on experimentation. She'd said it was the best v-sex she'd ever had and Harry wondered if his mind magic had anything to do with that in the virtual reality environment of the grid.
He didn't have anything else to compare it to, but it was absolutely the best v-sex he'd ever had.
I wonder what she would have done if I'd actually won the tournament?
Amused, and unable to wipe the grin off his face, he showered quickly and used a switching spell to put on a fresh set of clothes before grabbing the plain black metal lunch pail that Winky had prepared and thanking her.
One apparition back to the camper later and he headed to work.
Mr. Kelso was behind the counter and looked at him oddly. "Harry? Were you in your trailer? I was just knocking on the door."
"I was in the bathroom with my music on, sir. Sorry, I mush … must not have heard you." It bothered Harry that he still kept mispronouncing words. He clocked in with two minutes to spare and smiled at his employer. "How are things today, sir?"
"Slow, but it's about to pick up," the man answered. "There are going to be several trucks coming in tonight with a lot of scrap metal. It's from a shuttle wreck that happened over at the airbase a couple months back. I guess the people looking into the accident are finally done with it and have released it to us. You probably won't get much rest tomorrow, we'll have all kinds of scraphounds pouring all over the wreck looking for any tech the military didn't strip. It's going to be a busy next couple of days. I'm also going to need you to keep a close eye on the grounds for the next couple of nights. Someone might try to get in."
"I'll keep an eye on things, sir." Harry was actually interested in seeing what might be inside that wreckage.
"Good. Now, I need to get home to see the little woman."
"Sir," Harry asked as his boss. "If you have a date with a woman, should you get her a gift or something?"
The man laughed. "Kid, I don't know if I'm the best person to ask for dating advice, I reckon you can never go wrong with flowers."
Harry thought about it and nodded. "I suppose you're right. I'll pull in an order to one of those flower shops in Caprica City."
X-X-X-X-X
Both Sue and Kelsey were lounging on the couch watching a broadcast when Maggie got back from classes.
"Hey," Maggie said.
Kelsey greeted her while Sue gestured to the table. There was a floral arrangement in a vase.
"Those came for you today, from Harry. Never figured you for a loud moaner, Sis. You're lucky our aunt and uncle were out at a dinner last night."
She frowned at Sue as Kelsey laughed and said, "I almost thought you'd brought a boy up to your room. Way to keep it nice and discrete!"
Maggie was too busy being embarrassed to reply. So Sue filled the void. "Didn't you promise Mom you wouldn't take things too far with him?"
"Harry's making money playing grid games. I think he's got a handle on separating virtual reality from the real thing and we've been dating for a while now."
I so do not want to have this conversation!
"I think you should mention this to Mom," Sue said, crossing her arms.
"Give her a break Sis," Kelsey said. "I personally think you should let me jack into your avatar for a night. Sounds like he got you over the threshold and that hardly ever happens for me on the grid."
"Kelsey!"
The more even-tempered blonde was already cackling with mirth. "Aw, come on, he won't even know it's me. Sisters are supposed to share!"
"You, frak off!" Maggie said, pointing a finger at the twin, who found her embarrassment so amusing before turning the finger to the other twin, "And you, seriously frak off!"
Storming up the stairs to her bedroom, Maggie realized that she should have stopped to at least admire the flowers Harry had sent.
She was angry and felt her ire being directed at her sisters, but also Harry. There was also a sense of guilt on her part for letting it go too far … and for enjoying it so damn much.
I know I shouldn't get on his case about sending me flowers, it's a sweet gesture, but totally inappropriate!
Looking at the time, she saw that Harry was probably already working, so all she could do was dash off a message to him. Bringing up her message application, she saw a message flagged as urgent from Shane.
Mags,
Had something happen that I thought you might want to jump on! Jessie has a new boyfriend. I know that doesn't sound like much, considering how quickly she goes through them, but this one works in the admission department at HERMIT. I might have mentioned that you were interested in transferring back here after your second year was done. Guess what? He said if you're grades are up to snuff that you could submit a transfer package in before the break, he could consider you for the start of the next school year.
What do I always say, "It's not who you know; it's who knows you!"
If you're really serious about coming back to Virgon, this is your best chance, so get that transfer application filled out. Her Royal Majesty's Institute of Technology is one of the most highly rated colleges in the whole damn system!
Shane
Maggie began looking through the attachments on the message. There wasn't too much to the forms and she could be sending them out tomorrow.
Try as she might, she couldn't picture her relatives on Virgon giving her the third degree over some Virtual Sex.
I've got a chance to put this entire damn planet behind me! Should I take it? Mom will probably stop talking to me for a month if she finds out.
Sighing, she knew she had a long night ahead of her to decide if she wanted to go back to leave this all behind.
What's the worst they could do? Say no?
X-X-X-X-X
Zak met him at the memorial outside the central train station. "Thanks for coming out on such short notice. I didn't think Freakshow was going to bail on us the morning of a game like that. I'm seriously thinking of kicking his ass out of the guild."
"I was just going to play some local games today," Harry said. "By the way, you were right."
"About what?"
"I told Maggie that Ellen made that pass at me. Maggie laughed it off."
"See what I mean, you were getting worked up over nothing."
Harry still didn't think Ellen out of the blue telling him that they should "leave the game and go frak" was nothing, but everyone else seemed to. He noticed his friend was carrying two flowers.
"Who are the flowers for?" Harry asked. "I sent some to Maggie and she said she liked them but I got the impression that she was just saying that to be nice."
Zak walked to the raised altar by the memorial. "My grandad's first wife and my aunt, Tamara were on that train when those monotheist terrorists blew it up."
As his friend made his offering, Harry saw something he hadn't seen since his arrival on Caprica – a ghost. The clear figure moved slowly around the area. It was a young woman with shoulder length hair. With his curiosity piqued, he need a distraction.
"Hey Zak, I'm going to go over there to see if Maggie messaged me back. Have we got a couple of minutes?"
"Yeah, sure."
Harry wandered over toward the spirit and pretended to be talking on his handheld. The ghost paid him scant attention.
"Hello," he said.
She didn't respond.
"It's been a long time since I've seen a ghost. Hello, my name is Harry."
This time he got a response. "You're actually speaking to me?"
"Yes. Most Muggles can't see ghosts. So I figured I'd act like I'm talking to my portable, so I don't look like an idiot."
"What's a Muggle? What do you want?" She took on a defensive tone.
"To say hello, I guess." The ones at Hogwarts were usually friendlier, except for that one in Slytherin. That ghost was plain creepy. "A Muggle is a word where I come from for a person who doesn't have any magical at.. abilities."
"You have magical abilities." Her tone switched to accusatory.
Harry nodded. "So did you. Only people who have magic can turn into ghosts. Normal people can't."
"I'm not magical. There's no such thing."
Harry appreciated the irony of arguing with a ghost about the existence of magic. "I'm not from around here, but they call it being touched by the gods I think. Were you … ah what's the word … oh yeah! Really gifted at something?"
"I guess you could say that," she replied, after some careful thought she continued. "Why do people turn into ghosts?"
"Usually tragedy or some great regis … no I mean regret. Did something like that happen to you?"
"You really don't know who I am?"
"No. I live in Delphi now, but I'm not even from Caprica."
"I'm Zoe Graystone." She didn't seem interested in elaborating further.
"Nice to meet you," he replied and wondered if she was related to the person that the mental facility was named after.
She looked at him slightly confused and he guessed that she had been someone important, or at least thought she was.
Glancing over his shoulder, he saw Zak waiting for him. "I have to go. My friend is waiting for me, but I'd like to come back and talk to you some more. How about later tonight?"
"Usually, the only people who can see or hear me are Oracles and most of them can only do one or the other. I'm going to tell you right now that I can't predict the future, or any stupid shit like that!"
"I've known plenty of ghosts before. None of them could tell the future. I just want to talk."
"Okay," she said, still regarding him with an odd expression on her face.
X-X-X-X-X
"So your group won today?" Zak's mother asked. The Adamas had a very pleasant house in a very pleasant neighborhood that reminded Harry far too much of the Dursleys. The stairs even had a storage nook built into them. Morbidly, he wondered what he would see if he were to look inside.
"Yes. I came in first and Harry got third place. We're qualified for the next Regional Three tournaments."
"I thought Zak was going to help me finish off the other remaining player," Harry said. "I was wrong."
Zak laughed. "Consider it a compliment, Harry. I was more worried about you than I was about the other guy."
"I'm not certain that I approve of this game, Zak, if it encourages betrayal," his mother stated with a slight frown on her face. "Your father told me before we started dating that he used to spend far too much time with a set of holobands on. Do you know why he gave it up?"
"Why Mom?"
"Because no matter how real it seems, it doesn't compare to reality."
Harry thought that Carolanne Adama was a nice woman. It was obvious she didn't really understand her son's gaming, but she feigned interest anyway. Her sandwiches weren't Molly Weasley good, but outside of his elves, they were the closest he'd had since he came through the veil. She nodded and accepted that Harry was a night watchman at a reclamation center without any raised eyebrows.
"Do you need any more to drink, Harry?"
"No thank you, ma'am. This is fine. Thank you."
She smiled at Harry before turning back to her son.
It's a far cry from the Dursleys and all their rumors about me.
"Oh, I got a message from Lee today. He'll be back on Caprica in a couple of months for a ten days of leave. There is even an outside chance your father might be able to coordinate his own time off. It's been too long since everyone was together under one roof."
"That'd be sweet, Mom," Zak said and chomped down on a second sandwich. Harry felt like he was having a Ron Weasley flashback and there was a pang of remorse that accompanied it.
"Lee is a viper pilot on the Ajax. Dad is the XO of the Columbia. He's in line for his own command."
His mother sighed. "Oh, that reminds me I really need to start asking Rosemary how she took over the Family Support Group from the previous Commander's spouse, so I know what to expect when Bill gets his command."
Harry had picked up enough of the military jargon to follow along. Zak wanted to join the military so bad that Harry could actually see it. To make matters worse, his mother's disapproval was practically written all over Carolanne's face. He didn't need to be able to see the future to tell there would be many arguments when Zak decided to enlist. Fortunately, Zak wanted to be an officer like his father and brother. That meant the youngest Adama would have to have completed most of his university degree before the military would even consider him for the officer selection process.
While he had still been connected to the grid at the gaming shop that sponsored the Huskers, Harry had looked up background information on Zoe Graystone. She was, in fact, the daughter of Amanda Graystone. She was also the daughter of the man that supposedly created the Cylons, although a couple of fringe gridsites said that she actually was responsible. There was even speculated that Daniel Graystone had his daughter killed so that he could take credit for her invention. That was mildly disturbing, and even with the obvious bias of the grid, the man portrayed sounded like one that would have gotten along with the elder Malfoy.
Then again, Harry thought, Zoe never did any of those things that her computer program or her father did. She's just the ghost of a girl who got onto a train with a boy set on blowing himself up. I have to remember that when I deal with her.
So say, if I do manage to convince this ghost that she should hang out with me; what could I do with her? She'd be a great lookout or watchman. What about … maybe? Why not? They let Binns teach a frakking class. Why can't she teach me to pass the tests?
Something all the places he looked for information agreed on was that academically, Zoe was absolutely nothing short of amazing – a true prodigy. If I can get her to be my tutor that would really help me pass those stupid tests. Of course, talking her into that kind of arrangement won't be the easiest of tasks.
Returning to conversation that he could control, Harry realized that the words of advice from his mother about breaking down the big problems into manageable chunks was the key to not getting overwhelmed.
"I want to go out and see space," Harry said.
"Depending on how much you want to, I could probably make that happen," Zak said.
"Really?"
"Sure, Harry. Coker has let me come along with his crew a couple of times. He probably won't pay you and he'll work you like a dog as a cargo handler, but if you want a taste of what the life is really like, my godfather can deliver it by the bucket load."
"Harry seems like a nice young man," Carolanne commented with a wry smirk. "You shouldn't ruin him by introducing Harry to Coker."
"Good one, Mom!"
"What kind of ship does he have?" Harry asked, recalling that this Coker person was Zak's godfather.
"It's an old Scopion that he named – The Wily Weasel. He was the ECO of a Raptor during the war called The Wild Weasel. If you listen to Dad tell the story, they went down after fighting off a trio of toasters and Dad managed to blow the last one up by doing a fuel dump and igniting his afterburners. They made a vid about the mission, but Coker said it was not even close to what really happened."
"How does Coker tell it?" Harry asked.
Zak laughed and continued, "Coker says Dad got way too lucky and wrecked that Raptor – something two dozen other Huskers managed to avoid doing!"
Harry laughed and tried to think of what he knew about a Scorpion Fast Boat. It was a hauler that was about sixty or seventy meters long and had a reputation for being a reliable and easily maintained vessel.
"What does he haul?"
"Mostly water to the miners in the asteroid belt. He added four external water tanks to the ship, but he'll also carry food and whatnot internally. I'm smart enough to never ask what the whatnot might be."
"Sounds interesting," Harry concluded. "If it's not too much to ask, I'd enjoy seeing what's out there."
"I'll leave him a message. Can't say when he'll read it, but he's usually pretty quick to answer."
"Thanks! I appreciate it."
"Don't thank me just yet," Zak cautioned. "Like Mom said, Coker is a bit on the eccentric side and he likes to yell at people for the sake of yelling. He also has never paid me for any of the times I've gone with him."
Sounds like Moody with a starship. Constant Vigilance!
Harry was mildly disturbed by that mental image for the next few minutes until Zak said, "Well, if you want to catch your train back to Delphi, we probably better grab your grid box and head back."
"How about I take your grid box with me instead?"
"Dream on, Harry! Get your own Enigma Seven."
I'm already planning on it! Harry thought. "Thank you for lunch, Mrs. Adama."
The blonde woman gave him a smile and said that he was welcome and to come again anytime.
X-X-X-X-X
Harry was getting used to being dropped off at the maglev station. If he could figure out how to setup a courier service between Delphi and Cap City, it might pay more than his two-bit chamala operation.
There are so many things I could be doing, but I only have myself and two house elves. I probably don't even have time to chat up a ghost. Even so, if she knows about anything magical, I should try and learn as much as I can.
"You came back," the ethereal voice said from behind him. All the pictures on the grid resembled the spirit and he knew she wasn't misleading him.
He pulled out his handheld to prevent looking stupid, or any more stupid than he already felt. "Of course. I looked you up on the grid. I can see why you figured I would know who you were."
"In that case, I am shocked you came back. I am guessing the things aren't pleasant. What did you learn?"
"Your boyfriend blew himself, you, and several others up. Some theories say you were involved and others say that you were running away from your parents. There is even a theory that your dad had you assassinated so he could steal your work when he created the cylons."
"Pretty much wrong on every count," she said dismissively. "Don't believe everything you read."
"I figured as much," Harry continued. "Let's say ... Let's just say I have been on the bad side of rumors before. Sorry, my words aren't so great. What's the real story?"
"I was running away and had no idea that frakking idiot was going to kill us. My father didn't have me killed and he didn't invent the cylons."
"He didn't? Really? Who did?"
"Oh, his company built the bodies and that's true enough, but the virtual avatar I created became the brains. Without that, they would have just a hunk of programmable metal. Instead, every one of them was some distorted, perversion of me. I was originally just upset that all my plans went down the tubes, but then I stood around and watched my busted plans go on a twelve colony killing spree. So, you asked if I had regrets, yeah just a few."
"Wow," Harry said, uncertain of how to address that. Dumbledore had said that most of the ghosts at the castle had tragic origins, but this trumped love triangles and not getting your head completely severed.
"Yeah, wow," she muttered.
There was a long pause, before Harry recalled some of the things he'd learned about spirits along the way.
"So are you looking for ... Damn it all! What's the word? Antr... No! Redemption. I can't say the word I'm thinking of, but redemption is close enough."
"You think I can be redeemed? I'm Pandora realized! I'm responsible for the deaths of millions!"
"Did you plan to make a weapon when you made that avatar? Did you tell that program that if you suddenly died to destroy everything?"
"No! No! No!" Zoe shouted and Harry noticed the street lamps flicker in response to her outburst.
"Then ease up on yourself," Harry said.
"But it was ... It was programmed to be me. How could I do that?"
"I don't know. Atonement! That's the word I wanted to say earlier. If a ghost feels like they have atoned, they can pass on."
"How do you know so much about ghosts?"
"In a minute. My turn to ask a question. Have you seen any other ghosts?"
"Every once in a while, but they never stay. An incarnate finds them and convinces them to leave."
"Never heard of an incarnate. What are they and why didn't you go with them?"
"It looked like a man, but claimed to be one of the servants of the gods. He said he'd take me to see the Lords of Kobol. I died a monotheist. Why would I want to meet gods I didn't believe in? After that, he changed his tune and said he represented the one true god. When I didn't fall for that, he tried to capture me. Now, I don't let any of them get close to me, but every other ghost I've seen falls for their bullshit. Now back to my question, if you haven't seen any ghosts here before me, how do you know so much about them?"
"There are ghosts where I come from," Harry said.
"Where's that?"
"Would you believe me if I said Earth?"
She didn't. "Earth is a myth!"
"And ghosts don't exist. Neither do things that convince ghosts to go meet gods," Harry replied. "No such thing as magic either, but I will be happy to demonstrate some, but not here out in the open."
"Magic?"
"Yeah, magic. Are you stuck here, bound to this ... place?"
"I go wherever I want."
"Well, I have to go to work and my job is in Delphi. If you want to continue this conversation, meet me at the Delphi train station. I'll check there every day at noon."
"I will consider it, but first run through that fountain," Zoe said. "If you're an incarnate, they can't stand moving water. That's how I evade him."
Harry looked around, there were still a decent amount of people around, including a couple of station workers looking at the lights that had flickered a few minutes ago.
"How about I just stick my hand in the fountain? I don't want to get in any trouble."
"Fine," the ghost said.
Setting down his gridbox, Harry rolled up his left sleeve and stuck his arm into the spraying water and held it there for ten seconds.
"Are you satisfied?"
"For now. But I can just ride the train with you to Delphi."
Wiping his arm on his left pant leg, Harry retrieved the gaming console. He smiled and motioned her to follow him around behind the fountain.
"I don't actually ride the train," he said glancing around to make sure the coast was clear and there were no cameras pointed in this direction. "Here's your first glimpse of magic. It's called apparition. If you really want to continue this conversation, I'll see you this week in Delphi. Now if you'll excuse me I have to get going."
Disappearing with a soft crack, Harry wished he could have stayed around and seen the ghost's face, but he did need to get to his job. This incarnate thing worried him. It was obviously some kind of magical creature. How many of them were there and what did they want with ghosts? He wasn't sure how he and Zoe Graystone would get along and if he could or even should help her with atonement. Even so, there was a sense of excitement, like when he encountered that fighter pilot who could use a weak form of Legilmency.
Author's Note – Sorry, it's been awhile. I have been extremely busy. Since the last chapter was released, I have released the second novel from my Amber Cove Publishing imprint. It is a totally different experience being just the publisher and not the author. Fans of my D-List Supervillain novels should give C.T. Phipps' Rules of Supervillainy and the sequel, Games of Supervillainy a chance. Next month, I debut another author, M.K. Gibson and his novel To Beat the Devil. I also have a five chapter novella from my D-List universe appearing in a Curiosity Quills Press anthology featuring novellas from ten different authors. Long story short, I apologize for not being able to give my fanfiction the time it deserves, but I have no intentions of abandoning it. It's just going to long time between updates.
