Ongoing Path – Battlestar Galactica 2003 Universe
By Stargatesg1fan1
Disclaimer: I own nothing of any recognized characters or universes within.
Females bonded to Harry Potter in this universe
Captain Kara 'Starbuck' Thrace is played by Katee Sackhoff
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Chapter 105
Nine Weeks 4 Days After Joining the Fleet
Progress out of the city had been slowed by the need to remain concealed from the cylon patrols. Harry had been able to sense the approaching cylons and direct Kara who was driving the truck to hide. They had finally passed out of the city and the suburbs and were in the countryside.
Helo was taking a rotation at driving while Harry kept watch and Kara slept against his shoulder.
"We have contact," Harry warned just before gunfire rebounded off the side of the truck.
The tires blew out then and Helo lost control and the truck turned over. Harry extended a shield around the three of them. Kara woke up at Harry's warning shout and clutched at him in her disoriented state. Harry let the shield drop as a group of humans swarmed around the downed military vehicle with automatic weapons trained on Harry, Kara, and Helo.
"We're not cylons," Kara called.
"The fact that you aren't hurt at all from that crash might suggest otherwise," Samuel Anders, a tall dark haired good looking man with the build of an athlete, replied.
"Harry," Kara prompted.
"They're humans," Harry replied.
"You're the Caprica Buckoneers," Helo said as he climbed out of the truck along with Harry and Kara.
The Caprica Buckoneers was a professional team for the sport of Pyramid. Harry made it look like he was pressing something on his wrist when really he was casting an area-effect spell which temporarily disabled all of their guns.
"You might as well lower your weapons. I just activated an energy field which temporarily alters the chemical properties of the propellants in your guns. The alteration renders the rounds inert until the field is dropped," Harry announced.
Anders reaimed his gun at a tree and squeezed off a round. Nothing happened.
"That's a nifty trick…one that the cylons have never shown before. But there are still more of us than you," Anders said as he lowered his weapon and tensed ready to leap at the three.
Anders wasn't sure even together if he and his teammates could overpower three human model toasters. But they were damn sure going to try.
"Do you think that's the only trick I have up my sleeve?" Harry asked.
Anders looked like he thought better of it at that.
"Let's say we believe you…where'd you get the tech?" Anders questioned.
"I created it. Now let's talk like civil human beings," Harry replied.
"So let's talk," Anders said.
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Eleven Weeks After Joining the Fleet
Harry and Kara got out after the convoy had pulled to a stop. They had been with the resistance a short while now. In that time Kara and Helo had given some pointers on better tactics and operating as a military unit. Today the objective was to get access to a cylon heavy raider to return Kara, Harry, and Helo to Galactica.
Harry and Kara were actually considering just revealing Harry's ship and flying back in that. But they thought Sharon might still be lurking around somewhere nearby and still weren't ready to reveal it to her.
"Sue-Shaun, I want you to watch our perimeter, especially on the flank," Anders said as Harry, Kara, and Helo approached him. Anders laid a map on the front of the humvee nearby. "The cylons have a refueling airstrip just on the other side of that ridge," He said while pointing to a spot on the map. "A heavy raider makes a regular refueling stop every afternoon like clockwork. It's usually guarded by less than three of the centurions."
"We can go through this gulley and approach the airstrip from the south side," Kara suggested while running her finger along the gulley on the map. "We wait for the cylons to hook up the refueling hoses. Once they hook up the hoses we take out the guards and blow up the refueling station."
"Won't that take out the raider?" Anders asked.
"No. The armor on the raider can withstand the blast," Harry assured. "Incoming," Harry shouted as he pulled Kara to the ground just as gunfire erupted from the tree line.
A round tore into the humvee right where Kara had been standing. The resistance fighters were falling back into the trees while laying down cover fire.
"Go," Harry shouted while waving the resistance fighters to fall back.
He produced two guns for Kara and himself and laid down suppression fire using the convey vehicles as cover. Kara joined him. Harry waited until he sensed the resistance fighters far enough away from the centurions before he wrapped his arms around Kara and apparated her back to the base.
"I don't know how I'll ever get used to that feeling," Kara said.
"You will eventually," Harry assured. "I guess there is a heavier guard around that airfield than Anders originally thought."
"No doubt. That could have gotten messy," Kara replied.
"Well let's not make it a total loss. I'm going to transport one of the trucks back here. We can say you drove it out of there. Then I'll go back and pick up a second truck and use that to go pick up the convoy members," Harry suggested.
"Sounds like a plan," Kara said with an approving nod.
As Kara watched her boyfriend vanish and reappear standing beside an entire military truck before vanishing again she felt a sense of being out of touch with reality. If anyone had told her six months ago that after the end of the twelve colonies she would be sleeping with a man who by all accounts had powers to rival the Lords of Kobol she would have believed that person mad. Now she was actually helping him use his abilities in secret to help the survivors of humanity get by. She decided as she got in the truck and waited a sufficient time to move it back to base so as to not arouse the suspicions of those that had remained behind at the base that she was ok with her new role in life.
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"You're a welcome sight," Anders said as Harry pulled to a stop near the band of resistance fighters. "Where's Kara?"
"She took another truck back to the base. It was damaged. I patched it enough to get it back but it won't be able to haul anyone without some more extensive repairs," Harry explained. "Is this everyone?"
"Yes. Sue-Shaun and a few others got separated during the fighting," Anders explained. "I plan to go look for them."
"Someone else can drive the truck back. Two people searching separately will be better than one," Harry said as he climbed out of the truck.
"Agreed," Anders said with a grateful expression.
Sam may have been jealous of the handsome Harry with a gorgeous girlfriend like Kara Thrace. But Sam wouldn't let that get in the way of having his teammates rescued if they were in trouble. Harry and Sam split up. It didn't take long for Harry to track Sue-Shaun. She was unconscious being passed from a centurion to a dark skinned bald male that was likely a human-form cylon. The model Six cylon standing next to the dark skinned male added weight to this likelihood. Harry turned himself invisible and followed the pair as they turned to head into a large building that looked like it had once been some type of hospital.
"Another piece of meat for the grinder," Six suggested.
"Don't say it like that," Four replied. Four was his cylon model number but he regularly went by the name Simon O'Neill. "Each one of these women allows another one of us to be born into the world."
Six didn't respond to that.
Instead Six asked, "Do you think this one is ready to be hooked up directly or will she require some modification?"
Simon glanced over Sue-Shaun before he said, "I think she is ready to go in."
As Harry walked through the facility he determined the place used to be a mental health facility by the arrangement of the structure. There were far too many secured doors like individual prison cells for this to be a regular hospital. Harry followed the two cylons to a room that when he entered Harry felt a wave of revulsion roll through him. Dozens of women were hooked up to machines. All of the women were in some kind of medically induced coma and hooked up to machines of some sort on their lower halves. Sue-Shaun was set on a stainless steel table and Harry thought furiously.
He went over to one of the women and cast a diagnostic spell. What he got back told him there was some type of life-form, likely a human-form cylon model based on what the Six had said, growing within the woman. This was what they wanted to do to Sue-Shaun.
"I need to find out how many facilities there are like this and where they are located," Harry thought to himself. "But I can't let them do this to Sue-Shaun."
Harry saw that the Six's back was turned from Sue-Shaun looking at a readout on one of the machines. Simon's back was turned as well preparing a tray of surgical tools. Harry focused his mind and magic before causing the world to change. Sue-Shaun was simultaneously levitated and concealed with an invisibility charm. At the same time Harry snap-conjured a flesh-and-blood replica of the woman. But there wasn't any time to do the complicated enchantment which would allow the golem body to function as a mindless thrall of Harry's will. Instead he directly took control of the golem with his magic. Harry was forced to sit and control the golem body himself while Simon turned and began the process of hooking the golem up to one of the machines.
Harry watched intently the process for hooking up the women. He was sickened and horrified at how invasive the surgical hookup. When he realized that the women would die should they be suddenly cut off from the machines Harry's expression darkened. By the time Simon finished connecting the golem into one of the machines Harry had formed a quick plan of action. Four and Six left the pregnancy chamber after finishing up. Harry tagged both of them with tracking charms before going to work distributing the same runic sensory relayed he used on Galactic to spy on the happenings onboard the starship.
Harry spread these relays throughout the mental facility. About ten minutes after he had finished the Six model left the hospital. Harry picked up Sue-Shaun and carried her using a feather-light charm back to the area where Anders would be searching.
"You found her," Anders said with relief. "I sent some of the others I found back to get us a vehicle. Where was she?"
"A couple of human-form toasters were taking her to a Farm for human-form toasters," Harry said grimly.
"A farm for toasters," Anders said questioningly.
"Let's get her back to base. I'll explain it to Kara at the same time. I don't want to have to repeat myself," Harry replied.
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Resistance Base Camp
"That's fracking sick," Kara said when Harry had recounted the story of what he had seen.
Harry had showed Anders and Kara a hologram of the pregnancy chamber himself. Kara had looked like she was going to throw up.
"We need to destroy that place," Anders said vehemently.
"We can't. Not yet. Not until we figure out how many more there are," Harry pointed out.
"He's right," Kara admitted. "But how have the human-form toasters been created if they need humans?"
"I don't think these are the same types of toasters they are growing. I think these are a more human version," Harry said. "Or it could be that they have other ways to grow toasters but that it just takes less resources to do it this way. We don't know enough about their technology to tell yet."
"So it's a waiting game until you can track their movements and see where the other facilities might be," Anders clarified.
"Yes," Harry confirmed.
"I don't like it. Not one bit. But it seems necessary," Anders said.
"I suggest we keep this to ourselves for now," Kara suggested.
"Why…there is no point. Sue-Shaun will probably tell people," Anders pointed out.
"Because I don't think your people will be so restrained and we don't want it getting back to the toasters in some way that we are on to them," Kara replied.
"And Sue-Shaun was unconscious the entire time she was there," Harry added.
Anders didn't respond verbally but nodded his agreement. He liked keeping things from his people even less than he liked waiting to take out this Farm nearby.
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Galactica
Bill realized he wasn't alone. He felt a presence in the room with him. He had been intently staring down at his desk as he thought over the situation. He had let things go too far with President Roslin. Her escape with Lee had been one thing. But then her message had gone out to the fleet with her claims to her status as a prophet to the gods had appealed to a lot of people. In hard times people were willing to believe in faith now more than ever. Almost half the fleet had jumped away to Kobol with Laura. And now Bill was staring at with a hooded figure that was likely a Lord of Kobol.
"Are you really a Lord of Kobol?" Bill found himself asking. Instead of answering verbally the figure merely tilted its head towards Bill. "If you aren't going to talk then why are you here?"
"I never claimed I wasn't going to talk," Harry said in a voice deepened through his powers. "You merely have to ask the right questions."
"Thank you for saving my people," Bill said before contemplating his next word choice carefully. "You obviously want to help. Should I go to Kobol and pursue this fool's quest that is Earth?"
"I have been to Earth," Harry said. "To me thinking of reaching Earth doesn't seem so foolish."
Bill believed the being.
"What do we call you? Lord of Kobol is a mouthful," Bill said.
"LoK seems like as good a name as any and not quite as much of a mouthful," Harry replied.
Bill opened his mouth to say something else but LoK vanished right before Bill's eyes. At first Bill thought he might have been hallucinating but then a pen on Bill's desk floated into the air. The pen suddenly transformed into a miniature golden arrow. Bill imagined this was a replica of the Arrow of Apollo.
"Never ask a question you don't want to hear the answer to," Bill told himself wryly before rising to his feet and picking up the mini-arrow.
Bill had orders to issue.
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Outside Resistance Headquarters
The resistance fighters were arrayed around their main barracks buildings with weapons drawn aimed at the heavy raider that had touched down moments before. They waited for something to happen. They feared the possibility that centurions could come storming out of the raider with guns blazing. But when the back door opened up it was to the sight of Caprica-Sharon coming down the ramp with her hands up.
"Don't shoot," Caprica-Sharon called.
"Hold your fire," Helo called out. "We know her," He added as he stood.
It was only a short while later that Harry, Kara, Helo, Caprica-Sharon, and Sue-Shaun were loading up to head back to the Colonial fleet. Sue-Shaun as it turned out possessed a commercial pilot's license. Kara thought she could build upon that admittedly limited flight experience to teach Sue-Shaun how to pilot the heavy raider. The hope was that Sue-Shaun would be able to act as the resistance's pilot after flying back to Caprica in the heavy raider. Harry assured Anders that they would remain in touch.
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Twelve Weeks After Joining the Fleet
The cylon heavy raider jumped into sight of Kobol and found a large fleet of civilian ships waiting for them.
"Where the frack is Galactica?" Kara asked as she saw no sign of the ship but plenty of civilian ships.
"Not here," Harry noted.
Kara had instructed Helo to keep anything Helo had learned about Harry while on Caprica under wraps. This included keeping the information from Caprica-Sharon. After the things Harry and Kara had pointed out about the trustworthiness of Caprica-Sharon Helo was rather agreeable about keeping sensitive information from her.
"Maybe we should hail these civilians. I think they are going to get agitated if we don't identify ourselves," Caprica-Sharon suggested nervously.
"Go ahead and put me on," Kara instructed. Caprica-Sharon tapped out a sequence on the control panel and then nodded to Kara. "Civilian vessels, civilian vessels. This is Starbuck. Do you read?"
"Starbuck, this is Lee," Lee Adama's voice came across the radio. "Welcome back. Come onboard this ship."
"We'll be there in a few," Kara said.
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Kara and Harry went onto the civilian ship first to clear things up.
"Glad to see you're ok," Lee said with a relieved smile when he saw Kara.
"Lieutenant, Harry," Laura greeted warmly.
"I want you all to remain calm. We had the help of a human form cylon we are referring to as Caprica-Sharon. She is here," Kara announced.
At that moment Helo, Caprica-Sharon, and Sue-Shaun came around the corner of the hallway leading from the docking bay.
"Put that thing out the airlock," Laura commanded.
"What…no," Helo shouted as he pulled his gun.
"We don't keep cylons around," Laura said.
"No," Caprica-Sharon shouted as she struggled against two men that grabbed her.
As Harry and Helo moved to stop the two men holding Caprica-Sharon, she shouted, "I know how to find the Tomb of Athena. Kobol is a big planet. You won't find it without me."
Harry gestured and caused a glowing energy shield to surround Caprica-Sharon which pinned her against the nearest wall. The two men who had been restraining her were pushed back and unable to get to Caprica-Sharon.
"Listen, it isn't necessary to put her out of the airlock. I can keep her in line," Harry said.
Helo was staring at Harry wide-eyed as was just about everyone else to varying degrees except Kara. None of the others had witnessed Harry's shielding abilities in person. Helo was the next person that was shocked the least having witnessed other feats of power.
"Did you manage to retrieve the Arrow?" Laura questioned.
"Yes," Kara said as she produced the Arrow of Apollo from a carrying case.
"We won't put her out of an airlock. But I would like to speak to her about the claims she just made. And I don't think she should be roaming free around us. The other Sharon barely managed to restrain herself from shooting Commander Adama," Laura said.
"Galactica-Sharon wasn't aware of what she was so didn't know about the concealed programming. I know what I am and know I don't have hidden programming," Caprica-Sharon said.
"I believe we have a lot to talk about," Laura said to Caprica-Sharon.
"I'll arrange a place to talk," Tom Zarek said.
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Brig onboard Astral Queen
"Why exactly are you here and 'helping' Lieutenant Agathon?" Laura asked without preamble as she strolled into the brig onboard the Astral Queen where Caprica-Sharon was detained.
"Because I love him and am carrying his child," Caprica-Sharon answered.
"Oh I see," Laura said with a skeptical tone. "It has nothing to do with you being a killing machine that is an enemy of humanity and getting you close to key positions of power within our fleet."
"I am here because I chose to come here," Caprica-Sharon said firmly. "Even if you found the Tomb and eventually Earth…the price you are going to pay along the way will be too high."
"I'm not interested in your mind games disguised as prophecies," Laura said. "What is going to keep you alive is telling me exactly how to find the Tomb of Athena."
"Get me a map and I will try my hardest to tell you how to find the Tomb. It would be easier if I was on the ground with you," Caprica-Sharon suggested.
Laura looked conflicted about this course of events. And suddenly there was another person in the brig.
"Who are you?" Laura demanded.
Harry in his LoK form stood there wearing a hood with eyes of glowing green visible.
"Call me LoK," Harry said. "Commander Adama even now is making plans to reunite your fleet. He can tell you what I am when he gets here. I suggest you make best efforts to reconcile with him. I'm here to give you a bit of advice. Caprica-Sharon here is telling the truth that she loves Helo. She should be shown limited trust and taken to Kobol with you."
And just like that Harry was gone. Laura blinked in surprise at the sudden disappearance. She had not seen him arrive because she hadn't been looking in that corner of the brig. Caprica-Sharon didn't have that particular problem.
"It can't be," Caprica-Sharon whispered more to herself than to Laura while looking intently in the spot where the self-named LoK had been.
"What is it? Do you know what he was talking about when he said what he is?" Laura questioned.
"LoK…Lord of Kobol is the best title I can think of to fit with the ability he just showed," Caprica-Sharon replied.
Laura's gaze snapped back to the corner where Harry had been. She had much to think about.
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"What do you think?" Laura asked while looking at Elosha after having just finished recounting the story of events within the brig.
Elosha was a holy woman that Roslin trusted.
"If this LoK is right then Adama is on the way. He'll destroy us," Meier, Zarek's second in command, said.
"That isn't what this LoK said," Elosha pointed out. "If this really was a god then we can't ignore his council."
"Superstition," Zarek said with a sneer.
"Her aid in the matters on Caprica cannot be ignored," Laura said. "She believes she is in love and wants her baby to live. Even if this is just software it's very effective. We don't have to give her complete trust. LoK said it best…limited trust. I'm committed to this venture. This is worth the risk."
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"Are you nervous?" Harry asked Kara as they got ready for the mission to Kobol's surface in search of the Tomb of Athena.
The pair was back onboard Haven. Haven had followed Harry back to Kobol at his remote command. Kara was changing after having gotten out of the shower. She took clothes from the drawer Harry had created for her in his dresser. She didn't have many of her things on his ship since she hadn't moved in. But since she was away from Galactica she was with him on Haven more often than not. He admired her form as he watched her dress. She was a gorgeous woman.
"Nervous…why would I be nervous?" Kara asked while glancing at him with a mocking smirk. "We're only walking into a likely cylon trap."
"I do so enjoy your wit," Harry rebutted with a teasing grin.
"False bravado aside I'll admit I'm a little on edge. I mean…it's not like you haven't proven yourself in a fight," Kara pointed out. "After what you did at the refinery I think you have showed just how well you handle centurions. Still, I suppose I will feel a little better when Galactica shows up."
"It shouldn't be long now," Harry assured. "Commander Adama has been dealing with some political fallout that came after the fleet separation."
"Huh…Adama and politics aren't something I would have expected to mix well," Kara said.
"That's why it is taking so long," Harry returned as he led the way towards the hatch where Haven was docked with the Astral Queen.
Harry and Kara didn't have to wait long for the rest of the group to assemble. Two armed guards came behind Caprica-Sharon but at least she wasn't chained. Laura didn't look so well as the group piled into a small cargo ship. The effects of her cancer and treatment didn't seem to agree with the president.
"I'll survive," Laura said with a tired smile as she noticed Harry's glance. "For now at least," She added.
"Fight…don't ever give up. The mind is a powerful healing tool," Harry suggested.
"I don't intend to give up," Laura admitted. "But I'm not sure I can will my cancer away."
The ship shuddered as it flew down through Kobol's upper atmosphere.
"I've seen stranger occurrences," Harry said.
"I wouldn't be surprised if you had," Laura said before Elosha drew her attention.
Other pairs within the larger groups were having discussions. Harry's eyes briefly met with Zarek's man Meier. Harry didn't trust Zarek or Meier. The two men were up to something nefarious. Kara had been silently listening in on Harry's conversation with the president and noticed his gaze glance past the two other men.
"I'll keep eyes on them too," Kara whispered into her lover's ear.
Harry reached over and squeezed her hand to signal his agreement. It was only a minute later that the transport touched down in a clearing big enough to accommodate it near the coordinates Caprica-Sharon had urged them to start from. Everyone began piling out of the ship.
"Ok…now what?" Laura asked Caprica-Sharon expectantly.
"Scripture says 'And the blaze pursued them. And the people of Kobol had a choice, to board the great ship or take the high road through the rocky ridge- and the body of each tribe's leader," Elosha answered.
"Was offered to the gods in the Tomb of Athena," Caprica-Sharon continued.
"It seems you know your scripture," Elosha said.
Caprica-Sharon ignored the priestess and said, "And the 'great ship' was the galleon that departed from here, where we're standing. And it took the founders of the 13 colonies 'to their destiny.' And those that didn't board the galleon took the high road…the rocky ridge that led to the tomb."
Caprica-Sharon finished while looking towards a rocky ridge in the distance.
"Well that is a definite sign," Laura said. "Let's move people."
The group walked for about an hour towards the ridge.
"We've got company," Harry suddenly announced as he drew to a halt and looked off into the forest in one direction. Everyone tensed. "It's friendly," Harry called a moment later.
Ten seconds later Bill Adama, a detachment of marines, and Galactica-Sharon/Grace in handcuffs walked from the woods. By this point Bill somewhat trusted Galactica-Sharon but he didn't quite trust her programming. Bill wanted to make sure there was no more hidden programming waiting to spring on them but wasn't quite sure to go about doing that.
"Commander Adama," Roslin greeted hesitantly. "We heard you were coming."
Bill stepped forward and said, "Oh…how did you hear that?"
"A visitor named LoK said you could tell me more about him," Laura answered.
"Ah…him," Bill said. "That's an interesting story. It seems like we should put this bad blood behind us," Bill said as he drew closer to Roslin and glancing towards Lee.
The two versions of Sharon were eying one another. Inside they were very different people.
"I find that idea appealing," Roslin said. She held out her hand. "Let the past be the past?"
"Agreed," Bill said as he grasped her hand and shook it.
"Shall we move on?" Laura proposed. Bill nodded and fell into step beside Laura. "So what can you tell me about this LoK?"
Bill began to update Laura on the apparent Lord of Kobol. The group walked for another half hour before something caught Elosha's eye.
"The path is supposed to be marked with gravestones," Elosha said as she approached a stone marker with carvings etched into the face.
"Wait," Grace shouted while stepping forward and grasping Elosha firmly by the arm.
Grace's grasp prevented Elosha from stepping further. Grace pulled Elosha back and pointed to the ground.
"A landmine," Caprica-Sharon said from her spot nearby. "Good catch."
Elosha shuddered as she eyed the explosive.
"Quiet…there are enemy combatants nearby," Harry whispered.
"How many?" Kara asked.
"Two centurions…up over that ridge. I suspect they've placed landmines all over the area," Harry said.
"Set up a kill zone here," Bill ordered the marines. "Everybody fall back to that covered position. Harry can shield you if needed. We'll trigger the mine and draw them down on this spot."
Everyone took cover in a copse of trees while the marines took up positions. Then Bill signaled one of the marines. A shot rang out as the mine went off. Within forty seconds centurions showed up on the ridge overlooking the mine. The marines immediately opened up with accurate explosive rounds fire. The two centurions were made quick work of.
"I sure do feel better with you along," Laura told Bill.
Bill let a small half-smile grace his lips before suggesting, "We should get moving single file to avoid landmines."
"I'll go first. I have sharper eyes than anyone but her," Grace said while nodding her head at Caprica-Sharon.
Bill nodded his agreement with this plan and the group got moving again.
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The rain was pouring down heavily as the group walked. Harry cast a charm which made sure the rain didn't touch himself and Kara but also wove an illusion which hid this fact from the others.
"Thank you," Kara whispered as they walked.
Harry reached out and briefly touched her forehead.
"We can talk mind to mind because of a spell I just cast," Harry said.
"Is there anything you can't do?" Kara asked.
"That is a very good question. Some things have happened to me since my arrival with the fleet that made me ask myself that very same question. I still haven't found an answer," Harry replied while thinking about the events with the Hallows.
"Someday you'll have to tell me about it," Kara sent. "If we are to get any closer," She thought to just herself.
Kara was under the mistaken impression that she had to want Harry to hear her surface thoughts in order for him to hear them. He had heard what she had just said but could also tell it wasn't her intent for him to hear it.
"We should take shelter until this storm passes," Caprica-Sharon called.
The group had been climbing up very steel forested slopes and the ground was treacherous.
"Agreed," Bill said as he reached the top of the latest slope.
The group found a cave to shelter in until the storm passed. Harry even built the group a fire. Nobody asked where he had found the dry wood when he came back in carrying the stack. Once the storm had passed the group moved out again.
"Eleven o'clock, twenty degrees elevation, there is a formation of twin rocks up ahead," Caprica-Sharon said.
"I see it," Lee said from where he stood next to Caprica-Sharon.
"The Gates of Hera," Grace suggested.
"I think so too," Caprica-Sharon agreed.
"The spots where the gods stood and watched Athena throw herself down onto the rocks below," Elosha commented. "Out of despair over the exodus of the thirteen tribes."
"Supposedly," Caprica-Sharon added.
"I thought the cylons believed in the gods," Zarek said.
"They believe in a god…not our gods," Kara clarified.
"We don't worship false idols," Caprica-Sharon said.
"If it's so false why are you leading us?" Lee asked.
"I'm not saying Athena and the other Lords of Kobol weren't powerful beings. We just don't believe they were gods. We cylons have investigated your religion more thoroughly than your people," Caprica-Sharon said. Elosha and Laura exchanged a look at this claim. They weren't sure what to make of the claim but were curious. "Whatever Athena was her tomb is probably up there," She said while nodding towards the Gates of Hera.
"Let's get a move on then," Laura urged.
The group moved off again.
"Were Athena and the other Lords of Kobol from among your people? Whatever your people are?" Kara sent to her lover, wondering if he would answer her truthfully.
Harry didn't answer for a while and Kara began to wonder if he was still able to hear her mind-speak.
"I don't know. It's a distinct possibility," Harry replied which gave Kara a whole lot more to chew on.
The group walked until nightfall when they bunked down for the night. Lee and Kara began field stripping and cleaning their weapons. Harry sat with them just relaxing and taking in the group around him.
"It gives me the creeps seeing him with her like that," Lee said while glancing towards Helo and Caprica-Sharon showing affection for one another.
"Helo loves her," Kara said. "He knows she is a machine but he loves her anyway."
"I've studied cylon neuro-code," Harry said. "I do believe they are true A.I.'s."
"So you're saying they are real beings?" Lee asked.
"Yes. They aren't human. They're more like aliens trying to understand humans. But see…they're more logical than most humans are. And logic doesn't work well with human emotions all the time," Harry explained.
Grace meanwhile was listening in on Harry and observing his conversation. She liked what she was hearing. He was definitely open-minded enough for her. The others were also carrying on conversations. Bill, Elosha, and Laura were conversing about scripture and the nature of prophecy. The marines Bill had brought were taking turns resting and securing the perimeter. Meier and Zarek were engaging in one of their favorite pastimes, plotting. When they started talking about her and Caprica-Sharon, Grace forced herself not to react.
"One of the cylons could do it," Meier suggested. "One of them could take out both Adama and Roslin. Then the cylon could find herself getting shot real easy in the panic."
"How would you propose such a thing might happen?" Zarek questioned.
"This has to happen Tom. You know that," Meier said.
"Not until we find the tomb," Zarek said.
After hearing that snippet of conversation Grace mentally smirked. That night when everyone slept they all with the exception of the two men in question experienced what they thought was a dream but was in fact a detailed retelling of the plotting between Meier and Zarek. Grace saw more than a few cautious looks directed towards Zarek and Meier after the group broke camp the next morning.
"So now that you know what you are how are you dealing with that?" Harry said as he surprised Grace when he drew up alongside her from behind.
Grace glanced over at him and then further back in the group where Kara and Lee were eying her conversing with Harry warily.
"I'm still not sure what I am," Grace admitted truthfully, not letting on that she was far more than just a cylon now. "My past life seems so real."
"I'm sure much of it was," Harry pointed out.
"Your friends look a little disturbed that you are talking to me," Grace pointed out.
"You heard what I told them about your species last night. I'm unconcerned," Harry said.
"I'm just surprised you know that I was listening to you," Grace said.
"If I had wanted to prevent you from listening I would have," Harry replied.
"You aren't like other humans I have met. Then again I already knew that if what I have heard about you is true," Grace suggested.
Harry and Grace had an enjoyable conversation and walked together until the group stopped at noon for lunch. Meier came over and talked to Caprica-Sharon when she was alone for a bit.
"You know once you find the tomb he's going to have you killed right," Meier suggested.
"He isn't like that," Caprica-Sharon replied.
"He's a soldier. You are a cylon. You are the enemy. Nothing is going to change that," Meier said. "They aren't going to let your child be born and raise a potential enemy right in their midst. If you want to get off of this planet alive you have to start looking out for yourself."
Grace was listening to this conversation and couldn't believe how obvious this Meier was being. Caprica-Sharon couldn't be stupid enough to fall for such tactics. At least Grace hoped not. It was obvious Meier had a reason for wanting her to 'look out for herself.' And that reason most definitely wasn't in Caprica-Sharon's best interests. Grace reached out with her abilities and caused prompted one of the marines to walk into view then. Meier rose rather non-chalantly and did his best to not look like he was up to no good. He moved off then.
Chief Tyrol then happened to find Grace sitting there by herself. She had been leaning against a tree viewing the scene with her cylon sister using a sight of sight that Tyrol couldn't even imagine. Tyrol had been the lover to Galactica-Sharon, Grace's counterpart from before Grace arrived in this universe. She opened her eyes and locked gazes with Tyrol.
"What can I do for you Chief?" Grace asked.
"We haven't really had a chance to talk since the whole," Chief trailed off looking uncertain.
"Since my hidden programming revealed itself and everyone found out I was a cylon?" Grace finished.
"Well yes," Tyrol replied. Tyrol went and sat down on a nearby fallen log facing his former lover. "You seem different. More at peace," Tyrol noted.
"I am," Grace said. "I suspected what I was even back then. I think you did too."
"I may have," Tyrol said. "I was praying to the gods that it wasn't true."
"I don't blame you for distancing yourself like you did," Grace mused. "But you and I weren't meant to be together."
"I suppose not," Tyrol admitted.
Grace and the Chief talked for a while longer before he moved off. She hoped she had helped the man a little bit to heal over their bad breakup. Even though Tyrol had been the one to call things off after Colonel Tigh had ordered it, the breakup had still hurt Tyrol considerably. Grace still had those memories but she also had the love of her Ascended husband which she could feel over their bond. She made love to him every single day. Compared to that connection the breakup with Tyrol didn't seem so pressing.
The group soon moved on again.
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"It's up ahead," Caprica-Sharon called out from through a thick copse of small trees and jungle-dense vegetation.
The group came to a half once they came through the vegetation. Harry immediately drew up short as he sensed the wards present.
"The wards are weak but are still present," Grace thought to her replicat companion Drogo.
Grace was a fan of the A Song of Ice and Fire book series. She rather thought she might visit that universe someday. "Can you tell what they are for?"
"The wards are so weak that I'm afraid even weak scans might break them down. From what I can discern with just passive observation I do not think they can harm you," Drogo suggested.
"I think it's time for that arrow Lieutenant Thrace," Laura said.
Harry came up and got the arrow from the carrying case Kara had it in strapped to her back.
"Madam President…I believe I should now inform you that Mr. Meier has been trying to influence me into killing you and both Adamas. He provided me this gun a short time ago," Caprica-Sharon said while producing a gun which she held out for the nearby Lee to take.
"She's a liar," Meier shouted.
"I don't believe she is," Laura said. "I dreamt about your plots," Laura said while not mentioning Zarek's involvement because he hadn't been implicated by Caprica-Sharon just now.
"I had the same dreams," Bill said.
"Me too," Lee admitted while everyone else nodded their agreements.
Harry was disturbed. He had also had the dreams but hadn't been able to discern a foreign influence.
"You can't pass judgment on me based upon dreams and the word of a cylon," Meier protested.
"We are the leaders of the colonial fleet. We can do what we think best in the interest of our people," Laura suggested.
Meier moved to pull his gun and shoot Laura. But an energy shield formed in the air separating Meier from everyone else. Harry stepped through the shield and before Meier could re-aim disarmed the man. Harry put Meier into a sleeper hold and knocked the man out.
"What do you want done with him?" Harry asked as he secured Meier's wrists with zip-ties.
Laura and Bill exchanged glances.
"There has been enough death to last many lifetimes. When we leave Kobol we will be leaving him here. He can survive off the land here if he tries really hard. He could probably even manage to avoid the cylons," Bill suggested.
Laura nodded her agreement with this decision.
"Let's see about getting into this tomb," Laura suggested while nodding towards where everyone thought the entrance might be. "Any ideas since you are so handy to have around?" Laura asked while looking to Harry.
Harry walked forward and examined the stone face of the entrance. He laid his fingers on the rock and cast a spell into the stone designed to detect concealed entrances. When he got back the results Harry began pushing on the rock door. Harry made the rock door feather-light with a charm and almost immediately it began moving inwards. When the doorway was open Harry stepped back.
"That was quick," Lee noted.
The group began moving into the tomb. The chamber within was filled with broken statues and plaques.
"How do we know this is the right place if the arrow didn't actually open the tomb?" Kara asked.
Harry and Grace could both sense the wards interacting with the arrow.
"Well…that archer looks like he is missing an arrow," Grace pointed out while gesturing towards an intact statue of an archer wielding a bow but no arrow.
"Plus these broke statues are all icons of the 12 tribes," Caprica-Sharon pointed out while gesturing towards the destroyed statues.
"She's right. That is the ram, Aerilon," Elosha said. "And that is the twins, Gemenon."
Kara had approached the archer and brought the golden arrow closer to the bow. When the arrow was a few inches away it leapt into the correct spot on the bow. The entrance to the tomb slammed shut and there was darkness for a few moments. Harry and Grace both sensed the shift in the magic warding this place. And suddenly an illusion so real it was difficult for even the two magicals to tell the difference sprung up. The group of colonials found themselves in a green grassy field, tall grass, beneath a starry sky. 5 obelisks rose up before them about 15 feet high each. Glowing dots in the shape of constellations were outlined on the obelisks.
"Where are we?" Billy asked.
"We're standing on Earth…or at least a visual representation of it," Harry said as he recognized the constellations above from astronomy class.
"So this is some kind of map," Kara realized.
"The scriptures say that when the 13th tribe landed on Earth, they looked up into the heavens and they saw their 12 brothers," Elosha said.
"How does this help us though?" Laura questioned.
"Look there in Scorpio. I've seen that before," Lee said while pointing towards one constellation in particular. "It's the Lagoon Nebula."
"Astral body M8," Bill added. "That is a long way from here."
"True…but now we have a map and a direction," Laura said. "So we have a way to Earth."
Grace and Caprica-Sharon promised that they could remember in detail the constellation maps. Harry figured out how to stop the illusion simply by opening the tomb door. Harry convinced everyone to have a look around the surrounding area for anything further they might learn about their history. Meanwhile he explored a pocket of concentrated magic he had sensed. Behind an illusion spell he found a shelf of ancient looking scrolls. The language wasn't even readable with a quick translation charm Harry tried. So he cast preservation charms on the shelf (or rather renewed the charms he sensed waning already on the shelf) before pocketing the entire shelf shrunken down. The group didn't linger much longer after that.
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Rev 0 Posted 4/26/2020
Author's Note 2
If you want to access the erotic versions of any of my stories follow the following instructions:
1) Go to Facebook and join the group Stargatesg1fan1's Fanfiction Works and Favorites (make sure you answer the security question)
2) Go to the Announcements section of the group. You will find a link in one of the posts to a Google drive folder. Inside that folder are copies of all of my stories (the smutty versions).
Note: If you create a new Facebook account it has to be with a legitimate name. I won't add anyone to the group that looks suspicious (it has to be a real person's name). For example, using the name "Lazy Lazy" is not a legitimate name.
I have chosen to move the erotic versions of my story to a less accessible forum which can be more closely controlled. If you cannot accept that then you don't need to be reading my stories. For those who can accept it, enjoy.
Enjoy,
Stargatesg1fan1