Very important chapter here in the scheme of things, and the second to last one in the current story Arc, after this it will settle down for a while as I build up to Korhal and later Char.
Khazin, as promised, here is your Internet Cookie. have fun with it. it's only a minor reference, don't worry, the name's just a little something fun for me, surprisingly though, he's turning out to be a much bigger character then I ever had planned. if things go a certain way, he may be much, and I mean much more prominent in the storyline.
Read and Review. I may put up a poll next chapter to deal with something expositioned in this one,
I had done what I could for him, but I'm a combat medic, the real work would be done by the ship's surgeons. All I can do now is wait. Dave was not someone who I would be concerned over given his treatment of me, going beyond simple mistrust and into blind, closed-minded anger, but right now he isn't Dave, he is my patient, and I worry over them all the time. 'There is nothing I can do now', I tell myself again, I can simply hope that my assistance in the field was enough to allow the surgeons to help him. Right now, I am in the secondary laboratory with Hanson. My CMC armor is stored in the armory, and I am just in my normal clothing. I look over the results from Hanson's tests, the results which allowed me to go on that mission, and probably save the lives of some of my Squad. They are protein chains, formed from the "junk data" we have been seeing inside of my cells. I watch in awe as one of them, labeled HEI 3 is exposed inside a cell to the Zerg virus. This protein, or more accurately a large group thereof, attach to the cell membrane, and deny the viral material entrance. This is great, I think, it's something that can stop the virus in its tracks. Then, though, the cell is exposed to a chemical which induces mitosis, and the Zerg virus slips inside, causing mutations and corruption of the genetic code. I immediately grasp the significance of this discovery. Neurons do not undergo mitosis, and therefore are safe. Because my genetic material contains the code for this protein, my nerve cells cannot be repurposed.
"well? Do you know what this means?" Hanson asks from behind me.
I nod, "you were right. So long as the Zerg don't evolve a way around this, I'm safe." The Zerg virus only repurposes cells of the same type for a specific job. It cannot turn a muscle cell into a nerve cell, or a stomach-wall cell into a thyroid cell. The alterations in my brain stem are easily explained as well, seeing as that could simply be my body's reaction to the new input, rather than Zerg conditioning. "Have you isolated the codons responsible?" I ask.
"yes, this is actually a highly distributed polygene, although any other variation of the codons involved appears to produce nonfunctioning introns as opposed to high functioning exons, in other words" I finish for her
"I got extremely lucky."
She nods "yes, and that's not the only unique adaptation I've found in your genetics."
To that I inquire "wasn't I supposed to be here for these tests?"
"yes, well, I was about to go back to my room after you left when I noticed something on the data we were reviewing earlier. I decided I'd take a look, and lost track of time." I shake my head, and then refocus on the real topic,
"so, when do you think this will be ready? I'd assume you have a vector to implant cells," she pulls up another page, this one detailing a lab-created Retroviral Vector which would be injected into patients who would receive the genes.
"very soon, I've used your original DNA from the records, so they won't accidentally be infested by exposure." We look over the details, it wasn't perfect, there were still the physical effects, but with this "cure" as incomplete as it may be, Infestation will be a much less dreaded fate.
After finishing up the theoretical cure, the actual Retroviral Vector wouldn't be ready for a while, I return to my barracks. Matthias is currently receiving withdrawal aid, which is one of the more painful treatments, Dave is in surgery, and will not be ready for active duty for the rest of the week at least. Tim's girlfriend Madeline is in here, quietly mourning her loss. She's an ensign on the ship, and not one of the ground forces. I feel sorry for her, Tim was a nice guy, competent in the field and very good at what he did. loss is a part of every war, but that doesn't make it feel any better to the ones that have to live with it. Drained physically and emotionally, I fall onto my bunk, although it is still forty five minutes to night cycle, and drift into a deep sleep.
Today would be a day off. The Squad is still getting over the extended use of Stimpacks, never a pretty sight, like a hangover, but worse. Our reinforcements are being decided, I feel sorry for Tim's friends and family, as well as Mark's, his stay with us was very brief, as he was one of the reinforcements for our old squad, who never came back from Umoja. Most importantly, we weren't even doing any fighting today, just picking up the Decrypted adjutant from Deadman's Port, the one place in reality that matches the description "you will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy."
I hear footfalls behind me, and turn around to see the Spectre, John, decloaking. He looks like a normal enough guy, although the warning about a possible psychotic break still remains at the forefront of my mind, which considering he's a Teep, or telepath, if not a teek, or telekinetic, is not necessarily a good thing. He chuckles at my thoughts, "Don't worry," he says, "if I can trust an infested Terran, you can trust a psychic." Alright, my situation considered I might be a little hypocritical when I worry about his mental state, but that doesn't mean my worries all go away. On top of that, the fact that he's reading my mind like an open book isn't comforting.
"Sorry, not used to my thoughts being observed, but I didn't mean any offense to you in particular" I respond, without anger at the mind-reading aspect, that's not something you can always control from what I've heard.
"None taken" he answers, then regards me fully, "forgive my curiosity, but are you psionic?"
I nod, "we think it's why I was abducted rather than just killed. It's not very high, quite literally only about a two point one, I wasn't any use to the dominion even as one of their psychic investigators."
He looks me straight in the eyes, "how would you like to become one of us? I can sense something in you, maybe the Zerg unlocked some kind of latent potential, but there is something, some" he searches for the word "pressure, building inside you. I fear that if we do not control it, it will escape eventually, in a way that may not be healthy for you or others." I believe him, but I don't know If that's the life I want. I've always put helping people ahead of hurting them, that's why I went into the medic program. He says I have untapped potential Psionically, but that doesn't mean I have to use it as a weapon. On the other hand, if I don't, and it costs someone their life, could I live with it, knowing I could have done more?
I think it over and then say "I don't know yet. That's a large decision, and not one I'm sure I'm ready to make yet. I will think it over, and when I come to a decision, I will come talk to you".
He acknowledges my hesitation and answers "I wasn't expecting commitment right away, just think it over." I agree with a quick nod, and he vanishes into the air with a burst of red light.
I want to shower again, hoping to get some of the grime from the last mission off me. When I look into my drawer to find clothing, I am surprised by what greets me. They look a lot like my old outfits, but they aren't. it appears that my outfits have been replaced by ones with holes already made in the back. They are of a stronger material as well, thankfully. Whoever did this, I'm extremely grateful to them. I take one of the outfits with me, and quickly clean myself off. I return to my Barracks afterwards, and sit down to find something to do. I see a message to me in the email from Hanson and open it. Inside is a small message, "we've had a complication. Come as soon as possible."
I rush down to the Laboratory, Zeke in tow. When I arrive, Hanson is worrying over some reports. "I'm glad you've come. We've lost contact with Haven" she says upon hearing my arrival. I walk up to the screen, and see an error message on the communications screen.
"Are you sure it isn't a glitch on our end?" I inquire.
"No, the signal is being actively blocked. Something is very wrong here. Haven is on the edge of Protoss space, but I thought it would be safe."
She looks very worried. "the colonists might be infested, or the Protoss might think they are." I say, believing it to be the most likely possibility.
"I think that's what's going on. Our treatment is almost ready, Julia. Even if they are infested, the Protoss need to know they can be saved."
I nod, and say "the cure only works on those not already Infested, though, doesn't it?"
she agrees, and says solemnly "there will be some we can't save, but we can save those who aren't fully converted yet."
At that point, I look her in the eye and say "Hanson, what if it doesn't work?"
Her face grows more determined "it has to work, there is no other choice." I agree, she's taken on the same mentality I did when I first found out my condition, operate under the assumption that everything is going to work.
"Let's go tell Raynor" I say, she answers
"I've already told him, he'll call us up as soon as we're in the system. Until then, let's keep working on this cure"
Sure enough, hours later Raynor calls us up. he looks weary, and is talking to Matt when we enter the room. The last mission didn't go over as smoothly as we had thought, I don't know most of the details, but we were at Deadman's rock for twice as long as was estimated.
Matt says "We're almost to Haven, but there's still been no contact from - Sir, there's a protoss fleet holding in orbit! They're disrupting all communications to the surface - and it looks like they're powering up their main weapons!"
Hanson cries out "Jim! You have to stop this!" Raynor looks at her, then back to Matt.
"Matt, open a channel to the protoss. Let's see how diplomatic they're feelin'." He patches us through, and a Female Protoss in battle armor appears on the screen. Her Psionic communication emanates from the Communicator.
"En Taro Tassadar, James Raynor. I am Executor Selendis. Your bravery and service to Aiur are known to us."
He responds in kind, "En Taro Tassadar, Selendis. Listen - with all due respect, your fleet needs to pull back. The people on Haven are no threat to you." She shakes her head in the negative, and explains.
"Our Observers detected Zerg hive spores infesting the colonists. They must be purified. If you wish to undertake this mission in our stead, we will permit it." Hanson steps forward then.
"Jim, some of my people are infested but you can't let the protoss just destroy them all! We've developed a treatment for the virus. It will stop full Infestation".
Selendis argues "The only cure for zerg infestation is purification by fire. You know this to be true, James Raynor." I then step forward, and an exclamation of shock is heard from the Protoss woman.
"I beg to differ" I say, staring defiantly into her eyes.
"what manner of abomination is this? You have let an approximation of the Queen of blades onto your vessel. Explain yourself, James Raynor."
"Julia's been on my side since the Brood War. She was captured by the Zerg en route to our forces. Due to something in her genetic code, the Zerg weren't able to override her brain. The good doctor here has been finding a way to expand this to others."
Selendis splutters "this… cannot be. It is obviously a trick of the Zerg, Raynor. You cannot allow her to deceive you. This is even more proof that the colony must be eradicated. If you will not join me in this purification then I must deem you beyond salvation."
Jim responds back "I ain't gonna stand by while you wipe out a whole colony, Selendis. Not while there's still a chance we can save 'em."
She looks saddened, and then responds "then we shall honor the man you once were, and not what you have become." She cuts the communication.
"Thank you Jim, thank you so much. The cure won't be full, they'll end up like Julia, but it is a cure, my people don't deserve to be wiped out."
"just get your cure ready to deploy, we'll do the rest."
Edit: forgot to say I don't own any of the references to other games in here, but I don't