Chrono Nightmare
By: Elder Tale Bringer
A large bloated object escorted by 4 mutalisks came into view. It hovered into the Godspeeds docking bay and at the top of the ship, the bridge, Shento could hear screams and the sound of a hydralisk's telltale acid spines piercing men… his men.
5 minutes of waiting and silence. Then the sound of something walking filled the room. Seconds passed.. Then there was a pounding on the bridge door. The pounding grew louder. A voice could be heard faintly. "Then just slice through it with your acid!" A hideous roar came and a green acid spine smashed through the door impaling an officer.
Shento's eyes widened as the Queen of Blades herself stepped in. He took a glance at the dead officer. The acid spine was at least 10 feet long. A hydra's spine was normally only 3 feet long. Shento knew… he had been a lowly marine back in the early days of the war. A hydra's spine in your shoulder wasn't something you forgot easily.
"Hello Captain Shento. Like my pets? They aren't normal hydralisks. They're the best. My 'Hunter Killers'. Anyway, you have some very valuable information that is vital to my future plans. This is the technical ship of your fleet… the one that keeps all the information on the sectors and planets of the galaxy. Now I can give you a choice Adrian. You can give me the access codes to the main computer willingly and I will make your death short and painless or I can slice your head open and probe it from your brain.
Adrian shook his head. "What has happened to you Sarah… you've changed so much…" Kerrigan was silent for a moment before walking up to Adrian. "It was fate that did this to me my friend. But I am happy with who and what I am. Arcturus leaving me on that platform was the best thing that ever happened in my life. I don't take prisoners now… if I did they would be fed to my Devouring Ones.
The sound of gunfire was heard suddenly and a radio transmission came through. "Sir! We have Zerg units penetrating our defenses! We don't have enough men to maintain a suitable defense we're…" *bzzzzzt*
Adrian sat down in his chair with a look of defeat on his face. "Do what you want Sarah. I won't stop you. The code is…"
A gunshot rang through the room and the captain slumped in his seat dead. The ensign of the ship turned his gun towards Kerrigan and started firing.
"Damn you human!" she shrieked and ran forward and extended her claws effectively slicing him in half. The Hunter Killers began shooting their spines killing everyone in the room. That being done Kerrigan walked up to the master computer and touched it.
Information of tactical bases on the Moon and Mars flowed into the Psychic queen's brain. Weapon schematics, political leaders, mineral and vespene gas amount accounts.
After a good 5 minutes of absorbing the ship's data she took a step back then slowly turned and walked out of the room. When she and her escort of Hunters got back into the Overlord her voice reverberated through the Mutalisks and Devourers heads.
"Destroy the ship and meet back at my platform above Char." All hell broke loose.
Kerrigan had other things to do. A certain machine on Auir needed to be destroyed.
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On the Protoss homeworld Auir the hum of newly constructed Protoss buildlings filled the air bringing a sense of serenity to the still burning and charred planet.
Inside the main citadel Jim Raynor, Artanis, Zeratul, and the Executor were outlining the final plans for their move.
It had been proposed a week ago by the head scientist of Raynor's Raiders and the Khalai Psy Corps. to construct a device that could alter the entire course of the war using a device that created an enormous backlash of energy to warp the user to any time.
Construction had taken the whole 7 days but finally it was ready. George Greesch and Kal'hai stood before the war council.
"Our construction of ze Chrono Shifter iz complete sir," the scientist said in a heavy German accent.
'To activate the Chrono Shifter we will need a large amount of power. It will require that we shut off the entire bases power supply for a good 10 minutes.' Kah'hai added.
Raynor stood up then. "Well then let's get this show on the road. Executor you're the only one who can give the final order on this."
'Shutting down power… now.' The lights went out and the Chrono Shifter turned on. Beams of electricity cackled into a silver ball suspended in the middle of a circular platform.
"We should get all our forces moving to the Chrono Shifter. Once that things on it will only stay active for about a minute. Our entire base here will be transported back to Auir at the exact place around the time Mengsk sent Kerrigan to that damn platform above Char. If what the Executor says is true then we're gonna land smack dab in the middle of a Zerg attack."
At that moment Jim heard something in his radar that made his blood go cold. "Sir! Our comsat is detecting a whole Zerg fleet! Were getting masses of air units and about 50 overlords! With both our bases power turned off we aren't going to stand a damn chance!"
Jim cursed loudly and turned to the Terran and Protoss forces. "Guys were gonna have a helluva time defending the Chrono Shifter. With the power gone the cannons and turrets aren't gonna work. The bunkers need a steady supply of power too or else the doors wont open."
Several Mutalisks flew in suddenly and dive bombed the troops. Marines stimmed and dragoons started firing bolts of energy and the Mutas were fried. Several Guardians flew in with Devourer support while more Mutas came in from the other side. They all seemed to be ignoring the men and going after…
"The Chrono Shifter!" Raynor yelled. The device was burning but the power was still feeding into the machine. The overlords had landed close enough to the ground and Hydraslisks with Zergling support flooded out.
Psi Storms raged above and siege tanks rained deadly fire from above as Jim's bike was working overtime with grenades. Artanis was flying above with his small fleet blowing apart overlords and mutalisks as Zeratul went hand to hand with a group of zerglings.
Then SHE appeared. Like a demoness queen from Hell she walked slowly towards the group being pressed firmly back closer towards the Chrono Shifter.
Her eyes lit up and her arms raised as clouds appeared and lightning bolts rained down on men and tanks. The survivors crawled closer until they were right up against the Chrono Shifter's walls.
Jim jumped off his wrecked bike and grabbed his G-99 Gauss Rifle. Kerrigan walked up in front of her force of Hydras and Zerglings that awaited the order to slaughter the enemy.
"I see you've been a bit busy since I let you live Jim. A mistake I regret." Jim sneered and said spitefully, "Go to hell Kerrigan. You and all of your damn Zerg pets."
With that he raised his rifle and shot at Kerrigan. She jumped out of the way and let out a cry that pierced the ears of everyone in the area. The Hydras shrieked and the zerg mass surged forward.
The Chrono Shifter's sphere suddenly lit up and in a tremendous glow it bathed everyone. Everyone stopped dead and looked up to the sphere. It started humming softly but continued to get louder.
A radio message came in. "Commander Raynor! You must be in ze Chrono Shifter for your forces to be transported! I connected their life signatures to yours so its as if you're all in the same place at once! Hurry!"
Jim made a mad dash for the Chrono Shifter and began climbing the ladder to a large platform above the Chrono Shifter's sphere.
"You must jump in at my count! On three! One! Two! THREE! JUMP IN ZE CHRONO SHIFTER NOW COMMANDER!"
Jim closed his eyes and leaped off the top of the platform right into the sphere.
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Immediately he hit the ground and looked up. Mutalisks and scouts were dogfighting above while a carrier smashed into the ground in a fireball. He looked down and saw photon cannons shooting at Hydralisks and Zerglings.
Jim's own forces and the future protoss forces began attacking the Zerg on instinct as the shocked Protoss at the time looked on.
The Chrono Shifter was gone, explaining why Jim had landed face first in the dirt. Within 10 minutes the Zerg force had been repelled and cheers of victory rang from the Protoss and Terran soldiers.
Zeratul ran up to Raynor his eyes bright. 'This is a great turn of events, Command Raynor. Artanis tells me that we originally lost this battle. We may yet have a chance to turn the tide of this war to our favor.'
Artanis walked up then and started talking in a shaking voice. "The great one… he… he… requests an audience with us!" he said in a very excited and anxious tone.
Jim raised an eyebrow. "Must be Tassadar. You're the only guy who reveres him that much."
10 minutes later the group was in the base's Nexus waiting for Tassadar.
The templar came in and looked at them shocked. 'A Terran? Here?' he looked over to Artanis. 'Cadet Artanis? Shouldn't you be in Ke'ilar?' Then to Zeratul. 'Zeratul my friend? Back already?'
Jim shook his head. "Tassadar have we got a story for you."
***************************************
It took over two hours to explain everything and Tassadar shook his head slowly.
'But… how could this have all happened?'
'Our pride destroyed our race in the end Tassadar. We must learn from our mistakes in that doomed timeline and make sure they do not affect this one.' Zeratul responded.
Everyone stood up then and began to walk out.
'Wait.' Tassadar turned to them.
'You said a close friend of yours was killed on that desert planet… well you should sit down.' A video screen above them suddenly turned on revealing none other than…
"Fenix!" They all shouted. The Protoss nodded and spoke. 'It is good to see all of you… even if I haven't met some of you yet,' he said glancing to Artanis and Jim. 'But Tassadar has informed me of our grave future… I also understand that a Terran ghost will be infested by the Overmind's corruptive touch. On the very same platform on which the Executor sent an army of our warriors a day ago.
Jim jerked violently. "DAMN! I have to get there NOW and save her!" he began to run out the door when a hand grabbed him
"Vait vight zere Command Raynor." Professor Greesch said appearing out of nowhere. "Your 'past' self still exists in zis time. It iz extremely important zat you not be seen by Sarah Kerrigan or anyone zat would recognize you. There would be quite ze uproar if there was a Jim Raynor down there and also on ze Hyperion."
Raynor nodded and ran out to board a waiting carrier Zeratul had prepared.
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"Commander? Jim? What the hell is going on here, where's our evac!?" Sarah Kerrigan threw the radio down and raised her C-10 Canister Rifle, blowing a Zergling's head off. "And where did all these Zerg come from?"
Over 500 Zerg were pouring into New Gettysburg and every attempt that the Sons of Korhal were making could not stop the tidal wave of death. Arcturus Mengsk looked down onto the platform from his seat in the Hyperion's bridge. Jim Raynor could not believe his eyes.
"You aren't going to just LEAVE her there are you?!" he yelled looking towards Mengsk.
"I am. Sarah will be known as the Son's of Korhal's greatest martyr." Jim's look of astonishment soon turned to one of anger.
"Don't do this Arcturus! DON'T DO THIS!"
Mengsk turned his back on Jim. "It's done Jim." He could only look on knowing he could not do anything to save his friend.
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"Ah shit. We're too late." Future Jim could only look on knowing he could not do anything to save his friend. "Ah to hell with this! Zeratul I'm going down there!" Jim grabbed his Gauss Rifle and ordered the Captain to lower the carrier near the platform.
"You guys! And girls! With me now!" he yelled to a group of Marines and Medics. "We're going to save Kerrigan no matter the cost."
Yells and war cries erupted as the carrier's docking bay detatched and the group jumped into the former Protoss base. Several Zerglings and Hydralisks diverted their attention from a burning Pylon to attack the newcomers.
Jim fired at a Hydralisk blowing its arm off while his Marines did a nice number on the Zerglings. More zerg surged forward and the Medics were wearing out their healing reserves.
"Damn we can't keep this up long sir!" a marine yelled. Zeratul's voice came in suddenly.
'Commander Raynor, if you can reach New Gettysburg and hold your position for 10 minutes we can have our Arbiters warp in our armies. Artanis and his fleet will move in then bombing the Zerg.'
Raynor shot a Zergling in the face then responded. "Alright Zeratul we'll do what we can." He turned to his men. "We gotta get to the Command Center now. I don't give a damn if Kerrigan sees me or not but we have to get to her before the Zerg do. New Gettysburg is a 5 minute march from here and I remember there being enough bunkers to hold off another 5 minutes. We gotta get there now."
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"Lieutenant Kerrigan we can't hold the Zerg much longer! They're breaking
through our defenses like they were toys!" a marine radioed from his bunker.
Kerrigan threw her rifle down and tried radioing the Hyperion again.
"Arcturus! Jim! Anyone! Please respond!" she cried desperately.
(Future) Jim heard the message in his comlink and recognizing it as Kerrigan's voice responded quickly.
"Sarah! We'll be there in a few minutes! Just hold out a little longer!" Kerrigan stood puzzled for a moment. Jim was on the Hyperion and there was no sign on the Command Center's computer that it had touched down. Dismissing the thought and just being thankful that help was coming she turned back to the window as the Zerg came ever closer. "You better hurry Jim…"
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"Spread out guys! Back up those bunkers while I get to the Command Center!" Jim yelled as they entered the burning city.
'Damn there's no way I'll get there in time on foot…" he thought. Jim looked to the side and saw a "Vulture! Perfect!"
A crashed vulture was laying on the side of the road but it was still operable. Jumping on it Jim sped off towards the CC in the middle of town.
When he arrived the CC's door was barricaded and guns were propped up in the windows.
"Let me in dammit! It's Raynor!" A marine's head appeared. "What the hell are you doing here? Nevermind. Step back."
The door opened up and Jim ran inside towards the Command room. Sarah was sitting in a chair and could only look on helplessly knowing that no one would get off the platform alive. A muffled voice came from the command room's door at that moment.
"The hell I care about clearance codes! Let me in unless you want this bullet in your head!"
"Let him in!" Sarah yelled. The door opened and an extremely fatigued Jim Raynor stumbled in. "What the hell is going on up there? And why the hell are you down here!?" Sarah yelled as Jim sat on the ground breathing hard.
"Long story, I'll tell you later. Do you have enough men to survive for another 5 minutes?"
"The hell I do. We have enough forces for about 2 minutes. If Arcturus SENT DOWN AN EVAC. IT WOULD BE NICE!" she yelled startling a com officer.
Jim's face turned grim. "There isn't going to BE an evac Sarah. Arcturus sent you down knowing it would be suicide destroying the Protoss and holding off a Zerg attack at the same time. He left you for dead, but we're not letting that happen. Not again."
"Not again…?" Sarah asked a look of bewilderment on her face. An explosion rocked the ground suddenly as Guardians began firing on buildlings.
"We cant hold out any longer. Those Zerg are going to penetrate the Command Center any time now."
Jim looked at his watch. "Wouldn't count on that. If everything goes right we'll have reinforcements coming in about… now."
The sound of engines pierced the sky suddenly as three Arbiters flew in backed up by several Scouts and Corsairs. "Damn, Protoss reinforcements! We're really dead now." Jim smirked. "Wanna bet?"
The blue portal of a Recall appeared under the Arbiters and a large group of Zealots, Dragoons, and Templar appeared. Zeratul shouted and they launched their attacks at the Zerg. "What the hell…?" an astonished Sarah looked on. Artanis and his fleet threw their missles at the surprised Mutalisks and Guardians, blowing them apart instantly.
Zerglings and Hydras ran around frantically trying to find a target to shoot at but seeing only blurbs of cloaked Protoss under the veil of the Arbiters. They were killed instantly as Zeratul sliced into their bodies into pieces with his blades. All around New Gettysburg the battle raged as the Zerg were slowly pushed back onto the ramps to their foul base.
The Protoss forces made their way up the creep covered ramps into a landscape of living flesh. Several creep colonies lay around a large brownish structure with 3 spires lined with spikes sticking out of it. It was indeed the a sick looking thing, the Hive, and there were three of them around an enormous creature that resembled a large slug. Bluish veins popped out along the creature as it shook violently. It was a Cerebrate, universally hated by any not of the swarm.
Zerglings and Hydralisks ran around frantically as if trying to find a way off the platform. Drones had abandoned their mineral gathering and were creating structures randomly just to cancel them before they were finished mutating. Mutalisks could be seen in the distance flying away from the platform with about 5 overlords.
All in all the defense of the base was pretty pathetic. Quickly destroying the sunken colonies with few casualties Zeratul walked up to the Cerebrate. Extending a hand he put it firmly to the foul slug's head. After a few moments he released his hand and turned to the Executor.
'Executor, this is Nargil of the Fenris Brood. If I remember correctly they are known for their ability to retain almost any scent for life. There is a chance that the Zerg rooted here because they smelled Kerrigan on the Hyperion! The war records tell of the Fenris brood's main swarm center existing on this platform in our time. It would be wise to kill this Cerebrate quickly.'
The Executor nodded and Zeratul called out to his forces. 'Stand back everybody. I am going to kill this Cerebrate!'
A voice eminated through the platform suddenly.
Even if I die on this platform today the Overmind's rule is absolute. Your feeble attacks cannot harm a Cerebrate! I shall be reincarnated by dawn! So go ahead foolish Protoss, give your best shot. It makes no difference!
Zeratul smirked and looked at the slug. 'Perhaps you have never heard of the Dark Templar. Remember my name Cerebrate. I am Zeratul of Shakuras and my power exceeds those of even the Overmind's reincarnative abilities. Now learn the true definition of pain you vile creature!'
With that Zeratul extended his warp blade and rose it high in the air. It began to glow as Zeratul's arm started shaking.
You are bluffing! No attack can truly kill us! You… you are lying! I know it! Overmind please guide me!
The Cerebrate saw a beam of energy extend from the Protoss's arm. It shook violently in fear. Was this truly the end? Was he telling the truth? Was it the will of the swar…
*SLICE*
And the Cerebrate knew no more.
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A year in the future the Queen of Blades jerked violently feeling Nargil's life signature suddenly be cut. Her own Cerebrate, Araq, began speaking quickly.
My Queen, the Fenris Brood is out of control! It seems Nargil is dead but I have no clue how. We shall have to exterminate them as we did Zasz's brood.
Kerrigan cursed and gave the order to destroy Fenris.
Hydralisks and Zerglings surged forward supported by hulking Ultralisks while Mutalisks and Guardians flew overhead bombing the renegade Fenris Brood. As the last Hive was torn to bits Kerrigan turned back to her current problem. Strange creatures were appearing on her planets and destroying the colonies there with unbelievable speed. Reports from various Overlords described them as half Protoss, half Zerg hybrids. If that were true then Kerrigan had a severe problem on her hands. Duran's disappearance hadn't helped either. But she was finally starting to get the picture…
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Samir Duran laughed as he stood atop a hovering metal platform as his Prozerg creations marched in vast numbers across the planet leaving behind a trail of death and destruction. Entire Zerg armies were ripped to shreds instantly by the Psionic storms of the hybrids as well as the Plagues and Decay of the Prozerg Dreadnaught, specialized air unit of Duran's army.
Zelings and Dragoolisks ran across the battlefield at incredible speeds tearing through Zerg buildings and units as if they were chew toys. The full force of the Xel'naga's true intent had finally materialized. And Duran, last descendent of the Xel'naga, was determined to take over the universe and secure his place as supreme ruler of all creation…
To be continued…
Stay tuned for chapter two which will be out sometime before month's end.