Author's Notes: Sorry for the delayed chapter; but to make up for it, it's extra, extra long!

thats wat she said

What? Didn't say anything. Ahem. Now, where was I? See, you made me forget with all this nonsense.

Oh right. About 3000 words this time. This is the horror themed segment I was talking about earlier; hope you like it! Also, Just so you guys know, chapters 10 - 18 are all new since I died. I mean, since I stopped writing for a while. DaLintyMan, make sure you've read those already.

Now, for the ride of terror! Gl hf! :D

Next update: At least by the end of summer break, though probably before then. I'm trying not to be too optimistic here. Probably next week or somethin'.

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I mean, er, (not youtube not youtube not youtube) review and favorite! Follow as well! Tell your friends about this fic! Yay!

We now return to you with your regularly scheduled StarCraft.

AESEARIA

"You are self-aware, right?"

Thus was Daniel's first question as they settled in around the village camp fire, its gray smoke particles unfurling into the night sky. They had tried to get an early appointment, but the village elder was busy. (Unfortunately, she had not been able to say what she wanted to say in time.) Of course, Aesearia could have probably single-handedly killed every villager in town, but she decided to settle this the peaceful way. Besides, it wouldn't help with her image with the Terrans, given that they already kind of thought she was crazy and bloodthirsty.

Something the Terrans seemed to never to be able to understand was that Zealots were zealous, but never bloodthirsty. There was a difference.

The village elder narrowed his emerald eyes, slowly nodded, and replied in a nasal voice, "We have been here since the beginning of time, the first settlers of Minecraft. And the only ones too, until the Players came."

Aesearia and Ethan exchanged glances. It was a game after all.

"We had hoped that you came in peace," the elder continued, "and I see that you have. We, after all, are a peaceful people, though we do have some means to protect ourselves. Under any case, as a token of friendship, we have decided to donate the village library to you for shelter. There is one thing that we must ask of you, however."

Aesearia narrowed her eyes, confused. The library had been their dwelling since they arrived. Perhaps they simply wanted to believe that they were in charge of things?

"What is it?" Daniel asked rather cooperatively.

"We have lost two miners carrying precious diamonds to an alien structure somewhere north of here. We would like for you to go and, um… Investigate. Perhaps reclaim the gems. There has been unworldly substances leaking from the building, but surely heroes as brave as yourselves would chivalrously undertake this daunting task?"

Daniel said "Yes" at the same time Aesearia cried an outraged "No". They glared at each other for a second before Aesearia said, still staring Daniel down, "We do not simply do as you bid."

"Hang on, but they'll give us a free house!" Aesearia locked her mind with Daniel's at this and, after making sure that their mental channel was secure, said to him, "Are you stupid? Can't you build us a house? This entire affair stinks of trap." Then she intoned loudly to everyone present, "We do not accept this… favor. Are you mad? Have one of your iron golems do it."

The temperature of the setting seemed to drop despite the dancing flames and Aesearia could literally sense the agitation and dark anger seeping from the villagers. "The iron golems fear that place," the elder said blatantly. "We were hoping you were braver. Do you not accept our quest?" The last statement came almost dangerously close to a threat, and Aesearia narrowed her blazing blue eyes. This small action was apparently noted by Daniel, however, and he quickly piped, "We will consider your offer, sir. Thank you. We shall take our leave now." This he said, eying frantically at Aesearia. She shrugged mentally, rising to leave.

"Wait," the elder said, his voice somehow managing to drip ice despite being extremely (indeed, almost hilariously) nasal. "I'm afraid you shall need to find shelter elsewhere tonight. We do not offer shelter to cowards."

"But what about our stuff?" Daniel cried, outraged.

"We will safe-keep them for you. You may leave now."

"See here," Ethan began bluntly as he reached for his Gauss rifle, but Daniel put a warning hand on his armored shoulder and Ethan reluctantly shut himself up. "So we shall," Daniel replied to the elder, taking an ironic bow. Then he turned and left into the night, the villagers leaving to return to their homes.

"We better go help him," Ethan grunted. "He'll probably need help with building us a new shelter and everything."

However, by the time they found Daniel on the outskirts of the village, he had already built a little cube of dirt with a wooden door in front. Ethan and Aesearia both had to stoop low in order to enter (as usual), but the inside was big enough for all four of them, dog included.

"Ah, the good ol' survival dirt house. Brings back the days," Daniel said, pushing up his falling glasses. There were five beds placed on the earthen floor, as Ethan and Aesearia each took up two.

"Well, nighty night," Daniel grumbled before throwing himself into bed, the soft torchlight from the single lone torch outlining the back of his body. Aesearia ignored the metallic cranking from Ethan's armor as he took it off for the first time in a long time and tried to go to sleep. She did not bother taking off armor.

Sleep came after counting minerals for about twenty minutes, but it came nonetheless.

Peace. Bliss.

Again the paradise.

Again the slow regaining of consciousness.

She opened her eyes, remembering that she had them. The clouds and the dancing lightning captured her attention, and she gazed at them like a captivated child.

A blast of déjà vu.

I've been here before

ah.

My name is Aesearia.

Then came the awareness that another sentience was in the setting.

"Greetings. We meet again."

Maybe you can actually ask for my permission before bringing me here? It's slightly off-putting. Just slightly.

"I have no taste for humor just now. You have made a very unwise choice, openly defying the village elder like that. The first thing, come the morrow, you must approach him and apologize. This particular village thinks very highly of themselves, and humbling yourself before them is a wise move. Dignity will not save you trouble. Iron golems are not easy to deal with. Accept his quest, for only by doing so can you progress in your goal of leaving this plane; this world. I would think it prudent of you to relocate yourselves as soon as you can, though."

A pause.

"Nevermind. That was incredibly stupid of me to divulge that to you. I should have stayed my tongue."

What's a tongue?

Oh right. Those disgusting Terran digestive features.

"I meant that figuratively. I am a sentience; I do not have tongues. Or rather, a tongue. And yes, I can read your mind. You're not the only psionic being around here."

Hang on…

Are you Protoss? Or Xel'naga?

"No, though it is interesting of you to think tha – Oh. Of course. That's why. No, I am not Xel'naga. Or Protoss, for that matter. Might we return to our topic of converse?"

Ouch. There was a touch of exasperation in that.

"Accept their quest. Your abilities are uniquely suited to this situation. After that… Well, I ought not to say what will happen after that. I offer my sincerest of apologies to you if I have appeared manipulative throughout this entire affair, but I have no choice. All shall become clear with time. Oh, and, if you do not accept their quest, you will be stuck here. FOREVER. So do as I say."

Very well. It's not as if I have a choice.

"But you do."

Come now, that was figurative. Besides, do you really expect me to linger here forever? Aiur awaits.

"As it does. One word of advice, if I may: steer clear of the Creep. Do not become entangled by it. This Brood has developed abilities that others have not yet. Your friends would do well to follow my advice as well. Also, have your friends deal with the Protoss. I think that would be best for you.

"That is all."

Wait, but -

A rude awakening. She blinked. She rose, flexing her muscles. Besides her, the Terrans and Arf were still asleep. Turning, she saw through the door that the cubic sun was just peeking through the otherworldly cube-y mountains of this game.

Dawn. The shadows began to flee, stripping the mobs of their only cloak. The undead burned in the light, but their other associates remained safe. Spiders crawled lethargically across the border between grass and desert and back, their nocturnal hostility gone. Creepers wandered the plains and the sands, blending in with the cacti.

Aesearia left the house, shutting the door as softly as she could behind her. Perhaps she would kill some mobs this morning… Yes. That would substitute for jogging nicely.

As Daniel put it, she was capable of "one-shot-ing" everything in the game, so Creepers didn't even have the time to explode. By the time she was done, the sun was well over the mountains and both grasslands and deserts alike were scattered with mob drops.

Daniel would have to clean that up later.

"We would like to offer our apologies," Daniel said smoothly. "We would gladly take your quest."

Aesearia had explained to him and Ethan about all her visions regarding the Voice so far, and Daniel took the explanation rather well. Ethan, on the other hand, just stared at Aesearia as if she were crazy.

(Though, to be fair, he looked at her like that most of the time.)

"Ah," the elder said, running a hand absent-mindedly over his bald, smooth head. "Eric over there will show you to the thing. Eric?!"

"Aye!" faintly shouted back a brown-robed figure over in the distance, working a piece of land, a stone hoe in his hand. Laying down his tools, he jogged quickly over to them.

"Whatcha need?" he asked, an easy-going grin on his face, his brilliant (cube-y) green eyes sparkling smiles all.

"Show these good adventurers the thing thing over yonder, will you, my good man?" the elder asked, a coaxing smile on his face that did not quite reach his distant eyes.

"Well, sure thing! Y'all ready?" Daniel nodded at this, and Eric blasted off with a "Here we go!"

The trek through the forest was a long one. The met a total of five creepers, two zombies, and two skeletons on the way, but they were only minor nuisances at this point. Eric passed the time by recounting memories of his childhood; Aesearia toned it all out and, judging by his glazed-over appearance, Ethan did as well. Only Daniel even bothered to even pretend to be listening, but Eric didn't notice, as absorbed in his story-telling as he was. He eventually expanded into how the two lost villagers used to be his friends, and how upset he was when they were lost. He eventually started crying and sobbing into a piece of white cube-y handkerchief, and they all had to stop, Arf whining, until Daniel could coax him into continuing to lead the way.

Aesearia, naturally, did not take in a word of it.

By the time they reached the clearing, it was already high noon. Eric refused to go any closer to the structure in question, however, and resolved to only be at a distance.

"That there is the thing," he said, pointing a pixelated finger (that was the word) at a behemoth of a sphere in the distance, half-buried in a ginormous crater. The sphere, curiously enough, was not pixelated, and was instead a texture of smooth metal. An emblem was implanted into the hull of the vessel (they could see that now).

The Terran Confederacy.

"Holy…" Daniel muttered under his breath.

"A science vessel." Ethan's jaws were tight, his jawbones shifting. Aesearia could almost hear his teeth grinding.

Parts of the ship were broken, and there were smooth metal debris scattered everywhere around the crater. Out of the broken holes a revolting purple substance leaked, clashing unnaturally with the green grass and gray stone around. The Creep shimmered and moved, forming impossible structures which then disappeared, only to rise somewhere else and continue its gross mutation.

There was a moment of silence.

"You can go wait for us back at the village," Ethan grumbled. "We know the way back." Eric, eager to leave already, nodded and turned to leave, but seemed to remember something and said over his shoulder, "Good luck," and then left.

There was another moment of silence, this time without Eric.

"I'm not touching that," Daniel said flatly.

"Listen, guys," Ethan said quickly, his eyes betraying his agitation. "I don't think we should do this. That's a Confederate science vessel! With Creep leakin' out of it! Do you have any idea what they do in science vessels?" His eyes grew large, pleading. "Please don't go. There is Creep leakin' out of it, for sweet mother's sake! Do you have any idea what's in there?!"

Another moment of silence as Ethan's words sank in, broken only by Arf's panting.

"Ethan, I've told you two already about my vision. The only way to move forward is through that vessel. We can avoid the Creep by building on it. Right, Daniel?"

Daniel looked at the Creep thoughtfully and began to move towards it, followed by Aesearia and Arf. Ethan lingered behind for a moment, obviously torn, but followed a while after anyway. Daniel placed down a piece of cobblestone once they got closer to the Creep and stared at the block for a long time, waiting for the Creep to do something…

The Creep did not latch itself onto the block.

"Well, Ethan, you would have to taint your shiny boots," Aesearia commented dryly. "Daniel, please build us a bridge onto the vessel." Ethan's jaw worked some more, his hands tightening on his gun; but in the end, he did not move to leave.

The bridge was built out of a double file of cobblestone, and was elevated about four blocks above the ground from where they started for safety purposes. However, due to the sloping of the giant crater, by the time they neared the vessel, they were well above thirty blocks off the ground. The bridge ended just at an opening, and they one by one stepped onto the vessel, but not before Daniel placed a blanket of cobble on the Creep.

Except for the tiny part of the vessel into which sunlight reached, the hallways were gloomy and eerie, lit only by the emergency soft blue lights at the bottom of the walls. Ethan's hulking stature only barely fit in the hallway. As they carefully crept along the hallway while Daniel placed down blocks in front of them, they saw that the Creep became less dense and less dense until it disappeared altogether; and by then, the little comfort that sunlight offered was gone.

"Well," Daniel said, pulling a dull gray sword from thin air, "the good thing is, no more creepy purple thing."

"It's literally called Creep, Daniel."

"Oh." A pause. Then a dry, "How creative."

"Whatever, ladies. Let's move." Ethan popped up his bayonet, turned on his suit lights, and moved forward step by step, followed by Aesearia, Daniel, then Arf, whose foot paddings clicked softly on the metal floors. Ethan's lights reflected ghastly off the surroundings, bathing them all in a soft, white light.

YEAARRRRRRGHHHHHHH

"Did anyone hear that?" Daniel asked, beads of sweat popping on his face. Sweating, Aesearia recalled, was sometimes a symptom for human nervousness.

"Gotta be deaf not to hear that," Ethan muttered audibly through his closed visor, aiming down his sight, looking for a target. "So you know," he said, "they usually deal with Zerg and psionic experiments in here. So Aesearia, your kickass psionic powers would come right in handy just about now."

Nodding to no one in particular, she narrowed her mind and searched for a signature –

help

pain

fear

"I'm picking up something," Aesearia said, unconsciously placing her fingers on her temple. "A cry of distress. Ought we to answer? I vote nay, for whatever good that does." Aesearia could picture Ethan's jaws working again, and Daniel was stroking his chin, deep in thought.

"Well," Daniel said at last, "I think it would be smartest for us to remain silent. I mean, it could be a trap. Could always be a trap." Aesearia sensed Ethan nodding, but he obviously realized that they couldn't see him, for he then said "I agree."

"Then we shall remain incognito. The signature was coming from this way," she said, pointing her long fingers at a door somewhere in from of them.

The door had a sign on it, half of which was unrecognizable anymore, according to Daniel. What remained of the sign said (according to the Terrans):

NEL ONLY.

CTIVE SUBSTAN PSIO

PROTECTI GEAR UIRED

DANGER

All was silent at the last word. As if only to prove their point, at that time, another cry came of

YEAHREEGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHRAALLLLLLLLL