It took him millions of years to find her. The perfect woman. Created by Him for the first man. He met her at the beginning, but he could not stay. He had to keep walking. So he left her behind, knowing for certain he would never see her again.
~ Chapter 10: Depths ~
May 2nd, 845
The Potter house was bustling with excitement at all hours of the day two months after the Warrior's return to Liberio. Harry Potter had been working extensively with representatives. Dozens of workers from medical, law, weapon, and advanced tech companies. He worked closely with Commander Kien and Zeke Jaeger, and did his best to make everything he had in his journals a reality. Of course, most of his ideas and diagrams wouldn't be created for many decades. However, they had made many strides in the medical, weapon, and tech industries. The law industry, however, was hardly affected by Harry Potter. It was mostly because he had no idea about the laws in Marley or the greater world beyond it. After all, he had been indoctrinated into the military at the age of six. After that, all he needed was to avoid breaking the rules to stay out of any legal trouble.
The Armament Committee had helped Harry the most in terms of creating new weapons for the Marleyan Armed Forces. The Phalax Harpoon, Geth Eviscerator, and Project Inferno were their three most prized achievement. With the Phalax Harpoon, a massive achievement had been made in creating their first magical weapon. A weapon that used a harpoon capable of replicating itself in length three times. The harpoon would latch onto a target once fired, stabbing the target with a syringe. The Harpoon would then retrieve the body liquid of whichever region the syringe had landed and then transfer it back to an empty vial loaded into the weapon. This simple and easily replicated weapon would assist in retrieving rare venoms from animals, as well as drawing blood from Pure Titans for investigation. Project Inferno was a simple flamethrower that was enhanced to melt reinforced concrete. But the Geth Eviscerator. That was exciting.
Holding true to its name, the Eviscerator annihilated twenty-feet worth of reinforced concrete with three simple detonations from the three missiles stored inside the launcher. The launcher was one of their most destructive weapons, capable of piercing even Reiner's Armored Titan. The weapon had impressed the King so much that it was becoming standard issue for all demolition experts in the Marleyan Armed Forces.
Vehicles had also been something completely radicalized thanks to Harry's journals. The creation of room-temperature superconductors and superconducting batteries resulted in the creation of a powerful engine capable of running any form of vehicle. Those alongside micro-jets and magnetic fields introduced maglev technology. Hovering vehicles that were light, versatile, and could go anywhere in the world due to their connection to Earth's magnetic field. Maglev cars and trains were being constructed first, with buses being constructed once the first line of cars and trains were completed. These three new modes of transportation would allow for quicker, more eco-friendly, and less costly transportation for everyone in Marley.
But what impressed the Armed Forces the most were Harry's Vacuum Airships. Unlike the Marleyan Airships, the Vacuum Airships did not utilize gas and flames to reach the sky. Instead, the airship utilized a structure that prohibited atmospheric pressure from entering. This structure was connected to the skeleton of the airship, carrying the pressurized holding bay along with a buoyancy counterweight that allowed for elevation. These new airships required hardly any fuel and would be extremely beneficial for the Armed Forces.
Harry was most proud of his work in the medical field, however. Working closely with Dr. Barclo, Harry was able to complete their Neslov vaccine that cured 99.99% of all variants of Influenza. This also coincidently resulted in the creation of what Harry liked to call genomic medicine. The Neslov antibody worked with the vaccine Dr. Barclo had created due to the fact that it tracked down any form of Influenza. And it was because of this ability to track things within the human body that Harry began to question whether it could be done on a larger scale. And it could. The entire genome of the human body copied and replicated onto one file. That file could then be used as a reference to determine what was wrong with that person at any given time, whether it be ten or fifty years in the future. It would help in tracking down exact forms of cancer, Alzheimer's, or any other diseases.
The first applications of genomic tracking were being seen in Liberio itself, both inside and outside the Internment Zone. The King himself had taken a test to determine if something within his genome had been changed. It had of course, given his age, but there were no diseases present. But there were diseases present in others. Namely four thousand people that traveled to the Liberio hospital shortly after the study was opened, people who were hoping to cure themselves of possible diseases thought untreatable. Of those four thousand, three thousand and twenty-nine were cured or treated for varying diseases or illnesses. The rest were either healthy, or their ailments could not be treated with what they had.
And now Harry sat in the center of his dining room at the head of the table, surrounded by representatives, lawyers, Commander Magath, Zeke Jaeger, and a doctor Harry had never met before. They were discussing a project Harry had never heard of. Project Statite. Gripping his remaining leg, Harry leaned forward, caught off guard when suddenly Commander Magath addressed him. "Harry. This is based on your research. Your input would be much appreciated,"
"No one has given me any information on the project itself," Harry replied. A document was placed in front of him by one of the lawyers, and he took a moment to examine it. Project Statite. A plan to launch two different forms of satellite into orbit. Regular satellites would be used for radio communication, radar, advanced tracking, communication, etc. And statites, stationary satellites that used light pressure to defy gravity and stay upright and in one place. They would be used for advanced tracking and communication, as well as a way to harness solar electricity from the Sun. Harry smiled. So they were taking his energy solutions seriously. Good. "This all seems accurate,"
"Accurate, yes. Cost-effective, no. We need to know how to get this project into the bounds of King's new space budget. The budget he opened for you," One of the lawyers explained.
Harry sighed, peering over the document once more. "You're using old solutions for a new problem," He said, noticing something strange. "You want to use rockets and rocket fuel to get the satellites into orbit. We don't need them. The vacuum structures used in the new airships can be used to carry the satellites into low orbit. Then fuel can be used to get the satellite higher so that the vacuum structure can return to the surface. That in itself would cut down the cost by nearly 80%,"
"This would work? What if the fuel from the satellite destroys the vacuum?" The same lawyer asked.
Frowning, Harry took another look at the document. This would need to be solved with more than one solution. "It wouldn't. Not if we attach a mass driver system to the top of the vacuum structure that can launch the statite higher into orbit. That would alleviate the use of fuel until after the statite was far enough from the structure," Mass drivers were simple yet very complicated structures that used magnetic field technology - technology they already had - to launch objects at high speed from a track. Attaching one to the top of the vacuum structure would make transporting things into space much easier and more cost-effective. Perhaps one day they could cut out the middle man and build mass drivers powerful enough to launch things straight into space from the ground.
"This gets us below the budget cap," One of the King's representatives spoke. "Well below. We can construct several of these mass drivers and statutes now without worry,"
Magath clapped his hands together with a smile. "Great. Now onto the next subject,"
Harry stepped out of the meeting with a deep and very long sigh, growing continuously tired. Those meetings occurred almost daily, usually consisting of updates regarding his plans and developments, questions on how to do something, as well as the collection of his new journal entries to determine any more potential technologies that they could create. It was becoming exhausting. And yet Harry knew this would be what his life was for the next two months. Deciding not to dwell on it, Harry made his way into Willow's room. His younger sister - Willow - was now two and a half years old, and was now beginning to read more difficult forms of literature thanks to Harry's intervention.
She was currently playing with her toys in the corner of the room. Small Armored Titan and Female Titan action figures. Harry spotted a Colossal Titan stuffed animal in the corner alongside her other toys. He couldn't help but smile as he took a seat on the bed stationed beside Willow's much smaller bed. It was where Martha - Willow's nurse and nanny - slept. He took to watching Willow as she played, seemingly uncaring of his presence as she bashed the two action figures against each other in what he assumed was a battle. Harry smiled. A fight between Reiner's Armored Titan and Annie's Female Titan would be a fight worth watching. Reiner with his strength and Annie with her tactical brilliance and agility.
"Disappointed she doesn't have one of you?" Harry swiveled his head toward the door and smiled at his mother, who was leaning against the door frame. She was watching him with a mirroring smile, her arms crossed over her chest as she watched them.
"I'm glad she doesn't have one of me. After all, she might think too highly of me if I'm one of her toys. Either that or she would hate me when she's older. Who knows?"
"She wouldn't hate you," His mother replied, stepping away from the door before taking a seat next to Harry. "No one can hate you, Harry. Not after all you've done for the world,"
Harry's eyes glazed over as he thought about that. He would forever be a hero to the Marleyan people. Almost as much as the great warrior Helos, who had been a fabricated hero told to have defeated the Devil of All Earth. Harry and Helos would both be parts of Marleyan history for a long time, though Harry questioned if he deserved that level of recognition. He had never done anything without the assistance of others. While Helos was created as a story of taking on the Devil of All Earth single-handedly, Harry had only ever had help in his trials. The Battle of Izu. The Fortress. Even now, he couldn't do anything without assistance. And yet he didn't mind. He cherished his friendships. He cherished Annie. Pieck. Marcel. His parents, despite their clear goals of fame and wealth. He would rather have them than have no one to rely on.
The day slowly faded away as time went on. Before long, it was dinner time. And soon after the sun was down and the house was still and silent. Gripping his crutch, Harry stepped outside, closing the door behind him before descending the steps. His red armband wrapped around his left forearm, Harry made his way down the street. The Internment Zone's curfew was 9pm. Normally, that would mean he had an hour before he would be arrested on the spot. But the armband around his arm meant that he had special privileges. The curfew was waved for Warrior's, meaning he could be out for as long as he needed without any repercussions. Which was good, given he was going to be walking for a long time.
His leg carried him down the street, through an alleyway, and to the left down the main street leading away from the internment zone and into the forest. He was meeting Annie and Pieck at their spot in the forest to talk. Harry hadn't seen or heard from them in a week and was growing concerned. His concern vanished, however, as a sound echoed through the ally. "Psst. Harry," The sound of his name drew his attention to his right. There, he made out the figure of Pieck Finger in the shadows, silently beckoning him to her. Smiling, he made his way across the street, stepping into the alleyway. It wasn't until he got there that he was pulled into a small enclave. Pieck was there, holding onto his hand with a smile plastered over her face.
Harry felt something in his chest change at the sight of not only the girl in question but the smile she was wearing. But the feeling slowly died out as Pieck dropped to her knees, spinning around so that she was facing away from him. Reaching beneath a small barrel, she pulled out a long case that was fitted with several combination locks. After easily unlocking each, she spun back around to face him from the ground, sliding open the case to reveal...a prosthetic leg. "It took me a while to build it and work out the kinks, but Annie and I finished it last night. We were going to give it to you together, but I couldn't wait," Pieck whispered, motioning to the leg in front of her.
Her words stayed with Harry for a while. Annie and I. Last Night. Couldn't Wait. Build It. They built this for him. Harry hadn't even thought to build a prosthetic. Mainly because he had grown accustomed to the crutch while repairing the damage he had done outside the Fortress. But Harry had to admit, the thought was appealing. And the prosthetic in question was of good design and construction. The head of the leg would fit onto the stump that made up his left leg. It had three different rings on the top to allow for complete movement. Forward and back, left and right, and diagonal. The knee was reinforced, the calf was loaded with a strong spring, and the foot matched his own, allowing for good balance.
Pieck grabbed the prosthetic, positioning it below Harry's leg. She looked up at him with a questioning expression, no doubt ensuring he wanted her to go on with it. He nodded. Grinning, Pieck slid the base of the prosthetic under what was left of his leg, twisting it on. With a satisfying CLICK the leg suctioned onto him. He immediately felt it. He moved to bend his new left leg, watching as the prosthetic reacted to the movement of his thigh muscles. The knee bent, the spring shrinking as it did so. It was perfect. Letting the foot fall to the ground, Harry reveled in his newfound balance. His crutch fell to the ground. Harry didn't pay it any mind, but couldn't help but allow the built-up tears to flow down his face. Pieck - and Annie - had given him a gift. A gift he wouldn't forget for the rest of his life. Even after he gained the Coordinate, regaining his body.
Stepping forward, Pieck grabbed Harry's arm. "Harry?"
Grabbing her by the shoulders, Harry pulled the girl into a hug, one she gratefully returned. He held her close for a moment, leaning down to whisper into her ear. "Thank you, Pieck. Thank you," He felt her pull away, and he peered down to meet her eyes. Tears matching his own looked back at him, and the two exchanged a smile.
"You gave it to him early," Was the first thing Annie said as Harry and Pieck stepped into their clearing. Harry watched her eyes peer down at his new prosthetic leg, approval etched in the way she nodded. Seeing him standing without the crutch also seemed to be a plus. Not wasting time, Harry stepped forward and pulled Annie into a hug, one that seemed to surprise her. Annie froze in his arms, though Harry felt her arms slowly wrap around his waist as the two held each other. But this time Harry didn't have tears in his eyes. The surprise was gone. Now it was just joy and thankfulness.
They pulled away, with Annie moving to take a seat against their tree. She peered up at Harry for a moment, before turning to Pieck. "So, what's been going on? We haven't talked in a while,"
"My parents told me they're separating," said Pieck, who slowly took a seat beside Annie. She leaned back against the tree, shutting her eyes as she thought about it. "They were going to get divorced a while back, but when we got home they decided to hold off. They told me last night that my mom's moving out. She's going to live above the store," Harry frowned. He had forgotten that Pieck's mother owned the clothing shop down the road from his house. He didn't remember there being a place to live above the shop, but perhaps the second level could be turned into a living space.
"I'm sorry, Pieck," Harry spoke.
"I never thought they would do this. They always seemed so happy,"
"They can't exactly have more kids, can they? Why else would they stay together if they're not happy?" asked Annie. Harry and Pieck turned to her. Realizing that she might have overstepped, Annie raised her hands in surrender. "I'm just saying. Their oldest daughter is a warrant officer in the Armed Forces, is a Warrior, and is best friends with Harry Potter. And their son is going to be in the Armed Forces too, no doubt gaining popularity by just being related to you. If your parents have more kids, they'll just fall into the Armed Forces too. They'll never have a proper family. So why try?"
Harry frowned. What Annie was saying was certainly not a pleasant topic of discussion, but she was right. Pieck's parents were no doubt not as happy with their fame or newfound wealth as Harry's parents were. And Annie's father had been adamant that Annie's Warrior salary be put away until she was an adult. It seemed of the six Warriors, only two of their families were truly excited by their new status. The Potters and the Braun's. The Galliard's were a secluded family that wanted to be left in peace. And the Hoovers consisted only of Bertholdt and his drunken and depressed father. "Unfortunately she's right. The only reason my family is still together is that they revel in popularity. The fame. The money,"
"I'd rather my parents fake it than make my house a living hell. I haven't slept well in weeks," said Pieck. Harry took a look at her, noticing that her knees were to her chest and her head was to her knees. Sliding down onto his knees - something he didn't think he could do anymore - Harry reached forward, placing his hand on her shoulder. "My brother's going to grow unhappy in this world because everyone around him is unhappy. My parents. Me. He'll accept the propaganda. The lies. He'll fall into their hands,"
"I won't let that happen,"
"How? You'll be leaving for Paradis soon. My father's healthy now, but my mother doesn't trust him. He's been making choices lately that leave me questioning their future. My brother's four. Within the next two years, he'll be taken by the Armed Forces for Warrior training. You'll be in Paradis by then," Pieck explained.
"Unless he's not," said Annie. Harry and Pieck turned to her suddenly, both wearing questioning expressions. Leaning back into the tree, Annie spoke, peering off into the distance. "We don't need Harry to find the Coordinate. He can stay here. Protecting his image, his secrets. He can work on his projects. Keep your brother out of the Armed Forces. Fight the Mid-Eastern Alliance. He can do anything he wants while the four of us go take the Coordinate from Paradis. Once we do, we can bring it back for him,"
"What if I want to go anyway?"
"Then go. I'm just giving you a better option. Stay. Save face. Protect Pieck's brother. Fight the Alliance," Annie replied.
Harry's expression turned sour as he peered down at the ground. If he went with them, Harry could make the trip quick, easy, and efficient. He could find the Coordinate, take its power, and fix not only himself but all of Marley. But if he didn't go, he could continue working. He could make agreements within the army. Make negotiations with the Alliance. Perhaps he could go to Paradis after the world was united under Marley's flag. Show them the good that could come out of joining them. The real good. The medicines. The technology. The benefits. The future. They could have all of it with Marley. Not like the threats the people of Paradis would receive from those in the Army.
The dots all formed in Harry's mind. The ideas. The possibilities. The outcomes. What would happen to Reiner, Bertholdt, Marcel, and Annie without the others? Could he trust Reiner to lead the team into a completely foreign territory? One filled with new and terrifying threats? Could he trust Marley to behave itself without him? Could he leave knowing that without his intervention, Zeke would obliterate the Alliance without a second thought just as he had done with his parents? Or that a civil war might break out regarding what to do with Harry when he got back with the Coordinate? So many questions and so few answers. But Harry knew that Annie was once again right. His issues with not going boiled down to time and trust. He didn't trust Reiner and he didn't know if he could wait years for them to return. But the problems with leaving far outweighed the problems with staying. And so it was decided.
"She's right," Pieck's head shot toward him. Annie's lips contorted into the faintest smile at the words. "Staying would be better for everyone. Myself. You. Your brother. Marley. And the Alliance,"
"Alliance?"
"If I leave, Zeke would have complete control over how the invasion takes shape,"
Annie sighed. "He would destroy it all,"
"Yes,"
"We need to stop him," said Pieck.
Harry reached down, wrapping his hand over hers. "We will. We'll be positioned together on the Eastern border. If we push on them hard enough, they might be willing to consider some kind of surrender. I don't want to destroy them. Not unless they give me no other choice. And trust me, that's the last thing on my list of solutions to that problem,"
"We still have two months to decide what exactly's going to happen," Annie said. "For now, we need to think about both of our missions. What I'm going to do in Paradis and what the two of you are going to do on the Eastern border. We've established that Reiner is willing to betray us for Marley. The same might be true for Bertholdt. Marcel is the wild card. He could be trusted. Or not. I'm not entirely sure. For the two of you, what do you plan to do regarding the Mid-East Alliance? Peace? War?"
"Peace first. If they push back too hard we'll be forced to go to war. As for your situation, I think we're going to need to bring Marcel into the fold. You can't go into enemy territory alone. Not with Reiner and Bertholdt as potential threats. The power of the Jaw will get through Reiner's hardened skin and the two of you together could beat Bertholdt. And...I don't want you to feel alone on the island," Harry replied. Annie didn't react, but Harry noticed from the flicker of her gaze toward him and the loosening of her shoulders that Annie appreciated what he had said. "We all need to be safe where we are. Whether it be in Paradis or the Mid-Eastern Alliance,"
Pieck sat up, her eyes moving between Harry and Annie. "So we'll be safe. We'll train. Make plans. Form contingencies. We'll figure it all out. Like Annie said. We have two months to figure everything out," Peering down at her wrist, Pieck's eyes widened when examining her watch. "It's really late. We should all get back home before people start to get worried,"
Harry nodded, jumping up to his feet in excitement as Pieck and Annie stood up from their spots against the tree. Still jumping, Harry turned to Annie. "Good night, Annie," The girl smiled, waving goodbye before taking off at a sprint further into the forest toward her home. Harry turned to Pieck. "Race you back?"
Grinning, Pieck rolled up her sleeves, pulling her hair into a ponytail as she took a place beside him. "I'll beat you,"
Harry shook his head in amusement. "Oh, I'm sure you will. I haven't run in three months, so I'm sure I'll fall over more than once," Matching Pieck, Harry rolled up his sleeves and bent down into a starting position. "On three," Pieck nodded, bending down to match his stance as the two stared down the forest before them. "One," Harry's eyes fell on Pieck for a moment, his smile widening at her determined look. "Two," Letting his eyes fall back on the forest, Harry couldn't help but be proud. Pieck had come a long way in the time they had known each other. She had started off as a shy yet outspoken girl who took pity on him when he entered an awkward and new environment. The two had been best friends, though their friendship began to dwindle when she took to spying on Harry and Annie outside Fort Tatakai. But it was rekindled when she joined them in their plot to change the world. To make it truly better. And now she was here. Undergoing her own personal tragedies while still looking forward to the future. And he couldn't help but be proud. "Three,"
