Chapter 5 - Interrogation of Self
'...you want to talk about your purpose with me?' Jim thought trying not to show how uncomfortable he was. 'Why not find a career counselor if your current gig of killing ain't your thing anymore?'
"...urrrkkk...ah ah aaaaahhhhhh..." the creature said in broken amused noises. "...yyyoouuuu...Raynor...aaarrreee...enter-tain #%$# iiinnnngggg."
Feeling the platform stop its descent, the monster moved the Commander's face away. The hands that were holding onto its arm passed through the semi-forearm as if there was no physical contact. Thinking he'd be choked, he didn't feel the strain in his neck of getting his head pulled off. Back to facing forward to see in front of him, it levitated forward again. Both went down another large hallway that was empty and well lit.
Other than looking clean and no debris, it reminded the raider leader of science departments or hospitals given the colors. After a short distance, there was a heavy metal door to their right. Approaching it, the monster reached the controls with its free hand. Pressing a couple of buttons, it opened up vertically. Once the door stopped, both entered to see that it was an empty room.
Looking around to where he could see, Raynor saw that it seemed like either a prison cell or an interrogation chamber. Hearing the hatch close behind them, it moved to the center of the chamber. Placing the rebel leader on the ground calmly and not hard, the thing finally let go of his face. Feeling the eerie hold on his skin slowly go away, the goosebumps that covered his neck began to subside. An awkward pause passed before Jim finally turned around to face the morbid organism.
Seeing that it was outside of his personal space, it was not far away either. Seeing its hand glitch and appear back at its side, Raynor put his arms down. Feeling his revolver on his right hip, it made him pause. Only thinking about it for a moment or two and what he could do, a quick counter thought came. Deciding to not shoot first, he shifted his arms to cross over his chest.
"..." the Commander began to open his mouth. Stopping, the shapeshifter began to change into a different form. In the matter of a couple of seconds, the thing started to look more human. When the transformation finished, it appeared as a male of his height and build. Surprisingly, the clothes it decided to have on was a military uniform from the Terran Confederacy.
"..." Raynor reacted with staring at the individual. He almost could mistake him for a regular Dominion grunt if it weren't for the demon looking yellow eyes.
"Well now...I believe this form should serve our discussion...more favorably. Yes?" it asked sounding less chaotic and with more than one voice at the same time. Despite the airy and buggy overtones, its voice sounded more of a Terran than some fusion of aliens and human.
"Who are you and what do you want?" he asked in a neutral tone and expression.
"Straight to business I see," the individual responded with a mocking smirk. "Other than being a monstrosity as you witnessed...I was once a part of a Marine infantry unit prior to the Brood War."
"...!?" the Commander reacted with recoiling a little. "That was under a decade ago."
"...yyyyyeeeeesssss..." the ex-soldier began when his mouth appeared to get stuck for a second. "I can...tell."
"What happened to get you sent to Tyrador 3?" Jim asked curious. "If you were transferred to the war and/or frontlines, most...boys don't get sent to a remote research site."
"If my memory is still...stable...I was stationed on what would be a battle planet and on the frontline during the war...#$%#$...weeks of struggle against Zerg...Protoss...did not want to b-b-b-b-b-be on the frontline at some point..." the thing began to explain looking contemplative and unsure at the same time. "A special protection assignment on a non-war planet came...toooooook...iiiiitt."
"...hmm...there were those options for soldiers as a way to cycle the troops in and out," Jim commented thinking about it. "You come here by yourself or with other marines?"
"...there were...a dozen of us that...took assignment," the shapeshifter began and started pacing in the room. Despite not feeling any sense of it being threatening, Raynor kept his guard up and watched it. He repeated the mental visual of quick drawing and shooting the thing if it decided to kill him. Blinking, he froze stiff seeing the former Confederate grunt in front of his face with a wicked grin.
"...dO rEmEmBeR...Jiiiimmmmm...uuurrrkkkkk...oR...I wIlL gEt...I#m#$P$a#T#i(E$n&T..." the being spoke gravely with icy glowing eyes.
"..." the Commander responded with giving a neutral stare back. Using willpower to not move or react in wanting to quick draw his weapon, he blinked then gave a small frown.
"Can't blame me for trying to survive."
"...yeesssss...that is#$%#*trrruuuuueeee...but...d...o...y...o...u...u...n...d...e...r...s...t...a...n...d...?"
"Yeah yeah," he answered then blinked again. Feeling startled, the monster was back at its previous location and continued pacing.
"...upon landing...assignment and task...were normal..." the organism mentioned. Stopping and facing the other way, its head turned 180 degrees without any bone cracking or snapping. Biting the inside of his lip, Jim kept still from the creepy act along with it smiling cruelly at him.
"Thhhheeeennnnn...found sssssecret..." it continued followed by the rest of its body turning 180 degrees. "...became...hazard."
"What kind of secret? Weapons lab?" Raynor asked trying to keep his mind clear and push down the apprehension that built up. Watching the individual glitch again, it had moved to the right and was a little closer to him.
"...atrocities...experiments...forced evolution...efforts to manufacture a new species...living weapons," it informed with hand motions. The action seemed to simulate that there were many things it had found and seen.
"You mean...the things that were on the 2nd floor?" he asked to understand. "Was that what was done to make hybrids?"
"...heh heeeeeeeee..." the being answered with a short giggle and smiled. "Hybrids...possibility...but that was not...what the mission goal was."
"Hybrids were foreran by Dr...Naurd...the $%#creator #$% of a bio-weapon. He did not...set foot on this planet...or facility."
"So you had mad scientists then from the Confederacy," Jim stated neutrally. Seeing the monster hover off the ground, it moved closer to him.
"Mad...scientists you say...why no...mmmaaarssshhhaaalll..." the shapeshifter stated stopping to be in front of him again. Placing its feet on the ground, its grin radiated a sense of irony.
"This was just...a processing facility...all scientists here...were quite sssaaannnneee."
"..." the Commander reacted with a half frown and continuing to cross his arms over his chest. "You don't expect me to believe that. Do you?"
"I can...ssshhhooowww yyyooouuuu," the person countered not changing its expression or tone.
"..." the raider leader responded with keeping his stare back at the creature. After some moments of tense silence passed, he sighed through his nose.
"Let's say I believe you for the moment. What happened after finding out what was going on here?"
"...those on assignment...were subjected to tests...then became test subjects...all bio-experiments using various DNA of aliens and...machines," the thing explained while spreading out its arms to emphasize.
"Machines?" Jim repeated with mild surprise. "So cyborgs?"
"...not exactly correct...but not wrong either..." it answered bringing its arms back to its sides.
Bringing a hand up and looking down at it, Raynor looked at it. Slowly, little strains started leaving it and hollow out the body part. The ex-Dominion officer took a few steps back seeing that a small black cloud started forming around the individual. Observing him, the expression of a cruel grin was still there along with it showing human teeth. When the flesh of the hand was gone, all that remained were a fusion of Terran, Zerg, and Protoss bones and small moving speckles of something.
'...an entire fusion of human, Zerg, and Protoss with the constant changing by nanotechnology...shit...' Jim thought to himself clenching his teeth together. As quickly as the hand's flesh went away, it came back to fill it out. Once completed, the creature lowered its hand to its side.
"For when the first outbreak of the micro...machinesss occurred...only the test subjectsss...sur-vived," the creature informed dropping the creepy face it had. "In the beginning...bodies were still adjusting from #$ combination of species...slowly though, we evolved...nanos sped it up and...forced several evolutions within time stuck here."
"...?" Jim commented feeling a little confused. "What do you mean stuck here? Couldn't you leave on any of the recon ships the Dominion sent here or any other alien ship?"
"Given my abilities...you are correct...however...am bound here due to nano swarm body," it stated sounding annoyed. Surprisingly, it gave an expression of what appeared to be bitterness.
"Have tried defecting them...reprogram them...force change upon them...no avail...their first digital commandment...remains supreme to them."
"Their...commandment?"
"Yesss...to protect the facility and...defend it," it replied.
"...guess that is one way to keep a secret from going into the wrong hands," Jim remarked which got a small nod from the other individual. "...then again...it never leaves."
"...indeeeed..." the monster agreed then went back to pacing. "Only the...#$%...the scientist who created them is capable of...altering their programming."
"And where is he or she currently?"
"She was...decomposed...when the outbreak occurred," the being answered. Stopping and turning to the raider leader, it gave him a frown.
'Figures,' the ex-marshal thought in his head. Seeing the being turn around to pace again, there was one thing that popped in his train of thought.
"Can I ask who initiated this secret weapons lab experimentation?"
"To whom proposed the idea...I do not know...though...uuurrrkkkk...the head of the Dominion known as Arcturus Mengsk...approved of the planning," it replied sounding less irritated.
'Now I am starting to wonder if all remote research facilities by the Dominion have secret labs.'
"But enough about...history...let us speak about...purpose," the thing mentioned with its tone and demeanor changed to be intrigued. "I am interested in finding out...what drives individuals to have...their own sense of purpose."
"...?" Jim reacted with crossing his arms over his chest again. "What exactly will that do for you?"
"...the knowledge would give me..." the shapeshifter began and walked back to be within the raider leader's personal space. "...how to discover my own...purpose."
"How come you didn't pick through the others' brains that came before me?"
"At the time Jim Ray-nor...I was in a lesser state of evolution," the being stated then began to morph. Slowly going back to the horrifying figure it was before, it grinned at the man.
"The concccept of questioning...ssself-identity...was not yet... #$%$...aaaccchhhiieevveeed."
"..." Jim reacted with standing his ground. Clenching his teeth together behind his closed mouth, he watched the enemy hover closer.
"After the noble sacrifices of those brave men...I finally came to realize what true potential I could wield," the mimic of the Dominion Emperor's voice came through. "The discovery of what my very being could do...it was like becoming a god...something that you could have never grasped...James...Raynor."
'As impressed as I am from it mimicking voices...it ticks me off at the same time despite it not being Mengsk,' Raynor thought feeling his face scowling a little.
"And that...hur-hur-huuuuurrrrrrrrr#$%" the figure commented back in its normal tone. "Is where you come in...marshal."
"...what do you want?"
"Instead of dissecting you and pulling your brain apart while you are awake...I will seek a purpose through you in a different...method," it explained. Slowly morphing itself into another form, the creature changed to be an exact double of Jim. Seeing that it caught the Commander's attention from seeing his expression change to surprised, it gave a mocking smirk then put its arms in front of itself.
"I will seek a meaning through your disturbances...a medium to evaluate and solve your troubles for you...old buddy," the doppelganger explained using the Commander's voice and tone.
"..." the man reacted with quick drawing the revolver. Pointing it at the forehead of the clone, he gave a grim expression.
"You stay out of my head...that clear?"
"...I knew you'd want to experiment...uuuurrrrkkk...#$%#$."
Without warning, the being slowly disintegrated into a dark hazy and gritty cloud. Becoming angry, Jim fired three shots into the floating mass. Despite the booming echo in the room, the bullets never exited out of the amorphous figure. Hearing it cackle at him with glitches, the hovering form disbursed and left the room quickly. Following it, the cloud seemed to escape from small openings and spaces in the chamber.
Seeing that he was alone in the closed of room, he pointed the gun at the floor. With the sound of the loudspeakers crackling on, there seemed to be a strange yet familiar tone coming from them. Listening carefully, it slowly got louder to the point of recognizing the theme music. Raynor cringed and put a hand to his face. As if responding to his expression, there was glitching giggle in the background of the PA system.
"Ah hell."
[Greetings one and all and welcome to the show!] an announcer stated cheerfully. Sounding like it came from the outdoor amusement parks, the overtones it produced gave way that it was not anyone of normal stature.
[Today we have a special guest...the rebel leader against the Dominion empire and the archenemy of its emperor...former member of the military marine team of the Sons of Korhal...I give you...James Eugene...RRRRaaaayyyynnnooorrr!]
"..." Jim reacted with narrowing his eyes. After the long drawl of his last name, there was a round of applause and whistles that came through the speakers. It felt out of place from giving him a sense this being inside of a madhouse. Lowering his palm from covering his face, he slowly scanned around annoyed.
[Today's theme is going into the psyche of a Terran...a human...a sentient being...and finding out what drives them? What makes them fulfill their purpose? Let alone, define what their purpose is?] the voice of a game show host continued and seemed to add the effect of the crowd's intrigued reaction. Only hearing what was audible despite knowing there was no one here made the Commander feel uneasy.
[Now to start this show, we need a pppaaarrrtttiiicciippaannnnttt] it stated the made sounds of movement.
"...!?" Raynor reacted startled.
Pivoting behind him and aiming his pistol, there was no one there. Panning his eyes left and right, the sounds of people making eager noises in their seats with small murmurs seemed to occur everywhere. Hearing someone walk quickly on carpeted flooring threw him off. It was as if the footsteps were nearby despite nobody in the room. Feeling his gut tense up quickly and seeing something in his right peripheral, the raider leader rolled hard to the left.
"..." he stated after recovering the landing. Kneeling and pointing the revolver to where he saw a glimpse of something, he blinked. Pressing his teeth together in agitation, there was nothing there.
[How about you sir? Introduce yourself and let's start off this event with your question!] the announcer asked enthusiastically. Hearing a short round of applause, someone cleared their throat.
[Yes...hi...my name is...Trace Raynor] an older man's voice began which became instantly recognizable.
"...?" Jim reacted with a shocked expression. Turning slowly to where the sound was being directed from, it was just a wall from the room he was in. Looking up to see a speaker, there was nothing there. Feeling flashbacks come at him hard, it made him tense up.
[Well I'll be ladies and gentlemen...we have a family member of our special guest right here in the audience! Give another round of applause folks for this special occasion] the host remarked with enthusiasm. Hearing the clapping in the background, the ex-marine lowered his head to hide his face a little. Staring hard at the ground, the sound of his old man was bitter-sweet.
[...long time no see son...]
"...am I supposed to play along?" Jim muttered quietly gripping his handgun harder. "And you kill me if I don't?"
"Y #o($U#m#U#s!T$b#$E^a%&M^&i^*N&(d*)R)&e(*a$d&$E&r," the monster whispered behind him. Its sadistic distorted tone made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. Frowning and clenching his teeth for a couple of moments, he stopped attempting to grind his molars.
"...hi pa..."
"MaKeIt#$%#a...c...o...n...v...e...r...s...a...t...i...o...n...ppplllleeeeaaasssseeeee."
"..." Raynor reacted with moving his free hand to his face. Rubbing his beard and mustache, he glared at the wall.
"...and that is what I think would be our best scenario in getting the Commander back and defeating the evolving bio-technology," Valerian concluded after explaining.
[How are we supposed to find such power as lightening?] Stukov asked in continuing the conversation. [Even with the combination of powers between myself and Kerrigan, it won't be enough to keep the machines at bay for long.]
[...] Sarah responded with looking down in thought. [...Horner...what is Tyrador 3's weather forecast?]
"Give me a minute," Matt answered. Using a monitor that was right of the one they were using for a video comms, he brought up the atmosphere scan of the planet below.
"Other than relatively mild weather, there is a high cold front that is coming down from the north."
[What activity is occurring in the south?]
"...not much..." the Captain mentioned looking at the graph again. Seemingly like something dawn on him, he looked back at her.
"You are thinking of creating a thunderstorm."
[Yes...but not ones that we normally see on Earth or other similar planets] she indicated and looked at both the high rank officer and Dominion prince with a stern look. [Something stronger that will devastate that landscape]
"I have read that the Dominion were trying to harness the power of lightening for future energy sources and develop weapons and defense mechanisms that would use the same power," the royal member informed with a small open palm gesture. "However...most research and development has been met with little success."
"There have been little known thunderstorms on Earth that were measured as above normal voltages...but the damage caused by those were not anywhere outside of what a normal one would do," Horner explained moving his hands behind him. "I have seen other planets that have a constant storm in their atmosphere...but those were gas giants."
[Terrestrial gamma flashes] the infested former UED admiral stated loud enough for everyone to hear. Looking at him, he seemed to be deep in thought.
[During the Brood War, the big brass at UED HQ were trying to find ways to dominate the Zerg and Protoss. They wanted total domination to be the superiors over any alien race and any Terran resistance groups...militia...organizations]
[One of the branches was interested in being able to manipulate the weather. They experimented with making atmosphere bombs to building weather machines. The test runs on remote planets were pitiful at best...however, one test was able to produce results]
"They were able to manufacture a thunderstorm in the air?" the young Mengsk asked sounding interested.
[Aye...they did] he said then remained quiet.
[Stukov...this building of suspense is not helping getting the situation solved with Jim] the Queen of Blades indicated in which she saw him stare at her blankly.
[Hmph. I'll tell you what results they got. They were able to generate Terrestrial gamma flashes which was a thunderstorm tenfold] he stated with what sounded like dark amusement. [All the researchers, the wildlife, and the plant life that were within the 5 mile radius of the storm...were electrocuted or burnt to ashes...it was if Hell opened its gates and washed over the land]
"...strange..." Valerian remarked looking a little down in thought. "Why was there no record made of this? With that type of power generated, it would have been picked up on any neighboring satellites or monitoring systems."
"It is more than likely that the UED used a jammer when they conducted that test," Horner suggested. "If that would be enough to disrupt the nanos down below admiral, how exactly do we generate something of that magnitude."
[There is no detail on how to achieve that power...however...setting off a highly explosive bomb in the atmosphere would increase the chances] he suggested.
"There isn't a warhead on the Hyperion that can ignite the sky like that," the Captain countered.
[A warhead? Ha ha ha] Stukov gave a short laugh then calmed down. [If you had a Tsar Bomba as a base nuclear warhead...then you might have better odds]
[Then we will make our own nuke then] Sarah interrupted sounding tense. It grabbed the men's attention in which the two Terran individuals were not in favor.
"That will take too long Kerrigan...we don't exactly have time to make one," Valerian commented.
[If me and Stukov borrow one of your warheads, we can fuse it with our powers. That should generate it to explode on a bigger scale] she countered.
"..." Matt replied with a grim face. "That is pretty risky Kerrigan...you'll be endangering not only your ship and crew, but the Hyperion and the crew here as well."
[I risked myself and the Leviathan to get Jim back...I am not going to just let him slip away again] she indicated looking stern. [I don't want to invade your ship and crew to take one away from your arsenal]
"..." he frowned a little while continuing to stare. Sighing softly to himself and pinching the bridge of his nose, he looked back at the monitor.
"...do you want a shuttle to deliver it?"
[If someone is willing to do that, then yes...thank you Horner] the Queen of Blades spoke then cut the comms link.
"Despite agreeing with her in the goal to overtake of my father and the saving of Commander Raynor a second time...is it really wise to entrust her with a bomb?" the prince asked turning toward the high rank officer.
"Wise...no...but at this point and given the situation with the Commander on the ground...we got to try something," he answered and went toward the intercom system. "I just hope that Jim isn't dead yet by the time we set off this...weather altering nuke."