Crouching low in the thick underbrush beneath a massive tree, reaching towards the sky and fighting for canopy space with all the rest, Kerrigan was watching a curious exchange.
"You tell the other pack leaders Brakk calls them! Corrupt Zerg are heading for the Ancient One! He must not be wakened!" The massive primal zerg who was speaking, clearly Brakk, was bellowing at a winged creature similar to the Mutalisks of her Swarm. Brakk himself looked nothing like the Zerg under her command, he had evolved beyond the size of an Ultralisk and was all thick armor and massive horns, spines and claws.
Smirking, Kerrigan watched the Mutalisk fly off with a chittering shriek and Brakk immediately charging off through the lush volcanic jungle towards his main base.
My Queen, why did you not destroy Brakk and his messenger? They were alone and vulnerable. Izsha had been watching through the eyes of the Hunter Killers that flanked Kerrigan and was clearly confused.
They will come to us, and they will die. The combined might of the swarm is in orbit over this planet, Izsha. It was neat, tidy and brutal. Kerrigan would take down all the strongest Zerg on the planet in one fell swoop.
You will bring the Swarm down upon them when the are fully committed and unable to retreat. I understand now. As soon as she understood, Izsha returned to managing and defending the bases that Kerrigan had established.
Hives, Lairs and the creep that was generated by them and their Queen guardians had already spread far, a cancer on the landscape. Kerrigan was left wondering where the resistance was until she took it upon herself to find out. Between Brakk's message and what information her tunneling Roaches had managed to gather, Zerus was firmly divided by pack leaders continually warring and devouring the weaker. How Zeratul thought these creatures would give her any trouble, she did not know.
Abathur had already begun collecting living and dead specimens of the primals and expressing his distaste for their chaotic natures. "Their evolution is wild. Chaotic. Swarm is methodical, with purpose. Perfect." Kerrigan shook her head slightly at the thought. Abathur was a curious relic of the Overmind's swarm, and far too useful to discard even if his methods were rigid.
The Ancient One was so close now. Kerrigan had been guided to its location like a moth to a flame, attracted by power. When one of her Mutalisks flew into an open and clearly well traveled area and she saw through its eyes a gaping chasm of a mouth in the ground, she frowned. Brakk was drawn to the Hives she had already established to the west, and had not gathered his pack close to the slumbering ancient to defend it like she thought he might.
As the Mutalisk flew over the mouth and surveyed the area, it became clear that the ridge above the ancient itself was an easily defendable foothold. It was just a matter of passing herself and a small force with a drone past Brakk's intensifying attacks. The strength of the primal zerg was not to be trifled with, and her front line had to be continually resupplied with heavier units- any one of the primals could take out several of her own zerg before being taken down.
Zagara.
Yes my Queen? Zagara, a Queen who had distinguished herself with her clever Nidus Worm trap against General Warfield on Char, had been charged with growing and defending every forward base Kerrigan started.
Gather your troops and siege the choke point Brakk is defending to the east. I will be there. Brakk had established a base of his own at a three-way intersection, well worn through the ages from the trampling of feet, and was continually bolstering it. Patrols of flying zerg over the nearly impenetrable forest made slipping an Overlord with a drone past not a viable option, the Mutalisk Kerrigan had managed to direct past them had already been ripped apart by glaive worms in the time it took her to address Zagara.
For the swarm! Eager to conquer and consume, Zagara bolstered her forces for an assault while Kerrigan maneuvered through the jungle foliage with her Hunter Killers, yearning to join in the slaughter. Eggs with Mutalisks, Ultralisks and all other manner of Zerg were forming and erupting with their cargo at Zagara's coaxing, still dripping with ooze as they flew, charged and trampled towards their destination.
In Brakk's choke point base his pack was shrieking and roaring, ready to fight and feed. The coming of an assault could be felt and seen- the thick leaves and spines of the local foliage were shaking and swaying as the ground was pounded by hundreds of taloned feet, even the air was vibrating. Already they had learned that these new zerg, corrupted ones, did not have consumable essence; and though fear of Brakk himself consuming them kept them in line, it was the thought of the sleeping one rising that truly united them. Not even Brakk could stand against that ancient hungerer.
"They come. They come!" Slavering and digging at the ground with its feet, a massive primal zerg with four legs lead the charge as soon as the kaiser blades of an Ultralisk sliced through a tree in its sharp turn around a bend. Followed by their smaller peers, each creature entered a collision course for one another, eager to express dominance. The screaming, roaring and hissing coming from both sides was dampened momentarily by the loud fleshy crashing of bodies, immediately proceeded by death cries.
Supported by their base and its living defenses, combined with their naturally greater individual might, the tide of battle was quickly turning in the primal zergs favor and Zagara's forces were being forced backwards, despite the broodmother herself being there and mending the larger and more durable of her forces.
My Queen, our forces are being overwhelmed! Zagara called to Kerrigan as she personally dashed a heavily armored primal Mutalisk from the sky.
Hold your position! We are here. The primal zerg had pushed the invading force back around the bend towards the hive they came from, exposing their flank to the northeast. It was from there, erupting from the forest, Kerrigan leaped forth with her Hunter Killers providing cover and a small cluster of Banelings the Queen of Blades herself spawned.
The leader of the primal zerg forces reeled at the surprise attack, turning on all fours to face Kerrigan and snarling. Though heavily injured- a severed kaiser blade was sticking out of its side and its armored flesh had been peppered with Hydralisk spines, it moved no slower. "You! Corrupt zerg! You die!" Snapping its jaws around a zergling that had been clawing at its foot, the zergling was dismembered in a clean bite right before three Banelings splashed into the great beast's side. The collective force of the primal zerg was being shredded from the side by the greatly evolved Hunter Killer spines and as their leader screamed in agony, his fleshy armor being melted off in a grotesque display, Kerrigan herself leaped forwards and sunk her blades deep into his sides.
"Push forwards, for the swarm! Feast in my name!" Rapidly punching through the reptile-like beast, Kerrigan made especially sure it was dead before joining in the push back to the primal base and crushing it.
Thank you, my Queen. These Primal Zerg are not to be taken lightly. Zagara was thoughtful, standing beside Kerrigan over the bloody weeping ruins of a primal zerg hive as their own drones laid the foundations of a swarm hive over it.
"You are one of my most clever broodmothers. You will learn from your experience and become stronger." Content that their current forces, bolstered by her Hunter Killers, could hold the point against further assaults from Brakk, Kerrigan looked to the north once more. "Secure this base, do not fall and do not give ground. Make sure the air is clear over the northeast forest as well, I have some cargo passing through." Smirking, Kerrigan personally directed the Overlord full of drones over the wild jungle towards the Ancient Ones resting place, and the ideal base location above it.
As my Queen wishes. We will not fail you.
By herself, Kerrigan ran down the beaten path towards the clearing with the gaping maw of the ancient one and her soon-to-be blooming base above it. Everything was falling into place nicely, it was just a matter of wakening the beast and getting the information she needed now, and dealing with whatever the splintered pack leaders were going to throw at her.
Leaping over an incline and landing on her heeled foot, Kerrigan almost ran straight into a Quillgore pack. Going still, she silently observed the beasts cautiously passing a green pool that looked familiar to her. A Quillgore foal, unaware of the danger the adults were avoiding, ventured too close to the bubbling viscous fluid and was immediately grabbed and pulled under by a small primal zerg, disappearing in a splash and spooking the rest of the herd into a run deeper into the forest.
Creeping forwards, Kerrigan used the cover of sturdy bushes that had resisted trampling over the years, seeking to get a better look at the pool and its contents. Though the blood of the young Quillgore was seeping through the almost luminescent green fluid, it was clear there was only a small primal zergling hiding in it.
Abathur. Once she had drawn close enough, Kerrigan leaped forwards and brought her wing blades down with terrible efficiency upon the zergling, landing in the pool on her feet and with the lesser creature pinned under the liquid with her blades.
Yes? Abathur was immediately there, looking through his queens eyes and taking in information.
What is this pool? I feel... Stronger. Kerrigan looked in wonder around her, she could feel the change in her flesh and bones.
Primal spawning pool. Useful essence. Absorb and become stronger. As if it was obvious, Abathur was gone as quick as he came.
"Hm." Leaving the corpse of the zergling and its prey to lay in the pool, Kerrigan turned back to the maw and walked towards it, thinking.
My Queen. It will take much to awaken the sleeping ancient one, it must be fed. Izsha had been observing the situation, keen to point out the obvious.
I know. The Quillgore and fallen primal zerg we have killed will make fine food. My hive is ready above the ancient, Izsha. Take my drones and start feeding it.
As my Queen wishes. The drones will be easy prey as they gather and bring meat to the ancient one, they must be protected.
You leave that to me. Standing on the jutting tip of earth that reached out above the maw, Kerrigan looked down into its depths thoughtfully. Nothing but teeth and death, the Primal Zerg could bring some very interesting variations into the swarm, but if this beast could be put to heel and made a part of it... It was unlikely, but the thought made her grin wickedly all the same.
A familiar bellow brought Kerrigan out of her reverie, along with the sound of trees being snapped like twigs. Slowly turning to look over her shoulder to the southeast, Kerrigan saw the fast-paced approach of what could only be Brakk.
"CORRUPTED ONE! YOU WILL NOT WAKE THE ANCIENT! YOU FACE BRAKK NOW! I WILL CONSUME YOUR ESSENCE!" It was only a few seconds before the bristling pack leader charged into sight, earth and plants flying from around his feet and off his horns as his many red eyes focused on Kerrigan. Curiously, he was devoid of reinforcements. A quick thought revealed Zagara was under heavy assault, but the broodmother was entrenched and not going anywhere. Seems Brakk thought to bring the invasion to a quick end.
"I'm glad we could have this... Meeting of leaders, Brakk." Smirking, Kerrigan sauntered off of the precipice and onto the field, readying for the inevitable assault as Brakk worked himself into a slathering rage.
If Brakk had attempted to respond, it was lost under the frothy snarl that sprayed saliva on the ground beneath him right before he charged.
Izsha. Leaping forwards in sync with Brakk, Kerrigan nimbly evaded the first SCV sized fist that carved trenches into the ground where she had stood.
My Queen, do you want reinforcements?
No. Collect the corpses of the primal zerg and forget about the Quillgore. The second fist swiped closer to Brakks body to protect his well armored belly and Kerrigan danced backwards to avoid it, landing on the back of his first fist with a clatter.
As my Queen wishes. Be careful.
The agility of his prey was clear, and Brakk lunged his head forwards seeking to clamp his jaws around her armored torso. Kerrigan braced herself, crouching and grabbing hold of a spine jutting out of his forearm as she directed her wing blades with pinpoint accuracy. Brakk's momentum came to a jerking halt as blood sprayed out around the boney appendages that were embedded deeply into two of his many eyes.
"AHHHHH!" Reeling back in pain, the giant flew to his back feet and brought his hands to his face, Kerrigan momentarily forgotten as she dislodged her blades from his eyes and leaped away nimbly.
"YOU PAY! YOU PAY!" His screams were so loud Kerrigan could feel the air trembling at his anger. She was already poised to strike at his belly, but paused briefly to observe a curious change in her opponent. He seemed to swell in his fury, both his armor and spines shifting to a darker color as some sort of unholy adrenaline coursed through him.
Wary of the change in her foe, Kerrigan ran back out of range of his grasp so as to attempt to discern what Brakk had in store for her. Black blood oozed from his eye sockets, but Brakk still had four more eyes to see with. Focusing on Kerrigan, he landed on his fours once more and made to charge at her again- his movement perceptibly faster. It seemed he did not learn from his mistakes, Kerrigan wondered how he managed to get to the top of the food chain to begin with.
Crouching low, Kerrigan prepared to leap and blind Brakk further. A moment before connection however, Brakks entire body twisted and Kerrigan was faced with being rolled over and impaled on hundreds of spines. Without a choice, she leaped into the air and focused a quick blast of energy from her clawed fingertips into Brakks underbelly as he tore up the ground where she was standing and rolled to his feet to give chase.
Caught on the run against a foe who was rapidly becoming stronger and faster by the second, Kerrigan observed Brakk swelling in rage once again. In a moment, she had caught sight of one flaw- his armor was not growing, only the fleshy muscles beneath were swelling and so the plates were separating to reveal gaps. Narrowly avoiding having her own wings cut off by a massive blade that made a new furrow in the ground, Kerrigan lead him towards the maw of the beast in rising desperation.
"Yes. I will feed you to him. Your weakness is poison." Brakk hissed in pleasure as he thundered after her, ready to make the kill as she ran up the jutting outcropping of stone that overlooked the ancient ones maw.
Brakk was already a very heavy creature, and his new increase in volume only exacerbated it. Kerrigan looked down into the maw of the sleeping beast and at the rock under her feet and sincerely hoped for the best. Brakk was already charging up the small incline, his head forwards in an attempt to shove her off with his massive tri horns.
Poised to leap once more, Kerrigan grinned at her attacker. "I did not come to lead the swarm through weakness, Brakk." She yearned to monologue further, to taunt him, but he was already well within striking range and it was time for her to make her own counterattack. Putting all her strength into the thrust, she leaped outwards and over the gaping maw leaving Brakk grasping at the stone beneath his feet to recover and not fall in himself. He was too busy watching Kerrigan, hoping dearly she would fall in, that he did not notice the stone beneath him giving way to his girth.
Arms flailing out in alarm as she realized she was not going to land at the edge of the mouth like she had planned, Kerrigan slammed against the sheer earth with a grunt and immediately began scrabbling for purchase with her claws.
"Hah. Hah. Hah." Brakk gave off a raspy laugh as he watched her struggling, grinning as best he could. His merriment was short lived the moment he realized he had begun falling himself.
"No! NO! Brakk will not die like this!" Backpedaling across the crumbling stone, Brakk turned around and made a reach for the solid edge but missed it horribly. Kerrigan was scaling the stone with her wing blades and claws, digging in with her claws and then pulling herself up farther with the blades, watching over her shoulder as Brakk began his descent- he could not climb.
Squealing in terror, Brakk was furiously digging at the fleshy and toothy walls he was sliding down but only damaging himself on the massive razor teeth. As soon as his black blood began to drip down into the gullet below, it came to life. Kerrigan drew herself up onto the ledge and watched in grim fascination as the inside of the maw spasmed, tendrils erupting from the flesh and seeking out Brakk as he writhed. As soon as Brakks flailing hind legs had been thoroughly wrapped up, he was ripped from his position and pulled into the dark below with one final scream. A sick crunch and eruption of blood sprayed upwards and coated the massive needle-like teeth at the base of the maw.
Kerrigan was poised to watch more- to make sure Brakk was truly dead, but the ground rocking beneath her feet and a tremendous groan reverberating through the earth had her leaping to further safety and far enough away that she could avoid any immediate threats the waking ancient may offer.
From afar, Kerrigan watched a head and what appeared to be its hands erupt from the ground, spraying earth and rock in all directions. Many eyes, each the size of the Queen of Blades herself, blinked into focus and looked towards her as the creature settled into wakefulness.
"I am awake." Its voice, clearly male, reverberated through the area although it was low-pitched enough that it was perhaps just a whisper. "You are the one who has roused me? You seek something." It was not a question. No one would awaken him for nothing less than the pursuit of power.
"I am Kerrigan, Queen of the Swarm, and I have awakened you to help me seek the power of this planet. What is your name?" Standing tall, although no higher than one of the creatures nails, Kerrigan focused her psionic might until it trailed off her body in a visual display of personal power. A classic tactic, Kerrigan sought to deter him from attacking early, there would be no weakness detected.
"Zurvan. As old as the race of primal zerg themselves. I can lead you to the power of Zerus, but can you grasp it?" Questioning, Zurvans many eyes scrutinized the Queen of Blades, curious. "You come from the stars. Corrupted zerg return to their birthplace, full circle."
Baring her teeth at the challenge, Kerrigan visibly bristled and snapped. "I have dominated every life form in this galaxy. Zerus will kneel before me or it will lay broken at my feet!"
A soft chuckle, deep enough to shake the ground she stood on, reverberated from Zurvan. "So be it."
Izsha. Direct the drones to other activities. Zurvan is awake. She hardly needed to say it, it was doubtful a soul on or above Zerus did not sense Zurvan waking.
Aboard the Hyperion, Stetmann was frantically rushing through the halls above the Laboratory and staring at the diagram on his data pad with the overlay he had put over it, attempting to discern where he needed to place the scrambler to complete the cube-like field that would hide the broodmother sitting in his Laboratory from scanners.
You can do quantum equations in your sleep but you can't read a map, kid? Swann's voice was scathing and the young scientists shoulders drooped. Stetmann and Swann had spent the lions share of their time together coordinating mentally and the fruit of their labor had been the realization they could operate through one another with a mere thought, making sharing ideas and helping one another a much easier process. Swann was looking through his eyes now, and a strange surreal feeling came over Stetmann as the mechanic deftly took over his body functions- leaving him an observer in his own body.
"Eh. Alright now. Watch closely cause I hate repeatin' myself kid." It would look extremely odd seeing Stetmann standing there talking to himself, thankfully he was physically alone but more than a few times Jayce had been the confused observer of some of their interactions. Orienting himself, Stetmann was turned left to right while looking down at the map.
"You almost had it. Needed to go around this corner and you were right there kid." Walking quickly, Swann brought Stetmann to where he needed to be and stuck the scrambler to the wall, activating it with precision and promptly leaving Stetmann's body with a jolt. Reeling and almost dropping his data pad, Stetmann caught it and shook his head as the haze wore off quickly.
Captain, all scramblers are in place and the Hyperion is ready to approach Station 837. Briskly walking towards the bridge where everyone would be congregating to watch events unfold, Stetmann felt his nerves buzzing. So many what-ifs were running through his mind; what if the scrambler didn't work as they thought it would and the ship was attacked? They could be captured and would surely become test subjects in some hidden lab, subjected to horrendous experiments for the rest of their existence- and as far as he could tell they would never die of old age, just like all zerg. Stetmann struggled to keep a grip on himself all the way there.
"Are you sure you're good to do this?" Horner was scrutinizing Jayce, who looked harried and unwell. They had gone over what she needed to do many times already, and if the tick at the corner of her eye was any indication- she was getting tired of the second guessing of her abilities.
"Captain. I've been good to do this since the first time you asked me that question sixteen times ago. I am capable." Everyone was watching their exchange with a mix of quiet amusement and concern, but there was no choice. Jayce would have to be their voice, it was too dangerous to go in there themselves. No one was confident that they could defeat Shlassa in a mental battle yet, so they put their hopes on someone who could just as easily point out the ship is full of zerg and try to get them killed.
Raising his hands in a gesture of surrender, Horner looked away from Jayce. "Fine, you're right." Looking at Raynor, Warfield, Tychus and the just arriving Stetmann, Horner snapped. "Stay and watch as much as you want, but for god sakes get out of sight." They barely had time to jump away from the command console when Horner hailed the station and its controller, an angry looking older man with beady eyes, popped up.
"This is Station 837. Hello, Hyperion. Never thought Raynor's Raiders would pass through here." A palpable tension rose through the bridge. The station knowing the name of the ship and its contents was not a surprise, but what the controller chose to do with that information next is what raised concern. For their part, Horner and Jayce were standing beside one another calm and collected.
"Hello Station 837. Don't suppose you care much for Mengsk, do you? Our credits are as good as anyone elses either way." Horner smiled easy, negotiations were a familiar drill for the captain.
"Only thing old Mengsk did for us was send us to the ass-end of the sector. You and your boys are welcome here, 'n so are your credits." The wiley old man gave them a crooked smile, all yellow teeth. "If you can fit that ship in here I'll be surprised though." He added in afterthought.
"You leave that to me. My companion will be coming aboard the station for the transaction after we dock." Horner tilted his head to indicate Jayce, who smiled and nodded politely.
The controller couldn't hide his disappointment, his lips curling downwards slightly. "Alright. Sure would be great to meet Jim Raynor though, man's a legend."
"He's preoccupied at the moment sir, else he would be glad to meet you." Jim quietly rolled his eyes while standing between Warfield and Tychus, all three looked bored.
"As you say. See you folks on the station then." With a click, the comms were closed and everyone breathed easier.
"Man's a legend, hah. If only they knew you back when, Jimmy." Tychus grinned.
Warfield was more focused on business, eager to depart before they had even arrived. "You be careful on that rig girl," pointing towards Jayce with a clawed fingertip, he looked especially severe. "doubt those poor bastards have even seen a woman in months."
"He's right." Tychus conceded, crossing his arms and nodding slightly.
"Quit second guessing her and lets get this over with!" Raynor snapped, pushing himself off the wall he had been leaning on and beginning to pace around like a caged beast.
Jayce gave the firearm she had strapped to her left leg, hoping to give the illusion of her being a lefty, a firm pat as she stepped away from the command console to let Horner do his work in peace. "I've survived fine so far, gentlemen. I think I can deal with a bunch of horny men in space, thank you." Tychus had a feeling he was being pointedly looked at, frowning slightly.
"Be quiet, all of you, or I will personally boot your asses off my bridge." Horner was guiding the ship to the docking station and he was getting swiftly agitated by their talk. "Unless you can steer this ship yourselves, of course." The silence that greeted him was pleasing.
Whew! Okay friends, it's been a while but you can probably expect updates to stay around this pace when there's this much going on. I decided to cut this chapter short, originally I had planned to put the whole Station 837 fun in here too but I realized this was going to turn into a brick to read, so that is up next! Hope you're enjoying yourselves and December is treating you well. :)