Episode 9

Journal of Sergeant Kilcrazy

06/08/2567

Finally, I've come face to face with the creatures that slaughtered an entire alien race. They must be fearsome indeed. I wonder what their roar will sound like? Will it be large and terrifying? It must be, for such dangerous creatures must have a roar that will strike fear into their prey. I can't wait to kill them. KILL THEM! HAHAHAHA!

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"Bark," one of the insect like creatures in front of them barks.

"Bark?" Kilcrazy asks.

"Bark," says the creature.

"What kind of a terrifying roar is that?" Kilcrazy asks.

"They're barking mad," says Lyle. Kilcrazy bursts into laughter.

"Ohohohoho, how do you come up with them Lyle? Bwahahaha!" laughs Kilcrazy.

"Bark?" queries one of the creatures.

"Bark," answers another. The six creatures bound towards Kilcrazy and Lyle. Taken by surprise, Kilcrazy and Lyle don't have time to react as the creatures rear up on their hind legs, place their front legs on their chests and start to vigorously lick their faces. Kilcrazy backs away in fear.

"What are they doing soldier?" asks Kilcrazy.

"I think they're licking us sir," answers Lyle.

"Why would they do that?" asks Kilcrazy.

"Maybe they're greeting us sergeant. Maybe they're happy to see us," Lyle suggests, pushing one of the creatures away from his face.

"These are NOT the fearsome creatures I had hoped for. They shall be no fun to kill soldier," Kilcrazy complains.

"I don't know sir, I'm just about ready to kill them if they keep this up," says Lyle, pushing another one away.

"I see you've met my Zerglings," an ominous voice booms, ominously. The Zerglings back away from their drool covered victims, whining softly.

"We're licked sir," says Lyle.

"Shut up soldier. I sense something big to kill," says Kilcrazy.

"Sounds good sergeant," says Lyle, readying his shotgun.

"Who are you?" Kilcrazy asks, "Are you the one responsible for the slaughter in this building?"

"I am Sugaroth, cerebrate of the great and groovy Zerg Overmind and one of his most trusted advisors. I guess you could say I'm responsible, as it's through me that the Overmind controls his army on this planet," says the voice.

"Where are you? I'm gonna KILL YOU! HAHA!" shouts Kilcrazy.

"Unlikely," Sugaroth simply says, "I've been ordered to capture at least one of you alive. My master wishes to learn of your groove."

"Our groove?" asks Lyle.

"Your groove, the way you move, all that kind of stuff," says Sugaroth.

"I don't think that's happening," says Kilcrazy, "show yourself so we can fight fair and square!"

"No," says Sugaroth.

"Why not, chicken?" taunts Kilcrazy.

"That reminds me, I need to buy some of that," says Lyle.

"No, it's because I'm a giant worm. The Overmind, in all his grooviness, didn't make us very mobile. We have to be carried by Overlords when we want to move," Sugaroth explains.

"Overlords?" asks Lyle.

"Large floating sacks with tentacles," explains Sugaroth.

"Ah," says Lyle.

"Stop delaying your capture with stupid questions!" commands Sugaroth, "It's time to be captured. Zerglings, attack!" The six creatures all raise their heads to look at Kilcrazy and Lyle.

"Bark," barks the biggest one threateningly.

"Bark," the others all respond. They leap at Kilcrazy and Lyle, who dive to the side. They narrowly avoid six powerful jaws.

"HAHAHA, that's right. Good work my precious Zerglings. But remember, we don't want them killed," says Sugaroth.

Kilcrazy ducks beneath one leaping Zergling and fires his shotgun into it's belly. It's blown apart and blood rains down on Kilcrazy.

"I'm singing in the rain," says Kilcrazy, turning to find his next target. He blasts a second Zergling moments before it's jaw closes around his arm.

"Shoot, miss, shoot, miss, shoot, hit, reload, shoot, miss, duck, disappear," says Lyle, activating his cloaking device. To his surprise, the Zerglings still seem to know where he is. He dodges one and shoots, killing it as it passes.

"That's not going to work," Sugaroth taunts, "The ground you're standing on is called Creep, and it's alive. Through it, I can tell exactly where you are, and through me, so can the Zerglings."

"Don't give in," Kilcrazy says to Lyle, "there's only two left to bring down. THIS IS SO MUCH FUN!"

"I couldn't agree more sir," says Lyle, "this is a blast."

"Hahaha, that it is soldier," says Kilcrazy, shooting at one of the last two.

"BARK!" it barks in surprise as the back of it's body is shot off.

"Gotcha!" Kilcrazy says.

"Aim, fire," says Lyle, shooting at the last one. The Zergling dodges at the last moment and leaps at Lyle, sinking it's teeth into his chest.

"Scream in pain, AAAAAAARGH!" yells Lyle.

"No, Lyle!" Kilcrazy shouts. He shoots the Zergling off his companion's chest.

"I'm okay, sergeant," says Lyle.

"Soldier, remain here. I'm going to put an end to this. If I'm right, destroying this Sugaroth creature should defeat every Zerg on this planet. You stay here and rest," Kilcrazy orders.

"Right you are, sergeant," says Lyle.

"Good luck finding me," Sugaroth taunts, "I bet you don't know where to start looking." Kilcrazy pushes open a door with Creep spreading out from underneath it. In this room sits a giant worm.

"Darn," says Sugaroth, "err, I mean… I'm not a Zerg… I'm just your everyday giant worm. Nothing unusual here, just minding my own business… La de da…"

"Shut up. You hurt my soldier, now you must die. Actually, you'd be dying anyway, I just wanted to sound noble," says Kilcrazy, firing all his remaining shotgun ammo into the Zerg cerebrate.

"No… this can't be…" Sugaroth gasps, "No Zerg cerebrate has ever been defeated. Overmind, oh groovy one, I have failed you. I've lost the groove, no longer shall I move."

"Hurry up and die…" Kilcrazy says, tapping his foot.

"Hold on, I'm almost done," says Sugaroth, "I'm… losing my connection with you, my Overmind. I'm sorry, but my death shall not be in vain. I have done what you commanded. Even now, a captive of one of these creatures is on his way to you. The Scourge have him."

"What?" gasps Kilcrazy, running back into the other room. He's shocked to find that Lyle is no longer in it.

"No. How?" Kilcrazy asks. Immediately he begins to run back up the steps, out of the building. Behind him, Sugaroth utters his last words, "My only regret is that I relied on Zerglings to protect me…"

Kilcrazy emerges from the building and immediately calls out Lyle's name.

"I'm up here sir," says Lyle. Kilcrazy looks into the sky above. A creature identical to the one they saw fly out of the building earlier is carrying him away.

"Don't worry sir, I'll wing it from here," he shouts down. Kilcrazy salutes Lyle.

"You're a fine soldier Lyle. Don't worry, these monsters won't have you for long. I promise I shall rescue you, and kill every last one of them," Kilcrazy promises. He holds his salute until Lyle is out of sight. He then lowers his hands to his side.

"I hate losing a soldier…" says Kilcrazy to himself.

"You know sir, you could've shot the monster down," says another Ghost, a member of his squadron. Kilcrazy started to feel a bit stupid. He decided he needed to cover up.

"ARE YOU TELLING ME, YOUR SUPERIOR OFFICER, WHAT TO DO SOLDIER?" yelled Kilcrazy.

"No sir, it was just a suggestion…" the Ghost pleads.

"A SUGGESTION WAS IT? ARE YOU IN CHARGE HERE? NO! I AM!" he pulls out his gun and shoots the Ghost.

Kilcrazy looks to the sky once more. A stray tear falls down his face.

"That was for you Lyle. I'll never forget you. You made me laugh, and not very many people have ever done that. I will rescue you. Don't worry," Kilcrazy says. He stands there for a moment longer, then leaves to return to the Dropship that had landed him and the other Ghosts on this planet. It was time to regroup with the rest of his unit.