Chapter 7

"I need to find John Kerrigan...does anyone know where I can find him?" Lilly asked as she was surrounded by the marines and two medics.

"He just left." Jim said as he stepped through the door to the medbay.

"Jim...Jim is that you?" She said staring at Jim from across the bay.

"Hello Shiver, it's been a long time" Jim said as he neared the bed

Lilly looked at him and said "Not long enough...I see you haven't changed much since the Academy. Still thinking of your future?"

Jim sighed and said, "You know, if you would just learn to let things go, we could have been together."

"Me...and you? I doubt it. Not after what you did on Tarsonis." She said.

"What do you want with John" He said, his voice full of strained rage and hurt.

"I have a message for him...there is a new Overmind on this planet, and he want's to talk to talk to John." Lilly said.

The whole room gasped at the mention of an Overmind. Jim couldn't control what he did next. He rushed out of the room. He sped past room after room until he reached the comm room. After punching a few buttons, he managed to pull up John's personal communicator.

"John, John come in...do you read?" Jim said into the communicator as he gasped for breath.

"Jim? Is that you?" Came John's voice from the machinery

"John, listen. There are Zerg on Braxsis. You need to return to base. They have managed to form a new Overmind. Return to base immediately!" Jim said finally catching his breath.

"Jim? Jim are you there...say...interfe...say again..." John's voice said through intermittent bursts of static.

"John? John do you read? JOHN?!?!" Jim yelled into the mic.

For a few minutes more nothing came through the speakers but static. After waiting for what seemed like an eternity Jim finally heard something.

"Oh my GO..." John's voice said as it was lost to the static.

Jim fearing the worst put out a compound wide comm. "Everyone to the center of the compound now!"

He switched off the communicator and turned and left the room.

As Jim exited the Command Center he could hear the voices of his troops. The air felt tight with tension, excitement, and fear. He proceeded to the center of the mob of troops.

"Okay men, this is what we've come here to do. It's time for a rescue." Jim almost yelled.

"Who we rescuing Commander?" Said a marine

"You all know him. John C. Kerrigan." Jim said as he lowered his head.

The troops inhaled sharply.

"Sir?" A female voice from behind Jim said.

"Yes?" Jim replied as he spun on his heels to see Lilly

"If John is missing...does that mean he could have been captured by the Zerg?" She continued.

"I won't lie, there is a good possibility. We may have to get our hands dirty." He said as he turned back towards the rest of the troops.

"Sir, I believe I speak for every person here when I say this. It's time to call down the thunder!" Said a Ghost.

"Alright then, let's pack up and move out! Dismissed!" Jim said.

He turned back to look at Lilly.

They stood there for a moment before Jim said, "We're gonna need your help...if you wouldn't mind staying."

"Jim, I know we've had our differences...but right now, I can't think of anywhere else I'd rather be, than by your side." Lilly said.