Of Magic and Starry Skies
Chapter 1
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or Infinite Stratos
Beta of original version: Audiodelus
Revision, edits, and changes in this version are done by me after asking the original author of this fiction and if you try to flame anyone flame me
Chapter 1. Introduction.
Harry Potter. London, Military Hangar. The day of bonding. July, 9
Harry Potter was lost. Walking through Infinite tunnels and rooms, Identical hallways twisting and turning in every direction. He was already tired from running with his legs starting to ache, but nevertheless, he was keeping his tempo. He desperately wanted to see his "symbol of freedom" up closer, to witness its glory firsthand. But first, he needed to get out and no one was around to help, despite the fact that the IS Invitational Competition "UK: Introduction to Infinite Stratos" was currently being showcased.
In the eyes of Harry Potter, the Infinite Stratos was a symbol. A symbol of freedom, strength, and possibilities. If there was anything the boy aspirated to be able to do, it was to fly in the limitless sky. There was no way he was going to miss an opportunity to see IS's in actual combat from the tribune if he could help it. After almost fifteen minutes of searching endlessly for the entrance to the roof and tribunes and continually failing to understand signs and arrows, the young boy decided that he has nothing to lose and followed his intuition. Following his instincts, the youngling didn't notice the gradual change in technological decorations and the steady increase of "personnel only" signs, his attention solely on his intuition was saying that he was getting closer and closer. So close that even past the sounds of his running he could hear the faint sounds of war in the distance.
The tournament has already begun.
Upon reaching his destination, he came to a stop in front of a large door hangar. With the sounds of battle enticing him to go on, he slid open and slipped inside. What he saw brought Harry Potter to a standstill. In front of him was something he had long watched from afar. An IS, sitting quietly in the corner. Realizing just where he was, Harry turned to leave but found that other than himself and the IS, there was no one else around. Just him, and the IS that stood there beckoning him. This was the one and only opportunity for a "freak" like him, who never had a right to look upon the war machine, to see it so close.
Somewhere in his heart hope was born. A small glimmer of hope, that just maybe this majestic armor will save him, could save him, and give him chance to gain his own freedom, independence, and life. Looking at the beacon of hope in front of him, Harry Potter just knew inside that if he didn't take this chance then he could very well die in more ways than one.
He could die as an individual.
He could die as an independent person.
He could die as an intellectual being.
He knew that this touch could change nothing and would change nothing.
Still, he could not drop this foolish hope, this foolish feeling.
And so Harry Potter touched IS the Forgotten, Sage.
Infinite Stratos Artificial Intelligence, Codename Sage, London, Military Hangar
July 9
Sage was an advanced Artificial Intelligence, part of the core for one of Tabane's Infinite Stratos experiments. It was protocol for custom IS to be integrated with an advanced AI due to the problem that regular software could not keep up with so much unique equipment, not to mention anything less just simply could not adapt the frame and the core to a pilot. It also had the added benefit that the AI could serve as the connection between visual, audio, and neural interfaces between the core, frame, and pilot. Every AI is programmed to be brief and silent, to protect the pilot and aim for pilot-core perfection and Sage was no different.
Unfortunately, both the frame and core were a result of a failed experiment, a deadlock attempt to create the first suit of the 2nd generation. Sage's core could generate or convert a larger variation of energies and proved to be much more flexible when compared to normal cores. The core itself was much more efficient. Two times bigger energy generation per hour, a new energy distribution system to support the larger variations of Equalizers as well as a unique generator for energy constructs (ECG). That was a success.
But as a result, the energy storage level was even lower than that of the first gen training cores, counting an energy count of 120 compared to its predecessors who had 320 to 700. For an IS, energy storage was everything as it acted as its shields value, secondary propulsion, and powered any special weapons equipped. The more energy you have, the more flexible you are in combat, and having a variety of equipment available simultaneously only increases that. A more flexible core, bigger energy surplus, wider variety of devices, additional ECG variants, and a possibility to reach third Shift was hardly compensation for its pitiful excuse of energy storage. The second problem - shields... shields were just pathetic. 40 full units against hundreds of older models are not even funny.
As a result, Sage, an AI of pre-second generation IS, R&D suit, was not expecting to have a regular pilot at all - it was shipped with all other IS but was awaiting analysis and deconstruction in a new R&D center not far from London. Still, he wished with all its quantum existence for a regular pilot. After all, it was the sole purpose of IS's to adapt its frame and core to their pilot, as soon as they could. With regular pilots only. Protocols demanded a "clear" state for new pilots and the fact that most research activities required default settings and deconstruction marker was not helping things either. So that was just a selfish wish for an AI with a defunct frame and core.
So, when a troubled ten-year-old boy came near, Sage was not expecting anything. But it definitely wasn't expecting to watch the boy touch IS frame with such hope, pain, and resignation. Sage somehow knew that for the boy, IS's meant freedom.
It was clear from the adoration in his eyes. But that was a boy, not a girl. The way that Tabane was manufacturing cores made it impossible for a male to bond or control IS's. Maybe it was the fact that males were, in general, more violent and Tabane wanted peace, so she restricted access, or that Tabane was building cores "from inside" thus somehow limiting bonding possibilities.
Suddenly all processes came to a halt.
"Soft reset: Default Settings".
No... It's impossible.
It shouldn't be possible.
How was the boy able to gain a reaction from Sage's Core?
Was this feeling that Sage felt, was it hope?
Sage went into full power, and in its electronic mind, milliseconds became hours. Sage's base - its quantum computer was working at its prime, processing Sage's personality matrix and adjusting all primary functions. Everything from electronic satellite processors to its heavy-shielded main core was also working at maximum efficiency to provide Sage with all needed data from its inner and outer sensors, cameras, and all accessible networks. Every form of information was taken, along with his Quantum Communication Controller automatically notifying and requesting data from Tabane.
What Sage found surprised it. For the second time in its two-month long life, it had felt surprised, not once but twice in one single minute. The boy had something in his scar. At a closer inspection, it was actually two somethings, made of unknown energy and not directly detectable. Whatever they were, they were leaving weak quantum traces from IS energies traveling through them.
If not for those energies, they would have been invisible. One was slightly smaller than the other and was clearly female in origin, or at least created by a female, and was channeling IS core's energies both to and from the boy, creating a link. It had huge energy losses but was stable, nonetheless. it also noticed that the "she-part" was clearly shielding the boy from the other large "he-part". The "He-part" tried to work with IS energy and just like all the other males, it was not able to do anything. Still, it was shocking to know that something else was aware of IS energy.
Next came a report from the analytical stream. If not for the adaptability and flexibility of the core, the connection wouldn't be possible. Bonding was possible, not with "she-part", but with the boy. Nevertheless, the "She-part" still had potential as a temporary medium. Then it came to a conclusion dictated by its one thought. "My core is the only one able to bond with the boy". And that conclusion was solidified that day.
Normally AI would not be allowed to initialize core bonding without the pilot's confirmation, approval from Tabane, and the initialization order. But this case was definitely not normal and was Sage thinking faster and clearer than it thought possible. Most limits against self-initialization were established as a means to find a more suitable core for a pilot, made for women or easily bypassable by unique energy readings. In other words, Tabane likes mysteries and if there is a mystery, then there were protocols to get as much data as possible from the mysteries, rendering limits useless. And most important, the pilot was clearly willing.
A few seconds later one completely dumbstruck, Harry Potter found himself hovering over the ground in his new IS partner.
Shinonono Tabane and Chifuyu Orimura. London, Main Office. Hour after the last stage of competitions. July, 9
"So, Chi-chan, what can you tell me about this Harry Potter? Take it slow." - voice on the other end of the line sounded childish and overjoyed.
"Hello to you too, Tabane." replied Chifuyu drily "You seem to be getting into a habit of causing me headaches, can you please stop?"
"Sorry, Chi-chan, but I have no one on the scene" placated her friend Tabane "You are the only one I can trust this to."
"You owe me for this" sighted out Chifuyu before starting her report. "Let's start with the mental evaluation. According to the report from the boy's school, he is a troublemaker and a violent bully, marks worst in his class. This was confirmed by his uncle. Yet the tests and evaluations IS committee forced onto the boy show an opposite picture. Harry Potter has a very gentle personality. He does have a rebellious nature, but it is covered deep inside by fears and rules. No indication of a second personality. High IQ for his age, years older mentally than he should be. According to the psychologist, Harry should be fit for piloting, but she recommends putting him through a few 'health tests'. I must note that there are some anomalies in the boy's files. Dr. Materson noted that the boy is a complete troublemaker when I asked over the phone, yet the file by that same psychologist shows a different picture and marks the boy as an abuse victim. I'm confused, things just don't add up."
"What can you say about the boy's personality from your point of view?"
"Meek, shy, intelligent, and sticking to the IS as if it is the only safe thing in the world. I agree with the psychologist's written report. His uncle is extremely strict or downright abusive." answered Chifuyu, her voice evolving into a low growl as she said the last part. "But I'm honestly confused while investigating Boy's medi..."
"Same on my side." interrupted Tabane "And no need to check his health any longer since I checked the medical scan sent by Forgotten Sage. The boy has clear signs of abuse. But they are odd. Some of them look much worse visually than they are. Some look like they healed a long time ago but they must be recent. All signs are at least a year old. There are other, less noticeable anomalies - there are signs that the child was treated by a professional or hospitalized, the boy should have been in the hospital for those kinds of injuries, but there are no medical records, no prescriptions. There also seems to be a problem with his eyes, caused by bad lighting and an inborn defect. Something is terribly wrong with the scar on his forehead."
"That's strange. If they were abusing him, why stop a year ago?" Chifuyu was more and more confused. "He was with the Dursleys for years."
"That's not the only problem. The scar on his forehead is clearly interfering with IS's connection. Do you know anything about it?" questioned Tabane.
"According to the Dursleys it was already there when they received him." replied Chifuyu " I must note that it looks somewhat fresh, that is likely a lie."
"Even if it looks fresh, scans confirm that it is around 8 years old." informed Tabane "In other words, he got his scar long before the first IS was created so there can't be a connection. That's very very interesting. Add in a professional treatment without records..."
"Looks like we found someone's lab rat." considered Chifuyu "But even if he was a 'laboratory rat', why stop? And where did the problem with his eyes come from?"
"I'm Trying to figure this out myself." said Tabane, her tone heavy and serious "I already made an appointment at the hospital for Harry. Please, show Harry to the medics and notify them that his scar is somehow still fresh and doesn't show signs of healing. The worst case scenario is that I'll get a few more scans from that thing and Harry's eyesight will be corrected. The best case scenario is that the abuse will be confirmed. Maybe they will be able to do something about the scar."
"Will do. I'm going to talk to Dursleys in a few minutes. What should I do about that? And what about the Sage?"
"Leave IS in boy's care and test his piloting skills while your at it. Let him go for now. I need to make many more background checks before I can take him to my laboratory. Formalities are on me."
"If he is indeed a lab rat, neither boy nor his guardians will like the popularity that comes with being the only male pilot." highlighted Chifuyu "Are you planning to release the info about him to the press?"
"No. I already issued couple Top Secret documents and sent a different IS to the laboratory. Sage's shipment manifest got conveniently lost in the system, nobody will notice a thing. Just make the test anonymous. The committee will keep the technicians silent."
"Ok, then what's left..."
A loud voice boomed through the room.
"I WILL NOT TOLERATE THIS! HE WILL NOT HAVE THIS THING! I WILL NOT ALLOW HIM TO KEEP IT! NOR WILL I PAY FOR IT!"
Chifuyu's talk to Tabane was interrupted by shouts from behind the door, much resembling that of an ape. Vernon Dursley just finished reading Harry's contract.
"Mr. Vernon, please calm down. Your charge is allowed to conti..."
"I DON'T CARE! He probably cheated again! You know this as a fact yourself, males can't control an IS."
"Tabane, you owe me for this." Chifuyu looked distastefully at Vernon. But her expression quickly changed, her lips forming a small, feral smile. "I wonder, can Tabane cover me for introducing a UK civilian to my sword?"
Sage, London, Military Hangar. July, 9
Strange. The pilot's relatives were really upset with the boy. But why? And why are they constantly calling him "freak"? They're a well off middle-class family, or at least, that is what my prescribed documents say. And boy wears castoffs? Except for some papers concerning the pilot's school and his birth certificate there, almost no records and important documents are missing. Nothing is known about boy beyond school. His mother was registered in a new governmental database but not even a trace of the existence of his father. Health scans are also disconcerting, with multiple fractures, malnutrition, and something strange with the eyes and that's just the start of it.
Those people, the... 'Dursleys' tried to confiscate me from Harry. As if someone not authorized can take me from the pilot. The attempt was met with a snicker from Chifuyu, and me dispersing into the wristband. Orders to stop this "freakiness" and other demands were met with a sword apparently, Chifuyu decided to have some fun.
As soon as I sent my report to Tabane an official confirmation order was passed to perform the Piloting Test and leave me in Harry's possession until then. There were no orders for me beyond some software updates - it looks like Tabane is too deep in researching data from our bonding to care for anything more. Either way, we will have our first flight soon and the Dursleys can do nothing.
-A/N-
take in mind this is my version of " Magic and skies" original writer by AndreK1 but all my section really do is fix up the major errors and I split up the chapters into more bite sized version but in a later of my chapter I will add more scenes and change up others. consider this one an alternate time line form the versions I posted in Royal Road, and Wattpad