Chapter 11
The transports arrived at Dulce base and set to hovering inside of the highly electrified fence. The base itself was underground.
"There is an extensive network of tunnels underground," Harry said even as the transport's scans were displayed in a hologram for all to see.
"So how are we handling this?" Sarah asked.
"I'm thinking Harry and I go in for some reconnaissance," Six said.
"Me as well," Hermione said.
Six glanced at Harry who nodded.
"I can make two people invisible in addition to myself," Six said in agreement.
"Oh that won't be necessary," Hermione said as she winked out of sight.
Harry's eyebrows rose in surprise. The reactions of the others was even more startled. "You've learned some new tricks," Harry said.
"No fair," Six mock pouted. "Invisibility is my thing."
Hermione reappeared with a grin.
"Well this will definitely make moving around easier," Harry said. "So, Hermione, Six, and I will go scout out the base. We'll stay in touch with the rest of you. Eight should already be working on getting the others to the desert here. I have sent the second transport to pick them up when they arrive."
"Sounds like a plan," Sam said while the others nodded.
Six took Harry's hand and they turned invisible. Hermione followed suit. They were only hovering about a foot above the ground and quickly exited the ship. They were faced with a very large secure door. There was a slot for a key card on the right side and an obvious camera ahead.
"Do you have the infiltrator?" Hermione asked Harry mentally.
"I do," Harry said even as he summoned the device in question from his expanded pocket.
The two legilimens looped Six in on their mental conversation. The infiltrator was a slim box about the size and shape as a deck of cards. The insides were filled with nanotech. He brought the infiltrator about an inch from the keycard reader. Nothing seemed to happen for maybe ten seconds. Then the door clicked open.
"Wicked," Six said. "What about the camera feed?"
"The infiltrator looped it. We designed it to work on Mog tech. For human tech it has very little
issue," Harry answered.
"Can you tell where your ship is?" Hermione asked.
"Yes. The transport's sensors already picked up what hanger it is in. I am hoping to investigate a little more to see if we can't locate any prisoners the humans shouldn't have or find out what they know," Harry said.
"We should locate the ship first so we can tag it with a portkey in case we are forced to make a hurried exit," Hermione suggested.
"Great idea," Six said.
"It's this way," Harry said as he led the way.
They came to more doors locked with electronic locks. These locks weren't able to be manipulated telekinetically like a conventional lock. Harry could easily cut the power to the electromagnet thereby shutting off the lock. But they had sensors to detect if the doors were opened. If the doors were opened without using a keycard it would send an alert. The infiltrator acted like a universal keycard in this case.
"I am getting an update from my visions of the other universe. In that universe Six has escaped captivity in this base and is searching for a way out. She just came across some human scientists. She witnessed them pour a liquid on a section of garden. The garden quickly sprang up into a thick white vine canopy overhead. I believe the Mogs are giving the humans materials to work with and experiment with for whatever deal they have struck," Harry informed Hermione and Six.
"The Mogs never struck me as the type to grow plants," Six suggested.
"I'm sure they have adapted. The Loric archives would have self-destructed rather than let the Mogs in. But I'm sure they could have learned quite a bit just from the examples of Loric technology that existed when they took your planet," Hermione said.
Six had to remind herself that somehow Hermione had gotten access to Loric tech from a universe away as evidenced by the fact that Hermione had been helping Harry with designs. This more than anything proved how much of a genius the older woman was. At this point they had managed to make their way into a server room. Harry went over to one of the servers and drew out another device similar in shape to the infiltrator. He laid it on top of one of the servers. It instantly began breaking any encryption the humans used on their systems and downloading a copy of the contents to the memory it contained.
"What is it?" Six asks noticing the change in Harry.
"The other Six. She just met up with someone who appears to be Sarah. I know Sarah. This isn't her. You should see this," Harry said before using his telepathy to draw Six and Hermione into the vision of the other universe.
They witnessed Six and "Sarah" talk where Sarah was persistent about the location of Number Four. It was a later point in the conversation when Mog soldiers were gathering outside the cell Sarah was in that who "Sarah" was truly revealed itself. Sarah transformed into Setrakus Ra revealing that the Mogadorian war leader possessed a shape-shifting ability. What proved further disturbing was that the Six in that universe was easily captured by an ability Setrakus possessed to nullify her legacies. Six was as helpless of a human when close to Setrakus. Setrakus had Six thrown in with the real Sarah. The two chatted for a while before Agent Walker shows up. Agent Walker outlines the deal the Mogs had made with the humans. Just a few of the points of the deal. The Mogs were supplying the rare element iridium for the humans to experiment with along with thousands of Mogadorian canons. Supposedly the Mogs were also supplying information on life-sustaining planets. That was easy enough. The Mogs could lie their asses off and the humans would never know.
Six was escorted to a very large chamber that was quite dark. Setrakus Ra told that Six she had to earn the right to fight him and set his soldiers to attack her. Harry pulled them all out of the vision at that point.
"I think we've seen enough," Harry said. "I'll still be able to see the vision as it happens or later."
"He can nullify my powers," Six said shocked. "So easily." "Dreynen," Harry said.
"What's that," Six asked.
"It's the legacy that allows a Garde to prevent other Garde from using their legacy. It can be used by charging an object, through a projected energy field, or by touch," Hermione elaborated.
"I don't understand. You are saying Setrakus Ra is...is Loric?" Six asked shock.
"You understand well enough then," Harry replied. "I have suspected it since I saw his ability to shape-shift. The Legacy Morfen is a shape-shifting ability similar to what Eight can do. But to turn into another person is something that has only been recorded by a person bearing a Loric relic called the Eye of Thaloc. I suspect that is the jewel in the staff I've seen Setrakus carrying. I am beginning to suspect we would find information about Setrakus in the section of files in the Archive the Elders haven't deemed us ready for yet."
"This is a lot to take in. He has had a lot more time to train than us. Is there a way to fight Dreynen?" Six asked.
"Another Garde with Dreynen could cancel out Setrakus' Dreynen assuming any of you develop it," Hermione said. "It's an incredibly rare Legacy. But if anyone would develop it then it would be an Elder which you lot are becoming."
"What do we do now?" Six asked as Harry retrieved the data copying device.
"The smartest move would be to leave now and forget about this place," Hermione pointed out.
"We could gather a lot of intelligence on the extent of Setrakus' Dreynen abilities and maybe other information. We could see if it affects all of our powers," Harry said while looking directly at Hermione.
"If you do this I will stay back and see if I can't pull your butts out of the fire. I also recommend you all wear portkeys," Hermione said.
"Good idea," Harry said.
"Let's go get the others," Six said.
Setrakus Ra was not having a good past few days. Normally he spent his nights torturing Numbers Four, Eight, and Nine in the dream realm using psychological warfare. He was trying to get them to either give up and serve him or allow themselves to be killed. That had all changed recently. It started with him no longer being able to torture Number Four. When Setrakus had tried reaching out to Four as usual he could not establish the connection.
While it was true that Pittacus Lore and Setrakus had been able to communicate mentally over great distances in a dream state, Pittacus had not been the only one. It was any sufficiently powerful Elder that could communicate in such a fashion. This told Setrakus that while either
Four, Eight, or Nine would possess the powers of Pittacus Lore the other two would be immensely powerful as well. Then the impossible happened. Somehow Four, an untrained boy, had managed to reverse the torture effect.
Setrakus had "woken up" in the dream realm without any legacies. He had been wearing a human style of clothing he would come to find out was called a pink tutu. He had been unable to remove the tutu. He was forced to walk around in front of his soldiers in the tutu. That had not been the worst of it. It was after several hours walking around wearing the tutu that the creature had appeared. It had identified itself as Barney and claimed to only want a hug. Setrakus had tried killing it with a sword and a Mog canon. Yet the creature wouldn't die. Its claim of only wanting a hug was most likely incorrect. Setrakus' reason for suspecting the creature wanted more than a hug was the fact that whenever the creature pursued him it sported a large purple erection.
Setrakus' nightmares since had been consumed fleeing from the purple creature. Barney haunted his dreams. Despite all of that Setrakus had awoken this morning and sensed several clues that suggested the Garde were active in this area. His instincts told him that the opportunity to crush the remaining Garde might present itself. Thus, he was assembled in the largest room of the base they called the arena. It was where certain tests were run of a combat nature. It would be the perfect place to crush his foes. Despite his outward calm a certain part of him asked itself if it would be as easy to crush the Garde as he thought.
Setrakus looks at the walls of the arena and sees five dozen vat born Mogs in black combat outfits lining the walls. The moment of truth arrives when fighting is heard from the opposite end of the arena. The doors are blown open on the opposite end. Setrakus watches in interest as Number Four flanked by Six and Nine enter the arena. Numbers Seven and Eight bring up the rear. The five Garde look exceptionally fierce. A cloud of Mog ash blows out of the tunnel they came from. Immediately the Mog soldiers lining the walls charge the group of Loric.
Setrakus watches in interest as the Garde begin tearing into the Mogadorians. When the Garde were about three-quarters through the Mogs present only then did Setrakus act. What seemed like blue lightning discharged out of Setrakus into the air and a feeling of wrongness spread over Harry. The others must have felt it too.
"He's doing it," Nine shouted as he produced his Loric pistol and killed another two Mogs.
The Garde had been forewarned about the possibility of Dreynen. They found they still possessed some enhanced strength. They didn't have much and no other legacies.
Six brought the mourning star from her chest down upon another Mog. The Mog exploded into ash as the tip which was a ball with energy spikes suspended by the will of Six's mind tore through any defense the Mog put up. Six spun and killed two more Mogs in this fashion. The body armor everyone wore was helping them shrug off any Mog weapons fire that got too close for comfort. Loric pistols were used liberally for those who didn't have weapons from their chest.
Harry was in pain. He felt a battle raging inside of him. His magic was fighting the effects of the Dreynen. The Loric energy within Harry was so intertwined with his magic that it was physically painful now that suppression was being attempted. Setrakus Ra meanwhile had produced a large wicked looking whip with two tails. The tails were on fire. He came at Nine and attacked. Nine deflected the attack with his staff. Even still one of the whip's tails would have gotten him in the arm. There was the sound of energies clashing as the whip tail was deflected by Nine's body armor much to Setrakus' surprise. Six took advantage and swung at Setrakus with her mourning star. Setrakus used telekinesis to stop the energy spikes that threatened to bash his head in and backpedaled.
"Harry, are you ok?" Hermione sent mentally as she stood protectively near her incapacitated boyfriend.
"Hurts," Harry sent back. "Give me a moment."
Harry used his occlumency to move the pain to someplace manageable. It was hard. There was a lot of it. He stood slowly from where he had fallen to one knee. Marina and Eight were forced to deal with the Mogs that continued to come into the room in small groups from different entrances. Harry ran towards where Six and Nine were fiercely fighting Setrakus Ra. Harry's sword materialized into his hand as he ran. When he saw Harry coming, Setrakus tried bringing the whip down and around onto Harry. Harry's blade came up and sliced Ra's whip in half much to the surprise of the Mogadorian leader. Harry's sword continued on unopposed and came down on Setrakus' left arm. The sword had been glowing with power and sliced clean through Setrakus' forearm. Setrakus activated a variation of a concussion grenade while using his telekinesis to push himself back. He tried snatching his severed arm to himself with telekinesis. But Harry fought for control of the arm with telekinesis. In the process the arm was shredded beyond repair. Mogs poured into the room. Another powerful concussion grenade went off and when the light cleared Setrakus Ra was gone.
The Mogs were easy pickings after that.
"We drove him off," Marina said in surprise. "I don't believe it."
"I don't either considering we didn't have our powers," Eight said.
"Harry did, or at least some of them," Nine pointed out looking at Harry curiously.
Harry simply shrugged and said, "Let's grab our ship and get out of here before they decide the hell with any semblance of secrecy and to attack this place with one of their big ships."
"Good point," Six agreed.
Harry's scans told him right where the Loric ship was at. When they arrived in the hanger where the humans had the ship housed it was to see a large sleek looking silver ship that was bigger than one of the largest human aircraft.
"We found it," Marina said with a wide grin.
"Holy crap," Sam said as he stepped out of the Loric transport that had just flown inside the hangar door Harry had telekinetically opened up.
"Why would the humans have the ship and not the Mogs?" Nine asked in confusion.
"Probably because the Mogs knew from our technology they salvaged on the planet that any Loric technology they tried to access wouldn't work for them. Most of our more sensitive tech was DNA locked to only work for a Loric not under duress," Harry said.
Harry walked up to the door on the side of the ship and floated himself up high enough to lay his hand on a panel there. Moments later the door retracted into the ship. The rest of the Garde climbed inside of the LDC Terrax Class Cruiser. Harry immediately headed towards the cockpit as the others spread out.
"Do you know how to fly this thing?" Eight asked.
"I do," Harry confirmed as he slid into the pilot's seat.
"So do I," Hermione said as she became visible and slid in next to her lover in another seat.
The two of them began powering up the ship and checking systems as if they had done it a hundred times. The benefits of occlumency were very apparent.
"The power crystals will need to be charged in the near future. They are nearing depletion," Harry noted.
"I see," Hermione said.
"Won't the Mogs see this ship taking off on their scanners?" Six asked.
"I think I can do something about that," Hermione said as she closed her eyes.
Harry had commanded the ship to lift off. It did so with a quiet hum of power. He sensed a powerful spell flow out of Hermione and focus on the surface of the ship.
"Where did you go?" Sam asked over the communicators. "We're still here," Harry said.
Hermione wouldn't have been able to manage that spell if she hadn't bonded with the Deathly Hallows. As the ship quietly made it into open air, Harry took note of two people in particular. He flew lower over them. They looked up because they could hear the engines. They were on the outskirts of Dulce base looking for some way in.
"Eight," Harry said.
"Yes Harry," Eight said from where he and the other Garde had been standing at the back of the large cockpit.
"There are two men below us. One is a Mog. Don't kill the Mog. Bring them both back here," Harry said.
Eight nodded and vanished. The first man Eight returned with was an older version of the Malcolm Goode Harry had seen in pictures at the Goode home. Eight returned with a rather alarmed and alarmed looking dark haired Mog in his youth. Eight didn't even have to be prompted. A moment later he returned with Sam who had been in the Loric transport.
"Dad," Sam said in surprise.
"Sam," Malcom said in relief as he enveloped his son in a hug.
Harry stood from where he sat as Hermione took over flying the ship towards their lunar base.
Harry's gaze swept over Adam and Malcolm as father and son stepped back so they could look at one another.
"What is your name?" Harry asked.
"Adamus Sutekh. But I go by Adam on Earth," Adam answered. Nine looked like he wanted to dust Adam right there.
"Why are you helping Malcolm?" Six asked.
"I have many reasons," Adam said. "I can tell you them in time. My biggest reason is that one of our scientists linked my mind with Number One after she was killed to try to get information from her. My mind was linked with her for three years. In that time I came to understand Number One better. I somehow inherited her Legacy. I do not believe in Setrakus Ra's version of Mogadorian Progress."
"I think we have much to talk about," Harry said. "We are not going to win this war without information," He said to the others. "Information Adam can supply." To Adam he added, "I hope you understand we can't allow you to know where we are going until we know if we can trust you."
"I understand," Adam said.
"Do you mind if we use your home we were talking about as a rendezvous point and a base until further notice?" Harry said to Nine meaning the Chicago penthouse.
"I don't mind," Nine agreed. "Good idea."
"Take Malcom and Adam back to Sam's transport along with Sam. The systems will guide you to the city in question," Harry said.
"I'll go with them for now," Nine volunteered. "So will I," Marina said.
Harry nodded and watched as Nine, Marina, Adam, Malcolm, and Sam were transported over to the second transport.
"What a freaking day," Six said as she released a sigh.
"Definitely," Harry agreed. "Let's just get this back to our base. We've got a ship to study and allies to make. Adam will keep until tomorrow."
Harry woke up to find Hermione gone. Sarah and Six were both still sound asleep. Somehow he could sense where Hermione was. He floated himself out from between the girls so he wouldn't disturb them. He quietly left the bedroom and went into the living room. Their apartment on the lunar base was spacious. He found Hermione gazing out the window, a cup of coffee in her hand. The window was in fact a solid wall charmed with an enchantment that allowed it to switch to multiple views including that of Earth.
"Hey you," Hermione greeted quietly with a smile as she accepted a kiss from him.
"Good morning," Harry said before wrapping his arms around her from behind. "Quite a view isn't it."
"It is," Hermione said in appreciation. She was quiet for several moments, just enjoying his presence. "I missed this so much, missed you so much."
"I missed you too," Harry agreed. "It feels right to have you in my arms again."
"It feels right to be in your arms," Hermione admitted. "I found family magic in the Potter vault that allowed me to see everything that was happening to you. I could even experience it with a special pensieve. But it wasn't the same as being with you."
"I wondered if there wasn't someway you found to see everything that happened to me. It was frustrating being unable to talk about it. But you found a way around it," Harry said.
"There are certain things I can't talk about because of the deal I struck with the entity that sent me here," Hermione said. "Why we couldn't talk is one of those things. I think in time I will be permitted to tell you."
"As long as we won't be harmed by this deal you struck I'm ok with that. Just let me know if there is something you can't talk about," Harry said. Something occurred to him. "How were you able to access family magic? I mean I know I left you everything in my will. But family magic should have only been accessible to our children."
"The family magic considered us married. I'm even on the family tapestry," Hermione explained as she turned to face him, looking up at him uncertainly.
Hermione was afraid to see his reaction. All she saw was honest surprise and then a warm smile. "I would have asked you in a heartbeat," Harry said.
Then he glanced back towards the bedroom.
"Things are more complicated I know," Hermione said. "How about we keep the fact that magic considers us married our little secret for now. I suspect someday that you'll have two other wives."
"I can't believe how calmly you are taking this," Harry said.
"Harry, you've never been a normal man. I knew that when I became your best friend. I've learned to be accepting," Hermione answered. "As far as legal you are now a member of an alien race. We can make it legal on Lorien. Speaking of which," She said as she trailed off in thought.
"What is it?" Harry asked.
"I used my access to the Loric archive and my knowledge of magic to build something. I finished it just before I came here," Hermione explained as she un-shrunk her trunk and opened it up. She summoned an object that looked like a sphere about the size of a basketball. "I call it a transporter waypoint. Inside it contains an expanded pocket. This is made from both our runic magic and Lorien tech. Neither would have been able to manage it alone. Theoretically we can use these waypoints to teleport interstellar distances. I haven't had a chance to test it yet. The probe will take two years with the stardrive it possesses to get to Lorien. Once it is there we can then test it out."
"That's amazing," Harry said in awe. "The teleporter platforms we've been using on Earth have nowhere near that distance. The best they can reach is within the solar system. You're brilliant," He said as he kissed her in appreciation.
"Good morning," Six said as she left the bedroom at that moment, rubbing sleep from her eyes.
"Morning," Sarah added. "Why so much appreciation?" She said as she came over and got her own kiss from Harry.
Six headed straight for the coffee.
"Hermione made a teleporter that will reach between here and Lorien," Harry announced to which the younger two ladies stared at her in awe.
"Theoretically," Hermione added. "It hasn't been tested yet."
"That's fantastic," Six said. "When can we test it?"
"It'll take two years to get to Lorien," Hermione said. "In fact I can launch it now."
Hermione cast a charm upon herself, apparated just through the wall to the outside, and then raised her hands causing the waypoint to float into the air. Moments later it vanished into hyperspace. Then she was back inside the apartment and cancelled the protective charm.
"I'm the only one who doesn't have super powers," Sarah mock-pouted as she began getting breakfast.
"Yep," Six agreed with a teasing grin.
"What's on the agenda for today?" Sarah said as they all sat down and began eating breakfast.
"All I've got planned for sure is having a conversation with Malcolm and Adam. I have a feeling Adam has a very interesting back-story. I think we need to reunite Malcolm and Patricia. I would also like to investigate building a ship-yard here. It's something I've been thinking about for a while. Now that we have an actual Lorien ship as an example I think it will help us make some design improvements," Harry said.
"What improvements were you thinking of?" Six asked curiously.
"More weapons. More powerful shields. A cloaking system. Redundancy out the wazoo using space expansion technology," Harry said as he exchanged a look with Hermione.
They were both thinking the same thing. A magically enhanced ship based on Loric technology.
"Sounds impressive," Sarah said. "If you and Hermione want to start on that Six and I can go handle Malcolm and Adam," She volunteered while looking at Six who nodded as well.
Sarah and Six could both tell Harry and Hermione wanted to spend more time together. And both younger women wanted to give them that.
"Thank you," Harry said.
Later That Day
Six and Sarah entered Harry's lab on the lunar base to find Harry and Hermione standing in front of a holographic projection of a starship. As soon as the two younger women got closer they could smell the scent of recent sex. It was obvious their two companions had been getting busy and recently.
"Hey you two," Harry greeted each with a kiss.
"How did it go?" Hermione asked.
"As well as can be expected," Six began.
"Malcolm has huge memory gaps. The Mogs were experimenting on his mind when Adam rescued him. He doesn't even remember who the skeleton in his bunker belongs to," Sarah said.
"So he's isn't going to be as much use to us as we had hoped," Six said. "Adam is a different story. He could prove very useful. It's a long story. How has it gone here?" She asked with a raised teasing eyebrow.
"Quite...productive," Harry said with a grin.
"Yes...yes," Hermione said. "We did the horizontal dance."
"Well not so much horizontal as bending you over a table," Harry teased.
"Just making up for lost time," Hermione said. "The important bit is what we discovered. We reviewed the fight in that other world. During the fight at Dulce base Ella exhibited the legacy of Dreynen. And that John exhibited the ability of Recupero."
"I've heard of Dreynen because of our recent talks. But what is Recupero?" Sarah asked.
"It's Marina's healing ability. So you are a healer too?" Six asked her boyfriend curiously.
Harry and Hermione exchanged a significant look.
"We don't think that is simply it. Hermione has a theory and she is usually right. She thinks I have Ximic," Harry said.
"You're kidding," Six said in awe.
"Don't leave me in suspense here," Sarah said.
"Ximic is the rarest legacy there is. Pitticus Lore had it. It allows whoever to have it to duplicate a legacy of any Garde simply by seeing that legacy in action," Six explained.
"Put simply if Harry has Ximic then he has every legacy that exists as long as he can observe it. And the Archive contains recordings of every known Legacy in action," Hermione explained.
Sarah looked at her boyfriend in awe now.
"How do we know for sure if it is this Ximic or something else?" Sarah asked.
"We were researching that when we got distracted. I must admit the thought of Harry having every Legacy there was got me more than a little distracted," Hermione said.
"I...I know the feeling," Six said while biting her bottom lip and staring at Harry in growing hunger.
"Why don't you continue the research. We might need to borrow Harry," Sarah said to Hermione.
"Have fun," Hermione said with a grin.
Hermione found the willpower to ignore what was going on in the lab between Harry and his other two girlfriends. But it was a near thing.
Harry's Lab
"Well it looks like congratulations are in order. You are definitely pregnant Marina," Harry told Marina as Nine stood by.
Marina looked at Nine with a growing smile. He smiled brilliantly. He came forward and hugged her while being gentle.
"That's wonderful," Nine said before kissing her.
"It is," Marina said as the kiss ended. "So, no super fast pregnancy?" She said while looking at Harry.
"It appears that is a phenomenon unique to my children," Harry said. "You are about a week along. The baby is healthy as far as I can tell. I can give you an injection that will make it very likely the pregnancy will survive to birth."
"Are there side effects?" Nine asked.
"None," Harry assured. "Loric science is beyond the risk of human pregnancies." "I want it," Marina said.
"I suspected this would happen soon. So, I already made several doses," Harry said as he went to a storage shelf in his lab.
A drawer slid out when he stopped before it. He removed the injection and brought it over to Marina. He simply pressed it against her arm and it was done.
"Will this be like a human pregnancy?" Nine asked.
"Yes. Except it will last a month longer," Harry answered. "Loric take a little longer to make. I'll leave it up to you when you want to tell the others."
"Thank you Harry," Marina said as she kissed him on the cheek. "Thanks man," Nine said gratefully as he shook Harry's hand.
The couple left. He didn't expect it would be much longer before he got a similar visit from Adelina and Crayton.
Henri opened his eyes. He found himself laying on a comfortable bed in a plain looking white room. It took him a few moments to realize he wasn't alone. He looked over and saw Harry sitting next to him.
"Hello Henri," Harry greeted warmly.
"Harry," Henri said with a dry throat.
A bottle of water floated into sight. Harry helped Henri sit up and drink some of the water.
"Just relax. You're in a safe place. You were badly injured. I placed you in a form of stasis until we could heal you. It was only recently that we could do so," Harry said.
Marina might have been able to heal Henri. Harry's copying of Marina's legacy was fairly new and may or may not have been up to healing Henri. In the end it had been Hermione who had done the healing. She was very skilled with healing before she gained the elder wand. Now Harry suspected she could literally revive the dead.
"How long?" Henri asked after several moments.
"Months," Harry said. "I have a lot to tell you. We're in a base with most of the remaining Garde. Only Number Five isn't with us."
Henri looked at Harry with eyes suddenly emotional. "That's damn good to hear," Henri said.
"There are other Loric here as well. Adelina, Number Seven's Cepan, and Crayton who came on the second ship are with us," Harry said.
"Tell me," Henri said.
Harry launched into the story.
Six looked up from the book she had been reading curled up in the comfortable chair in her private room. She had been so lost in the book that she had barely heard the chime on the door signaling someone wanted to come in. Six used her telekinesis to open the door and found Hermione sitting there.
"Hermione, come in," Six invited.
Hermione walked into Six's private room. Everyone on the base had a private room that they were allowed to custom unique to themselves. Each room also had its own private bathroom. The time dilation runes built into each room made it so a person could spend hours inside their room and only have an equal number of minutes pass for the outside. It made these private rooms an amazing getaway. Each room also had a wizarding window which would allow the occupant to look out on any view they wanted. Six's room was tuned to a scene on Lorien from before the Mogadorian invasion.
"Thank you," Hermione said as she came in and sat in the couch that sat across from Six.
"What brings you here?" Six asked curiously.
"I wanted to give you something," Hermione said as she produced a small box from her pocket.
Six accepted the box and opened it. Inside she found a beautiful bracelet which seemed to glow with other-worldly light. It was made of what looked like Loric crystals of different colors.
"It's beautiful," Six said. "Somehow I doubt it is merely for show." "You would be right," Hermione said.
"This bracelet allows you to summon the spirit of anyone you choose for one hour per day," Hermione said.
Six sucked in a breathe and glanced up at Hermione before saying, "Anyone?"
"Anyone who has died," Hermione confirmed. "Your mother, your father, your Cepan."
"I could speak to Katarina again," Six said with longing. "I could have a conversation with my mother."
"You could," Hermione confirmed.
"How...how is this possible?" Six asked.
"In my universe much is possible. I brought much of that with me," Hermione said.
Six was quicker than a human. Before Hermione knew it she was engulfed in a very tight hug. "Thank you," Six said. "You have no idea how much this means to me."
The bracelet was based off of the resurrection stone. By using a Loric computer Hermione had been able to improve upon the stone's capabilities and remove the portion that had essentially tortured the summoned spirit. Even if a wizard or witch had been able to design the improved version of the resurrection stone Hermione had doubted they would have been able to summon the necessary magic for the initial enchanting. Subconscious-Harry had been the one to lend Hermione the magic she had been needing for the task.
"I have some idea. I know you've lived a hard life," Hermione said as Six released her. "I want you to know if you need to talk about anything I am here. We're going to be spending our lives together. I can tell that now. I really want us to be friends."
"I would like that," Six said.
"I do want to explain something. Souls have energy. That energy replenishes if it is depleted by doing something that is good for the soul as they say. Going out and having a fun day with friends. Doing something that makes you laugh a lot. Making love to a partner are all examples of things that will replenish soul energy. The bracelet is powered off of soul energy, your soul energy. That is what it takes to summon spirits that have passed beyond. That's why it will only work one hour out of every twenty-four. So, after using the bracelet you will feel a little drained. Do one of those things to replenish your soul energy," Hermione suggested.
"I think someday I would love to see your universe if it could produce so many wonderful things," Six said.
"I think someday that could be arranged," Hermione said. "Well I will leave and let you return to reading."
"Stay for a while," Six suggested. "Let's get to know one another better." "Alright," Hermione said with a warm smile which Six returned.
Harry's Private Room
"Hello Mum, Dad," Harry said in greeting as James and Lily Potter appeared in their son's private room on the lunar base.
"Harry," Lily said with tears in her eyes and holding her arms out.
Part of the magic of the arm band that Hermione had gifted Harry was that he could physically interact with the spirits summoned.
"Son," James added.
The family of three were soon in a hug that they had never been able to have in Harry's memory. It was an emotional few moments. When they drew back from the hug Harry took a step back.
"You're all grown up," Lily said.
"Have a seat," Harry said while gesturing towards the couch. "How much of what goes on in the world of the living can you see from the afterlife?"
"We see the highlights," James answered. "We don't see during private moments like when you are getting busy with your ladies."
Lily elbowed her grinning husband.
"Speaking of which," Lily said in a stern tone. "Three women Harry. Really."
"Exactly. Three women," James said with a grin. "And gorgeous women at that. You've got yourselves some real lookers there son." Lily glared at her husband. James said, "Lils dear...weren't you just telling me how cute your grandbabies are and how happy you were that you were going to be having so many."
"That's not the point," Lily said.
"Don't mind your mum Harry. She is just struggling a bit with her muggle upbringing," James said while teasing his wife.
"I'm not really mad Harry. It's just very different to how I was raised," Lily admitted.
"I certainly wasn't expecting it," Harry admitted. "But I'm not going to complain. Hermione, Six, and Sarah are the best."
"They are pretty wonderful," Lily agreed.
Harry spent the rest of the half hour he had with his parents catching up on his life. He could summon twice as many spirits with only half the time being allowed. Subconscious-Harry and
Hermione thought Harry could summon spirits for longer with his growing power. But explaining that to him without telling him that he was essentially becoming a god was too problematic. In any case, Harry enjoyed the time he had with his parents. James and Lily would become regular visitors to the lunar base as would Harry's Loric parents.
"Ella is the granddaughter of Setrakus Ra," Crayton informed Harry without preamble.
They were sitting in Crayton's private room. Crayton had asked Harry there. Crayton had dropped the bombshell as soon as Harry had sat down.
"Well that explains why she has Dreynen," Harry mused.
Legacies didn't have to run in families. But rare legacies tended to. "Who else knows?" Harry asked.
"I do not know. I haven't told anyone. The only reason I mention it now is because Ella has reported to me that she has been having dreams of Setrakus. I suspect if he doesn't already know he will in the near future. He has to the power to reach out to certain Garde in dreams," Crayton said.
"Let's keep this quiet for now. We will see how the situation unfolds and decide when Ella should know. She should definitely be told at some point. I want to see how things unfold first," Harry said.
"I was kind of taking the wait-and-see approach myself. I just thought someone else should be made aware. You have sort of become the leader of the Garde," Crayton explained.
"I appreciate you letting me know," Harry said.
Luna Lovegood woke up in her house known as the Rookery. It was just her these days. Her father had been killed on an expedition a few years previously. She looked around as she tried to sense what had awoken her. Then Hermione was standing in her bedroom.
"Hello Hermione," Luna said.
"Luna," Hermione greeted.
"When did you become a ghost?" Luna asked. "We have a lot to talk about Luna," Hermione said.
A Few Hours Later
"Let me see if I can sum this up correctly," Luna said. "Harry Potter ended up in another universe merged with a powerful alien and is now becoming pretty much a god. He doesn't know it consciously yet. But you're working with his subconscious. He's part of an alien species, the Loric, who are near extinction. They are suffering a lack of female Loric at this point. So, you want to make a bunch of hybrid babies. Naturally you thought of me. Harry's subconscious is willing to bring me to that universe provided I agree not to say anything about the magical world that Subconscious-Harry isn't ready for at this time. You want me to shag this Number Eight and have his Loric-Wizard hybrid babies."
"That about sums it up," Hermione said. "We of course wouldn't force you into shagging Eight if you didn't think you would get along."
"Naturally," Luna said. "I will come see what I can see. I'll need the day to prepare." Hermione stood and said, "In twenty-four hours you will be transported to our lunar base."
Before Hermione could vanish Luna said, "Thank you for thinking of me Hermione. I've been lost without daddy."
"I understand. After I thought I lost Harry," Hermione said while trailing off. "Friends think of friends."
Luna nodded and smiled. Then the projection of Hermione vanished.
"Come in," Eight invited as he opened the door to his personal room to find Hermione with an unknown young woman waiting at his door.
Subconscious Harry had lent his magic to the cause of de-aging Luna a bit. She had been a few years older than Eight and the other Garde. It would make it easier if she was physically the same age as Eight.
"Eight, I would like you to meet an old friend of mine. Luna, this is Eight," Hermione introduced.
"It's a pleasure to meet you Luna," Eight said as he held out his hand.
Luna took his hand and said, "Likewise Eight. I'm told there are a shortage of Loric women. Hermione thought we might make good babies. I'm here to find out if that is true."
Eight looked floored as his mouth dropped open. Hermione barely held in her laugh. She couldn't hold in her smile.
"I...I," Eight stammered.
"Not to worry Eight. Luna may be a bit eccentric. But she's brilliant. And I suspect she has a touch of seer in her," Hermione surmised.
Luna then seemed to see something about Eight in that moment, something of his Legacy that allowed him to see the future. He seemed to sense something about her as well.
"I see," Eight said.
"Leave Eight to me Hermione. I must educate him on Nargles," Luna said. Hermione nodded and left.
Hermione entered Harry's lab to find him checking on the progress of the automated ship- constructors which were currently building ten starships side-by-side in an expanded bay adjacent to his lab. The frames of the ships were already built. The subsystems were all simultaneously being installed. The progress was astounding. Thanks to Loric technology it was entirely possible.
"I felt your amusement a bit ago. What had you so amused?" Harry asked as Hermione came in.
It warmed Hermione to know how close they were emotionally thanks to the link she had forged between them.
"I know Number Eight's situation has been bothering you," Hermione said.
"I can't hide anything from you," Harry mused. "Yes. I felt bad that I had three women and Eight had none."
"That wasn't your fault. You only paired up with one Loric woman. You can't help it if you are just so damn sexy," Hermione teased. "In any case I came up with a solution. The entity who brought me here facilitated my idea. Luna Lovegood has arrived. She and Eight are getting to know one another now."
Hermione turned to Hermione with a look of surprise and amusement warring for dominance on his features.
"I see. That's a brilliant solution," Harry admitted. "I take it their first meeting was...unique." "Let me show you," Hermione said as she pushed out with her mind.
Harry viewed the memory from Hermione mind-to-mind using their Legilimency form of telepathy. Harry was grinning by the end of it.
"It'll be nice to have Luna around," Harry said. "This could be a solution for other shortages of people we have in the future if your mysterious benefactor is willing to help."
"I think he would be open to it," Hermione said.
Harry and Hermione spent some time working on their mutual projects.