Clarification: I've been reading the reviews, and this is my answer: in the end, everything will make sense, and if it does not, just let me know and I'll fix it.
StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void
Chapter 3
The Mothership
Jim had never been in a Mothership, but it was awesome.
He didn't have much time anyway. Artanis went inside before him and was expecting them with an expressionless face.
Obviously he didn't like Kerrigan at all, but for sure he knew they had to work together.
-Raynor!-he shouted.- Zeratul is in the center of the Mothership, we must reach the place before they kill him!-
-Would they kill a war prisoner!?-Jim asked while running to reach the protoss.- That's an act of war!-
-They do not care!-Artanis assured.- The other Hierarchs are in endless discussion about the Queen of Blades and the prophecy of Amon, and Zeratul is the only one that pun an end to all that!-Artanis felt two protoss running to him and he jumped away.
Raynor wondered how Artanis landed on the floor and jumped again over the zealots. Before he touched the floor, he extended his arm and the zealots fell, spilling their blood on the floor.
Kerrigan came out from the Hyperion's connection arm, with a purple aura flowing away from her.
-Five years ago, I fought against you. Now, we fight in the same side. It's an honor, Queen of Blades. I respect my enemies.-Artanis made a reverence.
Both protoss and terran soldiers passed among them, running.
-Leave the formalities for after!-Sarah said.- Let's do this before Zeratul dies!-
They started to run the three together.
Artanis was faster than them, with all his implants doing their job well. Sarah was right behind him, and Jim was doing his best for being at their side.
The protoss had made some kind of bunkers in the corridor. Jim activated his helmet and the computer started to look for weaknesses.
Sarah made a diversion so Raynor's helmet could retrieve more information.
But Artanis moved faster and doubtless.
He got through the protoss defenses and moved majestically. Artanis blocked an attack and without seeing he managed to kick another attacker. He turned on his back after killing the protoss he had in front with the other hand and killed another.
Jim moved forward, opening fire with no compassion, as Sarah jumped to Artanis side while unleashing a psionic storm over the bunkers.
Two protoss fell with holes in their head, a third fell by shots in the chest and another lost a leg and died bleeding.
Kerrigan and Artanis moved as one forming a circle. She used her wings to tear one zealot apart as she moved her hands to the head of a second. The first broke into two, and the second's face rolled over the floor.
Artanis, at the same time Kerrigan killed those two, used his psionic blades to stake one protoss and then used him as a shield. He blocked the others blades, and then Artanis used the body as a siege ram.
The rest of the protoss group was fired all over the place. Some of them died because of the impact, and the ones that didn't, died because of the bullets of the Raiders.
-Good job, team, keep moving!-Jim shouted.
Kerrigan and Artanis stared at each other for a while, and then both began to move forward together.
-Matt to Jim, do you copy? I repeat, Matt to James Raynor, do you copy, boss?-Raynor raised a hand to reach the auricular inside his left ear.
-I'm here, Matt.-he said.- What is it?-
-The Mothership has been upgraded; I'm detecting an enormous amount of increasing energy. It comes from three points, three generators, and by the information the Artanis's protoss gave us it's something called "Nova Explosion". When it detonates, it will kill every non protoss life form in a radio of one hundred miles. You gotta destroy those generators before you reach Zeratul or we are all doomed.-he explained.
-Matt, send Project Loki to my position!-Raynor said with a smile.
-I'm gonna take this way!-Sarah said without stopping running.
The last thing Raynor saw of her was a path of destruction and death, an unstoppable thing that could destroy the whole ship alone… If it wasn't for Urun. That guy was up to Artanis.
Maybe Sarah could defeat him, Raynor preferred not to try. The vision of Amon killing everything still disturbed him.
-Raynor, there is one by this way, very close, go there, I will take the one that is further than the others!-Artanis accelerated after taking another way.
Again, Raynor saw him killing protoss, his own brothers, with no mercy, like a cold assassin. But Artanis wasn't that. He was a hero, the hero of Shakuras, as well as Zeratul, and a hero of the Brood War. Artanis, for sure, knew what was in the table, and he'd never turn his back on the whole galaxy.
-Guess I gotta take down the last one.-he whispered to himself.- Raiders, move to the central chamber and try to get Zeratul back!-he shouted by the communicator.- Don't fear them, and DO NOT engage Kerrigan, she's with us!-
-Already known!-a soldier asked.
-Alpha and Omega teams, follow Artanis! Gamma and Delta, Kerrigan is your team leader!-Jim said after.
-What about you, sir?!-
-I'll be fine, soldier! Matt, have you sent Project Loki?-he responded.
Raynor reached the corner and, after taking hedge and checking the ammo on his rifle and on his pockets, poked his head slowly to see what was expecting him.
-Yes, sir. Be careful, those things explode like a nuclear bomb.-Matt informed.- They should be reaching you now. And hurry up, sir!-he said in his ear.- Destroy at least one so the process will be slowed down!-
There were at least a hundred of protoss around that thing. Raynor wouldn't take 'em all down himself.
That's why he has called the Loki's.
Five machines appeared from the way he had taken to get there. Five huge machines that were exactly like the Thor's.
But these machines were different inside.
These machines were programmed to reach an objective and then explode. They were almost indestructible and they had a self-reparation program. They could repair seventy five percent of the received breakdowns.
-Loki one and two, go to Artanis's position.-he ordered.
Two of the five machines turned back and left the place quickly.
-Kerrigan, you need help?-Jim asked.
-I'm fine.-she assured.
Raynor stared at the Lokis. "Like nuclear bombs", Matt had said.
Let's see how powerful they were.
-Lokis three and four, destroy the generator around the corridor at any cost!-
Two of the three remained machines moved forward, passing in front of him, with no hesitation, and then the protoss opened fire.
More than forty zealots jumped to them, but the Lokis punched them and the protoss bones were broken at the contact.
Still, that wasn't enough. More than three quarters of them made it to Loki. They started to cut them, and then the self-reparation protocol activated.
Shots from stalkers and missiles from immortals were everywhere.
Jim left the hedge and fired. Two zealots fell to the floor, with their stomachs and head destroyed, bleeding.
He avoided a missile from an immortal and threw a grenade once in the floor. He stood up fast and then he saw that one of the Lokis was almost destroyed.
-Fifth Lokie, move, destroy that generator! Turbo mode!-the other two stopped suddenly, making the zealots fall to the floor.
The remaining Loki ran forward, trampling the zealots, spreading blood, brains and bowels all over the floor and the walls.
Ten immortals and around fifty stalkers got in the way, but the Loki just jumped over them.
The machine reached the generator and embraced it. It exploded exactly as Matt said it would. All the protoss there were about to die, and they could say the same about him. The floor trembled and the trembling would've made Jim fall if he wouldn't have jumped to get away from the explosion.
Jim ran away as fast as he could when he saw the explosion the Loki had turned into. And when he noticed that the other two Loki were still there, he ran faster.
-Self-destruction!-he shouted, and for lucky the remaining Lokis deactivated.
-Sir, good news! Kerrigan has destroyed one generator! And with no casualties!-Matt informed.- Oh, I see you did it too! There's only one left!-
-I need help!-Jim screamed through the communicator.
-I'm sending backup!-Matt shouted in respond.
Jim suddenly felt his back on fire, and he was sure the explosion had reached him. He made a last effort and jumped.
Still, it wasn't enough. The fire had reached him and he was sure he was about to die… But then someone caught him. The hands that grabbed him were hard, violet and had claws. The hands of a zerg. But not any zerg.
-Sarah…-he said, gasping.- Oh, hell, than…-
-Shut up.-she said.- I owed you this.-
She flew as fast as she could, feeling her feet in fire, but she made an effort not to fail. Kerrigan accelerated all she could.
-Hol on!-she shouted.- I'ma crash walls to reach Zeratul!-
She aimed to one, ignoring Jim's face, and when they were about to reach the wall, she turned on her back.
Her wings did the work, weakening the wall enough to destroy at contact.
Many zealots and stalkers stared at them when they saw the Queen of Blades and a human flying over 'em, and that diversion was used by the Akilae warriors under Artanis's command.
But Artanis wasn't there.
-Matt, any information on Artanis?-Jim asked.
He heard a sigh and the Matt answered.
-No, he's silent. He hasn't have talked since he said he'd take the further generator. Maybe he's still on it.-
-We must reach him!-Jim said to Sarah.
-Our goal is to rescue Zeratul, Artanis knew the risks!-
-Yes, but if the generator can charge the Nova Explosion, we'll die!-
-I can feel Artanis, he's still alive!-
Suddenly, the lights went off and they heard a click.
-Told you.-she said.
After destroying some walls and after seeing corpses, blood, brains, arms, legs, chests and bowels everywhere, they finally reached the central chamber.
Artanis finally showed up a moments after Sarah landed with Jim close to the door.
The protoss was bathed in blood. His shiny eyes were the only thing visible. His armor was destroyed in some parts and his blood was combined with his brothers's blood. But still, he was almost uninjured. Only a few non-lethal wounds.
-This is it.-he said, going to the door.- Urun is behind this door. You can not fight him, James Raynor. He would destroy you. Only I and the Queen of Blades are capable to fight now. I recommend you keep yourself away from combat. But…-he came closer to Jim; Sarah clenched her fists.- If you want to fight, I will not stop you.-
-Remain here.-Sarah asked Jim.- Urun is too much for you. Artanis and I can handle this.-she put a hand on his shoulder.-
Jim looked at his men bodies. They were all dead. At least he had sent only the tenth part of his crew.
-But…-
-Please, Jim.-she said.- He can kill you. I prefer to be sure you live.-
-Alright.-he sighed.
And then, Artanis kicked the door. His cybernetic implants made it destroying it at all.
The door fell to the floor obstreperously. Urun and five zealots were expecting them, ready to fight, and Zeratul, sprawled on the floor, was surrounded by force fields that were containing him prisoner.
-Urun.-Artanis said turning his blades on.- Release my master, and you will not be hurt. Neither for me nor for my allies.-
-Your master is a traitor to every protoss! Either alive or dead protoss! He has betrayed our people by encouraging that female human to become the Queen of Blades again!-
-He didn't…!-Kerrigan started, but Urun cut her off.
-He did! He encouraged you, Zeratul himself said so!-
-You do not understand!-Artanis shouted coming closer to Urun and the zealots, who raised their blades.- There is an ancient Xel'Naga alive, running around, wanting to kill us all, to consume everything, and all you can do is just encourage a civil war!? By your own judgement, Urun, who is better?!-he asked.- A man that prefer to think that none of that is happening, sit down in a chamber and discuss all the day just to not agree on nothing with the others or a man that is able to sacrifice everything, including himself, to ensure his race survives!?-
-You have gone too far.-Urun whispered.
He and his zealots jumped to Artanis, but he avoided them. Kerrigan sent a psionic blast and two zealots burst like firecrackers.
-No!-Urun shouted, and then he focused on Sarah.
He made an instantaneous jump to the Queen of Blades and attacked, but for luck Kerrigan managed to get out of the attack range, gaining only a superficial wound.
Artanis killed the rest of the zealots in a moment, then he turned to Urun.
-You are delaying us!-he shouted.- Amon will destroy us all, we must stand together!-
-I do not care about a god that does not exist!-Urun engaged Kerrigan again and blocked Artanis's attack at the same time.
He turned on his axis while jumping. He managed to kick Sarah's face and cut Artanis's helmet.
-You are no rival for me!-he said.- I've been training for decades!-
Kerrigan retreated to the wall, grabbing her face and seeing red because of the blood falling from her forefront.
-And I have defeated the zerg alone!-Artanis shouted.
He kicked Urun's knee and threw an attack, cutting his opponent's arm.
-Ha!-
Urun rolled over the floor, used the wall as booster and jumped away. He fell on his feet while Artanis ran to him.
Both attacked at the same time, and their weapons hit each other's blades.
-Please, brother, stop!-Artanis said.- Do not fight, we must fight the enemy as one!-
-I am doing that.-Urun whispered.
He raised his arms quickly and tried to strike Artanis's face, but his attack was stopped by Kerrigan's wing.
Urun looked at her too late.
Her other wing penetrate his armor from his back and emerged on the other side. Even so, it wasn't a mortal wound. It was just a wound that would have him in the nursery for several days.
Artanis lowered his arms while turning his blades off.
-You traitors…-Urun said.- We will be destroyed by her because of Zeratul's stupidity and you save him.-he said with a great effort.- I do not think I am a bad man compared with you.-and then he fell to the floor, surrounded by a puddle of blood.
-That was not necessary.-Artanis reproached Kerrigan.
-He was about to kill you, what was I supposed to do?-she responded.
-I could have kept fighting.-
-Besides, he'll survive if we don't let him bleed to death.-she finished, indifferently.
-You and Raynor release Zeratul and get him to the Hyperion.-
-To the Hyperion?-Jim asked entering the place.- I assumed you wanted Zeratul to be in your ship.-
-He told me he wanted to be with you two in the Hyperion. I'm leaving with Urun.-Artanis took him in arms.- I will contact you in about one hour or two. Farewell, Raynor.-he made a reverence to Jim.- Farewell, Queen of Blades.-he made another to Sarah.
-Goodbye, Artanis, See you later.-Jim said.- We'll be waiting for you.-
Artanis nodded affirmatively at them and walked away.
Jim and Sarah approached to Zeratul. He was still unconscious. His body was full of bleeding wounds, but none was serious.
-Matt, how can we deactivate the force fields?-Jim asked.
-There should be a computer on your right, boss. Try to use the controls.-
Before he could turn and look, he heard a little explosion. Sarah had destroyed the computer. The force fields went off instantly.
-Done.-she said.- Let's get him out.-
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