...
Act II
A Christmas to remember
Chapter 27
Leading by Example
The difference between Arcturus Mengsk and his son was that the older Mengsk had never planned for a time after his reign. And he had never truly cared about anything that had nothing to do with maintaining his iron grip on both the nation and its people. For a long time, Valerian had thought that a keen tactical and strategic intellect was the most important trait of a good ruler. He had studied under some of the greatest military minds in service of his father, people who had been renowned for their intellect. Like the late General Warfield.
He had also studied historical military tactics order to please his own father. By now he knew that he should have spent those days studying less about battles and great warriors, and more about politics and economy. He couldn't help but think that he had wasted most of his youth with little war games that didn't seem to have any purpose now.
Well, there was always room for improvement.
The moment someone knocked on the door of his office, he looked up.
"Yes, come in!" The door opened and a man in his mid-fifties stepped inside. When Valerian recognized him, a smile appeared on his face.
"Mister Trenton, it's a pleasure to see you again!" Valerian said with nothing but honesty in his voice. There are people you just like the moment you meet them. And Hanson Trenton was just that kind of person.
"Your Majesty, it's good to see that you're uninjured. After the police got us out of the safe-room, we had no chance to properly thank you." he said with a quiet voice. Valerian stood up, walked up to Trenton and offered him his hand. The entrepreneur and CEO of the largest agricultural company within the Dominion seemed to be still surprised by Valerian's warm welcome. He grabbed Valerian's hand and gave it a soft squeeze.
"I'm just glad that you are okay, Mr. Trenton." Valerian then said. "How is your wife?"
"She is fine. Still a bit shaken, but she's fine. She's a lot tougher than most people would think. She wanted me to relate her thanks as well, your Majesty. I suppose I am in your debt for keeping both me and my wife safe. And together." It caused Valerian to chuckle before he went back to his desk.
"Oh, I think you should rather thank Ambassador Curtland. She was the one who threw you into the safe-room after all. Please, have a seat." Valerian said and pointed his hand at a chair in front of his desk. There were actually two chairs, and it seemed as if Valerian was awaiting another guest.
"I guess you're right." Trenton mumbled. "By the way, how is the Ambassador? I hope she's alright." When Valerian heard that question, he couldn't help but blush.
"Uhm, yeah. The Ambassador is fine. Probably not even exhausted, unlike me..." he added.
"I... see. That's good to hear. Still, to think that no one was killed, well, no one except those attackers. It seems like a miracle." Trenton mumbled and walked over to the chair. It appeared as if he felt highly uncomfortable being here. Valerian could only muse about the reasons, but given Trenton's humble nature, it seemed as if he simply felt out of place.
"Please, Mr. Trenton, take a seat. I just wanted to talk with you about a, uhm, I guess you could call it a business proposition." Valerian could see both the surprise and confusion on Trenton's face, but the man did as he was told and sat down on the chair.
"First of all; let me thank you for coming over here on such a short notice. I understand that you probably have more important things to worry about." Valerian said, but Trenton just shook his head.
"It was hardly a problem, your Majesty. Once my wife and I were released from the hospital, we returned to our apartment here in Augustgrad. After everything that has happened, we decided to not to return to our farm in the south." When Valerian heard that, he pulled his brows up. That little piece of information was good to know because it allowed him to do some small talk before the other "guest" would arrive.
"Oh, you're living on a farm?" Valerian asked and Trenton nodded.
"Yes, it is the farm of my grandfather. My family had no use for it for many years, however, my wife and I decided that it was a good place to spend the rest of her remaining time there." When Valerian heard that, his eyes widened in shock.
"What? Your wife...she's sick?" When Trenton heard that, his eyes widened as well, but then he shook his head.
"What? Oh no, that's not...I'm sorry, I wasn't talking about Iris, I was talking about my first wife, Cynthia." Trenton took a deep breath.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know." Valerian whispered, but Trenton shook his head again.
"No, don't be. I'm actually glad that you didn't know any about this, that way you probably don't think that there's something wrong with me and my wife."
"Why should I do that?" the Emperor wanted to know and Trenton sighed.
"You probably noticed that Iris is quite a bit younger than I am. The reason for that is because she used to be my wife's nurse. She lived with us for almost three years until Cynthia finally passed away." Hanson Trenton shook his head. "I know that many people talk behind our backs and say that it's the typical story of a young girl marrying an old guy who's rich, but Iris is different. She was always at our side and did everything for my wife. And after Cynthia's death, she remained at my side. She had become a true friend. And that friendship turned into something different over time." Hanson took a deep breath. "She is the most important thing to me, your Majesty. And I will be forever grateful that you decided to do everything in your power to keep her safe. So, the least I could do was to accept your invitation. Even though I have no idea what I could offer to you."
For a moment Valerian didn't know what to make of this. He liked Trenton, he really did. His honesty was disarming and the Emperor remembered something Leila had told him; he should fire his advisors and find new ones. Perhaps that wasn't such a bad idea.
"I thank you for your honesty, Mr. Trenton. And trust me, there's a lot of things you can do. Not exactly for me, but for all the people out there. The reason why I called you out is-"
"I did not come here so you could tell me to wait outside! The Emperor wanted to see me, so here I am. And I am a busy man!" a new voice suddenly reached them. It was the voice of a man, one that Valerian recognized immediately, even though he had never met that man in person. However, Valerian wasn't the only one who recognized that voice.
"Is that...?" Trenton mumbled. The door to Valerian's office was opened and a servant entered.
"Your Majesty, your other guest has-" But he didn't get much further. The man who entered the office was big, almost two meters large, and looked like he was made equally out of muscles and fat alike. He was bald, and below a bushy pair of brows, dark and intelligent eyes stared first at Trenton, then at Valerian. The man had his arms crossed behind his back and he looked like he owned this place.
"Usually I do not answer random calls from others, Emperor Mengsk." the man then said with a cold tone in his voice. "However, I was told that you have something important you want to discuss with me." He didn't wait for Valerian to say anything. Instead, he turned his eyes back to Trenton.
"Mr. Trenton. It appears that I'm not the only one who is of interest to you, Emperor Mengsk." Both Valerian and Trenton stood up and the Emperor walked around his desk. He went over to the bigger man and offered him his hand.
"Mr. Samson. It is a pleasure to finally meet you in person."
Tacitus Samson, father of Valeria Samson, and most likely the richest man in the Dominion and probably within the entire Koprulu Sector. The name alone was legendary, and Valerian was aware of the fact that there were many people who regarded Samson to be more powerful than the Emperor himself. Samson looked at Valerian's hand. For a short moment it seemed as if he would not grab it, but when he did, Valerian regretted it immediately. Samson's handshake was so strong, it was borderline painful. The only way how to make sure that his hand wasn't crushed was to adjust to the pressure Samson's hand.
Perhaps it was truly like Jim had once told him; for some guys, handshaking was a form of warfare and a way to fight for dominance.
"Let me get one thing straight, Emperor Mengsk..." Valerian didn't miss that Samson didn't say "Your Majesty", but "Emperor Mengsk". "...the only reason why I have decided to come here is because I want to thank you for saving my daughter's life." That sounded like it was more a nuisance than gratefulness. However, speaking of Valeria...
"Forgive me my curiosity, Mr. Samson, but how is your daughter doing? It was quite the chaos after the attack, and I actually had no chance to talk with her."
"I was told that my daughter is fine." Samson just replied before he finally released his grip on Valerian's hand. The Emperor immediately put his fingers behind his back so the bigger man couldn't see how he wiggled them so the blood would start to flow through them again.
He was told that his daughter is fine? Valerian thought to himself. No wonder they call him "the Iceberg". And no wonder Valeria is the way she is.
"However, I have to admit; I am less than pleased with your security. There used to be a time when the palace was considered the second most guarded place inside the entire Koprulu Sector." Samson said and looked Valerian straight into the eyes.
"Only the second most guarded place?" the Emperor wondered.
"The safest place is, of course, my home. I must say, the security was a lot better under your father's rule."
"Yeah, well, security isn't exactly enough when Zerg try to storm your home." Valerian answered, but Samson made a "hmph" and frowned. Okay, at least now Valerian knew where Valeria had her trademark from.
"I do not appreciate petty excuses, Emperor Mengsk. I told that to your father and he understood it. I was under the impression that he had informed you about that before his passing." Now there were a lot of things Arcturus should have told his son before he had been blown to pieces by Kerrigan. But even then, Valerian seriously doubted that Tacitus Samson's personal preferences were exactly "high priority". Besides, Arcturus was gone and now Valerian was in charge. He straightened himself and fixated Samson's gaze with his own.
"The Zerg are many things, Mr. Samson. But let me assure you; petty they are not."
"They are animals, Emperor Mengsk. Nothing more. And if an animal tries to bite you, you kill it. I have never understood why your father hadn't been able to deal with this problem." Was this guy serious?
"Have you ever dealt with Zerg yourself, Mr. Samson? Were you even on Korhal when the Swarm attacked?" The Iceberg's answer wasn't all that surprising.
"Of course not. I have more important things to worry about than petty critters." Petty critters, huh? Damn, right now Valerian didn't even know if that guy was serious or not. He probably was, and that said a lot about this guy.
"Well, in future I will make sure to ask for your expertise on that topic." Valerian replied dryly, but the Iceberg didn't even flinch.
"They say that sarcasm is the trade of a feeble mind, Emperor Mengsk. Your father tried to use it once on me, but never again. You do well to remember that." he said with a matter-of-fact tone in his voice.
"I am not my father, Mr. Samson." Valerian just told him.
"Of course, you're not. If you were, you wouldn't have dared to call me out like some sort of ordinary citizen. However, I knew that this day would come sooner or later, so let's get this over with, shall we?" Valerian had always assumed that the nickname "the Iceberg" was a testimony to how cold and unstoppable this man acted towards his business opponents. But now he wondered if it was due to the man's character. It truly felt like he was talking to a humanoid iceberg.
"So, you know why I called you here?" Valerian wanted to know, but Samson didn't even look him into the eyes when he answered.
"Because you want to lend some money, just like your father did. However, your father knew how to properly ask for a loan."
"I haven't called you here because of that." Valerian then told him. Now Samson turned his head back to him and fixated him with his eyes.
"You did not call me here to tell me that my daughter is fine, did you? I know that, I was informed about it by my men." Suddenly Valerian felt something he hadn't felt before for Valeria Samson; he felt sympathy. After seeing her father, Valerian finally realized how it was possible for a child to turn out that way. But then again, he was the son of a power-hungry megalomaniac, and he had turned out okay. At least he thought that he had turned out okay. History would be the judge of that.
"No, I haven't. I have called you here because I want to give you money." For a short moment, Samson didn't say a word. But then he lowered his head and started to growl. He looked like a bulldog that was about to smash into Valerian. Or like an iceberg that was about to sink Valerian's battleship.
It was a rather fitting nickname.
"I was under the impression that you were somewhat competent. A coward just like your father, but competent. But calling me out here to make fun of me? Boy, do you have any idea who I am?"
"You are Tacitus Reginald Samson, owner of the three largest real estate companies on Korhal and probably the richest man in the entire Dominion. You weren't always rich, but when you earned your fortune you always tried to avoid the Old Families that ruled the Confederacy, because unlike them, you actually earned your fortune yourself. There are no official estimates, but your wealth is supposed to be in the trillions. You never took a side in political squabbles and made business with anyone, as long as there was some profit to be gained. You are married for the ninth time, an impressive feat if you ask me..." Valerian then added while shrugging his shoulders. "...but you only have one daughter. Only one that you acknowledge as your daughter anyway. Rumors say that you got at least five more children, but they're not on Korhal. You gave a hefty loan to my father when he was in dire need of some money and in return he allowed you to go after your business opponents without having to fear the authorities. And it is said that you don't take a piss without having a plan. Is that enough for you?" Valerian then finished and straightened himself. "In case you're wondering; my father was a great schemer, but his plans sucked. I don't scheme, but I plan in advance." And that's when Valerian decided to find out who the alpha-male inside this room was. He stepped closer and looked the Iceberg directly into the eyes.
"You would do well to remember that, Mr. Samson."
Too bad that Leila wasn't here right now. She would probably enjoy this display of two guys trying to figure out who had the bigger...shoes.
Samson didn't reply anything. He just stared at Valerian and it seemed as if he was trying to figure out what kind of man Valerian was. The Emperor stepped to the side and pointed his finger at the chair next to Trenton.
"How about we all take a seat and talk about what I have to offer to you. And rest assured, I didn't call someone as important as you out here just to waste your time. I want to talk business." Valerian then simply turned around and walked back to his seat. He sat down and both he and Trenton waited for Samson to do something. When Samson finally walked over to the chair and sat down, a big grin appeared on Valerian's face.
"Trust me, you won't regret this." he then said.
Regret. If one word could describe Sarah's whole range of emotions she was currently feeling, then this word would be enough to do the job. She had returned to the Hyperion, mostly because she knew that no one would bother her there. However, she hadn't returned to Jim's old bunk. Izsha's little seizure had destroyed most of the things inside his cabin anyway. Sarah had returned to the ship nonetheless, simply because she had no idea where else she could go. Matt's words still lingered in the back of her mind.
I'm going to send Jim away. he had said to her. The rest is up to you I guess.
And: Don't screw it up.
Was he serious? Probably yes, Matt had never possessed even one funny bone in his entire body. However, the implications of those words caused Sarah to question her own resolve.
Because it meant Matt had just handed Jim over to her.
The question was; was she able to do that? Should she do that?
Ah, hell...what am I even doing here? What should I do, Jim? she whispered to herself before she raised her chin and looked up to the stars. She could see a nebula a few lightyears away. If there was no atmosphere, the stars looked like they were sparkling diamonds. And it was even better if there wasn't a glass between your eyes and the stars. Sarah floated a few meters from the outer hull of the Hyperion, and even though she had dimmed her powers down to the bare minimum, anyone who would look out of the window would see the glowing figure of an all-powerful being that had no idea what to do next.
Sarah felt the vacuum pulling at her molecules, but she didn't even shiver. Space was no threat to her. Her flaming hair danced around her head like it was an actual fire, and when her bright, glowing eyes stared at the endless number of stars above her, she wondered if there was one world out there that she could call home.
If she would do what Matt expected her to do, then what? Take Jim with her and settle down somewhere? Would he even want her back? She had her doubts about that, considering the nightmares she had given him.
Being in space like this felt nice. There was no sound except her own thoughts. Unfortunately, it was the only thing she couldn't shut out. Even a Zerg couldn't survive the cold nothingness of space like this. Well, unless it was specifically bred for space operations, like a leviathan. But they had a special carapace, a special kind of skin that shielded them from the danger of space. Sarah didn't need that anymore. Floating through space was like floating through water, only with less fish around. Still, even in her current form she couldn't just lay back and ignore what was going on around her. It felt as if the whole universe was speaking to her with a thousand different voices at the same time, and every single one of them cried for help.
This was her true self now. Not the human one, not the Zerg one either. The golden body looked like just another navigation light on the hull of the Hyperion, at least from afar. And the chance that someone was walking over the hull of the ship was practically nonexistent, which meant that she was certain that no one would bother her out here and-
"Lady Kerrigan! I did not know that you were out here!" a familiar voice suddenly echoed through her mind. She turned her head to the side and saw none other but Karax standing right next to her. His feet stood on the surface of the Hyperion as if they had somehow been magnetized. And it appeared as if the vacuum of space didn't affect him either.
Karax. What are you doing here? she asked. Using her vocal cords in space was pointless, so instead, she used her psionics, just like Karax did.
"Oh, forgive me! I just wanted to check on some systems that I could not access from the inside. I must say, Lady Kerrigan, working on this antique has truly been a fascinating experience, and I am so grateful for this opportunity!" Well, at least someone was happy. Karax was just another proof of her failure. The thing with power is; if you use it, it has consequences. If you apply too much force on a bone, it will break. And if you flood a mind with too much psionic energy, the same happens to a mind; it breaks.
Sarah had been careless, she had used her powers to bend Karax's will in order to appear like a friend. If a human puffs some air at another human, nothing happens. But if a human puffs some air at some ants, it is like a hurricane to them. She hadn't realized the consequences of her action right away, only after Artanis had banished her from Aiur and all Protoss worlds. When Karax had tried to catch up with her, she had thought about killing him. Not because she hated this particular Protoss, but because she had doomed him to a life without the chance of ever returning to his people.
When she had implemented the thought that she was a friend, she had applied too much force. Now it was an integral part of Karax's mind.
She had turned him into her minion. Go, Sarah.
Even though Karax wasn't in pain, it wasn't his own choice to accompany her either. Ending his life would have been an act of mercy, but Sarah had hesitated. She had heard her own voice in the back of her mind, telling her that she was better than that. And much to her own dismay she had realized that she wasn't the only one hearing that voice. It appeared as if she was still somehow connected to Jim...
Seems like you've been busy. she just said.
"Indeed! Did you know that this vessel uses cables in order to transfer information and commands from one end to the other? It is fascinating to see how it works! The things I can learn from this technology!" he explained with a lot of glee in his voice. A part of Sarah was annoyed, she just wanted to be left alone in order to think things through. Or not. Sarah had taken the whole "being a drifter"-thing to a whole new level. However, as she looked at Karax, she watched how he walked over to a hatch and opened it. The cables and systems that came into view looked like they had seen better days.
How can you withstand the vacuum, Karax? Sarah wanted to know. Izsha could do that, albeit only for a short amount of time. But she could do it because Sarah had given her that ability. Yet she hadn't changed Karax. Twisting the DNA of a Zerg was one thing, but that of a Protoss? Knowing her luck, Sarah would probably have created another hybrid. The Phasesmith looked at his new and shiny mistress and tipped with his finger against his chest. Some sort of tight force field appeared around him.
"This is an energy shield. It protects me from the effects of cold space and blocks off the harmful radiation." he explained to her. It wasn't that much different from what Sarah was doing to shieldherself from the coldness of space. The only difference was that Karax had to rely on technology while she only had to focus her mind. The Phasesmith then turned back towards the hatch and started to work on those cables. Like said; they looked like they had seen better days. Sarah watched how the Protoss started to work on those parts. Even though he had never been on a human vessel before (at least Sarah assumed that he had never been on a human vessel before), he seemed to know what he was doing. At least nothing exploded, and that was usually a good sign. Still, as she watched Karax, she couldn't help but wonder about something.
Karax. Sarah then spoke to him. Why are you so fascinated by this ship? It's not nearly as advanced as the ones the Protoss use. It must be completely obsolete in your eyes.
Karax seemed to hesitate for a second and pulled his hands back. He turned his huge head towards her and didn't seem to be baffled at all by her flaming appearance at all.
"Forgive me if I have to disagree, but I do not think that this vessel is obsolete. Maybe it is not as advanced as a Protoss carrier, but it is nonetheless a testimony to the spirit of engineering. It does not matter how advanced something is, the mere fact that it was created shows someone used both thought and skill to put it together. And as long as there is this kind of spirit present, people will find a way to create new marvels." He then looked back at the cables.
"Besides, this technology is truly fascinating. It is completely different from what the Protoss use. To use cables and hydraulic system in order to send information through the ship and make things move! Someone has thought about this hundred, maybe thousands of years ago. The principle seems to be so primitive that no Protoss scientist would actually think of using it, but look at it! These technologies may appear crude at first sight, but if you put these things together, you get a ship that was able to stand up against a Protoss fleet carrier!" Now Karax had to chuckle.
"My colleagues on Aiur would probably be insulted by the fact that something so crude can be so effective!" Now that was an interesting picture. And not only that, Sarah felt how a question formed inside her mind.
Karax, what would you do with the knowledge you can gain from this ship? she wanted to know. Suddenly Karax lowered his head and it seemed as if he was sad. Well, sad for a Protoss. It was still hard for Sarah to truly tell what Karax was feeling. Human emotions were simple because she had been a human. Once. And Zerg emotions weren't exactly hard to figure out either. But Protoss? Their minds were different and truly in the sense of the word alien. But by now she believed that she had figured out at least the most basic emotions. And right now, Karax felt sad.
Karax? Sarah asked again and her body started to move closer to the ship's hull. She turned around, and when her feet connected to the cold steel of the ship, there was something like above and below again.
"Forgive me, Lady Kerrigan, I did not want to avoid your question. It is just...difficult for me to find the right words. All this knowledge I have gained so far is truly fascinating. Yet at the same time, I know that my colleagues would never truly appreciate it."
What do you mean? Sarah asked again before she looked over Karax's shoulder and watched how he started to bypass the damaged systems. Sarah had no idea what he was doing. It looked as if this system had died a long time ago, yet no one had bothered to replace it. Since it was directly on the outer hull, it was probably not that important.
"In the past, my colleagues have always frowned upon my fascination with the things that were not directly related to our duties. I was always intrigued by it but was never able to study these things. When the Conclave was still in power, they always denied us the chance to study anything that was deemed dangerous. Or that was an insult to the Conclave's beliefs and convictions. And when the Conclave fell, there was no time to do anything about it. We had to focus all of our abilities on simply finding a way to survive. But then..." He stopped and pulled his hands back while he looked at the damaged system in front of him.
Go on. Sarah encouraged him and Karax sighed.
"I do not wish to insult the Hierarch. He is a hero amongst my kind! And the name Artanis should forever be revered as the one who led us to victory. He certainly deserves as much praise as the great Tassadar, maybe even more. Maybe he truly is on the same level as the great Adun himself." he explained. Sarah was able to suppress a shudder. If there was one thing that was certain, then that both she and Artanis would never want to see each other again. And to her, he would never be this knight in shiny armor.
"However, when I approached him after the end of the battle, after we had reclaimed Aiur, I urged him to let me study the technology of Ulnar and the Xel'Naga. Yet he refused." It was hard for Sarah to figure out a Protoss's emotions, but she was pretty certain that he was sad when he told her about this.
Why would he do that? Sarah asked and Karax shook his head.
"The Hierarch explained to me that this knowledge was forbidden. It was beyond our understanding and that it wasn't meant for mere mortals to approach it. Besides, he also told me that the Xel'Naga were no longer our gods and we should not try to worship them, but rather find our own way in life." Yep, that sounded like Artanis.
But you disagreed. she then said. It was no question, but Karax shook his head again.
"I did not question his decision. It was not my place. Besides, I still respect him. He is truly everything my people claim he is. And even more."
And yet you disagree. she basically repeated her statement. Karax lowered his head, and now it seemed as if he was truly ashamed.
"Yes." was the only thing he whispered.
Perhaps Sarah had no right to talk to Karax like they were friends. But since he was now part of her life and she couldn't just abandon him, she could at least try to better understand him. Who knew, maybe there was something she could do for him, something that would give him some purpose again. She had her doubts that repairing an old and rundown battlecruiser was extremely satisfying to a Phasesmith.
Why? she then wanted to know. Karax sighed and dropped his shoulders before he continued to work on the damaged system.
"The Conclave told us that there is dangerous knowledge and good knowledge. They always told us which was which. But I was never able to believe that. Knowledge is knowledge. It is neither good nor bad. It simply is." he explained to her. "If we acquire this knowledge, we have to decide how to use it. And I am not only talking about the Xel'Naga." he pointed at the damaged system. "This vessel too is full of technology that we could learn from. Of course, we cannot install the systems of this vessel on ours, but we could use the principles! And not only the Terrans could teach us many things, we could learn from the Zerg as well!" When Sarah heard that, she tilted her head to the side and her flaming red hair danced around like it was truly made out of fire.
A Protoss willing to learn from the Zerg? Sarah chuckled, however, Karax wasn't able to hear the amusement in her voice. The idea seemed to be utterly ridiculous to her. What could a Protoss learn from the Zerg anyway? Other than creating a being that was both Protoss and Zerg, and we all know how that worked out. But if there was one thing that caused Karax's heart to jump in joy, it was to answer someone else's questions.
"A lot, Lady Kerrigan!" he announced, stood up and turned towards her. Sarah had no idea why he called her Lady Kerrigan. Well, it was certainly better than "Your Majesty". A Protoss calling her like that just felt wrong. He started to gesture with his hands while he told her all the fascinating things about the Zerg.
"Aside from the physical strength and their ability to share all their thoughts, their biggest strength is that they have managed to eliminate the planning phase when it comes to creating new machines. They simply introduce a new system and then they let natural selection do the rest."
New machines? The Zerg use no machines. Sarah told him, but Karax just shook his head.
"No! I mean yes! I mean, no! I mean...I am sorry. Of course, the Zerg do not use machines that are made out of crystal and metal. Their machines are made out of organic cells. Instead of hydraulic systems, they use muscles. Instead of energized crystals, they use nerve cords. Our bodies, no matter how advanced they are, are still nothing more than biological machines. Unimaginable complex, yet once you accept that fact, there is a strange beauty to it. I do not perceive the Zerg like my brethren do. I do realize that they are dangerous, but they are also so complex! A Zerg larva possesses the ability to morph into a gigantic hive, the only thing that it needs is nutrition and-" However, before he could finish that sentence, Sarah had to know one thing.
Karax, how do you know so much about Zerg? By now her lips had started to move, even though no sound left her throat since they were still in space. Karax lowered his head and it seemed as if he was embarrassed.
"Forgive me, Lady Kerrigan. But when I was alone with Lady Izsha, I asked her about the Zerg and she seemed to be very eager to explain everything about her kind to me. Several times over actually. And she spent a lot of time explaining a lot of details to me. She is truly an exceptional teacher, Milady." he told her. Well, that certainly sounded like Izsha. Still, Sarah was still not sure wherever the "Lady"-title was a bit too much. But how was he supposed to address her anyway? Kerrigan? Sarah? Bitch-that-caused-me-nothing-but-pain-and-despair?
I see. And you consider the Zerg-nature to be fascinating? You think you could learn from it? she asked and walked past Karax. She knelt down in front of the open hatch and looked at the damaged system.
"A lot. But you would have to understand the bigger picture and accept that someone else possesses a more advanced knowledge of certain systems than oneself does." He watched how Sarah's fingers brushed over the broken systems. "Just think about it; a single probe, equipped with an advanced system of nano-machines. It could use them to multiply itself and then start to construct a base or a vessel or even a whole city!" Now he sounded truly excited and Sarah didn't want to interrupt him when the fried circuits seemed to repair themselves right before their eyes.
"And not only that! The Zerg can communicate over long distances with each other. The Purifiers are Protoss, yet they are not bound to a single body! They could travel through the stars, follow that probe and settle down on that world with ease. And maybe this is only the beginning. Maybe, one day, other Protoss too could use this technology. Maybe they could upload their minds to our machines like the Purifiers do, and maybe that way a Protoss could travel through space and upload his or her mind into a Purifier's sentinel on another world! Physical distance would no longer have any meaning!" Even though Sarah only listened with one ear to what Karax told her, she understood the implications of what he was talking about. And she realized that not many would look at it the same way Karax did.
She had either picked up a dreamer and maniac, or a true visionary.
That is an ambitious dream, Karax, one not many people share. she then said to him and she could feel how he mentally sighed.
"Yes, I know." he replied. "And I know that many people are afraid of it. They only see the teeth and claws and think that it is everything you need to know."
But you know more, don't you, Karax. Again, it was no question. Karax watched how Sarah repaired the broken system by just using her psionic abilities. As a Zerg, she had been able to manipulate strains of DNA with nothing but her mind. But now she was able to rearrange the molecules and atoms inside those cables and boards almost at will. Almost. It was still tricky as hell and she was kinda new to this.
"I would never claim to know more than others. Everyone is a master at something else. The Hierarch is a great tactician and knows more about what it means to be a Templar than anyone else I have ever met. But he...he..."
He is no scientist.
Karax lowered his gaze.
"Yes. He does possess an open mind, though. At least for a Templar. Others are not as open to new ideas as he is, like Executor Selendis for example. And others like Alarak would only use that knowledge for their own selfish reasons. I never thought that I would get the chance to study this technology. Not until you and Lady Izsha arrived on Saalok. I guess I am truly blessed with meeting you that day and-"
No, Karax. Sarah interrupted him and stood up. The system was operational again, and as Karax looked at it, it seemed as if it was brand-new. She didn't dare to turn around and look him into the eyes. He was a sentient being, and the only reason why he felt gratitude was because Sarah had effectively lobotomized him. Karax was the living proof of her own failure and a part of her mind told her that it would be the best to end him. She would do it swiftly, he wouldn't suffer. And if there was truly a higher plane of existence where all Protoss would go after death, then he would surely be welcomed by his kind. Sarah floated away, her body pulsing with raw energy.
"Lady Kerrigan? Is something wrong? Did I say something that caused you discomfort?" Oh God, why did he have to be so submissive towards everything she said? It made it even harder. She floated past him and pointed with her finger behind her.
You should check the system now. Perhaps I made a mistake. You are the professional here after all. That was only partially true. Sarah knew that she hadn't done any mistake. The systemwas working again, and it was better than new. However, listening to Karax was painful, because it was a constant reminder of her own failure. She could have avoided this tragedy if she had only been more careful.
"As you wish, Milady." Karax then said and walked up to the hatch. She stayed behind him and waited until he had knelt down and started to inspect the system. Sarah then turned around and raised her hand. She pointed her palm at Karax and reached out with her mind.
"Hmm...it all seems fine. This is truly remarkable!" Karax said while Sarah looked at him with the eyes of a godlike entity. She didn't even see the whole body right now. Instead, she could see the molecules that his body was made of. She could do it, she could sense the atomic bonds that kept his body together. And she was certain that she could undo all of these bonds in an instant.
He would simply fall apart and turn into dust immediately. He wouldn't even realize what was going on. It was a merciful death, wasn't it? Quickly, clean, and he wouldn't even have time to feel pain or be afraid. Not many could hope to find such an end.
Artanis would probably be pleased as well. That way, Karax would be free from Sarah's control. Oh, who was she kidding; no matter what she would do, Artanis would always hate every damn bone inside her body for the rest of all times. If she would kill Karax and Artanis would find out, he would hate her for that. If she would keep Karax alive and he would find out, he would hate her for doing that too.
She watched how Karax studied the fixed system and wondered what he wanted to do. It was hard to say since she had changed his mind for good.
She had done it so many times.
Put your finger on the trigger.
Pull it down.
End a life.
So many times.
Take a deep breath, hold it, take aim. And shoot.
And later she had sliced her way through her enemies.
Feel the rage inside your chest, smell the blood of your enemies and dig your claws and teeth into their flesh.
Primal.
Feral.
Free.
The result had always been the same; death. However, she had never felt what she was feeling right now. She felt guilty. Taking a life shouldn't be this hard. She had done it too many times. But when she had Karax's life literally in her hand, she hesitated.
You are more than that. The lives that you have taken do not define you. her own voice suddenly spoke to her again, and Sarah sighed. Right, just when she had forgotten about that one...
You can choose your own path. Just trust your instincts.
Her instincts, huh? The same kind of instincts that told her to kill, maim, and destroy?
No. the voice told her firmly, which was somewhat surprising to Sarah. That wasn't you. That was never you. The real you is different. It is kind and gentle, you just have to accept.
Sarah wanted it to stop. Whatever this voice was, it was starting to become bothersome. She assumed that it was something that was a leftover from her short trip to Ulnar, a piece of her mind that tried to haunt her. Who knew, maybe it was her subconsciousness that had learned to speak for itself.
She had experienced weirder stuff.
Yet, as she stared at Karax's back, ready to take his life, she could sense that this voice had a point.
She couldn't. She couldn't do it.
Not anymore, no more killing. It was the easy way, wasn't it? That's what Jim would probably tell her. And so, she lowered her hand and watched how Karax shook his head in amazement.
"You truly have to teach me how you have done this, Lady Kerrigan!" he just said.
Maybe...this wasn't such a bad idea. Instead of ending him, she could help him to at least learn about the things he always considered "fascinating". Sarah had no idea what she should do, but when Karax looked over his shoulder, she could sense his curiosity.
She should probably worry about something else right now. About someone else, to be more precise. However, all she could do was to wait and see what would happen next. She sighed and realized that her other options were somewhat limited. So instead she floated back towards Karax and pointed her finger at the system.
When I reach out with my senses, I can feel the molecules and atoms. And how they're all bonded to each other. Sarah explained to him. His eyes widened when he heard that.
"So that means that you can rearrange an object from the inside? Could you show me?" There it was again, that childlike glee. Sarah sighed again and nodded.
You better watch carefully, Karax. 'Cause I don't do it for the fun of it. Here, take a look. She then pointed at another broken system and started to reach out with her senses. Karax watched in amazement how everything returned the way it was. He watched carefully and studied every tiny detail. It would be a lie if he said that he understood any of this. But maybe one day?
By rearranging the molecules, I can return this to its original state, as long as there's enough material present. By that...Sarah then started to explain. And Karax listened to every damn word.
A few meters away from them was an observation window. From the inside of the ship, Izsha watched how Sarah explained something to Karax like a teacher would. Her Majesty's closest advisor observed how the two talked about this and that.
Whatever her Queen would have done, she would have accepted it. Even if that had meant the death of Karax. However, her Queen had decided to spare his life. The old Queen of Blades would have ended him with a smirk on her face. The new Queen of Blades would probably have killed him as well, only without the smirk. But now?
It was like Izsha had said before; Zerg always evolve and change. It is the one thing that made them Zerg. And this Queen of hers? She was changing as well, and Izsha could hardly wait what kind of Queen she would become.
A smile appeared on Izsha's face when she watched the scene in front of her eyes.
"I still owe you an answer, my Queen." she then said to herself. "And that answer is yes. Yes, I shall never leave your side."
"Admiral, Sir! His Majesty will have time for you shortly. He is almost done." the secretary said with a friendly look on his face. Matt looked at the secretary and then at the crowd of big and muscular men standing in front of the Emperor's office. Bodyguards, and a whole lot of 'em. Matt recognized that half of the men in this room belonged to the Imperial Palace's security force. The other half...looked like Smith, only a lot less dangerous. Their biceps were thicker as Matt's head, and they looked like a bunch of gorillas wearing expensive suits. Here's a tip; if you deal with bodyguards, professional bodyguards, you shouldn't be worried about the ones with the huge muscles, but the skinny ones.
"Seems like his Majesty has some important guests. Anyone I should know about?" The secretary just shook her head when he heard that question.
"I am sorry, but I can't tell you anything about this. The people who are currently talking to his Imperial Majesty do not wish to be seen with him right now, at least not in public."
Say what?
"Say what?" Matt repeated his own thoughts.
"It is nothing personal, I assure you that." the secretary explained. "But at least one of his Majesty's guests do not wish to be seen here. It could prove problematic for his business."
"Wait, who the hell are we talking about here anyway?" Matt wanted to know, but the secretary just shook his head.
"I am sorry, but I cannot tell you that. It is-"
"Yeah, yeah, the Imperial Palace's official policy. You do know who I am, right?" Matt mumbled. He didn't want to sound like an arrogant jerk, but if the most important and closest advisor of the Emperor wasn't able to get this information, then who could?
"Of course, Admiral Horner. But orders are orders. And I cannot tell you who's currently inside that office."
"You know, I can still ask the Emperor directly. You do realize that." Matt then added, but all the secretary did was to give him another creepy smile.
"Of course you can do that, Admiral, but I will not answer this question. You will have to wait for the Emperor himself to tell you." Suddenly Lieutenant Hernandez didn't seem so bad as an adjutant anymore.
"Can I at least get a coffee?" Matt muttered and the secretary nodded.
"Of course, Admiral. I will call for someone to bring you a coffee immediately. In the meantime, why won't you have a seat?" The secretary then pointed his fingers at a few chairs in front of the Emperor's office. Matt just sighed and wondered if there were at least some magazines lying around.
The short answer?
There weren't any magazines.
However, the coffee was actually damn good. Matt waited in front of the office for what felt like hours. Ha, it was actually somewhat funny. The last time someone had let him wait had been a really long time ago. Now it felt like that one time, back when he had been with the Raiders when both he and Jim had tried to get several tons of penicillin from a pirate. Not by fighting, but by negotiating. He had spent almost two days inside the outer office of the pirate before they had finally reached an agreement. Of course, the agreement had meant to blow up the pirate's base while Jim had managed to steal all of the penicillin shortly before that.
Matt had never met a pirate with his own outer office ever again.
That guy had even had a parrot.
The day outside was coming to an end, and the sun was about to set when the door was finally opened.
"...honesty of my offer. I understand if you have to think about it some more time, but I hope that you will look at it the same way I do; as a chance." Valerian said and stepped out of his office. The first man who followed him was someone Matt had never seen before. He was a middle-aged man of average height. The only thing that was interesting about him was the relieved expression on his face. The other man, however...
"Oh, damn." Matt whispered when he saw the bulky figure. He had never personally met that man before, but he recognized the face. Of course, he knew what Tacitus Samson looked like, even though the man rarely showed his face in public. But when you're supposed to lead a nation, you have to know who the most influential people are. And this guy? He was the biggest shark in the pond.
"Your offer is certainly...interesting." Samson then said. He walked out of the office and didn't bother to shake Valerian's hand. The look on his face was strange. On the one hand, it seemed as if he didn't like Valerian one bit. Yet at the same time, it appeared as if he was still thinking about what Valerian had told him.
Speaking of which; what the hell had Valerian told him anyway?
"However, I will require some time to let my people look through your numbers. I am certain that you understand that. An endeavor of this size and magnitude is nothing you can simply wish to happen. It needs to be examined first." Samson explained to Valerian with a cold tone in his voice.
"Of course it does. Still, I believe that you too will see the benefits of this endeavor. And to show you my good faith, I will give you a full week to have your people to look over my plans before I will approach other people who might be interested in this business endeavor." Valerian then replied. Samson straightened himself, and for a second he looked like someone had taken a dump on his cornflakes, but he just took a deep breath before he answered.
"I understand. Now excuse me, there are other things I need to take care of. Emperor Mengsk, Mr. Trenton. Have a nice day." he declared, yet his voice sounded like he wished for them to die in a tragic accident. When he turned around and walked out of the room, half of the bodyguards followed him. In the end, only Valerian's bodyguards remained, and when Samson and his crew were gone, Matt could see how Valerian's people sighed in relief.
"Man, those guys are dicks..." a female bodyguard whispered next to Matt. It was Valerian who gave her an answer. But it was an answer no one expected.
"I doubt that. They probably swallowed so many anabolic drugs that there isn't much going on down there anyway." Valerian explained and everyone looked at each other both in surprise and a bit of shock. However, that moment only lasted for a few seconds before the people started to chuckle.
"That's not funny, people." Valerian then said, but the huge grin on his face showed that he wasn't serious about it. "Anabolic drugs can do a lot of harm and cause your brain and testicles to shrink. Makes you wonder if those two things are indeed one and the same." Now the bodyguards weren't able to suppress their laughter. But Valerian just shook their head. "I don't understand why you're laughing about this!" he continued, but he too had a hard time suppressing his laugh. "By the way, what's the official position regarding anabolic drugs?" he then wanted to know and looked over to the secretary, but the man just shook his head.
"I, uhm, I am sorry, your Majesty, but I don't know."
"Well, it would be nice if you could find it out. It's no rush though. I just want to know if I should brace myself for big, muscular men with boobs on their chest." Now the bodyguards couldn't help themselves anymore. Some started to laugh out loud, some managed to only giggle. But everyone seemed to be truly enjoying this moment until Valerian turned serious again and turned towards the other man.
"Mr. Trenton, I want to thank you so much for coming here today. You were a great help, and I truly appreciate what you did for me. And for the Dominion." Trenton. Trenton. Trenton. Matt recognized the name from somewhere, but he couldn't really tell from where.
"Your Majesty, please, that isn't necessary. I could hardly say no to your invitation. And it was an honor to help you." When Valerian offered his hand to Trenton, the man seemed to hesitate for a second before he finally grabbed it.
"Nonsense. I truly value your opinion, and I think we were a good team today." Valerian then said and it made Matt wonder just what the Emperor had offered to Samson. He even felt a little sting in his chest when he realized that Valerian had decided something without consulting the Admiral first.
Don't take yourself so goddamn important, Matt. You're not the only fish in the pond. Matt thought to himself. It was only natural that Valerian had more than one advisor. It was actually a good sign, that way he wouldn't only listen to Matt's suggestions.
Besides, what did Matt know about the economy anyway?
"Well, I have to admit, the look on Samson's face when you explained your offer to him was truly priceless. That alone was worth the trip." Trenton chuckled.
"Oh, I do hope that it will be worth a lot more. But I don't want to keep you here forever. I guess you too have to ask your people to run some numbers on what I offered to you."
"Yes, but I won't need a week. Let me assure you; there are countless other business-people who would kill for such an opportunity. And I'm not exaggerating." Trenton explained to him. "I know at least five men who would accept your offer in an instant. Samson may act like an iceberg, but he will come around. He can't afford to ignore this offer. It would make him look like an idiot, and that's something he will never allow to happen."
"I certainly hope that you're right. Forgive me if I have to end our conversation now, but I still need to talk with the Admiral." Valerian then said and looked over at Matt.
"Oh, I understand. Besides, it is getting late and I think we achieved a lot for one day." Trenton agreed and both men said goodbye to each other like they were old friends. When Trenton left the office, no bodyguards followed him. So, he had come alone here, that was interesting.
"Looks like you've been busy." Matt mumbled when Trenton was finally gone. Valerian sighed and went back into his office.
"Come in, Matt. I want to collapse on the floor." The Admiral did as he was told, and when he closed the door of Valerian's office behind him, he watched how the Emperor threw himself on his chair and put his feet on his desk.
"Man, that was some crazy stuff..." Valerian whispered. Matt sat down on one of the two chairs standing in front of the desk and pulled his brows up.
"What was that all about?" he wanted to know.
"An attempt to fix several things at once." Valerian explained.
"Sounds ambitious." Matt said. "What did you do?"
"Trying to solve three crises at once. I talked to Leila, uhm, I mean Ambassador Curtland." Matt saw how Valerian's cheeks turned red when he spoke about the Ambassador. "Apparently, my advisors did not tell me that the current food crisis inside the Combine is a lot more serious than I thought it was. If we won't be able to improve the food situation within the next twelve to eighteen months, people might starve. Again."
"So, you want to do something about it?" Matt asked and Valerian nodded.
"Yes, but given the history between the Dominion and the Combine, I figured that it would be better to find a solution that doesn't involve the Dominion itself. Or at least none of our institutions." Valerian leaned back and closed his eyes. "Anyway, I called Trenton and Samson here to make them an offer; to invest in companies inside the Combine. The deal is simple; they get full tax refunds for any kind of investment they make and have only to pay half of the standard tax rate for all of their revenue should they decided to transfer it back into the Dominion. If they decide to reinvest it somewhere in the Combine, they don't have to pay that tax at all." When Matt heard that, his eyes widened in surprise.
"That sounds like the wet dream of any rich guy." he said and Valerian chuckled when he heard that.
"When I told this to Samson, he told me that I'm an idiot and that I'm just wasting his time."
"How did you convince that guy anyway?" Matt wanted to know.
"I didn't. It was Trenton. His company is perfect for this kind of job, and his people possess the know-how to make this work. What he needs is someone who keeps his back clear and who will provide him with the funds. And that is the third idea that I had; we won't put any strain on our budget because the corporate sector will do it."
"When did you come up with that plan?!" Matt asked, both surprised and impressed. "And when did you turn into an expert in economics?" Now Valerian started to laugh.
"Hahaha...oh, I'm no expert in economics. But I think I finally found someone who is." the Emperor then declared. "Samson and Trenton are as different as day and night, but their ideas and solutions are truly fascinating. We should have done that a lot earlier, you know?"
"There are a lot of things we should have done a lot earlier." Matt muttered and Valerian opened his eyes again. He remembered where he was and put his feet back on the ground.
"You're right. But with everything that has happened, I think we need to start solving one problem at a time. And if this thing works, we might solve three problems at once." Valerian sighed and looked at Matt. "I realized something, Matt. We made a mistake, all of us did. We allowed others to make the call for us. We were pushed around and forced to make decisions that we didn't believe in. How about we start to lead and make our own mistakes from now on? We need to act and take the initiative."
"That sounds so stupid, it could actually work." Matt declared and Valerian laughed again.
"I know, right? What can possibly go wrong?"
"Oh God, that's the godmother of all jinxes, you're aware of that, right?" Matt then laughed too.
"Maybe. But that's not why I called you here. By the way; what's wrong with that Hernandez-lady I spoke to. Is she a civilian?" Valerian suddenly wanted to know. Matt froze for a second before he sighed.
"Uhm...no. Not exactly. Lieutenant Hernandez is my new adjutant. And no, that's not a joke. It's a long story, one that I will gladly tell you. But not today. I think my head would explode if I would do that."
"Speaking of adjutants; how's Brent?" Valerian suddenly wanted to know.
"Better. I think. Hernandez told me that the hospital can start treating his wounds soon. But it's still too early to throw a party." When Valerian heard that, he leaned forward and put his arms on the desk. He tried to make eye contact with Matt.
"Matt, listen." he then began. "About Brent, about that party...something happened back then, I know it. I heard how a lot of the guards were certain that the guests had been killed. If so many people see the same thing, it usually means that there is something true about that story." Valerian took a deep breath.
"I still need to address the public. They expect a speech. And I intend to tell them what truly happened. Minus the "attackers from the Combine"-part. But Matt, what did happen?" Suddenly Matt's good mood vanished. Oh yeah, he knew what had happened. Point is; should he really tell Valerian about it? About Sarah's return?
About his plan?
Short answer: Yes.
Short but complex answer: Yes, but not now.
"Sorry, Valerian. But I can't tell you what's going on. Not yet anyway." he told the Emperor. Valerian seemed to be baffled for a second, but he managed to remain calm.
"I want to be honest, Matt, that's not the answer I was expecting. Matt, what's going on?" he continued to ask. But Matt clenched his hands into fists and lowered his gaze. He knew that Valerian had the authority to order him to spill his beans.
"Valerian, I know that you want answers. But not now. I can't. Not yet."
"I could order you to tell me the truth. You know that." Matt nodded when he heard that.
"I know."
"So, what would you do if I order you to tell me, Admiral?"
"I would refuse."
There was a long moment of silence, and all Valerian did was to frown. When the Emperor finally started to speak again, Matt felt how a cold chill ran down his spine.
"I trust you, Matt. I really do. And I won't force you to tell me what's going on. But I want you to understand one thing; keeping secrets was something my father did all the time. I made a promise to myself that I would not end up like him, bitter and alone. Matt, secrets will turn you into a lonely man." Now it was Matt's turn to take a deep breath.
"Valerian, I want to tell you what's going on. But not now. I need more time. I can only give you my promise that you will hear the truth from me one day. But not until everything is said and done." Being cryptic is not nearly as much fun as you might think it is. And so Matt decided to give Valerian one small hint.
"All I can say that it's about Jim." When Valerian heard that, he leaned back and thought about it for a few moments. Then he finally nodded.
"Okay. Okay, I believe you. And I won't bother you again. But once this thing is done, I want you to tell me. Is that understood?"
Matt wasn't angry or hurt. Valerian was still the Emperor, and even though both men considered each other to be friends, someone had to be in charge. And Valerian had most of the arguments on his side.
"I will." Matt just replied. Valerian then sighed and shook his head.
"I guess you came here for nothing then. That's basically the only thing I wanted to ask of you. Guess we could have done that with a simple call." the Emperor muttered.
"Actually, I wanted to come here and ask a favor of you. Or two favors, to be exact." When Matt said that, Valerian pulled his brows up.
"Uh...what?"
"There are two things I need from you, Valerian. Don't worry, it's nothing hard. But it's something only you can provide."
"I don't think I'm going to like that, am I?" Valerian groaned.
"Probably not. But don't worry, it will be fun. If you will be able to remember anything."
"This is getting better and better." the Emperor said. "What is it.
"Well, I need you. Tomorrow, to be exact. There's something I have to do, and I could use your help. Like I said; you don't have to worry. It should be fun. Just make sure that you don't have any appointments tomorrow and the day after that."
"Maaaaaatt? What is this about?"
"Don't worry, it will be fun. Someone will pick you up and take you to the Hyperion."
"Hyperion?" Valerian asked surprised. "Matt, what are you up to?" But Matt just shook his head.
"Sorry, it's a secret. But don't worry, you will see what I have planned soon enough." Then Matt finally stood up and straightened himself. "Maybe you should wear something comfortable though. And something that you can clean easily. Or throw away afterward."
"That sounds like fun." Valerian replied dryly. "But you said something about two favors. What else do you need?" Now a grin appeared on Matt's face.
"I need the most expensive and exquisite bottle of wine you have in your possession."
