Disclaimer – As always this is fanfiction.
Beta work on this chapter by Kokopelli
The Next Lord of Kobol
Chapter 18 – When you least expect it...
(Eight years, Six months, and Twenty-Six days until the fall of the Colonies)
Maggie frowned. Harry had cancelled on her for the second time in three weeks.
Things seemed to be rather awkward between the two of them and she couldn't be certain what had happened to cause him to start acting like this. After the last instance, she'd almost demanded an answer.
It was a mixed blessing from the Gods. She had planned on breaking up with him at some point, but at the same time Maggie had always been the one that called it off. Her logical side said it was silly that she was getting worked up about this. Her emotional side didn't like the idea that she was the one suddenly on the receiving end of missed connections and cancellations.
Is he too involved with his gaming life now? Is he just not mature enough to handle the distance? Maybe he's not interested in me anymore? Is he seeing someone else? Argh! Why am I even bothering with this?
She pushed her thoughts on the matter to one side and went back to her screen and the complex physics problem in front of her. It was the pinnacle of Colonial civilization - the Jump calculation equation. In high school, she calculated simple "in system" jumps that lacked the extra seven variables that must be accounted for to achieve a successful and accurate FTL jump.
Those extra variable calculations were kicking her fraking ass right now. She fed her first attempt into the jump computer sim and pressed execute. The result said her freighter was now beyond the red line in the Prolmar system instead of in the upper orbit of Leonis. Her irritation grew and after a second attempt that ended with her ship materializing two kilometers beneath the gas giant Hestia's third moon, she decided to give up.
At least I made it into the correct system this time. Manual calculations sucked anyway and that's why the Gods gave someone out there the insight to write the computer program that would calculate this in only a few minutes. I'll get it eventually; she thought and switched off the monitor. Right now the only thing I will be getting is a beer. There's only one jump equation I am interested in - the one that takes me to Virgon!
Flipping back on her monitor, she dashed off a quick message to Harry hoping things were going well today and seeing when he wanted to reschedule their next grid date for. Maggie wasn't certain why she did it and the only conclusion she could reach is that she wanted to be the one dictating how their relationship would end.
(TNLoK)
Harry looked at the chain of calculations he'd written out at Zoe's insistence.
"That's the Jump equation for an intrasystem jump. Now scribble that gibberish you were telling me about earlier."
Harry wrote the Arithmancy script that broke down apparition and then the one that had the fifth variable for portkeys. Not everyone had the privilege of learning apparition from Albus Dumbledore. Unfortunately, that privilege came with three hours of explanation of how apparition and portkeys actually worked. At that time Harry believed Hermione Granger would have wet her pants and Harry had simply folded the parchment he'd written his notes on and slid it into his basic runes book. The good news was that his half-remembered notes had made the journey to Caprica with him.
"And this is your version of how it works?"
"Yes, but Arithmancy isn't really my strongest subject. I never took it in class, kind of wish I had. Anyway, apparition consists of the three D's - Destination, Determination and Deliberation. The equation runs through your brain. Destination is easy, how far do you want to go and how much are you carrying. Determination is how much power you are going to put into it all. Deliberation is what decisions you have to make along and whether you face any resistance."
"I follow you so far," the ghost said. "What kind of resistance do you have to overcome?"
"Wards and other magical protections are the most common. Your familiarity with the destination is another."
"Could you Apparate to Gemenon?"
"Uh, maybe. I don't know. I don't think so," Harry said, never wondering that before. "Why do you say that?"
"The stories about the Lords of Kobol. Perhaps they're exaggerating things. You said you can go from Delphi to Cap City in one teleport. That's several thousand kilometers. If you could do that straight up, you'd be beyond the outer edge of the atmosphere. As long as you keep Gemenon in your line of sight, you could be able to just keep hopping to there or pretty much anywhere in the system. You don't know how far you can really go in one shot do you?"
"No, not really," Harry answered, but he wasn't terribly comfortable with the idea of space travel without a ship. "Plus, I'd need air and a spacesuit. I suppose I could use a bubblehead charm and a warming charm or I'd freeze."
"Really, it's the lack of pressure that causes your blood to flash boil. You might even have to figure out how to protect your wand."
"Why? It's just wood."
"Wood has residual water in it. The water would boil too. Something to keep in mind. Wonder if you can put some kind of protective sleeve around it, a wandsuit maybe?"
Harry chuckled, getting a glimpse of how much he didn't know about space. "I dunno. Maybe we should wait to do any testing until I actually understand more about space, the normal way."
"Well it doesn't hurt to start thinking ahead."
"True. I remember some kind of story about a wizard who died trying to go to Earth's moon. We might be missing something," Harry said, unsure of whether he should try and head this idea off at the pass considering he would be the lab rat in Zoe's future experiment. He suddenly longed for the days where Snape would threaten to make someone drink Neville Longbottom's potion. The story involved a broom and a cauldron, so Harry couldn't recall if it was made up or whether someone had actually attempted it.
"Fair enough, I suppose since it's your life we'd be risking. What about this bubblehead charm?"
"It will conjure an air bubble around your head, and gives you fresh air for as long as you keep it active."
"Show me."
Harry created one as the ghost wandered around him inspecting the distortion around his head. It was difficult hearing the soft spoken ghost.
"…don't think it would hold up to the pressure change. You'd have to do it inside of your suit's helmet. Do you need to focus on keeping it active or just to dispel it?"
Harry released the spell. He was getting an education in how space works. "It just stays until you dispel it as far as I know. There are some runes that were used in mines and by cursebreakers to keep air fresh, I might just be able to put one inside my helmet and just worry about keeping the rune charged."
"You should be taking notes on all this Harry," Zoe chided. "You are going to have a number of experiments to perform when you finally do get out there."
Zoe was fun and she was actually excited to have someone to converse with. The ghosts at Hogwarts, outside of Myrtle and Peeves the Poltergeist, were a dour bunch. Then again, most of the older ones had been dead for centuries. That might explain things. Unfortunately, Myrtle had been the very definition of obnoxious.
It also helped Harry that he had someone to plan with. Just like with the question about space, she challenged him on his assumptions about magic that no one on Earth had probably ever considered.
"Well I think we're done with teleportation for now. I put some thought into your enlargement charm problem."
Harry was now interested as well. "What did you come up with?"
"What if you go the other way with your crates and trunks? Maybe your bag shrinks everything going into it instead of the whole bigger on the inside thing? Maybe it's not a different set of charms, but shrinking instead. Or am I violating some kind of magical law here?
"It could work. Won't know until we try," Harry replied and decided to ask a question of his own. "Did you ever go into space?"
"A couple of times, here and there. The beaches of Canceron are nice, or at least they were when I was still alive. Did your friend Zak hear back from his godfather?"
"Yeah, but it's still going to be three months before this Coker bloke comes back to Caprica. His ship docked on Scorpia for an overhaul and repairs."
"So your plan is to keep working at the reclamation center until you can join his crew?"
"That about sums it up. I've loaded some virtual reality programs for Scorpion Fast Boats, so that I can start familiarizing myself with one. The piloting seems fairly straightforward, but the maintenance sims have me almost wishing for Binns."
"That bad huh? I used to love virtual reality. It was so much more fun than my spoiled little rich girl life. I'd say don't take anything for granted, but you don't seem like the kind of person that does."
Harry smiled and nodded his thanks and impressed by how humble Zoe was. "I appreciate everything I have. I'm just glad I was able to spend time with Sirius and Dumbledore before I came here. Sirius would have loved this planet. After being unjustly held in prison for so long, he wanted nothing more than to experience everything he'd missed in those twelve years. He'd have gone wild here."
"I thought you said he was the more sane out of the two men who taught you while you were on the run."
"He was – comparatively speaking," Harry said. "But he was a prankster at heart. If there was a celebration to be had, he wanted to be a part of it. Dumbledore would just be handing out lemon drops to everyone."
"Very odd people, Harry. I think that's all I can say."
"True, but I'm now being taught by a ghost, so I can't really judge. Hey! Did I tell you that Maggie messaged me? I really don't know what to do about her now. What do you think?"
"Well, considering my boyfriend chose to blow us up to make some kind of defiant statement instead of following my exceptionally well thought out plan, you're asking the wrong person for advice."
Harry couldn't come up with a good response to Zoe's statement so instead he begged off to head to work or at least his camper early, and promised to find a crate or box that he could start enchanting with a shrinking field inside. Zoe was interesting. She liked listening to his Earth music and would make him translate the words and sing to her. Of course, Harry possessed a wretched singing voice, which only seemed to make the ghost more amused. It would have been fascinating to know her when she was alive. However, he doubted a guy like himself, who was only slightly above average when it came to imagining things, would have rated much attention from a prodigy like her. Something told him that the scar on his head wouldn't have been enough to make a living Zoe notice Harry Potter.
(TNLoK)
Attention Margaret Edmondson:
Your transfer application to the prestigious Her Majesty's Royal Institute of Technology has been approved for the coming year. You will need to arrive in June for the summer orientation and to ensure that all credits can be qualified to allow you to enter into the proper year. Please confirm your intention to attend by responding to this address within twelve days to the admissions office.
The program you have been accepted into is: Aerospace Engineering
Your transfer facilitator and councilor will be: Lisa Rose.
Your point of contact for financial matters will be: Cecil Hatfield
On behalf of the Provost Miles Jenkins, I would like to welcome you.
Digitally signed and confirmed.
Adam Renfroe
Deputy Director of Admissions
Her Majesty's Royal Institute of Technology
Virgon's Premier Center for Learning
Maggie had to read it three times to make certain that the message said what she thought it did. Quickly, she dashed off a message to Shane and telling him that she made it. Although, she reasoned that given the connections the group family has in the HERMIT admissions office, it was likely that he already knows.
Her excitement was difficult to contain and she wanted to tell someone. The problem was that Maggie had kept this quiet from everyone. The only real option was Kelsey and she would only be able to hold it together for a day at the most.
In her mind, she had ran through the various scenarios. A vid call to her mother wouldn't cut it, so Maggie needed to do this in person. She could probably take care of Harry at the same time. It wasn't going to be pleasant, but it needed to be done.
Walking downstairs, she found Kelsey connected to her gridbox and politely tapped her sister on the shoulder and waited.
Kelsey took her sweet time, nearly ten minutes before she disconnected. "Sorry, for a change, I was actually getting asked out on a date. Something important?"
"Yeah," Maggie said. "You could say that. Want to stretch your legs and take a walk?"
"Not particularly, but I can take a hint," the blonde answered.
The two strolled outside and down the street for a few minutes before Kelsey could no longer contain herself. "Okay, what's the deal?"
Maggie slid the printout from her pocket and handed it to her sister, who proceeded to scan it a few times. Kelsey's mouth moved a couple of times before any words successfully came out.
"Damn sis! You frakin' went and done it this time! That's a dump truck load of shit about to crash into a fan factory! Are you seriously gonna do this?"
"I'll take the midday train out there and meet her for dinner. I have a test in the morning, but the material in the afternoon I can get from my study group. Want to come with me? I'll spring for your trip and dinner."
"I can probably just crack the window to my bedroom and hear the two of you go at it from here."
"Kelsey!"
"Okay. Okay. I'll go. Someone has to try and keep the peace. Otherwise, people will wake up the day after tomorrow and wonder why there is a crater where Delphi used to be. You know Mom's going to be pissed."
"She already signed over control of my college fund, just like she did with you and Sue. I can do as I please provided I'm still enrolled in a school."
"Yeah, but just because you can do as you please doesn't mean you should just go do what you please, if you know what I mean?"
Maggie did, but she countered. "It's my life. Mom always said for us to make our own decisions and to take ownership of them. This is what I want and if it turns out to be a mistake, it's my mistake. I've always wanted to go back and now I can. HERMIT! C'mon Kelsey! I'm not going there to take basket weaving 101. Their Aerospace program has higher marks and better placement then Cap U. I'm in the top ten percent of my class here and I'll be working even harder there, if nothing else to prove to everyone that I made the right call."
Kelsey placed both her hands on Maggie's shoulders. "Well Margret, I'm not the one you have to sell this to. I should work out tonight, because I'm going to be eating all kinds of popcorn tomorrow night!"
"You sure you're going to be a teacher. You might have a career as a comedian."
(TNLoK)
"Alright my Husker brethren, listen up! The last quarter of the season is upon us, and we keep hitting a wall at the Level 3 regional tournaments. It's been two years since we had a person make the top ten in the Level 4 planetary tournament. Me and Grim Marauder are in, for the next Level 4 in Secora, but we need at least two more for a solid quad there. Only three more qualifiers until the final Level 3 is held. Harry and I will run as escorts to try and get at least two of you there with us!"
Roscoe's was one of the largest E-Centers in Cap City. It was practically a convention center. Last year, it hosted the Level 5 system championships where the six best players from every colony went for the prize of becoming the Ultimate Goldkiller. The Huskers held guild meetings every other month here in one of their rooms for rent. Apparently, all the major guilds did. Listening to Zak go on, Harry flexed his arms. The new fake leather pseudo military-style jacket with the BA Husker's logo felt stiff. It was nice, if not a little gaudy, considering it was part of his guild fees.
Dumbledore's Army only had little fake coins. Of course Fred and George would have probably wanted everyone to get matching jackets at some point if things hadn't gone to hell in a handbasket with Umbridge.
The winners of the three Level 4 tournaments were guaranteed a spot in the level 5. The final 3 slots were based on some bizarre selection algorithm that factored in wins, player kills, and all sorts of random game statistics.
"Zak's trying to make a legacy for himself," Ellen whispered from her spot next to Harry. "Has he asked you if you're going to take over?"
"I'm sorry, what?"
"He's starting University after next summer. If he's really going military, there's no way in the name of the Gods that he can keep up with his classes, do all of the officer program duties, and run a gaming guild. There's just not that much time in the day. He's going to have to hand over leadership at some point and I've been wondering if he's grooming you for it. I'm just trying to get a feel for what kind of leader you would be."
"He hasn't said anything about that to me yet. Honest," Harry said. "Really, I'm just a player. I've no interest in running a guild or any other kind of club."
"I think you'd do a good job with it. You should think about it," she said, smiling and using this as justification to pat him on the arm.
Ellen was a toucher – the kind of person who routinely invaded people's space. It reminded him of Lavender Brown and why he used to avoid sitting near Lavender Brown. She couldn't be any more blatant about wanting to date Harry if she tried, but for Harry's part, he wasn't very interested. The failure his relationship with Maggie was a two-way street. He knew that he'd never opened up to her or given her any reason to believe that he was anything more than kind-hearted, Harry. He was scared how she would react to magic or any of his secrets. If he wasn't going to do that for someone he had a strong interest in, Ellen wouldn't get nearly as close.
"You might think about it yourself there, Ellen. It usually helps if someone wants the job. Maybe you should ask Zak about it, or I can ask him for you."
"Do you really think so?" It was part question and exclamation from the sixteen year old girl with her dark blonde hair in a ponytail.
He had to suffer through her grabbing his arm, but her expression was a mixture of shock and amazement. She had the look of someone who had just been told that they could have extra desserts. It almost reminded him of a female version of Ron. If she got the job, Harry could sing FTEllen is our queen!
This wasn't the DA and Ellen was no Hermione Granger. Harry was different now too. He had enough things going on right now without adding to them unnecessarily. Zak knew perfectly well that Harry planned to go into space and he couldn't lead the guild from there.
One odd thing about traveling to the other colonies that Harry had heard was that several of the top ranked players who didn't make the cuts for Level 4's on their planet would go to one of the less populated planets like the ice world Aquaria with so little population it made qualifying for the Level 5 there much less difficult, except lots of the best players knew about that trick now.
Zak continued, "Unfortunately, we had to let Freakshow, Stormlord, and Rally go. Anyone wants to bitch, come find me afterward. The bottom line is all three of them were behind on dues and kept missing matches. Plus I heard a rumor that Freakshow was seen playing with Dogs of War last week, so frak him! I'll be opening things up when the season officially ends for new applicants, so pass the word."
The door opened and Zak looked up, ready to lay into the late comer, but instead broke into a wide grin.
The man walked in wearing a different jacket from the Huskers. It was a green Colonial flight jacket. "Is this a closed meeting or can an old Husker come and visit?"
There were various shouts from the long time guild members of "Hey Lee!" "Shooter in the house!" and "I thought we finally got rid of your dumb ass!"
Harry recognized the slightly older man from the pictures at Zak's house – Lee Adama. Ellen tried to tell Harry this and naturally felt the need to grab his arm again during her unnecessary explanation.
"Hey Bro! When did you get in?"
"A couple of hours ago. If you'd have checked your mobile you'd have known, but I see you're conducting guild business. Volunteered to take a Raptor from the Ajax here to Caprica on taxi duty for an inspection team, so I am, in for the night and out in the morning. Mom wants you to come back so we can have dinner together."
The Huskers all stood and crowded around the Colonial Pilot. All those that knew him were peppering him with questions.
"Did you make squadron leader yet?"
"Where's the coolest place you've gone?"
"Are you going to stay in the reserves or go full time?"
"Do you still want to be a lawyer like your grandfather?"
"How many girlfriends do you have so far?"
"I was never sure about Lee, maybe the question should be how many boyfriends."
Zak's brother found the questions amusing as Zak called for an end to today's official business. Several of the players who liked to give him a hard time began ribbing Zak about being a "mommy's boy."
Harry hovered on the outside of the group. He was supposed to go back with Zak for dinner, but he obviously didn't want to intrude. He also had to Apparate back to Delphi for work tonight, but Zak didn't know that. Fortunately, Harry lied to Zak and said that he was meeting Maggie later for a date. As the meeting broke up and the rest wandered off, Harry decided he would just go somewhere and get something to eat by himself when he heard Zak say, "Harry get your ass over here!"
Obliging, he approached feeling Lee Adama sizing him up. "This is him?"
"Yup. One hundred and ten percent Cylon killing badass. Harry still makes a rookie move every now and then, but when he's on, I think he could have taken you in your prime. If anyone in the Guild is going to Level 4 this year, it'll probably be him."
Lee offered his hand. "I'm Lee. Good to meet you, Harry. Zak's said some nice things about you. Hope you go far in the next Level 3."
Taking it, Harry said, "Me too. Zak's too kind. I just want to do well."
Zak jumped in. "The main thing this Husker needs to learn is when to flip it over from team to solo. He's a little slow to stop being a team player, but he's a damn fine ammo donkey!"
Lee arched an eyebrow. "You're using one of your best player as an ammo donkey? Is that a new strategy, Zak?"
"Twin pistols! He almost never misses the toasters and will fraking run the table if you let him. Harry's legit in the real world too! Only been shooting once and certified expert pistol. I am going to convince him to go to the rifle range and see if he can do the same with a rifle."
"Impressive," Lee said. "If you're that good, you might get a look from the Marines. They are always interested in quality marksmen."
Smiling at the compliment, Harry said, "I've been working with some of the other weapons in the game to change up my strategy for the Level 3's."
"Most quads fall apart quickly," Lee stated. "After that, it's mostly two man team-ups. You and Zak need to be in sync, so you know when each other is moving and when they're shooting."
"Harry's just started teaching me some weird meditation techniques. It seems like it's helping."
Shaking his head, Harry said, "Too early to tell. We've only done three sessions. I'm guessing any improvement is only in his mind."
"Might be the only thing up there," Lee joked and stepped out of the way of Zak's retaliatory punch.
"Zak, I don't want to interfere with a family dinner. I'll just go grab something to eat on my own."
"No," Lee answered. "Mom said you'd be there as well. She also has some of the neighbors coming over, the Holcombs I think. I have my suspicions that Mom is trying to introduce me to their daughter, Gianne for a reason."
"Bro. She's hot! Mom's doing you a serious solid."
Lee rolled his eyes. "Solid? Is that what you're calling a favor these days? I don't know, we'll see. I've got another year on active before I can rotate off for more schooling. I don't think it's a good time to go trying to meet a girl."
"She ain't no little girl," Zak said. "That's for damn sure! Heard she's studying to be an architect. All I can say is she's well-built. You need to nail that ass like it's a plank of wood!"
"You know you're a pig right? Back me up, Harry."
"I can't, Lee. He's my partner and I have to have his back ... even if he is a disgusting pig."
"Ha! Good one! Let's get going, I have Mom's car in the parking lot."
If Harry had to describe Lee so far as one of Ron's brothers, he seemed to be mostly Charlie with a dash of Bill. He didn't seem like a prankster, so that ruled Fred and George out. Things were looking up. He'd been thinking about all his old friends lately. Maybe it was just homesickness creeping in because of his issues with Maggie or Zoe asking him all about Earth that opened the doors in his mind that he'd been keeping close. He found himself thinking about all the people he'd left behind.
The good natured ribbing continued between the two brothers until they reached the car.
"Seriously though, so you've been keeping up on your studies, right? Mom says you've been slipping a bit. The Huskers are important, but it's not worth sacrificing your grades. Just because we founded it doesn't mean you have to let it eat up all your time. I knew at some point I'd have to let it go. Your time might be coming sooner than you think."
Aw frak! Harry thought. Just when you least expect it ... Percy.
(TNLoK)
Author's notes – Thanks for checking in on another chapter. Chapter 19 is already done and sent to editing – thank you Kokopelli! I can now finally announce the cool news I've been sitting on in my "professional" life. I signed what's called a shopping agreement with Amaze Film and Television based in Toronto with the hopes that my D-List Supervillain novels will one day become a TV series. There's no guarantee of anything at this point, but it is the first step in that direction. They will need to recruit a TV writing team and then pitch both the ideas in my stories and the writers they have assembled to various networks to see if anyone bites. Only a small number of projects in this stage make it to the next one, but it will be exciting to see how the project develops over the next 6-12 months. I also wanted to extend my gratitude to all of you fanfiction readers over the years. The things I have achieved to this point have been helped by all the feedback from reviewers, private messages, and of course the beta work of so many on my various stories along with the insight of the folks over at DLP. Your feedback and comments have made my writing better, so thank you. Next chapter coming soon.
