-Arc 2 Return of the Empress-
-Chapter 15
-Duels and Betrayals -
In the capital City of Randgriz a city wide alarm blared across the city while the Zerg fleet loomed off in the far distance. Tens of thousands of people rushed to the underground shelter's while Haruka and the twins calmly made their way to the closest shuttle car parking building.
Tatsuki. "Should we not call our own fleet?"
Haruka. "No not right now. Ellen's fleet would just fire at us. Well grab one of those refineries that's floating next to the mine. From what i've read on them they have a lot of raw Ragnite that's purified into its more usable form. If we wait until Ellen's fleet gets its fill and warp away we'll have a short opening to bring in our own fleet and grab one or two of those Refinery platform's."
Entering a tall building the three took a elevator up to the upper floors. On the seventh floor Haruka and the twins quickly jogged to their rented shuttle car. Scanning Haruka's biometrics the shuttle cars engines hummed to life, lifting a few inch's off the parking lots floor.
Haruka. "Hold on."
Pulling on the controls the shuttle spun around backwards aiming out the opening. The shuttle shot out of the building, flying up and around to a level flight path towards the Ragnite mines.
Looking out the window at all the other people both below her on the ground and above in long lanes of flying crafts Mitsuki had a thought. "Are we sure Ellen's fleet won't fire on us?"
Haruka. "If I was in this situation I would be concerned with military forces. Not one civilian craft. But then again maybe they'll think were a trojan horse with a nuke on board."
In the back seat the twins gave each other a worried glance as they flew out of the cities air space.
-Ellen-
Dashing left and jumping Ellen dodged the hail of bullets from the metal Hydralisk. Landing on the wall she leaped off as the blazing tracer fire followed her. Landing on the opposite side of the tunnel she made one last leap slamming against the Simulant. Both flew and into elevator. Laughing as one of her eyes glowed red Ellen infused more energy into her body and began tearing the Simulant to pieces. Its metal structure resisted the attacks and it backhanded her into the elevator wall.
Ellen. "Oh. Ho ho. Tough aren't we."
Infusing even more power into her body Ellen charged again while the Simulant Hydralisk raised one of its bladed arms. Ellen grabbed the Simulant wrist blades inches from her midsection. She squeezed and twisted her hand crushing and twisting the metal arm.
The glowing eyes of the Simulant processed the situation and changed tactics wrapping its snake like lower body around the target and activating its self destruct. Three seconds passed and a mighty explosion rocked the tunnel.
-Valkyrur Arms Research Facility Safe Room-
Assistant 1. "Did that do it. Is it dead?"
Dr Matthews shrugged his shoulders. "I have no clue. Im not an expert on Zerg biology. But I would find it fascinating to see how Zerg biology could benefit from the integration of Ragnite into their physiology and how it could improve their psionic abilities."
Both the assistants glanced at each other with nervous eyes. On screen the security camera in the tunnel showed the whole elevator had been destroyed and a large 15 foot by 15 foot hole left in its place. The rock glowing red from the heat of the plasma explosion. Dr Matthew typed a command in and the screen changed to the bottom of the elevator shaft. The doors at the bottom of the elevator shaft opened allowing a direct view as the dust cleared. Leaning closer Dr Matthew zoomed in to see the Brood queen was still alive and in one piece more or less.
Dr Matthew. "Well... shit!"
-Ellen-
Lying in a fetal position Ellen winced in pain. Her body creaking and popping from the broken bones and melted armor plating. "Fuck!"
Infusing her self with even more psionic power from her swarm her body glowed slightly and her regeneration accelerated. In just ten seconds most of her wounds were healed and she stood up.
Ellen. "Uh! Well thats was unexpectedly powerful. Note to self. Avoid self destructing Simulants from now on."
Climbing out of the shaft Ellen started down the long white washed hallway of smooth metal.
"If I was a betting man where..."
Interrupting her sentence the far half of the hallway rotated away replaced by a rotating wall that spun around until another replaced it. The walls of the new hallway opened and a army of Simulant Zergling and Hydralisk filled the corridor all of them aiming at her.
"Does this place shift its structure around like some kind of maze. Interesting security system?. Whatever I like challenges anyway."
Gun barrels spun and rockets launched, filling the end of the corridor with tracer fire and explosions. Leaping up and over the weapons fire Ellen charged her claws with energy making them glow brightly. She landed cleaving a metal Zergling in two. Jabbing upwards she impaled the Simulant Hydralisk to her left up through the head. Pulling out she spin kicked knocking another Hydralisk off its aim. Landing on her feet she tore into its chest ripping its power lines apart. Its lights blinked off as its systems lost power, its body fell onto the floor like a limp paper weight.
Continuing her rampage Ellen ripped and tore her way through the corridor leaving a trail of trashed metal husks in her wake.
*Boom*
Blasting the doors off their hinges Ellen entered the next room. Looking around she saw nothing but a lab full of transparent isolation rooms, each with machines and robotic arms conducting experiments on Ragnite of differing sizes and states from liquid to gas. Walking through the room Ellen observed the Isolated rooms and the automated experiments being conducted in them.
"Interesting?"
Walking through the room Ellen came upon a large storage container of pure Ragnite crystals. Placing one hand on the container she felt the energy they emited like a buzz radiating through the container.
Charging up her arm again she punched her way into the container and ripped out a baseball sized chunk of pur Ragnite. Examining it she licked her lips and brought it up to her mouth. Just when she was about to bit into it a door across the room opened up and a pack of four Simulant Hunter-killers walked inside. The isolation rooms retracted into the floor leaving the room a wide open space with the exception to the storage containers behind Ellen.
"More of these guys? Why can't you sent me some of those Spartans. I'ed love to spare with some of them."
The four Simulant Hunter-killers got into formation, two staying back and two charging at Ellen. The two in front split up taking to the walls while the other two fired their twin Gauss cannons. Just as the two staying still aimed at her Ellen dodge rolled away. Two streams off wispy lines shot into the containers behind Ellen sending dabri flying. The semi-auto firing gauss cannons continued shooting while Ellen dodged quick as the wind, leaping off the walls and staying on the move. Charging up two psi-orbs Ellen attacked the closest Simulant. It brought up its arms blocking most of the damage and continued charging at her.
"As expected. plan-B then."
Ellen spin jumped to the left evading two gauss shots that slammed into the floor. The maneuver positioned Her so the Hunter Killer was now between her and the other two keeping them from firing at her. Concentrating she compressing her remaining psi-orb into a small pea sized ball and launched it.
Again the Simulant Hunter-killer blocked but the compressed ball of energy managed to pass in between the triple blades of each arm and penetrate into the torso with its compressed form. *Boom* The Simulant exploded from within leaving its lower body to fall to the floor.
"Sweet!" Ellen thought.
While the remaining Simulants processed the sudden change in the situation Ellen took the initiative forming two more compressed Psi-orbs and launched them at the two Simulants in the back. Just as they moved the compressed psi-orbs slammed into ones torso destroying it while the other was struck in the rear lower body. The destruction of its rear lower body left the Simulant immobile but still able to fight at a distance.
The remaining Sim-Hunter-killer fired at Ellen blowing through one wing and severing her right arm just below the elbow.
Grunting in pain but baring it Ellen leaped into the air creating a over sized psi-orb released it in a unstable state. The closest sim-Hunter-killer fired at the orb and it detonated in a shock wave. Knocked back on to its rear legs the Sim-Hunter-killer stabilised itself and quickly took aim again only for a small blue orb to slam into it's chest. *Boom*
Turning to the last Sim-Hunter-killer Ellen focused on the angle of its barrels as she actively leaped about the room. Jumping into the air she evaded a shot from one gauss cannons only to get hit in the shoulder with the second. As she fell Ellen launched one final compressed psi-orb striking just below the Simulant. The blast knocked it onto its side against the wall.
Ellen stood back up taking a glance at the fist sized hole in her shoulder and her limp arm hanging by a little strip of meat and some bone.
"These new Simulant's are really a pain. Upgraded armor and AI that can match a Brood queen. And bullets reinforced with psi-plating."
Sighing Ellen focused on the horn on her forehead creating another compressed psi-orb and fired. The satisfying explosion silhouetted Ellen as she turned back to her severed forearm. Concentrating and infusing more of her swarms psionic energy into her body the wounds quickly healed except for the lost forearm. Intentionally leaving it as is She grabbed the lost appendage off the floor placing it on the stump. The two halves resealed and reconnected as if never separated.
Ellen turned around, towards the door the sim-Hunter-killers came from. "Now where are those Valkyrur Arms?"
-Low Earth Orbit-
-Light Frigate, Dawns Fury-
Aliasse's shuttle landed in the aft hanger, the doors closing under her as the grappling arm magnetically attached itself. A walkway extended over to its side. Sliding her door open Aliasse stepped out and made her way across the walkway and down to floor level where a small team of fully armored Spartans were waiting.
"Welcome miss Aliasse. I'm Lieutenant Tarrance and this is my team. Alex, Shawn and Jace." said the man dressed a navy uniform with a Spartans emblem on his left breast pocket.
Aliasse. "A pleasure. But we need to get to Gallia ASAP. Do you have any Sky Swallows around?"
Terrence. "Sure do. Guessing you know all about them considering Neo-Cortex designed them."
Aliasse. "Yeah. Lets get going then. I don't want to waste anymore time."
Terrence. "This way ma'am. Their in the forward starboard hanger."
Aliasse followed Terrence and his team through the ships maze like hallways arriving a tram that went straight through the ship, bow (front) to stern (rear).
As they traveled through the ships tram tunnel Jace had a question. "So you really over three hundred years old?"
Alex jabbed Jace in the ribs. "Cut it out. You know how rude that is!"
Jace. "Just asking."
Alex. "Sorry about him."
Aliasse. "It's fine. And yes i'm over three hundred years old. And still I look this good."
Terrence. "Banter aside. Aliasse do you know what we're in fore?"
Aliasse. "From what I know there's a Brood queen attacking a Ragnite research facility run by the Gallia government. Unofficially tho... its been used to store and research the original Valkyrur Arms. Under my request a few decades ago."
Shawn. "Bet living as long as you do, you have connections all over the place."
Aliasse. "I do. But I rarely call in any favors."
Alex. "So I presume keeping the Valkyrur Arms out of Zerg hands and rescuing the eggheads at the lab are our objectives."
The tram came to a near-silent stop and the door slid open.
Aliasse. "That's correct."
The five of them exited the tram and made their way to the rear of the hangers upper floor. There along the wall were seven large thick cargo containers labeled experimental equipment.
Jace. "Finally get to try these bad boys out."
Terrence. Lets get them out and make sure to give them a full system check.
Each of them chose a container pressing the open button. Each container automatically opened and a large flat arrow shaped craft slid out on rails. Each of the Swallows looked like a black wedge shaped craft with a armored canopy and two engine pods in back.
Alex walked up to hers and pushed a hidden button under a collapsable flap by the canopy. "I hear these things can exit and enter atmo and go for weeks without needing fuel."
Aliasse popped the armored canopy of hers and hopped onto the motor-cycle like seat. "They also have a compartment that can hold one weeks worth of food and have systems to recycle water and waste. They were meant to be used on long range scouting and black ops in enemy territory. You should have seen the prototypes. They were just a mini fusion plant and a rail gun with short wings and boosters attached."
Shawn already in his Swallow closed the cockpit. "So I assume they didn't have atmo entry capability," he said over the radio.
Aliasse. "Nope. But these production models of the Swallow do and they have full stealth capabilities. So as long as we don't go shooting we should be able to get in to the lab without attracting unwanted attention."
One by one the Swallows fusion engines revved up with their antigrav unit's levitating the five craft a few inches off the deck.
"This is Lieutenant Junior grade Terrence Ferguson of Spartan Gray team. Requesting permission to launch from the starboard hanger."
"This is flight control permission granted. Clearing the deck. All personnel on level one launch chamber two must leave launch in progress. I repeat level one, launch chamber two is in use."
As the flight deck was cleared of personnel, one by one the the swallows floated off the upper hanger level gently dropping to the lower launching deck. Each of the Swallows landed on the launch catapults. The two in front offset from the three in back. Human Personnel left the room and the air locks closed creating a vacuum.
Flight control. "Final launch checks complete. You clear to launch Gray team."
Shawn. "Hey doesn't miss Aliasse need a atmo suit.?"
Aliasse. "I'm fine. Were just flying for a short time anyway."
Shrugging Shawn closed his canopy. "Ok then."
The Swallows canopies closed and the hanger doors opened revealing the Earths curvature just out the hanger door. Off in the distance and above was the Zerg shield structure.
Terrence. "This is Gray one launching."
Shawn. "Gray claw 2 launching."
Alex. "Gray claw 3 launching."
Jace. "Gray claw 4 launching."
Aliasse. "Aliasse Irving launching."
In rapid succession the five Swallows rocketed out the hanger propelled by the electromagnetic catapults. Traveling in a slanted line formation through space the five black arrows angled downwards a little. After a few minutes they hit the atmosphere and started leaving a burning trail as they went. After reentering the atmosphere the Swallows slowed to a crawl of the previous speeds and deployed a pair of short wings and fins that stabilized them.
Terrence. "So what's the destination?"
Aliasse. "The labs at this location."
Aliasse sent the team a map of the Ragnite mines with the labs location designated with a large X.
Alex. "Shit. From what I can tell that's right under that one huge ass Leviathan dead ahead."
The team all looked forwards seeing a literal ceiling of Zerg bio-ships over head and a forest of Nydus worms connecting them to the surface like fleshy giant umbilical cords.
Jace. "Crap. Were going to have to avoid hitting those things if we want to remain under the radar."
Terrence. "Everyone go slow and don't hit any of those Nydus worms."
Gray team. "Yes sure."
Flying into the forest of Nydus worms gray team and Aliasse swarved right and left flying inbetween the giant towers of flesh.
-Haruka-
With a pop the door to the refining facility was ripped off its hinges. It dropped with a clatter on the floor.
Tatsuki. "Try to be more quiet!"
Mitsuki. "Sorry."
Haruka followed her two attendants into the mostly automated facility. Long tracks of belts that transported raw and refined ore ran along the lower floor and refining towers loomed over head. Smoke and dust made the inside uncomfortable and obscured eyesight. Haruka and the twins made their way through the facility up to a upper walkway, arriving at a large room with giant open topped cargo containers of refined solid Ragnite ore. Looking over the edge of the walkway railing Haruka stared at the pile of glistening crystals below.
Haruka. "That's the stuff were after."
Her body tingled sensing the psionically reactive mineral. Her mouth salvated at the prospect of acquiring that substance. Hopping over the railing Haruka landed on the pile of blue crystals. Reaching down she grabbing a chunk of Ragnite and brought it up to her mouth. Acid leaked from her lips as she bit into the pure blue crysta. Crunching and chewing Haruka pulverized the chunk of Ragnite with her powerful jaws and digestive acids. Grabbing onto the chunk with both hands she swallowed the crushed bits and took another bite. Above Mitsuki and Tatsuki watched as their lady ate her first chunk of pure Ragnite until it was all gone.
Giving a satisfied smile Haruka felt like something in her was changing as pulsating forces reverberated through her whole body. Her body was integrating the Ragnite into her biological systems from a genetic level up to the cellular level.
Haruka. "Gah! Ahh that... feels odd... and good. Weird. Wouldn't hurt to eat a little more maybe."
Grabbing another chunk of Ragnite Haruka ate and ate filling her stomach with the crushed Ragnite crystals. Then as she was on her fifth chunk Harukas body went limp for a moment as it underwent a change. Dropping into a fetal position Haruka grabbed her sides. Her body started glowing with cracks of radiant energy tracing across her body. Creep tentacles automatically grew from her lower back and expanded covering and absorbing the Ragnite around her.
The twins felt her psionic powers growing and growing at alarming rate.
Tatsuki. "The other Zerg will sense this!"
Mitsuki. "I don't think we should move her. So we better prepare for battle just in case."
-Alpha Leviathan-
-Nerve center-
Nysha and Rindol continued monitoring the mining process as hundreds of thousands of tons of raw Ragnite was pulled up into the fleet.
Nysha. "I'm getting reports that multiple Terran fleets have started attacking the core of the sky shield."
Rindol. "We don't have much time until were left exposed to the Terrans orbital cannons... Wait I feel something?"
Directing her focus Rindol detected a growing psionic signature that was already approaching a Brood queen but now it was even starting to surpass it and was continuing to increase.
Rindol. "There's a growing psionic signature close by. Its... Zerg... but I don't recognise the mental pattern of the individual."
Nysha turned her attention towards it. "I don't know who it is. We should probably send scouts to investigate."
In a hanger a Group of Overlords floated down taking Zerglings and Hydralisk into their ventral sac's. A Phantom joined the last group, and the Overlords took off exiting the hanger opening.
-Ellen-
Blasting a bulkhead door off its hinges, Ellen walking through the smoke. Making her way farther into the facility. Gathering energy she formed three compressed psi-orbs keeping them floating around her left arm at the ready.
Ellen. "Hmm. It seems like i'm getting closer to the Valkyrur arms. Should be just a few walls away in that direction."
Pointing her left arm at the wall Ellen launched the three psi-orbs in rapid succession blowing through wall after wall. The triple explosions left a tunnel connecting three rooms together.
Smirking Ellen walked through the new opening. "Easy peasy."
-Lab Security room-
Assistant 1."Dr Matthews she's got a straight path to the Valkyrur Arms isolation room!"
Trying to think up of a way to delay the Brood Queen, Dr Matthews began typing on the controls. "We still have that prototype. If this doesn't stop her then were out of tricks."
Assistant 2. "What are you doing Dr?"
Dr Matthews. "Activating the prototype armor I was making for Aliasse. It's capable of moving on its own thanks to the internal force field's but it's AI is in complete and pretty basic. But it should buy us time at least."
Assistant 1. "So its unfinished. Great."
Typing in the last commands in Dr Matthews looked at a monitor showing a armored suit. It stood up on its own and walked over to a wall.
-Ellen-
Stepping through the hole in the wall Ellen entered the chamber holding the Valkyrur Arms being scanned in a isolated chamber.
"There they are." walking up to the window she admired their elegant form and spiral architecture. "Been a long time since I saw you four. The last time was back when I fought that Azrumath guy. Damn that was an intense battle. He was so much more skilled than me. I only won because of the power boost you four gave me."
A wall detonated behind Ellen. She quickly turned around taking a combat stance as a armored suit walked out of the smoke. It had a feminine structure and consisted of a black under suit covered in armored horizontal stripe's of silver metal, covering most of the body. The helmet was angular with sharp corners and red visor on the faceplate.
Ellen. "Ok who are you?"
Without a word the suit aimed its arm at Ellen blasting her with a beam from its palm. Flying back into the window Ellen dropped to her knees bleeding from the shallow hole scared into her chest armor.
Ellen. "*Cough* Not the talkative sort then huh?"
Charging her body in psi-armor Ellen forming two compressed psi-orbs along her inner arm and stood back up. The the suit charged up for another attack. Ellen focused sensing the energy levels in the armor build up. The suit aimed its arm at Ellen again and fired. Simultaneously Ellen brought up her two psi-orbs expanding them, while rotating them in a circle in front of her like a spinning shield.
The beam clashed against the rotating barrier scattering into a dozen thinner ones that cut into the wall and window around Ellen. The attack ended and Ellen lowered the double psi-orbs. The suit didn't do anything but stand there and charge up another attack.
Ellen. "Your just a robot aren't you."
Not answering the suit simple charged with both arms out and palms glowing.
Ellen. "Not this time scrap heap."
Ellen dropped spreading her legs and did a spin kick connecting with the suits mid section. The suit flew back across the room smashing against the far wall by the main door. Standing back up Ellen raised her arm letting the two psi-orbs float around her hand again.
Ellen. "Odd it didn't feel very solid?"
Aiming the psi-orbs at the suit as it tried standing back up, Ellen discharged their energy into twin beams cutting into the suits shoulders. The arms fell off and deflated as if nothing was in them.
Ellen. "I knew it was a robot... err or rather a suit of armor that can be operated by a on board AI? Eh whatever."
The arm-less suit stood up frozen in place as if not knowing what to do next. Taking the initiative Ellen leaped onto it tearing the helmet off. The suit collapsed into a empty husk of armor plating and dark cloth.
"Well that was anticlimactic." said Ellen throwing the helmet away. She turned around walking back to the window separating her from the Valkyrur Arms.
"Now then..." Ellen raised her arm forming another psi-orb discharging its energy into four thin beams; cutting a circle into the window. After the circle was completed Ellen kicked the window out and entered the isolation chamber. She walked up to one of the lances and reached out to grab it. A split second later Ellen instinctively ducked just before a gauss shell zipped passed where her head was a instant ago.
"Freeze!"
Keeping in a low crouch Ellen looked over her shoulder. There in the doorway were four fully armored Spartans and one woman with a glowing suit of blue aura armor covering most of her body
Shawn kept his gauss rifle leveled at the Brood queen while everyone else spread out in to the room keeping their weapons on her. The one exception was Aliasse whose psionic presence Ellen couldn't help but recognize.
Shawn. "One twitch and I blow your head off bitch."
Raising her arms Ellen sighed shaking her head. "Really then... I'm disappointed in your Spartans use of vocabulary. The spartans I knew were... more professional."
Aliasse felt some that the Brood queens voice was somewhat familiar. "Turn around."
Jace. "Oh come on why don't we just blast this bug!"
Alex. "Jace is right. She's right there. Protocol says..."
Terrence. "I know what protocol says; but for this OP were deferring to miss Aliasses command for now."
Jace, Shawn and Alex complained while keeping their aim on Ellen. From her view Ellen could tell that despite their arguing they were keeping their weapons on her and fingers on the triggers.
Aliasse. "I said turn around."
Ellen. "Can I stand up because it's hard to turn around with my legs in a crouch like this?"
The witty banter only made Aliasse feel even more off about this Brood queen. "Stand up slowly. Keep your arms up and away from the lances."
Slowly Ellen stood up and turned around. As she did so she flexed her tail into a ready position directly below one of the shields. Now facing the armored Spartans and Aliasse; Ellen gave them a serious look, scrutinising their equipment and weapons.
Aliasse gave the brood queen a look over from her pointed digitigrade legs to the spiral white horn on her forehead. None of her bodily features fit into the standard Zerg design methodology. But her face. It was covered in scales around the forehead and cheeks but it was clearly Ellens.
Aliasse. "Ellen! Is... that you?"
Ellen. "Yeap. I... uh... went through some changes while away in another universe."
Terrence. "What! Ellen?"
Alex. "Another universe? What the hell are you talking about?"
As they talked Ellen gathered small amounts of energy into a tiny psi-orb along the back of her hands.
Ellen. "Meh. Some guy in fancy armor tried to kill me but I was to OP for him so he used a dimensional warp device of some type and we both got sent flying off into another dimension."
Shawn. "So your telling me that this is THE Ellen who had her horde of monsters kill half the Terran race in the 21st century."
Ellen. "Guilty as charged. You going to cry or go postal on me?"
Shawn fired just as Terrence pushed the gauss rifle out of the way. The shot blasted through Ellen's right forearm demolishing the sensor ring behind her. Looking down at her severed arm Ellen could only laugh to herself. "Hehe... well it's not the first time its been blasted off today now is it."
Aliasse. "Ellen do you want to die here!"
Ellen turned to Aliasse looking her right in the eyes. "Truth be told. I don't really mind. It's... not like I fear death."
Aliasse felt her heart sink at the apathetic tone of Ellen's words and the look in her eyes.
Ellen continued. "But. It would be an inconvenience. I do have planes for the future. So no I don't plan on dying here."
Aliasse finally saw a look of serious defiance in Ellen's eyes as she spoke of wanting to achieve something. Has Ellen been like this since the beginning. Has her only reason for being, for living, been to achieve a goal without the slightest care as to her own life. If so does she even care about others. Knowing that their next meeting may not be for another few hundred years if ever Aliasse wanted to know what Ellen is really after and wants to achieve as the leader of the Zerg Swarm.
Aliasse walked forwards placing herself between Gray team and Ellen. "Ellen."
Ellen saw the serious look in Aliasse's eyes and acted a more respectful. "Yes?"
"After all this time and all this fighting and death... What is it that your after. What is it that you want to achieve?"
Ellen smiled closing her eyes. Then she opened her mind projecting her thoughts into Aliasses mind. Aliasse saw a rush of images trying to make sense of them all. She saw a bearded man standing on the bridge of a starship with a old sheriff's star on his chest. Then a image of a red haired woman in a sleek skin tight suit fighting Protoss. Then the scene shifted to her fighting Zerg. And then the images changed to a scene of a Protoss city resplendent with golden pyramids and towers. The view panned up to the sky as it opened up into a swirling storm of orange lightning and purple mist. From out of the storm came a fleet of Zerg tens of thousnds strong attacking the city. Then the image shifted to to temple complex but it seemed to advanced for a primitive civilization. Then the image changed showing the same area but now the temple was demolished and replaced by a giant Zerg structure with massive root like tentacles and one giant orange glowing eye burning bright orange at the center of the mass of tentacles.
Then everything shifted to a image of a distant ring shaped superstructure floating in space in the orbit of a gas giant. The image changed yet again to a Spartan in green armor talking to a UNSC captain on a ships bridge and a small holo image of a AI avatar beside them. The image changed to a scene of the same spartan fighting a group of alien's in four different locations and then to another scene of him in a underground complex fighting a horde of small bulbous creatures waddling on a mass of the images shifted again to a scene of a Protoss on a ship of some kind crashing into the massive looking Zerg from before.
Everything changed again to a Zerg cocoon in the middle of a hive cluster. The view panned back a bit revealing a massive monster centipede looming over the cocoon as if protecting it. Then the cocoon cracked open and a humanoid Zerg burst out from it. She stood up and Aliasse recognized her face belonging to the same red haired woman from before. Yet again everything changed to what looked like a school of some kind. Many students in casual wear walked inside the impressive structure. Aliasse felt they had as though color theme to them for some reason. Shifting scenes showed four teenage girls, one in black and red, one in a white dress, one in black with cat ears on her head, and one with bright yellow hair and gauntlets. Various scenes shifted around showing them and many other students fighting what looked like black colored creatures with white bone armor. And the final images were of a massive battle over, and on a planet sized eight pointed structure. The last scene showed all the people in all the previous scenes fighting a army of humanoids, bright white and golden with wings.
Aliasse took a few deep breaths as she recovered from the images Ellen showed her.
"Ah! What was all that?"
Ellen giving a serious expression glanced at the Spartan holding the gauss rifle at her head. "The possible future. And events that could shape the galaxy and future. I don't know everything that will happen but if history is a indicator then most if not all of what I showed you will happen. Though... I plan on changing a few things. I may have chosen the path of the monster and you the Hero. But I don't want needless deaths anymore then you do."
Aliasse and the Spartans were taken a bit off guard by Ellen's words. In a split second Ellen simultaneously kicked Aliasse out of the way while shifting her torso horizontal. Her tail grabbed the shield by the handle as a gauss round ripped through the air over her, punching a rather large hole in the wall as Ellen fired the two compressed Psi-orbs at the feet of the Spartans. The detonations knocked them on their asses buying enough time to form a for Ellen to grab the Valkyrur shield and form a bubble shield. The barrier rippled as it blocked the hail of gunfire from Gray team distributed the kinetic force from the attacks across its surface.
Aliasse. "Sorry to cut and run but I know when to bail."
The room shook and shook nearly knocking everyone on their asses as a deep roaring noise bellowed from beyond the walls.
Terrence. "Nydus worm!"
The wall to gray teams right was ripped out of existence by a massive pair of jaws. Ellen reshaped her bubble shield into a wall of hexagons blocking the gun fire as she ran to the waiting mouth of the worm and jumped in. Blue aura beams cut into the worms closing teeth as it pulled away and back down the tunnel it had dug.
Aliasse. "Ellen!"
Aliasse continued shooting aura beams down the tunnel until the worm disappeared.
Terrence walked up to Aliasse. "Ma'am what now?"
Aliasse looked at the remaining two Lances and one shield. "I suppose I'll have to go after her. Gray team you make sure the scientists are all right and then meet me on the surface."
Terrence. "Got it. Let's move Gray team."
The four Spartans ran out the exit and down the hallway. Looking back at the two lances and one remaining shield Aliasse let out a sigh. "Ellen you make me soo... Ah!. I'm going to pound your head into the ground."
Stepping forwards Aliasse took the two Lances in hand and reached out with her aura to grasp the shield. It floated over her back and it and the lances expanded in a flash of energy taking their enlarged combat formes. She turned around noticing the mostly destroyed combat suit. It looked usable despite the state ot was in. Taking a short few minutes to suit up in the sleeveless suit she walked over to the Nydus tunnel.
Aliasse. "Ready or not Ellen hear I come."
Activating the suits antigravity function She hovered a few feet off the ground before shooting down the tunnel. Flying straight, then up Aliasse followed the slowly crumbling tunnel to the surface. Daylight soon flooded her vision as she bust out from underground. Flying up half a mile Aliasse stopped to pulse her aure field quickly finding where Ellen had gone but also sensing a immensely powerful psionic signature close by. Looking to her upper left she spotting a floating refinery. Whatever it was was in there.
Aliasse. "Who?... what this signature. It's way more powerful but its... Harukas? What is she doing here and why is she so much more powerful now?"
As Aliasse floated in the air deciding what to do a Leviathan let out a bellowing shriek. Aliasse turned to the mountain sized bioship sensing Ellen and the valkyrur shield.
"Are you challenging me. Ellen? Well then lets fight."
Jetting through the air Aliasse flew over the alpha Leviathans back. Flying over head it she zeroed in on Ellen on its forward back area. Moving in closer she saw a lone figure standing below her. Dropping down closer she landed in front of Ellen.
Ellen. "It's about time you got here. Feel like dueling."
Aliasse. "You really want to dual me here. I have two lances and the other shield. Unless you have your swarm interfere you..."
Ellen. "Hey i'm not as disarmed as you may think. And as for wanting to dual you here." Ellen waved her arms out. "I just wanted to give my Swarm a go view of our fight."
A warp gate formed beside Ellen. Out came a Evolution master carrying a long red spiral lance covered in Ragnite crystals. It handed the lance to Ellen and left just as quickly.
Aliasse. "What is that thing!"
Ellen swung the large red lance around a few times giving it a gook look. Unlike the Valkyrur Lances this one was organic with dozens of 3 inch Ragnite spines growing out from its surface. The handle was placed inside a ring with Ragnite crystals set into the ring structure. Extending from the rings front was a large triple spiral structure ending in a sharp point with three flat sides and three serrated edges. The rear of the handle was a oval Ragnite crystal.
Ellen. "It's just Zerg a emulation of the Valkyrur Arms. I doubt it's up to the originals power level especially considering it was made in haste just now. But it will be fun to find out how it compares."
With a resolved huff Aliasse steeled herself. "Im taking you in Ellen. I can't let you keep attacking Humanity like this over and over."
Ellen. "That's the spirit." Swinging the emulation Lance back and over her head Ellen aimed it at Aliasse. "Then let's fight. I've always wanted to have a serious fight with you. No holding back this time."
Aliasse took a combat stance. "Fine have it your way."
As the two of them readied for battle a few Overseers floated over head transmitting the fight to the fleet and recording it.
Ellen charged her lance with psionic energy, a thousand tiny lights danced across its surface rapidly gathering at the tip in clustered streams. Aliasse swung her shield around forming a triple layered hexagon barrier. Ellen discharged her lance blasting Aliasse's shield and pushing her back across the Leviathans surface. Crouching as she was pushed back across the ground Aliasse kept her center of gravity and retaliated firing homing beams. Ten beams curved through the air towards Ellen.
Sensing them coming She formed a bubble shield. The weak beams bounced off of or were defused by the shield. Attacking Ellen swung her lance back and jumped extending a ten meter long psionic blade from its surface. Dodge rolling out of the way Aliasse stood back up and counter attacked with a aura boosted kick. Ellen blocked with her Valkyrur shield. But the force knocked her back dozens of meters. She toppled end over end as she landed. Rolling back onto her feet she dug grooves in the ground as the kinetic force kept pushing her back. Just as she got back up a beam flashed at her pushing her across the surface again as she blocked.
As she was pushed across the Leviathans back Ellen formed a giant psi-orb at the tip of her lance and fired it up into the sky. The beam stopped and Ellen landed on her knees. Getting up on one foot she aimed her lance at the flying Orb above taking control of it, and with a downward stroke of her lance, pulled it down at Aliasse.
A small sunburst formed on the Leviathans back. As the smoke cleared Ellen walked closer to the blast crater. Looking around she expanded her senses. Then dashing out from the smoke cloud Aliasse swug at the back of Ellen's head. The attack was blocked by the organic lance.
Ellen. "Not bad. You took advantage of the temporary Psionic static zone that fills a area after a large explosion like that."
Aliasse. "Hmph. Then how did you know which direction I was coming from?"
Ellen shook her head in disappointment. "Tsk tsk. Aliasse im not exactly human Zerg nore Valkyrur anymore. It's your own fault for underestimating me. Don't let your own preconceived notions of my limitations foul you. That includes my senses. By the way you smell nice. Like freshly fallen snow. Were you somewhere cold and snowy?"
Aliasse. "Eh? You can tell that just by my smell? You getting creepy you know that."
Aliasse jumped back shooting a scatter beam that rippled across Ellen's bubble shield. Swinging her lancedown, Ellen turned around thrusting at Aliasse. As the lance tip neared her chest Aliasse's suit glowed and In a flash she dashed around Ellen and struck her from behind.
Ellen stumbled forwards recoiling from the blow. "Eh? That's faster than most psionically boosted speed moves. Well then let's have a test of speed then."
Ellen's body softly glowed as it was infused with psionic energy and In a flash she disappeared. Leaning to the left Aliasse evaded a lightning swift strike chiping a piece of the Leviathans armor off. Aliasse rapidly shifted her body around doudging the storm of blindingly fast strikes that were not even a blur and then counter attacked. Both Aliasse and Ellen's weapons clashed and the two stared into the others eyes. Jumping back and raising their lances both of them fired beams at each other. For a moment the beams clashed before Aliasse's beam won out pushing Ellen's back. Bringing up her shield Ellen was blasted across the landscape slamming into a protruding spike. Blood ran down her lips as Aliasse closed the distance.
Ellen. "Haha. That's more like it. Finally getting serious aren't you."
Without replying Aliasse charged with a flurry if thrusts. Ellen block with her shield but was quickly pushed back again. With her last thrust Aliasse fired a beam blast that again sent Ellen flying. Aliasse charged not giving Ellen any room to breath thrusting to impale her. Swinging her Lance at the perfect moment Ellen deflected Aliasse's attack and kicking her in the gut to stun her and blasted her with a point blank blast of her bio-lance. The beam pushed Aliasse back a bit only to be cut in half by a single strike from one of Aliasse's lances. She looked at Ellen with a feeling of superiority.
Aliasse. "Guess that proves that im tougher fighter with three Valkyrur arms to your one."
Ellen. "Hmph. Guess your right. Sucks for me then."
As they talked Aliasse quickly extended a thin line of aura around behind Ellen's back and grabbed onto her legs. With a tug she pulled Ellen off her feet and slammed her onto the ground.
Ellen. "Oof! Nice one."
Flapping her wings Ellen flew backwards towards Aliasse. She jumped out of the way only to be blasted by a beam from Ellen's lance. Her aura easily blocking the damage. Aliasse recovered but now was looking down the shaft of the Zerg emulation lance.
Ellen. "But you still need to work on your follow through."
Aliasse knocked the lance away and Ellen's tail wrapped around her leg. With a grin Ellen spun around slamming Aliasse on the ground repeatedly before spinning around, throwing her into the air while gathering psi-orbs along her lance. A barrage of 12 psi-orbs slammed against Aliasse. The explosions faded and Aliasse's fell back to the ground landing on her feet with little visible damage.
Aliasse. "Thanks for the Lesson. You've really been putting a lot of power into your attacks. Normally it would take a lot to get passed my aura. But being a Valkyrur you know that don't you. Well... former Valkyrur."
Ellen. "I'm going to regain my powers after this. That's one of the reasons i've came to gather a supply of Ragnite. I'll be a better match for you then. If you hadn't been holding back this hole time you could have easily defeated me by now. Is it because of Alicia and our promise that your holding back."
As if interrupting the dual the heavens parted and a a series of giant golden beams lanced down from above striking multiple Behemoths and Leviathans. A few were killed falling to the ground. But most survived shrieking in pain as they launched a counter attack with their Scourges and Glaives. As streams of living missiles flew upwards Ellen saw the massive shield she had created with the Tamashī no ki crumbling to pieces.
Ellen turned to Aliasse. "Sorry but we don't have anymore time to chit chat."
At Ellen's order the surrounding Behemoths and Leviathans started warping away leaving the Alpha Leviathan alone over the mines.
Ellen. "Aliasse get out of here now I..."
Before she could utter another word Ellen jumped backwards. Landing a few meters away she stood without one of her large upper arms. It fell to the ground still gripping the Valkyrur shield. The shield shifted its size back to its smaller form. Aliasse stood surprised at the being responsible for lopping off Ellen's arm. Floating a few inches off the ground was a winged woman in white body armor that had golden plating at the joints and outer sides and two large pure white armored wings. In her hands were a pair of golden swords.
Aliasse. "Who? who are you."
The angle lick being said nothing. Raising its word to strike Ellen. In a shower of sparks one of the golden blades cut a quarter way through Ellens lance and forced her onto her knees.
Ellen. "Damn! Your strong. You must be one of those Angelon basterds Noobzilla warned me about."
The Angelon attention was piqued. "Noobzilla?"
Ellen felt a presence try forcing its way into her mind. She fought back keeping it out of her mind if only just barely. Agitated the Angelon kicked Ellen sending her flying hundreds of meters. Toppling end over end Ellen rolled on the ground for some meters before stopping. Before she could even get up the Angelon teleported over her and dropped pinning her to the hard armored back of her own Leviathan.
Ellen. "Ah! Get off."
Ellen whipped her tail to strike it off her. With a simple swing of one of her swords the Angelon cut off Ellen's tail and proceeded to stab Ellen in the shoulder. The blade burned like fire coursing through her whole body. The Angelon tried forcing its way into Ellen's mind again but being stubborn and hard headed Ellen was able to hang on for a few extra seconds. A moment later a warpgate opened up. Both Nysha and Rindol charged through.
Nysha. "Get away from our Empress!" Nysha fired a barrage of psi-orbs at the Angelon only for them to be cut out of the air in a rapid flurry of sword cuts.
Flanking the Angelon Rindol blasted the ground right in front of her creating a shockwave knocking her back a few meters. Rindol grabbed Ellen and opened a second warpgate to the core Zerg worlds, throwing her through and closing the gate.
Ellen landed in the evolution chamber where Abastein was continuing his work on samples Ragnite that had been transferred to to him. Along the wall were four of the same Ragnite in fused Creep lances. Looking down at her lance Ellen saw that it was cracked and nearly broken.
Ellen. "Damn. Never thought that I would run into one of those Angelons this soon."
Abastein stopped his work turning to Ellen. "Empress agitated. Purpose of presence here?"
"A new enemy has decided to show themselves." said Ellen throwing her broken lance away and grabbing another two from the wall. "Are these stronger then the first one?"
Abastein. "Negligible improvement. More time required."
"Guess i'll have to go for quantity then. "Ellen turned around to the Evolution master." Abastein. Is new body ready?
Abastein. "Biologically functional. Not matured. Requires more time for full growth cycle."
Ellen. "Good enough."
Ellen grabbed a third lance with her tail and summoned a army of Zerg to help Nysha and Rindol who were fighting the Angelon by themselves.
-Back at the fight-
Rindol and Nysha jumped back as the Angelon swung her blades with shill and grace cutting the air itself. Rindol fired a barrage of psi-armor reinforced spines only for them to uselessly bounce off that white armor. Nysha attacked next launching pairs of psi-orbs at a time. But that proved useless as the Angelon simple cut them apart before they even touched her armor.
Angelon. "Useless."
Teleporting, the Angelon sliced both the exoframes arms and head off leaving Rindol without any means of attacking without leaving her armor. Nysha continued attacking pouring more power into her attacks. Forming two overcharged psi-orbs in each hand she charged. The Angelon swung her blade and it and the overcharged psi-orbs connected, but the force knocked Nysha back a few meters.
Nysha. "Good. It didn't cut through." Confident that she can block those swords now Nysha attacked again. But then in a blink she cut the Brood queens legs off.
From a distance away Aliasse watched as the lone Brood Queen fought the armored Angel like being. "What the hell is going on. Ellen called it a... Angelon. But how does she know what it is?"
Aliasse watched as the Angelon was about to kill the Brood Queen when a half dozen warp gates opened around them and a army of Zerg poured through. Hydralisk, Hunter-Killer and Impalers fired a thick barrage that bounced off the white armor. Zerglings charged leaping at the enemy of the swarm only to be cut in a flurry of blade strikes faster than the eye could see. A wall of Banelings rolled into range behind the Zerglings and all at once detonated. But the Angelon seemingly taking no damage from the explosions floated there as the acidic liquids dripping off the armor without doing any damage to it. As the ranged Zerg continued their pointless attacks the Angelon raised her blade up firing a blazing gold beam up into the sky. It traveled a distance then split into a dozen smaller beams, all arching down wards as they multiplied more and more. All the Zerg surrounding her were pierced by the beams, bursting into flames and ash.
Angelon. "Come out Ellen. Unless you want me to kill your servants."
The Angelon pointed her swords at both Nysha and Rindol as they tried putting themselves back together. A warpgate opened up and out came Ellen holding three of the Zerg emulation lances.
Ellen. "Your powerful I give you that. But i'm no pushover myself. And I finally feel like i'm getting back to my old self."
Ellen charged thrusting with one lance and gathering energy with the other two. With a swift parry the Angelon batted the lance away and struck with her second blade. Ellen deflected the strike, counter attacking with her tail lance. Golden blade and psionically charged bio-lance collided producing a shower of sparks.
Ellen. "Didn't cut it this time... This will work."
Batting the golden blade away Ellen attacked with a flurry of swings and thrusts. All evaded by gracefully movements. The Angelon danced around Ellen's attacks even as they increased in speed. But then Ellen clipped the shoulder plate throwing the Angelon off balance for a split second. In that split second a cloaked Predator hidden among the other Zerg corpses fired a psionically overcharged spine into the back of the Angelons unarmored knees.
Angelon. "Gah!"
In the momentary gap in her defense Ellen attacked with a full force flurry of strikes landing blows on the Angelons head, legs, midsection. Knocking the Angelon back Ellen thrust with both of her handheld lances. Regaining some of her Balance the Angelon deflected on lance only for the other to glance off her helmet. Taking the opportunity Ellen discharged all the energy in the lance at point blank range.
Raising one arm Aliasse blocked the sunburst of light and guarded against the explosion. The sound of the blast echoed across the valley. As the light died down Ellen layed on her back some distance from the blast crater. The whole area had been scared buy the blast and Ellen had dark cracked fifth degree burns all across her body. Her right upper arm from the elbow was gone and despite the damage she was still conscious if in excruciating pain.
"Aaah damn damn damn!"
Instinctively sensing their masters need Ellen's swarm transferred their energy into her greatly speeding up her regeneration to a mere minute and a half. As Ellen's body mended itself both Rindol (now outside her exo-armor) and Nysha ran to her side.
Nysha. "Empress are you ok."
"No... Eh but... i'll be fine in.. a minute."
As Ellen's wounds closed and mended themselves the Angelon stood up out of the four foot deep crater at the center of the explosion.
Angelon. "Ah! You! Now I understand why my master desires your death Ellen of the Azure Swarm."
Ellen didn't hear that bit of information seeing as she was too focused on healing her wounds and over a hundred meters away. The Angelon turned to Ellen, Nysha and Rindol her helmet cracked and broken showing half of her face.
"What! You! Why are you here?" thought Aliasse shocked at seeing the face behind the armor.
Nysha. "All that; and all we did was break her helmet a little. She's no ordinary opponent."
"You have no idea," Rindol mumbled.
That remark didn't escape Ellen's newly healed ears. Wondering why Rindol said that Ellen grabbed onto the pale white arm of the Brood Queen pulling herself up to Rindols face.
Rindol stiffened as she and Ellen were face to face. "Eh! uh... what?"
Ellen hummed to herself as she thought. "Nothing. For now anyway."
Standing back up Ellen felt the last of her wounds heal including her lost arm. Calling on Abastein a warpgate formed beside Ellen. She reached into it pulling out a new bio-lance. Giving it a few swings Ellen charged all three up and started walking towards the Angelon who was looking furious at the moment.
Angelon. "Now I understand your power Ellen. You can naturally see the flow of fate and destiny and plan ways of beating it. But there are was around that little annoyance. I won't make the same mistake again." The Angelon raised both swords over head charging them with a golden light, flickered slowly like fire, growing more and more in intensity.
Sensing an enormous power build up, Ellen took a defensive stance plunging all three bio-lances into the ground and lowering her center of gravity.
Angelon. "Now DIE for the new world my master will bring!"
In a bright flash a golden beam light struck Ellen pushing her back as it scattered and defused into smaller beams. Ellen struggled to block the force as it pushed her back ever farther even after anchoring herself into the armor of the Leviathan. Ellen gritted her teeth as the lances dug a groove into the ground as she was pushed back ever farther.
"Ellen!" shouted Rindol. quickly whipping around she fired a volley of psi-orbs at the Angelon joined by Nysha. But their attacks seemed to do little to the Angelons shimmering armor.
Ellen's lances groaned and chreaked from the forces applied to them. Even with a boost from the collective power of the Zerg left in system she was losing the battle as the beam burned away the lances little by little.
"Damn." Ellen said as she watched the lances crack and break in front of her. "These Angelon's are no joke... heh. Guess I lose this one." Ellen closed her eyes concentrating while her defense collapsed. Within the Leviathan a warpgate opened leading to a evolution chamber holding a single small cocoon and being filled with Ragnite by Drones.
The lances shattered and the beam struk Ellen's body. In a fraction of a instant her armor vaporized, flesh boiled, eyes evaporated in their sockets, and bones turned to ash. The beam continued cutting a path through the ground leaving nothing but a carved groove through the Leviathans armor and beam lanced through the sky before dissipating.
The Angelon laughed victoriously. "At last she's dead."
Rindol collapsed in pain for some reason leaving Nysha alone and afraid as Ellen's psionic presence in the hive mind was gone. The Leviathan roared quaking as it felt the absence of its master. Then as even Aliasse felt a void where Ellen once was another figure showed themselves.
"You must be the traitor." said a voice coming from behind Aliasse.
Aliasse turned to the sight of Haruka covered in a black armor with glowing Ragnite crystals fitted here and there. It was more like she was covered in armor made of purified Ragnite leaving only her face exposed. She also sported a pair of bladed wings and a tail growing from right below them. If it wasn't glowing a vibrant blue Aliasse would have sworn it was the same a Brood Queens body type. "Haruka... is... that you?"
"Yes." Haruka replied. She walked towards Nysha and Rindol who was starting to flicker in and out as if a hologram. "Nysha. Take her away from here. I'll handle the Angelon."
Looking at the New comer Nysha felt a sense of rage and at the same time calmness. She wanted to charge the Angelon but her experience told that it would be futile. And the oppressive psionic presence emanating from Haruka was like standing at the bottom of the ocean. "Eh ok. We'll retreat."
Nysha and Rindol left through a warpgate. Leaving Aliasse to witness the exchange between the Angelon and Haruka.
Angelon. "Who are you? You look like Ellen. But your not?"
Haruka walked calmly towards the Angelon. "Ellen's not dead despite losing her material body. I'm not her but im a version of her from another dimension."
Angelon. "Bah! That means your one of Psyons pawns. What business do you have here? Obviously it's not to protect your counterpart here."
Haruka gave a short laugh. "Your not too bright are you. Do you really think something as trivial as losing her body would stop Ellen Empress of the swarm."
The Angelon sneered at the thought of failing to fulfill her task. "Your just trying to by time for the Zerg to escape. I can feel them warping away."
In space over Earth Navash, Zavara and the rest felt the loss of their Empress and as per protocol they warped out of the system returning to the core Swarm worlds.
Angelon. "Their gone. No matter the Slug and those too weaklings are still here on the flagship of the dead empress. I'll..."
Haruka stepped in front of the Angelon. "Your not doing that."
Angelon. "If your a servant of that heathen god Psyon then you know that we are forbidden from interfering with each other. "
Haruka smirked. "Yes I know. We can only manipulate others right. Like what your doing her on Earth right."
The Angelon narrowed her one visible eye in contempt. "And what do you know of what i'm doing!"
Haruka teleported over to the Valkyrur shield and Ellen's severed arm picking both up. "Just that you will fail. And that Ellen will beat you the next time you two fight."
The Angelon seemingly frustrated tightened her grip on her blades. "Ellen's dead! I felt her soul cease to be along with her mutated body."
The Leviathan shook as it opened a warp gate and started to fly through it. Haruka teleported over to Aliasse, then the Angelon grabbing both with a powerful Aura and teleported to the nearby floating platform. The three watched as the Leviathan warped away.
Angelon."Unhand me!"
Haruka dropped the Angelon and Aliasse. "I'll be going now. Oh and one last thing Aliasse."
Aliasse who was still a little confused as to the rapidly changing events just gave Haruka her full attention. "Yes."
"Next time. Don't hesitate. I know you want to protect people. But in the future. Your going to have to choose a side." Haruka walked away, joined by both Tatsuki and Mitsuki. Holding her hand up Haruka opened a massive warpgate over head. It was large enough to swallow the whole floating platform. Both Aliasse and the Angelon stood in awe of Harukas power as a series of Nydus worms exited the portal and started grasping the edges of the floating refinery.
Haruka. "I suggest you two leave unless you want to join me."
Grunting in hostility the Angelon flew away shortly joined by Aliasse. The Angelon flew up into the atmosphere while Aliasse stopped once off the floating platform. From her position she could see dozens of skyscraper sized Nydus worms grasping on to the platform and pulling it into the warpgate. Moments later the warpgate closed leaving Aliasse all alone and one Valkyrur shield short.
Aliasse. "Dament! I forgot about the shield. Don't know if I could have taken it from Haruka anyway." Reorienting herself Aliasse flew back to the lab where spartan Gray team and Dr Matthew were no doubt waiting.
-A few days later-
A older man stood in a office at the top floor of a skyscraper overlooking a city. The phone rang and a hologram of a general blinked on behind him.
"I take it the operation failed then." said the man.
The generals hologram flinched a bit. "Yes. Miss Aliasse reported that she tried to recover the shield but failed. I take it you have read the report mister president."
President Oliver turned around placing his hand on a file folder on his desk. "Yes. Front to back. I truly respect miss Aliasse for all her contributions to Humanity. But."
The hologram of the general raised a eyebrow. "But you think it's time to end her special privileges."
President Oliver nodded. "Yes. It's high time she focused on her job as CEO of NeoCortex. She does better there then galavanting onto the battlefield whenever the Zerg show up."
The general shifted nervously. "Perhaps your right sir. I'll start by revoking her military authority. It should be done in just a few days."
"Good," said president Oliver.
The generals hologram blinked off leaving the president alone in his office. He looked down at the file folder for a moment. Walking back to his seat he touched the surface of his black desk opening a secured private line to the head of ONI.
ONI Commander. "Hello mister president. I take it you made your decision concerning The Valkyrur?"
President Oliver leaned into his chair. "Yes. I'm revoking her military privileges."
ONI Commander. "You made the right choice. She was a random variable from a bygone era. Her... influence will only stymie humanities progress into the future."
President Oliver. "Though I agree with your objective I highly disagree with ONIs methods as a whole."
ONI Commander. "Yet you support our organization. We couldn't function without the funds or authority the government allows."
President Oliver. "Be that as it may I still feel that Aliasse has a important role to fill. She's a very strong willed person and has the assets of the NeoCortex megacorp."
ONI Commander. "You may be right. But we can't get sentimental. The project concerning our expansion onto the galaxy is proceeding on schedule is it not?"
President Oliver. "Yes it is. In a few decades we should be able to pinpoint the location of the Protoss empire. Though I highly doubt it will be smart to.. upset them."
ONI Commander . "But their technology and a alliance with them will aide in our survival as a species."
President Oliver. "Still the galaxy is a enormous place. Even with current generation Slipspace drives were limited in the speed we can travel."
ONI Commander. "Another reason to keep researching the Zerg. From what we know their warpgate method of FTL is instantaneous. Once we find our lost brothers and sisters who left our solar system all those many years ago we can finally become the empire we were meant to be."
President Oliver swiveled his chair around to look out at the setting sun. "Perhaps. Or it could be a new era of conflict that we're not ready for."
-Aliasse and Selvaries shared Apartment-
Aliasse rested in her bed. Exhausted after staying up all night talking with the division leaders from across the outer colonies and Reach. After getting her authority and privileges revoked by the president himself she felt quit depressed. But her mind won't stop thinking about the identity of the Angelon. A ding signaled someone was at her door.
"Aliasse. You wanted to talk," said Selvaria through the intercom.
Aliasse sat up. "Selvaria. Come in."
Selvaria opened the door taking a few steps inside. "Yes."
Taking a stern expression Aliasse stared at Selvaria. "Selvaria... who are you really?"
Taking on a stoic expression Selvaria crossed her arms. "Im Selvaria. A Valkyrur and the forsaken daughter of the scourge of the galaxy. And... the servant of the one true god."
Aliasse stiffened clenching her hands. "So your not denying that your the Angelon from before."
Selvaria. "No. I am the Angelon that slayed the swarm empress."
Aliasse. "But... that's a paradox. If your really Ellen's daughter from the future then if she really is dead how can you continue to exist?"
Selvaria scoffed. "Hah. I continue to exist by the power of my master and god, Who took me in after... mother abandoned me. And left me to die alone on a dead world."
Aliasse. "Why would Ellen do that?"
Selvaria. "I don't know or care. But after surviving for a whole year alone my master came and rescued me. He gave me purpose and a family that actually cared for me. And he gave me power. Power that even surpasses the Valkyrur."
Aliasse scoffed. "Ellen wasn't a Valkyrur when you fought her. Even I could have easily defeated her during that fight."
Selvaria gave Aliasse a stern glare. "If that were true why did you go easy on here?"
Aliasse. "I..."
Selvaria. "It's obvious to me that you still think of her as a friend. Just because you two spent a few years together as Azrumaths prisoners."
Aliasse gave Selvaria a inquisitive look. "I don't remember telling you about that. How do you know what happened back then?"
Smirking Selvaria turned around. "Again my god told me everything about you two before he sent me here."
Aliasse. "If your were sent here by that... god of yours or whatever then why were you the prisoner of that gang leader?"
Selvaria. "That was all planned by my lord. He knew that you would be there and had me sent to the proper time and place."
Aliasse thinking deeply on everything looked down a moment before looking Selvaria in the eyes. "Then... everything you ever told me.. was a lie."
Selvaria. "A necessary lie. If you and that clone of mother knew the truth you would have never let me have access to so much resources. The G Zero project wouldn't have been a success other-wise."
Aliasse. "And what about Justin, Rachel and Hibiki. Are they just pawns you lying to as well?"
Selvaria. "Hibiki is a valued friend and a hard worker whom in creating the weapons we will use to cleanse the galaxy of the unworthy."
Not believing the words coming from Selvaries mouth Aliasse turned took a few steps back and forth then sitting down on the edge of her bead. "You sound like a fanatic from some cult. And just who are the unworthy then?"
Selvaria. "Only those who worship false gods like the Forerunners, or any other thing that would take the people's loyalty from my lord."
Aliasse. "So your going to use religion to bring the whole galaxy under your masters heel. And let me guess whom-ever refuses gets cleansed in a righteous crusade?"
Selvaria. "My lord is truly kind and loving to all. And will bring true peace to the galaxy, no the universe and beyond. Anyone who refuses THAT is a fool or a warmonger who thirst only for conflict and death!"
Aliasse. "Your talking about your mother aren't you."
Selvaria remained stoic. "My... mother. Only gave birth to me. And abandoned me when I didn't live up to her expectations. My new life is much more fulfilling now then before. Now then Aliasse. Now that you know all about me what are you going to do. Join me in changing the world. Or try and resist the inevitable."
Aliasse took in a deep breath manifesting her aura as a flickering flame around her body. But then calmly let her aura reseed back into her body. "Listen Selvaria. I'm not going to join you." Selvaria tensed up as if ready to fight her mentor. "But i'm not going to stop you either."
Selvaria. "What?."
Aliasse. "We could fight here and now. But it would be pointless. And it would only get other people killed. Including Justin, Rachel and Hibiki. Let alone the other people living here on the station. So here's what i'm going to do. I'm going to keep doing what I can to help Tarrens survive and thrive. And hope Harukas words were true."
Selvaria laughed. "Who that random person claiming to be a different version of mother from another universe. That attack I hit Ellen with could destroy a soul. And even if it was possible to survive that why would you care about Her. She's responsible for killing billions of people."
Aliasse gave a soft smile. "Hmph. Yeah your right. For all the things she's done I should hate Ellen. But those two years I spent with her. And Alicia allowed me to understand her. She's hard on herself and others and yes she's murdered billions of people. But. She's also motivated humanity to push into the stare's when they had given up on space exploration. And stopped Azrumath from succeeding in his plan to free his master whom I can only assume is the same person as you so called god. And. Despite her actions. I believe she genuinely cares for the betterment of all races. If in her own way. And. I believe she's alive somewhere out there."
Selvaria stared at Aliasse with a malicious expression. "So you trust a murder over me. Just because you spent a few years locked up with her. What about me then. You've spent far more time fighting and training with me then her!"
Aliasse. "And you said it yourself. You lied to and manipulated me. Despite all that she's done that's the one thing Ellen's never ever done to me. She's the Empress of the Zerg swarm and a mass murder yes. But a liar isn't one of them. She's always been true to herself."
Selvaria scoffed laughing to herself. "So... what next?"
Aliasse. sighed looking around her room. "Now... I guess we're done. I'll be moving out tomorrow. Although. I'd like to think that you and Ellen could reconcile some day."
Selvaria turned around to leave stopping at the doorway. "Maybe if she was a better mother... None of this would have happened."
Watching the door close Aliasse sat back down on her bead. "Ellen don't make me a liar. And dont be dead."
-Zerg Core World-
In a star system at the edge of the galaxy a swarm of tens of thousands of Zerg Behemoths and Leviathans orbited over a planet. Slightly larger than Earth with its own moon. But the surface of that world was covered by a carpet of purple and gray Creep. The view zoomed in showing a vast ocean that covered half the planet breaking the worlds color scheme between ocean blue and Creep purple and gray.
Zooming in again the view showed a massive structure covering the northern continent. It was a series of concentric circles that connected and joined together in a network of massive Hive clusters stretching from ocean to ocean.
Zooming in on the core of that network a mountain sized dome larger than Mt Everest loomed over a vast plain of domes and long half dome mountains stretching for as far as the eye could see. The view dive into the massive dome going deeper and deeper into the belly of the beast until coming to a chamber filled with brood queens. Among them was Izsha, Zavara, Navash, Kilysa, Rindol who was back in her exofram and Nysha.
Izsha. "Despite the loss of a few Behemoths and a Leviathan the operation was a success. The amount of Ragnite recovered should be more then enough to aid in our evolution to the next level."
Zavara. "But what of our Empress! We all felt her disappear from the Hivemind?"
Without anyone else saying or intentionally projecting anything Izsha could fell the trepidation and agitation among the brood queens. "That is true. Our Empress may have lost her material form and been purged from the hivemind. But she is not dead I can assure you. In fact Abastein is currently seeing to the Empress right now."
Nysha. "How can you say that. You weren't there. You didn't feel her presence ripped from the hivemind."
Rindol looked quit lethargic even in her exoframe. "No. Shes alive. But in a... diffreant form."
Navash. "Then where is she?"
Zavara. "Izsha if this is just a ploy to gain power yourself then I'll rip your limbs off myself and prob your mind as forcefully as I can to learn the truth!"
Izsha. "Calm yourselves. Im telling you the truth. But for the time being the Empress has a mission of her own to accomplish."
-Secret Evolution Chamber, 5 miles underground-
In a cave with a tall ceiling, covered in Ragnite crystals and containers of liquid biomass Abastein worked fervently on the cocoon standing before him. It pulsated a bright blue bioluminescence rising and lowering in intensity as biomass and liquid Ragnite. Time moved on hour by hour and day by day until the cocoon doubled in size and burst. A mix of Blue liquids and green biomass flowed out from the cocoon and the occupant fell out onto their knees. Covered in ooze and naked the teen stood up her Heterochromic eyes faintly glowing blue and red.
Abasten. "Empress restored. Body perfect reproduction of original Valkyrur essence."
The teen looked around testing her eyes and flexing her hands. "Hmm. Abastein. Good work. Now you know what needs to be done."
Bowing the Slug creature moved closer. "Understood. Empress."
Without saying anything more Abastein raised his needle like appendage, thrusting it through the teens chest. Blood leaked from the open wound but the teens eyes only glowed all the brighter. In a flash of power that knocked Abastein back some meters the teen started floating off the ground as a solid aura enveloped her. Abastein picked himself up as the aura died down and the teen dropped to the ground.
"Aaaa. that hurt like hell. Well time to test my new body. Abastein call a Overlord."
Bowing Abastein obayed. A moment later a warpgate opened in mid air and a Overlord floated into view.
"Now then time to see if I still have that red aura."
Focusing on her darker nature and more violent side the teen produced a large red clawed hand over her own. Her red eye glowed brighter as the blood red transparent appendage hungered. The Overlord looked down at the teen lowering its hight. The teen then grasped onto Overlord by and started absorbing its psionic essence. Screaming in pain ehe Overlord resisted floating up higher but the teen just held on with her red aure claw as the beast thrashed about in the air. Also feeling the Creatures pain Abastein clenched his arms around his body as the sensation of having liquid fire injected into his mind overwhelmed him. After a few moments the process was completed and the Overlord fell out of the air dead and the teen was enveloped in a pure white cocoon of light. Hours later the white cocoon was absorbed into the teens body.
She regained consciousness quickly and turned to Abastein. "Can you hear me Abastein?" She projected telepathically.
Looking over at the teen Abastein once again felt the presence of his Empresses. "Yes my Empress. You are restored to you for more power."
Ellen flexed her mental power connecting to all the Zerg in the system. Their collective of over a hundred billion minds were in a state of agitation and they nearly overwhelmed her but soon she adapted and calmed them.
Ellen gave a sigh of relief. "Aaa. Now i'm back to my old self. It's a good thing I had you keep a perfect sample of my original Essence as a Valkyrur. Other wise this body wouldn't be a perfect match to my old one."
Abastein. "Pleased Empress is restored. Pleased my skill has improved and evolved. Pleased I did not fail."
Ellen. "You did well Abastein. But enough of all that. I got a mission to get to. Its the whole reason I went through the trouble of getting the Ragnite so I could restore my Valkyrur body. Im just glad that I was able to transfer my soul to the new body even though it wasn't awoken yet. Implanting those parasites was my saving grace. Glad i'm a little paranoid about that kind of stuff. I'll be going. Tell the others that I'll be back soon."
Abastein. "Understood Empress."
Ellen still naked walked to a nearby chamber and awoke a sleeping Praetorian armor symbiote. It was a little big on her but it shifted its structure to fit. Leaving the chamber she traveled to a Nydus hub. Taking the living transport to a restricted chamber that only she could open Ellen found herself in a massive chamber ten miles wide with a three mile high dome over head. The dome had a spider web like network of Creep holding a multi mile long silver ship over head and upside down. Oval in shape with a large jet black flat portal extending from the tower part at the rear section.
Ellen. "Now then time to get that pervert Noobzilla."
Ellen materialized her aure into a pair of aura wings extending from her arms and tail feathers from her lower back. Taking to the air she flew across the domes valley making her way up to the ship.
Ellen. "Hehe! This brings back memories from when I first awoken as a Valkyrur."
Within the ship she used her aura to cling to the floor as she walked through the empty halls. Arriving at the main engine room she typed in commands into the main control console. The large sphere of blue crystal that was the ships main engine illuminated the chamber pulsating with energy and making the crystals pointing from the wall shimmer with power. In the light Ellen could make out a set of dragon armor and a glowing great sword laying on the ceiling.
Ellen. "Ok the portal should be open. Can't believe this is going to take me back in time. This whole Fractal-verse thing is a bit heavy."
Returning to the outside Ellen found the black portal had expanded and was now cutting tinto the walls of the dome and was bright white. "Well here I go. Hope the coordinates are correct. Geronimooo"
Ellen fell into the white portal and dissippiered.
-Time Date, The past from Ellen's perspective-
-Location, Inside Nirvana lower Beta section engine room-
Falling through a white portal Ellen slid across the floor. Ellen quickly stood up to see that she was in the same engine room she was in just a few minutes before.
"It's about damn time you got back! "Ellen turned around to the sight of Noobzilla in his Black Dragon armor and holding his Moonlight greatsword.
The whole chamber shook from an explosion knocking the two back against the wall and there was a great groning of metal reverberating through the walls.
Ellen. "I don't think we have time for witty banter. I take it the others are still holding HIM off in the Gamma (Core) section of the ship."
Noobzilla pushed himself off the wall and made his way over to the console. "Yeah. Now let's get that portal up and running again so you can get back."
Ellen. "But I just got back. I thought were were going to counter attack with my Valkyrur powers?"
Noobzilla. "Nope that not the plan."
Ellen. "Then what is the plan then?"
Noobzilla entered one final sequence of commands into the console and turned to Ellen. "You going to eat me."
"What?!"
Noobzilla. "It's for the future and to protect you."
Ellen sighed rolling her eyes. "Ugh. Don't tell me this is one of those I know the future but I can't tell you because of spoilers bullshit."
Noobzilla shrugged. "Yeah actually it is."
Ellen stared daggers at Noobzilla. "Ok... how am I going to eat you again?"
The ship shook again as a unworldly scream echoed through the walls and their bodies.
Noobzilla. "That must have been Priscilla using her Life Hunt on HIM. As for your question Ellen just use your soul eating red aura on me."
Ellen. "Are.. are you sure. I'll eat your soul."
Noobzilla. "That's kind-of the point. At a certain point in time me being inside you will save you. That all I can say for now. Oh and press this button after you done. It will open the portal back to the proper time and place for you."
Ellen formed her red aura claw, bringing it up to a striking position. "You sure. Really really sure?"
Noobzilla. "Just do it!"
Shaking her head Ellen swung her aura claw. It passed through Noobzillas body with out leaving a scratch on his armor. But the armor and sword fell clattering to the floor empty.
Ellen. "This is fucked up."
Ellen walked up to the console pressing the blinking button and white gateway formed in the air behind her. Ellen ran through the portal leaving the battle to be won another time.
-Time Date, 10 minutes after Ellen left-
-Location, Zerg core world. Nirvana Beta section holding chamber.-
Ellen fell through the air forming her wings. Gliding to the ground safely she took one last look back up at the Nirvana as the white portal closed back to its black sealed state. "Sigh. I hope he knows what he's doing."
Chapter End.
Note. Next up. Starcraft begins. "Hell, It's about Damn time."
