AN: The writing bug has bitten me once again, though I'm not sure how long it'll last. This chapter was almost a lot longer, but I've since cut it into the next one, which is also almost done. I hope I can keep it up, this is fun.
Chapter 36
"She's not?!" Harry shouted. Death rolled her eyes and nodded.
"I would have told you that days ago if you'd listened to your body and got some decent sleep." Death said, poking his chest.
"I just.. I don't... How?" Harry asked.
"I don't have time to go into exact detail, but let's just say magic and science." Death said impatiently.
"I'll figure it out later.. What can you tell me?" Harry asked.
"Far less than I'd like to. What I can say is that she is with people who do not have her best interests in mind, but if you want her back, and if she's to play the role in what comes after that we all need her to, your only choice is to let things play out." Death said.
"So I have to sit by an do nothing?" Harry demanded.
"I didn't say that, Master." Death said with a grin.
"What can I do?" Harry asked.
"I said to let things play out, I didn't say to let them play out unsupervised. Seek your friends, they have knowledge that will help you go to where she is and watch over her." Death said.
"Right... Thank you." Harry said, unable to think of anything better to say because his heart was bursting with joy and gratitude. His Janey was alive.
"Now. You need to take better care of yourself. She's not the only one that has a significant part to play. Much is happening behind the scenes that will affect not only the galaxy, but the whole of creation. You won't be able to help anyone if you exhaust yourself. Also, and I'm struggling to find a way to convey this without breaking the rules... ah! What you've been doing so far, since the attack... When you can, keep doing it. There is a lot of useful information to find that way." Death said cryptically. Harry nodded and stepped forward, gathering her in a hug. His instinct was screaming at him to drill her for more information, but he was aware of her situation, and the limitations of their friendship.
"Proximity alert." Death said.
"What?" Harry asked, breaking away from the hug.
"Proximity alert. Weapons lock detected." Death said, looking urgently at him.
"I don't understand. Death rolled her eyes and grabbed him, shaking him violently.
"Kinetic shields engaged! Damage to cargo hold detected!" Death shouted, this time her voice was different. Harry's eyes widened and he shot up, waking immediately, and rushed to the the cockpit, sitting in the pilot's seat and strapping himself in. He looked at his display and saw a cruiser behind a nearby gas giant and two smaller ships, one a fighter and the other a shuttle bearing down on him. He squinted and looked at the scans his sensors had taken of them.
"Cerberus... nice." Harry said with a predatory grin. He detached from the asteroid and disabled attitude control and engines, leaving his ship adrift. The ship shook violently as more tungsten splashed against his shields. He punched a command into the display and spoke.
"Mayday mayday, civilian ship designation Dukaarn under attack by unknown vessels, this is Harry Potter requesting rescue!" Harry said, trying to sound desperate. He grinned when his sensors reported that their weapons had powered down and the Shuttle was approaching. Harry slid the Elder wand into an invisible holster strapped to his wrist and grabbed a cheap replica he'd purchased from the gift shop at the hogsmeade wizarding museum the last time he visited. He had a stupid plan, but there wasn't enough time for smart. He undid his restraints and headbutted his console, groaning in pain as his nose broke and a gash opened up on his head, leaking blood all over the side of his face.
He looked around the ship and nodded when he determined there was nothing of real value with him, the collector data he'd found had already been disseminated to the Alliance and the Quarian military, and the only other thing he'd brought had been food, water, and potions. He raised an arm to shield his eyes when the hatch started glowing moments before the stench of vaporized metal and plasma torch fumes filled the cabin, and sparks rained down as a his assailants made their way through his hatch.
With a thud, a vaguely human-sized chunk of hull dropped to the ground and several armed Cerberus agents leapt through, pointing weapons and wands at him.
"Esssspelliaamus!" Harry slurred, waving his wand feebly, calling on his vast experience of living with concussions to aid him in his performance, only to be interrupted by several stunners collding with him, rendering him unconscious.
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"He's alive, but I wouldn't describe him as ok." Liara said as Tali's image hovered over her omnitool.
"Keelah, I wish there was something I can do. Poor Jane... Poor Harry." Tali said.
"There is something we can do. Admiral Hackett and I think Cerberus has stolen her... Her body. I'm already reaching out to my contacts to see what I can find out. I know Admiral Hackett is in touch with your father and the other admirals, but I'd appreciate it if you could keep an ear to the ground." Liara said. Tali nodded.
"Of course. The Neema has been dispatched to seek out places to purchase replacement parts and resources, now that fuel is no longer a concern we are focusing on repairs and upgrades. I'll ask around. You should also reach out to Garrus, he's currently on Omega trying to be a hero, from what I hear." Tali said, the smirk audible on her voice. Liara shook her head and chuckled.
"I'd worry about him if he weren't so able. How about you, Tali, are you well?" Liara asked. Tali nodded.
"The fleet has made so much progress since Harry provided us with fuel and hired us to move agricultural goods, we've even put the down payment on another liveship. Well it's a dilapidated dreadnought at the moment, but with a little bit of tinkering..." Tali said. Liara smiled.
"A little bit of tinkering to you would be an impossible overhaul to the rest of us." Liara observed.
"What can I say? I'm talented." Tali said, pretending to buff her nails on her suit.
"You've been spending too much time with Humans it seems." Tali said, gesturing at her. Tali laughed.
"So what about you, what have you been up to?" Tali asked.
"I'd planned on returning to my studies, especially with the reaper threat on the horizon, but then the Normandy was destroyed... now I'm focused on finding her and bringing her home. The information network I'm building will be useful for that and the reapers when the time comes." Liara said.
"Ooh am I speaking to the next Shadow Broker?" Tali asked.
"Maybe." Liara said, mimicking Tali by buffing her nails on her jacket.
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"Did you ever find that armor?" Miranda asked, sitting next to Wrex on the Citadel.
"Nah, and Actus has gone and disappeared on me. I've put that on hold though, I have something cooking on Tuchanka that needs my attention.
"Damn.. I was going to see if you could help me with something." Miranda said.
"What's that?" Wrex asked, turning and leaning his back against the bar and looking at her.
"Pragia. When I was with Cerberus, I was under the impression that my work was being applied to knowledgeable volunteers. After getting to know The Illusive Man more thoroughly.. I am beginning to doubt that." Miranda said
"What kind of work?" Wrex asked.
"Biotics enhancements mostly. My doctorates are in biology and cybernetics, both subjects are useful when studying biotics. The Illusive Man wanted an army of overwhelmingly powerful biotic soldiers. A lot of what I gave him had the potential to do just that." Miranda said. Wrex grimaced.
"Tell you what. I'll scratch your back, then you scratch mine." Wrex said.
"What do you mean?" Miranda asked.
"The genophage. We gave millions of credits to ExoGeni to science up a cure for the genophage, and it turns out it was going into biotic amp research. Now that the money's been returned, a few wealthy Krogan are looking to put it back to work in searching for a cure. Thing is, Binary Helix now that Harry owns it is the only one we'd trust with it, and they're still restructuring after the takeover. I'll help you deal with Pragia if you come with me to Tuchanka and start working on a cure after." Wrex said.
Miranda's eyes widened. This was perfect. She'd have adequate backup against God knows what she'd be facing at Pragia, then after, she'd be able to do what she loved, and this time for a good cause, as well as with more than adequate funding.
"You've got yourself a deal." Miranda said, shaking his hand.
"Good, now let's find someone to get us there, the sooner I get off the Citadel the better." Wrex said, walking through the door and leading Miranda towards to one of the Citadel's many space ports.
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"I owe him everything, Shiala. He saved Liara, he brought Aethyta and I back together, Goddess he even brought you back to me." Benezia said to Shiala who was wearing a flowing gown with a hood over her head, covering as much of her body as she could.
"I'll find him and help then." Shiala said, pausing before continuing.
"It's not like I have a much going for me here." Shiala muttered. Benezia reached out, taking her hand and squeezing it.
"Is there nothing they can do?" Benezia asked. Shiala shook her head.
"Everything they tried as failed, no matter what they do it always turns green again." Shiala said, morose.
"I can't believe the way they're treating you. We're supposed to be the beacons of galactic civilization, for Goddess' sake." Benezia said. Shiala shrugged.
"Look at how they treat the Ardat Yakshi. For a race that is so long lived, we can be surprisingly short-sighted." Shiala observed. Benezia nodded. Shiala stood and bowed slightly.
"Take care, Matriarch." Shiala said.
"No, come here girl." Benezia said, opening her arms and hugging Shiala.
"Stay safe, my friend. You never know, his magic might be able to help." Benezia said.
"Thank you, Benezia." Shiala said.
They parted, and Shiala made for the space port. She tried to ignore the stares, but it was difficult. Her mother, and the Matriarchs had all been sympathetic and non-judgmental, but every other Asari she encountered looked at her like some sort of monster. She boarded her ship and stripped out of the gown, fanning herself as she'd been sweating profusely under the garment. After plotting a course and getting approval from flight control, she let the autopilot guide her through the relay and brought up her omnitool, sending a message asking Harry to reach out as soon as he could.
With nothing else to do but wait, she set her course for Omega. If there was a place where she would find out more about the collectors, it would likely be there. People from all walks of life gathered there for usually less than savory reasons, and it was directly adjacent to the Omega-4 Relay, known to be usable only by Collectors. She was also far less likely to be ridiculed for having green skin there.