Disclaimer; I do not own Starcraft or any of its characters.

A/N Please remember that this is fan fiction. I said at the start of the story that I was writing this so I could let my imagination run wild and hopefully gave everyone an enjoyable story in the process so I'm sorry if it doesn't measure up to everyone standards. I will try do my best but If you don't like it then don't read it. Plenty of fluff again in this one. I will get to darker scenes again to all those who have offered reviewed or offered suggestions.

Heart of the Swarm Chapter 7

It was an interning time for Jim to say the least. He had faced hordes of Zerg in combat, battled the Dominion in countless occasions but never had the odds been so stacked against him. He was used to fighting but this was a different type of battle altogether. Not only was he dealing with his rekindled relationship with Sarah but he also was no faced with finding a way for the Zerg to accept him. If that wasn't enough, he also had the lives of his Raiders to think about as they followed him against an enemy they knew nothing about. An enemy that had shown that he would stop at anything to destroy them.

He was in a precarious situation. Sarah had told him that she had ordered the Zerg to follow his commands as if they were her own. While he wanted to believe her that they would obey him, she had also told him that the Zerg forces had more autonomy than ever before. She encouraged them to think for themselves. If this was true then he had to win them over on his own especially given the proximity of his battle group to the swarm. The Terrans would only be able to offer minimal resistance should the Zerg suddenly decide to attack. They were already risking too much, he needed to do more for them.

He and Matt spoke to the crew before leaving Korhal's orbit. They offered any man or woman the chance to leave and join up with Valerian's forces.

Valerian had a task almost as difficult. The Dominion was fractured. He knew if the Terrans could not band together and form a fighting force of significance then they were all doomed. Jim had told Valerian of the vision he shared with Zeratul. In that final battle all the Terran worlds had already fallen, their cities and armies burned and their race driven to extinction. It maybe true that Sarah was the key to their survival but he would be damned if they laid down without a fight. If the end was indeed coming then they would make their enemy earn every inch of the sector.

Valerian was not his father. He would not abandon the fringe worlds to protect the core ones. They would stand together or fall.

The problem was convincing the rest of the sector to follow him. He had never been taken with using the media the way his father did so to the masses he was a relative unknown. He had to find a way to convince them. Hopefully if they fought as one they would make a difference, hopefully it would allow a few of them to survive.

Only months before his only concern was proving that he would be a better emperor than his father and now all he could think about was the survival of his people.

Jim had thought that more of his Raiders would leave given the opportunity. He had assured them that he would think no less of them if they left. Of those under his command less than a hundred left. Matt had warned him that it would be so. They might not understand why he had allied himself with the Zerg but they were willing to trust him. He had always come through for them before. That they trusted him so much was exactly why he was so afraid. He was doing what he thought was necessary but what if he was wrong, what if his decisions cost them their lives.

He would have succumbed to depression again if not for Sarah. Matt had recognized the signs and told her discretely what might happen next. He wasn't wrong either. Sarah had caught Jim trying to sneak a few flasks back onto the Leviathan after a routine visit to the Hyperion. Of the Raiders, Matt was one of the few who dared challenge Jim when he retreated into himself but even then Matt was careful in what he said. He was still their leader and Matt wanted him to lead.

Sarah however had no qualms about confronting Jim. Especially since she knew that it was she who drove him to drink in the first place.

"The Dominion battle group has contacted us. They will meet us at the rendezvous as previously agreed upon. The ghost Nova is in command." Za'gara informed Jim, snapping him out of his thoughts.

He nodded to her to acknowledge what she had said. Jim was uncomfortable being in what he assumed was the Leviathan's control room but Sarah had insisted that he spend some time there without her. She wanted the Zerg and Jim to get accustomed to one another. It was easier said than done.

Jim did not mistake Za'gara's tone every time she spoke to him. He could almost hear what she was thinking. She thought of how weak he was, of how easy it would be to rip the flesh from his bones.

Jim had over heard her questioning Sarah about him already once before. Only when Sarah had told her that it was another lesson that she needed to learn did Za'gara tone down her disapproval.

Izsha and Stukov were a little easier to win over. Their Terran backgrounds made their acceptance of him a little more bearable to handle.

Izsha was loyal to Sarah to a fault. If her Queen told her that Jim was vital to the Swarm's survival then it was so. Jim supposed that he should be grateful for that. He would be able to trust Izsha was telling him the truth.

Stukov was a different story. He almost seemed pleased that Jim was aboard. He supposed that Stukov missed the company of Terrans. He went out of his way to make conversation with Jim. Something that Jim was grateful for. Stukov regaled him with stories of Earth. He spoke of its vast oceans and its rolling hills. He spoke of a glorious people extending their reach into vastness of space. A sparkling jewel in the heavens Stukov called it. Jim could see the heartache in his features. He missed the home he could never return to. Jim felt that he count on Stukov when the time came.

"Interesting that the Dominion chose Nova to command the battle group they are sending with you, yes?" Stukov knew of Sarah's orders to not allow Nova on board and had guessed the reason for it. He took the opportunity to tease Jim about it.

"Interesting indeed. As if I needed any more problems." Jim scratched his chin in annoyance.

"A little competition never hurt anyone." Stukov continued to try and goad him.

"It is when there are more pressing issues to deal with and especially when dealing with women as powerful as these." Jim tried to remind him.

Stukov smiled evilly. He had gotten the response he wanted. He pressed on with his playful assault. "So there IS a competition then?"

Jim sighed at himself for taking the bait. "No, there is not. There never has been and there never will be."

Amused at the result of his little game Stukov turned to the chart he was looking at. "The rendezvous point is close to Protoss space. A dangerous place to go uninvited."

"Yes but we have no clues where to start. We need help." Jim explained.

"They might not be so eager. They paid a heavy price in opposing the swarm." Stukov had his doubts about the help they were seeking.

"I've had dealings with the Protoss. Maybe I will be able to convince them." Jim hoped what he was saying was true but he had his own doubts.

"Yes. I heard stories that you helped them defend Aiur before it fell. You were helping them again when your friend Fenix fell." Stukov tried to remember the stories he heard.

"Fenix..." Jim had not thought about Fenix in a few days. His Protoss friend that had been trapped in the shell of a dragoon. A friend that he had sworn to avenge. His friend that fell at the hands of the Queen of Blades, the woman that was at this very moment waiting for Jim to return to her bed. Life and its ironies.

"Let me know when we are a few hours from the rendezvous point." He nodded to Stukov before heading off. He needed a drink. He was glad that he was able to sneak a few bottles on board while Matt was not looking.

He reached Sarah's quarters and found it empty. Any other time this would have wished it otherwise but he had heavy thoughts on his mind. He went straight for the chest that he had hidden the whiskey in. He flipped it open and started rummaging through but could not find what he was searching for.

"Looking for something?" Sarah said behind him.

Jim turned to find Sarah leaning against the far wall. An empty bottle in her hand.

Sarah was checking on various things when she felt Jim's mind suddenly distressed. She finished quickly and headed back to her quarters.

Jim didn't know what to say so he tried to lighten the mood. "Finished it without me? I would have shared."

Sarah curled her lip. "Talk to me." She walked over to him and laid her head on his shoulder.

"You have less gray hair than I remember." Sarah noticed as she looked at him.

"Yeah well I wish could say the same for the Zerg in you." Jim snapped at her.

Sarah's eyes were filled with pain but she said nothing to defend herself. She deserved that and infinitely more.

"I'm sorry I don't mean that." Jim regretted what he had said almost immediately.

"You should." Sarah said to him sadly.

"What? No." Jim tried to hug her but Sarah pushed him away.

She took a few steps back. "I did so many unspeakable things that I don't ever deserve to be forgiven."

"That wasn't you Sarah. It couldn't have been you. You didn't kill him."Jim said more than he was going to.

Sarah nodded, understanding now what caused his distress. She should have figured it our sooner. She should have thought of it when she had a course plotted to Protoss space.

"Fenix." She whispered.

Jim couldn't stop himself. "Yeah. Fenix, remember him or was he just another life trampled beneath the feet of your swarm."

"I'm sorry, Jim. Others had to explain to me what happened. I told you I have no memory of being the Queen of Blades." She wanted to reach out to him but the last thing she deserved was to be comforted by him.

"You betrayed him, you betrayed us. You mocked him after his death. We were friends. I swore to avenge him." Jim sank to the floor.

"And now you feel like you are betraying his memory even more by being with me." Sarah clutched at her abdomen feeling fear rise up through it. She was sure she was about to lose him.

Jim looked at her. "I want to yes but I don't, Sarah. I just don't."

Sarah didn't understand what he was saying so she remained silent and waited for him to continue.

"I love you, Sarah, and more than anything in this life I want to be with you. What does that say about me? That I could throw away a promise to a friend just like that. Did his friendship mean that little to me?" Jim's conflicting emotions raged in his heart and mind.

Sarah kneeled in front of him so that she could look him in the eyes. "It says that you anyone would value your friendship knowing that even in their darkest moments you can see goodness in them."

She stood and pulled him up with her. "I don't deserve to be forgiven for what I've done. I truly don't and if I was in your place I'm not sure I would be able to. But I'm asking anyway. I'm so sorry for what I did. Please forgive me. I will spend forever making it up to you."

Jim swallowed hard. "It wasn't you. It never was."

Sarah leaned in to kiss him but he stopped her. "You still shouldn't have messed with my liquor." He smiled at her.

"Well then I guess you will have to find something else to distract yourself with." Sarah said seductively.

"I'm open to suggestions." Jim eyes turned dark with need.

Sarah's response was turning her back to him and walking slowly to the bed.

She never made it there. Before she could go more than a few steps she felt Jim roughly grab her and move her to the closest wall.

Sarah knew what he intended and shifted her form before they got to the wall.

"Looks like shifting is getting easier for you." Jim kissed her neck and shoulders as he undid his trousers.

"Easier when motivated." Sarah said under her breath. She always had trouble breathing when Jim was starting up like this. Sarah arched her back to allow him the leverage he sought. She might not have much experience but she was a fast learner.

Jim thanked her by reaching around and grabbing her breasts as he took her from behind. They lost themselves in each other just as they had every chance they got.

They eventually collapsed into the bed. They cuddled together as they caught their breath.

Sarah kissed him tenderly as he resumed stroking her red hair as he did so often.

Jim looked at her playfully. "You know that there are still plenty of things you have to be sorry for."

Sarah suddenly got nervous but smiled when she saw that he was teasing her. That was a battle she knew she could win. "Then I look forward to making it up to you."

She straddled him to resume their coupling. "I'm afraid that I have a lot more stamina than you"

"I will enjoy making you prove it." Jim pulled her down into his embrace.

Sarah willingly complied. She hoped now Jim can start to truly forgive her and more importantly, himself.

A/N Wow. Two updates in one day. I hope this one was okay. Do you want to see darker scenes again? Let me know but be nice.