The Leviathan ferried us across the planet, and a couple overlords took us, an Abathur, and some drones the rest of the way into the dense jungle. Finally, we walked to the site that had called to Kerrigan. A large clearing in the middle of which lay…

"It's… a pool," said Kerrigan with some surprise.

"The first spawning pool," Zurvan's mental voice leapt into my consciousness. "It existed before names. From this primordial place, the zerg arose. Within, one essence split into many. One devoured another and became stronger. The first zerg."

Really? The species that had wrought such violent and widespread change on the Koprulu sector originated from this humble lake of green goo?

"Excellent," I commented. "The pool should have the DNA we need."

Zurvan's voice was disapproving. "Enter the pool. You will have your power, and you will lose yourself. Evolve. Transform. Transcend."

My eyes widened. Merely entering the pool could infest us? What WAS this green goo? A normal spawning pool would just kill us.

Abathur spoke up telepathically. "Recommendation: avoid pool. Catalytic fluid will overwhelm Terran body. Not strong enough."

Oh, maybe this would just kill us too, like a normal spawning pool. But… "Abathur, are you saying this pool could infest us if we were strong enough?"

"Possible," Abathur admitted. "Extremely painful. Violent change. Would succumb to trauma. If endured, infestation purer. More primal, more powerful."

"Then I will endure it," Kerrigan announced. "Nothing will stand between me and power!"

I shook my head, suddenly fearful for Kerrigan's life. "Kerr, why risk it? What do you hope to obtain?"

"The power to crush my enemies!"

"You already have that power!" I declared. "Remember what we did to Warfield? Who else are you afraid of? Arcturus is dead, Valerian is weak, we can take the Protoss. I don't know how strong the Xel'Naga is, but I highly doubt that the little strength we might gain by subjecting ourselves to this torment would be worth the risk. Let's just go with traditional infestation."

"My hate is strong enough," Kerrigan protested.

"Hate for what?" I asked. "Who is left to get revenge on? Besides, you were filled with hate during your last infestation, and that is part of what made you the vengeful Queen of Blades that you were! Leave that in the past, Kerr. Please. Let's just submit to an easy infestation, for the sake of the good it brings, for immortality, for peace, protection from Amon, and not merely so we have the power to do violence. That's no foundation on which to build a future!"

Kerrigan scowled, but she was silent, a thoughtful look in her eyes. Finally, she sighed. "You're right, Magis. Abathur," she addressed the Evolution Master telepathically, "Extract the DNA you need from this pool, and prepare a place for our infestation on the Leviathan."

"I obey," Abathur answered, and slithered towards the pool, lightly dipping his hands into the green goo.

Zurvan's mental voice chided us. "You will lose the true power of Zerus. Your shadowy imitation will weaken the essence."

That comment made me suspicious. Just why was Zurvan so invested in us attaining power? I got the feeling he was like a witch trying to fatten up children for the slaughter. "What does it matter to you, Zurvan?" I asked. "Planning on consuming our essence afterwards?"

Zurvan was silent a moment. Then he spoke slowly. "I have not evolved in many years. No essence on Zerus is worth my attention. I had hoped yours might be."

Kerrigan scoffed. "You wouldn't be able to defeat us anyway."

"That possibility is why it would be worth trying," Zurvan answered matter-of-factly. "Eat or be eaten. That is the law of the primal Zerg. But I have no desire to debase myself by consuming the weakened handiwork of your corrupted evolution master. This conversation is no longer worth my attention. Do what you will. I shall return to my slumber." Zurvan's voice trailed off into a ponderous sigh.

"Good riddance," Kerrigan muttered.

"The primal zerg are aware of our presence," Izsha warned. "Their attack will be upon us shortly."

Great. "Abathur, how long will this take?" I asked.

"Minutes. Not hours."

"Then we'll just have to hold them off until you finish."

Roughly twenty minutes later, hundreds of primal zerg were dead.

"Sequences assimilated, shared," Abathur announced. "Preparations complete."

"Then we must return to the Leviathan," I replied, breathing heavily from the exertion of the preceding battle. "Bring Nova and Warfield to the evolution pit as well."

...

Soon, the four of us stood before hundreds of Abathurs in the massive evolution chamber of the Leviathan. A pool of zerg flesh and creep stretched across the room.

"So, this is it, then?" Nova asked sadly, her hands bound behind her back with a tough zerg goo that served as handcuffs.

"Do what you will," Warfield declared. "I will never serve you!"

"This is it," I replied. "And we'll see how you both feel when the process is complete. Abathur, you've ensured we will not be susceptible to Amon's influence, right?"

The nearest Abathur nodded his bulbous head. "Primal infestation preserves greater individuality. Hivemind connections retained, but not beholden to hivemind power structure. Not susceptible to overmind control signal. May still emit signal, control Swarm. Will also grant primal ability to directly consume essence. Respectable evolution."

"Good, good," I commented. "But what about them?" I gestured toward Nova and Warfield. "We still want to to be able to control them."

Abathur shrugged. "Must choose. If traditional infestation, must obey, susceptible to Xel'Naga influence should control signal cease. If primal infestation, free to rebel, immune to Xel'Naga influence."

I looked at my prisoners. Warfield stared back defiantly, but Nova watched me worriedly. There was a hard gleam in her eye, as though she was prepared to overpower us and escape at a moment's notice, but it was tempered by a soft expression that suggested she understood her weak position and was attempting to present herself as a non-threat.

"Please," Nova whispered just loudly enough for me to hear. "Don't make me a slave. You said I could be family. If I must be infested, let me be infested as a free agent."

I had to admit that would be more consistent with what I had promised her. And I respected Nova. She could easily be as powerful and useful as Kerrigan if she were also granted primal essence. But her will was far from broken. Though she tried to hide it, it was obvious to me she would still be a serious threat if she turned against us. She probably knew that, and could be scheming to betray us at the first opportunity. In fact, as I watched her, she glanced around the room uncomfortably, likely hoping a possible escape route would present itself to her.

But, even though it was clearly risky and quite possibly irrational, I desperately wanted to believe that we could be allies and equals. For whatever reason, I liked Nova.

I strode up to her and pushed my face close to hers. "Look at me," I commanded.

Nova moved her eyes to mine.

I scanned those eyes, staring at them for any hint of duplicity. They were guarded, mostly empty of expression, though a little spark of life was unable to be hidden.

I debated what to do for several long moments. Finally, I sighed. Only one possibility made sense to me. I refused to keep her with me against her will. That meant I had to give her the opportunity to leave.

"I'll make a deal with you, Nova," I declared, still staring into her eyes. "Narud and his Xel'Naga master wish to destroy all life, Terrans as well as Zerg. When we emerge, work with us to stop them. During that time, think of us as allies, friends, even family. Get a taste for the eternal life you could have with us. If when Amon is finally defeated you still want to leave, I will not stop you. As long as you do not fight against us again, we will never obstruct your freedom again."

Nova stared at me with curious eyes. "I'd still be infested," she said after a moment. "Doubt the Dominion would take me back as anything other than a test subject."

I nodded. "The Xel'Naga artifact could turn you human again, as it did us. One of the goals we will be working towards when we move to fight Narud will be discovering where he took the artifact. Help us get it back, and we'll let you use it to uninfest yourself, if you wish."

Nova paused in thought. Then she took a deep breath. "Very well, Magis. I'll take your deal."

"Wonderful," I smiled, though privately I wondered if I wasn't making a mistake. "Then we may begin. Abathur, infest Nova here with the primal essence, and infest Warfield in the traditional way."

"Will obey," answered a nearby Abathur.

"Don't resist," I warned the prisoners. "The process will be more painful if you do." Then I stepped out into the evolution pit, wading into the shallow pool of flesh.

Kerrigan, who had watched my interaction with Nova in curious silence, marched alongside me, and Nova and Warfield, the latter shoved along by zerg minions, followed.

We stood in the center of that pool for a long moment, a poetic moment, which held within itself the dignified promise of a beautiful eternity.

Then the Abathurs swarmed us like flies descending upon dead meat.