Chapter 1 - Bitter Rescue
In the Dominion space territory, a small portion of the vacuumed environment began to shift a little. Coming out of a hyperjump, a prison spacecraft appeared. Going to one of the nearby planets to do an orbit or two, it slowly moved forward. From its precious location, it had only spent an hour or so there. Under the orders of the Dominion Emperor Arcturus Mengsk, the ship was required to jump to another location in Dominion territory space per set time limit.
Amongst the prisoners inside, there was one that had the highest wanted value amongst all the other Terrans onboard. The rebel leader against the Dominion of Man, Commander James Raynor, has been on the prison ship, the Moros, for a couple of weeks. Being captured by the female Ghost soldier Nova when helping Sarah Kerrigan escape, he tried to reason with her about what Mengsk's atrocities were. However, the Dominion assassin was not persuaded stating that she still pledged her allegiance to the Dominion government. She informed him that despite him killing a few of her soldiers, Nova didn't feel the need to persuade him lethally to surrender.
'...' Raynor thought negatively reminiscing about being caught. '...knowing her...she would have kicked my can in a face-off.'
Replaying the events after from being shackled and boarding ships, he eventually got transported to the Moros. His face became bitter and frowned remembering the holograph live message from Arcturus. Almost hearing his antagonizing voice telling him of being a failure made Jim's blood start to boil. Unable to use alcohol as a buffer and dulling tool, his mind was clear and open to what was spinning in his head. Standing up from his prison cell's bunk bed, he walked to the opposite wall.
'Raynor...you have failed to realize the pitifulness of your pursuit against me and the Dominion Empire,' Mengsk's voice echoed in his head. 'You've failed the Protoss...you failed in your coup of tyranny...and you failed to protect Sarah Kerrigan from becoming the Queen of Blades.'
"...!" the Commander reacted with frustration and anger.
Letting his emotions ride, he slugged the wall hard. Feeling the impact and pain in his hand, it began to numb his racing mind a little. The withdrawals from not drinking the heavy liquor hit hard after the first week. By the end of the second week, Jim felt he could contain himself from not going into small fits of blind anger and hatred. From not having anything other than water and mailable food, it was like being in a detox program that he really did not want to do.
"..." Raynor commented.
Retracting his fist from the wall, he brought it to him and opened his hand. Staring at his gloved palm, he let out a short sigh through his nose. Putting it to his side, he began to pace around his cell. Thinking about the prison spaceship he was in, he already knew about it and the reputation it had. Even when he was under Arcturus's command during the Brood Wars, getting sentenced to the Moros meant a dead end.
'Even if I was able to overtake the guards...I'd still be outmatch by manpower, guns, and the defenses inside the ship,' he contemplated completing a circle and continuing. 'Damnit...despite getting Sarah out...my luck ran out when Mengsk's forces were swarming all over us in that research lab facility.'
'I know that Matt will try to find where the ship keeps jumping to...' Raynor brooded sitting back down on the bunk. 'Though Valerian is wanting to overthrow his old timer off the throne...he can't be completely trusted despite the support he gave on Char.'
'And then there is Sarah,' Jim thought.
Thinking of her being back to almost completely human form made him feel better. Recalling how she was back to her old self, acting almost the same, and working together again put a smile on his face. The intimate act between them before escaping the research lab calmed him down more. Reaching into his inner vest coat pocket and getting out the small picture, it was the only one that Kerrigan allowed him to have of her. It showed her in her Ghost uniform and flashing a genuine smile at him. Seeing her hazel eyes, reddish hair, her lips, and her face prior to be infected by the zerg felt bitter sweet.
"...heh heh..." the Commander muttered to himself. "Hell...she'd rip the Dominion apart to find which stone they holed me under."
'Then again,' he thought feeling his smirk slowly go away. 'She is equally hell bent to kill Arcturus.'
'Knowing him,' the man continued then stood up to pace again. 'Capturing me was key...probably proclaimed that I was dead across all networks of the space territory to sway any rebel groups and factions.'
'If that was the case, then Sarah's act of revenge would be twofold or more,' he pondered and felt himself getting antsy again.
Feeling the urge to drink to combat the invading thoughts and emotions that were digging into his mind, the ex-marshal shook his head. Only working a little, he went back to the wall and began punching it. The pounding on his gloved fists lessened the impact of hurting his hands. It was better than when he was headbutting the wall to try and combat the withdrawals of not consuming his usual amount of alcohol. Though he did not want to admit it, being constraint from consuming the hard liquors and having to face his swarming thoughts and demons made him feel better at dealing with them.
"Hey," a Dominion guard shouted and pounded on the door. "Keep quiet in there."
"..." Jim reacted with amused snort. Turning around and going to the cell door, he went back to his punching. Getting the reaction that he wanted, the small sliding latch for seeing inside opened up. The prison patroller frowned while peering in.
"I said knock it off."
"Awe...I'm so sorry," Raynor apologized sarcastically with a smirk and continued boxing the hatch.
"If you don't stop traitor, I will personally put you down," the soldier threatened looking irritated.
"Ooo...sounds like fun kid. Might pass the time being locked in this slammer," the Commander remarked with a mocking tone. Seeing that it ticked off the guard enough, he was about to open the cell door. However, another Dominion personnel came by quickly.
"What the hell are you doing Private?" the person demanded in a stern voice. "There was no mention of releasing the prisoner at this time."
"He's causing a ruckus Corporal. I was going to discipline him if he couldn't be quiet in his cell."
"Do you even know who that man is son?" the higher-ranking soldier asked sounding not amused. Jim stopped punching the door and looked to see who the other individual was. It wasn't anyone he recognized, but saw that the man was a higher rank than the guard.
"A traitor and wanted criminal against the Dominion," the guard answered standing at attention.
"..." the other man responded with giving a sigh through his nose. "Anything else?"
"..." the younger person replied with looking in thought for a couple of seconds. "...no..."
"Damn rookies...read your history about individuals before you start picking fights with them. Especially that former soldier of the Sons of Korhal," the Dominion soldier stated annoyed and pointed to the chamber. "You don't give that man any chance of being out of that cell with only yourself. If you would have continued, you would have been taken out. You understand?"
"..." the other man reacted with a tense face, but stayed at attention. "...aye Corporal."
"Good. Continue your patrol."
"..." the First Class Private responded with a nod. Turning around, he continued his duty and walked away. Seeing the higher ranking soldier walk closer to the prison door, both stared at each other.
"Nice try Raynor," the Corporal stated with a small smirk.
"..." Jim reacted with a smirk and a small shrug of his shoulders. "Can't blame me for tryin'."
"No. I can't. Please do not antagonize my men."
"I can't really guarantee that."
"..." the soldier replied with a small snort then shut the viewing latch closed.
"..." the Commander reacted with losing his smirk and frowning a little bit.
Sighing out loud and walking back to his bunk, he sat back down and brooded more. Not having a sense of what time it was, he felt the space craft preparing for another hyperjump. Going to the head of the bed to which the frame was bolted into the ground, Raynor held onto it and waited. Feeling a sudden vibration followed by a brief outer body experience, the warp commenced. Lasting only a several seconds, he could hear the soft noise of the vessel powering down the warp drive.
'That is the 12th jump they have done,' Jim thought removing his hands from the frame and standing up. 'Which means this will be a supply run.'
Moving to the door, he listened to what was happening outside. Hearing the sounds of many marching boots and powered armor moving down the hallway, it signified that it was a refueling stop. Despite that knowledge, there was no opening for him to escape or try to find a way out. Despising the aspect of being a rat in a cage, he thought about who would have known about the Moros prison ship. Thinking back to the Brood Wars, there was one person that definitely did know about it; however, that man was elusive and tried to keep himself hidden from the Dominion, Rebel factions, and Protoss all together.
'...not like I can use that information to-!?' Raynor stated in his mind when environment rumbled hard. Crouching a little to stay standing, a loud and low impact boom sounded far up above. About to contemplate if that was from space junk, material, or something exploded, a haul breach alarm started sounding.
[Brave soldiers of the Dominion...this craft is under attack from the Queen of Blades...] the Emperor of the Dominion spoke on the PA system.
"Sarah," Jim spoke out loud feeling hope and relief come to him a little.
[You know what to do men] Mengsk stated on the loudspeakers before they went silent.
'How did she find me when...' the Commander began to think when there was another rumbling impact. It wasn't as powerful as the first one but it still was enough to cause a tremor through the environment.
"...?" Raynor reacted confused from feeling and hearing another boom. "...what kind of firepower did she bring?"
As time went on, there were more and more of the impacts and aftershocks from it. Going back to sitting on the bunk, he put his hands together and rested his forearms on his knees. When he counted the sixth ship-quake, he felt uneasy. Other than thinking that the entire personnel from the Hyperion was infiltrating the Moros, it didn't seem probable. A thought of Kerrigan's previous form of the Queen of Blades came into his mind's eye to which he shook his head.
'No...I got her to change back...she is back to almost normal,' the man assured himself. Recalling the baseless accusations that Mengsk stated to him about the former Ghost assassin, he smirked while staring at the ground.
'No way in hell would she go back...I have faith in her.'
[Attention all personnel. The Queen of Blades is trying to break into Maximum Security Sector. Stop her at all costs] the Captain of the prison ship ordered over the speaker system. A short time after that announcement to which maybe a couple minutes went by, the PA kicked on again.
[Shut off ventilation to all other decks...viral phages have been implanted and have contaminated the vents] the Moros leader stated in an agitated tone.
'...viral phages...?' Jim wondered in his mind becoming more antsy. 'How did the Zerg get on the ship?'
Another booming rumble movement was heard then felt; however, it seemed closer. Trying to contemplate what kind of army and firepower that Kerrigan had, he did not press too hard on it. Hearing lesser degree explosions, they seemed to be far away in comparison to where the others were coming from. Blinking from hearing the loudspeaker kick on, it was the emperor again.
[Kerrigan...I did not think you'd be so foolish to come here] the man stated with distain. [...and now, your actions will be the death of all these brave men...]
"You wouldn't dare Meng-!?" Raynor started to say before a louder explosion occurred. It was stronger than the first haul breach, but it rippled through the entire ship. Thinking of where the direction was, he swore out loud.
[...they are all heroes...willing to sacrifice their lives to end your miserable existence] Arcturus continued sounding smug. [...you and Jim Raynor can burn...together.]
"Mengsk! You son of a bitch!" the Commander shouted at the mounted speaker in the top corner of the room.
[Self-destruct sequence...activated. T-minus 5 minutes in counting] an AI computer voice announced afterwards.
'Knowing that bastard...he'll jettison this entire ship if he can't capture both of us,' Jim thought trying to find a way to get out of his cell.
Hearing frantic orders and running outside, he did not get up. Another boom of a dull explosion was heard in the background. Shouts of a haul breach followed by more panic occurred on the other side of the cell door. As if the whole ship had bombs planted everywhere, each rumble and shaking felt stronger. It was as if the source of it all was heading directly for him.
"..." Raynor reacted with tensing up and focusing on the ground.
Gunfighting followed by slaughter sounded far away; however, it slowly gravitated toward his location. The sounds of soldiers from the Dominion making death shouts, screams, and croaks started to get under the Commander's skin. The audible wall of warfare came right up to the other side of his prison chamber. Feeling three heavy impacts followed by the noise of large insects rummaging, a cold shiver went down his spine. Looking at the hatch, the outline of it started to change color.
As if a laser cuter was being used, a red line could be seen forming the shape of the hatch. Changing to a brighter hue, the heat from it was starting to reach to where Jin was on the bed. Not moving and watching cautiously, he began to lean back a little. The middle of the heavy door began to bulge out to the inside. Metal began to bend quickly as it sounded cringe worthy. As if not stopping, the entire fixture burst into the cell door as if C4 charges were detonated.
"...!?" the ex-Dominion officer reacted hitting the deck.
Hit by the shockwave of the explosion, his vision became blurry. The ringing in the ears pierced his mind as nothing else was registering. Adjusting to be on his right side on the floor, he coughed from the smoke and fumes. Shaking his head slowly, his ears slowly stopped having that TV test signal noise. Seeing a figure approach and pass the doorway, he looked up to see someone.
"..." Jim reacted with surprise. The blurriness started to go away to where he saw Sarah Kerrigan. In the same gray and silver jumpsuit she was in before he got captured, a layer of smoke was coming into the cell.
"...Sarah..." he stated as a small happy smile came onto his face.
Focusing on her and blinking, her image changed. Instead of looking human and normal, the woman instantly became the Queen of Blades. Instead of the vicious and ominous aura she had with possessed red eyes, her presence was overwhelmingly powerful and raw like the Zerg. Seeing Kerrigan lock eyes with him, her skeletal gargoyle wings came out. It was as if she was showing him her new form as they came fully out exceeding her height.
"...no..." Raynor spoke in a dismayed soft voice.
"..." Sarah remarked with an anxious face then looked at the ground. Pressing her lips together, she looked up to face his distraught expression.
"...I...had to get you out," she explained with her voice doubling with a Zerg overtone. Watching him slowly get up, his taken aback look slowly morphed to anger.
"What have you done?" Jim asked in an accusing tone.
"..." Kerrigan replied with taking a quick glance at the ground. Steeling herself, she looked up at him.
"...what I...had to..."
"..." he reacted with keeping his expression. As if he couldn't allow himself to understand her decisions, his eyes became icy.
"Tell that to Fenix," he stated in controlled displeasure. "Tell that to the billions you butchered."
"..." she responded with looking down at the floor again. Firming her grip over the firearm in her right hand, she approached him. Stopping outside of his personal space, she looked at his hands.
"You swore you'd kill the Queen of Blades," Sarah began. Moving her hands to his, she placed a Colt Single Action Army revolver into his right palm. Holding both of his with her right hand, she gripped the body of the gun.
"...you were the only one that believed in me..." she continued. Pulling slowly up, she brought the muzzle of the weapon to her forehead and made contact. Closing her eyes to prepare herself, she was not ready to see his face.
"..." Raynor reacted watching what she was doing. His mind seemed to draw a blank despite the emotions that were stirring up inside. Controlling his breathing, he stared at her facial movement and waited.
"...do you still..." Kerrigan spoke softly then opened her eyes. The once rich hazel color she had as a human and the crimson during the Brood Wars was replaced by a pale purple overtone. Despite the difference, her expression of how she looked at him did not change from what he remembered in the past.
"...believe in me?"
"..." the Commander reacted with boring back at her.
As if a timebomb in his mind went off, the memories of Sarah and the Queen of Blades attacked him. Closing his eyes, he tried to concentrate on getting his mind cleared. Unable to, the betrayal he felt from her turning back into the genocide Zerg monstrosity was stronger. Feeling his fingers grip the revolver, the forefinger began to pull on the trigger slightly. Forcing his mind to think of why he sacrificed so much to save her and the leading cause to start his rebel alliance against the Dominion, the will behind those causes didn't seem strong enough.
"..." Raynor responded with clenching his teeth together hard. Feeling his mind and emotions being pulled apart, the memories became a blur as they meshed incoherently together. Feeling stuck, a voice from the past ringed in his ears.
'...do what is right in your heart...'
"..." he spoke from hearing it in his head clearly. Wondering if that would give him clarity of what he needed to do, he opened his eyes. Staring back into Kerrigan's eyes, his heart gave him a small pull. Finding his choice of path, a large part of him became enraged. Starting to shake, he glared at her.
'GOD DAMNIT!' he shouted in his head and repetitively pulled the trigger.
Bullets fired loudly sounding like lite explosions in the prison cell. From all the shots, the wall behind the Queen of Blades was the only thing getting damaged. After all the projectiles were discharged from the weapon, Jim continued to pull the trigger. After a few empty fires, he stopped. Breathing heavily and staring down the impacted steel passed her, he was able to stop shaking and clenching his teeth.
"..." he said moving the gun away from her head. Bringing it down to his side, he looked at her. Seeing a small expression of her being happy, it pained him more than make him feel better. Not as infuriated as he was, he just looked at her with disappointment.
"...I love you Jim...never forget that..."
"..." the man responded from hearing her words. Wondering if that would have warmed his blood pumping organ, it didn't. The feeling of betrayal surrounded it and squeezed on it which triggered the awful memories of death and destruction. Blinking and tensing himself up, he focused as much as possible to say something straight.
"...thank you for rescuing me..." Jim stated evenly. "But we're done."
"..." Kerrigan spoke with just staring back at him.
"..." he reacted by turning to the hatch opening and walking away.
Not hearing her follow or call out to him seemed to make him irritated. Upon getting to the open deck, he saw how much of the Zerg army she brought onto the ship. Seeing them stare at him, they did not try to kill him despite hissing at him. Giving a disgusted look to them, he holstered his empty firearm. Seeing a portion of the ship space damaged from the self-destruction, there were large Zerg worms that wrapped heavily around the haul.
"I had my swarm detach this portion to evade the self-destruction of the entire ship," the Queen of Blades informed coming out of the cell.
"...crafty..." Jim replied continuing to stand in his spot. Looking around him, he was a sitting duck in a pool of the alien species. Wanting to take his mind off, he forced himself to continue the conversation.
"How did you find me?"
"Horner and Valerian found out where you were being held. They told me which ship you were holed up in...and I invited myself in."
"I can see the boys gave you a warm welcoming," he commented then headed toward a group of Dominion soldier corpses.
"..." Kerrigan responded watching him. Seeing him rummage through the dead, he got ammunition for the revolver. As he began to load the weapon, she felt she was being hailed. After a brief communication with the Hyperion using telepathy, she focused back at Raynor. He had finished scavenging and stood up. Seeing him holstering his weapon, she pushed aside the aching she was feeling.
"Jim...Matt is sending a transport shuttle to pick you," Sarah announced.
"..." the man replied with a small nod and keeping his disappointed face. Not turning to look at her, he began walking toward the other end of the corridor.