StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void

Chapter 2

Unexpected protoss

-Zeratul?-Jim said, thunderstruck.- What…?-

-Listen to me.-the protoss said in a whisper.- I don't have much time. My brothers have caught me. My forces are still fighting, but in a few minutes I will tell them to surrender.-he looked away, at his back, and looked at Jim and Sarah again.

-Where are you?-she asked.

-I…-

-But what…?-Jim started.

-There is no time, James Raynor!-Zeratul shouted.- Listen to me, get to these coordinates before two hours pass and wait for a golden protoss ship. And Artanis Mothership will appear too.-

-The Golden Armada?-Sarah said quetly.

-One ship of the Golden Armada alone is useless. It's a Mothership. The Hyperion and the Leviathan together can take it down.-

-If you say so…-she said.- But if this hurt Jim or the Swarm… My vengeance over the protoss when Amon's dead will be brutal, definitive and it will all happen before your raze realize what's going on. That, I promise.-

-There is no time for this unnecessary threat!-they heard some explosions and then the transmission trembled.- Go to that place and expect a ship. Only one. Golden.-

-Zeratul!-Jim suddenly shouted, filled of hate.- We'll have a little chat about something you've done!-

There was no answer.

The transmission cut off exactly after the word "chat".

-What do you wanna do?-she asked.- I don't like the protoss, but I can do a sacrifice this time. If you want to save your friend, I will help you.-she added at his very weird face.- It's your call.-

-Of course I wanna go there. I want to know what he has to say, and Zeratul is the only chance we have of uniting the protoss on Shakuras and most of the clans. But for that, attack them isn't the answer. Let me think…-he took a while to think, in silence; Kerrigan waited respectfully.- They won't let you talk, they'd kill you instead of hear explanations… But… They will hear me. I helped them kill the Overmind, I helped them escape Aiur, I was there in Fenix's funeral among them…-she cut him off.

-You'd better not think about that. Let it go. Alright, if you say you're gonna save that fucking protoss, so am I. But we'll need a plan. Protoss ships aren't impenetrable, but almost…-she stopped talking, then she started again with an idea.- Some months ago, I infested a protoss and make it take control of the ship. It was a success. I can…-

-No. We're not killing protoss anymore if it isn't necessary.-he took a deep breath.- Maybe I should call the Hyperion. Matt can help; get in their way and aboard the ship as an emissary. And…-he added mockingly.- You'll have to let me handle this.-

-Only if I am inside the Hyperion, my useless Knight.-she joked.

-Useless?-he said smiling.- Please, darlin'. You wouldn't be here if it wasn't for me.-he stroke her chin with an affectionate finger.

She kissed him while indicating him to follow her to the principal chamber. During the way, a primal zerg which height was about two meters, stared at Jim, but suddenly continued his way after saying "Human. Essence useless. Consumed enough."

-That was Dehaka. He speaks in a very weird way, but with some time, you'll understand what he says. Almost everything is about consuming essence, Zerg, Protoss or Human, he doesn't care.-

-Charming.-he said quietly.- We must try to a find a warless way. And if there is no one, well… If there's no one, you… You release the zerg and let them kill the protoss. I know it's an act of war, but we can't let them kill Zeratul. He is now our only hope.-

-You sure you will betray the protoss trust if they don't hear? Why don't we just go to Shakuras and participate in the judgement?-she proposed while entering the place Raynor talked to Izsha.

She wasn't there anyway. No zerg was there.

-You know well they won't let you live if you get close enough to their targeting programs. The Golden Armada can destroy almost everything. Including this Leviathan.-

-Yeah, I know that. It's just…-she touched her lips with her finger.- I don't wanna kill anyone else. I'm tired of killing. I told Zeratul I'd kill every protoss on the galaxy if you or my swarm get hurt, but that's it. Just a threat. I wouldn't do it. –

-You don't have to protect me, Sarah. I…-

-You will protect me?-she said, mockingly.- Alright with that, but let's be realists, Jim. I know Mengsk would've killed me if you didn't arrive, but… With Amon… With Amon, it's different.-they sat close to the "window", looking at the void of the space.- If all that prophecy shit results to be true, then I'm the only one in the galaxy that can fight him. No one else is able. And if I fall, everyone will fall behind me. That includes you. And I don't want you to die, so –and you don't have to agree with this- I'ma do whatever it takes to protect you. I'm fighting this war shit for anyone but the man I love. Shit, how can you make me be sentimental?-

He laughed a bit, nervously.

-You were doing well.-Raynor joked.

-But you know I'm right.-she finished.- And if I must become a real monster to do what I've said… I will not doubt.-

Jim's laugh ended suddenly, clearly surprised by her words. He's been trying to save her for far too long. When he achieved it, she became a monster again, and now she dared to say that?

He then realized she was reading his mind.

-No, Sarah, I…-

-Leave it.-she said softly.- I don't… Blame you for thinking that. I'd think that too. Just don't let those thoughts destroy what… What we have.-

-You have my word.-he assured.

She closed her eyes and after a few moments the Leviathan started to move.

-We're moving to Zeratul's coordinates. You should let Matthew know, but before you go: you can't protect me anymore, Jim. It's my turn to do it. To do it well. Let me do it.-she stroke his cheek slowly, looking at his eyes.- Please. And don't blame yourself for this.-she moved her hand along her body.- This isn't your fault. It's MY fault. I did this to me. I consumed my humanity to take revenge instead of fight being what I was born to be. You had nothing to do with it. Please, understand.-

-And what about the first time? I couldn't arrive in time and you suffered.-he said, resisting to cry like a child.- I could… If I would've just talked to Fenix before, if I would've ask him for help… You may be with me far away from here.-he couldn't resist anymore, and tears slipped off his eyes.

-Neither my suffering nor Fenix's death were your fault, Jim. If you couldn't do nothing to stop Arcturus from letting me die, there was a reason. If you couldn't arrive Char on time while I was converting into the Queen of Blades the first time, there was a reason. And thank god or whatever you believe in for not being there when Fenix died. Amon, through me, would've killed you. And my existence would be limited to follow orders and then die. You didn't fail.-she finished, but Raynor didn't seem to believe it at all.

-It feels so right when you say it… But I don't know, I suffered delays both times in New Gettysburg and Char, first because of Mengsk and then because of the Zerg, but it doesn't…-

-It isn't your fault, Jim. Believe me; I don't blame you for nothing. You were the only thing that always made me doubt, but of course, every time I doubted, Amon forced me to do horrible things.-

Jim breathed heavily through his nose, trying to believe her words.

-I can't stop believing I'm responsible.-

She stood up and held out a hand. Jim took it and got up.

-Blame Amon for all this.-she said.- He made us unhappy, he is responsible the zerg are war tools and the protoss are their mortal enemies. If it wasn't for him, we wouldn't be here. We would be far away in somewhere sunny. Maybe with a big family. He's the only responsible. Not you, Jim.-

She released his hand and started to walk away, getting to the communication organism to talk to Matt again.

She was right. Deep inside him, he knew she was right, and he accepted it. For far too long, he had believed it was his fault because he didn't want to accept it wasn't. He needed to blame someone else but Arcturus Mengsk. And he chose to blame himself.

He ran a little to reach her, but he didn't speak again.

Now that Kerrigan had told him all that, taking his burden away from his back, he felt finally free.

But in the end, he was not. They still had one more task to achieve, and then they will be able to leave. But that was up to Zeratul. If Zeratul was killed, then they could say goodbye to everything.

There was no planet nearby. They were in the middle of the space. The two hours were about to finish, and they hadn't a ship but the Hyperion.

Jim and Sarah, along Matt in the Hyperion's bridge, were bored, playing chess while waiting.

It sounds crazy, a terran and a zerg playing chess while waiting for a protoss.

Kerrigan's Leviathan had gone far away, waiting the Queen's return.

-Check.-Jim warned.

-Oh, you forgot about this.-she replied, moving a tower to Jim's bishop's side.-Get that thing away.-

-I think you didn't think about this other thing.-he said mockingly.

Raynor took a tower from his side of the table and killed Sarah's tower.

-And… Thanks for releasing my Queen.-

She then killed his king with her Queen without mercy.

-No! That doesn't count, you read my mind!-he protested.- You…!-

-Now give me that kiss we bet.-she said, claiming her reward.

Without stopping protesting, he kissed her quietly and sat down again.

-Why don't we bet something else, huh?-

-Oh, that's such a proposing, Jim.-she meditated for a while.- But I'll take the offer. Now tell me, what are we betting?-

-Um… I'll tell you when the game's done.-he chose to say.

-Alright, tough guy, but you're gonna lose.-

-Yep.-Jim said smiling.- I know.-

-I wonder what the hell you are planning to say when I beat you.-she enjoyed saying.

-Oh, you'll know.-

But they couldn't even start. Matt came up through the door and ran to them.

-Protoss ship inbound.-he said gasping.- What do we do?-

Jim thought about it for a moment, and when he was about to tell Matt to put the white flag, Kerrigan spoke first.

-I'll do my best for hiding my psionic power. Jim, aboard the ship and make sure Zeratul is alive and ready to move. Do not fight, just act as if you want to betray Zeratul, tell the protoss about his transmission and his plan. I'm sure they will feel my presence sooner or later, that's why you must be fast. Anyone in this ship has spy skills?-

-I don't think so.-Jim said honestly.- Guess I'll…-

-I do.-Matt said; Jim stared at him, frowning; Sarah just looked at him with a expressionless face.- I worked as a spy of the government before I started to hate it. I was used to do horrible things, so I left and changed my name. I started a new life as a merchant of the Confederacy, and then I met you two in The Sons of Korhal and you know the rest of the story.-he explained

-Protoss secure network isn't like the network a Mercenary can have.-Kerrigan said hardly, almost hurting him.

-Believe me.-Matt said.- You don't know Mira's security.-

-We only have one chance.-Sarah said looking at Raynor again.- It's up to you, I don't know your crew.-

-Matt can handle it. I DO know Mira's security.-Jim assured.

It was a lie, of course, but he trusted his friend. If Matt said he could, then he could.

-Matt, this is an only one-shot movement. Getting Zeratul out won't be easy. Expect triple of security Mira had. Be careful, very careful. You fail, we all die.-

-If violence if required, I will break into the protoss ship. They will not be able to stop me. But I'd like to avoid an act of war.-Sarah said quietly.- The last thing we need is the protoss get angry enough to attack us instead of help us.-

-I don't see how it won't be necessary.-Matt objected.- Even if I reach Zeratul's place without being discovered, the protoss will realize soon what's going on.-

-Good point.-Kerrigan said.- Then you are suggesting there's no other way but killing? Because if that's what you are saying, I have an idea.-

-Tell us.-Matt said.- And fast, we're almost in the protoss radar.-Jim heard carefully.

-We kill them all and let them believe the protoss following Zeratul attacked. But for that, we must be very careful. For first, weapons can't be used. Only knives. And there can't be blood on the floor… Nah, too difficult. We must get Zeratul out and destroy the ship. But before, we must erase the computer memory. Any geek here?-

-Well, Doc is a geek, but he isn't a hacker.-Matt said.

-What about the guy buying mercenaries we have the last time?-Raynor asked.

-He left after Korhal. Said he wasn't working with the zerg.-Matt sighed.- Will we keep talking or what? It's your call, boss. Spy things, or destroy it all.-

Raynor looked at Sarah, who was looking at him fixedly.

-I ain't the boss here.-she said.- But I'd chose destruction. It's the only way I see to make this quick and without earning the protoss hate.-

-There is no time.-Jim thought.

The communication systems beeped, making them know the time had come. Sarah got on the side to be sure she wasn't in the protoss view. Matt and Jim answered the protoss call. Urun himself appeared on the screen, making their plans go to hell.

One way or another, they were fucked up.

If Matt got inside as a spy, Urun would find and kill him and then Zeratul would be doomed.

If Sarah showed up killing everyone, Urun would fight her, and even though he wasn't at her level, the warriors would create a diversion so Urun could kill her.

Now, everything was up to Jim's mind.

-En taro Tassadar, um…-

-James Raynor?-the protoss said.- En taro Tassadar. It is a pleasure. I still remember how brave you were when the zerg Overmind fell.-

Jim closed his eyes, thinking. He was sure Urun would uncover the truth, but they had to try.

-Urun.-Jim said.- How are you doing?-

The protoss stared at him.

-Going back to Shakuras. I am transporting a war prisoner. Once he is judged, we will retake Aiur.-

-Still with that, huh?-

Jim was delaying Urun 'till they were able to aboard the Mothership, which was almost happening.

-Yes.-he assured.- I will do it. Aiur will be free from the zerg.-

The Hyperion finally extended a bridge to the Mothership.

-What are you doing?-Urun inquired.- I did not…-

-You're not getting away from me, Urun. You're not taking Zeratul to Shakuras. He must live.-

-He must die for his crimes!-

-We'll see about that.-

Then, another protoss Mothership showed up. Artanis's Mothership. Raynor could recognize it anywhere.

-You see, my brothers are here to help me out.-

-I wouldn't be so sure.-Raynor smiled.- Hyperion, get ready for the assault!-

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