Not My Magical World
Chapter 25
Staring at the man, Harry moved in front of Jani, "Who are you, and what do you mean the ark of Krypton?"
The man bowed, and the hologram filled with color, revealing his dark skin, "Ah, forgive me for my rudeness; my name is Jer-Em, the prophet of Rao."
Harry glanced over his shoulder at Jani, "Do you know him?"
Jani gave him a deadpan look, "Just because I'm from Krypton does not mean I know everyone in the Phantom Zone."
Harry raised his hands in surrender, "Fine, fine; I was just curious, sheesh."
Moving out from behind Harry, Jani stared at Jer-Em, "Not to be rude, but why is this stuff here, and what do you want?"
"Krypton lasted for a couple more thousand years after your imprisonment, but your people's actions changed the history of one house. The House of El became an advocate for those Kryptonians with genetic differences. While he wasn't completely successful, Kryptonians with mental powers became accepted on Krypton and were given the Fire Falls as a place to live."
Harry glanced at Jani before focusing on Jer-Em, "The way you talk, it seems like Krypton is gone."
Jer-Em bowed his head, "Unfortunately, krypton, the pride of Rao has fallen. However, some survivors remain in another universe," he gestured around him, "However, this is a complete archive of Kryptonian technology and genetics," a dark blue crystallized sphere rose from the ground, silver swirls decorating its surface.
Jer-Em moved his hands close to the sphere without touching it, "This is the secret of the Kryptonian Council, a genetic Codex that records every Kryptonian born since you were sealed away," he locked eyes with the two of them, "shortly after your imprisonment, the Kryptonian Council had begun encouraging families to alter their children to fill certain task. That was the beginning of the end for our people because it stifled their creativity and made them look to the council for direction."
"This is all very interesting," Jani eyed the shelves around her, "but why is it all here?"
Jer-Em moved his hands away from the sphere allowing it to sink into the symbol etched onto the floor, "It's here because I want you to revive Krypton."
Jani narrowed her eyes, "Why? If other Kryptonians exist in another universe, why go to all the trouble of sending it here?"
Harry spoke up, "How did you do that anyway?"
Jer-Em sighed, "If I must explain everything," he gestured with a hand, and curved crystal chairs rose from the floor, "then you might as well be comfortable."
Jani and Harry locked eyes as they lowered themselves into the curved seats.
'Can you read his mind?'
'He's a machine.'
'He's consciousness stored in a machine; there's a slight difference.'
Harry glanced at the symbol on the floor, 'I'll give it a shot. Can you link Divine to our senses so she can hear this?'
Jani nodded, and both focused on Jer-Em.
Sliding the toe of his boot forward, Harry touched the symbol on the floor, pale purple energy flaring through his eyes as he made a connection.
Looking between the two of them, Jer-Em began pacing back and forth across the symbol, "You have to understand, I don't know the full story," a self-deprecating smile spread across his face, "The science Council of Krypton imprisoned me in the Phantom Zone for predicting the doom of krypton and scaring the people."
Jani nodded as Divine's consciousness settled in her mind, "That's fine, we just want to know what's going on, you have to admit," Jani gestured around her, "This does look kind of suspicious."
'What's going on?' Divine asked as she settled into Jani's mind.
Keeping her attention on Jer-Em, Jani pushed her memories of the last few minutes at Divine.
'Oh.'
"It does," Jer-Em's lips thinned, "makes me wish I would've recorded the whole thing, then I could have shown you."
Despite herself, Jani snorted, "If what you say is true, I think you had more important things to worry about."
Harry coughed, "If you had done that, you would've looked even more suspicious, in my opinion."
Jani looked at Harry, a playful twinkle in her eye, "Yes, but you're overly paranoid."
Harry looked at her gravely, "It's only paranoia if they're not out to get you, and we have many enemies."
Jani shifted uncomfortably at the look on his face, and Harry smiled, "But you're probably right."
Jani's eyebrows shot up, and she scowled, realizing Harry was messing with her.
Jer-Em looked between the two, his hands clasped before him, a soft smile on his face.
Ignoring Jani's scowl, Harry inclined his head to Jer-Em, "You have a story to tell us."
"As I was saying, I was imprisoned in the Phantom Zone until one day, Jor-El, the fifth descendant of the Jor-El you knew, freed me from the Phantom Zone with news of Krypton's impending destruction. He had tried to tell the Science Council of his findings, but they rejected him, making him question himself."
He focused on Jani, "Your people's abilities had opened the house of El's eyes. Not only had they fought for Kryptonians with genetic differences, but they began sending probes into space and recording what they believed were magical phenomena."
He shook his head, "Though they were never brave enough to try what they recorded themselves, they did know that there were things out there that could not be explained and became one of the staunchest supporters of Rao."
"He began questioning himself, so he freed me from the Phantom Zone, having a copy of the projector from his ancestor. When my feet touched krypton soil, I saw its destruction and confirmed Jor-El's fears."
"Jor-El had already begun the process of saving his son by sending him to Earth in a rocket. While the future I saw in that path would eventually lead to Krypton rising again, much would be lost, and our path forever set and stagnant, in my opinion. So, I prayed to Rao to show me a different path. He showed me your people alive in this world and building something with others with special gifts."
"The future he showed me was glorious, so I began gathering things to help you," he gestured around him, "when it was complete, I used the Phantom Zone to shift the ark here well before your arrival, burying it in the nearest planet."
Jani glanced at Harry, who nodded slowly. She then leaned forward, "You did all of this because an old God showed you a vision."
Jer-Em fell to his knees, a reverent expression on his face, "Yes, and it was glorious."
Harry slid his foot back from the symbol, "So what did he show you?"
Jer-Em shook his head, fear flashing across his face, "I cannot tell you, for if I do, it may not come to pass."
Harry leaned back in his chair, looking at the kneeling Jer-Em.
'What do you guys think?'
'We do know of gods that exist in this world. I'm not surprised that they existed on Krypton,' Jani started.
"Regardless of what this guy believes," Divine put in, "the technology and animal embryo I see could help our people."
'Everything needs to be scanned before we use it.'
'Of course.'
A grin spread across Jani's face, 'Can you imagine how the Greenleaf Will react to be able to work with alien plants.'
Harry focused on Jer-Em, "We appreciate the help, but what exactly do you get out of this? What do you want from us."
Jer-Em stood to his feet and folded his arms behind his back, "I have seen that you are trying to create a serum that will change the people on your island so that they all possess the same superhuman traits; I would like you to put the Codex into your serum so that genetically compatible people can become the new heirs to the houses of krypton."
"Why? They would not be the same people."
"No, they would not, but the old houses failed Krypton and her people. Besides, by taking on the genes of the houses of Krypton, it will offer the people of your island genetic diversity. In contrast, their mutant genes will eventually breed a stronger Krypton and may one day allow Rao to return to the world again."
Harry's brow furrowed, "I don't think our people would want to worship an alien god."
Jer-Em looked down, "That's not what I meant, Rao was once a normal Kryptonian, but he absorbed the power of multiple sons and became strong enough that our people once put their faith in him. I hope that by walking this path, he or something like him will be reborn one day."
Harry looked at Jani, and she nodded, "We will take this technology back to earth and do as you ask once we are sure it will not harm our people."
Jer-Em bowed, his form flickering. "Thank you, the blood lock will only allow you and Jani to enter the ark. To have your people look it over, their neural scans and DNA must be entered into the ark to ensure they mean no harm to Krypton's legacy."
Harry nodded and rose as the curved chairs sank back into the symbol. "Will we be able to talk to you again? I'm sure some of Juru would like to hear about family, even if they have passed."
"I'll be around until the roots of new krypton have been planted and begun to sprout." With those words, Jer-Em faded out of existence.
Locking eyes with each other, Jani and Harry allowed their consciousnesses to fade away.
–XX –
Removing the headpiece, Harry rose and stared at the two women before him, "So what do you think?"
Jani raised an eyebrow placing one hand on a cocked-out hip, "You were reading his mind, you tell us."
Harry ran a hand down his face, "Trying to read a recorded consciousness is different from reading a living being, but from what I could tell, he believes what he was saying."
"Do you think there's anything harmful in the technology?" Divine asked, excitement shining in her eyes.
"I don't think so, but I would still rather you and the spark take a look at it."
Divine nodded slowly, "How far do you want us to take this?"
"I want you to dismantle everything but the genetic samples. We'll have Nam and Andromeda take a look at those."
Divine nodded slowly, "I don't like that we can't start using the technology instantly, but I understand the need for caution."
"Good," walking over to one of the arches that ring the room, Harry placed his hand upon it. Pale purple light flared from beneath his hand, and began carving runes into the arch as he reached out with his mind. Grabbing hold of the tunnel he created with his mind, Harry pushed portal energy into the arch.
The runes flared on the arch, and space warped as the arch connected to the tunnel he formed on Mars. Pale purple light flashed within the arch as the interior melted away, revealing the door shape opening of the Kryptonian Ark.
Harry sagged, beads of sweat dripping off his forehead as energy leaked from his body. Looking down at the torc around his neck, Harry frowned as he saw it had melted. Apparently, doing this had forced too much of his power through it.
Jani moved behind him, touching his sweat-slicked shoulder, "You need to see my father."
Harry glanced over his shoulder, his eyes drooping tiredly, "What's the point? The channels in my body are made of energy, not physical tissue."
"You can't just give up."
Harry turned to face her, "I'm not. If you can find someone to help with this, I'll do it, but until then, there's too much work to be done for me not to use my abilities."
The color and Divine and Jani's eyes paled as they x-rayed his body.
Divine frowned, "I haven't paid attention to your system, but it seems like using your powers is causing your pathways to fray."
Harry opened his mouth to tell them he was handling it when a voice in his mind cut him off.
'Harry,' Ted Tonks's voice echoed in his mind through the connection he formed when Tonks left for Krakoa, 'I have what you need, and I'm ready for pickup.'
'I am at the science Citadel, helping Divine and Jani. I'll return home and open a portal for you in a second.'
Focusing on Jani and Divine, Harry offered them a reassuring smile, "I'm fine, but I have to go. Ted Tonks is ready for pickup." Without waiting for a response, he opened a portal and stepped through.
As Harry disappeared, Jani focused on Divine, "If we could get some of his DNA do you think cloning a new body for him would help his condition."
Divine frowned, glancing at the portal containing the opening to the Kryptonian Ark, "Maybe, but how would we get his DNA? Also, we wouldn't know if it worked until the body was fully formed."
Jani turned, running toward the ark.
Together, they stepped through the archway, surprised to find an atmosphere in the tunnel.
Divine looked around, "Do you think he created this?"
"I don't know, but hopefully, it would explain his weakness afterward." Stopping before the door to the ark, Jani pushed her intentions of allowing Divine to enter the ark forward
A slanted panel emerged from the wall as information flowed into Jani's mind from the ark.
"Place a drop of your blood on the slide, and you can enter the ark."
Using her thumbnail, Divine made a small cut on her pointer finger and allowed the drop of her blood to land on the slide. When the drop of blood landed on the slide, it merged with the wall.
Jani stepped forward, and Divine followed her, pausing as a static feeling washed over her body when she stepped through the doorway.
"What was that?"
"The ark was scanning your mind to ensure you didn't intend to harm it or the things inside."
Divine snorted, looking around, "And they persecuted us for studying magic."
Jani nodded absently while stepping onto a curved symbol on the floor. Moving her hand away from her body, a small bead of blood flowed from the symbol and settled in Jani's hand. Closing her fingers around it, Jani moved back toward the arch, Divine following close behind her.
"Is that," she nodded at Jani's hand.
"A drop of Harry's blood," Jani finished.
"Are you sure you want to let the science Citadel experiment with his blood?"
"It may be the only way to save his life."
"He's going to be pissed."
"He can be as mad as he wants as long as he lives."
–XX –
Appearing in his lab, Harry flicked his wrist; a pale purple oval appeared in the air. Edward Tonks stepped through, mud staining the knees of his jeans and smeared across his plaid shirt.
"Ted," Harry closed the distance between them, "How are you? How did it go?"
Ted offered his hand to Harry as Jonas and a few other Greenleaf flowed through the portal, carrying massive bulbs of dark green plant matter.
"It went well; I hope you can use cancerous masses."
Harry looked at the bulbs as the Greenleaf set them down in the far corner of the lab, "They should have the potential we need."
"Did he take the sun orb as payment?"
Ted nodded, "He did, but he wanted something else in return."
Harry rubbed his forehead, "What did he want?"
Ted shifted, looking away sheepishly, "I told him you could create a mini sun that would convert solar energy into psychic energy to feed him."
Harry stared at Ted with a flat expression, causing him to back up.
"I," he started slowly before a bright smile spread across his face, "can do that. It shouldn't be too hard, but it'll have to wait until I get back from my meeting with Stark."
Ted glared at him, "You dick! I thought you were going to be pissed."
Harry snorted, his grin widening, "I know that's why it was funny." He flicked his wrist, causing a pale purple portal to open behind Tonks, "Now, why don't you head home? I'm sure Andromeda would like to know you're safe."
Turning, Ted placed his hands on his lower back and stretched, groaning, "That sounds nice," he stepped toward the portal, waving over his shoulder, "If you need anything else, let me know, this adventure was fun."
As Ted disappeared, Harry turned to the green bulbs he had brought to the lab just in time to see the Greenleaf vanish in a flash of green light.
Running a hand down his face, Harry stared at the plant matter. He wanted to rest; he had to travel to New York tomorrow to meet with Luna Lovegood, but something was driving him to at least start his next project.
Waving his hand, Harry opened a portal, pulling the 118 stones he created to collect the elements from the periodic table into his lab.
The stones clattered onto a nearby table as Harry moved toward the tumors of Krakoa that Ted had retrieved. Reaching out with his mind, he scanned the tumors. Finding a primitive mind within, Harry shunted the mind away from a portion of the mass and cut some free with a sweep of his left hand.
Staring at the green buds, Harry frowned. If there was a consciousness in these buds, he couldn't exactly leave them in his home, but he didn't want to destroy the consciousness either. He had a feeling it could prove helpful when terraforming planets.
Purple energy filled Harry's eyes as he stared at the masses. Slowly, to not alert them, Harry reached out and began building a dreamlike prison for the consciousness. In this prison, they would live out their greatest fantasy.
Satisfied that the bulbs were at least contained, Harry turned his attention to the piece of plant matter in his hand. With a flare of power, he crushed the consciousness within and moved toward his runic forge, the periodic elements floating behind him.
Reaching the pyramid-shaped forge, Harry opened the panel on the side and directed the periodic stones in. Once the stones were settled, Harry placed the plant matter inside and closed the panel.
Rubbing the tiredness from his eyes, Harry made his way over to the podium controlling the forge, tensing slightly as his mind was pulled elsewhere.
–XX –
Harry stared at the items before him, placing a hand on the holographic table to steady himself. Pushing the periodic elements to the side, Harry focused on the plant matter, breaking it into its base components with the force of will.
Harry relaxed as he allowed part of his mind to connect to the plane of knowledge. With this connection, he searched for what the earth was like before humans tainted it. Finding what he needed, Harry began to reconstruct the plant mass to build a planet with the parameters he was introducing.
As he worked, he introduced the elements from the periodic table, connecting the entire project with runes that would convert matter into the needed materials to accomplish the task. After six hours of working, Harry stared at a green seed with brown and blue striations running through it.
Harry stared at the gaping hole where its consciousness used to be. To him, it looked like a black hole with luminescent green tendrils reaching out to fill it. Luckily, only those with psychic abilities could see and feel it.
Reaching out, Harry slowly pushed the tentacles away and inserted the desire to sleep. He had a way to fix the issue but would have to talk to some people first.
Done with this task, he pulled his mind out of the runic forge.
The world around him faded as he prepared for some much-needed sleep.
