Disclaimer: Don't own a damn thing...

Name: Potter, Harry

Division: Special Weapons

Location: The Blue Recluse, Stormwind (Warcraft Canon)

Mission: Survival (Primary)

After a long, fitful night's sleep, Harry woke up to a slight vibration coming from his prosthetic arm. The files he read on the A.R.M. claimed that this was the internal communication system between him and his superiors in the ICPF. He then raised his hand to his face, and a small hologram appeared in his palm. Commander Rivera's mask was prominent in the picture.

"Enjoyed your first day, Potter?" asked Nathan.

"A regular riot, Commander. Barely had a chance to get settled and I had to diffuse a bar fight. Ended up throwing a gnome in jail," replied Harry rather sarcastically.

To which Rivera said, "Yes, we've heard of that. Speaking of the gnome, we still need him alive. He is set to be executed later today, and his continued existence is vital in this part of the Warcraft Canon. See to it that he is...pardoned... for us. Also, it would be a good idea to stick with a local, for your safety while you acclimatize to Azeroth."

Harry paused and let the initial request sink in. "Are you mental? I was just talking to a paladin over this: evidence of demonology is an executable offense! I could hang just for trying to bail him out! And how is such a 'vital part of the Warcraft Canon?'"

Nathan groaned. This was going to be a long part of his contract. "The ICPF doesn't give two shits how you get Cogrunner off of the chopping block, just do it! It shouldn't concern you how or why he is vital, just follow your orders as they are given! SpecWep agents are given carte blanche in anything they do, as long as Canon Law and causality is upheld. Is this clear enough for you?"

Chastised, Harry replied, "Crystal, Commander. I just have one more question: if you valued my behaviour, which sound very much like when someone said I had a 'saving people thing,' how did some of the others I met make it to ICPF? They don't look like they would be in the hero business, especially that Akabane fellow."

The commander laughed, saying, "They are not a part of my Special Weapon division. They belong to others. Dr. Jackal was collected for his medical expertise, John Kramer was recruited for his knowledge of engineering and his ability to psychoanalyze people. And as for Galbatorix? He was an immensely powerful fighter for his time. This allowed him to be a part of our training cadre. Each person has a different reason for being a part of the ICPF. Does this answer your question?"

Harry nodded, "Seems reasonable. Well, might as well get to work."

Nathan replied, "Indeed." He turned off-screen for a moment. Turning back, he said, "Unfortunately this will be the last time we can speak until your term in the Canon is complete. Something about Canonic temporal shifting and the like. Good luck, Potter."

"Thank you, Commander." Harry then hung up on the call.

"You have got to be kidding me..."

Harry walked downstairs to the tavern. A plan began to form in his mind over the Cogrunner issue. As he stepped into the tavern proper he saw Makale sitting by the bar, arguing with a kal'dorei female. Harry sat down next to the paladin. "You really like getting into fights, don't you?"

Makale replied, "Usually I'm not this lucky." He turned back to the elf. "So, what possessed you to toss a fully grown draenei out the front door? I'm drawing a blank as to reasons why."

The female blinked. "That wasn't me you idiot. That was my sister. And the only reason she trew Diegon out was because he tried to get frisky with me! Now leave me alone!" She turned and walked to the bartender.

Harry chuckled a bit. "You sure have a way with the ladies. Listen, that gnome is going to be executed today, right?"

Makale nodded. "Yes, noon today. It's been posted shortly after he was incarcerated. Let me guess, you want to watch, don't you?" When Harry nodded, Makale let out a sigh. "Very well. Pack your things and we'll head to the Stockade."

"Sweet."

Location: Stormwind Stockade Entrance

Mission: Survival (Primary), Recovery of Byron Cogrunner (Secondary)

Harry and Makale walked to the outer perimeter to the Stockade, with the wizards wand in hand. The first thing Harry noticed was the large crowd gathered before the gallows. Byron Cogrunner's execution was advertised far and wide about the human capital, and people were always glad to see another warlock hang. As the wizard and the paladin approached, Harry asked, "So just how much did that gnome piss everybody off? Sure he was annoying, but he didn't seem like the person to be this big of an issue." Harry began scratching his head with his wand.

Makale scoffed. "You really don't know, do you? You must not have been kidding when you said your not from around here." He sighed audibly. "Do you have any knowledge of anything going on in the world today? That gnome was a warlock, of the demonologist's area of expertise. They summon creatures from the Twisting Nether to Azeroth." Makale looked at the empty gallows. "It's bad enough that similar demons are trying to break through from the Dark Portal in Outland. But to bring one willingly, knowing full well that they intend to kill every being on the planet? It's to much to wager against. We need to send a clear me..." The paladin looked back and saw the Harry had disappeared. He groaned, "Oh, Light-Binder save me."

As Harry levitated himself to the nearest high vantage point, he thought himself lucky that Mak launched into that speech when he did. All it took was a simple chameleon spell to duck away from him. Harry might not have been the most powerful spellcaster, but sometimes timing and subtlety are all one would need. He could of Dissaparated, but this was much less stressful, and this mission had enough stress to deal with. This will be either be extremely awesome, or fail spectacularly, he thought, a mischievous grin across the wizards face.

Harry landed on an unoccupied guard tower facing the hangman's noose. As he landed, a deafening yell could be heard:

"Judas! Where the fel are you?!"

Not to be perturbed by the scream, Harry began to set his plan in motion. Spells would be noticed quite easily by the crowds below, due to the bright and colorful beams, but the wizard had another idea.

Engaging his blade-rails, he loaded a metal cylinder into it's slot just behind the wrist. This cylinder was actually a magazine of airfoil rounds, designed to be launched from a railgun much like the one ICPF Engineering had built into his prosthetic. Once attached, the railgun fires small rings off of the main cylinder, and using rotating magnets from within the rails, imparts a spin to the round as it moves to its target. One document test of an ICPF Rail Armature clocked in as five-for-five direct hits on a man-sized target at 600 meters, although the range for this shot would be much less than that.

The guards walked Byron Cogrunner, former Chief Engineer and current warlock, up to his post on the scaffolding, his hands bound in magic-resistant manacles. A small stool sat underneath the nose. At least they didn't use the trap-door., thought Byron. I might have a way out now. Although on closer inspection, the gnome realized that he was stuck. The executioner grinned as he hoisted Cognrunner onto the stool and fastened the noose around his neck. "I hope your conscience is clear, little one," the hangman said. "Death awaits you, just like it awaits all demon masters." With that, Byron felt the noose tighten as the stool was pulled away from under him. The gnome closed his eyes, hoping that death would at least come quick.

A snapping sound was heard, and Byron slumped to the ground, the noose hanging off of his neck like a tie. He barely had time to register this fact as he saw himself become invisible and felt himself be launched towards a nearby guard tower.

Harry saw Cogrunner get strung up in the gallows. Activating the holographic sights on his A.R.M., the wizard lined up a shot on the line, just above the gnome. When the executioner pulled the stool out, Harry fired. A direct hit, as the rope snapped cleanly in two. Not missing a beat, he cast an invisibility spell on Byron and summoned the warlock to his hand.

When Byron landed in the wizard's hand, Harry let the invisibility spell fall. Harry said, "I'd wager you're pretty glad to see me today, now are you? You are by far the most annoying person I've had to rescue. You may have edged out Draco Malfoy for top spot."

Cogrunner looked stunned, "J-J-J-Judas? Why are you here? And why did you save me? You turned me over to the Guard!"

"Yep. And I'd do it again if I wasn't under orders. So lets just stay out of trouble for a good while. And don't summon anymore demons in front of a fully armed and armored paladin, shall we?" The gnome nodded. "Good. Now to get you out of Stormwind," Harry broke the manacles and cast another invisibility spell on Byron. "This spell has a timer to it. You have six hours to get as far as you can before it wears off. Now, clear off." With that, the invisible gnome summoned a portal and took off through it. Harry then unlocked the magazine for the railgun and locked the rails back into his arm. Casting some more spells to cover his tracks, he then floated back down into the crowd a few yards away from Makale. Rivera said no rules, so here we go. He decided to Imperius a few people nearby so they would belive that Harry had never left from them the whole time.

Coming up behind the paladin, Harry said, "Mak! There you are! What just happened?"

Makale turned to Potter, "Not a clue, Judas. Although YOU are looking more suspicious by the second. Where were you?"

Harry scratched his head with his wand and replied, "I was just moving up to get a better view. I saw the runt get cut loose and I tried to look for you."

The paladin grimaced. "Sure. One moment." He walked over to where Harry was standing and grabbed a passer-by by the shoulder. "I'm just here to ask a few questions." He turned the man towards Potter. "Did you see this man just a few moments ago?" The citizen nodded nervously. Makale responded, "Okay then. How long have you seen him stand here?"

"Ab-b-b-out ten m-minutes, s-s-sir," the civilian stammered, awed by the paladin and him armor.

"Very well, you're free to go." Makale let go of the civilian and watched him scurry off. The paladin proceeded to ask a few more people in the area. Most of them seemed to coincide with the first's story. Makale then turned to Harry and said, "Well, it seems you were right. Judas, I'm sorry I doubted you. Shall we get back to the Recluse? I could really go for a dwarven stout right now."

Harry nodded approvingly, "It's only fair that you would check." As he began walking alongside Mak, Potter sighed, "I take it we have to hunt him down now? The Guard might want their bounty money back after this."

Makale waved him off. "We may have to catch him again, but they won't dare insinuate that we had something to do with this. The Guard, no pun intended, let their guard down, and were poorer for it. They won't go after us over their lapse in security. If they try, Captain Kaedrin and the rest will have to answer to me and MY superiors. And that, Master Judas, will be the last thing they will want to do."

Harry shrugged, "If you say so." He then stored his wand back in its slot on the A.R.M., whistling tunelessly.

As Harry and Makale reached the steps to the Recluse, the wizard asked, "So, any ideas now?"

The paladin laughed, "Not off of the top of my head, no. If Cogrunner is smart, he will be halfway to Outland by now. That or Northrend. He wouldn't dare show his face here..." Makale stopped as he saw a guardswoman running up towards them.

"Wait! Mak!" The guard yelled, gasping for breath as she stopped before the two men. She then snapped to a crisp salute before leaning over again.

Makale returned the salute, asking, "What seems to be the problem, Captain Kaedrin?"

Still trying to regain her breath, Kaedrin replied, "Breakout...in...Stockade...Hogger...loose..." Makale grabbed her as she began to collapse. Harry pulled out his wand and said, "Ennervate." A refreshed look came over the captain. Gaining her composure, she said, "Thank you. As I was trying to say, There was a mass breakout in the Stormwind Stockade. Hogger, the leader of the Riverpaw Gnolls, has escaped. We've managed to contain the breakout, but the criminals are running rampant in the entire Stockade complex. We need help to contain this before it get any worse."

The paladin turned to Harry. "You any good with healing spell? I could use a man on my six."

Harry nodded, "Of course. Besides, You look like you could use another sword arm as well."

Mak turned back to the captain. "You might have just gained a squad, Captain. Let's get you fixed up, and then we'll go meet this 'Hogger' fellow."

Three times in less than two days. Fate must really like the prison here, Harry thought. Ah well. Time to really get my feet wet...

Author's note: Well, chapter five. I'm just glad there's enough of you willing to sit through this. 311 views, I love it. Let's see if we can't keep it up in future chapters, shall we?

Also, I will be reading reviews that come up (writing is always a work-in-progress for me.) I'm hoping that enough of you will read and review my piece here. I need criticism, I'm just not good at finding my own shortcomings.

On Warcraft Canon: The era is currently Mid-Burning Crusade, if I haven't made that clear, but I will be adding aspects of Cata and WotLK in this story. (The next chapter is based off of the Stormwind Stockade instance, and Hogger wasnt a boss for it until Cataclysm.) I hope you don't mind.

Thanks for reading and I hope to see more of you soon.

Until Next time,

Master Merrick.