H1CENTERChapter 4: Resurrection and Insurrection/CENTER/H1
It was as though some ancient god had dropped a rock into soft clay. A crater had formed at the center of the blast, while further away, the heat had melted the ground to a jagged surface of glass. Massive Zerg buildings had been blown to organic sludge./P
The Zerg had been the first to die. The sheer physical power of the blast had turned water to vapor in an instant, causing flesh to burn and blood to boil. The psionic interference generated by the blast interrupted the telepathic control of the Overlords, and any Zerg that survived was cut off from the group mind./P
Scattered about the landscape were gleaming figures of gold and green, their bodies twisted in agony and pain. The Protoss had been the second victims. For miles around, a psychic shock wave had spread, killing anyone with enough psionic ability. The Protoss, being the most sensitive, had been overcome immediately, the synapses in their brains literally disintegrating from the onslaught./P
Finally, there were the humans. While taking no casualties from the blast itself, fully half their force had been killed by the Zerg during the assault on their base. They had retreated back to their hidden underground fortress shortly after their victory./P
A lone Zergling, answering a faint telepathic call, ran to the remains of the main Zerg Hive and began to dig. Protoplasm flew everywhere, as the creature used its claws to burrow into the building. It quickly reached it's goal, and it gently took it in its claws. It pulled gently at first, then with greater urgency. It could feel the distress of what it held. Shaking with the effort, the Zergling pulled with all its might./P
With a loud slurp and a pop, the object came free. A female human landed beside the Zergling. She was naked, and had long brown hair that ended at the small of her back. She was covered with a translucent organic slime, the remains of the Hive./P
The Zergling clamored to its feet. Moving to the young woman, it crooned softly, and nudged her, but she failed to moved. It crooned louder and pushed a little harder. She began to shake, and with a violent shudder of her shoulders, she vomited a large amount of liquid gel that had been in her lungs. She grimaced as she forced air though her tortured throat. Coughing, she spat out the last of the disgusting matter and collapsed in exhaustion./P
She was finally brought out of her catatonia by feelings of distress and loneliness that ran through her mind like a thick haze. She wiped her eyes clear and looked towards the crooning and purring sounds near her./P
Not three feet away was the Zergling that had pulled her out. Behind it was another one, who was also giving off the same hissing purr. With a shriek of terror, she jumped to her feet and scrambled away from the monsters. The Zerglings jumped back, but quickly overcame their apprehension and approached her, giving off the same croon as before./P
Feelings of fear and loneliness filled her mind and she shook her head, trying to clear the intrusions. The Zerglings approached her cautiously, and she backed away until she was pressed against a ruined wall of the Hive./P
She tried to speak, but she started a coughing fit instead. She doubled over and fell to her knees, her body shaking. A Zergling came up and nuzzled her consolingly. When she recovered, she looked at the creature beside her./P
"You're not so dangerous after all, are you?" She reached out and tentatively scratched its exoskeleton. The Zergling shuddered with delight and pushed itself into her hand. The other, also wanting the same attention, pushed itself against her. She laughed, and did the same to him./P
She staggered to her feet, and shivered as a cool wind blew across her. She looked down at herself, then her two companions. "I don't suppose either of you two know where to get some clothes, do you?"/P
Surprisingly, one of them walked a few feet away and tapped at a small pool of protoplasm with a claw. She walked over to it and knelt down. "What do you want me to do? I don't understand. I want clothing." Again the Zergling tapped the pool. An image filled her mind of her touching the pool. "This isn't clothing. It's...I don't even know what it is." A third time, it tapped its claw against the pool. She sighed. "All right, if you say so." She reached out and put her hand in the pool./P
Responding to her desire, the protoplasm flowed up her arm. It quickly spread down her body and along her other arm. She stumbled back away from the pool and the connection was broken. The protoplasm stretched itself, trying to cover her, but there was not enough. It managed to cover from her upper chest and arms to mid thigh. She moved, and the suit moved with her offering no resistance. She slowly put her hand back in the pool and the process continued until she was covered from neck to toe with a purple and green organic body suit. The only thing not covered were her hands and her head. She smiled tentatively and looked down at the Zergling./P
"I don't know how this happened, but thank you." She scratched the creature under the chin and it purred happily. By this time they had been joined by three more Zerglings and two Hydralisks, who had been attracted by her subconscious telepathic radiance. Most of them were in various states of injury from the previous battle. They projected scenes from the fight, humans and Zerg killing each other, and the Protoss using their cruel blades to decimate their brethren. Her head throbbed against the mental onslaught./P
"Stop! Please stop!" she cried. Immediately, the mental din ceased. She looked around at the creatures before her. "Well, I can see why someone might want to hurt you. I mean, I was afraid of you at first, too. But I'm sure if they know that you're friendly, they'll take care of you. Don't you think?" Not use to having so much free will, the Zerg merely looked at her. "Where did the men come from?" The Zerglings looked south and hissed angrily. The Hydralisks growled deeply. She could feel their anger and fear. "Now, now, don't worry. I'll protect you. Now let's go."/P
And so, with her entourage, Kasumi Tendo walked south./P
BR
Kerrigan, Queen of Blades, ruler of the Zerg Swarm, raged around the command room of the Hive. The soft squishing sounds her feet made as she walked across the organic floor were drowned out by her screaming curses. The walls were bleeding where she had torn them open with her claws. They had done it! Against all odds, the Protoss and humans had destroyed her most important base. And they did it together! She had been fostering mistrust between the Protoss and humans through her infected agents, but they still worked together. And what was that weapon they used? It was psionic in nature so it had to come from the Protoss. In a rage she blew apart eleven Zerglings with her mind. Beckoning the twelfth one to her, she slowly tore it apart and ate the pieces. By the time she was finished, and much calmer, she received a call from Daggoth, her chief Cerebrate./P
She looked at the viewscreen and growled. [Tell me Daggoth, why should I let you live after you let them destroy that base?]/P
[Mistress, please bear with me. All was not lost with the base's destruction. The material you were looking for has been found. We can now commence with the splicing on all Zerg.]/P
Kerrigan's mouth formed a horrifying smile. [Really? Excellent. Then we won't need *her* any more. But that's still no excuse, Daggoth!]/P
[Mistress, please forgive me. I did not anticipate nuclear weapons, and that psionic attack-]/P
[Yes,] interrupted Kerrigan. [Tell me about it. What did the Protoss use?]/P
[The thoughts I received from the Zerg shows that it was a human who created the energy blast.]/P
[What!? Impossible! Before my...rebirth by the Overmind, I was one of X-Com's most powerful psoinics. Even now, with my improvements, I could never do something like that! You must be wrong.]/P
[As you say Mistress.] Daggoth paused for a moments then plunged ahead. [Mistress, I must report an anomaly with the Zerg that survived the attack.]/P
[What's wrong with them?]/P
[I don't know. I cannot regain control of them. I can feel their presence, but the interference from the attack prevents me from controlling them. There is also something else, but I cannot identify it.]/P
[Send an Overlord and get them back. I will be overseeing the results of the first splicing tests.]/P
[As you command, my Queen.]/P
BR
A day had passed since the attack and the doctors finally let Nabiki visit her husband. Nabiki entered Ranma's room at the hospital, who was laying back reading a book. The title was 'Of Mice And Men'. "Trying to get some culture, are we?" she asked./P
Ranma looked over the book, then said in a petulant voice, "Took your time getting here."/P
"Oh well, if that's the way you're going to be-" she huffed back./P
Ranma put the book down, grinning. "You're not fooling anyone, you know."/P
Nabiki grinned back, and sat beside him. "Neither are you."/P
Ranma sighed tragically. "I don't know about that. The docs won't let me go 'cause of this concussion." He touched the bandages around his head and winced slightly. "I keep telling them it's not that bad. Akane use to give me worse..." His voice trailed off. A lengthy silence separated the couple. Finally Ranma asked, "Did...did you tell them?"/P
Nabiki shook her head. "No. And I'd appreciate you not telling them either."/P
"Hey, you don't have to tell me twice! You might want to talk to the medics who brought me in. I blabbed to them a bit as I was coming to."/P
Nabiki smiled slyly. "Already done."/P
Another long silence./P
"So, what do we do now?" Nabiki asked./P
"Do? We rescue her, that's what!" Ranma started to sit up higher, but his broken ribs twinged and he grimaced. Nabiki pushed him back down./P
"'We' are not doing anything. You are going to rest for another day. And if you don't stay there, I'll get the docs to use a mindblocker on you." A mindblocker was the preferred method of rendering a psionic unconscious, who could use his mind to resist drugs./P
"And what about you?"/P
"What do you think? I'm going to the Protoss base."/P
"Not without me you're not!"/P
"You're in no shape to come with me."/P
"You're not going alone!"/P
"Don't you dare do to me what you did to Akane!" Nabiki flared angrily. "I am not a china doll to be put on a shelf and admired, and not allowed to do anything!"/P
"At least wait until tomorrow night -"/P
"I can't. Word is that the Protoss got hit by the Zerg east of their base. Some of their Photon Cannons were taken out, and I have to go through their lines before they fix them."/P
"Then I'll come with you!"/P
"There's no way you could Cloak yourself right now. Not with a concussion." Ranma opened his mouth to protest, but Nabiki interrupted. "No, Ranma! I have to go tonight! And you're in no condition to go with me!" Nabiki turned away from him angrily./P
"Nabiki...I...I'm-" Again she interrupted./P
"Your worried about me," she said in a cool, even tone. "You don't want me to get hurt. Right?"/P
"Well...I...yeah," he said lamely./P
She turned back to him, a slight smile on her face. "You never were very articulate about your emotions."/P
"What!? You...I...yes I am!" he replied indignantly./P
Her smile turned into a grin. "Yeah, all the wrong ones. That's one reason why Akane hit you so many times." Ranma blushed scarlet. "I'm going, and your staying, and that's the end of it, okay?" Ranma nodded reluctantly. Nabiki leaned down an kissed her husband. "If I'm not back by morning, then let someone know where I went." Kissing him again she left./P
"Oh thanks! Try to reassure me, why don't you!" Ranma yelled at her back. "Stupid girl!" he muttered./P
Nabiki poked her head back in the room. "Hey Ranma! Who's stupid?" she asked, then held up a glass of water. "And who's the girl?" She threw the water on him, and walked away./P
"Hey!" Ranma-chan screeched. "What'd ya do that for?!"/P
End of Chapter 4
It was as though some ancient god had dropped a rock into soft clay. A crater had formed at the center of the blast, while further away, the heat had melted the ground to a jagged surface of glass. Massive Zerg buildings had been blown to organic sludge./P
The Zerg had been the first to die. The sheer physical power of the blast had turned water to vapor in an instant, causing flesh to burn and blood to boil. The psionic interference generated by the blast interrupted the telepathic control of the Overlords, and any Zerg that survived was cut off from the group mind./P
Scattered about the landscape were gleaming figures of gold and green, their bodies twisted in agony and pain. The Protoss had been the second victims. For miles around, a psychic shock wave had spread, killing anyone with enough psionic ability. The Protoss, being the most sensitive, had been overcome immediately, the synapses in their brains literally disintegrating from the onslaught./P
Finally, there were the humans. While taking no casualties from the blast itself, fully half their force had been killed by the Zerg during the assault on their base. They had retreated back to their hidden underground fortress shortly after their victory./P
A lone Zergling, answering a faint telepathic call, ran to the remains of the main Zerg Hive and began to dig. Protoplasm flew everywhere, as the creature used its claws to burrow into the building. It quickly reached it's goal, and it gently took it in its claws. It pulled gently at first, then with greater urgency. It could feel the distress of what it held. Shaking with the effort, the Zergling pulled with all its might./P
With a loud slurp and a pop, the object came free. A female human landed beside the Zergling. She was naked, and had long brown hair that ended at the small of her back. She was covered with a translucent organic slime, the remains of the Hive./P
The Zergling clamored to its feet. Moving to the young woman, it crooned softly, and nudged her, but she failed to moved. It crooned louder and pushed a little harder. She began to shake, and with a violent shudder of her shoulders, she vomited a large amount of liquid gel that had been in her lungs. She grimaced as she forced air though her tortured throat. Coughing, she spat out the last of the disgusting matter and collapsed in exhaustion./P
She was finally brought out of her catatonia by feelings of distress and loneliness that ran through her mind like a thick haze. She wiped her eyes clear and looked towards the crooning and purring sounds near her./P
Not three feet away was the Zergling that had pulled her out. Behind it was another one, who was also giving off the same hissing purr. With a shriek of terror, she jumped to her feet and scrambled away from the monsters. The Zerglings jumped back, but quickly overcame their apprehension and approached her, giving off the same croon as before./P
Feelings of fear and loneliness filled her mind and she shook her head, trying to clear the intrusions. The Zerglings approached her cautiously, and she backed away until she was pressed against a ruined wall of the Hive./P
She tried to speak, but she started a coughing fit instead. She doubled over and fell to her knees, her body shaking. A Zergling came up and nuzzled her consolingly. When she recovered, she looked at the creature beside her./P
"You're not so dangerous after all, are you?" She reached out and tentatively scratched its exoskeleton. The Zergling shuddered with delight and pushed itself into her hand. The other, also wanting the same attention, pushed itself against her. She laughed, and did the same to him./P
She staggered to her feet, and shivered as a cool wind blew across her. She looked down at herself, then her two companions. "I don't suppose either of you two know where to get some clothes, do you?"/P
Surprisingly, one of them walked a few feet away and tapped at a small pool of protoplasm with a claw. She walked over to it and knelt down. "What do you want me to do? I don't understand. I want clothing." Again the Zergling tapped the pool. An image filled her mind of her touching the pool. "This isn't clothing. It's...I don't even know what it is." A third time, it tapped its claw against the pool. She sighed. "All right, if you say so." She reached out and put her hand in the pool./P
Responding to her desire, the protoplasm flowed up her arm. It quickly spread down her body and along her other arm. She stumbled back away from the pool and the connection was broken. The protoplasm stretched itself, trying to cover her, but there was not enough. It managed to cover from her upper chest and arms to mid thigh. She moved, and the suit moved with her offering no resistance. She slowly put her hand back in the pool and the process continued until she was covered from neck to toe with a purple and green organic body suit. The only thing not covered were her hands and her head. She smiled tentatively and looked down at the Zergling./P
"I don't know how this happened, but thank you." She scratched the creature under the chin and it purred happily. By this time they had been joined by three more Zerglings and two Hydralisks, who had been attracted by her subconscious telepathic radiance. Most of them were in various states of injury from the previous battle. They projected scenes from the fight, humans and Zerg killing each other, and the Protoss using their cruel blades to decimate their brethren. Her head throbbed against the mental onslaught./P
"Stop! Please stop!" she cried. Immediately, the mental din ceased. She looked around at the creatures before her. "Well, I can see why someone might want to hurt you. I mean, I was afraid of you at first, too. But I'm sure if they know that you're friendly, they'll take care of you. Don't you think?" Not use to having so much free will, the Zerg merely looked at her. "Where did the men come from?" The Zerglings looked south and hissed angrily. The Hydralisks growled deeply. She could feel their anger and fear. "Now, now, don't worry. I'll protect you. Now let's go."/P
And so, with her entourage, Kasumi Tendo walked south./P
BR
Kerrigan, Queen of Blades, ruler of the Zerg Swarm, raged around the command room of the Hive. The soft squishing sounds her feet made as she walked across the organic floor were drowned out by her screaming curses. The walls were bleeding where she had torn them open with her claws. They had done it! Against all odds, the Protoss and humans had destroyed her most important base. And they did it together! She had been fostering mistrust between the Protoss and humans through her infected agents, but they still worked together. And what was that weapon they used? It was psionic in nature so it had to come from the Protoss. In a rage she blew apart eleven Zerglings with her mind. Beckoning the twelfth one to her, she slowly tore it apart and ate the pieces. By the time she was finished, and much calmer, she received a call from Daggoth, her chief Cerebrate./P
She looked at the viewscreen and growled. [Tell me Daggoth, why should I let you live after you let them destroy that base?]/P
[Mistress, please bear with me. All was not lost with the base's destruction. The material you were looking for has been found. We can now commence with the splicing on all Zerg.]/P
Kerrigan's mouth formed a horrifying smile. [Really? Excellent. Then we won't need *her* any more. But that's still no excuse, Daggoth!]/P
[Mistress, please forgive me. I did not anticipate nuclear weapons, and that psionic attack-]/P
[Yes,] interrupted Kerrigan. [Tell me about it. What did the Protoss use?]/P
[The thoughts I received from the Zerg shows that it was a human who created the energy blast.]/P
[What!? Impossible! Before my...rebirth by the Overmind, I was one of X-Com's most powerful psoinics. Even now, with my improvements, I could never do something like that! You must be wrong.]/P
[As you say Mistress.] Daggoth paused for a moments then plunged ahead. [Mistress, I must report an anomaly with the Zerg that survived the attack.]/P
[What's wrong with them?]/P
[I don't know. I cannot regain control of them. I can feel their presence, but the interference from the attack prevents me from controlling them. There is also something else, but I cannot identify it.]/P
[Send an Overlord and get them back. I will be overseeing the results of the first splicing tests.]/P
[As you command, my Queen.]/P
BR
A day had passed since the attack and the doctors finally let Nabiki visit her husband. Nabiki entered Ranma's room at the hospital, who was laying back reading a book. The title was 'Of Mice And Men'. "Trying to get some culture, are we?" she asked./P
Ranma looked over the book, then said in a petulant voice, "Took your time getting here."/P
"Oh well, if that's the way you're going to be-" she huffed back./P
Ranma put the book down, grinning. "You're not fooling anyone, you know."/P
Nabiki grinned back, and sat beside him. "Neither are you."/P
Ranma sighed tragically. "I don't know about that. The docs won't let me go 'cause of this concussion." He touched the bandages around his head and winced slightly. "I keep telling them it's not that bad. Akane use to give me worse..." His voice trailed off. A lengthy silence separated the couple. Finally Ranma asked, "Did...did you tell them?"/P
Nabiki shook her head. "No. And I'd appreciate you not telling them either."/P
"Hey, you don't have to tell me twice! You might want to talk to the medics who brought me in. I blabbed to them a bit as I was coming to."/P
Nabiki smiled slyly. "Already done."/P
Another long silence./P
"So, what do we do now?" Nabiki asked./P
"Do? We rescue her, that's what!" Ranma started to sit up higher, but his broken ribs twinged and he grimaced. Nabiki pushed him back down./P
"'We' are not doing anything. You are going to rest for another day. And if you don't stay there, I'll get the docs to use a mindblocker on you." A mindblocker was the preferred method of rendering a psionic unconscious, who could use his mind to resist drugs./P
"And what about you?"/P
"What do you think? I'm going to the Protoss base."/P
"Not without me you're not!"/P
"You're in no shape to come with me."/P
"You're not going alone!"/P
"Don't you dare do to me what you did to Akane!" Nabiki flared angrily. "I am not a china doll to be put on a shelf and admired, and not allowed to do anything!"/P
"At least wait until tomorrow night -"/P
"I can't. Word is that the Protoss got hit by the Zerg east of their base. Some of their Photon Cannons were taken out, and I have to go through their lines before they fix them."/P
"Then I'll come with you!"/P
"There's no way you could Cloak yourself right now. Not with a concussion." Ranma opened his mouth to protest, but Nabiki interrupted. "No, Ranma! I have to go tonight! And you're in no condition to go with me!" Nabiki turned away from him angrily./P
"Nabiki...I...I'm-" Again she interrupted./P
"Your worried about me," she said in a cool, even tone. "You don't want me to get hurt. Right?"/P
"Well...I...yeah," he said lamely./P
She turned back to him, a slight smile on her face. "You never were very articulate about your emotions."/P
"What!? You...I...yes I am!" he replied indignantly./P
Her smile turned into a grin. "Yeah, all the wrong ones. That's one reason why Akane hit you so many times." Ranma blushed scarlet. "I'm going, and your staying, and that's the end of it, okay?" Ranma nodded reluctantly. Nabiki leaned down an kissed her husband. "If I'm not back by morning, then let someone know where I went." Kissing him again she left./P
"Oh thanks! Try to reassure me, why don't you!" Ranma yelled at her back. "Stupid girl!" he muttered./P
Nabiki poked her head back in the room. "Hey Ranma! Who's stupid?" she asked, then held up a glass of water. "And who's the girl?" She threw the water on him, and walked away./P
"Hey!" Ranma-chan screeched. "What'd ya do that for?!"/P
End of Chapter 4