Chapter 26

Derk's POV

The medivac engine roared, as I walked out of the Training facility. I spotted Cus and approached him.

"Please tell me you've gone on a mission like this before," I said, turning toward the vessel.

"Well…" Cus responded, nervously. Ugh, that isn't a good sign. "I mean… kind of."

"Lovely," I mumbled, sarcastically, walking up the ramp. "Look Cus, I'm going to keep this as simple as I can. You do exactly what I say. Understand?"

Cus sighed, "Yeah okay."

I stopped abruptly, and turned around inches from his face.

"Cus, I don't care what Caps says and I really could care less about him being our squad leader; you follow behind me like ducklings to their mother. In this mission my words are law. So if you disobey the slightest command… we both die," I said, firmly. "This is a very serious and dangerous task. So the moment we step out of line, we will be spotted, strung down, beaten, tortured and finally as we are giving our dying breath, executed. There is no way out, if the Protoss find us. No escape route. No what ifs. No exceptions. No plan B. No backup. So if anything goes wrong, we're screwed. Thusly, we have to be on the top of our game. Is there anything you don't understand about what I am telling you?"

Cus waited a moment, as the ramp to the shuttle shut. He seemed afraid, and very nervous. All bad signs. This just led me to believe that he would just get in the way. Ugh, maybe I should've asked to go by myself. Bone was the only other one I trusted.

"Yes, I got it," he replied, fidgeting.

"Good, let's keep it that way," I said, turning away and sitting down. I opened up my communicator and hailed Caps. "So inform me on our strategy."

"Okay, so you'll be dropped off a ways from the Protoss' third expansion. We don't want them spotting the medivac, so you guys will have quite the distance to walk. Be hasty though. We need you in position by the time the Executor arrives. But anyhow, after easily sneaking by their third you need to approach their Natural. This will be located up and over the hill directly behind the third base.

"Once you climb the small mound there will be a cliff drop off that leads into the Natural. Slipping by here will be a bit more challenging, but I think you can manage. Now this is where your skills are going to be needed Derk; the place is going to be swarming with observers which will spot you in an instant. You'll have to keep an eye out, and avoid them."

"Wait hold on, how in the world do you expect us to get through that?" I asked. "I can only do so much. Plus we have to consider the very large growth on my back that I'll be haling around."

"Hmm, I'm glad you asked and speaking of growths," Caps responded. "In the medivac you're riding in, there should be a device up by the cockpit. If you position this somewhere near the Natural Base, I will be able to ping on your mini-map where all the Protoss units are. Go retrieve it."

"Yeah okay," I responded, getting up and moving toward the front of the ship. Opening the door to the storage closet, I saw a big box that read FFSG Ariel Eye Interpreter "Okay what's the catch."

"Well, if you look inside the box you'll see… It's not an easy load."

I slumped my shoulders and groaned as I opened up the chest and looked inside. There sat a 1x2 foot, black, metal, cylinder, machine. It had red and blue dots blinking brightly out the side and had a circular handle resting on the top. It basically looked like a giant lamp.

"You're… joking right?" I asked, almost in disbelief.

"Sorry, Derk but I'm not," Caps responded. I huffed irritably. "Well, I guess you have a choice, you can either station this near the Natural Base, or go without it and worry about patrolling Protoss, and observers."

I sat for a minute and banged my head on the wall a couple times.

"Alright Caps, fine. We'll hall this piece of garbage around with us," I said, lifting it out of the crate and handing it to Cus. "Your job."

"Aw come on," he objected.

"Oh, please don't! Your starting to sound like Rod," I said irritated. I couldn't stand winy people. "Okay Corporal, after we drop this thing off, then what do we do?"

"Well once you get that far it should be a clear shot. In fact once you're at the Natural you'll be basically in the base. Just sneak your way up to their Main Gateway. By then The Executor should be warping in. You'll have to kill him, and then get out quickly. If it comes to it I might be able to send in a small force to retrieve you if things get rough. But that'll be last resort," Caps said.

"Huh, let's hope we get in and out fast. I don't want to be stuck with the Protoss savages any longer than I have to," I said, sitting back down on the metal benches.

"And where in the heck did we get this thing anyway?" I asked banging on the big black machine.

"Oh that? A small squad of Vikings intercepted a group of aggressive mercenaries. After blowing them to bits, this was found in the debris," Caps, answered. "Quite convenient that the Colonel decided to lend it to us. It'll definitely help out with this mission."

"Pff, yeah if I don't break my spine caring it first," I replied, unenthusiastically. Caps sighed.

"Derk, you're making this a lot harder than it needs to be," he said, annoyed. I rolled my eyes.

"Yeah whatever, I'll contact you when we've reached the drop off point," I replied.

"Okay, see ya then."

I ended the conference and turned to Cus. He looked back at me uneasily. Why is he acting like this all of a sudden? When I first met him he was a lot more comfortable. Is he really that nerve racked?

"So Cus… tell me," I started, approaching him. "How comfortable are you with using your psionic abilities?"

"Uh, what do you mean?" Cus asked.

"Do you feel like telepathy is one of your strengths?" I questioned. He gave me a blank look. "How long can you cloak yourself without your suit?"

"Um, not sure," Cus responded, rubbing the back of his head.

"Can you cloak without your suit?" I inquired, impatiently.

"I don't know I've never tried."

I huffed, in frustration and pointed to the changing room at the front of the medivac.

"Go switch out of your suit and come back."

"Uh, we're about to go on a mission Derk," Cus objected. "Can't this wait 'till after?"

"No. If Caps insists on you coming, I need to know you," I replied folding my arms. "In fact I want to be so familiar with you it's like we've been friends for years. You need to tell me your strengths, your weaknesses, what scares you, what makes you feel nervous, what you're comfortable with, everything."

"Why?" Cus argued. Well at least he's building some self-confidence.

"Ugh, have you forgotten what I told you, already?" I asked, irritated. "Don't question me Cus, do as I say or I'll throw you off the ship. Now go change."

Reluctantly, the ghost turned around and marched away. After waiting a few minutes, and hearing machines take off his armor, Cus finally came out and sat in front of me.

"Good, now I want you to cloak yourself, just like you would in battle," I commanded. He complied and did so. I breathed out the air I had been holding in. Thank heavens; at least he's not going to be completely worthless. "Good, now hold it like that for as long as you can."

"Seriously?" Cus asked, shocked.

"Yes," I responded, sitting down. We sat and waited a few seconds, but to my disappointment, he uncloaked in a hurl of gasps. Coughing and panting, Cus looked up at me.

"Sorry…that's… all I got."

I shook my head in irritation. I slowly breathed in and out. What I feared about Cus seemed to be coming true. I didn't want to believe it so I set the thought aside.

"Okay, so I guess we should start with your strengths," I said, motioning for him to speak. After finally recovering from his seizure Cus sat up to face me. "Well, I don't know," he said, shrugging.

"Oh please Cus, we don't have time for being humble. Spit it out. What are you good at?"

"Huh, I don't know, I can spot things really easily," Cus said, seemingly embarrassed.

"You can… spot things?" I asked, unsure.

"Like cloaked units. I was the highest in my team of spotting observers."

"Eh, anything else?" I questioned, unenthusiastically. He shrugged making me tense. I can't believe this. "Okay let's hear it, what are your weaknesses?"

"I don't like sniping. I can't seem to psionicly guide the bullet like everyone else," he said, slumping his shoulders.

"So basically you aren't very good at controlling your psionics?"

"No I guess not."

"Lovely," I huffed sarcastically. "Alright whatever, how do you feel about hand to hand combat?"

"I'm okay I guess, but attacking things up close scares me. I don't feel comfortable with it."

"My gosh, is there anything you can do?" I asked, in one last attempt to put my hunches at ease.

"I don't know," Cus responded, shrugging. I waited a moment, attempting to relax. Feeling calm enough to continue forward, I rested my shoulders and looked him in the eye.

"Cus, when were you recruited?"

"Huh, wait what?"

"Don't play stupid Cus, You heard me."

Cus looked away avoiding eye contact.

"Answer the question Cus."

After a few tense and discerning seconds, he turned to me and responded.

"A couple weeks ago."

I felt a sudden surge of rage. It seemed to run through my veins, and into my head. I could feel my temples pulse. Attempting to remain in control. I nodded silently and shook my head.

"Go get your suit back on," I ordered bluntly. After irritably watching him not move, I stepped aggressively forward. "Now!"

He jumped up and briskly made his way back to the dressing room. The moment he was out of sight, I turned on my communicator and called Caps.

"Oh, hello Derk. Have you reached the base?" he inquired.

"No, and thank the Xel'Naga I haven't!" I shouted, furious.

"Hold on a second what's going on?"

"Oh you know very well "what's going on"," I yelled.

"No, I'm afraid I don't Derk. Do explain," Caps responded.

"You sent me here on this dangerous, life risking, mission with a fresh out of the barracks inexperienced recruit!" I flamed, infuriated. How could Caps be so stupid! Not only could the kid get himself killed, he risked my life as well!

"Derk, calm down, every Private needs to go on their first operation."

"Yeah, but you don't send someone as new as him? They are unpredictable, stupid, inexperienced, back talking, stuck up, unreliable, pig heads!" I shouted, letting all of my anger out. "You cannot depend on someone like that, to be able to accomplish a mission like this. I am sending him back. I refuse to take Cus with me. I'll do this by myself."

"Derk, please, you're so unrealistic when you're pissed," Caps, responded. "How in the world do think you can avoid contact if you're carrying that scanner with you?"

"I'm more than capable and if for some reason I can't take it I'll leave it."

"You're not going without a comrade and that's an order."

"I don't care Caps, I'm not going to risk the safety, and success of this mission, just because you want a recruit to tag along!" I yelled.

"If you ignore my order than you ignore the Orange Terran. And wasn't it you that said they would give anything for the Orange Terran," Caps, shouted back. "If you disobey my command you'll be relieved of your—"

"You know what Caps?! The only reason the Orange Terran is ever disgraced is because of idiot Captains who give absurd orders like you! So how 'bout you go screw yourself and leave the Orange Terran to people who know what they're doing," I yelled, ending the transmission.

Hello, everyone! Told ya the next chap. would be faster. So ya, feel a TON better about this. I'm tellin' ya guys I love writing Derk's POV. So Izwan, if this one seemed rushed, then well... I don't know what to tell ya. But anyways, ENJOY!