Disclaimers nonsense here, FF7 and such are Square/EA's, Starcraft and such are Blizzards....no platypi were harmed in the making of this fanfic.
Final Fantasy: Legends of the Zerg Invasion
By: Dark Templar Thrash
Chapter 7: Final Preparations
As the Highwind flew towards the massive craft headed towards Junon, final strategems were being plotted out. Well, sort of....
"I just wanted to say again, I DON'T like this one...."
"YES, Yuffie, we are well aware that you don't like this plan. Tough," Red XIII snapped vehemently. He was really beginning to tire of the young ninja's attitude.
"Would you go take a flea bath or something and calm down, Red? I'm just saying I didn't like this idea, that's all." a hurt Yuffie replied.
"Yeah, you've been saying that since we left a couple of hours ago. Doesn't change a thing." Cloud stated. "Anyway, to business. Any readings coming from that ship, Cid?"
"Well, like Reeve said, it's really high tech, much more so than anything Shinra's idiots could ever cook up. But, what I've seen, it seems to be stopping halfway between Fort Condor and Junon. Guess they're sending a search party to check out the surface," said Cid.
"What makes you say that, Cid? Can you really detect people from this distance coming down from the ship?" Tifa asked in wonderment. No wonder Cid was a highly regarded pilot if he could create a radar that powerful, she thought.
"No, but they have hailing frequencies open, and I was able to detect the frequency they were using. That, and we're about 1000 yards from them, so you can see the people that they're dropping off."
"Oh," Tifa said, thinking to herself that she just made herself look rather dumb.
"Hey, Cloud, you thinkin' what I'm thinkin'?" Barret said with a mischieveous grin.
"While we send Yuffie and Vincent to the ship to snoop around, we go to meet up with these characters on the ground?" Cloud finished Barret's thought.
"Hell yeah! Why not? I mean, we can take 'em all out, easy as cake."
"You know, it doesn't help to be overconfident," put in Vincent.
"Who's overconfident? I mean, we DID defeat Meteor, right?"
"Yes, true, but who knows where these people came from? Like Reeve and Cid said, that ship is quite high-tech...it is quite possible it's from the future."
"What?" Cloud shrieked astonished. "Are you serious?"
"Well, maybe not from the future," Red interrupted, "but from somewhere else."
"Somewhere else? Whatcha talking about, Red?" asked Barret, not entirely sure he wanted to know what the lion-like one was referring to.
"I've noticed an unusual...shimmer, to coin a phrase, in the stars around the Midgar area." began Red. "Almost as if there was a mirage there, in space. I wonder, what sort of damage did the collision of Meteor and Holy did to the fabric of spacetime?"
"Ok, NOW you've totally lost me," Cloud groaned.
"As well as everyone here," added Cait Sith. "What exactly are you talking about?"
"Well, basically, so as not to go into a lecture on it, I'll simply say that spacetime is the fabric of our universe. What I'm postulating is, Meteor and Holy had a tremendous amout of energy, not all of which is understood. When you add the Lifestream that came welling out of the Planet...well, it's very possible that all that energy was enough to tear the fabric of our spacetime."
"I sort of get it...but that still doesn't explain what that thing is and those guys are," Yuffie said.
"I think what Red's trying to say, those guys aren't from this universe, or something like that," Tifa stated.
"Well, thanks for stating the obvious," Yuffie sarcasmed.
"Hey, watch your tone, Yuffie...it's not like you knew what was going on till Red explained it," Cait Sith said, standing up for Tifa.
"ANYWAY, to get back to the plan," Cloud half-shouted, to get everyone's attention. "Now then, we'll fly the Highwind over the top of that thing and let Yuffie and Vincent drop onto the top of it...from there they're on their own. In the meantime, Red, you and Tifa come with me, let's go make a welcoming party for our 'friends' down there. Barret, you, Cid, and Cait Sith stay up here and monitor both situations. One of us is going to need help eventually."
"Gotcha," everyone chorused.
"Good...now everyone get into positions. Time to rumble..."
Chapter 8: Contact!
"You know, this is quite a breathtaking planet, save for that one ruined city," Zeratul mused. "This would make a good temporary home planet while we figure out what Kerrigan is up to."
Raynor looked over at Zeratul from his Vulture hoverbike. They were with a small scout force checking the Fort Condor area and its many forests, with a Marine, a Firebat, a Zealot, a Dragoon, Zeratul, and Raynor moving along at a crawl pace. They had to be careful of any attacks, as the terrain and area were unfamiliar. And here Zeratul was, admiring it all. He'd never understand Protoss..."Yeah, it's a nice place alright, if you like little squid-things attacking you," Raynor said calmly as he noticed a group of weird tentacled beasties over about 50 yards away. "Zeratul, how long is the range on that Dragoon?"
"He need only advance around 10 more yards to cover the distance with his phase disruptor. Should I tell him to do so?"
"Yes," Raynor decided quickly, "and send your Zealot on either flank. It's up to us to hit it front on. Now, if you'll excuse me...Private, Corporal, come with me," commanded Raynor.
Zeratul quickly followed suit with his brethren. "Dragoon Toridas, advance 10 yards and prepare to fire. Zealot Takruon, go to the left. I'll take the creatures to the right."
And on they went, carefully so as not to alert the things to their presence...when all of a sudden, making their presence a mystery didn't have much import anymore.
"Tifa, Red, take those Capparwires out hard and fast!" a loud and commanding voice shouted from the south. "I'll take them up the gut, you two go to either side!"
At this, Zeratul and Raynor froze and watched these natives fight in a fury. First, there was the unusual dog with the headdress. He was a fierce fighter, with a flame at the end of his tail. /Surely this creature is a noble warrior, the fire on his tail signifying his internal lust for battle/ mused Zeratul internally.
Raynor stared at the girl wearing the tight white t-shirt and black miniskirt. /Man, she sure can fight,/ Raynor thought. /Wonder where she picked up all those hand-to-hand techniques?/
They then caught site of the one in the middle. He was the (they assumed) leader of the group. He was fairly tall, with a HUGE sword that was as tall as he is (a good six feet) and he swung it like he meant it. He was making mincemeat out of those things, and before you knew it, all that was left was cooling bodies, and our heroes.
"So..." Cloud began, "where did you guys pop up from?" He wasn't exactly relaxed when he said this; he held his sword in it's usual ready position, flanked to either side by Tifa and Red, also in battle stances.
"Oh, just thought we'd stop by for a visit, you know, warn you guys of the very nasty swarm of monsters that are intent in taking over this planet and everyone on it," stated Raynor matter-of-factly. He figured he should get right to the point with these characters, as they seemed to be in a position to do something about said swarm.
"Right...a likely story," Tifa breathed through clenched teeth. "And I suppose you came from some weird dimension or something, and that huge ship is a spaceship of some sort?"
"That is accurate," Zeratul said in his most formal Protoss tone. "We have come from our home planets through what is known as a 'warp rift'. It is something that my species, the Protoss, creates to transport from place to place. However, this rift we traveled through to get to here is not of Protoss manufacture, indeed it does not even seem to originate from our 'dimension', as you put it."
"So, seems that I was right after all..." muttered Red. Louder, he said, "I am sure I speak for my friends here when I say that what you tell us needs to be explained further, with the rest of our group present. As for introductions...I am Nanaki, proud guardian of Cosmo Canyon, son of Seto and grandson of Bugenhagen."
"Hmmm...looks like we found someone almost as formal and longwinded as you, Zeratul," Raynor kidded the Protoss in a low voice.
"I'm Tifa, part of a resistance group called AVALANCHE," she said. "This is Cloud...I guess he's the closest thing to a leader that we have."
"Pleased to meet you folks. I'm Jimmy Raynor, Commander of....well, I guess Commander of my own forces. See, we had a bit of a scrape back home, and my men and I are all that's left pretty much of Terran existence in our sector. Same for Zeratul here and his Protoss."
"I am Zeratul, Praetor of the Dark Templar," he began dramatically. "We have much information to trade, much to discuss indeed. Might I suggest we do it in the comfort of Commander Raynor's Battlecruiser, the Hyperion?"
"Sure, sounds good....let me radio Cid to meet us there."
"Alright then, I'll send for a couple of Dropships to come and give us a lift...huh?" Raynor exclaimed mildly in surprise. "Seems they beat us to the punch. Lets see what's doing aboard my ship...report, Ensign."
"Sir, we have a couple of intruders...seems to be a girl and some guy wearing a red cape with a metal arm. We haven't been able to catch them yet, they're very good at eluding us. Orders as to how to deal with them?"
Before Raynor could say anything, Cloud groaned. "Uh, sorry, Commander, but that's our fault. Those are two of my friends and...colleagues, is I guess the word I'm looking for. I sent them into your ship to find out what you wanted here."
"Ah, don't worry about it, Cloud. Ensign?" Raynor said, turning back to his communicator. "Don't worry about them, we already know who they are...they're harmless. Send two Dropships down, and shine the good china...we've got company coming over."
"Aye, sir. Ensign Roberts out."
***
"I TOLD you guys this wasn't a good idea..." Yuffie said with an exasperated tone for what had to be the millionth time.
"Yuffie, I thought ninjas were supposed to be stealthy?" Vincent said with just a hint of sarcasm.
"Yeah, so?" Yuffie said rather loudly.
"Nevermind, forget it. Now, where should we go?"
Right now, our two infiltrators were smack dab in the middle of the very extensive internal ventilation system of the Battlecruiser Hyperion, and they had no idea where to go. So, Yuffie decided to take the bull by the horns...
"I say we go, that way."
And totally drive that bull to the depths of insanity with her ineptitude.
"Um, Yuffie," began Vincent, "we just came from that direction."
"Oh," said Yuffie, not phased a bit. "Well, then, let's go this way then."
Vincent sighed. /At least this isn't boring./ "Ok, Yuffie, you lead the way."
"Now you're talking, Wall-boy..follow me."
"You know, I still don't get that Wall thing....."
***
Just as the Dropships holding Raynor, Zeratul, Tifa, Cloud, and Red landed, the Highwind landed at the same time in the spacious hangar bay of the Hyperion.
As Raynor, Zeratul, Tifa, Cloud, and Red sauntered out to meet up with Cid, Cait Sith, and Barret, who were coming out of the Highwind, they all heard a weird "thwap" sound, like a ventilation grating swinging out and hitting the pipe it's connected to. After this, they heard a faint moan....and said moan grew in both pitch and intensity till...
"....aaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-OWWWW!"
Cloud, Red, Tifa, Cid, Cait Sith, and Barret looked down at the sight. It was Yuffie, who had fallen through a grating in the pipes above, with Vincent sitting on top of her like a hen sitting on a ninja egg. Yuffie was screaming at the top of her lungs, a sound that was muffled by Vincent's hindquarters on her chest and face.
"Gwt thwws idwwt opp op me!!!!!" screamed Yuffie.
And with that, the AVALANCHE crew burst out in laughter. Raynor and Zeratul just stared.
"Think we missed something here, Zeratul?"
Final Fantasy: Legends of the Zerg Invasion
By: Dark Templar Thrash
Chapter 7: Final Preparations
As the Highwind flew towards the massive craft headed towards Junon, final strategems were being plotted out. Well, sort of....
"I just wanted to say again, I DON'T like this one...."
"YES, Yuffie, we are well aware that you don't like this plan. Tough," Red XIII snapped vehemently. He was really beginning to tire of the young ninja's attitude.
"Would you go take a flea bath or something and calm down, Red? I'm just saying I didn't like this idea, that's all." a hurt Yuffie replied.
"Yeah, you've been saying that since we left a couple of hours ago. Doesn't change a thing." Cloud stated. "Anyway, to business. Any readings coming from that ship, Cid?"
"Well, like Reeve said, it's really high tech, much more so than anything Shinra's idiots could ever cook up. But, what I've seen, it seems to be stopping halfway between Fort Condor and Junon. Guess they're sending a search party to check out the surface," said Cid.
"What makes you say that, Cid? Can you really detect people from this distance coming down from the ship?" Tifa asked in wonderment. No wonder Cid was a highly regarded pilot if he could create a radar that powerful, she thought.
"No, but they have hailing frequencies open, and I was able to detect the frequency they were using. That, and we're about 1000 yards from them, so you can see the people that they're dropping off."
"Oh," Tifa said, thinking to herself that she just made herself look rather dumb.
"Hey, Cloud, you thinkin' what I'm thinkin'?" Barret said with a mischieveous grin.
"While we send Yuffie and Vincent to the ship to snoop around, we go to meet up with these characters on the ground?" Cloud finished Barret's thought.
"Hell yeah! Why not? I mean, we can take 'em all out, easy as cake."
"You know, it doesn't help to be overconfident," put in Vincent.
"Who's overconfident? I mean, we DID defeat Meteor, right?"
"Yes, true, but who knows where these people came from? Like Reeve and Cid said, that ship is quite high-tech...it is quite possible it's from the future."
"What?" Cloud shrieked astonished. "Are you serious?"
"Well, maybe not from the future," Red interrupted, "but from somewhere else."
"Somewhere else? Whatcha talking about, Red?" asked Barret, not entirely sure he wanted to know what the lion-like one was referring to.
"I've noticed an unusual...shimmer, to coin a phrase, in the stars around the Midgar area." began Red. "Almost as if there was a mirage there, in space. I wonder, what sort of damage did the collision of Meteor and Holy did to the fabric of spacetime?"
"Ok, NOW you've totally lost me," Cloud groaned.
"As well as everyone here," added Cait Sith. "What exactly are you talking about?"
"Well, basically, so as not to go into a lecture on it, I'll simply say that spacetime is the fabric of our universe. What I'm postulating is, Meteor and Holy had a tremendous amout of energy, not all of which is understood. When you add the Lifestream that came welling out of the Planet...well, it's very possible that all that energy was enough to tear the fabric of our spacetime."
"I sort of get it...but that still doesn't explain what that thing is and those guys are," Yuffie said.
"I think what Red's trying to say, those guys aren't from this universe, or something like that," Tifa stated.
"Well, thanks for stating the obvious," Yuffie sarcasmed.
"Hey, watch your tone, Yuffie...it's not like you knew what was going on till Red explained it," Cait Sith said, standing up for Tifa.
"ANYWAY, to get back to the plan," Cloud half-shouted, to get everyone's attention. "Now then, we'll fly the Highwind over the top of that thing and let Yuffie and Vincent drop onto the top of it...from there they're on their own. In the meantime, Red, you and Tifa come with me, let's go make a welcoming party for our 'friends' down there. Barret, you, Cid, and Cait Sith stay up here and monitor both situations. One of us is going to need help eventually."
"Gotcha," everyone chorused.
"Good...now everyone get into positions. Time to rumble..."
Chapter 8: Contact!
"You know, this is quite a breathtaking planet, save for that one ruined city," Zeratul mused. "This would make a good temporary home planet while we figure out what Kerrigan is up to."
Raynor looked over at Zeratul from his Vulture hoverbike. They were with a small scout force checking the Fort Condor area and its many forests, with a Marine, a Firebat, a Zealot, a Dragoon, Zeratul, and Raynor moving along at a crawl pace. They had to be careful of any attacks, as the terrain and area were unfamiliar. And here Zeratul was, admiring it all. He'd never understand Protoss..."Yeah, it's a nice place alright, if you like little squid-things attacking you," Raynor said calmly as he noticed a group of weird tentacled beasties over about 50 yards away. "Zeratul, how long is the range on that Dragoon?"
"He need only advance around 10 more yards to cover the distance with his phase disruptor. Should I tell him to do so?"
"Yes," Raynor decided quickly, "and send your Zealot on either flank. It's up to us to hit it front on. Now, if you'll excuse me...Private, Corporal, come with me," commanded Raynor.
Zeratul quickly followed suit with his brethren. "Dragoon Toridas, advance 10 yards and prepare to fire. Zealot Takruon, go to the left. I'll take the creatures to the right."
And on they went, carefully so as not to alert the things to their presence...when all of a sudden, making their presence a mystery didn't have much import anymore.
"Tifa, Red, take those Capparwires out hard and fast!" a loud and commanding voice shouted from the south. "I'll take them up the gut, you two go to either side!"
At this, Zeratul and Raynor froze and watched these natives fight in a fury. First, there was the unusual dog with the headdress. He was a fierce fighter, with a flame at the end of his tail. /Surely this creature is a noble warrior, the fire on his tail signifying his internal lust for battle/ mused Zeratul internally.
Raynor stared at the girl wearing the tight white t-shirt and black miniskirt. /Man, she sure can fight,/ Raynor thought. /Wonder where she picked up all those hand-to-hand techniques?/
They then caught site of the one in the middle. He was the (they assumed) leader of the group. He was fairly tall, with a HUGE sword that was as tall as he is (a good six feet) and he swung it like he meant it. He was making mincemeat out of those things, and before you knew it, all that was left was cooling bodies, and our heroes.
"So..." Cloud began, "where did you guys pop up from?" He wasn't exactly relaxed when he said this; he held his sword in it's usual ready position, flanked to either side by Tifa and Red, also in battle stances.
"Oh, just thought we'd stop by for a visit, you know, warn you guys of the very nasty swarm of monsters that are intent in taking over this planet and everyone on it," stated Raynor matter-of-factly. He figured he should get right to the point with these characters, as they seemed to be in a position to do something about said swarm.
"Right...a likely story," Tifa breathed through clenched teeth. "And I suppose you came from some weird dimension or something, and that huge ship is a spaceship of some sort?"
"That is accurate," Zeratul said in his most formal Protoss tone. "We have come from our home planets through what is known as a 'warp rift'. It is something that my species, the Protoss, creates to transport from place to place. However, this rift we traveled through to get to here is not of Protoss manufacture, indeed it does not even seem to originate from our 'dimension', as you put it."
"So, seems that I was right after all..." muttered Red. Louder, he said, "I am sure I speak for my friends here when I say that what you tell us needs to be explained further, with the rest of our group present. As for introductions...I am Nanaki, proud guardian of Cosmo Canyon, son of Seto and grandson of Bugenhagen."
"Hmmm...looks like we found someone almost as formal and longwinded as you, Zeratul," Raynor kidded the Protoss in a low voice.
"I'm Tifa, part of a resistance group called AVALANCHE," she said. "This is Cloud...I guess he's the closest thing to a leader that we have."
"Pleased to meet you folks. I'm Jimmy Raynor, Commander of....well, I guess Commander of my own forces. See, we had a bit of a scrape back home, and my men and I are all that's left pretty much of Terran existence in our sector. Same for Zeratul here and his Protoss."
"I am Zeratul, Praetor of the Dark Templar," he began dramatically. "We have much information to trade, much to discuss indeed. Might I suggest we do it in the comfort of Commander Raynor's Battlecruiser, the Hyperion?"
"Sure, sounds good....let me radio Cid to meet us there."
"Alright then, I'll send for a couple of Dropships to come and give us a lift...huh?" Raynor exclaimed mildly in surprise. "Seems they beat us to the punch. Lets see what's doing aboard my ship...report, Ensign."
"Sir, we have a couple of intruders...seems to be a girl and some guy wearing a red cape with a metal arm. We haven't been able to catch them yet, they're very good at eluding us. Orders as to how to deal with them?"
Before Raynor could say anything, Cloud groaned. "Uh, sorry, Commander, but that's our fault. Those are two of my friends and...colleagues, is I guess the word I'm looking for. I sent them into your ship to find out what you wanted here."
"Ah, don't worry about it, Cloud. Ensign?" Raynor said, turning back to his communicator. "Don't worry about them, we already know who they are...they're harmless. Send two Dropships down, and shine the good china...we've got company coming over."
"Aye, sir. Ensign Roberts out."
***
"I TOLD you guys this wasn't a good idea..." Yuffie said with an exasperated tone for what had to be the millionth time.
"Yuffie, I thought ninjas were supposed to be stealthy?" Vincent said with just a hint of sarcasm.
"Yeah, so?" Yuffie said rather loudly.
"Nevermind, forget it. Now, where should we go?"
Right now, our two infiltrators were smack dab in the middle of the very extensive internal ventilation system of the Battlecruiser Hyperion, and they had no idea where to go. So, Yuffie decided to take the bull by the horns...
"I say we go, that way."
And totally drive that bull to the depths of insanity with her ineptitude.
"Um, Yuffie," began Vincent, "we just came from that direction."
"Oh," said Yuffie, not phased a bit. "Well, then, let's go this way then."
Vincent sighed. /At least this isn't boring./ "Ok, Yuffie, you lead the way."
"Now you're talking, Wall-boy..follow me."
"You know, I still don't get that Wall thing....."
***
Just as the Dropships holding Raynor, Zeratul, Tifa, Cloud, and Red landed, the Highwind landed at the same time in the spacious hangar bay of the Hyperion.
As Raynor, Zeratul, Tifa, Cloud, and Red sauntered out to meet up with Cid, Cait Sith, and Barret, who were coming out of the Highwind, they all heard a weird "thwap" sound, like a ventilation grating swinging out and hitting the pipe it's connected to. After this, they heard a faint moan....and said moan grew in both pitch and intensity till...
"....aaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-OWWWW!"
Cloud, Red, Tifa, Cid, Cait Sith, and Barret looked down at the sight. It was Yuffie, who had fallen through a grating in the pipes above, with Vincent sitting on top of her like a hen sitting on a ninja egg. Yuffie was screaming at the top of her lungs, a sound that was muffled by Vincent's hindquarters on her chest and face.
"Gwt thwws idwwt opp op me!!!!!" screamed Yuffie.
And with that, the AVALANCHE crew burst out in laughter. Raynor and Zeratul just stared.
"Think we missed something here, Zeratul?"