Disclaimer-I do not own Naruto or Starcraft, or any other game or manga, which I used while writing this...unfortunately.
Note: found a good cover image for my fic, all rights reserved.
Rejoice fellow readers! Silvdra-zero decided to help me with this project which mean that there will be less grammar crap to deal with. All hail our new Beta-Reader!
Phantom.
Chapter IV.
Hyperion's Cantina. Sometime later.
James get to the second stage of cantina, to speak with Naruto and Tosh. After what he saw he needed some 'guidance, how they called it.
"Looks like what you saw, shook you dawn the core." greeted him Tosh. "Those memories are so bright that I can feel them from ant point of this ship."
"I saw a… Hybrid… It was called Maar. Strange supernatural creature. It tried to consume the protoss' Keepers. Who send him to Zhakul? Who can control somebody like him?"
"The one, who created them, of course. It was only one among many. Dark Harbinger." replied Tosh. "The time is coming when they will be countless. And Stars will shake… from what happens next."
"You cannot know for sure."
"Of course no. But I and Wild too." he nodded at the Spectre, who slept in the chair. "Can feel it."
Raynor's downed mood was noticed by nearly everyone.
"What happened cowboy?" asked Swann. "You look bad… Worse than ever actually."
"Yeah… A lot of shit happened lately." replied James. "Well… you know how it is."
"Yeah. I know. Replied Swann. "Hey maybe you need to relax a little and sleep a bit more than two hours?"
"Yeah… already going… mom."
He went to the main bridge, really hard talk with Matt was ahead of him.
"Glad to see you back, sir. What did you saw in crystal this time?"
"I'm this easy to read or what? Anyway… Zeratul get with fragments to some kind of temple… or library. Who the fuck knows. What really mattered… is that it was captured by hybrid of protoss and zerg."
"You mean it was a protoss infested by the zerg virus?"" asked Horner.
"No it wasn't like this. More like two things combined together. And if there are more of them… Then we have a big problem."
James slowly returned to the lab. The more he looked, the more he wanted to not know, but he couldn't let himself to do it.
"With pain in my soul I had returned to the destroyed Aiur… Most part of the planet was still infested by the zerg. But the remnants of the Overmind still stayed… The grim reminder of past losses… and victories."
James made a deep breath. "I remember the death of Aiur. I don't want to see what happened to that planet. But I have no choice." muttered he.
"When the zerg's power over our forces became clear, Overmind became too… overconfident. Now all that is left from him is crisped, decaying shell. I thirsted to get from its rotten corpse all kind of information I can to learn. I needed to be telepathically connected with each of the giant nerve centers of the Overmind. But between me and my goal were thousands of the zerg, who get to the corpse, to feed on the psi-energy radiated by the remains of the Overmind."
Raynor saw how Zeratul had found the giant Colossi in the waters of Aiur, how he established the base and how he prepared his forces for assault of the zerg. Meanwhile said zerg sensed that they dead lord's body was endangered.
To his surprise there were still infested terran buildings and infested terrans on the surface of Auir.
Wave after wave was repelled by the protoss firepower of Colossi gave them advantage over the zerg. Then he got to the first nerve center. He felt pain… surprise… and death. Second center didn't gave him more that he had. There was death but there was also… joy? Zeratul started to feel woryy it was a third center, yet he still was far from solving the mystery. Overmind felt only satisfaction from successful achievement of the old plan and… fear of the future.
Fourth one was also clouded. There was only… death. You know more he decided to get into contact with brain core. And there most shocking revealing awaited him.
Tassadar waited for him there
"I greet you, brother. I speak with you from the Oblivion."
"Tassadar?!" yelled in surprise Zeratul. "But you had died in the battle with Overmind."
The cold of death is unknown to me, Zeratul. I will tell you about this in next time. Right know you need to know about the courage and bravery of this creature."
"Barvery? He was a monster!" objected Zeratul.
"Not always… Zerg were… changed. Destruction of our race wasn't their decision." stated Tassadar. "Overmind was granted power of thought and logic, but he was denied the will of his own. For his entire life he was trapped in the cage of his own mind."
"But who can made something like this to him? And why?" asked Zeratul.
"I do not know." replied Tassadar. "But Overmind managed to find a way to deny the will of his enslaver. He created something that became our hope… for salvation." Tassadar showed him what… or rather who he meant. "The Queen of Blades."
"This is madness!" screamed Zeratul.
"Only she is capable of freeing zerg from enslavement and saving all Galaxy from death in fire."
"I can't understand you… brother."
"Forget all that you knew before, Zeratul. Overmind had a vision about the end of the world. And you will see it too." said Tassadar.
"No!" screamed the Dark Templar falling to his knees before the rotting corpse of the Overmind. "I will not be able to go further… Enough! I'm about to lose my mind!"
Later Raynor spent a lot of time in company of bottles. Only after he rid himself of the consequences of what he saw, he decided to speak with the team.
"You saw something in the spirit world, brother." said Tosh. "You are scared. Is it somehow connected with Kerrigan?"
"It looks like the Overmind has created Kerrigan to free the zerg… from somebody… or something… who wishes the destruction of the protoss. Everything came upside down there is a power somewhere that wishes to destroy us."
"The zerg… and the protoss… They are very strong. How mighty and… Terrifying must be someone… who plays with their fates."
James decided to discuss it with Matt.
"May I be damned! I don't even know what to think about the last memory of Zeratul. He searched a way to stop the prophecy about the end of the Universe. And he went to Aiur."
"To Aiur?!" asked Matt. "What was he seeking there?"
"First of all he tried to understand, why Overmind created the Queen of Blades."
"SHE will destroy the Universe?"
"That's the main problem Matt… she is the only one, who can save it."
In arsenal James talked with Swann.
"I'm reading reports and can't stop myself. Fucking protoss are ages ahead of us. They doing such things that my mind suffers an overload."
"As if I don't know. After our last meeting they learnt few new tricks."
"Look, how can they send their boys into any possible direction? I thought that they need at least one Gates for this."
"Not in any possible direction. They need a Pylon or other source of energy, but they continue to upgrade their technologies. Just like us."
Raynor returned to the crystal. Gathering courage he looked into it.
"Now, my friend Raynor, you must see the vision of Overmind. The death of my people… and all living with us. Thus will be the future if Kerrigan shall die."
I don't want to get inside the vision of Overmind, but if it concerns Kerrigan… I must know." Said James letting the vision overwhelm him.
"Dark far away world will be the last foothold of protoss. Their greatest heroes will gather there." Said a booming voice of Overmind in Raynor's head. "And one by one, they shall fell, with honor. And my zerg will be the slaves of hybrids. All will bow before the might of the Fallen One."
Raynor saw, how protoss created the Achieve, in hopes, that races, who may come later will not make the same mistake they did. Raynor saw, how protoss fought bravely, in face of overwhelming forces. But there were too many of them.
One by one the greatest heroes fell. Zeratul was first to fell. "If only we had guessed before…" and legendary Dark Templar died.
"There is… too many of them." The flying zerg ripped the admiral Urun's ship into shreds. "Shield of Aiur" fell to the earth. "Kerrigan, how could we… know?" whispered Artanis and his soul left his body.
One by one, he saw them fall… and then there was only dark booming voice… In complete darkness.
"Foolish impudent children… Among you there was only one, capable of stopping my plan… But in your blindness you thought her to be the true enemy. I had written the first words of your history and I will put an end to it. I love it, when everything goes according to the plan."
"Friend Raynor, now you saw… the truth. Some unknown force from the Void wishes our destruction. This Fallen One… is he Xel-Naga? Are the gods themselves against us? And Kerrigan… even now… It's hard to believe that cruel and merciless Queen of Blades is the only one capable of saving the universe. Raynor… soon her fate will be in your hands. I know one thing… She must live… Beware, old friend… Hounds of the Void are coming.
Several hours later. Cantina.
"You look like shit, James." stated the obvious fact Naruto.
"He is right, brother. Maybe a couple o drinks will help?" asked Tosh.
"In the last vision I saw the future. Death of Humanity. Last fight of the protoss. War with hybrids. Armageddon. The only one, who is able to stop this… is Kerrigan."
"Who knows, how it will play out." said Tosh. "Cycle is upon Cycle. I know only one thing: looking into the future is dangerous thing. It's a great gift… and a curse."
"Tosh is right James. Don't fuck with ancient prophecies." advised Naruto. "They have a tendency to fuck you instead. Hard and without lube."
"Can it be changed? Or everything is foretold? I need to know!"
"You once told us, that we ourselves are responsible for our fate, Kames." said Naruto. "I think you cannot foretell the fate in nutshell, time and space are always in motion. Countermeasures must be made so the prophecy will come as foretold."
"Sounds like that dark thing in the vision."
"Dark thing? James, didn't you thought that it itself made this prophecy. After all from what I managed to hear from you, looks like it planned that from the begging."
"Then it's impossible for us to win, yes? It has foretold everything."
"If it was that powerful it wouldn't need so many lackeys and so many countermeasures. It can see many variants of future, far more than anyone. But it still can be defeated. That's why he forces us to fight each other. He fears that we will unite. He fears what we will be capable of."
Even in arsenal, where Jim decided to check the equipment he was not left alone.
"Hey cowboy, you look awful. You once again had thought about that madam?" asked Swann.
"Kind of. I just found out what can happen if we will not save her."
"Well if you ask me, than you shouldn't trifle with future and other mystical stuff. But you can count me in. Always."
Even when he got to the main bridge he was still in bad condition
"Sir you look… well I saw dead men looking better. What happened?" asked Matt.
"Zeratul let he see the future Matt. And I saw the End of All. Armageddon. Giant, more that you can even imagine army of protoss, fought against the hybrids and failed to stop them."
"And what about Kerrigan? Wasn't she prophesied to stop them?" asked Matt.
"In the future Zeratul showed to us, she was dead. That was what he tried to show us…. She must survive. Or we are all done for."
However his grieving was stopped by Naruto and Tosh. "Raynor, we think that it's time to tell you about the third step of our plan." said Tosh.
"Third step?" asked Matt, he didn't like how it sounded.
'Yes." said Naruto. "It's time to take the New Folsom. All, who spoke against Mangsk are there. You need to push your revolution further? There are people needed for this."
Several days later. Near the New Folsom.
"Hey where is Tosh?" asked James when he entered the captain's bridge. "I thought he is already here."
"He and Naruto had left the ship. I thought you are… Sir, incoming encrypted message." stated Matt.
"Connect us."
"Well, well." Said an image of beautiful blonde haired woman in Ghost armor. "Notorious Jim Raynor. My name is Nova. We need to talk."
"And why should I talk with a puppy of the Emperor." Asked James.
"Tosh is lying to you." said she.
"Matt, get Tosh and Naruto, they are listening either way."
"Future is for Spectres!" stated Tosh. "You just can't understand this."
"Or she is still angry because of all the bumps she got on her forehead, which she gained in the Academy, when you fucked her into the ass from behind."
Nova blushed. But continued to tell her point of view.
"After the Spectre initiation, People become obsessed with idea of killing. Yhose, who I managed to capture, right now are in the New Folsom."
"Don't listen to her, brother. Help me to get the Phantoms out of the prison and we will destroy the Mengsk together."
"Tosh wants to return them their psionic abilities, you get him all that he needed yourself. Prisoners of the New Folsom are maniacs and psychopaths, are you sure, that you want them out?"
"I will help you in war against Mengsk and so will the others, while she will betray you for her Emperor. Moment of truth, friend, chose."
"I will sooner cut my hand then work with Dominion's Ghost."
"You will be sorry for that, Raynor." Nove instantly turned off the transmitter and pushed the button on her armguard. "Image of asari appeared on it. "Miss Vasir? About our deal…"
Sometime later. Surface of the New Folsom.
"Looks like Nova had warned the warden of the prison. How will we get there? We will need some heavy artillery to get inside." said Raynor.
"All that you need is a pair of Spectres." said Naruto.
"Our cloaking devices are always working; you may compare us with your Dark Templar buddies." Said Tosh. While he and Naruto put bullets in the heads of the guard.
"Let me show you something…" said Tosh, raising his arms. Instantly group of Dominion Marines gripped their heads before they exploded in gruesome fashion. "I call it Mind Blast, helps to deal with groups of enemies." said Tosh to Naruto.
Tosh and Naruto went further. "Turrets are no good, they can detect the radiation of our costumes."
"Deal with them and the troopers and I will deal with the Siege tank." said Naruto.
He used his psionic powers to rip it into shreds.
"Hey, Tosh, Wild. My boys are coming to you." said James.
"Send us boys and we will deal with other shit." Said Naruto placing and explosive package near the factory.
Somewhere else…
"Tela, how is it going on your end?"
"Slowly. I hope within an hour I will be ready."
"Hour? They are already near the first prison block. If you want to see your dear Council Space again, you better hurry!"
Tosh and Naruto, passed the dominion forces on their right flank and attacked the Siege Tanks from behind. While Tosh helped Raiders Naruto get to the prison block. Grenade destroyed detector, his psionic powers ripped Dominion soldiers to shreds and another grenade dealt with Siege Tank. His battle knife blocked the attack of enemy's Ghost. Spin kick crushed his ribs and bullet from Tosh's rifle put an end to his suffering.
"Good job, boys." said Raynor. "Prisoners will help us in the fight for freedom."
Meanwhile Tela Vasir prepared her trap. She secretly left the ship and contacted Nova. For safe passage into the Council Space, she decided to betray the humans, who saved her and the matriarchs, who she sworn to protect before the Council.
When it came to situation like that, Tela Vasir had always chosen her well-being over the others. But unknown to her, the deal she made with Nova had one more witness. Liara saw her and talked to the only terran, who will listen to her…
Meanwhile freed prisoners hacked the "Diamondbacks'" systems and aided Raiders in their battle. With such supports and superior skills of Naruto and Tosh They easily dealt with next camp of Dominion soldiers.
Meanwhile, on high building, Tela, with sniper rifle, prepared to take a shot, she could locate Tosh through her radar and use it to kill him
"You are near the second block Tosh. Are you ready to meet new friends?" joked Matt.
"Don't worry about details, Tosh, came the voice of Raynor through the com-link, me and my boys will get the attention of Dominion forces while you can deal with the security near the blocks.
Meanwhile Tela find herself in really bad position. Naruto had found her. She was away from rifle and managed to beat away the pistol from his hands. But she was now locked in ferocious duel, her omni-blade against his battle knife, it really didn't matter that her weapon was longer at more advanced.
Naruto used his superior skills and powers to counter her attacks. She made a stab and he evaded it stepping to the left, his visors, leaving the glowing ray in the air came dangerously close to her face.
Tela jumped backwards, but when she raised her head he was nowhere to be seen.
"AGH!" She felt, how something sharp pierced her shoulder, she turned to see the knife, stabbed deep inside her right shoulder. Pair of arms in black Spectre armor grabbed her head. And with loud "Crack" Tela's betrayal ended.
"Good job, Tosh. With those guys we will destroy this flying rock pretty easily." said James as captives started to hack the Siege Tanks.
"Tosh, Naruto, nuclear weapons are set and ready, point where it must land, but remember that we can be caught in crossfire." reported Raynor.
In hands of specters it send death and destruction on the heads of their enemies. Last battle was ferocious. They were sure that Hyperion will be forced to step in as a Battle Cruiser guarded the last entrance. But there are few things a nuclear weapon can't fix.
Planetary Fortress withstood the assault the longest. But even it was heavily damaged by nukes and, its defenders were slowly giving up under the swarm of grenades, courtesy of Raiders. Finally the last Dominion soldier fell.
"You had just opened the gates of hell, Raynor." said Nova through her encrypted line. Anger in her voice was nearly tangible. Her double agent failed to deal with the Subject Nine and Tosh and The forces of New Folsom failed too. "Now only a miracle can save you."
"And let it walls fell." said Tosh. "You are free, brothers and sisters, new life awaits you!"
Jack covered her eyes, for a long time in the crio-camera it was her first time around. Small tattooed woman smiled. Today was a good day after all. Tosh returned as he promised.
Sometime later. Bridge of "Hyperion".
Raynor looked, how countless Battle Cruisers, captured by prisoners of the New Folsom, left the prison planet.
"For fifty years no prisoner managed to leave the New Folsom…" said he. "Just in one day we freed them all."
"I cannot believe that we made it." said Matt.
"Great job." said Tosh appearing in the room, while playing with his blade. "Now I and my Spectres will end this. We will kill the Megsk and burn his Dominion."
Matt made a grimace. "Getting rid of Mengsk is a first step. With it our new brighter future will start." he pushed the button on the console and list of names appeared before them. "Can't you see? We freed all, who rose against Mengsk. This is our true victory."
In rage Tosh stabbed his knife into the table. "Are you really that naïve? Tomorrow will be the new Mengsk, then another one and so on. Your brighter future is just an illusion."
James pulled out Tosh's knife.
"If all is for naught, then why are you here Tosh? Why are you fighting?"
"We have one goal, brother. I will not rest until Mengsk is alive." James looked at the knife ornamented with bones.
"Vengeance isn't right… We are fighting for freedom." said Matt.
He felt, how heavy arm of Raynor was placed on his pauldron. "You will see your better future, Matt." said James. He turned to Tosh. "But it 'aint for the likes of us." he returned the knife to Tosh. Spectre looked somehow solemnly before he cloaked and disappeared.
Later. Cantina.
"I think you need to know that Tosh and Spectres, joined us and our little revolution." said James to Tychus when they drank in front of each other, behind the central table of cantina.
"Looks like you have a soft spot for psychopathic psionics. I don't know Jimmy, if we should trust them, maybe there is a reason for Mengsk putting them under the lock."
"For Mengsk they were nothing but weapons… no more, no less. Every living creature has a right to be free… Every."
Later he had a talk with Tosh. "I'm gambling trusting you and your people, Tosh. I hope Nove wasn't right about you."
"Ha!" laughed Tosh. "Don't listen to her. Procedure of turning into Spectre is individual for each human. But we are still humans. For example… remember Wild?" James nodded.
"He has a hobby of collecting fangs of monsters, it was his consequences. By the way, he wants a fang of Mengsk in his collection." James smiled at this. "Don't listen to Nova, we all became Spectres on our free will. Bo she, nor Mengsk no somebody else forced us. Because the only true freedom you can have is freedom of choice."
"But can I trust Spectres? Can I trust you?" asked James.
"Till the end, no matter what kind of the end we are with you, my brothers and sisters owe you everything."
"An emergeancy…" came the voice of Donny Vermillion from the dynamics. "As far as we know… what is it? Now… Kate? But I…"
His vision turned to that of Kate Lockwell. "After the raid on the New Folsom prison were released very dangerous prisoners of state. Dominion's security forces are battle ready, because a lot of convicts before were subjected to the "Project Shadowblade" which was part of Ghost was released a group of political dissidents."
"Kate, do we know, who it was? Were Raynpr's Raiders somehow involved?"
"That were them, Donny. Without a doubr."
"Tadoy Jim Raynor made the universe even more dangerous for peaceful people. With you was Dobby Vermillion, specially for UNN."
"Not for peaceful people, but for the bad guys, Donny, I would have started to worry in your place.
Later in the arsenal.
"That guy, Tosh, gave me blueprints of armor and weapons for the Spectres. Are you sure that we can trust him? I heard that he brainwashes his candidates." said Swann.
"Turning into a Spectre is a matter of free will, Swann. Tosh looks over everyone of them, so there will be no psychotic mass-murderer, when newbies receive their new abilities." replied Jim. "No brainwashing."
"It's better be like this. I don't want them wrecking havoc around. One Tosh is bad enough."
Meanwhile with Nova.
"So you failed…"stated grim voice of Arcturus Mengsk.
"My Emperor, let me…"
"Let them be… Let Raynor gather all those rebels and dissidents and then we will crush them in one swift attack. However, right now you needed elsewhere."
"My lord?"
"Expeditionary fleet, which I had sent to the place called by locals the Council Space. I need you to go there and report directly to me how is our situation."
"You believe that the leader is about to rebel?"
"Angela Gorefield… No general Gorefield is loyal supporter of mine. I didn't let her be the commander of the Dominion Armada, only because Warfield was more well-known. And she was needed in the Expeditionary Fleet. Coordinates will be send to you soon."
"As you wish, My Emperor."
Nova put the coordinates in her computer and made a jump into hyper-space.
Hyperion. Captain's bridge.
"I don't even know what I'm fighting for, Matt. It' looks like I'm stuck in one place, trying to catch my own tail." said Raynor.
"Commander we were with you from the beginning and only your strong sense of Justice, doesn't let us astray from our path." said Matt.
"I lost my faith in that justice you speak of… long ago. For all my life I had fought and sent great guys straight to their death and for what? Right now I have only one goal in my life – to claim my revenge, and when the smoke from the battles will clear up… I hope that guys like you will built far better world."
"Without a question sir. You gave us hope. And until there is even the tiniest spark of it… I will not stop." assured him Matt.
"Jimmy, we have a bit of a problem…" said Tychus entering the captain's bridge. "Looks like Queen Bitch had found our… benefactors. Main egghead, doctor Narud has sent a message that the zerg are attacking main research facility of Moebius Foundation on Tyrador VII. Our good doctor cannot evacuate the personnel, until he is sure that all data about the artifacts is deleted."
Sometime later. Tyrador VII.
"Ah commander Raynor." said the good doctor, when he contacted them. "Thanks the stars you are here. You have a great reputation even when you started your career as marshal and I know that you will do all in your power to get us out of here."
"It's been a long time since then, doc. As I can see you have a problem with the zerg." said James. "How can we help you?"
"We are prepared for evacuation but the teams send to extract and destroy the data still haven't returned. I want you to destroy the databanks until the Queen of Blades didn't get to them and got the coordinates of the other artifacts. The fate of entire sector may be turned by this."
Suddenly the adjutant cut the transmission.
"Warning!" came her robotic voice. "Located the powerful source of psi-energy. Estimated as 12th class. Approach with caution."
"Kerrigan…" muttered Raynor. "Doc, we have less time then we thought. We are coming to you."
Raynor turned to his men. "Okay we will split the forces, mobile squad will explode this fucking databases, while others protect the extraction point."
"And I know just the team, who you will need for something like this." Tosh and Naruto, followed by Liara and Tali entered the captain's bridge. "Our Spectres alongside miss T'Soni and Zorah will deal with these databanks."
"You and your Spectres I can understand, Tosh, but what about girls? IF something will happen to Liara her mother will snap the ship in two. And if something will happen to Tali I fear to even imagine what will happen to you after Swann will find out."
"Don't worry." said Naruto. "I had already ordered Swann to create several ghost suits for them, just in case. And other asari take them too, by the way. So all Tali and Liara will do is stay behind me and work with data."
"At least somebody here is working over the tactics and plans." said Raynor.
Surface of the Tyrador VII.
"Downloading of search algorithm of Queen of blades is complete." stated adjutant, soon after the Raiders stepped on the surface. "Analyzing required time, for her to reach the databank."
"Still chasing me, Jimmy? It was foolish for you to come here." boomed her voice in their minds.
"I'm not here for long, darling." responded Raynor. "And may I be damned if I will let you to even touch these artifacts."
"I'm giving you control over our Medivacs, on them you can transport your forces and away from the zerg." said Narud, as pair of Medivacs, entered the Raiders camp.
"Good." said Wild. "Now all that we need is to explode this fucking building. Spectres! Follow me, it's time to repay for your release from the New Folsom!"
Their rifles came to action as they engaged the zerg near the camp.
"Hey it's Raiders! We are saved!" suddenly heard Wild from somewhere above. He turned to the right and sow several marines on the roof of small building. "Get them out of there, girls!" ordered he to Medivac pilots, not stopping his fire.
"What are you trying to achieve , Jim? I can sense that you are hiding something from me." said Kerrigan.
"Hey guys! Guys!" shout from another roof returned Wild to the grim reality. "Tosh get them out of there!"
"Great that you came." said the pilot of the Goliath. "I'm nearly out of ammo."
"Wild." contacted him Tychus. "You better hurry, Queen Bitch will be there soon."
"Don't worry Tychus." said Wild throwing explosive pack after explosive pack, alongside his fellow Spectres into the windows of the databank. "I got it covered."
"But of course." said Kerrigan, looking how the building exploded. "Moebius Foundation's databanks. Don't worry I will not let you near the others."
"Fuck!" said Raynor. "At least she doesn't know the location of other databanks. Get to the others. And kill that Brutalisk on your way to the other databank. Stetmann needs the samples of its skin."
"Yeah, yeah." said Wild, sending the psi energy into the Gauss rifle he was holding. "Tosh, I hope you will record, how I can kill a Brutallisk from one shot." said Wild pulling the trigger.
"Sorry, brother. Looks like my camera isn't working." laughed Tosh.
"Then you are peaking all this shit that had covered the area around." calmly said Wild.
"You never knew, when to give up, Jim." came another message from Kerrigan.
"Get your asses out of here, boys and girls, I want this databank smoking and in pieces!" ordered Wild. He turned his helmet to the right only to see the Moebius' marines firing at the zerg from the barrickades.
"Hey!" one of them waved his hand. "We need help! We cannot destroy the databanks! Help us!" leading them in battle, Wild and his fellow Spectres ripped the zerg with their psionic powers, while marines set the explosives.
"Wild! Brother, where are you?!"
"We are about to explode the second databank, Tosh. Did something happen?"
"Yeah. Jack and her squad were cut off with another squad of Moebius boys."
Wild sighed. "I will be there soon." he turned to the Liara and Tali. "Girls status report."
"All set and done." said Tali.
"Juicy information extracted." said Liara.
"And accesses to their bank accounts?"
"There were none."
"Well fuck!" said Wild.
"Your 'doctor Narud' will not trick me with this miserable charades. I know what these artifacts are. And soon they will be mine."
"Whatever they are you will not have them." replied James.
"Who may have thought that this "Queen" of yours can be so problematic." said Narud.
"You are desperate to ask anyone for help. You don't think that that 'plan' of yours will work?"
Wild didn't care, right now he and his squad tried to get to Jack and her men. As far as he could see, she managed. Empowering himself with psi-energy he ran to them, preparing the explosive packet. Jack's forces focused the attention of the zerg on themselves, while his squad attacked them from behind.
Meanwhile explosive pack entered the building and exploded inside. Jack came closer. "It fucking wonderful to see you here." said she, fist-bumping him.
"The last building is destroyed." came the voice of Narud through their com-links. "Start immediate evacuation."
"Okay ladies, you heard the good doctor? Move out." said Wild.
"Yes move out." said James. "Now 'good doctor' tell me why the Queen of Blades wishes to get the artifacts so much?' asked he.
"Artifacts scares her in the same way their creators do, which are known to us as Xel-Naga. Do you know that it were Xel-Naga, who created the Zerg and the Protoss? They were like gods."
Long ago.
Wind blew over the streets ravaged by war and covered with sand. Leftovers of the weapons and defensive systems were everywhere. On the earth laid a once green and now dusty, worn-out sign with words "Welcome to New Gettysburg", which still can be recognized on it.
Sign moved, spark of the blue energy were seen in the air, when sparks get to the position behind the destroyed wall, they covered the entire form and beautiful female, with bright red hair, clad in terran Ghost armor, decloacked.
"This is Kerrigan." said she in her com-link. "We had neutralized the protoss, but enormous zerg swarm is coming this way. We need evac, immediately!"
Meanwhile on the orbit, on board of his flagman Arcturus Mengsk closed his antique watch.
"Stay as you were!" commanded he. "We are leaving."
"What? You cannot leave them!" said Raynor.
"All ships! Prepare to leave the orbit of Tarsonis on my command!"
Meanwhile on the ground Kerrigan tried to hold on the zerg swarm, one by one she killed Zerglings, who swarmed her position, but there were too many of them. She was forced to take cover as Hydralisks started their attack. She ran and shoot from her cover, but not seeing her enemy made it a bit… problematic.
Suddenly the wall was destroyed in front of her. Large Hydralisk smashed into it and opened its maw hissing dangerously, Kerrigan's first shoot cut off his mandibule, second hit the monster into the shoulder, third pierced the skull.
Heavily Hydralisk fell to the earth. Kerrigan pushed the trigger only to hear an empty click, she pushed once again, not believing what she heard. She was out of ammo.
"Hey guys?" asked she into her com-link. "How fast are you gonna be here? Guys?"
"Fuck you Arcturus! Don't you dare do it!"
"It's too late. Navigating officer! Gave the signal to the fleet and get us out of the orbit!" said Mengsk. "Immediately." In illuminator first explosions were seen.
"Commander?" asked Kerrigan. "Jim? What the fuck is going on, on your end?" then she heard the scream. She immediately raised her rifle and looked into its optics. Everything was too clouded by dust, so she put on her visor.
They were countless. Wave after wave ran in her direction. From all sides.
She removed her visor, rifle fell from her arms. Sara Kerrigan raised her head. And Swarm consumed her.
Current time.
James Raynor awoke in 'Hyperion's' cantina, throwing away the bottles around him. One fell to the earth only to be captured by hand of Matt Horner. Matt placed it on the table. James grabbed it, but to his surprise Matt didn't release it.
"recently I'm cleaning the mess after you more often."
"Don't start it, Matt."
"Same dream again?" he took the chair and sat near Raynor.
"I said. Don't. Start. This."
"You are not the one to blame in this whole "Kerrigan incident"." said Matt.
"Specify, Matt. In the fact that she was betrayed, or in the fact that eight billions died that day?" asked James.
"Old song." Said Matt. "Are you even listening?"
He placed Jame's marshal insignia on the table and stood up, in the doors he turned and looked back.
"Look what you are turning into!" said he.
"We chose our fates ourselves, Matt"
"When you will be back on the horse again, tell me. We need you."
James took the insignia in his hand.
"Promise me, that from now on, you will fight for what is right. That you will not stop until you correct something that you view as 'wrong' or 'off'."
"I promise, dear. I promise."
There were many things Jim blamed himself for. But he will not stop. He promised. Until his personal demons will not be put to deaths, he will fight.
Six hour later. Same place.
"With you is Kate Lockwell from UNN. Recently Queen of Blades attacked the research center on Tyrador. Director of the center, doctor Emil Narud, faced the Queen of Blades herself, but unfortunately he cannot give us a commentary, but he made a statement, in wich he thanked Rayner's Raiders for helping to save…"
"Kate… Sorry to interrupt, but we have really important news… Give me a video ad, please." Donny wanted to erase what she said, but the deed was done. The support of the Raynor's Raiders came from the UNN channel.
"Your friend Tychus is bad… very bad man. He has many secrets." said Tosh.
"I concur. One doesn't has a deadman switch without a reason." said Naruto.
"You two think that he had set us up?" asked James. "Lead us straight to the Kerrigan's loving embrace."
"I think you and Kerrigan met, because you hunted the same thing." said Tosh. 'And he hides from you something else."
"And Kerrigan's loving embrace is only for you Jim. I can sense that feelings of hers. They are twisted, reversed by the infestation. As much as she loved you once, she wishes to make you suffer now. But even infestation, will not make her bitchy enough to kill you."
"He is right, brother. I cannot see what Tychus tries to hide from you though. I'm not as powerful in emotion sensing as Wild, so I cannot sense what Queen of Blades sensed. But even I can tell that Tychus is uneasy. Beware, brother. He is a natural-born killer."
James decided to search for Tychus to speak with him. He found him on captain's bridge, alongside Horner.
"I was thinking about Tyrador and you know what? I think that we can earn the money even without any kind of landing on zerg-infested planets." said he. Even without his CMC suit Tychus was intimidating, his famous tattoos was shown to all, who looked at him.
"If you are afraid take a hold of yourself and think about money." said James.
"I'm trying, brother. I'm trying really hard."
'Good to see that you are back, sir. I placed all information about current missions on the star map.'
"Matt, I'm… damn… thanks."
"Hey, Jimmy." said Tychus. "Moebius boys had finally settled somewhere after the whole ordeal on Tyrador VII. They sent us the coordinates of the another artifact. It's on this cute little planet called Typhon XI."
Sometime later. Orbit of Typhon XI.
"Here it is. Typhon." said Tychus. "Looks good, isn't it?"
"Yes, sensors shows…" started Matt but siren stopped him from ending whatever he wanted to say. "Wait… wha da… The intensity of star radiation increasead for five hundred per cent. I had never seen something like this…" said Matt.
"Wait a minute, Matt. What does this mean?"
This means that after few hours the star will explode and turn into supernova. Before that the planet will be covered by the waves of fire."
"Fire…" muttered Raynor. "Why is it always fucking fire?"
"There are also good news. We have sufficient supplies in this sector, so we will not require any supply depots."
"Well at least something. So where is our artifact?"
"Here." said Tychus, "Right in the middle of the fucking swarm of the protoss."
"Then we will use mobile stations to get from one location to another. Whatever we cannot move we will salvage for materials."
"You are what… Going on the surface?" asked Tychus disbelievingly.
"Don't shit your pants Tychus." said James. "Till the sun will explode there is still several hours."
"Then let's get this fucking thing out of here, until that Queen of Blades of yours, decided to grant us with her visit."
Sometime later. Surface of Typhon.
"Hey, cowboy? Did you took your umbrella?" asked Swann.
"It's not the best time for jokes, Swann." said Raynor, who looked at the position of the protoss from terran Command Center.
"Hey don't boil up, boy. I have a new present for ya. Banshee. Girls are masters of destruction any kind of the surface forces, they also can cloak so you will love them on first sight."
"Hey guys, how are you?" came very familiar cheery one of one certainly cute quarian girl.
"Tali?" instantly exploded Wild. "What the fuck are you doing there?" asked he.
"Relax, boys." said she evading the photon shoot. "I grew up on Flotilia. I know, how to handle such things. Whoa, it's really easy to drive! And enjoyable too!"
"Many people, who grew up near the ocean don't know how to swim, so get away from that Banshee unit. 'Growing on a spaceship' isn't good enough when you are fighting against a bunch of fanatical protoss, while the fucking sun is about to go all supernova on our asses."
"Let her stay." came from Raynor.
"What?!" asked both Wild and Tali.
"We need all the pilots we have."
"Okay. But I will look after her."
"Yeah, if you can catch up with me."
"Trust me. Tali, I can run really fast."
"Yeah. Yeah. Hey Romeo and Juliette, if you don't want another tragedy, watch for protoss towers, they can detect the Banshees when they are cloaked."
"You are kinda late with that warning, Swann , we had already destroyed all of them." reported Tali.
"Okay ,good job. Now let's settle up and start sending forces for the artifact, we will need to go as fast as we can to not turn into a crisp."
"Incoming transmission."
"James Raynor. We have been awaiting your arrival. This is High Executor Zell-Nash of Tal'Darim Sect. Now it's time for you to pay for your crimes!" familiar voice of their protoss nemesis voiced the threat.
"Fuck not those Tal'Darim again!" cursed James. "Do they not know when they better stop?"
"Don't worry, Jim." said Tali, who with other Banshee, patrolled the perimeter and dealt with the forces of Tal'Darim from the cloaked state. "We will manage. By the way we found one of these weird protoss relics that Stetmann wants, send somebody to fetch it."
"Warning! Wave of the fire is dangerously close to the base." sated adjutant.
"Tal'Darim took that strategically superior place on the east. It will be really good, if we will manage to get them out of there." said Matt through their com-links.
"On it!" responded Tali.
"You better do it without any kind of mistake girl." said Wild grimly.
"Don't worry I will manage… Is that the sounds of shooting I hear?"
"Focus on your mission, Tali!" said Wild putting another load of bullets into the protoss zealot. "James, grenade!"
Explosion dealt with the forces of zealots.
"Hey killa'."
"What is that Swann?"
"Have a birthday present for ya. You once told me that you can pilot those babies." drop pod landed in the base territory. Wild walked to it and put in the activation code. "Swann…"
"Yeah?"
"You are officially my favorite Secret Santa."
"Heh. Heh. Heh."
Large black colored Viking stood before Wild.
"Let's christen baby." said Wild, getting inside.
Tali and other Banshees, meanwhile, were dealing with the protoss' defense systems. Their cloaks were about to give up and reveal their position to the protoss aviation, when barrage of rockets washed them away with wave fire and metal.
"You said something about "not being able to catch up with you"?" asked the voice of the Wild from the com-link.
"Wha…? Wait a minute… Why the fuck do you have a personal Viking unit with other color scheme and certainly well better modified?" asked Tali.
"I dunno. Maybe I once said that I want this thing and Swann had made it for me… Or maybe I didn't rash in battle in first available Banshee unit, like some rookie?" asked he.
Tali gripped her teeth and started to push the button angrier thus sending the rockets to the earth faster.
"Focus you fire on the towers and Pylons, Tali! I and my boys will deal with the Immortals." Tali gulped. She heard about Immortals. Meeting them in nearby future wasn't in her plans.
"Fire is too close, sir. We need to relocate the buildings!" came the voice of the Matt from their com-links.
"I got everything ready, what's on your end? Tali, Wild?" said Raynor.
"Wait a minute… gottcha!" a pair of rockets turned the protoss Colossi into the piles of smoking metal. "All that we need now is to get rid of the buildings." said Wild.
"Good job. Tal'Darim's forces a liquidated. Time to settle in!" commanded Raynor to his forces.
"Our warriors' sacrifice will not be in vain… we will gladly give our lives to stop you, James Raynor!" said Zell-Nash
"Don't liste to the fucker, set up bunkers, prepare to some kind of shit. Just don't stay put. Move, or you will turn into a crisp!" barked commands Raynor.
"Hey James, we need a couple of science vessels. These guys can fix our unites right in the air and we will not need to return to the base." said Wild.
"I will try to do something." said Raynor.
"Good… Tali, lead the way! Another protoss camp just begs to be burned!" with loud cries Banshees and Vikings flew to their point of destination. The protoss should had known better than use mobile energy sources instead of Pylons, after all these flying 'medusas' are really fragile. Without them the protoss defenses deactivated, leaving the ground forces without the aid of Photon Towers.
"Relocate the camp commander, we dealt with Tal'Darim here!" reported Naruto. "Okay, boys and girls. It's time to deal with the main dish. Focus on Pylons and those energy ships. Without them their defenses are useless."
Barrage of fire hit the protoss main camp, forces of Raiders attacked from the flang, destroying the energy sources, leaving the protoss warriors among the deactivated buildings alone… with Vikings. Meanwhile Banshees exploded the keep.
"Artifact is ours! It's time to get out of here!" said Raynor.
"We will search for over the entire universe, James Raynor. Even you will be killed several thousand times it will not wash away this senseless sacrilege you committed today." said Zell-Nash.
Meeting point with 'Moebius Foundation'. Sometime later.
"Sir, we are at the meeting point, there is no contact, yet. It looks like the ship of "Moebius Foundation" still haven't arrived." said Matt.
"Strange…" said James. "They are never late."
"Sir! The Dominion ships are getting here! They are led by the Mengsk's flagship 'Bucephalus'!"
"Holy Mother of God!" muttered Tychus.
James get his revolver from the holster. Bullet that he saved since Tarsonis was there.
"Their shields are down. Sounds like trap."
"Matt prepare to board them!"
"Commander… This isn't the wisest option…" said Matt.
"You wanted your revolution, son?" asked Tychus getting his cigar out of his mouth and throwing it on the metal floor. "Here it is."
James, Tychus and Wild boarded the ship together, under the barrage of fire they get through the corridors of the ship. James showed with handsigns, that they need an opening. Tychus threw a flash-grenade to the lines of dominion marines.
"Smile Fuckers" was written on it.
Raynor put on his visor, menacing skull took the place of his face. In such state he charged into the battle. His shoots killed two marines before the doors. Two more were killed by the fire from him and Tychus. Third get his stomach rammed with Tychus' shoulder.
Two more get bullets in their foreheads from Wild's pistols.
On the captain's bridge high blond man with his hair placed in pony tail, looked into the depths of space from the illuminator, listening to the gramophone. However, suddenly the doors exploded and Raynor in his intimidating, black armor stepped inside.
He threw away the rifle and took out his Colt. "Look at me, Arcturus. Look in the eyes of your death!"
"My father isn't here, commander." said the man before him. He stopped the gramophone and turned to Raynor. "I'm Valerian Mengsk. And your employer."
"Give me at least one reason to not kill you."
"I can give you something that you always wished for. A chance, to save Sarah Kerrigan."
'Hyperion's' laboratory. Two hours later.
"Artifact, the parts of which you collected, was created by Xel-Naga, Using it I can create a device, which can reverse the mutations, which turned Sarah Kerrigan into the Queen of Blades. You are the only man, who knew the Queen of Blades and is still alive. You know her tactics and strategy. And I know that you will risk everything you have, to return the good old Kerrigan." words of Valerian hunted him still.
He looked away from the photo of red haired woman and walked away from the laboratory.
"Sir are you seriously considering to ally with Valerian?" asked Matt, when James entered the bridge.
"If you ask me, it's a good idea Jimmy. You will turn the Queen Bitch into human, she will get a bullet between her adorable eyes and you will become filthy rich in the process."
"Let us not hurry, Tychus. It's too early to count money." said James.
"Attack on Char is suicide! You are prepared to kill us all just for the chance to save your fucking whore of a girlfriend!"
"On this war there is no place for sentiments, Matt. This is our only chance to defeat the Zerg. And I will not let it pass by, just because it came from the son of Mengsk."
"So what will we do Jimmy? Return… or burry?"
"I can't understand why you are even arguing." new voice got in their argument. "The artifact is still incomplete, without a doubt Tal'Darim's last fortress is nearly indestructible and I doubt that they will leave the last holy relic unprotected, just for us. Especially after we defiled so many sacred worlds of theirs. Should I also remind you, that without a doubt we will need to be near Kerrigan, for that shit to even work? Which means it will be us against the whole fucking planet full of the Zerg."
"Wild is right. Nothing is decided yet. And to decide is my job. Now, return to yours!"
'Hyperion's' cantina. Several hours later.
"Heard you got a couple of new friends…" said Tosh. "Don't let his look deceive you. He may not look like this, but this Valerian managed to stay alive, without any kind of aid, while his father dearest was away conquering the sector." said Tosh to James.
"With you is Kate Lockwell from UNN." Naruto smiled. He liked to hear her voice. "Dominion's tacticians are surprised and pleasantly, I may add, that despite the often fights with the zerg on the border worlds, their moving is slowing down."
"Those are great news Kate. So our boys finally pushed the Zerg away."
"That is right, Donny. However there is opinion that the Zerg searched for something in our worlds. So they either found it or stopped their search. Whatever it is, we will never know."
"And our time is off. With you was Donny Vermillion, specially for UNN."
Crew also wasn't a fan of his decision. Their anxiety was sounded by Swann.
"What's up, Swann?" asked James.
"Look, who is asking! You compromised with our bitterest enemies! All my guys lost their friends and relatives on this war with Mengsk! We are sitting on the fucking powder keg! That's what isn't right!" said Swann.
"This isn't up for a debate, Swann. I must do it."
"Sir we have an incoming call from 'Bucephalus'. Prince Valerian wished to speak with you." Said Matt.
"Are you sure in this, Jimmy?" asked Tychus. "You know that Mengsk is hunting for your head. Turn your back to him and he will pierce it with a knife."
"I will deal with that, Tychus."
"Just don't leave him any kind of opportunity, Jimmy, that's all I'm asking about." said his old friend.
"I had already told you: I will manage! I you do deal with that shit, then take your thirty per cents and go away from my ship."
"Sir, I must say that I'm objecting your decision." said Matt. "This is an obvious trap."
"I know what I'm doing Matt. Trust me."
"We are so close in winning war with the Mengsk! If we will go for the Queen of Blades now, everything will be for naught!"
"This is far more than a win over Mengsk. Matt if we will win on Char we will save billions of lives. Billions! Mengsk can wait."
"I will not take a part in this!"
"You agreed to follow my lead, Matt! So obey my command, or get away from my ship!"
"Sir." Matt shook his head and connected them with Valerian.
"Commander. Our friends from Moebius Foundation found the last fragment of artifact. After we will get it, we can finally went to char and deal with Kerrigan. Good luck, mister Raynor. You will need it. The last artifact is on the ancient ship in sigma quadrant."
"That far away from any habituated system, junior.."
"Artifact is here" on tactical screen appeared the protoss fortress. "On the ship there are several generators of aggressive field, which can disintegrate any kind of matter in mere seconds. Fortunately our new battle cruisers of Minotaur class can be there long enough to destroy the generators."
"What else do we need to know?" asked James.
"Scan of the territory showed the large Tal'Darim's forces."
"Wha…? I don't think that we will manage this. Gravitation fields? I didn't sign up for suicide mission. Let's take the credits and get out of here."
"What's up, Tychus? Shit your pants already?"
"I spent nine years in jail to save your sorry ass! And I don't want to risk it, saving your fucking princess! You owe me, partner."
"Not enough to stop here. You are free… Sat this somewhere in peaceful place… Partner."
"Good, you know where I can be found." said Tychus leaving the captain's bridge.
"Adjutant, prepare the ship to jump. It's time to end this."
Ancient ship. Somewhere nearby.
"Attention, abnormality in gravitation has been found." said the voice of adjutant.
"This is the first graviton field, which Valerian mentioned." said Raynor.
"Battle cruisers can hold there for some time. It will be enough to destroy the generator. But they will need to shoot at once." said Matt.
"Got it."
Dominion's cruisers went in direction of the generator. Fields gripped their metal carcasses, trying to rip the corpuses asunder. But the giant ships were tough enough to hold. While they came closer all three of them charging their Yamato canons.
When from the generator were left only the smoking remains, Horner's spirit rose a bit.
"What do you think, commander? Shall we try to steal this piece of artifact?" asked he.
"Don't be hasty, Matt." said Raynor. "We will need more than a couple of battle cruisers to pass through this."
"Don't hurry, commander. Think everything over. I can send only several more battle cruisers. We will need them all on Char." said Valerian.
"There is another problem. It would have been better if there were natural mines, but after the hundreds of years in cosmos and a lot of asteroid bombarding, minerals and crystallized vespen are all over this ship." said Matt
"Good, let's scatter and everything to Command Center." said Raynor stepping on the surface of the planet.
"Matt." came the voice of the Wild from the com-link. "Get 'Hyperion' and cruisers over the position of our camp. If the protoss try something… fry them with 'Yamato' don't take any chances."
Meanwhile Raynor and his forces dealt with Stalkers in hellish fight for resources.
"There enough of recourses here, to get us several more battle cruisers. Anyway, prepare to deal with their defensive forces. Cruisers activate 'Yamato' canons. Several shoots had to deal with those photon canons." said he into com-link.
Now five battle cruisers get in battle over another generator, Tal'Darim tried to use this opportunity to attack the 'defenseless' from their point of view camp. Weapons of 'Hyperion' said otherwise. Meanwhile five shots from 'Yamato' canons, dealt with the generators.
With another generator destroyed, they felt a telepathic message.
"En Taro Tassadar, friend Raynor. Tal'Darim put under guard everyone, who dared to oppose them. Free us and we will gladly fight on your side." said one of the captured Dark Templars.
Meanwhile SCVs got the vespen from the mines captured when the second generator was exploded. Two more ships arrived for their support. Meanwhile fixed my science vessels, battle cruisers pressed forward to another generator. They had also located another prison with Dark Templar.
Soon it fell under the barrage of fire.
"Thank you, James Raynor. Tal'Darim will pay for their betrayal." stated the Dark Templar. Spreading havoc and gore they pierced the lines of Tal'Darim. Unfortunately for the latter, they were far away from any kind of detectors. Soon countless embraced death given to them by them by the green blades of the void.
Meanwhile another prison fell under the barrage of fire.
"Thank you, James Raynor. We will join your hunt for Tal'Darim." said one of the Dark Templars.
Meanwhile nine cruisers dealt with another generator in the center of the ship.
"Ah!" said Valerian. "Here it is. Our goal. I can see it from here."
Meanwhile said artifact was sealed in special vault and giant mothership appeared above it.
"Prepare for you deaths, vandals." familiar voice Ta'Darim high executor came from it. "It's time to pay for your crimes."
"This ship will not be easy to deal with, sir." said Matt "Judging by our scanners readings, it can masj the allied units and send the enemy's ones to some kind of pocket dimension."
To stay out of the mothership's scanners and visors, fleet attacked the left flank of the protoss' defensive systems. Ten battle cruisers are power, ten shots of the 'Yamato' canons is a sight to be seen. After that there was only a melted crater in the earth, instead of generator.
Thirteen battle cruisers went to the center after the repairs on the base. Such power easily dealt with the generator on the right flank. Thus they also opened the way to two prisons with the Dark Templars. First of them fell as fast as the repairs were completed.
"My blades thirst for vengeance." greeted them Dark Templar.
Two remaining generators were on the right and left sides of the keep. So they started from the one where there still was a jail.
"You are not known as Liberator for naught, James Raynor." said the last dark Templar.
Destruction of another generator went smoothly, but on their road back to the camp they got too close to the mothership. In that minute they had nearly lost three ships. So they once again attacked from the flank, after the repair. Another generator was turned into smoking melted crater.
To preserve their forces from destruction James ordered the group of battle cruisers to split into pairs and attack the vault. 'Yamato' canons melted the keep and revealed the artifact. Protoss tried to stop this, but eventually they once again were defeated. At least they managed to keep their mother ship.
But instead of a way to intimidate the opponents it was used as transport for the retreating forces.
"Job is done boys let's take the artifact and go meet Valerian." ordered Raynor.
