Chapter 8

John fought with all his might to release himself from the talon that held him securely to the ground. He twisted his head around to look at the creature that held him. It was a familiar dog type creature, where it's feet should have been, there were long sharp claws. It's outer skin had hardened into a form of carapace...thick and dense. It held an odd greenish tint on parts of it. He saw the creature's face, he wished he hadn't. It was twisted...mutilated in a sense. The creature was once a different species but what he couldn't say for sure. He looked around and saw many more of these creatures, known only as Zerglings.

Good, good, good my children. You have served me faithfully. Now soon, shall come the time of our Ascension. Soon we shall take our rightful place within the Swarm! A thought said as it rippled it's way through John's skull.

"What the heck was that?" John said aloud.

It was me my child. I am the beginning, the end. Everything that is to come. I am the Overmind. The true and rightful ruler of the Swarm. The Overmind's thought echoed inside John's mind.

"What do you want with me? I'm no use to you!" John shouted.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" He screamed as the Zergling that had him pinned to the ground shifted it's leg.

I do not like your tone, for you see you are of use to me. Last time I decided to take a child...I made a mistake...a miscalculation if you will. I did not foresee the one known as Kerrigan, would turn on me. Thinking that I had total domination over her mind, I thought myself powerful, but, I did not count on her...how do you humans put it? The Overmind paused. Ah! That is what I seek. I did not count on her determination. She proved to be my undoing...but now, now I have what I need to assert myself back into control. It continued.

"What is that?" John asked.

I need another. Another human with her talents. I need one with her mental abilities and her will.

"So...you chose me? Why? If infesting her turned her against you...what makes you think that infesting me will go any better?"

I didn't say anything about infestation John. What I'm proposing is a union. Your abilities and my control over the small swarm that you see before you. What I propose, is that you and I merge and become...what is the word? It seemed to become lost in thought. Ah...yes I propose that you and I become a king in a sense. For you see, your former wife, is the self proclaimed Queen of Blades. What I suggest is that you and I become the King of Blades. Think of the power we will hold. Your abilities as a Ghost, and my control over the Swarm...we would be unstoppable!

"I'd rather die" John said flatly.

I think not John...for you see you have no choice in the matter. The Overmind's thoughts echoed again.

A searing hot pain ran through John's body as he was lifted from the ground, still impaled on the spike of the Zergling. It ran at a fast clip, then came to a sudden stop...which didn't help the fact that John was in agony.

It stopped in front of a huge carapace structure...like none John had ever seen. It was massive, at least twelve stories high...much bigger than any skyscraper he had ever seen on Tarsonis It had huge spires growing from it, ending high up near the dome that was atop of the structure. He was amazed that the Zerg could build something this massive without it caving in on itself. Then, in horror he realized. It was alive. It wasn't built by the Zerg...the structure itself was a Zerg.

Behold. You see what I am in my true face. I am the Overmind. It said once again.

"Dear God...how in the...name of all that is Holy did you come to being?" John said in awe of the massive structure.

For me to tell you, I would need more time than your very lifespan...but once I have merged with you, you will know all that I know. Now prepare yourself. It thought once again.

"LET ME GO! I DON'T WANNA BE YOU!" John yelled as he thrashed about on the spine that was in his shoulder, ignoring the pain all together.

As I said before my child...you have no choice in the matter The Overmind's voice echoed through John's brain.

In horror, John saw a part of the Overmind's outer shell open up. Inside John saw blackness, a void. He thrashed harder, trying to break the bone spike that held him in the air. The blood ran down the spine like a river, but John tried harder to get himself free. Then without a sound the Zergling dropped him and retracted it's spine, letting John go. Without missing a beat he sprang to his feet and made a break for a clearing.

He managed to get thirty feet from the Overmind then felt himself being dragged back. He turned to see that the Overmind itself had produced tendrils from the void in it's shell. Trying with all his might to hold on to something he clawed at the very creep itself. Hoping that somewhere in it's gooey surface that it would have a hand hold, but it seemed that no matter how many he found, they were gone just as quick as he could grasp them. Feeling the cold grip of fear upon his heart John sent out a telepathic message to the only one he could think of.