Starcraft Files: The Zergling Rush
Four UED marines were scouting a high mesa for signs of the enemy, or a spot to begin a new mining encampment. The SCV that followed behind hurried to catch up, but a zergling popped up out of the ground in front of it and ripped it to shreds before the marines even knew what was going on. The marines swiveled in response, intent on enacting revenge, and quickly rushed in pursuit as the zergling sprinted away. The marines didn't realize that they were being led into a trap until the ground in front of them began to tear, and by that time it was too late. The two lurkers finished them off, leaving a pile of blood and gore in their wake.

"You bastard!" screamed Jodi, picking up and tossing her mouse across the table. Gary, sitting on the opposite side, peered over his monitor and smiled widely. "You said you would let me win!" She pushed her chair away from the table and stood, crossing her arms as she walked around to Gary's side.

Gary wiped the silly grin off his face and followed his girlfriend's gaze. A Starcraft poster hung behind her on his wall; a picture his friend Dale had drawn for a website art contest. It showed a group of Terran marines being overrun by this huge onslaught of Zerg units. It was very well-done, with computer editing and color separation, the whole nine yards. The caption underneath it read: RESISTANCE IS FUTILE. Needless to say, the picture won the contest and Gary liked it so much, he printed it out and blew it up into a poster.

And it stood for everything in Gary's life that Jodi hated.

She absolutely detested the game of Starcraft because it took her boyfriend away from her, and she was simply jealous. No amount of appeasement from Gary would suffice short of giving up the game and never playing it again. Gary's latest attempt at teaching her the game so she might appreciate it had just failed, and Gary was running out of options. He knew the ultimatum that was coming: Starcraft or Her.

"Gary," she said, leaning against the table and looking down at him. She tilted her head to the side, letting her dark brown hair fall against her left shoulder. A move Gary had learned that meant she was about to give him some important information. Like the time when she had told him to pick her up at eight. Like the time she had told him that she was moving in. Like the time when she had told him to start wearing boxers instead of briefs. It was always that head-tilt thing when she was about to 'give directions' as Dale would say.

The game of Starcraft was on the line, so Gary had to think quick. He visualized the situation as he would a game on and went on the offensive before she could say anything. Like rushing with a pack of 'Lings, he knew where her base was, and if he could get to it before she put up defenses, she would be easy prey and the game would be won. "Listen, Jodi. I know what you're going to say, and you're blowing this out of proportion. I'm not going to sit here and listen to you lecture me again about how I'm not paying attention to you when I'm playing this game. I mean, damn! This is the ONLY escape I have, Jo. I have to keep this or I SWEAR I'll go insane!"

He ended his exclamation by slapping down on the table with his palm. His adrenaline was pumping, and his breathing was ragged. He had never tried this tactic against her before, getting loud and adamant and quick on the attack. Usually, he was very relaxed and laid back. Always with a strong defense to counter any assault on his base. No, this was different. This was Starcraft talking now. And Starcraft demanded a zergling rush!

He stood up quickly and he watched Jodi's eyes widen as she backed away a few steps. She was clearly shocked by Gary's emotional outburst and was, for one rare moment of her life, at a complete loss for words. Gary liked it. As he felt the rising levels of adrenaline rushing through his bloodstream, he craved for more. He could feel her sudden fear of him as she twirled her hair with one finger. Like she always did when she was confused and unsure of what to do next. It made Gary feel like when he would be ravaging a Terran building with an army of zerglings and it would suddenly rise off the ground and into the air, hovering out of his reach. She thought she was safe, and the worse was over. No, Gary always kept a squad of Hydras nearby for such an occasion, and this time was no different.

"You listen to me, and you listen to me right now," he said through clenched teeth, pointing a sharp and accusing finger at Jodi. "You are not going to take Starcraft away from me!" She backed up and away from him, and almost yelped when she banged into the wall. Gary kept on the attack, and didn't stop until his face was inches away from her nose.

Jodi's face was a pale white. Her green eyes were as huge as dinner plates and her whole body was trembling. Her lower lip quivered. Gary hovered in front of her, keeping his eyes locked on hers. There was nothing she could do. There was no more minerals for her to harvest, and her gas supply had run dry. She had failed to expand, and was completely caught off guard by Gary's rush.

It is not known exactly what happened in Gary's mind that day. Perhaps he had just had enough of Jodi's domination. Perhaps he had just gotten carried away with the situation and allowed things to escalate out of his control. One thing we do know for sure, is that when police arrived at the scene, and they found Gary, covered in blood, tearing chucks of flesh from his dead girlfriend's body in imitation of a zergling, there was an unfinished game of Starcraft playing on both computers on the table nearby.

The world at large may know about the entertainment value offered by Starcraft, but they do not know the darker side of Blizzard's best-selling real-time strategy computer game. No, Blizzard would rather you not hear about the secret files that are kept by the FBI, all relating to the game of Starcraft in some strange way or another. This is just one such story taken from these files.

This is Starcraft File #1a-001.