-Chapter 22-

-Interim-

-2 Weeks after Antiga Primes's Destruction-

Mathew D Horner blinked, his eyes groggy from last nights late work. He stared at the metal ceiling over head thinking about many things. Not the least of which was the destruction of Chau Sara, Mar Sara and now Antiga Prima. Matt had heard through skuttlebutt (Gossip) that the Sons of Korhal forces on Antiga Prime had been helped by the Protoss while they were rescuing some civilians left behind. The very same aliens that are torching any Terran world that the Zerg attack. Then again they may have their reasons but that doesn't make it right. But then again the Zerg are going to destroy the planet anyways.

With a yawn Matt got up sliding his legs onto the floor and went to the bathroom. After shaving his beard stubs and cleaning up he was ready for his shift. He served as first officer on the Cormorant, a merchantman cargo ship converted for blockade running. The vessel enjoyed a great deal of success in its evasion of Confederate patrols and it's transport of men and material between star systems, earning Horner a reputation of being clever and dependable. The vessel had been working as a cargo huller for the Sons of Korhal for some time and even helped in the evacuation of Mar Sara and even Antiga.

Matt finished buttoning up his coat and left his room making a short pit stop to the ship's galley for a cup of coffee before heading to the bridge.

"Morning captain." Horner said.

A dark skinned man in a captains uniform with a balding head and a beard glanced back at Matt. "Horner. Good morning."

"Any business for today other then making runs for materials" Matt asked looking at the ambient (180 degree surround) screen showing the surrounding space much like a window.

"Yes. Mengsk himself asked for our assistance in a operation that requires a requires a ship without qualifications."

Matt looked back at the captain. "Really. Whats the operation?"

"Mengsk said that we'll get the details when we meet with the other members of the operation. Lieutenant Kerrigan and Captain Raynor."

A surprised Matt widened his eyes. "Both Kerrigan and Raynor are coming on board!"

"It seems so." The captain confirmed. "Their transport craft will rendezvous with us in one hour."

"Hm, Well then we should roll out the red carpet then."

A our later a warp capable dropship exited warp space. Inside Kerrigan in her hostile environment suit and Raynor sat in the back.

Pilot. "We've arrived."

Everyone became more serious mode as the Corrmerant came into view. After docking Raynor and Kerrigan meet the first officer of the ship.

Raynor regarded the young officer. Either he was a silver tougued smart guy or a capable man in order to become the first officer at his age. Maybe even a idealist.

"Lieutenant Kerrigan, Captain Raynor. We've been expecting you." Matt paused wondering about the mission. "It's a honnor to meet you."

Kerrigan. "Nice meeting you. Could you show us to the bridge so we can explain the Operation to you and the captain."

Matt nodded. "This way ma'am."

Horner turned around and walked off, Raynor and Kerrigan followed. On the bridge they meet the captain.

"Ah you must be the famous Kerrigan and Raynor. Your reputation proceeds you."

Raynor smirked. "Glad were getting so popular. But enough about us let's get down to business."

Kerrigan took out a small holo plate placing it on a table. It opened up projecting a simple hologram of a facility.

Matt and the ships captain examined the 3D picture.

Kerrigan. "This is the Orna 3 research facility run by the confederacy. We recently got intel saying that immoral Terran testing is being conducted there. From what we know prisoners and maybe civilians are being sent there for experimentation. As to what kind we suspect it may have to do with genetic and psionic in nature. Finding out whats going on in there is one half of the mission."

Matt. "What the other half?"

Kerrigan glanced at him. "Finding out whose worth saving and whos to be punished with execution for immoral and unwilling experimentation."

Raynor spoke up. "Basically find out whose not all that happy doing bad things to other people and meet out some Noir justice on the ones enjoying their little power trip."

Kerrigan turned to Raynor with a raised eyebrow. "You read noir books?"

Raynor meet her gaze. "Sometimes." he shrugged.

Matt. "So there is illegal and immoral experiments being conducted by the confederacy there. And were going to find out which scientists are willing and which are just in over their head correct."

Kerrigan turned to Matt. "Yeah that's about it. There's no need for us to kill everyone if we can help it. For all we know some of the people there were forced to work in those experiments in fear for their lives. And if they say anything about wanting to leave or speak out about what's going on there their disappeared."

Raynor. "Captain from our current position we should be there in about three hours."

"Yes from the sector coordinates on this map are correct. All personal should be ready by then."

Raynor turned to Matt. "Your the second in command Jack."

"Yes and its Matt. Mathew Horner."

Raynor. "Matt.? I thought it was Jack?"

"Everyone does, sir. And no I don't sit in the corner eating pie. I hate plums."

Raynor chuckled scratching his head. "Hehe. Well then sorry Matt."

-Orna 3 Research Facility-

A blonde woman in a white lab coat walked down a hall reading a file folder. Two armored Marines escorting a test subject passed by her. She tried ignoring the man but could still tell that that he was covered in surgical sutures from having artificial organs implanted in him to test their functionality. It wasn't her area of expertise which was psionic powers, but even though, it was still abhorrent to her. Maybe if the man was a willing test subject in a cutting edge medical experiment who was given a choice and would even be payed, it would be different but that was far from the reality of this place. This facility was no hospital but a place where peoples lives are used as currency to by advancement in technology and science. It may have even been different if these were death row criminals who had killed people or done other horrible things and were just having their life or death sentence being carried out in a more productive way other than just executing them. But again that wasn't the case.

The cold hard truth was that the experiments carried out here had strict standards. And only people of a certain age and type could full fill those requirements. Many of these people were just kidnaped by force. Some right out of their homes from all across the sector. How many had walked these halls and how many have died here in these cruel experiments she didn't know.

The female scientist sighed as she continued onwards. Then she heard the man behind her start jittering from the artificial organs malfunctioning, shocking him from the inside out. Then she heard a loud banging and turned around seeing the man smashed his own head against the wall with enough force to splatter blood and incor across a meter of wall.

"Damn guess another failure," one of the guards said with no pity or sympathy.

"Must have had a bad contact wire or something. Haha. Overcharged his nerves and muscles and splat haha."

Feeling sick the woman nearly gagged placing a hand over her mouth as she left the area. After walking a few hulls away she breathed easier feeling the breakfast go back down to where it's supposed to be..

"Damn it. Why did I take that job offer. So stupid. I should have known it was too good to be true." She regretted working here seeing as shes just as much of a prisoner as any of the test subjects many of whom died often. But at a place like this secrets are worth lives and the confederacy is more then willing to take lives to keep their secrets secrets. She hasn't even been able to contact her family.

But she couldn't worry about all that right now. She had work to do. As per her work and subject of interest. Even as a kid she was fascinated by the idea of psychic powers and how biology formed such powers and effects. And when she got a call to participate in cutting edge research she was quite eger to join such projects. Little did she know what she was getting to.

Sliding her ID over a door lock the blond scientist entered the block where her experiments were conducted and where the subjects lived. Her spirits lifted a bit as she thought about the test subject she was mostly involved with. Code subject alpha 1 by her designation. But She was known by another name. Her real name and one that was preferred.

Entering a hallway the blonde scientist walked passed a series of reinforced doors, each with a small window. Some of the people here were in their teens others early twenties. All with psionic powers to varying degrees. But one very important one called subject alpha 1. The scientist stopped at one door with the same designation Alpha 1.

Inside was a lone girl sitting on the ceiling reading a book. Her long black hair floating like in zero gravity, covering her face. The subject was a psi-10 or higher despite being just 15. But instead of being in the ghost program she was sent here for experimentation. There were rumors that she actually was sent to the ghost program but the mental control methods usually used to control new recruit's failed. Even memory wiping and Psi-screens didn't work. So they sent her here for testing. The girl was quit a odd one as she was, for the most part completely indifferent to anything other people did to her. But she was quite hostile if anyone did anything violent in front of her and would even stop other people from harming each other. Though they have to be in a dozen or so meters of her of in the same room.

"Hello, Dr. Elizabeth." alpha 1 said in a emotionless monotone as she read her book.

Dr. Elizabeth never got used to the fact alpha 1 knew where everyone around her was and what they were doing, even without looking or paying much attention. And her cold disconnect made everyone even the other test subjects unnerved. But once you get all that out of the way one would find a normal teenager who is more than a little friendly but still creepy in the way she talks and looks.

DR. Elizabeth looked up to subject alpha 1."Good morning Rindol."

Dropping from the ceiling Rindol walked to the door floating up to the window. "Dr. Are there going to be more tests today?"

Elizabeth opened the door meeting Rindol face to face. "Yes. The tests will be more invasive today i'm afraid."

Emotionlessly Rindol blinked. "That's fine." Sensing something Rindol looked up a moment. Were getting some guests today."

Dr. Elizabeth Martin shrugged believing her and not the least surprised at this point by Rindols intuition. "Is there a shuttle arriving?"

"Yes. Am I the only one being tested today."

DR. Martin. "No Samuel is also bing tested but his test is to determine if the implants improved his abilities. Dr Phan is conducting the test in the underground test area."

"I see." Rindol said.

Dr Martin held out her hand. "Please come this way Rindol. We'll conduct the test in a little bit."

Rindol nodded telekinetically placing her book on the table and taking the Dr's hand.

-Orna 3 orbit-

Getting into character Rynor changed into a orange prisoner clothes while Kerrigan just dyed her hair black letting it hang down in two braided ponytail's and covered her face with her suits accompanying breather mask for uninhabitable environments which comes with a thermal and night vision.

Kerrigan checked her new ID which the adjutant Mary made along with false orders from Tarsonis on the transfure. It would a good cover story but how long would it last.

"I like the new look Sarah." said Raynor.

"I don't. I hate dying my hair." Kerrigan said cocking her rifle and switching the safety on.

Raynor crossed his arms. "You do look better with red hair."

"Hmp. Thanks."

Matt Horner entered the room glancing at them. "You all ready. We just exited warp space over Orna 3."

Raynor let his arms hand at his sides. "Yeah we're good to go. Your going to be our contact between the ship then?"

Horner shrugged. "Yeah. Guess that's me. We didn't get to talk before but from what i've heard about you two miss Lieutenant Kerrigan, Captain Raynor you've both pretty famous in the Sons of Korhal."

"Heh. Thanks but we don't do autographs," said Kerrigan as she picked up a pair of manacles telekinetically placing them on Raynors wrists.

At the Orna 3 research facility starport security personnel marked the incoming transport-ship opening a coms line.

"This is the Orna 3 security station. Your arrival is not on our schedule. State your business and clearance or we will shot you out orbit"

The com line crackled. "This is the Lancaster. Sending authentication codes now. Where transporting some Prisoners."

The two security officers looked over and confirmed the authenticity of the ID codes.

"Ok Lancaster you check out. But why wasn't your arrival sent a head of time from Tarsonis. That breaks protocol?"

On the Cormorant Horner paused a moment. "That's because we're on special orders to transport a prisoner designated Convict 493 to your facility under ghost escort."

The com paused a moment.

"You have a ghost on board?" the security guard asked.

"I believe that's what I just said."Honer replied.

The line went quiet for a moment before Kerrigan stepped up to the com-panal. "Im ghost designation 48750. Im under orders to bring my charge to thsi facility and directly hand him off to the lead scientist, Orville Harris."

The line remained silent for a few moments. "Your ID is confirmed ghost 48750. Your cleared to land vie dropship."

"One more thing." Kerrigan said. "The captain of the Lancaster is telling me he requests to stay in orbit for a few hours. It seems his warp drive is on the fritz and is unsafe to jump at the moment. Says it need some maintenance."

"The Lancaster is authorized to stay in orbit for no more then four hours."

Horner took the com again. "Thanks. The repairs should be done in three hours."

Ten minutes later Kerrigan and Raynor were walking off a ramp of the dropship on the bases starport. The transport craft took off again returning to the orbiting ship.

A group of marines walked up to Kerrigan and Raynor.

"Ma'am. Standard protocol says we need to check the prisoner for anything illegal."

Kerrigan scoffed under her breath that someone working in a place like this would use that terminology. "Have at it. But im under orders to stay with the prisoner until I hand him off to the director of this facility."

"That's acceptable ma'am. Follow us."

Meanwhile in a private surgical room a man in his late thirties with silver hair visible under his hair cap sliced into a test subjects back as they lay on the surgical table facing down. The test subjects body remained still but whimpering could be heard from below. The Dr. sliced and cut humming to himself as he went about his work. After cutting away at enough flesh he reached over to a table where several small silver pea sized device's were resting.

Using a small pair of tweezers he lifted the small orb placing it into the wound along the spine. The tiny orb started extending microscopic filaments into the nerve and spine tissue causing the patient to utter a pained moan.

It was one of fifteen already implanted in the multi hour long surgery. The small orbs were experimental nano-tech devices meant to create a machine body link in a persons nervous system. It was meant to allow a person with psionic power to remotely control machines and exo suits with much better control efficiency. There by increasing performance of what ever craft they controled. However earlier experiments showed that anesthesia dulles the process of the nano-machines links to the nerves so it can't be administered to the test subject so a paralysing agent is used instead.

After a few minutes the wounds were closed and the whimpering subject was taken out to recover in a special suit. The Dr. removed his surgical garb before throwing it into the trash.

"Ah another successful surgery. Now let's wait a few hours for the subjects nerves to be saturated with the nano-machines before conducting the test of the new model."

A man walked up to the DR. "Director Harris. A new subject has arrived and is going through the security entrance procedure. A ghost is escorting them."

With a look of surprise on his face Dr. Harris turned to the man. "A ghost. Escorting a new test subject. Interesting. I'll go meet them."

As the guards frisked Raynor, Kerrigan read their minds and struggled to keep from gagging. It seems that these particular guards had personally killed a few subjects who had been deemed failures and were disposed of. The memories Kerrigan saw showed her that they just took the poor people outside and just used them as target practice. And one time they even raped a woman who was mentally damaged from the experiments before killing her and placing the body in the incinerator.

Unconsciously and in a controlled rage filled state Kerrigan flipped the safety of her rifle off, placing a finger over the trigger.

"Ok he's clean." one guard said. Kerrigan could read his mind sensing he was disappointed and wished it was a girl he was touching.

Giving a heavy sigh Kerrigan took her finger off the trigger and grabbed the prisoner by the shoulder pushing them forwards. "Ok lets get a move on. I want to be out of here and back on Tarsonis soon."

The guards watched as Kerrigan and Raynor left entering the main building. Raynor kept quiet but gave some-what hostile looks at the passing scientist acting like the dangerous criminal he was supposed to be. As they walked down the hall Kerrigan read the minds of the scientist. Many had conducted horrible experiments on many people many of which died or were terminated because they were deemed failures. Every mind she read just made her more angry.

Then Kerrigan sensed a man who seemed to be the man in charge. He was coming to meet them in fact. So Kerrigan stopped and waited for him to come to her. While waiting Kerrigan continued screening the scientist who were in range of her telepathy. Then a man named Dr. Phan entered her range coming up from a underground part of the facility. Phan exited the elevator just a dozen meters in front of Kerrigan and Raynor. The man looked distracted and upset. Reading his mind Kerrigan learned that a test subject named Samuel had died from a test conducted not long ago. It seems Dr. Phan was close to Samuel as he had been here for over a year and the two had developed a close friendship despite the conditions. The death of Samuel really upset Dr. Phan.

From what Kerrigan sensed Dr. Phan resented the confederates for forcing people to do such things and some of the other scientists for not carrying about ethics or the pain they were causing. Kerrigan also learned about a number of other people that held the same sentiments. However Dr. Phan was near his limit, in fact he was keeping quiet about his views because of another scientist he knew who arrived at this facility two years ago. This other person spoke out against the treatment of the subjects and the cruel and sometimes pointless experiments. And was angry at the fact all of them were either unwilling prisoners or even kidnapped citizens. All this got him was a bullet to the head.

Dr. Phan was protecting his own life but after causing so much pain and deaths he was nearing his limit. As Dr. Phan passed by Kerrigan who sensed he was having a few thoughts of suicide with some considerations to take a few of the other unethical scientists with him before he goes. Kerrigan noted Dr. Phan as someone to help once the ball gets rolling.

Just a moment later Kerrigan refocused on the approaching director of this facility. Dr Harris rounded the corner quickly spotting the ghost and orange wearing prisoner who's hands were bound by manacles.

"Ah you must be the new arrival's." Dr. Harris said walking up to and examining the new test subject. "Hm a bit older then what we normally get." Harris leaned over giving the prisoner a closer look. "But then again were never shy away from a new test subject whos healthy." Harris turned to Kerrigan. "Does he have any psionic abilities?"

Kerrigan shook her head. "No. But he's a tough son of a bitch from what the guards said when I picked him up."

Dr Harris hiffed pushing up the glasses on the bridge of his nose. "Disappointing. Ah but he's a perfect subject for the cyborg testing. We need all the able bodied... or rather mentally resilient subjects we can get for that line of experimentation."

Kerrigan huffed with irritation. "Listen my job is to escort this guy here until hes accepted as one of your guinea pigs. If not then I put a bullet in his head." Kerrigan could tell Dr Harris valued strong willed test subjects and wanted Raynor for the experiments so she pushed a few buttons.

"Oh no no no. He's prime material for the project. I'll set up his induction right away. Just follow me and We'll get him set up in a proper holding cell. Then you can leave my dear ghost. Follow me." Dr. Harris turned around walked off down the hall.

Kerrigan pushed Raynor following the Dr. . Harris turned the corner walking to a elevator in a side hallway. Sensing no one was in line of sight and coming this way, Kerrigan dashed passed Raynor grabbing Harris and in one swift motion snapped his neck with a muffled crack and the body dropped like a ragdoll.

Raynor kept quite but felt like whistling in awe of Kerrigans speed and precision. "Remind me not to get on your bad side Darline."

Kerrigan searched Harris pockets grabbing a security ID key card. She then took her knife sliced open his body and planting a fist sized pack of explosive in him setting a pressure plate on his chest and roling him face down so that when someone rolls the body over the bomb will go off.

As he watched Kerrigan with morbid curiosity Raynor lifted his left leg taking the heel of the shoe off. Inside was a ear bud com unit. "Matt your there?"

Static. "Yeah. You two ok." Horner replied.

Raynor slid his shoes heel back on. "Yeah. We got some high level key cards from the director of the facility."

"How'ed you manage that so fast?"

"Kerrigans a good actor. And can snap a mans neck in one second flat."

Horners spaine shivered. "Right. Just tap into the local network and I'll direct you around."

Kerrigan finished planting the bomb turning to Raynor. "I'll get the network connected. This way."

Kerrigan and Raynor walked down the hallway turning a corner and ducked into a side room where a terminal was. Kerrigan started typing on the keyboard bringing up a security warning saying only authorized personnel could access security system controls. Kerrigan had taken the codes from Harris mind sho she knew all the high level security codes.

After turning off the alert system that sent warnings to the security room Kerrigan turned it off and sent Horner the facility blueprints.

"Ok I got the date." Horner said. "It seems the place is shaped like a big hexagon and divided into four main levels. Your on the upper surface level where most of the staffs living areas are at. The labs are on the second and third levels with main power and Date core on the forth. Each with six main sections. Theres a service elevator dew south of your position. Its only used for moving heavy cargo between levels. No one should be using it now so you can use it to get to the lower levels without being noticed."

"Got it." Kerrigan said as she and Raynor moved out.

They easily reached the elevator taking it down to the second level where the main labs were. As soon as they reached the second level Kerrigan planted a bomb along a main support beam which was right beside a main power conduit Horner told her about on the ride down. Moving on they reached the labs and acted normal as they passed more scientist.

Raynor playing the new transfered test subject and Kerrigan his escort. They passed dozens of scientist most ignoring them while others just giving a quick glance before turning away. No one wanted trouble with a ghost so no one questioned their being there. All the while Kerrigan read their minds ferreting out who was a immoral bastard who only cared for their research and those who genuinely regret doing such terrible things to the test subjects. Unfortunately no one present was worth saving.

Kerrigan stopped in the middle of the large room placed her fingers together. Snapping her fingers Kerrigan broke their necks, telekinetically twisting their heads a 180 degrees.

Raynor kind of felt sorry for them. But if Kerrigan killed them she had a good reason to. But it was still scary to think she could kill so many quickly and easily. Shooting someone at long range with a sniper rifle is one thing but this. This was just like using explosives to hunt fish. Only with less collateral damage.

Two guards in normal body armor turned the corner drawn by the sound of bodies dropping. Kerrigan fired twice in one second ripping through the weak armor they were wearing, dropping two more bodies but this time with holes in their chests.

"Good thing the security system alarms are disabled," Raynor quipped grabbing one of the guards rifles. Hefting it he grabbed extra ammo while Kerrigan planted more bombs at locations Horner told her were weak points, where the blasts would do the most damage. The two moved on turning down a long hallway. Then Kerrigan felt a surge of psionic power.

"What the? They have a psi 10 here." Kerrigan exclaimed.

Raynor turned around to her. "What! A psi-10. Here?"

Kerrigan gave Raynor a curious and somewhat concerned look. "Yeah a psi-10. Its, that way."

"You two ok." Horner asked. "Your leaving my planned route?"

"Sorry Horner." Raynor replied. "We just found out there's a psi-10 here."

On the Cormorant Horner eyes widened. "A psi-10... there. I would have thought someone with that level of power would have been sent to the ghost program."

Back on Raynor and Kerrigans side the two infiltrators rounded a corner taking out two more guards.

Kerrigan. "If ones here it would have ment they were probably not suited for the program despite their psi-level. I can only hazard a guess as to why."

Kerrigan and Raynor walked down the middle of a hall just as two marines rounded the far corner. Raynor and Kerrigan raised their weapons shooting simultaneously. Both guards dropped dead with holes in their heads.

"Horner is the area here where test subjects are kept." Kerrigan asked. "I thinks it's about time we started gathering test subjects."

A second later Horner replied. "Yeah. There's a surgical suit near you at the end of the hall but all the rooms along the hall and those parallel next to it are test subject rooms. It seems a surgery is going on in the suit at the end of the hall. No camera though and no more guards in the area."

With a "Thanks." Kerrigan moved out followed by Raynor. They entered a observation room next to the surgical suit seeing a man and woman conducting surgery on a young girl, sleeping face down in a surgical gown on the padded table, her back exposed. From what Kerrigan and Raynor saw they were implanting a cluster of small metal orbs along her spine. All most as soon as they saw the girl and what was being done to her both Kerrigan and Raynor felt hostile violent thoughts. The young girls eyes shot open and the life monitoring machines went haywire.

"What the hell?" the male scientist exclaimed.

The female scientist stepped back looking at the life monitors. "Shes agitated. But whats causing it?" The female scientist looked around spotting Kerrigan and Raynor through the glass window. And walked over to the intercom. "Who are you?"

Kerrigan telekinetically shattered the glass moving it like a curtain of a thousand tiny fragments piling it all on the back wall. She read the two scientists minds sensing the woman was concerned about the girl's life more then her own while the man was worried for his own life and that the subject would expire ruining experiment. Kerrigan took two steps forwards aiming her rifle at the man and pulled the trigger. The man fell backwards in fright but unharmed as Kerrigan's rifle flew out of her hands slamming against the wall with a new hole in the ceiling.

"What the?" Kerrigan shot the girl on the table a surprised look. "Why are you protecting him?"

Raynor posed a better question. "How's she awake?"

Realizing Raynors question made better sense Kerrigan shot the female Scientist a look.

"Um My names Dr. Elizabeth Martin. And this is Rindol. She.. doesn't like violence and and uh." Elizabeth stopped realizing who the female ghost was. Being a researcher devoted to discovering the secrets of psionic powers one could not read about the sectors first psi-10 Terran. "Sarah Kerrigan? You are Kerrigan aren't I."

Kerrigan smirked while the scared male scientist still on his ass slide back to the wall and stood up trying to make it out the door but Raynor took two steps closer giving him a (I don't think so) look.

"Yeah that's me." She gave Elizabeth a sharp glare. "How did you know it was me?"

Elizabeth gave a subdued smile. "I've read all about you and how you rewrote the psi-index. Though I don't really know much about you more than that."

Kerrigan shrugged turning to the girl on the bed with her back sliced open. "I see. Whos she?"

"Rindol. Her names Rindol Rema. I don't know where she came from."

"Kerrigan we only have so much time." Raynor warned.

"Right. Could you give our friend her a walk down the hall so I can talk with miss Elizabeth."

"Sure." Raynor said walking over and grabbing the other white clad scientist by the shoulder. "Lets go."

Raynor and the other Scientist left and Rindols medical states on the machines stabilized.

"Can you put her back together." Kerrigan asked concerne in her voice.

"Thats... Not really needed." Elizabeth turned to Rindol. "It's ok Rindol the surgeries been canceled. Just take the machines out ok."

The dozens of silver orbs inside Rindols back started pulsating before the living tissue around them contracted and opened. The silver orbs all shot out slamming into the ceiling and then floor. Rindols wounds closed on their own quickly and without any scare damage. Kerrigan watched eyes wide in surprise and partial shock at what she just witnessed.

"That. Is not normal." Were the only words Kerigan could muster as the young pale skinned ebony haired girl sat up looking like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Rindol looked up at Kerrigan with cold detached eyes. "Anesthesia doesn't work on me. And I can control my own flesh. Don't ask how."

Kerrigan still in part shock wondered if that last comment was a threat or a admission to ignorance. Rindol raised her hand forming a odd small ball of flesh. It hardened into a bone hard orb and the process was reversed and it was reabsorbed into Rindols hand.

Kerrigan shrugged with a sigh. "Hah. You learn something new everyday. Anyway miss Martin. Me and my partner are here to rescue the people being experimented on here and any scientist worth saving. Lucky for you, your one of them."

Dr Martin realizing something felt a cold streak run down her spine. "What about everyone else?"

Kerrigan just crossed her arms. "They'll be punished."

Dr. Martin gulped as Raynor returned alone. She looked over at him a bit more afraid but greatly relieved in a way. She was finaly getting out of here. Along with the other scientist who shared the same feelings as her about the things being done here. "I know a man named Dr. Phan. He feels the same way I do about the kind of experiments being carried out here and he has higher security clearance so it won't look too odd for him to gather people from around the facility."

Kerrigan nodded catching on to what the Dr was planning. "I contact this Dr. Phan and tell him to gather all the scientist that are sympathetic to stopping these immoral experiments."

Dr. Martin nodded with some relief at Kerrigan. "Exactly."

Kerrigan. "I already crossed paths with Dr. Phan earlier. It shouldn't be to hard to find him again."

Raynor lifted his rifle over his shoulder turning to Kerrigan. "Wouldn't it be dangerous to leave Miss Martin and the kid here all by themselves. If any guards come across her they may wonder why shes not dead."

Rindol walked up to Dr. Martin. "Here will be Safe. I'll protect. Until we all leave."

Dr Martin looked to Rindol then to Kerrigan. "Well I think little Rindol will help keep me and any others brought here safe until its time to leave. We can gather everyone here in this living block before were ready to leave."

Raynor and Kerrigan shared a glance. "Your the ghost darlin. You think she can keep this place safe until were ready to leave?"

Kerrigan looked back to Rindol leaning over to meet her height. "You sure Rindol. People are going to die. You sure you can handle that?"

Rindol was fuming on the inside that Kerrigan couldn't even tell that she was not even human and that she was doubting her abilities. But then again Kerrigan has a good chunk of her powers limited because of her Ghost indoctroucton training. So she's not in top form persay. Rindol would love to tell Kerrigan the truth about everything but the plan of her Empress to kill the Overmind needs Kerrigan being infested along with that other girl. Still Rindol was chomping at the bit to go all out and use her full powers to fight someone. But orders are orders and Rindols orders were to ingratiate herself into the rebellion as a test subject from this place. It was hard enough to get sent here but harder to let those moronic Terran scientists use her as a lab rat without tearing them a new asshole.

Rindol gave a sigh looking down, then back up to Kerrigan meeting eyes. "Yes. I stopped you from shooting, Dr Paul before because I was unsure as to your intentions. But now that my minds clear from those numbing agents I can tell that your a good person."

Kerrigan gulped at that comment standing up straighter and closing her eyes a moment in deep thought. "A good person huh." On the inside she remembered all the lives she had took before becoming a member of the Sons of Korhal and a tinge of unworthiness creeped into her thoughts. "Anyway. I'll get going. Raynor I'll move faster alone so you can just stay here."

"Right. We'll be right here."

Remembering to pick up her rifle Kerrigan left quickly, making her way to the upper levels where she sensed Dr. Phan. As Kerrigan ran down a hall her mind wandered back to a conversation her and Raynor had shortly after the last mission on Antiga Prime.

[Flash back: After the last mission on Antiga Prime]

Kerrigan took a warm shower puting some heavy thinking into Mengsk and his plane to use the psi-emitter to draw the Zerg to Antiga. She was worked up mentally and emotionally. Turning the water off she quickly got her underwear on after drying off and flopped onto her bed trying to relax. She tossed and turned a moment before the buzzer to her rooms intercom got her attention.

"Hay Kerrigan you awake?"

Moaning with annoyed glare at the speaker Kerrigan got up and pressed the intercom button. "Yes. What do you want Raynor?"

Raynor. "I wanna talk over coffee. Can you meet me in the ship's galley? "

Kerrigan sighed as she would have prefured to have gotten some sleep. "I suppose I could. I'll be there in a few minutes."

Raynor waited in the ships galley (kitchen) Drinking some warm coffee he had ordered before hand but it was getting cold and empty. A few moments later Kerrigan showed up in casual wear.

"Ok Im here. What do you want." Kerrigan said taking a seat opposite Raynor.

Raynor was about to speak when a waiter brought over two fresh cups of coffee.

"Thanks." Kerrigan said taking a few sips of the steaming coffee.

Raynor sighed. "Kerrigan... I wanna talk about Mengsk and his call with the psi-emitter."

Kerrigan looked placed but her eyes were focused on Raynor. "I don't like it. Even if its sound tactically. Morally... It's thin ice. And endangers the whole sector. I mean the Protoss are burning whole worlds to stop the Zerg from expanding passed their so called quarantine and their far more advanced than us both in psionics and technology. It's like poking the bears nose."

Raynor took a sip of his coffee. "I feel ya. What about the commander. She endorsed the idea. But not without reservations."

Kerrigan leaned back relaxing her back in the chair. "Shes... not that thrilled when it comes to the Zerg. But from what I can tell shes worried that this rebellion will fail without some major changes like getting more man power and funding. I don't think shes all that gung ho for Mengsk though. She. Thinks he's a idoit."

"You read her mind." Raynor accused.

Kerrigan gave a stiff smile. "No. Nothing that deep just some surface thoughts. I think she's a psi-2. Not that strong but it's still easier to read her surface thoughts. I can see why she's ok with using the psi-emitters on a tactical level since were far too weak militarily to directly face the Confederacy. But she also thinks its a double edged sword. She was serious about that two to three times warning. We can't be relaying on the Zerg to win our battles for us."

Raynor leaned back in his chair. "I wholeheartedly agree. It may take longer but were not inviting monsters into our backyard. I think the best thing to do is destroy those Psi-emitter planes."

Kerrigan gave a light chuckle. "That sounds like subversion you know."

Raynor held his hands out. "Hey im just saying."

A few moments passed before the two of them spoke again.

"Hey Kerrigan?"

"Yeah?"

"How much do you trust Mengsk really."

Kerrigan looked deeply into her coffee lost in thought. "Well. I do owe him for getting me out of that facility."

"You mean the one where the confederates were experimenting with Ghosts and Zerg right."

"Yeah. By the time Mengsk got there I was the only one left. The other ghosts who couldn't get a strong enough response from the captured Zerg were... terminated."

"What the hell." Raynor exclaimed. "I know the confederacy is brutal with putting down rebels and conduct immoral experiments but that's just shooting yourself in the foot. And a waist of good soldiers."

"I have no idea what they were thinking. My inhibitors kept me from reading any of the scientists minds. But you want to know the kicker."

Raynor braced himself. "What next?"

"A few years back when I was a ghost me and two other ghost were sent to Korhal to kill Agust Mengsk and his family. His wife and young daughter were there but Auctures wasn't. I... cut Angus head off Angus'es and took it back with me for confirmation. But there's more. After Mengsk got me out of the Zerg research facility another ghost infiltrated the Hyperion. I killed them and got my hostile environment suit out of it. The ghost was one of the other two that was with me when I killed Angus. And later I was involved in a attack on the Ghost academy. Where the third one involved was captured and executed by Mengsk. To my disgust and horror, much of Mengsk's recent actions had been dictated by his search for revenge against the three ghosts who murdered his family. And having delivered the first two him I was the third." Kerrigan chugged her coffee giving a heavy sigh. "However, Mengsk thought me to be more useful to him alive and... decided to keep Me around. Claiming that he'd forgiven Me. I... was extremely grateful for him deciding to spare my life. Even though he had every right to kill me then and there. And I became devoted to the cause after that."

Raynor sighed looking up at the ceiling fan. "Heavy shit. I got a few tails of my own. This one evil bastard named Vanderspool. He had done a lot of really bad, awful things. And I was the one who killed him in the end. I still remember the words I said to him before I did it... This isn't about revenge. This is about justice. About restoring the balance. About taking something dark and ugly out of the galaxy once and for all, so that something...something decent and... good can grow instead. This is for the Heaven's Devils. For everyone who was their friend. And for everyone whose life you have ruined along your way to this moment."

Kerrigan looked depressed closing her eyes. "Sounds like we both got a lot of skeletons in our closets."

Raynor gave a laugh. "Yeah. Were messed up arent we."

Kerrigan laughed too. "Haha. Yeah maybe your right."

[Flash Back End]

Kerrigan came back to reality as the security alarm went off with a blaring warning siren.

"Warning all security staff. We have intruders in the facility. A prisoner and a ghost agent have infiltrated the facility and killed science chief Harris and are on the run. Shoot on sight."

Kerrigan smirked happy that she doesn't have to play nice anymore. Sprinting through several halls She killed several guards before reaching a elevator. Taking it up she used her telekinesis to open the emergency door on top of it and climb out onto the roof. Kerrigan then rode the elevator up pulling two grenades as she reached the upper floor.

Ding. A hail of gunfire ripped the elevator apart as its doors opened. After a solid eight seconds of fire the shooting stopped. Telekinetically she dropped the two grenades down and out the doors to the feet of the six guards waiting for her.

"Shit!"

"Grenades!"

"Get to cover!"

The grenades went off killing all six guards. "To easy." Kerrigan thought as she dropped down.

Sensing no other guards were in the area but taking no risks Kerrigan checked the hull with her rifles scope looking through its eye around cover without exposing herself. Seeing all was clear she cloaked and broke into a sprint down the hall. Turning the first corner Kerrigan did a telepathic scan for Dr Phans mind remembering it's signature. Kerrigan smirked pleased the good Doctor was still where she sensed him earlier.

In the now dead facility directors room Dr. Phan listened to the complaints of some other high ranking staff.

"What the hell's going on. First Dr Harris was killed and had a bomb planted in him and then more of our staff are found killed. Whats security doing!"

"It must be those people who arrived earlier. One of them was a ghost escorting a new prisoner earlier."

Dr. Phan sighed not enjoying his new found authority. Both the two ranking scientist over him Dr. Harris and Dr. Richter were both killed by the intruders putting him in charge of the facility by default.

"Dr. Phan your now the ranking facility officer. What are you going to do to make sure we survive this crisis. There's a rogue Ghost running around the facility killing people. It's your responsibility to make sure we all survive along with our research date."

"That's right years of research date and experiments could be lost if the main date banks are compromised. Or any more of our colleagues are killed."

Dear god Dr. Martin would have loved to strangle their necks right now. Self surviving immoral basterds. Just as Dr Phan was thinking of how he would love to strangle these worthless men a ceiling vent kicked off the wall smacking a scientist in the head.

"Ah...ouch! What the hell... who that?"

Everyone looked to the vent as a woman in a sleek hostile environment suit slid out of the small vent which looked far too small for her to move though.

"It's the ghost!"

The scientist started panicking as Kerrigan scanned their minds. "Your Dr Phan correct."

Nervously Dr. Phan nodded. "Yes that's me. What do you want?"

Kerrigan smirked. "Oh i'm just here to kill the immoral scientist here and rescue the people being experimented on. And any scientist whose not a immoral scientist."

Some of the other people in the room got a idea and started blathering.

"Uh that's good. I always hated how the people in this place treated the test subjects."

"Yeah yeah. But the facility operators, Dr. Harris and Dr. Richter would order the guards to kill anyone who spoke out about how things are done here."

Kerrigan shot the two men a evil glare. "I've always wanted to use these things but I never had a right time or place." She said pulling eight metal needles out from her thigh pocket. The needles were a half inch thick and five inches long with sharp tips on both ends. The two men realizing they were done for tried to run to the door but Kerrigan held it shut with her telekinesis.

"Ah no. Please spare us."

"We were only following orders."

Levitating the needles in front of her Kerrigan read their minds. "No. You enjoyed the things you did to people here. You may have been interested in learning new things and making breakthroughs in science but. You in no way cared about the people you hurt in the process." Kerrigan shot the needles into the two men's heads and hearts killing them instantly. As their bodies slumped to the floor Kerrigan telekinetically retrieved her needles. Wiping them off on her suit before turning to the other three female scientist cowering along the wall. Casually she shot one on the far right splattering her brains on the other two.

"Aaaah! im sorry im sorry, i'm so so sorry." One of the scientist broke down collapsing to her knees sobbing. The other tried comforting her but then turned to Kerrigan with a pleading expression.

"Ah Please I don't want to die like this." Was what the woman thought. Kerrigan could also sense that she thought that this was karma for what shes done.

"You two are ok. Im not going to kill you." Turning back to Dr. Phan Kerrigan looked him in the eyes. "Dr. Phan could you use your authority to get all the quote un quote good scientist gathered in one place along with the prisoners."

"Ugh I... sure yeah I can do that."

"Kerrigan." Horner chimed in. "I'm reading that most of the guards are descending to the lower levels. Raynor and those girls may be in danger."

"No they'll be fine. Horner can you set the alarm off in the main date bank in ten minutes."

"Yeah its no problem with the clearance we got in the system."

"Good. Dr Phan. When the alarm in the main Date bank goes off I want you to order the guards to go there. All of them."

Dr Phan nodded. "Yeah sure. No problem."

Kerrigan left the way she came using her telekinetic powers to slid through the vents without using her arms or legs as the tight fit made such impossible in the first place.

Teams of guards ran through hallways on high alert for the intruders then a alarm went off differing from the others.

"Warning the main date banks have detected a security breach. Repeat the main date banks have detected a security breach." a automated warning blared before being replaced by the voice of Dr. Phan.

"All security teams this is the acting director Dr. Phan. The intruders are in the main date banks on level three. Go their immediately and eliminate them."

All the remaining security teams all converged at the main date bank. The large doors to the room slid open revealing a large cluster of white towers in the middle of the circular room. Almost immediately the guards came under attack from two sources killing three guards before the rest opened fire on the hostiles. After a short firefight the two hortiles were dropped but not before two more guards died in the crossfire. Rifles up and at the ready the guards slowly walked over to the bodies of the hostiles. But as they got closer they realised that the hostiles were security guards as well.

"What the hell that's John And Matthew. What the hell's going on?"

The guards realized too late that it was a trap. Kerrigan who had been hanging on the ceiling pressed a detonator and the explosives in John and Matthews bodies went off.

The twin explosions killed ten more guards and dropped the rest from the sound and over pressure wave in such a confined place. Kerrigan was protected by her telekinetic force field but she couldn't sustain both it and her stealth cloak so she was visible as the last guards struggled to recover and get to their feet. Kerrigan opened fire head-shoting one guard after the other. Her choice of targets and the order in which she shot them was the most efficient.

As they struggled to get up the guards mostly on their feet and able to counter attack were the first to get shot. But eventually four guards regained their composer returning fire. Jumping away Kerrigan used the cluster of dead bodies as shields with her telekinesis blocking the hail of bullets as she fell. Landing in a roll she took out her last grenades pulling the pines and placing them with the meat shield corpses launched them at the remaining guards stunning them for a brief moment before the grenades went off.

With the last guards dead Kerrigan reloaded her rifle and left. Planting some explosives as she went Kerrigan soon met back up with Raynor and the rescued scientist and prisoners. She counted 44 test subjects and 13 scientists in the group.

Raynor waved Kerrigan over. "Hey over here."

"Is this everyone?" Kerrigan asked.

Dr. Phan approached them. "Yes. All the test subjects and scientists who want to leave are here. The others are still in the facility aren't worth worrying about."

"And I tolled Horner to send a dropship for us." Raynor said. "They should be waiting at landing pad 4."

"Good now let's get out of here."

The group moved through the facility without interruption. Reaching landing pad 4 and the waiting drop ship. As they left the ground Kerrigan looked out a display screen showing the facility far below. She took out a detonator releasing the safety and without hesitating pressed the button. Far below the Orna 3 research facility erupted into a fireball leaving little but dust, debria and a burned out skeleton. Relaxing Kerrigan placed the detonator in her pocket and found a seat to relax in. As Kerrigan settled down in her seat Rindol watched her knowing all that is to befall her in the near future.

-Chapter End-