Chapter 7

Derk's POV

"Ugh! I'm already sick of that little nutcase!" I said crunching my fist.

"Ah, Derk give the kid a break he doesn't know what's going on very well and he is trying to absorb everything in, while trying to keep his sanity." Tenny said slapping my shoulder.

"Whatever you say," I said. This kid acts like he knows everything. It really grinds my nerves.

"Oh and we have been asked to accompany Mr. Plank while he goes to the meeting. He has given us full permission to blow their heads off if they try anything tricky." Tenny said leading the way to the newly built command center.

"Wait I thought that they wanted to talk to him alone?" I asked.

"Well yeah, kind of, but all we have to do is ask if we can tag along. If they say no… we will anyways. Whether they can see us or not." Tenny said elbowing my arm in a friendly gesture.

Plank was just walking out of the command center as we approached it, wearing his spiffy white shirt and tie.

"Okay girl scouts, I'm sure Tenny told you about what we are going to be doing." Mr. Plank said.

"Yes sir, he did." I said.

"Alright then I have been given directions to where we will be heading. I was thinking about getting a ride in a medivac—"

"Ugh." I groaned.

"But… I think we are good enough to barrow some vulture bikes from the factory don't you think?" Mr. Plank said with a grin. My heart lifted and I snickered to myself. Vulture bikes are a little old fashion but that's what made them fun. They have an engine that could cruise faster than any Ferrari they have here. Of course they are a bit dangerous, in which the motor could explode, but who cares. Vultures were and still are the funnest hover vehicle around, and plus, who wouldn't want to cover spider mines across the ground.

We both grinned and nodded our heads. As three brand new vulture bikes came roaring up next to us.

"This is going to be a blast," I said. "We'll scare the pants off these pansies before we even enter the building."

"Ha, ha you got it Derk." Tenny said.

"Well then, shall we." Mr. Plank said, gesturing his hands toward the bikes.

We all anxiously scrambled on to them and roared their grinding engines.

"Let's go roast us some thick heads." I said crouching in a biker stance.

We rolled down the streets roaring our engines. Most people shied away from the streets as we cruised on by. Others continued to watch us, almost in horror.

We screeched to a stop as some police officer stopped us and took us to the white house, as it was put. He marched us straight into a room where the president sat.

"Greetings, oh so gracious one. Why have you wasted our time in bringing us before your so wonderful shiny bald head?" Derk criticized, with a quick look from Mr. Plank, almost a scowl.

"I hope you know that with a wave of my hand you all can be sent to jail." The president said, with a glare.

"Now we don't want to stir up any trouble." Mr. Plank said. "But if you insist."

Plank gave us a signal. Tenny and I quickly turned to the guards, they reached for their guns, but it was too late. Tenny had already swiped the weapon out of one man's hand while knocking the other dizzy by slapping him in the face.

The first guard kicked his foot toward Tenny, but he was too slow. Already the ghost had thrown guard number two into a spiral crashing into the first one. The president hadn't been hesitant when he pointed his pistol at me and fired.

It didn't catch me by surprise at all. I had known that their guns were out dated by far, so all the bullet did was bounce off my shoulder plates. I laughed and threw a random china plate off the wall at his face. It sent him collapsing backward. I grabbed the president and threw him against the wall.

"Okay boys, I do think they have had enough," Mr. Plank said with a chuckle.

"You will never get away with this. The whole military is being sent to blow you to pieces as we speak!" The president yelled.

"With the pathetic junk you guys have you it is possible you would kill a small squadron…. Maybe." I said holding the president against the wall so he wouldn't do anything else.

"Now let's be fair. You guys will cooperate with us, and no harm will befall anyone. Well at least not from us." Mr. Plank said, suddenly getting serious. "Tell your guards to back down, and we can settle this like real civilized men." Tenny was holding both guards down with ease.

"Fine, it's not like you give me any other choice. Guards, enough. I don't want any further fighting."

"Tenny release them." Mr. Plank ordered. Tenny did as he was asked. "Now as fun as that was, let's talk about why we are actually here." The president had taken to a seat, as did Mr. Plank. The rest of us stayed standing.

"This is going to sound ridiculous but I could care less about what you think of it. What you need to first get through those thick skulls of yours, is that we are not here to harm, or to save your miserable lives. We are here for one reason, and that is to stop the Zerg from expanding and becoming a bigger threat.

Now before any questions I will make this very brief. The Zerg are a very dangerous species. They have armored plating that is a part of their bodies. There are many varieties of Zerg, but that irrelevant to my point. All that matters is that they are coming to invade and you stand no chance. They have an army vastly superior to yours in too many ways to count. So before you waste all your troops attacking us, you might want to consider we are on the same side. The Zerg are not to be toyed with. They will stop at nothing to irradiate and infest every thing here. I know it is a lot to absorb but you will have to deal with it."

"Ha, you expect me to believe all this nonsense." The president spat.

"Yes that's why I am contributing my valuable time explaining this to you." Mr. Plank said looking very annoyed. The president was deep in thought. "And to add on top of that, where in the world do you think we came from."

"Very well, this doesn't mean that this is over. I just need time to think. I will call off my army for now. I highly dought that this so called Zerg actually exists, but I don't want to take any chances. Guards call off my men. I don't want any further bloodshed.

"Very well sir." The guard said giving Tenny one last glare.

"I am not at all happy about this but you have proven to be ahead of our technology. That still doesn't mean we are alleys. It simply means I will back down for know. Leave, and I will send a messenger to you when I have actually talked with my country." The president said as he dismissed us.

"Oh and one last thing," Tenny said, as we filed out the door. "You really need to get better security; two guards aren't enough to take on a child. Good day."

The guards shut the door and took us back to our bikes. We cruised back to camp and put returned the vultures back to the factory.

"I think that went fairly well." Tenny said. "Sure we had a small skirmish but he soaked most of it in very well."

"Good job ghosts. I would like you Tenny to start spreading men across the town, with or without their president's permission." Mr. Plank ordered. "We have the air around this planet secured so I highly dought they will slip in without our Battlecruisers seeing it. Eh, but you know the Zerg; anyway, good day gentlemen." Mr. Plank headed back toward the command center.

"How long do you think he will stay?" I asked "He's bound to have more important issues to attend to. Jinksole, and Nartes are obviously more important."

"I don't know Derk. He must have thought that keeping this planet was vital or perhaps he can no longer aid the fight on Jinksole." Tenny replied, shrugging his shoulders.

I started toward the newly built ghost academy searching for a shower. I pondered on what the Zerg's next move might be. They were so persistent, but how could they break our forces. Possibly a nidus worm if they could sneak an overlord in. There just wasn't any other options, unless they simply just sent their entire army. They had done it before, and it was fairly successful; but at that time they desperate. I could see the Blue Zerg rushing in with few casualties, but the Red Zerg? They weren't like that. The Red Zerg like to play it safe, only attacking if the battle favored them. Risks were never taken. Huh, well at least we don't have to worry about the ruthless Blue Zerg. That's something to be grateful for.

My thoughts wondered as I started to think about the Blue Zerg. The Blue Zerg are terrible. They had no mercy and would infest anybody who would rather die. They would always choose what that civilization would fear worse. Death or infestation. Myself of course would always pick death over any kind of mutation. I would hate to have some kind of parasite in me controlling my every move. I've heard that you can actually watch everything that happens, but can't stop yourself from doing it.

I almost ran into Mark, the newly imported ghost, who recently landed, as I approached the ghost academy. I didn't know him very well even though the orange Terran had a very small amount of ghosts. I had seen him around some times on different missions but never got to know him.

"Oh, sorry Mark, didn't see you." I said, looking to just quick apologize then be on my way.

"Oh that's fine, but, I think that being the best of the Terran you would be more careful, blundering in to someone like a drunken old fool, heh heh." Mark said with that voice that just says "Oh man I need a slug in the face." In other words he thinks he's better than me. "You still have a lot to learn my young friend. You still act as a small child, always wanting to be in combat and never think for the safety of anyone else. Being an Orange Terran you need to ensure the safety of everyone around you and—"

I'd had enough.

"Look you dirty flee bag, I'm not going to let you talk crap on me. You think you can march in here like some kind of amazing hero. You act like you created the orange Terran. What do you think you are some kind of god?" I said marching past him. "And one more thing, I am no one's young friend! Meet me tonight behind this school and I'll show you a piece of my mind. We'll see who's the small child!" I yelled stomping off in rage.

I had left him stunned. Molded to the ground, I didn't mean to be that angry to a fellow ghost, and it seemed to me that he wasn't trying to be mean. That's just how he is. Proud to wear orange, which makes me angrier.

Maybe I'll just call it off. I didn't really want to fight him. Maybe he was really good. Eh who cares it won't be something serious, just a small skirmish.

Once I finally found the showers, I closed the door and got in. The hot water felt amazing on my back. It felt good just to stand there and feel the water run down my shoulder blades. I looked down and remembered I got a hit by that hydralisk, and sure enough there was a long scratch across my side. Ugh I should've been wearing an overshield, and some better armor; though it was uncomfortable.

Sense all Terrans have scrapes, scratches and battle scars they forget to heal there was a medical beam that hangs on the wall. I grabbed it and pushed the button. A long green ray shot out of the front of it and hit my wound.

Within ten seconds the wound was gone. All healed. I loved our technology. People hardly ever use bandages anymore. Every house usually has one of these. Good thing medics carry these around or a medic's life would be hell.

I started to relax again when there was suddenly a big bang on the door that sent a spasm through my entire body.

"Hey Derk, is that you?" Tenny yelled.

"Ugh! What do you want!?" I yelled back.

"Mr. Plank wants us. He says it's important."

"Ugh! Now?"

"Yes now, come on."

"Alright be out in a second." I said. I could hear the furry in my own voice. Today couldn't get any worse.

So I shut off the water, dried myself off and threw on the same ghost outfit, which was still sweaty, aside from the fact that there was supposed to be a Sweateater, to absorb liquid, installed. Darn, looks like I have an older version.

I went to the command center, past where they made SCV's and up a small flight of steps. There was a door and I let myself in.

"Hello Derk it's about time." Mr. Plank said, standing up. Tenny stood to my left. There was a chair with wheels on it in the center of the room.

"Sir." I said in greeting.

"Alright so you might be wondering why I have brought you two here." Mr. Plank said looking at each of us.

We both mumbled a yes and Mr. Plank continued.

"I'm sure you both are aware that I need to be leaving sense I have other important matters to attend." He said.

"So I need someone to be in command of this place and to keep it running."

"Yes." Tenny and I said. Excitement hit me like a shockwave. My palms and forehead started to sweat. Tenny began to smile.

"So I was thinking…." Mr. Plank said turning around with his hands behind his back. Now I was shaking. This had never happened before. I had never been in charge. How amazing it would be to actually be in command.

Mr. Plank sighed.

"Ben will do." He said. The world fell apart at the mention of his terrible name. Ben… Ben… Ben…Ben... My fist clenched at the thought of it. Him in charge?! My world would fall apart. There is nothing left in life to live for. I crumbled in rage. I was fuming. I couldn't hold it…

"GAAH!" I screamed.