Disclaimer: Don't own a thing. (plz don't sue...)

Name: Potter, H.

Location: Stormwind Stockade

Mission: Survival (primary), Secure the Stockade (Secondary)

Harry and Makale stood alongside Captain Kaedrin and the Stockade's Warden Thelwater as they discussed the outbreak around a command table. A map showing the layout of the Stockade was spread across said table. The warden turned to Kaedrin and said, "This is now your show."

Captain nodded and said to the duo, "The outbreak started with Hogger and his gnolls in the West Wing," Kaedrin said, pointing to the corresponding spot on the map. "Since then, two other factions have broken out and are assisting in the prisoner revolt. A human by the name of Randolph Morloch and a fire elemental who calls himself 'Lord Overheat,'"the captain repressed her urge to sigh at the name, "control the North and East Wing, respectively. We need the entire population pacified. Disabled, not dead. Understood?" She eyed Makale.

The paladin looked offended. "What? Why do you always look at me when you say that?"

Harry shrugged. "No guarantees, Captain. If it's my life or theirs, I'm choosing mine every time."

Kaedrin replied, "If that's how it has to be. The reward is higher for you two the more prisoners you leave alive, just so you know." The pair nodded. "Now, we have a job to do."

Harry engaged his blade-rails, checking his wand. Closing them back, he said, "Excellent. Let's be riot control."

Harry and Makale walked up to the entrance to the Stockade. Guards were manning wooden barricades in an attempt to keep the prisoners at bay. As the two approached, a guard yelled, "Two more for the grinder! Let 'em through!"

As the two passed the barricades, a young man came running up behind them. "WAIT!" He yelled. Harry turned around first. The young man was dressed in pale blue robes and carried a large staff in his hands. His complexion was that of a person more suited to libraries and study than combat.

"What is it now?" Harry asked, eager to get this mission over with.

The man replied, "I'm Dryson Merrick, priest. Auntie Diana wanted me attached to you two as a healer." Dryson shrugged half-heartedly.

Harry raised an eyebrow. "Auntie...Diana?"

Makale groaned. "That would be our illustrious Captain." He then turned to Dryson. "She does realise that I can heal enough for the both of us, right?"

Dryson said, "Captain insists that I accompany the pair of you. She seems to think I could use the experience."

Potter broke out in a wide grin. "Oh, excellent. The name is Judas." , As Harry engaged his blade-rails he said, "Dibs on your armor."

Ignoring the wizard Makale looked at the fork in the hallways. "Left, right or center? We need to clear all the wings in the facility."

Harry took out his wand, setting it on the ground. "Let's let chance decide," he said. He then gave it a quick spin, letting it come to a complete pointing directly ahead. "Center lane it is."

Makale nodded and started to walk down the hallway towards the northern wing. A immense group of humans were brawling in the main thoroughfare. Harry turned to the priest and said, "Do try to keep up, but keep clear of my sight-line. I'd hate to have to burn the pretty gown of yours." The paladin let out a chuckle, drawing his sword. Dryson scowled at the wizard.

The first group of humans failed to notice the trio as they started their push to the end of the wing. Swords were swung, spells were cast and the team smashed their way through. Most were lucky to escape with broken ribs or even fractured skulls. Now that attentions were turned to the three new fighters, the brawl began in earnest. Makale bashed his way through the mass of flesh with his shield while Harry would cast the odd Stunning spell or two, cleaning up any stragglers. Merrick would just stand back, wielding his power of the Light to keep the pair or sword-arms healed so they could focus on the melee.

Coming to a stop right before the room at the end of the wing, Harry's gaze strayed towards an empty room to the right. Walking towards the room, He said, "Hold one moment. Something doesn't feel right." Makale followed the wizard warily, unsure of what to make of Harry's actions.

*SLAM!*

Just after Harry walked into the room, the gate sealed behind him. Makale immediately started swinging at the steel with his blade, to no effect. Dryson said, "Here, let me try. I've been waiting to test out this spell..." The priest then infused his staff with holy energy and bashed at the iron gate with all his strength. The attack sent up a massive a cloud of dust, but as the air cleared it became apparent that the strike had no effect on the metalwork. Shrugging, Dryson opened the viewing hatch and said, "Sorry Judas, I guess you are on your own on this one." He then turned to the paladin. "Do you think he'll be alright?" the priest asked.

"I think he'll be fine. Have faith, Merrick." Makale replied, his voice a little unsure himself. "Have faith."

Harry kept walking into the center of the room. It wasn't a particularly large room, but it was clear the room could and did hold multiple prisoners. Screwing up his courage, Potter said, "Okay, come on out now. Come to Mr. Judas..." He looked back towards the door and saw his partners keeping an eye on him from the slit in the metal.

Harry turned back just in time as a creature rushed him, seemingly out of nowhere. The being was vaguely insectoid, with a chitinous exoskeleton and three-fingered claws in place of hands. Harry jumped out of the way as the creature and locked a magazine into his arm. Seeing this, the creature stretched his arm out and a rifle-shaped weapon appeared. The creature spoke, a sibilance to it's voice:

"Knight-Lord Merrick, time for you to die..."

The creature shouldered the weapon and fired a beam of light at Harry. "Protego!" yelled the wizard as he leapt out of the way again. Raising his arm to the creature, Harry fired several airfoil rounds into it.

The creature made a stilted clicking noise, which Potter took to be laughter. "Oh, you think this is funny?" Harry slashed his wand at the creature. "SECTUMSEMPRA!" The spell cause the creature's natural armor to split, but no blood came out. More of the clicking ensued. The creature fired at Harry once more, striking him in the left hand. A scream burst forth from the wizard as he clutched the wounded hand, a quarter-inch hole dead in the center. Here goes nothing...again. Enraged, Harry took his wand in his metal hand and yelled, "Navitas convérte!" The torches began to fade as all energy within the area moved to the wizard. When the creature went to fire again, he noticed the weapon would not fire. Harry felt the rush of energy engulf him as went to swing at the creature with his blade-rails. Sluggishly, the creature moved to dodge the strike, but only managed to drop enough to make it a glancing blow. Harry then retraced his railgun and grabbed the now frozen creature by its lower face. "No. Time for YOU to die."

Harry re-engage the armature, the rails swinging out and slicing into the creature's neck, beheading it.

As the creature fell, the gate dissolved. Harry ended his spell before it could absorb anymore energy and walked over to Dryson. "I could really use a patch to tide me over, priest." Merrick nodded and grasped the pierced hand, eliciting a hiss from Harry. With a quick spell and a glow from Dryson, Harry pulled his hand back to reveal that it was good as new. "Thanks." Turning to Makale, he said, "Tough to crack?"

Makale eyed the wizard expectantly. "Nigh invulnerable." Looking at Harry's right arm, the paladin said, "You know, it's getting harder and harder to trust you. Cogrunner's rope was cut, and your weapon looks like it would've done the job. That and you haven't been forthcoming with what you were doing at the execution."

Harry sighed. "I already told you, I was moving up towards the gallows. I saw the rope split and ran to find you. It was madness after his escape. And as for my arm, I had it put so I could never be disarmed again." Harry pointed at the dead creature. "Moving on, could you tell me anything about that thing? It just tried to take my head off."

Makale shook his head. "I notice some similarities with the flayers of Deepholm, but there are too many differences for this to be one. Flayers have two sets of arms, crystals growing from their backs and can't speak Common. This one called you 'Knight-Lord Merrick,' like it recognized you. Care to elaborate?"

Not it was Harry's turn to shake his head. "I don't have a clue. I've never held the title of 'Lord' for anything. As for Merrick, look at Dryson. It certainly isn't mine." Turning to the door at the end of the hall, he said, "Now then. We have prisoners to subdue."

Randolph Morloch stood at the back of the room, as if waiting for the trio the entire time. Sword in hand and top hat on his head, the human readied himself for the fight. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Randolph Morloch, and I will be killing you today."

Dryson was the first to shoot back, "Is that a fact? Let's see you try!"

Morloch bowed. "As you wish," and lunged at the priest. Makale stepped in and bashed the human aside with his shield. Randolph landed in a disheveled heap against the wall.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Too predictable, Mister Morloch," The paladin said. "Judas, all yours."

Harry nodded. "With pleasure. Stupefy!" Morloch stayed in a heap.

Dryson went up and poked the human with his staff, "Dick move guys. Dick. Move."

Harry replied, "Not my fault he wanted to fight so badly. He still alive?" The priest went to check Randolph's pulse. After a moment Merrick nodded. Harry said, "Excellent. One of three in this place. Let's fall back to the central thoroughfare." Makale nodded and the trio walked out the door.

An idea formed in Harry's head as the group arrived next to the barricades. He turned to Makale and said, "I have a question. These fire elementals, they are made only of fire, correct?"

"Yees...your point?"

"Mind if I try something here?"

Makale chuckled in his reply. "What? You think you could clear this area out for us? Be my guest."

Harry walked out towards the East Wing. Rivera said that was an Energy Conversions spell. And these elementals are, in a way, pure energy. One plus one, I guess, thought the wizard. Aiming his wand at the elementals, he said, "Navitas convérte." Almost at once, the fire elementals began to wink out of existence. A mighty roar could be heard as what could be assumed was "Lord Overheat" falling alongside his bretheren. Once the hallway was clear, Harry turned around to face the West Wing. "Guys, now would be a brilliant time to duck! FLIPPENDO!" A massive burst of energy raced down the hallway, throwing everything in its path around like so many leaves in a windstorm.

Dryson jaw dropped. Potter walked up to the priest, his wand twirling in his fingers. Patting Merrick's shoulder, Harry laughed and said, "Back to work! No rest for the wicked!"

The leader of the Riverpaw Gnolls, Hogger, stood waiting for the trio as they walked into the end room to the West Wing, cleaver in hand. Looking for all the world like a large hyena on its hind legs, Hogger let out a blood-curdling screech. As the group went to cover their ears, the massive gnoll charged the team, yelling, "Forest just setback!" Harry and Makale dodgesd the charge, but Dryson had moved too slowly and his shoulder met the business end of Hogger's cleaver. Dryson let out a yell as the cleaver dug into his flesh until it met bone. Hogger then pulled his weapon out of the priest and tried to charge Harry.

"Expelliarmus!"Harry yelled, and the cleaver flew backwards out of the gnolls meaty hand. "Stupefy!" The Stunner had no effect, and Hogger slammed into Potter. The wizard felt bones snap in his ribcage and near the shoulders. Harry gasped for breath, and immediately regretted it. Several of the ribs were pressing into his lungs, but were lucky enough not to puncture them. Potter let out a breathless, "Mak! Take him!" and passed out.

Aside from the searing pain in his shoulder, Dryson managed to patch himself up somewhat. The bleeding staunched, and clarity began to build in the priest. It was about that time when he saw Hogger charge the wizard. As Harry began to pass out, Dryson let out a pained, "No!" Struggling to his feet, the priest looked to Makale, only to see the paladin fly into the air, golden wings sprouting from his armor. With a yell, Makale switched his grip on his blade and brought it down into the back of Hogger's neck, severing the spine and piercing the heart in one swift strike. Upon landing, Makale swung his blade around, switching back into a standard one-handed grasp. "Now we're done."

Turning to Dryson, he asked, "Do you have any mana available?" When the priest nodded an affirmative, Makale said, "Good. Focus on yourself. I'll tend to Judas." Walking over to the wizard, he let holy power course through his hands. Placing them on Harry's chest, Makale could hear ribs snap back into place and the joints realigning in the shoulders. The work complete, Makale picked up the mage and walked towards the entrance. "Any better, Dryson?" Another nod came from the priest. "Very well, let's get out of this place.

Two armored warriors stood, blades drawn...

"I trusted you!"

"You trust a great too many people. Most of them fools."

"You brought me here!"

"Your actions brought you to me."

"How could you betray us? Your friends? Your family?"

...

...

"They are nothing to me, Master Potter..."

Harry awoke with a start. The first thing he noticed when he woke was a smell of jasmine. Sitting up, he noticed the offending plant in a vase in a corner of the infirmary room he was now in. He saw Makale seated in the corner to the right of the vase. Harry got out of the bed and poked the paladin. "You awake there?" he asked. Makale began to stir.

"I was beginning to worry about you, Master Judas. Not many could take a charging strike like that unarmored," Makale said. "sometimes I wonder if you're even human."

Harry let out a chuckle. "I DO seem to be doing many thing most would say shouldn't happen, don't I?" Looking around, he asked, "Is Dryson okay? He took a massive hit same as I did.

Makale said, "He-"

"He will be just fine." Standing in the door frame was Captain Diana Kaedrin. "The Merrick clan are some of the hardiest people this side of Azeroth. Between his natural strength, the spells he cast on himself and the healers work he should be up and about in a few hours. Thanks for keeping an eye on him, by the way."

Harry replied, "It was nothing. The boy handled himself quite well." Kaedrin grinned. Harry turned to Makale and asked, "an we hold off on these kind of projects for a few days? I'm kind of worn out."

Makale laughed. "We'll see." Turning to the Captain, he asked, "Are we cleared to leave?"

Diana nodded. "Again, Dryson has to stay here, but you both are set to go. Although, some clothes would go amiss, Mister Judas. You seem to have a strange choice in breeches."

Harry looked down and realized that he was in nothing but his underclothes.

"Ohh. This is awkward..."

Author's note: I think I'm getting the hang of this! Just need enough time to sit down and just write. (I haven't been getting it. Too many renovations to deal with.)

As you can tell, I'm using a lot of OCs for this part of the story. World of Warcraft is a huge game, and requires PCs and NPCs to react to each other. (Might be why RP servers get so much attention.)

As always: read, rate and review. I'm always looking for way to improve and I like to keep in touch with my readers.

Until next time,

MasterMerrick

P.S.: Harry in his drawers? Too freaking funny.