A few days later, Kerrigan and Nova were on their way back from Nova's shuttle that was in the leviathan's hold; Nova had required sustenance and had eaten some rations. She was getting tired of their dull taste, hoping for something better tasting soon, but they were nutritious and she had a large supply of them - she even had a few framberry flavored meal bars left that she was saving as treats.
Kerrigan didn't join her in eating. She had explained to Nova a while ago that she could draw nutrients directly from creep and didn't need to eat the same way Nova did.
Nova had accepted that, having heard reports that Zerg fed off creep. She'd asked Kerrigan if terrans were able to eat it, but Kerrigan had laughed at her. 'Creep isn't for eating, honey,' she had told her and left it at that. Nova accepted it was just another Zerg thing she wouldn't get; just like why Zerglings were allergic to lemon juice. Nova was glad to have seen Kerrigan laugh however, she was starting to act more like herself following the whole incident with Raynor and Nova was confident that Kerrigan was moving on. Nova was even planning on proposing they had sex today.
Kerrigan smirked at Nova's thoughts. "I think that is something you should certainly suggest," she said.
"Yeah?" Nova asked. "Why don't we go back to my shuttle?" she stopped in the corridor, fully prepared to go back.
Kerrigan pushed Nova playfully against the wall and held her wrists up high. "Or I could take you right here," Kerrigan teased. She leaned in towards Nova and began to kiss her passionately, their bodies pushing against each other.
Nova relaxed into Kerrigan's kiss. It didn't bother her that she could feel the wall of the leviathan pulse behind her nor that she was certain she could feel her hair moisten against it, but she would prefer to go to her shuttle for a bit of comfort. Plus Nova wanted to wear some nice lingerie for Kerrigan.
Kerrigan broke their kiss and giggled at her. "Your shuttle it is," she smirked then suddenly looked away, distracted, and closed her eyes. Her expression fell flat and she looked back at Nova. Izsha is calling me. We've received a communication and she wants me to go to the nerve center.
"Straight away?" Nova asked, disappointed. It had been so long since they made love and they were both in the mood.
Kerrigan nodded. She backed away from Nova and let her wrists free. "I promise we'll continue this."
Nova was disappointed but she understood, "I'll hold you to that."
"And I'll hold you to wearing that lingerie," Kerrigan smirked and hook Nova's hand in hers. "Let's go, honey."
Nova let Kerrigan lead the way and she thought about what she'd wear. She didn't figure Kerrigan for the type of girl to like black leather, she was softer, more of a lace or satin girl.
"How much lingerie do you keep on your shuttle?" Kerrigan teased her as she picked up her thoughts.
"Enough," Nova replied. "Most of it's unused," she teased, hoping to get a reaction from Kerrigan.
Kerrigan raised an eyebrow, "we better put it to good use then."
"That and the sex toys," Nova added.
Kerrigan snickered, "what do you use that poor shuttle for?"
"A girl has needs," Nova explained. "As you well know," Kerrigan was as randy as she was and she knew it.
"Well, we mustn't deny our needs," Kerrigan stated.
Nova felt Kerrigan release her hand and she knew they must be nearing the nerve center. Nova pulled her hand back reluctantly, knowing her Sarah was now in Queen mode, but she had their love making to look forward to later.
As they entered into the nerve center, Nova, as usual, kept slightly behind Kerrigan in an attempt to show her respect in front of the swarm.
"What is it Izsha?" Kerrigan asked, intrigued by her summon.
"One of our broodmothers in the Koprulu Sector is picking up a strange psionic signal," Izsha explained. "It is Zerg, but not part of the Swarm."
Kerrigan raised an eyebrow.
Nova was curious too. Prior to spending time upon the leviathan, Nova had always assumed that the Queen of Blades was mindful of all the Zerg in the universe but now she was starting to see how unique and fractured they were as much as the Terrans. In that way, she really came to appreciate the Zerg's humanity.
Izsha looked to the screen in front of them and projected a transmission they had received.
The screen dissolved into darkness, before being replaced with a barely visible male face. His eyes glowed yellow and a large section of his face did, too, as though his skin had caved in over it. "I know you seek to topple Mengsk. His alien soldiers, the hybrid, are your greatest threat." His voice had an accent but not one that Kerrigan could pin point. "If you wish to stop them, meet me at these coordinates."
Hybrids. Kerrigan frowned. She had fought them before, they were powerful and relentless.
Nova knew of the hybrid, having learned of them from Jim's visions from Zeratul, but she had never seen one in the flesh. Mengsk had never given her any indication he was developing them, or that she could remember anyway.
Izsha too understood the threat the hybrids posed. "If the Dominion is controlling hybrid, our invasion of Korhal will fail. This lab must be destroyed," she offered her advice.
Kerrigan agreed. "Take us there." She stared at the viewing, inspecting the shadowed form.
"Who is that?" Nova asked rhetorically, not expecting anyone to know.
Kerrigan thought for a moment, "he seems familiar, but I don't know who he is. Clearly an infested Terran." She had infested many terrans herself, and met many more than that, she didn't know if this was her handy work or not. She knew this could be a trap, revenge even, but for some reason her gut told her otherwise.
Nova accepted her words and appreciated that Kerrigan shared her thoughts with her too. She knew Kerrigan could close herself off to her and it pained her when she did, but she was thankful when she didn't.
"We will be there shortly," Kerrigan surmised. "In the meantime, I want to see Abathur. Would you like the join me?" she turned to Nova.
Nova really got the creeps from Abathur, but she willingly went with Kerrigan. She knew Kerrigan would be assessing the strains of some of the Zerg and while it freaked Nova out a little it did help to know what they could do in combat. She enjoyed learning about the swarm and spending time with Kerrigan.
Sometime later, having inspected the strains, they returned to the nerve center. Kerrigan had been informed they had arrived at the coordinates, a place know to the Terrans as Skygeirr Station on a world named Ketill IV, and that the mysterious figure had requested permission to board.
As Kerrigan entered the nerve center she saw a tall man stood in front of the viewer, his back to her. His build was not unlike Jim's but his jacket and hat made him appear taller.
"My queen, the infested Terran who contacted you waits over there. He claims to know you," Izsha informed her.
Nova was curious and she took in his appearance. She could tell he was psionic but he was blocking his thoughts from her. She didn't want to aggravate things by trying to probe too deeply so she didn't try.
"Who are you?" Kerrigan asked, her tone powerful yet soft.
"You do not recognize me?" he asked as he looked over his shoulder at her. "I am Alexei Stukov. We were enemies once." He turned to face her.
Kerrigan didn't react. "Well, we both seem to be Zerg now."
Nova hadn't heard of him, but clearly Kerrigan had, although she seemed unbothered by it.
"Indeed, and we share a common goal: the destruction of this facility," he quickly got to his point. "It is here that Mengsk breeds the hybrid; combining Protoss and Zerg DNA to create monstrous creatures of immense power."
Nova frowned. So Mengsk was creating hybrids.
"Then we'll destroy this facility together," she told him, determined. The idea of Protoss and Zerg hybrids disgusted her and she was keen for Mengsk to have one less toy in his toybox to use against her.
Stukov looked to Nova, noting she was the only non Zerg on board. He found her attractive, he hadn't lost all his humanity, but he was more interested in her role. "Is this Dominion ghost going to be a problem?" Stukov asked, looking back to Kerrigan.
"No," Kerrigan replied coldly, "her loyalty is no longer to the Dominion. She will assist us."
Nova was proud that Kerrigan stood up for her, but she'd wished she hadn't been so cold about it. She accepted that Kerrigan was a leader and didn't want to involve her personal life so she didn't dwell on the fact. "Looking forward to it," Nova proclaimed.
"Indeed," Stukov told the blonde. He hoped her allegiance really was to Kerrigan and not the Dominion.
"This isn't just about getting rid of the hybrid threat, is it? Why are you helping me?" Kerrigan probed Stukov, forcing his attention away from Nova and back to the matter at hand.
"They held me here for many years. I survived experiments, torture, and worse," he explained. "Now, I will see it burn. You were the only one I could think of with the power, and will, to aid me."
He wasn't wrong there. "Infested. Held captive. Experimented on and hunted. We have some things in common," Kerrigan said, forming a camaraderie with him.
Nova wanted to throw her arms around Kerrigan and hold her. Every time she remembered what Kerrigan had been through she wanted to take her pain away. Of course, now really wasn't the time for cuddles.
Kerrigan appreciated Nova's support and she would take her up on the hug later but now they had a mission. "I don't see any reason to delay," Kerrigan surmised. "We'll take down that station and destroy every last hybrid."
Author's Note: So we have finally met Stukov! I have some fun scenes lined up for in the next few chapters. I actually quite like writing him.
I've gotten a few comments/questions both here and at my blog (queenpotatoes over at tumblr) in regards to the ending of Supernova and LotV. It's no secret I've had the end of Supernova worked out since I pretty much began writing it, and this end will go ahead regardless of any events in LotV. Furthermore, I will be making a Supernova Sequel based on LotV, but I will take a different route and will include characters like Alarak, Vorazun (and potentially Fenix). I have the plot forming in my head already, and should go ahead nicely once Supernova has been completed.