Chapter Seven: The Assassin

The worst thing about the zerg was their numbers. They could just keep on throwing zerg at an enemy, losing millions and just sort of walk it off. Even gigantic casualties could be replaced in a matter of weeks.

The best thing about the zerg was how they didn't make use of their numbers. If the swarm had really been making the best use of its forces for the whole war, then they would have walked over terran civilization in a matter of weeks. But the zerg were slipshod in how they used their forces.

That was what made the Cerebrate so scary. It fought smart.

-Liberty's report, volume II


The Cerebrate did not strike at once. Tassadar's position was strong, and the Cerebrate did not want to risk a reckless attack like Kerrigan had. Instead, he drew back the ground forces and over the course of a few days assembled a mighty host of mutalisks and guardians.

Several minor raids occurred during this time. Probing attacks on the outlying hive clusters which he repulsed with his mutalisks. One of them had the protoss air-dropping their forces down onto a newly established hive cluster. Many of the drones were killed and the hive cluster damaged before he drove them off with his flyers.

It was strange, for the battle line had fallen oddly silent. With the momentum of their assault spent, the protoss seemed content to hold their ground and beat back assaults by the various cerebrates. And there were many assaults, for Kerrigan had roused many of the lesser cerebrates into a frenzy of assault, who hoped to earn their names by valor.

The Cerebrate did not attack, however, he bided his time. While he worked Kerrigan watched impatiently.

'Well, Cerebrate?' she asked 'What is this vaunted strategy of yours?'

'I am getting to that, Kerry.' said the Cerebrate 'Your assault failed because Tassadar's standing forces were formidable enough to weather your assault, while he drew back his armies to attack you from behind.

I will thus eliminate one of his outlying fortifications before I attack his main stronghold.' He looked through his overlords to look over the formation of the protoss. 'He has a nearly impenetrable ground defense. His dragoons will quickly halt any rush, and his reavers will end any war of attrition. A frontal assault would be futile, yet they do not seem to have any flyers there.'

Summoning to him the mutalisks and guardians he flew them over the lake of lava, then turned them mid flight to assault the flanks of the dragoons. The guardians fired first, unleashing a barrage of acid which burned several of the creatures to death in moments. More followed soon enough and then the mutalisks were on them.

The assault was feral and caught the dragoons piecemeal. As they returned fire many of them were already killed. Several mutalisks were shot from the sky by a dragoons cannon. Two dragoons were blasted by the acid of guardians, while another two were torn to pieces by the mutalisks. Yet more were on their way to reinforce their numbers, and the Cerebrate withdrew his mutalisks from range. The dragoons followed, falling out of formation in the process and his mutalisks and guardians returned to destroy them. After a few more barrages, the formation was destroyed and those dragoons that remained withdrew.

The Cerebrate paid them no heed, instead heading for the protoss base. It was strange, and gold colored with many crystals. It was connected by many pylons and it was practically empty. The Cerebrate began to destroy it, firing acid down into it to melt and burn the golden structures.

'You should have pursued them!' said Kerrigan 'You could have wiped them out!'

'In due time.' said the Cerebrate 'Zasz told me that the protoss draw more forces to them through warp gates. It would be best if these warp gates were destroyed.'

Little by little the base was reduced. No one came to oppose them, and nothing rushed them. It was all too easy. It was as if Tassadar was not even trying to save his structures. 'This makes no sense,' he said 'why would Tassadar give up one of his bases so easily?'

'It's not the base,' said Kerrigan 'it's the warriors who man it. Tassadar probably values his soldiers more than he does his structures.'

'Right, right,' said the Cerebrate 'protoss are strange creatures.'

While the protoss base was put to the sword the Cerebrate drew forth still more mutalisks and guardians and brought them forth to meet up with the forces destroying the base. As he did, the Cerebrate accessed the memories he had experienced from the protoss. He realized that the protoss lived many hundreds of years, that they were not considered even teenaged until they were a century old. That they could easily summon in buildings using their probes.

Of course. The protoss population grew slowly while the zerg grew quickly. Thus the zerg did not value their forces and valued more the means of production. While the protoss valued their forces and cared little for the means of production. Even their dragoons were devices used to resurrect fallen protoss warriors and have them serve once more, so as to make the most use of their soldiers.

A cunning way to continue a long term war. 'So Cerebrate,' said Kerrigan 'I take it you will now launch an assault against his other outlying base?'

'No.' said the Cerebrate 'The defenses are broken. And I don't want Tassadar to withdraw. Go now my broods, lay waste to the protoss colony and let none survive!'

The guardians and mutalisks rushed to the north. Once again they were met by the flyers of the protoss, but this time there were fewer proton cannons to contend with. The dragoons and ground defenses were burned away by barrage after barrage of acid, while the mutalisks dodged and weaved in battle with the protoss flyers.

A scout shot down three mutalisks with its missiles, before being torn apart by a flock of them. Two guardians shelled several photon cannons to dust before one of them was killed by dragoons. Formations of zealots were withdrawn by Tassadar to a safe distance, while the combat raged on.

Heavy casualties were taking place on both sides, but the protoss defenses were being ground down. The Cerebrate sent more mutalisks to continue the assault. No dragoons came to help from the flank, but more came to halt them. Little by little the protoss forces were breaking inward. Finally, as if by some command, what forces remained withdrew from the battlefield, and the Cerebrate began systematically decimating what remained of their defense grid.

Soon enough the protoss were withdrawing. They had taken many casualties but sustained many in return. It had been an indecisive battle, but the swarm could recover casualties more easily. The Cerebrate needed only continue the stalemate and victory would be his sooner or later.

'See Kerry.' he said 'That is how you reduce a fortification. You attack where they are- Kerry?'

Kerrigan was not there. She was flying across the lava lake alongside a contingent of hunter killers and landing amidst the burnt out ruins of the protoss forces. 'Where are you, Tassadar?!' she roared 'Do you always let your underlings do your fighting for you?'

'Wow, just take all the credit for yourself, why don't you?' asked the Cerebrate.

Then they received a vision. A vision of a circular island at the center of the lake of lava. A presence surrounded them, amused and satisfied. 'This shall be our battlefield, O Queen.' said Tassadar 'Face me here, and I shall defeat you myself.'

Kerrigan wasted no time in loading her army of hunter killers onto the overlords and bringing them toward the island. Landing her forces she swarmed forward. Nothing happened. No one appeared to challenge her.

'Well you don't really think he's going to appear when you have a whole army with you, do you?' asked the Cerebrate 'He was challenging you to single combat.'

With a sigh of frustration, Kerrigan motioned to the zerg, who were loaded onto the overlords and departed. No sooner had they done so, and Tassadar appeared. He was writhed in a hateful light but seemed also to cast a long shadow. He radiated an aura of understanding and condescending which the Cerebrate hated at once.

Raising one hand he motioned to Kerrigan, who rushed at Tassadar. Yet even as she closed he faded away. Kerrigan looked around for him, and then he reappeared ten feet behind her, arms crossed, looking on with a calculating expression.

'Come,' Tassadar said 'over here.'

Kerrigan raised a hand and from it shot forth a swarm of lightning bolts which consumed the Templar. The ground shook beneath the after effects of the power unleashed and a massive wave of rock and dirt was kicked up by the resulting explosions. Drawing back her hand, Kerrigan smiled.

And then had a four fingered hand set to her shoulder. She screamed and was sent tumbling head over heels and came to a halt near the edge. Rising up, Tassadar suddenly surged forward, a blade in hand. Kerrigan was forced to parry a series of strike, each one of which nearly sent her over the edge.

She lashed out wildly and Tassadar retreated with ease.

Silence overtook them as the Cerebrate reflected that Tassadar was winning. 'You want me to call in the hunter killers?'

'Stay out of this!' snarled Kerrigan 'You… you will die by my hand!'

Tassadar regarded her, eyes holding some mixture of contempt and pity. It emanating out from him and the Cerebrate knew Kerrigan could sense it as well. It was not how one regarded a hated enemy or a legitimate threat.

'Say something!' roared Kerrigan.

Tassadar looked up, not looking at them exactly. Then he returned his focus to them. 'You have severely overestimated your abilities, Queen of the Zerg.'

'I have yet to even begin with you!' roared Kerrigan.

'I am of the firstborn.' said Tassadar 'The chosen creations of the Xel'naga. Compared to the lowliest of my kind the greatest terran psychic is but a child playing with fire. Only the will of the Overmind and his unholy mutations have allowed you to fight as well as you have.

For now, you are the Overmind's favorite. He has had many favorites in the past. Every one of them was cast aside when he found a greater strain. The Overmind will tire of you before the embers of your victory here are even cool.'

'Be quiet!' roared Kerrigan, rushing at him.

She passed him by, but the protoss did not visibly react. He simply flickered and turned around. Kerrigan faced him, shaking with rage, yet also confused. '…An illusion,' she said 'are you afraid to face me, Templar?!'

Amusement flickered across Tassadar's face as he began to fade gradually. 'So long as you continue to be so predictable, O Queen, I need not face you at all. You are your own worst enemy.'

Then he was gone, disappearing as though he had never been. Tassadar had never been here. All that had been here was a psionic creation which he had poured his will into. The Cerebrate was impressed, he had to figure out how Tassadar had done that.

Kerrigan was dead silent and utterly still. Her eyes were wide and she was striving to speak. Any moment now her fury would be unleashed in full. 'I don't know what you are so upset about,' said the Cerebrate 'you tried to cheat first. I mean you did bring all those hunter killers-'

Kerrigan roared and the aftershock and the roar shook the earth, sending dust flowing away from her in the wind. Psionic storms ravaged the surrounding landscape. Great pillars of lava arose from the lake, soaking the ground. The ground cracked, and pieces began to fall off the island into the sea of magma.

All around her the swarm cowered as Kerrigan roared, slamming the ground, and sending out psionic storms to express her absolute fury. She had been defeated. Oh, the zerg had won this battle, but it was the Cerebrates victory, not hers. On and on her tantrum raged, and it might have been pathetic if it weren't so lethal.

Finally, she halted, breathing for air.

'You done?' asked the Cerebrate.

'…We're leaving, Cerebrate.' said Kerrigan. 'We'll deal with the protoss later.'

By which she meant he would deal with the protoss and Kerrigan would act as if it was all her work. She hadn't learned anything by her actions here. She was just as entitled and spoiled as she had ever been. The Cerebrate was beginning to get really sick of her attitude.


After the bulk of the remaining broods was drawn off, a sudden onslaught of Templar assaulted the hive cluster where Zasz resided. Resistance was too weak to stop them. The sunken colonies were blasted, the hatcheries were laid to waste. Zasz called for reinforcements from his surrounding broods, but the protoss beat them off. Then they approached him.

They held the same strangeness which the Templar had held.

Fear had grown within his consciousness as the broods were all mustered to war, and yet the Overmind in His glory must have foreseen this. He could have reined Kerrigan in, denied her the right to assault. What was to happen must have been part of His plan. Zasz had fought against it, sought to turn it aside, yet now he was resigned. His efforts had failed, as they should have.

The protoss leader emerged and he was not like the others. He was cloaked in darkness, the same darkness which the cerebrates were formed from. In his eyes was malice and hatred for all that Zasz was, all that the Overmind was. In that moment Zasz perceived that this protoss possessed the power to do what was meant to be impossible. To slay a Cerebrate.

What purpose could his death serve for the Overmind? That was what he wondered. Then realization dawned.

The terrans were impulsive and rash creatures which led to many mistakes. Kerrigan for all her bluster had made many of them. Yet when motivated that same impulsiveness could lead to great victories. They would launch great wars not out of a desire to gain, but to destroy those who had destroyed their own minions in turn.

The zerg were not like that. They were legion, and their numbers endless. The loss of a few billion of their kind was a matter of frustration, but not true outrage. The Cerebrates were immortal, and so their deaths were not met with grief. Why would they be, when death was but a momentary inconvenience?

Then Zasz realized that immortality had robbed the zerg of a critical power.

The pain of loss.

In that moment he understood why the Overmind had allowed this.

A blade of green light struck Zasz, and he recoiled by the agony. Pain surged through his body, and he convulsed. Blood seeped from his form, his lifeblood, and he knew he would not return. His spirit was fading, and his mind turned to the young Cerebrate who had minded the chrysalis, and how he had enjoyed their conversations…


Authors Note:

So I extended the fight between Tassadar and Kerrigan. To be honest, I only did it because this chapter was looking to be far too short, to begin with, and I felt I needed to pad it out a bit.

Now some of you have probably figured this out by now, but I have a very low opinion of Kerrigan's status as a leader. I think she's a terrible leader, who only got as far as she did because of the Cerebrate and Duran. The fact that everyone acts like she is this super epic tactician is a source of incredible frustration for me. More on that later.