Chapter 4 - Fabrication of Being

"...!?" Jim reacted with staring in shock.

Standing a few yards away from where he was, there was someone standing behind him. Suited in a larger CMC-400 Powered Combat Armor due to the individual's tall and bulky stature, the characteristics of it were identifiable. Colored in electric blue, the logo of a posing woman was on the left shoulder and the same printed number on his right. Behind him, there was a C-14 Gauss rifle holstered. Looking up at the visor that was down, it was not damaged. The sound of its gears engaging were heard and the shield rolled up.

"...Jesus Christ..." Raynor whispered going wide eye and slowly standing up. Revealing the person's face, there was a large bullet hole in the other man's forehead. Watching the man take an inhale with the cigar in his mouth, smoke came out as the ex-marine exhaled.

"Little Jimmy Raynor...it has been a while old buddy."

"...Tychus...?" the Commander spoke still in disbelief. Not pointing his rifle down, his hands firmly held the weapon. His old drinking buddy had an off overtone in his voice which gave the impression of more than one person talking. It made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end from hearing it.

"In the flesh old partner," the large man answered giving a characteristic smirk. "What's wrong Jimmy? Seen a ghost or two wandering these parts?"

[...didn't you...kill him on Char?] Sarah whispered sounding very concerned.

"...I might have..." Jim responded loud enough for the other individual to hear him. Viewing him with caution, he gave a slight up movement with his chin.

"Who are you?"

"Aww...that hurts my feelings Jimmy...ya tellin' me you don't recognize me buddy?" Tychus asked moving his free hand. Grabbing the cigar from his mouth, he moved the lit end of the stick to his head. Pressing the end of it inside the gaping bullet hole in his forehead, small amounts of smoke came from it. The action gave goosebumps down Raynor's arms.

"Especially after makin' me more aero-dy-namic."

[...Jim...get out of there] Kerrigan pressed before the comm link got disrupted. It was like the transmission was slowly losing its signal till it dropped.

"I killed Tychus on Char after the battle with the Queen of Blades," the raider leader informed getting rigid. Training the sights on his gun at the other man's head, it seemed to make Findlay smirk more.

"Me and my boys buried him on Char...so who the hell are you?"

"Heh heh...you guys sure did...mighty appreciate the thoughtfulness," Tychus remarked with a small smile and steady gaze. "But do ya remember what I said back then...partner?"

"..." Jim answered by not moving and keeping his weapon trained on him. "You might have to remind me...you know...one too many from the canteen."

"..." the large ex-marine reacted with a confident grin. "I made a deal with the devil Jimmy."

"So what are you then Tychus?...a phantom?...a zombie?...or are you just another brainwashed experiment that Mengsk dug up?"

"Ha ha ha," the undead soldier laughed. Moving the blunt cigar back to his mouth, he took another puff from it.

"Neither wrong or right Jimmy," he began then reached behind him. Grabbing his C-14 rifle and bringing it to the front, he engaged the slide mechanism. Hearing the weapon being loaded, he got in the standby position. The Commander did not flinch from seeing that action; however, he did notice that attached to the bottom side of the barrel frame area was a grenade launcher. Focusing back at the person's face, he waited to see what action that the other deadman would take.

"But now...ain't the time for figuring things out," Findlay stated then pointed the gun upward.

"...?" Raynor reacted with a blink. Hearing distant shouts of Zerg, he turned around. Feeling his eyes widen a little, there seemed to be a small army descending from the sky. Various Multalisks and pods bearing more units were heading toward their position. Hearing the rapid shots from his left, the large man had his visor down and started shooting at them.

[Brings back old times...doesn't it?] the undead soldier commented through the comms.

"..." the ex-marshal reacted with putting his visor down.

[Hold on Tychus. Those are Sarah's reinforcements that she sent down] he explained. Despite informing him, the formerly deceased individual continued shooting at the flying Zerg.

[You still soft on her Jimmy?] Findlay asked doing a rapid three burst fire. One of the bullets hit a wing from one of the airborne bug units. Hearing it shriek, it suddenly took a nose dive to the ground.

[Hell man...she betrayed you to go back to that bug queen]

[...] the raider leader responded with silence. [...how did you know that? You were dead]

[Awe come on partner...don't take brain cells to figure she turn again] Tychus remarked.

Pumping the bottom grenade launcher attachment, he angled the front of the rifle up more. Both saw that the impact for the invading Zerg was within a couple of seconds. The Multalisks broke off formation and were dive bombing to their positions. Hearing the monstrosities roar at them was enough for Raynor to turn his sights to the nearest one that was baring its teeth at him. Firing precision shots, the flying creature's head blew off and dropped to the ground with a loud thud.

[It's about time ya started shootin'] the ex-marine commented then fired off the explosive projectile.

Hearing the airy shot, the frag launched upward and started arcing down. Given the distance of the invading attackers, they didn't have enough time to dodge. Hit one of the flying monster bugs in the torso, the grenade exploded. The blast was strong enough to take out three at once with blowing the limbs of two and butchering the one that took it head on.

[Now that is what I'm talkin' about] he stated sounding pleased. Switching back to the rifle, he began firing at the remaining Multalisks. The large pods hit the ground hard causing a ripple to go through the immediate surroundings. Feeling the earth underneath his feet rumble, Jim shot down another alien watching its chest get a hole blown through its chest.

'That sounds like the old Tychus,' he thought gauging where the massive organic capsules were. Seeing a mixture of roaches, zerglings, and drones pour out of them, there was a bit too many to feel comfortable.

[Looks like your girl brought you a party to the shooting gallery] Findlay mentioned from seeing a platoon of the monster bugs speeding towards them. [How thoughtful of her old buddy]

"..." the Commander responded with frowning a little.

Watching the incoming group, he waited to see their expressions from a distance. Wanting to believe in Kerrigan, he saw an equal amount rushing toward both of them. Feeling a sense of bloodlust from them, Jim clenched his teeth and glared. Reaching behind him and grabbing a passive stick frag, he brought it forward. Pressing the activation button and seeing it light green, he threw it hard at the creatures.

Seeing a couple of the zerglings quickly move around to avoid getting hit by it, the grenade detonated. More than half of the invading creatures blew up from being in close proximity to the explosion. Feeling the hot rush of air and earth come at him, Jim covered himself quickly. Hearing machine gun shots, he looked over at the person with the blue CMC-400. As if the violent burst from the small bomb along with the flying bug gore triggered something, Tychus was laughing hard while firing. Sounding like a madman, it was another characteristic that was known from the man he killed on Char.

[HA HA HA...die you sons of bitches!] Tychus stated what sounded like sadistic enjoyment.

"..." Raynor commented still frowning.

Raising his rifle, he shot at the remaining Zerg that was getting close to them. Once all of them had ceased moving, the small overgrown weed courtyard was splattered with green gore, body parts, and scorched earth. Seeing movement of something blue, he saw Findlay point his rifle down and opened up his visor. A smug expression came on his face as he exhaled smoke from his cigar. Watching him turn to him, the large bullet hole in his forehead still remained and did not bleed.

"Smokin' them bugs feels mighty refreshing. Don't you agree partner?"

[...yeah...] Jim agreed reluctantly.

Engaging the visor to open up, he turned his head to look at Tychus's direction. Watching the bottom lip of both protective shields lift up, he opened his mouth to speak. It was immediately covered by something that did not feel entirely like a human hand. Looking up at what was in front of him, his eyes widen seeing a deformed figure with yellow glowing irises at him. Its face looked nothing like his old war buddy, but more of a combination of Terran and other alien races.

"Weeellllll...uuurrrrrkkkk...yyouu have many...diisssturbanccces...mmarrrsshallll," the creature spoke cruelly. The voice was a blend of human, Protoss, Zerg, and something else all in one. It immediately made him think of the hybrids that Jim faced before. About to move the C-14 up to shoot the thing's arm off, its other hand swatted the weapon hard. Flying out of his armored suit's hands, it flew a couple yards away before hitting a bunch of weeds.

"Suurrrvvivvalll instinctssss...yyyeeesss? Good traits...#$%#$%...to have," the being commented while having static in its throat. Gripping the raider leader's face, he lifted him up.

"...!?" Raynor grunted from feeling his head getting pulled up.

Snatching at the thing's strongarm to not have his neck rip apart, he was slowly lifted off the ground. Seeing around himself, he glanced to where Findlay was last seen. Instead of the blue powered combat armor, there was the typical Dominion one colored in red; however, there were deep claw marks since on its torso. Looking closely at it, the lacerations appeared to be heavily stained with crimson. The visor was open and showed a human that had not fully decomposed yet. Looking like a zombie, stuff was growing on the skin's surface while bugs were eating or crawling in and out of its face.

"Your...ssssuiiitt...iszzz diff-er-ent...sturdier than the...o...t...h...e...r...s...yyyesss?"

"..." the ex-marshal stared back at the monster. Not able to move freely with its creepy hand on its face, Jim was able to force himself a nod.

"..." it spoke with verbal gargling noise. "MMMoore of you...above...Terraann...and Zeerrrggg...ressulllttsss...willl be...urrrkkkk...zzzzaaammmee."

'What the heck is this thing?' Raynor thought trying not to move too much and keep calm. '...why did it call me marshal?'

"JJaaammeess...Raaaynor...you have... #$%#$...thoughts...I can...reeaaadddd," the being spoke giving a disturbing grin at him.

'...well this is turning into a real shit can...'

"I...am...curiousss...I...won't...kill you...comme to...labbzzz."

"...!?" Jim reacted from seeing it glow a pale blue around itself.

Suddenly, he felt an outer body experience to where he was yanked away from his powered combat armor. Blinking a couple of times from feeling a breeze amongst the murkiness of the creature, he was outside of his defense suit. Feeling endangered, the creature still kept a grip over his lower half face. Without delay, the creature levitated above the ground a couple of inches and swiftly covered ground. In several seconds, they were at the front entrance of the research facility. Seeing the sliding glass doors open, both went in as the thing gave another static barfing of noise. It sounded anything but pleasant.

"Jim...Jim!" Sarah spoke trying to reestablish the telepathic connection. Feeling the strange presence produce a stronger signal, it was enough to sever any connection she was trying to do. At the same time, the connection that she had with the reinforcements she sent seemed to be getting thinner.

"My queen...there seems to be great psionic disturbances around the Terran facility," Izsha stated. "The Zerg you sent as reinforcements is losing connection with the swarm...they will likely attack the Terran Jim Raynor upon reaching the surface."

"I will call them back," Kerrigan responded and tried to telepathically reach the Multalisks and pods.

"I believe your chances are slim to reach them Kerrigan," Stukov commented looking at the planet below. "If there are psi-disrupters on the surface to protect the Dominion research facility, then reaching them with Zerg alone would be difficult."

"...I can't reach them..." the Queen of Blades said opening her eyes. "When they entered the atmosphere, it was as if their link was completely severed...Izsha, I want the coordinates of those psi-disrupters."

"Yes my queen," the central nerve alien humanoid stated with a small bow. "I am receiving a call from the Terran ship...one call Matt Horner is hailing us. Shall I accept?"

"Yes. Put him through," Sarah answered. The viewing window showing the planet below changed to show a screen of both the Captain and the Dominion prince on the screen.

[Kerrigan. Horner here. Did you lose contact with Jim?] the man asked sounding a little spooked.

"I did Horner. We think there are psi-disrupters down around the research lab. I cannot connect with the batch I sent to the surface."

[We lost radio contact with him after he was confronted by a...person]

"You mean Jim's war comrade?" she asked and saw both men nod.

[Commander Raynor...disposed of him when he brought you back from Char...however...he seems to be the walking dead] Valerian informed crossing his arms over his chest.

[Normal scans to get a reading on the surface got scrambled. We modified a little and were able to get a detailed view of Jim's position. I'll send you the video feed we were able to recover] Matt mentioned then hit a few buttons on his side. Seeing the screen split, the left showed the two men while the other showed a POV camera of Jim's helmet. From what they could see, it was an individual in a blue powered combat armor. When the visor for the individual came up, they saw the gapping hole in the man's head.

"..." both zerg infested Terrans spoke watching the footage. The part where the large individual singes the inside flesh wall of the bullet wound made both blink.

"That can't be a human anymore...more of the zombie...or a demon perhaps," Stukov commented.

[We tried doing all the scans that we could on the...resurrected convict] the Captain spoke drawing people's attention. [What came up was something greater than what the hybrids were]

"It is a fusion of the three races," Kerrigan stated focusing back on the image.

"Is this another work of Naurd prior to killing him?" the former UED admiral asked looking at the Queen of Blades.

"..." Sarah responded with narrowing her eyes. Watching the battle with the reinforcement Zerg that went astray from the swarm, she could feel that all of them were slowly going mad. The closer the Multalisks and small army in the pods got to the research facility, the further disconnected they became. Reverting back to being primal mentality, they started attacking the two men in powered combat armor.

"...no...I don't feel the characteristic of Naurd...this seems different..."

[The remaining characteristic discovered Kerrigan was nanotechnology] Valerian commented which drew back attention. [I know my father did have some interest in that technology, but made only a scarce amount of labs off-world from the Korhal system...if this was one of his secrets, I had no knowledge or seen even the paperwork to use such technology on Tyrador 3. All Dominion government documents for this planet was just results from material gathering and processing]

"My queen," Izsha called from the other side of the Leviathan bridge. Seeing the Queen of Blades and the former Terran officer turn to her, the two other humans on the monitor looked at her as well.

"I have conducted my scans of the area of the Terran facility for any psionic activity...there are radars that are active around the structure...however, the signature of them is not of psi-disruptors...it appears to be a cloud of non-organic matter covering the entire area."

"If the Dominion were harboring nanotechnology and a breach occurred," Kerrigan began then turned back to the Hyperion officers. Both of them were staring at something with tense faces. Turning her eyes toward the live feed, her eyes widen as well.

"God damn," Stukov remarked seeing the surface image. The use to be undead human meta-morph and exit out of the CMC suit he was in. Growing into some physical demented form and appearing in front of Jim dangerously quick, the predator look in its eyes gave some goosebumps. Before anyone could say anything, the creature let out a glitching and static hiss before the video got jammed.

"What happened to the feed Horner?" Sarah asked getting tensed up.

[...based on readings, there is much interference with the signal] Matt stated quickly looking at something to his left. [If the nanos were programmed to act as a jam coder...then we won't be able to get through]

"That is probably what happened to the ones you sent Kerrigan...they themselves got infected by this and were driven mad," Alexi remarked sounding both intrigued and cautious.

"Then I will go down there myself and get Jim out," the Queen of Blades stated. To her surprise, everyone around her looked at her with disagreement.

[With all due respect Kerrigan, if the surface is containment with them...you won't survive for very long once they start getting inside you] the Captain stated politely.

"Despite garnering even more power than your previous form as the Queen of Blades, you'll be powerless to stop all of them," the infested Admiral commented.

"..." Sarah responded with clenching her hands into fists. Getting frustrated, someone spoke on the other end of the call.

[...there might be a way to get passed them...] Valerian spoke. Feeling the hairs on his forearm stand on end, he looked up and saw the zerg queen boring at him.

"Speak Valerian."

[...alright...] the Dominion prince started then began to explain his thought process and his knowledge of some nanotechnology projects he has read over.

Upon entering the research facility, Raynor was still being held by the monster as it hovered slowly through corridors and open spaced areas. While feeling clammy and powerless, the inside environment was not what he expected. Instead of seeing death and decay, the rooms were relatively clean. Seeing a patch of dust here and there, it gave him the feeling that something kept up with housekeeping. Also, there were a lot of terminals that were still activated and conducting a program of some sorts.

"CCcuuurrriousssss...yoouuu are...that...urrrrkkk...izzz plleeeassinnggg...#%$#" the creature spoke sounding both haunting and amused. "Many who...come by...$d##$o##$n#$%#t...think that...wwwaaayyyy."

'I see the Dominion shot first then ask questions later...if they survived,' Jim thought cringing from how its skin felt on his face and hands. 'Based on what this thing can do...probably wiped out any Dominion recon team like shooting fish in a barrel.'

"HA#$AHA!" the creature boomed a cackle. Its voice echoed violently throughout the high ceiling chamber they entered. Feeling both of them stop in the middle, something activated behind them. Hearing the sound of gears moving, the platform they were on began to descend.

"...yyyoouuu Raaayyynnooorrr...aaarreee...sssmmmmarrrtttt...#$%#$"

'...' he thought giving a tense frown. 'I hate psionics.'

"...with...a passion...yyyyeessss?" it asked sounding amused.

'...can I have my face back and stand?'

"...hur-hur-hur..." the creature responded with a low decibel chuckle. Hearing it do a deep digital inhale, it spoke sounding higher in pitch.

"...you must take me for a fool Jim Raynor..."

'...!?' the Commander reacted with surprise. It was the exact voice of Arcturus, his annunciation, and speech pattern.

"You think I'd waste this golden opportunity to put you behind a cell and claim your death," the being informed. At the same time, the large platform stopped and caused a mild rumble. Seeing a corridor opening ahead of them, there was a massive hallway ahead. Going forward without a sound, the shapeshifter continued.

"The fabrication of ending your miserable existence will be the song of angels singing...millions amongst the Dominion will be deceived and know that I am their only savior...I will be their false god...their...foolish messiah."

'...' Raynor reacted with blinking a couple of times. Instead of viewing the series of rooms and lab equipment they were passing, he was lost in listening to what the thing was saying. Not only was he still floored on how almost identical the voice was, but the sound of mockery toward Mengsk. In some ways, it gave him the feeling that there was some sort of bad blood in the Frankenstein monster towards the emperor.

"... #$%#$...yyyyeeessss...the feelingssss are...mmmuutuuaaalll..."

'Then if that is the case...we can be allies,' Jim wondered. Finally taking notice of what was around him, he stiffened hard. Feeling his blood run cold a little, he felt the hair on the back of his neck stand on end.

"...towards...the...e...m...p...e...r...o...r...we agree...however...you...forget...you...are...prisoner...a...g...a...i...n.." the cocktail fiend informed then gave a sadistic giggle that glitched rapidly.

'...what...the hell...is all this?' he said in his mind with fear. All around them were dissected beings: Terran, Zerg, Protoss, wild game from the planet, and creatures that radiated some kind of dark energy. The amount of dismemberment and bloodshed covered almost all surfaces. But what really got to the raider leader was that they all looked freshly cut open and seemed to be still alive.

"I...do not...need more...biomass," it stated hovering passed the horror seen. Continuing down to another hallway, the gore rapidly reduced to being back toward the semi-pristine condition of cleanliness on the first level.

"I...do not...need more...neural implants."

"I...do not...uuuurrrkkk...need...more...primal essence...nor...ancestorial #$% reincarnation."

"I...seek...pppuuurrrpppooossseee."

'...purpose?...of what?' Raynor asked. Seeing them coming up to another platform, it appeared it would go down to a lower level. Once they hovered over it, the controls turned on and began its descent. Feeling himself turn around while the thing's hand did not move, the monster brought his face toward its. Getting a hard stare with a cruel smile at him, the glowing yellow eyes made him try to lean his head back a little.

"...#$%#$%...that...is...for...ussss...to...talk about...mmmarrrsshhhaallll..."