CHAPTER 3: AKUBAR

What are you doing here, thought Kerrigan to the mind that had invaded hers. This mind seemed to come from a very far distance away, many astronomical units, and yet, maintained control over her. It was something she had no intention of continuing, for it was doing her business for her. And besides, who holds the right to control the Queen of Blades but she herself? The mere thought that someone else held in his or her power more skill at her life than she was preposterous, and was overwhelmingly insulting. She grew angrier with each passing question and answer. His name was Akubar, a Prophet Dark Templar. That was about all that she could get out of his damned riddles. It was bad enough under the Zerg's rule, and now this happened. Well, at least this mind, or whatever it is, promises to give me back.

She could see, she could breathe and think and smell. Of course, the only thing she couldn't do is control her limbs. Someone else was doing that for her, and she was getting angry. Angry? No, infuriated, anguished was more along her lines. It was doing her job for her, and this being wasn't winning many points with her with each passing second. She decided that, since she wasn't doing much anyways, she should instead try to learn more about her occupant. But, she understood, after the million questions, he wasn't go to tell her anything he felt she didn't need to know.

So, she began to probe his mind, and began traveling down the mental stream back to her temporary occupant. The journey down the psychic link led to somewhere near the Shakuras system. Curious, she pushed onward, and she focused in on Shakuras. Strangely, it was not there, but instead she could tell she was a little off, but instead the signal was pulsating somewhere nearby. She then mentally traveled out of the atmosphere, and looked around. The nearest celestial body was a moon orbiting Shakuras, but this confused her. There was no signs of life on it, but instead was a barren wasteland, due to very low atmospheric protection. Yet, she noticed the signal calling out to her from the dark side of the moon, the side that was always facing away from Shakuras. She neared her captor, and probed deep into his mind. She caught a glimpse of his life, the images collected throughout his life flashed before her eyes. She noted that many early memories contained Zeratul, and would ask him once she was herself again. She then moved on to a strange memory; one that was only sound. It was in some strange language, yet for the time being, she could understand it. She heard chanting, but only got the first line or so until someone pushed her far out of the mind, and back into a miniscule mental cell in her brain. He is rather forceful, thought Kerrigan.

"Yes, that may be true, but you will fulfill your purpose, young one. The many will fall once the few are through," He spoke to her again, and was again in riddles, and she had an impulse to seek this creature out and kill him, slowly and painfully. Sensing this, he spoke again: "Those who wish to be found will remain hidden. Those who do not wish to be found, shall be found in Braxis."

What the hell did that mean? She knew anger wasn't the answer, but it sure was helping her put up with her "friend".

"Not you," he whispered inside her mind.

It seemed to come from everywhere at once, and she realized he trapped her in the Zerg part of her brain. Suddenly, realization struck her, as she knew to whom he was talking to: Zeratul, and to prove this, she sent a mental ping to her Overlord. It acknowledged, and lumbered toward the Gate. Through mental displacement, she saw through the eyes of her captured Overlord, and saw the shadowy figure of a Dark Templar, who was surrounded by a guard.

She ordered the relay of a message to Zeratul, and the Overlord obediently passed it on. Her puppeteer could keep her inside any recess of her brain, but his mistake was keeping her in here, for she could contact the outside world through her minions. And through this, she will overthrow her controller.


After being launched out of the Warp Gate and placed on the ground near the rift's end, Zeratul began to seek out Kerrigan. It didn't take long, for she was still in her Overlord, and lumbered toward them, but it seemed as though the cautious mind of the Overlord was overriding any command to bring it closer to the Corsairs that had just appeared. It eyed them questioningly, and then exported its cargo. Out of an opening in the mid-underbelly, came Kerrigan, the Queen of Blades, and leader of the Garm Brood. She stood there, holding herself like an elaborate egotistical leader, her right hand on her hip, right leg bent slightly, and the claws on her back fanned outward, as the being stared toward the others.

"When will your friend be arriving? Has he not already? If you ready to hear my proposition, then let us begin, for my superiors will be here soon to whisk me away from here, and time grows short," she said, shifting position.

Her manner of talk surprised Zeratul far greater, now that he was on Aiur. He managed to recover in a short time to make a reply.

"I am here, Kerrigan. What exactly are your wishes? As you said, time indeed is short, as my brethren are fighting for it as we speak," Zeratul demanded, still making guesses and quiet accusations as to whom is hiding behind the Kerrigan mask.

"What do you believe them to be? Beliefs are needed to get through life, and if you don't follow them, you'll be led off the path, and sweet rewards, ignored," Kerrigan said, and paced for three turns.

"And what is your meaning? Your answers have no questions to match with," inquired Zeratul.

Oh, but Zeratul knew what he had meant, and hope filled him with joy. But, now that he was sure, he was ready to draw him out of his shelter.

"The many will fall once the few are through. Those who wish to be found will remain hidden. Those who do not wish to be found, shall be found in Braxis."

"And indeed, we shall look. Stop this charade, Akubar, for your belief that I would indeed not recognize a lost friend is almost an insult. I believe you know the location of another friend lost to us." This was a bluff, but more or less an educated guess on the part of Zeratul.

"Zeratul. The Overlord grows bolder."

No one noticed as the Overlord edged closer, until Fenix told Zeratul so. Zeratul looked deep into the creature's eyes, and they darted around, surveying the countryside and the distant skirmishes. It fixed on Zeratul, and slowly nodded. Suddenly, Zeratul felt a strong mental tap inside his brain, and Kerrigan's voice filled his head, but faltered, fading in and out. It must be the Overlord, but he was able to make out the whole message:

"Zeratul, when I arrived to your position, a strong mental force contacted me. He took over my mind, and shoved me in the Zerg portion of my mind. He is right, though: my proposition was exactly as he proposed, except you could have Fenix follow me if you do not find me trustworthy; besides, I don't think he would be able to leave Aiur, and further still I think he wants to be sure Raynor and his group are still alive. He also has been telling me about a planet called Braxis. It seems to me he has something of a gift for you there. That's what I've been able to make of his riddles. Oh, and Zeratul, you are in most of his early memories. Wha-"

"His past and mine are entwined, indeed. We were banished together, and he has been a long time friend. But, alas, we ended up on different sides of a war, and the Rogues were then banished. But, they were destroyed, after not leaving. I have prayed that some lived through the battle, and it seems as though some indeed did." Zeratul hoped the Overlord would forward his message to the real Kerrigan.

"Kerrigan, I have decided that I shall go to Braxis, but am I will make this journey alone; Fenix will stay to lead the forces on Aiur, and to search for Jim Raynor. I shall return." And with that, Zeratul called his guard before him, including some Shuttles and Carriers that had been recently built, and headed for the Braxis system.