Chapter 20

Derk's POV

After finally getting the nurse off my back, I made my way down toward a small cafeteria. It took a bit of wondering around to find, but for a ghost with psionic powers, it isn't very difficult. I approached a medium sized counter machine. Looking at the holographic screen, I looked for something good to eat.

Different types of food and beverages showed up, which consisted of a lot of meat. My eyes scanned through the different types until I found what I was looking for, grilled Ursadak tenderloins.

"Mmm," I mused, selecting the meat. I turned around, walking over to a table. Taking off my mask I inhaled deeply, enjoying the fresh air.

"Excuse me, are you authorized to be down here? All patients need to check out of their rooms." A girl said from behind.

"Look lady, I already checked out," I said, not even facing her.

"Well I'm going to need your name," She replied. I twisted my head to look at her.

"What for?" I questioned, annoyed.

"Have you ever even been to a hospital before?"

"Course I have," I said, thinking to myself. Have I?

"Then you should know we don't just let our patients wonder the halls. If you need something then your medic should bring it to you," She said. "Now what is your name?"

"Derk Treeton," I growled, angrily. "Now go away and leave me alone."

I got up and walked over to the counter where my food sat waiting. Reaching in my pocket I pulled out my Receptacle. I scanned out some minerals and handed them to the cashier. Picking up the giant plate, I took it back to the table. The medic still stood there carrying some type of monitor.

"What do you want now?" I asked.

"This says that you are still currently unstable and just got released," The medic said. "I don't think you should be wondering about without someone watching you."

"Oh please, I'm fine," I said, remembering the incident that I had caused earlier. "Plus, I am leaving this evening anyway. So I won't be "wondering your halls" for very much longer; now if you'll excuse me, I am starving."

I turned my back on her and looked hungrily at my food. The nurse huffed and left. I sighed in satisfaction. It's about time. Goodness, who do they think I am some sort of untrustworthy recruit? I began to eat ferociously at the tenderloins. The taste was indescribable. I hadn't had such delicious food in months. Most soldiers never really do.

Concluding my meal, I stood up, putting my mask back on and strolled out the door. Psionicly I looked for the starport, where my shuttle would be arriving. It didn't take long until I saw the large structure.

Following my senses, I made my way toward the building. Finally exiting the Hospital, I saw where the starport and other spaceships lay. After having a good look around, I sat patiently on a bench.

Well I guess it's a good time to practice and make sure my psionics are steady. I floated some boxes around, knocked some peoples' hats off and continued to stretch and broaden my mind. Ugh, this is going to take an eternity. And as if my will was law, a medivac's loud engine entered the atmosphere. I smiled.

"It's about time," I said.

I stepped forward, as the ship approached the ground. After several weeks of misery, I will finally be on my way to Jinksole. I took in a deep breath, stretching my back. I can't wait to smash some Protoss skulls. The large shuttle hovered over my head. Looking up I watched the hatch open up. I could feel my body lift from the ground, as they beamed me onto the medivac. It was a sensation that I would never get used to.

Opening my eyelids, I scanned the room. There were a few soldiers grouped at the back. Hmm, must be more reinforcements.

"Sup," a marine said, awkwardly. I rolled my eyes, taking a seat. They all turned back to each other, whispering. How old are these guys; four? I turned my head towards them and listened to their conversation.

"Hey, I heard about a dispute over Plank and the Green Terran," a marine said. "Knowing Plank, we're going to end up fighting them too."

"Oh man, I know," Another said. "Plank has to pick a fight with everyone he encounters. I think he needs to take a chill pill."

"Agreed," the third marine said. I clenched my fists. How dare they?! Without Plank the Red Zerg would have annihilated us years ago!

"I believe it's time for a new leader. Plank has been in long enough."

"I say we start a riot."

"Yeah, let's show everyone who Plank really is," The second marine said.

"A coward!"

I stood up and made my way over to them. I'd had enough. As I walked over, I noticed the look of fear in their eyes. Hmph, these guys were no more than a group of ignorant recruits. They didn't know the first thing about Mr. Plank. I shouldn't bother my time with them. Let them think what they want to. So to not look stupid I continued my approach, but stepped passed them. I looked out the back window, turned around and walked back to my seat.

The group of marines seemed dumbstruck. I heard them whisper about how they thought that "they were going to get it." I chuckled to myself. Heh, they'll man up soon enough. Everyone always does.

Suddenly the thought of Rod hit my head. And the dream I had had the other night. Ugh, please don't let me think about that. But the more I dwelled on it, the more my mind was sucked into the vision. What did that Protoss dark templar show me? Is that Rod's fate? I thought for a moment. No, the Zerg would never infest someone as pitiful and week as Rod.

Wanting very badly to think of something else, I directed my thoughts to Jenny. Uh sweet Jenny. I shook my head. No, I must forget. She is gone and I will never see her again. I knew this statement was invalid. I would defiantly see her again. Unless one is killed, over time you will often see familiar faces. The Orange Terran like to keep the same people in the same few sectors. You have a better fighting force if the soldiers know what's going on.

Grab two different people, put them in different scenarios, wait a month, put one of them in the others circumstance, and they'll have trouble. If you keep them in their own situations, you have fewer problems.

Orange Terran reason that this is our advantage. We figure most army's don't care. They station men wherever they want and that's that. In addition, we don't have to waist as much time transporting everyone around. It's kind of nice.

"Attention all militia, warping into Sector Gjin ETA two minutes," The pilot's voice said, over the intercom. I grabbed onto a poll hanging next to me. In about a half hour I'll be hammering my gun into some Protoss face. Huh, can't wait.

A second or two later the ship sprung into space at the speed of light towards its destination. Jinxsole.

The ship slowed and came to a stop outside of a large blue planet. I thought back to old memories of the place. Memories of death. Lots of death. Well, heh, lots of Protoss deaths. I smiled again, excited. With any luck I'll be put in the same station as Tenny. That'd be a blast.

Our ship hit the world's atmosphere and we were instantly thrown into a barrage of firepower. Blue lasers flashed by, left and right. I tensed as a large explosion came from nearby. Looking out the window, I saw a Viking detonate into a million pieces.

"Grab onto something, we're in for a bumpy ride," the pilot said. I had forgotten how terrifying this was; flying through the air with absolutely no control of whether you live or die. If you get shot down, that's the end of it, your dead. There is nothing you can do about it. Quite scary.

We continued our descent, soaring passed other planes until finally the medivac leveled itself out; now gliding a good distance above the ground.

"Prepare for departure," the pilot announced. I stood up, stretched my back, and readied my gun. Here we go. And suddenly my body was, seemingly, thrown downwards.

All around me was a blur. Marines were firing left and right. The Protoss army appeared to be caving in all around me. Turning left I saw a Zealot running in my direction, yelling alien gibberish. The Protoss warrior had a long face and no mouth. He wore a red cloth around his arms and had a piece of thread around his dreadlocks. His eyes blazed teal, but with no pupils. Surely not human.

I shot my C-20 canister rifle at his face. He continued his assault towards me without even a flinch. Ugh, frikken shields. Growling in anger I pulled a lever on my gun, aimed down the sight of my scope, and blew his bloody head off. The Zealots body altered itself into a fine navy mist and his soul lifted into the air.

But as I watched his body disintegrate, another Protoss warrior swung his psi-blade from behind. Fortunately for me, I was able to sense him and narrowly dodge his attack. Retaliating, I quickly grabbed us upper arm and using his weight against him, flipped him over my back and onto the ground.

Before he could react, I yanked my knife out of its sheath and slit his throat. The laser seared all the way threw his shields killing him instantly. Again the alien's body disintegrated into the air.

Psionicly sensing hostile movement from behind, I rolled backward just in time to miss a psi-blade to the back. The Zealot stumbled forward, obviously surprised. The warrior spun around in anger and charged again. This time I decided to attack straight on. Bad idea. The Protoss easily knocked my knife out of the way, and retaliated by swinging down hard onto my shoulder.

I could feel the burning sensation as the blade hit my armor. The Zealot kneed me in the jaw, throwing me backward. I recovered swiftly and fired a round of lead into his chest. Fortunately for him, his shields protected him from my attack.

He lunged forward, attempting to finish what he started. I anticipated his attack, lifted myself off the ground, and kicked with both legs into his stomach. He toppled backward. I took the advantage to fire another round into his torso. But to no avail. The bullheaded warrior rose back up.

I dashed toward him in a rage. He swung his weapon toward me. Easily I ducked out of the way, and grasped his arm. I pulled quickly and watched him fall to the floor. But instead of simply shooting him, I dropped down next to the Zealot, grabbed his head and smashed it into the dirt. I repeated this several times, until he finally died.

"Unit QI9872X, this is Lieutenant Mullfur speaking. I am in command of your zone. Your objectives have been updated," A voice said in my mask. A screen came up in my view. It displayed a map of the area and some objectives. I was use to this kind of thing. Everywhere you go there is a different set up. "I will be giving you your orders."

"Roger that," I replied.

"Let me just update you on our situation here. As you can tell we are pretty pinned down. You will join a small force of a special elite group of ghosts. Looking at your history I've decided that you're quite capable." He said. I continued firing at the Protoss warriors as he continued to speak. "You will meet up with them in five minutes. The location is displayed with a ping on your mini-map. I expect you to be there. Additional orders will be given."

"Yes sir," I responded, immediately running in the direction of the rally point. Huh, this'll be fun.

Hey what's up! Thank you for your patience. I am glad to say that I have at least revised this one once! Sense I didn't do it last time.

Anyways here is another chapter. I would really like to know how I did on the fighting scene. I don't know whether to say I am good at it or not. So PLEASE tell how I did in your review, which I am SURE your going to do... right?

Also just for fun, which character do you like to read about more? Rod or Derk?