-Chapter 27-
-Awakening part 2-
-Skygeirr Platform-
Echos of boots falls reverberated through the experiment chamber as Dr Emil Narud examined his early Hybrid prototypes held in rows of transparent liquid filled tubes along the walls. Most were dead, a few were alive but all were were twisted abominations of Protoss crossed with Zerg features except for one that looked Terran somewhat. Narud continued walking down the rows of tubes containing failed and mildly successful experiments. Then he stopped in front of his newest test subject. A rare few of the experiments were useful but those that did succeed like test subject 0079 were examined extensively to find the reasons why they took to the alterations and experiments in crossing Zerg and Protoss essence.
Subject 0079 raised its mutated and clawed Terran hand against the super strong transparent material that inclosed it as air bubbles escaped its mutated tentacle covered mouth resembling a mustache. Narud smiled at the subjects successful fusion of not only Zerg and Protoss but Terran genomic matter. Subject 0079 was the first in a series of experiments aimed at using Terrans as a base for combining Protoss and Zerg essence. And since the first subject was a success subject 0079 was to be moved to the main labs where it would be more extensively examined and experimented on further.
"It seems from our mental analysis that subject 0079 has been receiving some kind of psionic signal. Should we attempt to block these signals sir? It negatively effect the experiments" said a female scientist.
"No." Replied Narud. The subject will enjoy the stimulation. Give it a reason to... become more powerful."
Just then a psionic signal resonated through the mind of subject 0079. Only Narud heard it.
"Arise My children, Arise Kerrigan and Nova."
Narud grinned as subject 0079 thrashed about in its tank greatly agitated. The female scientist ran over to the tank hitting a button, freezing subject 0079 in a stasis field.
"It must be the signal that made it so agitated like that. Sir are you sure we shouldn't block that signal? " the female scientist asked as subject 0079 floated silently.
Narud laughed darkly. "No. It will subside in a while."
-Char-
Both Kerrigan and Nova stood up flexing their new bodies with the skeletal bladed wings that came with them.
"Arise my children, Arise Kerrigan and Nova." Spoke the Overmind.
Kerrigan raised her head up to the sky hearing the psionic voice of the Overmind and for some odd reason feeling a strong familial connection to it. She knew she was born Terran and that this other presence was clearly a Zerg but the feeling of a bonded connection was so strong and natural feeling that neither Kerrigan nor Nova thought anymore on the matter.
"By your will Father." For a brief moment Kerrigan recognised that she was not in anyway related to the Overmind but then she decided that it didn't matter as she and Nova were both reborn as Zerg now. "I... " Kerrigan started. "We..." Nova corrected her. The two shared a momentary glance. "Live to serve... Let all who oppose the Overmind feel the wrath of the swarm."
The Overmind turned its attention to the young Cerebrate.
"Well done Cerebrate. What I have wrought this day shall be the undoing of my enemies! Let not a Terran survive."
"By your will Overmind. Cerebrate stand down. We... will finish this battle ourselves."
The young cerebrate was somewhat reluctant to do so since its whole purpose was to protect both Kerrigan and Nova.
"Let them go Cerebrate." Commanded the Overmind. "I want to see their power. But be ready to intervin should something unexpected happen, they are still your charges."
Stretching their wings the two newly awoken humanoid zerg walked to the southern edge of the plateau. Kerrigan surveyed the landscape taking in the fact that she and Nova wouldn't be able to cross without a Overlord to assist. Lifting her head to the sky the information of the swarms units and their abilities flooded into Kerrigans mind. Nova shook her head feeling overwhelmed by the influx of information but both soon adapted and refocused. Kerrigan moved one of her skeletal bladed wings to her font examining it then looking back to the volcanic landscape. Knowing that she was unable to fly with such wings and knew shed have to find another way across. But she was too prideful to ask the cerebrate for help not when she had just said she didn't need any help from it.
While Kerrigan thought Nova looked around spotting a car sized boulder. She reached out to grab it with her telekinesis. With surprising ease the rock lifted off the ground. Nova moved it around up down side to side. Feeling like she's got the hang of it she closed her hand crushing the bolder into a dozen smaller pieces. With a grin Nova turned back to the cliff edge and threw the largest pieces over into the crusted magma below. Kerrigan looked at her wondering what she was doing. Nova continued throwing large rocks and by the fifth bolder Kerrigan saw that the rocks formed a makeshift bridge. It didn't even reach a quarter of the way across yet but it was a start.
Kerrigan joined in pulling massive boulders out of the ground before using a focused line of telekinetic force to evenly slice them into proper sizes and then throwing them over into the magma below. In just a few minutes they had a land bridge half way across. But something caught Kerrigan's attention and she looked up spotting a group of drop pods falling from orbit. Extending her senses further into the sky she detected the mind of Matt Horner. He was in the Hyperion Mengsk flagship. Nova holding another bolder up quickly turned to Kerrigan sensing her powers flare as the reminder of the one who had caused the Zerg to attack Tarsonis and make her a zerg, who had used the Zerg multiple times and who left her for dead. Mengsk.
Her eyes glowed a bright orange as the ground shook and small rocks floated in the air as Kerrigan pulled a giant boulder out of the ground. Her rage having no reason or meaning but a target she infused the giant bolder with her psionic energy and compressed it to one tenth its original size and making a punching gesture launched it skyward at hyper sonic velocity creating a shockwave that made her and Novas tendril hair fly about.
-Hyperion-
"Jim we got a whole lot of Zerg up here." Horner warned as hundreds of lasers flashed across the window displays burning the sky clear of the swarming Mutalisk and Scourges but more were always arriving. "We can only hold our position for another half hour at the most and general Warfield is being forced to evacuate from his forward base. His forces are taking a real pounding over there."
"Sir!" shouted a bridge officer.
Horner turned from the tactical display table to the officer.
"Incoming object from the surface at high speed!"
"If its Zerg just blast it out of the sky." said Horner.
"But uh sir. There's something odd about it."
"What is it then." Horner said quickly striding over to the officer look at his display.
The readings didn't make sense. The sensors attuned to detecting psionic emanations from Zerg were going off the charts but the incoming object didn't give off any life signature and read on the sensors as a very dense rock.
"What the hell?" questioned Horner. "Hows a rock give off psionic energy signature?"
Before anyone could answer the psionically infused projectile cleared Chars upper atmosphere and even more quickly now in a vacuum closed on the Hyperion.
"Brace for..." Horner started realizing he had used up anytime he had to maneuver to evade the incoming attack.
The ship violently bucked to one side as the rock impacted the Hyperions starboard (right) wing exploding inside. Horner picked himself off the floor using the tactical table for support.
"Damage report?" Horner ordered.
Across the bridge crew officers shook off the shock and got to work.
"Right wing heavily damaged. Power subsystems to half the maneuvering stabilizer thrusters are off kilter. If we don't get them repaired we'll be easy targets sir."
Horner gritted his teeth. The maneuvering thrusters allowed the ship to turn and maneuver and without them the Hyperion would only be able to fly forwards. A dangerous situation even if they weren't in the middle of a battle. Having no choice Horner made the difficult call.
"Prepare to jump to warp. As soon as Warfield and his men board their ship were leaving." The bridge crew were hesitant for a moment before following their orders.
Horner got back on the line with Raynor with a grim face.
"Horner? what happened up there?"
"Jim... we took a bad hit just now and we... we have to leave. Or risk the ship."
For a moment there was only the garbled sounds of combat on the radio. "Roger that." Raynors voice sounding down cast. "We'll disengage down here and make it on our own until you can come back to pick us up. What about the drop pods that landed on the plateau?" said Raynor asking one last question.
Horner realizing that they had been ignored up until now quickly typed on the tactical table bringing up their suit signals. None were broadcasting any life signal anymore. Horner lowered his head realizing that they were all dead. The last gable to take out the defenses on the plateau had failed.
"Sorry Jim there, all dead."
Horner heard a sigh on the com line. "Roger... (Explosion)"
"Jim whats happening?"
Horner heard Jim barking orders as gun fire and more explosions went off in the back round.
"Were under attack." Raynor replied as he started running.
"Jim I'll send a..." Horner was cut off by Raynor.
"Mother of god... Kerrigan what have they done to you?"
The radio line cut out.
"Damn!" horner cursed as he checked Raynors life signal. It was still strong but many of the others around him were blinking out quickly.
-Minutes before-
Kerrigan continued looking up at the sky after launching the rock into orbit. Surprised at this power Nove blinked her orange eyes. Slowly Kerrigan turned to her.
"There are more enemies coming. Im feeling a little exhausted. You deal with them." following her instincts Kerrigan burrowed allowing herself time to recover from expending so much power all at once.
Nova looked up at the two dozen drop pods falling like burning streaks from the sky. Not wanting to fight all the Marines in the descending pods Nova reached out with her telekinesis lightly pushing half the pods into the direction of the crusted magma lake. With no means to fight the unseen push the pods were pushed off their intended course. Nova was filled with a sense of satisfaction at the sight of dozens of Terran drop pods impacting the crusted over magma lake. With every impact a shower of orange hot magma shot out in every direction like firey ripples. But a equal number landed on the open ground behind her. Nova turned around as the drop pods door seals popped open and slammed on the creep covered ground. In the far back round the hive cluster was surrounded buy the cerebrates army of Zerglings and Hydralisk all equipped with spore launcher symbiotes. It would be a simple matter for them to open fire and finish off the Terrans.
But Kerrigan had to have a big head saying she didn't need the cerebrates help. Nova sighed realizing that shed need to hold Kerrigan's leash or she may do something stupid. Still Nova was nearly the same. Her body felt lighter and far stronger like she could take on the world and win. But Nova quickly pushed such thoughts away seeing them as self destructive and unnecessary. As the Terran Marines exited the drop pods Nova could sense that they were from Raynor's raiders. For a moment Nova hesitated remembering that she too was Terran not too long a go. But looking down at her clawed hands, armored body and flexing her bladed wings she also remembered that she was now Zerg. The past was the past.
Shaking her doubt off Nova screamed a war cry catching the marines attention. Aiming their weapons at her hesitating for only a second as they were caught off guard by the new humanoid type of Zerg. Seeing their hesitation flared a killing instinct in Novas mind sending her into a killing frenzy. Extending her wings and bending her knees Nova launched herself into the air using both her body and telekinesis. Landing right in between four Marines Nova swept her wings 180 degrees slicing through four of the marines armor and lopping off two arms and impaling two others in the stomach.
"Gah! my arm!"
"Gah! damn it!"
"Shoot it! shoot it!"
Two of the marines with both their arms intact levels their rifles at Nova. She jumped backwards through the air, landing behind one of the injured marines and thrust her arm forwards claws together like a spade. Grinning as she felt her hand pierce through the armor's weak point enjoying the sensation of blood flowing down her armored claws.
"Gahhhh!"
"Shoot her damnt!" called a marine behind Nova.
She realized that she was surrounded and that two marines had her in their sights as she glanced over her shoulder.
"I can't. If I fire I'll hit corporal Helton too!"
"Helton ?" Nova murmured half remembering a man with that name in Raynors group when they landed on Tarsonis.
While Nova was lost in thought the corporal Helton reached back grabbing onto Novas arm pulling her around to his front and holding her up in front of himself. Aiming his rifle at her gut he pulled the trigger unloading a full clip into her. A splatter of gore and blood spekaled over the corporals visor and armor and he dropped the wounded Zerg.
"Gahh! Ah!" Nova cried curling into a ball covering the hole in her mid section.
The marines all gathered around her ready to finish her off. In that moment Nova felt stupid for ridiculing Kerrigan for acting without restraint when Nova herself had hesitated to kill the enemy and got a hole in her guts for her trouble. She felt the cavity in her lower torso but there wasn't much blood. Must have been her Zerg body keeping her from bleeding out. And the fact that she was alive at all also spoke volumes that she was not Terran anymore. No Terran could survive getting a full C-14 clip emptied into them. Corporal Helton reloaded raising his rifle again with other marines. Nova groaned as triggers were pulled and for a fleeting moment all was quiet. In the next instant a half dozen splintering roaring rifles barked their venom. But when the shooting stopped it was Nova that smiling.
"What the hell!" exclaimed corporal Helton.
There surrounding Nova was a dome of gauss ammo stopped just inches from striking her, a few were pierced into her body by mere millimeters. Opening her eyes she inverted her Telekinesis barrier sending all that ammo flying back from where it came. All the marines were knocked back or killed outright losing limbs and heads from the 360 degree shotgun attack. Those that survived looked up to see the humanoid Zerg stand up with the hole in her lower torso quickly regenerating filling in. Corporal Helton held his stomach bleeding out from the four metal spikes that went right through him. He looked up feeling the grip of his rifle weaken. He stared into the eyes of the Zerg as she stared at him. And then it clicked.
"Wha? Nova!" he said in recognition.
Nova chuckled to herself. "Yeah... its me."
Under his visor Corporal Helton gasp in horror at the truth that had been standing before him. The teen Sons of Korhal agent he had only briefly known on Tarsonis was now here on Char and was a Zerg.
"Why, How?"
Before the corporal could make another thought Nova forced her way into his mind searching for any usable information on Terran deployments on Char. Corporal Helton held his armored head screaming as his mind was blended and violated. Then with a dispassionate flick of her wrist Nova snapped his neck spinning his head 180 degrees in his own armor. Corporal Helton fell dead.
Other marines staggered to their feet aiming their weapons at Nova again. Sensing this Nova raised her hand gripping all the marines in a telekinetic grip that pulled them a few feet into the air and with a crushing force Nova closed her hand and the marines in their armors were crushed to a thinner shape.
Seeing that all the enemies were dealt with Nova walked over to the edge of the plateau observing the partal land bridge she and Kerrigan had created. Nova felt a speckle of dirt bounced off her back as Kerrigan un burrowed.
"Good work dealing with them." Kerrigan said deadpan. "Now lets rip their main base apart. No more hesitating now."
Nova stared onwards. "I know. I won't make that same mistake again."
The two leaped down Kerrigan landing first followed by Nova. One after the other they leaped from one rock to another quickly crossing the magma lake. With a final telekinesis boosted leap they cleared the magma lake and started a blitz attack on the Terran base.
"What are those on the bunkers?" Kerrigan asked know one in particular.
Sensing approaching Zerg the bunkers auto turrets took aim at the two approaching enemies. But Nova acted first gathering energy and firing a telekinetic force blast at the turret destroying it without question or hesitation.
"It's a auto gun turret. A new upgrade to the bunkers." Nova answered within the info she got from the corporals mind.
Nodding to the answer Kerrigan followed up with a telekinetic blast of her own shattering the bunkers. The marines left outside the bunkers opened fire. Nova and Kerrigan leaped and dodged returning fire with their psionic powers. It only took a few minutes for them to break into the base. Siege tanks were flipped over or sent flying into buildings exploding, Infantry were broken and smashed, Buildings were burned to the ground and destroyed from the inside. Then a group of Terrans cam running from the other side of the base.
"Mother of god... Kerrigan what have they done to you?"
Standing among the ruins of the base Kerrigan turned to Jim staring back at her a distance away. Nova stood atop a building behind Raynor claws out and leaped at him.
"Duck!" shouted a marine pushing Raynor out of the way.
Novas claws grazed Raynor's helmet destroying his communications emitter, And after tumbling to the ground the marine fired at Nova. Hissing she jumped backwards landing beside Kerrigan.
"Jon!" Raynor said recognizing who just saved him.
"Get out of here sir I'll buy you time." Littlefield said taking defensive stance aiming at the two infested Terrans with the other marines.
But despite his pleas Raynor could only stare at the infested woman he had loved.
"Sarah... Nova! Is that really you?"
Nova shifted her stance to attack but Kerrigan reached out gripping her shoulder. Nova looked back at her with a expression of urgency but backed down.
"To an extent... Were far more than we once were Jim. You shouldn't have come here."
"But the dreams. I dreamed you were still alive... that somehow you were calling to me."
"I was. While I was in the chrysalis I Instinctively called out to those I was closest with. I suppose that would be you and Arcturus. Strange I would have thought he would have sent his dog General Duke to reclaim me?"
Raynor gave a short laugh. "Heh. A lots changed Sarah. Mengsk is Dead and Dukes been arrested for war crimes and..."
Upon hearing that, Kerrigans expression became lighter. "Mengsk's dead and Dukes in prison." Kerrigan laughed. "Now that's made my day!"
Seeing the smile on Kerrigans face gave Raynor a tiny glint of hope. "Sara would... could you just come back with me?" Raynor said almost pleading. "I'll do everything I can to change you and Nova back to normal."
Kerrigan closed her eyes shaking her head. Opening them she started daggers into Raynors eyes. "No Jim. I like what i've become. Nova and me both. Were Zerg now and we like what we've become. You can't imagine how this feels."
Nova stood passively giving a simple node in confirmation as to Kerrigans words.
Sergeant Littlefield and Raynor shared a glance. "So what? Are you going to kill us now, darlin?"
Kerrigan cocked her head to one side in thought. "That is certainly a option. But im feeling in a good mood after hearing that that bastard Mengsk got what was coming to him along with Duke. So i'll let you go this one time. Leave here now and never seek to oppose the Swarm again."
Raynor looked around at his devastated base and the bodies of his men littering the ground. "Doesn't look like I have much choice."
"Good."
Raynor, Sergeant Littlefield and what few other survivors of the landing forces were left marched away in to the wastes of Char.
After watching the pitiful surviving Terrans leave with their tails between their legs Kerrigan and Nova left the ruined base. After a few hours of acclimating to their new bodies both Kerrigan and Nova returned to the primary Hive cluster where the Overmind himselfs resides and the young Cerebrate accompanied them.
Nova layed on her back up against a Hive building while Kerrigan stood on a small raise (hill) surveying the landscape with a massive Zerg structure behind her with six claw like hornes curving up and inwards with a massive eye like sphere at the center of their base. The sphere was armored with its outer shell splitting into a cross shape that let a bright reddish orange glow radiate from within. Kerrigan thought it had to be the Overmind from the force of the psionic power it was giving off.
The young Cerebrate un-burrowed behind Kerrigan.
"Overmind commanded you to kill all the Terrans?" the young cerebrate stated in question.
Kerrigan looked up at the giant monster centipede of a Zerg.
"I'll do what I want so long as the Overmind sees no need in reprimanding me Cerebrate."
The nameless young cerebrate tilted its head in thought. Kerrigan, and Nova from her rest spot looked at the creature recognizing that it was the one who protected them while they were becoming being transformed into Zerg in their Chrysalis.
"What is your name?" asked Kerrigan.
"I have no name. I was only recently created by the Overmind to protect you and Nova while Abathur tended to your conversion into Zerg."
"Whos Abathur?" projected Nova.
"A Zerg evolution master."
"A Zerg geneticist!" said Kerrigan absorbing this information. She glanced back at the Cerebrate thinking on the fact that it lacked a name. She thought on what the Cerebrate had done for her and and Nova. "You need a name. We can't just keep calling you cerebrate."
"What about something related to defense or guardianship." Novas suggestion echoed in Kerrigan's mind.
"In that case, how about... Aegis." Kerrigan proclaimed.
"Aegis?" said the young cerebrate. "I like it."
"Good." said Kerrigan. "Aegis, you watched over us during our incubation, and were grateful to you. It is my wise that you continue your vigil so that we may strengthen our powers as we acclimate to our new bodies and aide the swarm. But as for myself I have been unable to access the totality of my psionic power, and as such I would like to infiltrate a Terran science facility called the Amerigo. It was in that place that I underwent what's called conditioning. The Confederacy used powerful form of hypnosis which restricts the use of a ghost's psionic abilities making them easier to control. In addition to the psychological blocks, it also involves powerful chemicals."
It was at that moment a certain Zerg individual barged into the conversation.
"Is true. During infestation found powerful mental restructuring in Kerrigan's nero synapses. Would like to join this mission."
Kerrigan sensing a somehow familiar presence whirled around to see a large Zerg with a vertically slit mouth that looking like it was what would happen if a slug and a spider had a unholy spawn. "You." Kerrigan said almost accusingly. "Your Abathur correct." Hostility in her voice.
Abathur only bowed in response. "Want to know how Terrans preform mental conditioning. Will undo."
Kerrigan thought it over. "You ARE the only Zerg capable of doing such I suppose."
"I'll go too." Nova said walking up to the raise stopping beside Abathur giving him a quick glance.
Zasz joined the conversation.
"Though you be the favored servant of the Overmind, you would do well to remember that you are still just a servant. You know of our grand mission, Kerrigan. Would you put your personal whims before the will of the Overmind?"
Kerrigan sneered at the voice." Do not cross me Zasz I... " Nova placed a hand on her shoulder. Kerrigan glanced back at Nova and they shared a wordless understanding. Kerrigan calmed down and gave a short chuckle. "I seem to remember you doing something similar Zasz. Didn't you and Daggoth help Aegis to invade a Terran world called Redstone 3 before. That seemed like a personal whim to me considering Aegis duty was only to protect Me and Nova as we became Zerg."
"Eh! that was to give the young... Aegis experience. You and Nova remained here on Char never placed in any real danger."
Kerrigan smirked. "Hmph. Sounds like a excuse to me Zasz. Come Nova, Aegis, Abathur. Were going."
Kerrigan the others boarded the nearest Behemoth and departed Char.
"She has you beat Zasz." The Overmind proclaimed. "The greatness of her spirit has been left to her that the swarm might benefit from her fierce example. Nova to has a cautious understanding nature that seeks to rain in the less than beneficiary elements of others. She and Kerrigan will be strong partners and with Aegis support. I have high expectations for them. Fear not her designs, for she is bound to me as intimately as any cerebrate. Truly no zerg can stray from my will for all Zerg lies wholly within me. Kerrigan and Nova are free to do as they desire."
"By your will over mind," Zasz conceded. "But one other thing has been distressing me for some time now."
"The powerful psionic Terran that your brood fought on the Terrans world of Mar Sara." said the Overmind.
"Yes. I have not encountered a more powerful being even among the Protoss. They merely played with my brood as if a game."
"That is exactly what it was to them." stated the Overmind. "This individual I have divined is a powerful being called a Valkyrur. Created by the same beings known to the Protoss as Xel'naga whom created both them and us Zerg. What their purpose is or objectives are are yet unclear. But they are still out there waiting to full fill their own planes. But I have my own contingency plans if the worst should occur. I and my Swarm will not be undone by anyone for we are the Zerg, the eternal swarm."
Hours later Kerrigan and the group exited warp space at the edge of the Tarsonis system. Kerrigan and Nova making use of their new Zerg biology used a pair of Scourges to fly to the inner star system and quickly hijack a two shuttles mid transit. Nova and Kerrigan learned all that they needed to know to operate the shuttles from the pilots before they were killed. Now with camouflage transport Zerg were moved into the transports from the Behemoth before they made their way to the Amerigo in orbit of another planet.
Kerrigan flying the first shuttle opened the comline. "This is Military transport CN-78 to the Amerigo. Here for a routine cargo drop."
Amerigo docking control. "This is Amerigo docking bay control. We don't have you on the daily manifest. What's your security codes?"
Kerrigan extended her reach to the Terran on the other end of the line reading his mind for the codes. "Codes are AGX-789-TYR-10100- GPOM."
The security personnel paused for a moment realizing it was the codes marking a transport holding a high ranking VIP that wants to stay incognito. Realizing his career could be on the line the security officer suddenly become more cordial.
"Yes ma'am. Docking bay 4 is free."
"Thank you." Kerrigan replied turning the radio off. "To easy." she mused.
The two shuttles slowly made their way to bay 4 landing without incident and came to a stop next to a raised second level. As docking railings extended to the shuttles docking bay personal went to work doing their job like normal checking the craft for any damage or malfunctions. As they did so a special security force of 4 marines in black armor waited by the shuttles opening. Kerrigan grinned at how easy this was going to be. She hit the control button to the shuttles main cargo bay opening the rear bay ramp door on the underside. The technicians waited for the ramp to open so they could off load cargo, while Zerg waited for the door to fully open.
While they waited for the VIP to depart the shuttle the four special security marines heard screaming and growling from the lower bay level. One looked over the railing shocked at the sight on the lower level. Techs were being massacred by Zerg as they attempted to flee but were pounced on by Zerglings or shot in the backs by Hydralisk.
"Zerg! We got Zerg alert the ..!"
The marines didn't get to finish his sentence as a hydralisk spine burrowed its way into his armor and skull. Seeing one of their own drop dead the other security marines rushed to his side. A moment later just when they had turned their backs Kerrigan opened the shuttle side door and crushed them in their armor with a crushing telekinetic grip. It was a little harder to do since their armor was reinforced a bit. Walking across the dock railing onto the upper level balcony Kerrigan looked left then right observing as Nova and Abathur exiting the second shuttle. Sensing eyes on her She looked up at a security camera and with a casual flick of her finger tore the surveillance device off the wall.
"Nova stay behind me and protect Abathur."
Kerrigan took the front position flanked by dozens of Zerglings and Hydralisk. They took the south gate out of the hanger bay making their way down a hallway.
"Zerg psionic presence detected. Activating automatic defenses." a computer voice announced.
Upon hearing the mechanical warning Kerrigan scattered her forces around the hallway. Four panels opened letting flame throwers poke their nozzles out of the wall. They only had a second to expel a puff of their flame before Kerrigan using her telekinesis plugged their nozzles and break the inner plugs creating a backup resulting in them exploding. Busts of flame escaped the walls as they cooked from the inside out. Moving on wards Kerrigan sensed a psionic presence waiting for her forces on the upper levels stare case ahead of them. Seeing no need to hold back she had two Hydralisk charge out from behind the corner followed by six Zerglings.
The second the Hydralisk turned the corner they took fire from above. One was injured while the second shot at the top of the stairs. The spines stopped mid air griped by telekinetic force before flying back twice as fast killing the second Hydralisk. At that moment the Zerglings reached the bottom of the stairs and exploded. Two Zerglings were killed by a mine planted at the bottom of the stairs. The ghost tuned their rifle on the remaining Zerglings killing them in four quick trigger pulls. The remaining wounded Hydralisk returned fire while the ghost was killing the Zerglings drawing blood but most if its spines were again stopped and shot back by the ghosts telekinesis killing the Hydralisk.
Annoyed at how quickly the ghost killed her Zerg Kerrigan was about to order a full charge when Nova reprimanded her. "Kerrigan stop being waste full. We have limited forces here. Let me kill this guy or do it yourself."
Grunted in annoyed tone Kerrigan walked towards the enemy. "Very well I'll do it."
Kerrigan using her psionic might ripped wall segments off overlapping them into a shield and like before when she attacked the Hyperion charged them with her power reinforcing them. She then walked out quickly taking fire from the ghost. The C-17 canister rounds exploded harmlessly on the psionically reinforced wall plates. Not wanting to waste time She simply launched the wall plates at the ghost smashing them into the railing and upper floor balcony. Leaping up to the second level Kerrigan grinned as she caught sight of the wounded ghost crawling away on the floor. They tried pulling out a knife throwing it at Kerrigan but their arm was stopped mid throw and arm broken by Kerrigans psionic grip. The ghost screamed in pain and breathing ragged as Kerrigan lifted her foot and dropped it smashing the ghosts face in.
Nova walked up behind Her looking at the crushed skull of the Ghost. Kerrigan lifted her bloody foot letting a Zergling lick the gore off and turned to Nova.
"What?"
Rolling her eyes Nova shrugged. "He was a Ghost like you. We could have captured him and had Abathur infest him like us adding more psionic Terrans to the Overminds Swarm."
Tilting her head to one side Kerrigan thought it through before shrugging herself. "Your right. But only if they are psi-7 or higher. Any weaker and they won't be worth the Overminds time. Or mine."
Nodding in agreement Nova glanced behind her where Abathur was waiting at the top of the stairs. Preparing to move onwards Nova keeped herself between Kerrigan and Abathur with the other zerg flanking them. Out stretching her arms Kerrigan put considerable force into her telekinesis. The bulkhead door started to grown until buckling here and there eventually getting ripped off its hinges and letting a small gap form between it and the surrounding walls, floor and ceiling. With a grunt Kerrigan launched it through the doorway. Several metallic clangs and impacts rang out as it smashed into several armored marines before.
Under Kerrigans control the Zerglings charged in while the Hydralisk quickly moved beside her. Two marines on both sides of the doorway fired at near point blank range killing two Zerglings before being mauled to death by the rest.
The group proceeded onwards into a room with a computer bank and large display screen. Kerrigan started working on the keyboard quickly bringing up a list of security feeds. Her eyes darted at speeds no human could follow as she searched the wall of a dozen camera feeds.
"There. That's the main date-base I'm looking for."
The display screen changed to the feed of a large room sized U shaped computer system along a wall guarded by a few marines. A second later the feed dropped and the screen went black.
"Hmph. Their security is slow and lax. They were not expecting anyone to invade this place." Kerrigan remarked with contempt in her voice.
Everyone moved onto the next room where a group of scientists were cowering. Evidently the marines in the previous room were their guards. The other Zerg ripped the screaming pleading Terrans apart while Kerrigan, Nova and Abathur moved on into the next hallway. The Zerglings quickly caught up with the Hydralisk and Hunter killers staying on the three higher ranking Zergs flanks. Kerrigan held her hand up in a Stop gesture, A hold over from her Ghost training. Still the group stopped sensing her intention.
"More ghost and marines up a head. Wait here."
Standing in a neutral stance Kerrigan focused searching out her abilities limits and abilities. Finding what she needed her body wavered until she disappeared completely. Now under cloak created by her evolved body and pionics Kerrigan moved onwards going down a short stairs and coming upon a Vulture. The pilot was wary and on guard. Too bad he doesn't have any advanced detection equipment. Hopping onto the back of the Vulture Kerrigan casually grabbed his head with both hands and broke his neck in one smooth motion. Crack! Sliding the corpse off Kerrigan reaved the vehicles engine making a grin. She wiped the craft around pointing it down the long wide hallway clearly meant for large vehicles to pass and Telekinetically tripped the switch to the large bulkhead door down the passageway. As the bulkhead door slowly slid down she gunned the throttle quickly reaching full speed. The door was only half way open when She used her powers to launched the Vulture into the air and over the door. Landing in a machinebay the seemingly driverless Vulture quickly drew the attention of the mechanics as it skidded to a hult before being launched sideways into a Goliath.
Terran mechanics dropped to the deck as the Goliath and Vulture exploded sending shrapnel flying every which way with some finding themselves imbedding themselves into the the white garbed Terran mechanics. Much screaming crying and panic echoed through the chamber as some people went to help the wounded while others hit the alarm. A klaxon blared with a constant whining. Kerrigan found a corner of the machine bay to hide in while a small detachment of marine guards and a pair of Ghosts charged in. The Terrans officers started talking to the Mechanics who started explaining what happened. Meanwhile Kerrigan focused on the two Ghosts. Neither of them were as strong as her or Nova but they were at least a psi-7. Considering their potential value to the swarm and her self Kerrigan decided to capture them.
Kerrigan stood up hopping atop the cargo create she was hiding behind and launched herself at the two Ghosts. One of them turned around sensing Kerrigans presence only to get a fist to the face. The impact broke the ghosts nose and knocked him out as his unconscious body went sprawling on the ground a few meters from where he was once standing. The other ghost wiped around weapon at the ready but was too late as Kerrigan gut punched her causing the woman to upchuck her last lunch into her environment suits helmet and she collapsed knees knocking together as she held her stomach. A quick karate chop knocked her out. All that happened in less than a few seconds and the marines were only now aiming their weapons at Kerrigan. But at that moment a hail of spines flew into the mechanics bay wounding or killing several marines. Some of the Marines turned to the new threat while the others fired on Kerrigan.
The infested Terran bent her body backwards holding herself up with her outstretched wings as hyper velocity rounds flew passed over her, some clipping her arms, legs and wings fracturing her armored exoskeleton. Kerrigan charged her claws with energy and with all her strength launched forwards propelling her self at the nearest target. The force was enough to knock the fully armored Marine off his feet and onto his back as infested claws buried themselves into his chest piercing through neosteel armor plates and into his rib cage. With a jerking motion the mans heart was ripped from his body making his limbs jerk one last time. Kerrigan looked at the next marine crushing the heart in a spray of blood.
The other two marines left handling Kerrigan both hesitated seeing this, fear entering their hearts. Exactly how Kerrigan had planned and wanted. In that moment of hesitation She reached out telekinetically pulling one marine to her and using him like a living shield. The other marines hesitated again and in that moment one of them was hit with telekinetic orb ripping half their armor to pieces leaving the exposed arms and legs twisted and broken. The last Marine looked at his now dead comrade again letting himself get distracted. Kerrigan pierced her psionically charged claws into the back of her Terran shield killing him before throwing him at the distracted marine. The two collided knocking the still living marine onto his back where Zerglings dogpilled him ripping through his armor and eating the warm flesh inside ro gain more biomass and boost their regeneration.
Nova walked up to Kerrigan who nodded in thanks to the aide from before. The wounded Zerg ate the Terran bodies (except for the two unconscious Ghosts) speeding up their regeneration. Kerrigan broke their arms and legs so they couldn't fight back when they woke back up and just left them there guarded by two Zerglings and Hydralisk. Abathur also stayed behind to begin infesting them, quickly wrapping both in chrysalis. Nova, Kerrigan and the rest of the Zerg continued on moving up the stairs and encountering another group of marines and scientist hiding behind a makeshift barricade.
"There infested kill all'em bugs!" one Terran yelled in a accent.
Annoyed at the derogatory comment and the hail of steel being shot at her Kerrigan erected a focused telekinetic barrier blocking all the incoming fire.
"I can't move while keeping this barrier up." Kerrigan stated, her arms outstretched. "Nova take them out."
Not needing to even respond Nova gathered her own energy and ran to the far edge of the barrier launching twin telekinetic blasts at the marines. Double explosions ripped through the marines barricades killing most of them and sent the twisted cargo crates flying smashing into the scientists creating bloody spatters along the walls. Blood and gore covered the floor while the few marines left started standing back up but were quickly assaulted by the Zerglings and Hydralisk and killed along with the surviving scientist. Unfortunately the room was a dead end so everyone had to turn around and double back. On the way Kerrigan decided to destroy the remaining Goliaths. They were a threat even without a pilot and it was best to deny the enemy any kind of resources.
In the Amergio's control room a very frustrated and terrified captain Sandler bit her nails.
"Ma'am they took the main mechanics bay and captured our last ghosts." reported a security officer.
"I know dament. I can see that for myself."
Sandler had already called for help but at the rate the zerg were tearing through her security forces they wouldn't arrive in time. She then remembered that a old stock pile of automated gun and missile turrets were left in the main armory close by.
"You three." Sandler said pointing to the three armored marines waiting by the door. "Go to the armory and get some of the automated turrets and place them into the vents slots in hallway EN-52. Now!"
"Yes ma'am." one marine yelped as if wiped.
Sandler and her security staff watched on the monitor feed as the marines got the auto turrets and quickly marched with them under their arms while the Zerg massacred another group of scientists and marines hiding in a sub room north of the mechanics bay. Just as the last auto turret was in place Sandler watched as the infested humanoid zerg destroyed the Goliaths before she and the rest for her forces moved south to hallway EN-52.
Kerrigan and her forces moved up a flight of stairs to a balcony overlooking the machine bay finding their way to a passage leading further into the facility. Rounding a corner Kerrigan caught a glimp's of a marine going around the corner at the end of a long hallway. Feeling weary that they didn't stay to fight or even try to hold them off Kerrigan thought on why. They could have bought time by standing and fighting or maybe their commanding officer had them pull back to conserve her forces, or maybe they didn't need to stay. Kerrigan smelled a trap and keep her forces back while she moved down the hall a ways.
Using her Powers Kerrigan scanned the hallway quickly finding the auto turrets.
"Hmp. Antiques."
Kerrigan reached out tearing the floor and walls apart along with the boobytraps. Several explosions reverberated as the auto turrets exploded giving Kerrigan a grin of satisfaction. Whoever was incharge of this facility was not half bad and if they were up against anyone else they may have had a chance. Continuing on Kerrigan and her forces entered a chamber with lower pits set 5 meters lower than the upper level with a transparent cover capping the top. Below there were several kinds of beasts Kerrigan recognised. Large cat like Bengalaas that resembling a Earth Panther. A odd looking Ragnasaur with its bulbs body and oversized arms. And the Rhino like Rhynadon covered in thick leathery plates. All interesting but what had Kerrigans attention were the Zerglings trapped in the second pit area. But just as she reached the edge of the Zerglings pit a group of marines appeared around the corner a distance away opening fire on both Kerrigan and the trapped Zerglings.
Several shots landed dead center on Kerrigans body but her new armor and her evolved biology kept her from being killed instantly. Just as quickly the Hunter killers rushed to her aide slithering in front of her taking the hits and returning fire. Dozens of impacts cracked the Hunter killers red armor but they only hissed returning fire. Seconds later two marines were down by the time the Hydralisk joined in and Zerglings charged. The Terrans would die but would take a few Zerg with them. Kerrigan glanced back at the Zerglings trapped in the lower pit and grinned. Reaching out her hand the transparent covering shattered. The Zerglings inside levited a moment before launching at the marines. At that moment the other group of Zerglings reached them and both groups dog piled onto the Terran marines ripping them to pieces.
Nova smiled at the ten extra Zerglings that had now joined their forces ranks but Kerrigan didn't bat an eye simply as her forces swelled in numbers a little. The zerg forces moved onwards into the facility. Sensing danger ahead and the minds of a dozen Terran marines Kerrigan stopped everyone while she herself peeked around the corner catching the sight of twelve marines standing in two rows weapons aimed in her direction. Gunfire perforated the wall as Kerrigan jumped back as a large chunk of the corner was ripped off by the concentrated fire.
With a grunt of confidence Kerrigan telekinetically ripped the metal pieces off the surrounding floor, walls and ceiling forming a multilayered shield that was ten feet wide and six feet thick. Calling the Zerglings to her flanks and the Hunter killers and Hydralisk to her rear Kerrigan used the floating mass of metal as a makeshift shield for them all. Nova stood back watching the scene play out. Kerrigan and the other zerg rushed out around the corner quickly taking withering gunfire of rapid fire rifle fire along with the concussive bangs of shot gun fire. Many rounds slammed into the metal plate before Kerrigan launched it forwards. Most of the Marines had known about this tactic from the security cameras so once they saw it they rushed to the edges of the hallway while firing back it hoping that some rounds would get through and kill some zerg.
The cluster of metal plate's flew down the hall clipping one marine and making full contact with one other unfortunate who was sent flying ten feet down the hall with the junk pile. But it had worked and the zerg were right on top of the Terrans. Zerglings pounced ripping gleefully into armor as Hydralisk and Hunter killers peppered the Terrans at near point blank range in spines or sliced into them with their single heavy blades at the tip of their arms.
Nova peeked around the corner to the sight of another Terran slaughter but that was when the shit hit the fan as parts of the ceiling and walls farther back from where the Marines were guarding flipped around revealing small missile turrets.
"Shit!" Nova projected along with the intention to Kerrigan.
Kerrigan was Looking planted a psi-charged claw into a marines face plate when she looked up staring down a missile turret. A instant later four missiles launched blasting bothe the Marines and Zerg to bits. A concussive shockwave rushed through the hallway forcing Nova to put her arms up in a guard position. When she opened her eyes the sight of broken marine armor and shattered Zerg bodies covered the hallway. Most of the marines were dead along with many zerg but a lone figure raised up from the scene of carnage her armor cracked and broken in many places and blood leaking here and there. Her eyes were glowing bright orange. Kerrigan raised both clawed hands at the missile turrets as they launching a second barrage but immediately the missiles stopped midair. With a smirk Kerrigan twirled her hands around and the missiles mimicked the motion now aiming back at their launchers. With a exhale Kerrigan let her hands fall and the missiles flew into the launcher creating a considerable explosion. Fire and shrapnel flew everywhere but just bounced off Kerrigans carapace which was already healing.
Looking around She saw that half her forces had been killed by that blast and the ones that remained were slowly healing. But knowing that time was short she decided to move on alone for now.
"I'm going onwards for now. Nova take the surviving Zerg and return to Abathur and guard him."
Nodding at the command Nova complied. Kerrigan moved faster on her own and by the time she encounter more enemies she was fully healed. Entering a room further in from the hallway ambush Kerrigan stood before six Firebats. They all saw her and she saw them.
"Fry her!" the lead firebat shouted as he charged with his flamers igniting.
Keeping a calm face Kerrigan leaped sideways as a stream of liquid fire reached out to engulf her. Landing she fired a telekinetic force orb at the furthest Firebat blasting him off his feet and cracking his armor. Three other firebats lined up shooting streams of fire at Kerrigan but she just jumped back again clearing twenty feet and landing next to the wall. She broke into a full sprint racing across the large chamber making for the exit on the other side the Firebats had left unguarded.
Realizing their mistake as Kerrigan thought all the firebats rushed to the exit to cut Kerrigan off but were too slow. But just as She reached the exit to the next chamber the door slammed shut.
In the main security room captain Sandler's hand lay a top a door control button. "Got you now bitch."
Turning back to the Firebats charging her Kerrigan looked concerned at first then her mouth broke into a shit eating grin as she reached out to the Firebat she had hit before and using a fin tuned control of her powers bent the nozzles flame igniters back into the flamethrowers and pinched the openings shut and broke the safety backflow valves that kept the fuel from flowing back into the tanks. Kerrigan then just charged her whole body in psionic energy and wrapped her arms around herself in a defensive stance as the Firebats stopped spewing their burning liquid on her. In the next instant one of the Firebats exploded as the ignited flame fuel tanks on his back detonated killing him and creating a chain reaction that caused the whole group of Firebats to explode.
Her body burning slightly on a few places Kerrigan opened her arms to the sight of Terrans burning in their charred armor. The smell of burning Terran flesh seemed oddly hunger inducing. Odd because Kerrigan shouldn't have the same sense of hunger that she had before and that she even after becoming a Zerg still felt that devouring Terrans was still distasteful somewhat. Still Kerrigan was running low on biomass to heal her wounds and also needed to kick start her stamina. So she acquiesced to her hunger and proceeded to tear off the still burning armor of the Firebats and ate the bodies, managing to down a full two half burnt Terran corpses before feeling full. The taste was like burnt coal ash slathered on charred meat but it did the trick as she now felt 100% again.
Kerrigan moved on clearing several more rooms before walking into a chamber with four ways into it. Three doorways and a stairwell to a upper level. What proceeded was another ambush this time with three marines charging into the room from the other door ways rifles aimed at Kerrigan while another two stayed on the upper level with more missile turrets popping down from the ceiling behind them.
"You'll never leave here alive bitch!"
The three other doorways closed off and the Marines opened fire soon after joined by the missile turrets.
Kerrigan dodged and weaved around the room as rifle fire barely missed her and explosions went off all around her keeping her on the move leaping from wall to wall and floor to ceiling her speed and reflexes boosted by her psionic's all the while launching counter attacking with blasts of telekinetic force. She focused on the three marines on the lower level with her and once two of them were downed Kerrigan pulled their bodies towards her and launched them like projectiles at the missiles turrets. The turrets exploded killing the two other marines standing beside them. Looking back at the fireball on the upper landing the lone remaining marine turned back to Kerrigan.
"Shit!"
Kerrigan stretched out her bladed wings burying them into the marines spine ripping him and his armor apart. Seeing as the doors were all sealed shut Kerrigan opted to search the upper level. There she found more computer terminals. Kerrigan played with the controls for minutes before finding a access path to the security system allowing her to at least open the doors on the lower level along with the security cameras in another room close by.
Advisor. "Security cameras activated."
Kerrigan saw a teleporter in sector-5 which was close by.
"Alright." she exclaimed happy her target was in arms reach.
Kerrigan quickly ran back to the stairs leaping over the railing and landing in a sprint. Running at full speed she reached another set of stairs to a upper level where more marines and missile turrets were waiting. They opened fire while Kerrigan acted quickly charging her whole body with psionic energy. Two missiles and dozens of mach speed slugs impacted her body but being infused with psionic power made it far more resilient than it normally would have been even with the Zerg enhancements. The attacks washed over Kerrigans body but the inertia and kinetic force still slowed her down. But only for a moment. Once in range Kerrigan leaped up to the upper level and was a whirlwind of claws and death as she carved a bloody path through the defenders. It was quiet after just a minute of fighting and Kerrigan was alone to step onto the teleporter pad.
Advisor. "Teleportation field activated."
In a flash Kerrigan was transported to sector 6. She continued as normal slaughtering her way through the facility until coming upon a side hallway. Feeling a tinge of annoyance at the back of her mind and a gut feeling Kerrigan took a short detour finding a dead end with one heavily armored door. She blasted the door off its hinges with multiple psionic attacks and without warning shot several more inside. Taking a few steps inside she saw the shattered remains of several marines and a female officer with the rank insignia of a captain laying there with her head blown away along with half her torso. Kerrigan looked around finding a undamaged laptop computer and a few data storage chips. Knowing that she'll need a storage device to hold the files Kerrigan picked the laptop up with the date chips making sure they were working properly before moving on to the main computer core. But once she arrived there it looked like it was guarded more heavily than anywhere else on the station.
Ten marines and six more Firebates and three missile turrets guarded the entrance. Growling at her situation Kerrigan thought on how she would get through the defenses with risking damage to her storage device. She could cloak but something told her those missile turrets had detection. She could cheese them by staying at range at the end of a hall and hit them from long range. But the missiles may have autoguiding that would track her at that distance and maneuver around corners and chase her down. She could stop a few missiles but not a rapid volley. Kerrigan was running out of options when Nova and the rest of their forces arrived.
"I thought I told you to stay back and protect Abathur." Stated Kerrigan slightly annoyed.
"Everyone else on this station is dead. Plus Abathur's back on the shuttles with those two ghosts. I've called Aegis to bring in the Behemoth to pick us up too. Terran ships are closing in as well. Lets just blitz our way in the rest of the way."
Kerrigan re-guarded the surviving forces she had left. "Very well."
Kerrigan stood out from the corner aiming one of her hands at the marines at the base of the stairs firing a telekinetic blast ripping him in half. Simultaneously the Zerglings charged followed buy the Hydralisk and Hunter killers. Nova was the last to charge into the battle as gunfire and explosions rocked the chamber. Kerrigan stayed back as the battle ran its course not wanting to have her storage devices damaged.
In the midst of the battle Nova leaped over a Hydralisk as it was blasted by a marine with a shotgun verent of the c-14 gauss rifle. She landed on the upper level and was fired upon. Clips of ammo bounced off her body as it glowed with soft light from being reinforced with her own powers. She had been watching Kerrigan through the hive mind so she figured the trick out and was now tanking shots that would have normally ripped right through her. Her killer instincts flared when one marine started freaking out that they weren't damaging her. In an instant she was on him tearing out his liver through his armor. Jumping away she landed on the floor on all fours quickly leaping again to avoid a swiping burst of fire and landed right behind a second marine. In a flurry of winged blades and claws she ripped four marines apart in less than ten seconds. Once they were dead she blasted the missile turrets changing the course of the battle in the zergs favor. The fighting lasted for just another minute before the last Terran was dead.
Once all was quiet Kerrigan walked up the stairs to the computer core connecting her laptop and started downloading the files she needed.
Accessing network...
Downloading files...
...
...
...
Statistic date on Terran biology and Ghost psionic abilities and files on hundreds of ghosts that have come and gone flew across the laptops screen. Kerrigan knew her own files were in there and made sure of that before stopping but perhaps the other files may prove useful someday, you never knew, so she downloaded as much as she could.
File Transfer complete...
"Aegis i've collected the records I needed. We have everything we need here. Warp in next to the station and protect our stuttle until we're on the Behemoth."
Chapter end.