Raynor awoke as the ship hit the ground hard. He stared a bit and tried to wretch his hands free of their bonds, but the memories quickly flew back to him: The wraith attack, the queen of blades, and being taken aboard a ship with the last of his army into Mengsk's custody. Raynor hung his head and stared hopelessly at the walls of the cell. He couldn't see or hear anything that was happening.
Raynor's mind instinctively tried to find a method of escape. He winced remembering all the information he held now and it gave him a headache trying to sort through it. An entire zerg colony was still alive on a planet, almost untouched. Kerrigan, captured and hooked up to a life support system, probably to be studied. The conclave would also likely come soon to find him, but this was of course the least of his problems right now. Raynor briefly laughed at the thought of the conclave attacking, thinking that might be the only thing that may warrant an escape.
The door to Raynor's cell slipped open, and several officers swarmed him. Raynor stood up cooperatively, and many watched him as if humbled by his presence. The infamous Jim Raynor. The man who brought Mengsk to the throne, then left him without reason, at least as far as they knew.
"Jim Raynor, I presume?" said a tall, bulky man.
Raynor nodded.
"The emperor wishes to speak with you immediately. He has come here especially to see you and the," the tall man paused trying to choose his words, "the infested."
Raynor looked back and forth trying to spot Kerrigan, but to no avail. He was sharply pushed on his back and shoved forward with the men out of the ship. He stepped off the platform and saw an abandoned warehouse ahead of him. Each step seemed like a war with himself, and his body felt as though it would collapse at any moment, but the guards behind him pulled on his hand restraints every time he almost toppled. The men walked with purpose and pride, bringing their bounty to receive praise from their emperor.
Two men waited in front of the warehouse and pulled the huge metal doors open. The warehouse was completely empty, save for the men standing along the wall. In the center stood General Duke alongside Mengsk, waiting for him. They threw Raynor in front of them and he landed in the dust. Raynor sat up to stand, but the guards behind him quickly hit the back of his knees, and Raynor fell into the dust again.
Mengsk stood over him smiling. This was a proud day. Raynor did not look at him, but stared into the floor. Mengsk simply paced in front of him, choosing his words carefully. General Duke stood with the usual unemotional and pasted on scowl he always wore.
"So," Mengsk paced dramatically, "where might I start?"
"Just get it over with, you piece of shit." Raynor swore, feeling his old self coming back in Mengsk's presence.
"Not so hasty there, boy. I didn't come all this way to watch you die. Of course the people can't know we have spoken, and we won't announce your official capture probably for a couple of days."
Raynor shook his head. Mengsk always had a way with dancing around the point. Mengsk had a much more arrogant air about him now, and Raynor was sure that becoming the first undisputed emperor of the terran dominion in so many years had not come without a great inflation of ego for Mengsk.
"Of course the people have been very suspicious with your disappearance, Raynor. The last reported sighting of you was by Duke who reported you'd been swallowed by a swarm of zerg. You'd been taken for dead, but I knew better. I knew you would have gotten out of it." Mengsk signaled the guards and they roughly brought Raynor to standing. "So, where have you been?" Mengsk asked.
Raynor gave a little smile. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you."
"You must of course appreciate that I have very little time, Jim." Mengsk gave another motion. The huge metal doors behind Raynor swung open and more guards dragged Kerrigan in. She looked as though she had taken a more severe beating then he had by the guards. Raynor could not fathom the hatred that must be surrounding her right now, men who have seen their families swept away by the zerg mercilessly, homeworlds completely destroyed, and now they had been given a scapegoat for their pain and suffering. They set her to seating beside Raynor. She gave Raynor a sad look, but met no one else's eyes.
"Care to explain this?" Mengsk gestured toward Kerrigan.
Raynor shot Mengsk a contemptual glance. "Why don't you explain Mengsk, or have you forgotten that it was you who delayed that distress signal?"
Mengsk's eyes widened. "As I remember correctly, it was you, Jim, who delayed that order so effortlessly, as my men and lieutenant in command died in vain."
Raynor's eyes widened. This was why he was under arrest. "After we set off that zerg beacon you were out of here. You took as many of my troops as you could and high tailed it away from the Terran dominion. Your a traitor, and a heartless one at that." Mengsk continued, almost shouting now. "Thought that you could take as much of mine as you could while you had the chance, didn't you Jim?"
Duke stood, not making eye contact with either Kerrigan or Raynor. Mengsk continued to pace around them, yelling enthusiastically, listing crimes Raynor had committed.
"And now you return to me," Mengsk began to conclude, "with my lieutenant, close to death after a zerg attack, god knowing what she has become." Kerrigan hung her head low and looked at the ground. "I am a reasonable man, Jim, and I am willing to make compensations, but you better have a damn good reason for doing what you did."
Raynor looked up at the Emperor's face. He had changed so much now. Raynor had never liked politicians in the past, but Mengsk had been an exception at first. He seemed to be on level, and rather than thirsting for power, Mengsk had always seemed only to wish for the good of the people rather than himself. He had spine, and while he wasn't a military strategist, Raynor had always reserved a lot of respect for him.
Raynor took in a deep breath. "After I left, I was attacked by the zerg." Raynor began. "It was the only place I could find refuge, but it was too much. I eventually got overwhelmed, and in my last retreat I was," Raynor stopped, looking over at Kerrigan. He didn't know why he was spilling the story to Mengsk, but he knew that if the other people in here may actually believe him, he might generate some sympathy. "I was attacked by Kerrigan," Everyone's eyes shot to Kerrigan, who still stared at the floor motionless.
Raynor relayed their entire story in full truth. Every eye in the room stared at him, many in disbelief, as their story did sound steep, though it did sync up with the lack of movement within the swarm lately. Raynor got what he wished. He knew heÕd generated sympathy in some of the men. Raynor felt his voice stop as his story finished, and the entire warehouse was silent. All eyes moved to Mengsk now for his rebuttal, but Mengsk seemed in shock. No person in that room, or anyone who would hear Raynor's story, would be convinced Raynor was guilty of any crime.
"This is a long story." Mengsk finally spoke he turned to General Duke. "You and Kerrigan will both be taken away into custody. We'll be doing medical tests on Kerrigan, and your trial will come in a few months.
Mengsk met Jim eye-to-eye now, and his face turned into fake sympathy. "I'm sorry things had to end like this, Jim. You and I would have been good partners."
Raynor looked over to Duke. Duke now looked at Raynor in the eyes, and had a much deeper expression now. He looked over at his emperor, and as Mengsk walked away, he followed beside, muttering to each other as they went. The guards behind Raynor picked him up and carried him, more gently now, toward their ship. Raynor let himself be half dragged by them, and this time when he entered his cell, a long plank spread out, and they laid Raynor carefully onto it.
~*~
"You seem troubled Duke." Mengsk said.
Duke nodded. "Very much so, Emperor. You canÕt hear something like that and be unaffected."
Mengsk nodded. "It was a very wild story."
Duke looked at Mengsk. "Your not telling me your don't believe it, are you?"
Mengsk smiled and laughed. "It was very interesting, but very impossible. Why would Raynor leave the Protoss without proof of being there? And saying he'd attacked swarms I've never even dreamed of existing. And befriending the Protoss? I don't believe it. These are the creatures that burned out worlds, mercilessly killing my subjects alongside the zerg."
"Mengsk," Duke stopped and faced the Emperor. "You do not have to make that speech to me. I am with you here. Your public opinion does not have to be the same as the one you tell me."
Mengsk looked furious. "What are you implying, General? That I would lie? That man just spoke the most unbelievable tale in there, and you expect me to believe it?"
"Well it syncs up Arcturus," Duke continued, "these new creatures? Someone capturing Kerrigan to do tests? The sudden lifelessness of the zerg? It makes perfect sense."
Arcturus looked furious. "That is enough, general. We will speak again in the morning. Perhaps then you can think through what you are insinuating."
Before Duke could respond, Arcturus was aboard his ship. The ship blasted into the now night sky and disappeared, leaving Duke with a terrible foreboding hanging over his head.
** Hats off to Chrono-cross maniac for betaing this chapter for me!
Raynor's mind instinctively tried to find a method of escape. He winced remembering all the information he held now and it gave him a headache trying to sort through it. An entire zerg colony was still alive on a planet, almost untouched. Kerrigan, captured and hooked up to a life support system, probably to be studied. The conclave would also likely come soon to find him, but this was of course the least of his problems right now. Raynor briefly laughed at the thought of the conclave attacking, thinking that might be the only thing that may warrant an escape.
The door to Raynor's cell slipped open, and several officers swarmed him. Raynor stood up cooperatively, and many watched him as if humbled by his presence. The infamous Jim Raynor. The man who brought Mengsk to the throne, then left him without reason, at least as far as they knew.
"Jim Raynor, I presume?" said a tall, bulky man.
Raynor nodded.
"The emperor wishes to speak with you immediately. He has come here especially to see you and the," the tall man paused trying to choose his words, "the infested."
Raynor looked back and forth trying to spot Kerrigan, but to no avail. He was sharply pushed on his back and shoved forward with the men out of the ship. He stepped off the platform and saw an abandoned warehouse ahead of him. Each step seemed like a war with himself, and his body felt as though it would collapse at any moment, but the guards behind him pulled on his hand restraints every time he almost toppled. The men walked with purpose and pride, bringing their bounty to receive praise from their emperor.
Two men waited in front of the warehouse and pulled the huge metal doors open. The warehouse was completely empty, save for the men standing along the wall. In the center stood General Duke alongside Mengsk, waiting for him. They threw Raynor in front of them and he landed in the dust. Raynor sat up to stand, but the guards behind him quickly hit the back of his knees, and Raynor fell into the dust again.
Mengsk stood over him smiling. This was a proud day. Raynor did not look at him, but stared into the floor. Mengsk simply paced in front of him, choosing his words carefully. General Duke stood with the usual unemotional and pasted on scowl he always wore.
"So," Mengsk paced dramatically, "where might I start?"
"Just get it over with, you piece of shit." Raynor swore, feeling his old self coming back in Mengsk's presence.
"Not so hasty there, boy. I didn't come all this way to watch you die. Of course the people can't know we have spoken, and we won't announce your official capture probably for a couple of days."
Raynor shook his head. Mengsk always had a way with dancing around the point. Mengsk had a much more arrogant air about him now, and Raynor was sure that becoming the first undisputed emperor of the terran dominion in so many years had not come without a great inflation of ego for Mengsk.
"Of course the people have been very suspicious with your disappearance, Raynor. The last reported sighting of you was by Duke who reported you'd been swallowed by a swarm of zerg. You'd been taken for dead, but I knew better. I knew you would have gotten out of it." Mengsk signaled the guards and they roughly brought Raynor to standing. "So, where have you been?" Mengsk asked.
Raynor gave a little smile. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you."
"You must of course appreciate that I have very little time, Jim." Mengsk gave another motion. The huge metal doors behind Raynor swung open and more guards dragged Kerrigan in. She looked as though she had taken a more severe beating then he had by the guards. Raynor could not fathom the hatred that must be surrounding her right now, men who have seen their families swept away by the zerg mercilessly, homeworlds completely destroyed, and now they had been given a scapegoat for their pain and suffering. They set her to seating beside Raynor. She gave Raynor a sad look, but met no one else's eyes.
"Care to explain this?" Mengsk gestured toward Kerrigan.
Raynor shot Mengsk a contemptual glance. "Why don't you explain Mengsk, or have you forgotten that it was you who delayed that distress signal?"
Mengsk's eyes widened. "As I remember correctly, it was you, Jim, who delayed that order so effortlessly, as my men and lieutenant in command died in vain."
Raynor's eyes widened. This was why he was under arrest. "After we set off that zerg beacon you were out of here. You took as many of my troops as you could and high tailed it away from the Terran dominion. Your a traitor, and a heartless one at that." Mengsk continued, almost shouting now. "Thought that you could take as much of mine as you could while you had the chance, didn't you Jim?"
Duke stood, not making eye contact with either Kerrigan or Raynor. Mengsk continued to pace around them, yelling enthusiastically, listing crimes Raynor had committed.
"And now you return to me," Mengsk began to conclude, "with my lieutenant, close to death after a zerg attack, god knowing what she has become." Kerrigan hung her head low and looked at the ground. "I am a reasonable man, Jim, and I am willing to make compensations, but you better have a damn good reason for doing what you did."
Raynor looked up at the Emperor's face. He had changed so much now. Raynor had never liked politicians in the past, but Mengsk had been an exception at first. He seemed to be on level, and rather than thirsting for power, Mengsk had always seemed only to wish for the good of the people rather than himself. He had spine, and while he wasn't a military strategist, Raynor had always reserved a lot of respect for him.
Raynor took in a deep breath. "After I left, I was attacked by the zerg." Raynor began. "It was the only place I could find refuge, but it was too much. I eventually got overwhelmed, and in my last retreat I was," Raynor stopped, looking over at Kerrigan. He didn't know why he was spilling the story to Mengsk, but he knew that if the other people in here may actually believe him, he might generate some sympathy. "I was attacked by Kerrigan," Everyone's eyes shot to Kerrigan, who still stared at the floor motionless.
Raynor relayed their entire story in full truth. Every eye in the room stared at him, many in disbelief, as their story did sound steep, though it did sync up with the lack of movement within the swarm lately. Raynor got what he wished. He knew heÕd generated sympathy in some of the men. Raynor felt his voice stop as his story finished, and the entire warehouse was silent. All eyes moved to Mengsk now for his rebuttal, but Mengsk seemed in shock. No person in that room, or anyone who would hear Raynor's story, would be convinced Raynor was guilty of any crime.
"This is a long story." Mengsk finally spoke he turned to General Duke. "You and Kerrigan will both be taken away into custody. We'll be doing medical tests on Kerrigan, and your trial will come in a few months.
Mengsk met Jim eye-to-eye now, and his face turned into fake sympathy. "I'm sorry things had to end like this, Jim. You and I would have been good partners."
Raynor looked over to Duke. Duke now looked at Raynor in the eyes, and had a much deeper expression now. He looked over at his emperor, and as Mengsk walked away, he followed beside, muttering to each other as they went. The guards behind Raynor picked him up and carried him, more gently now, toward their ship. Raynor let himself be half dragged by them, and this time when he entered his cell, a long plank spread out, and they laid Raynor carefully onto it.
~*~
"You seem troubled Duke." Mengsk said.
Duke nodded. "Very much so, Emperor. You canÕt hear something like that and be unaffected."
Mengsk nodded. "It was a very wild story."
Duke looked at Mengsk. "Your not telling me your don't believe it, are you?"
Mengsk smiled and laughed. "It was very interesting, but very impossible. Why would Raynor leave the Protoss without proof of being there? And saying he'd attacked swarms I've never even dreamed of existing. And befriending the Protoss? I don't believe it. These are the creatures that burned out worlds, mercilessly killing my subjects alongside the zerg."
"Mengsk," Duke stopped and faced the Emperor. "You do not have to make that speech to me. I am with you here. Your public opinion does not have to be the same as the one you tell me."
Mengsk looked furious. "What are you implying, General? That I would lie? That man just spoke the most unbelievable tale in there, and you expect me to believe it?"
"Well it syncs up Arcturus," Duke continued, "these new creatures? Someone capturing Kerrigan to do tests? The sudden lifelessness of the zerg? It makes perfect sense."
Arcturus looked furious. "That is enough, general. We will speak again in the morning. Perhaps then you can think through what you are insinuating."
Before Duke could respond, Arcturus was aboard his ship. The ship blasted into the now night sky and disappeared, leaving Duke with a terrible foreboding hanging over his head.
** Hats off to Chrono-cross maniac for betaing this chapter for me!