CHAPTER TWO
INTERVENTION
The protoss returned with him to the system they had just left, back to the terrans he had been assisted. It was almost dizzying how quickly the protoss were transporting across the cosmos.
He spotted several of the human ships dropping from orbit. This world was dangerous. The protoss had their colonies here, and accompanied Superman partway. They had been intending another location, but upon Superman's request, they allowed him to make a brief stop here, which was also home to their colonies.
Superman frowned – he had spotted something... about 300 000 miles away, hiding among asteroid debris that ringed the planet. He split off from the protoss before they had a chance to stop him, to investigate.
It launched itself past him as he approached, and suddenly he was engaged in a chase. He caught it just above the atmosphere, and the two fought and brawled – him feeling disgusted at the touch of this spider-like thing. Its maw clashed and gnawed on his arm, to no avail.
He slammed both fists on it capacious hull and slammed the giant spidery thing into the ground below, a crater of dust rising.
The probes of these alien creatures weren't friendly looking things.
They seemed to filtering into the local area, and what he had been told, these things were a threat to mankind. Some kind of vast evil alien empire had set their sights on humanity in this universe, and Superman couldn't turn his back.
He had just intended to do a little scouting, but it yielded fruits sooner than he thought.
He tended to have a principle of non-interference, but this was a little too problematic to ignore. He decided that at the least, he would attempt to help them establish themselves on this world. They had vast and powerful fleets, and without knowing more of the situation, perhaps just helping them defend this foot-hold would give them what they needed. He could do that much, at least. He was Superman, after all.
The protoss had little comment to offer, but did allow Superman to pursue these things a little – saying they would call for him when they had need.
Superman looked at their vessels askance, even a preliminary inspection of the great ships they had travelled in, as well as the technology they had displayed so far, had convinced him they had the ability to follow up on that promise, wherever he went.
He did find something else.
(*)
The reporter was standing on the dunes with her marine escort, shielding her eyes. The transport wasn't far, but it turned out to be far enough.
Suddenly, something burst from the ground, and they were all taken by surprise! They blasted their weapons, but most went wide, and the ones that didn't, seemed to ricochet off that incredible hardened carapace.
It wasn't a Zerg, but it was an incredibly dangerous indigenous creature to this world, Superman surmised in an instant. It lunged at the group, and then it stopped, as the humans were on the brink of annihilation, their shock all too clear.
Superman was tugging the giant worm back by its tail, to their enormous surprise. With a heave he tossed it out into the desert.
"Oh, it's you again." She smiled and gave a wave. They had met earlier, shortly before Superman had interceded with the Zerglings. "Thanks for the assist."
"No problem, that's what I'm here for."
Superman paused. "Well, actually, I'm not supposed to be here – but since I am."
(*)
It had been a brief encounter inside the facility.
Flying, he blasted through the ranks of their creatures with both fists, sending them flying. There was a group of human, ranks of marines lined up with their rifles ready, defending the central hub of the compound against what appeared to be dangerous, attacking animals, but far more vicious and intelligent than first belied.
"Look, he's fighting those things with his bare hands!" the assembled marines and the reporter behind them gasped.
Then they had locked themselves in the central command room, as he dealt with the rest – and that's when the protoss showed up. Fortunately, his intervention had caused the protoss to abandon their attack entirely, and the human group were spared. Only to get in trouble again a short time later.
He wondered a little.
Were the protoss there to slay the humans or the Zerg? How must I have appeared to their eyes for them to attack me? Perhaps there are more than simply one kind of human in this galaxy. Perhaps this war goes deeper than apparent species.
From what he learned, the protoss seemed to be largely benign – but that attack had apparently been in response to something deeper the humans were a part of. And although the humans were spared, the entire facility had been destroyed.
They had apparently captured a number of protoss warriors – and while Superman was still troubled, he understood the motivation.
(*)
