Korhal – Augustgrad outskirts
"Found you." Whispering to herself triumphantly, Nova's cloaked form cautiously strode down a run-down concrete path between buildings that had managed to avoid destruction, a feat of its own on the poor side of Augustgrad's outskirts. She had caught wind of the Spectre's psionic pattern not far from the rubble of the building he had demolished. It was sporadic and varied, as though he had little to no control. No surprise there. Nova thought, Spectres were all out of control. Just waiting to crack.
Sensing the climax of her hunt, Nova raised her rifle and placed her finger on the trigger. Her prey was just around the corner, in a narrow alley. The signature was weak, but steady and unmoving.
Rounding the corner and taking aim, Nova froze. Her sights were set on a naked corpse, laying face down. Alarmed, she raised her gaze from the scope of her rifle and looked around, feeling with her mind simultaneously.
Arrayed before her was a gruesome scene. Stepping closer once the coast was clear, Nova observed grimly. On the crumbling wall was scrawled a pictographic figure with many tentacles and claws, and a crude head that reminded her of a Hydralisk. It was only half finished, and a smeared hand print denoted when he had likely been killed. A knife wound on his back indicated as much, his heart had been pierced in one clean thrust.
It hadn't dawned on her at first, but as her eyes surveyed the cut open chest cavity of a little girl it was clear the drawing was in blood. The whole alley smelled coppery, with a strong hint of decay, and the dead Spectre had blood up to his elbows.
Disgusted, Nova kicked the heavy body over with her boot and scanned his surprised-looking face, getting his identity for the record. Shifting her eyes downwards slightly, it was noted that beneath him lay a small, blinking recording device. Lifting her goggles upwards, Nova placed them on top of her head and reached down to pick it up. The kill, the stripped gear, it was all pointing towards one thing. When she activated the recording and saw Tosh's grim face staring, it was clear.
"Killed one of my own today, little girl." He was grim, determined. "He broke. Others have, too. Not just us. Spectre, military, civilian. Everyone goin' mad on this planet." Leaning forwards for emphasis, Tosh's gaze became feverish, intense. "There's somethin' rotten at the core of this place, and somethin' even worse comin' for all of us. Can't you feel it girl? Most powerful psi in the Dominion, and all you're focused on is killin' us Spectres. They scrub your brain too hard? Can't think for yourself anymore?" An accusation he had leveled at her before, Nova remained unphased.
"Jim Raynor is out there." That peaked her interest. She had heard nothing about the Hyperion and its crew since she lured Tosh away from them, beginning the first in a series of assaults on his Spectre facilities and putting Tosh and his men on the run. All the way to Korhal. "I seen em. Eyes as black as the void..."
Frowning, Nova chuckled and shook her head. "You really are crazy." Pausing the recording, she checked the length of it to see if she had enough patience to make it through all the way. It was almost done. "Alright, you got me." Flicking the play button, she resumed listening.
"Well. You'll see him soon enough, I think." Tosh smirked, but there was a flicker of an expression she was not used to seeing on his face. Fear. "Open your eyes. Mengsk is mad! I wager we'll all be seein' that madness real soon. If you manage to pull your head out of his ass before it's too late, little girl, I'll be waitin'." Nova stared at the small device in her hand for a long time after Tosh faded away, thinking. Pocketing the device, she'd scrub it for any possible location information herself, the moment was over. Flipping her goggles back on, Nova opened a comm with the local military outfit.
"Nova here. Two corpses for collection at my mark, I'm out." Robots would collect the corpses and burn them on the go, rolling morgues. It was a far cry from a decent funeral the little girl deserved, but there was no alternative. The outbreak of disease that could happen with corpses laying around en masse would have terrible consequences, if unchecked. Nova made her way back to base, tired beyond belief. There was that announcement Mengsk had planned the next day at the ass crack of dawn that she would have to watch, never mind the paperwork she needed to file before whatever few hours of sleep would grace her.
Zerus – First spawning pool
In her dreams, Kerrigan walked through every moment she had been the Queen of Blades. From the pain and terror of being twisted into a monster at the skilled hands of Abathur, serving the Overmind all the way to the invasion of Zerus and the burning desire to destroy Mengsk and any power willing to rise up and give challenge.
She had revisited her entire history repeatedly, and little by little more details became clear; scenes the Queen of Blades never would have trifled over, a layer of destructive rage being peeled away. A little girl and her mother attempting to escape her claws, and she was billions of claws and teeth, then being slaughtered together like sheep along with their so-called rescuers. The infestation of Raszagal. The murder of Fenix.
A red haze was being peeled away and exposing the deeper horror of all her accomplishments under the banner of the Swarm. Jim. The very thought of him threatened to unravel all she was attempting to achieve, for her hatred to weaken until the primal spawning pool devoured her- unfit to live.
And yet, through her own devices he was out there doing her bidding whether he wanted to or not. He needed her now more than ever. It was the joint thought of ramming a blade through Mengsk's black heart, a culmination of the purest vengeance and the love she bore for Jim, the will to right a horrible wrong, that delivered her from failure.
With the locust swarm added to their considerable arsenal of defenses, Abathur, Izsha and Zagara had held the primal zerg assaults firmly at bay, resolutely protecting their Queen. In the last hours before her rebirth, the rapidly rising danger of a powerful enemy became a magnet to the primal zerg. With their resources running low, the prospects of continuing their defense began to look grim.
When the Primal Queen of Blades tore through her chrysalis and erupted with such power it took on a physical form and drove into the sky like a pillar, the swarm shrieked, chittered and bellowed triumphantly over their primal lessors. Their mission had succeeded, and Zerus would fall.
The primal zerg had immediately began to run, scattering into the volcanic jungles for refuge or back to their leaders. Kerrigan strode towards the Hives Izsha had erected with purpose. The connection to the zerg felt different, purer, but having billions of minds connected to your own and all feeling their own emotions brought a strange balance to Kerrigan's own mind, offering a counterbalance to the terran emotions that had boiled to the surface.
Izsha, Zagara, Abathur. You have done well. Straight and to the point, Kerrigan began to direct the millions of zerg hovering in the upper atmosphere to begin their descent to the planet's surface. The invasion would begin in full force, she would no longer toy with her prey.
New Primal Queen of Blades... Unquestionably stronger. Abathur commented, impressed.
Yes, our Queen glows bright like a star! Izsha beamed.
I am glad to have been of service. Zagara uttered, awed in her own way.
Entering the dark sanctuary of a Hive, seeking a temporary safe place before she would lead her invasion, Kerrigan steeled her nerves. There is something I must do before the primal pack leaders fall. Bring the entire swarm down here Izsha, there is no time to waste. As soon as she had found solace inside the Hive, a small dark room void of interruptions, she focused her mental might and felt across the stars for Shlassa and the Hyperion. Never had it been so easy to touch minds so far away, the new rush of power was exhilarating.
Shlassa.
My Queen! Shlassa was surprised, feeling an intensity of power and emotion that threatened to overwhelm, but was altogether glad to be able to report. You have grown stronger since we last spoke, and many things have happened.
I am going to free them, Shlassa. Kerrigan paused, considering. You still have an important role to play, and they will not kill you.
The broodmother's concern addressed before she spoke it, Shlassa reported diligently. What her Queen chose to allow or disallow with her little projects was no concern of her own. We have retrieved the essence of Nafash and escaped the Protoss. The Terrans refused to destroy them, though we did kill many in defense. We are now dead in space, the Terran ship is being repaired, and there is another ship with us.
Another ship? Kerrigan interjected harshly. Who?
A Terran named Valerian Mengsk, aboard a ship named Bucephalus. He has offered them help.
Mengsk. The name burned through her nerves like a hot knife. Not Arcturus, but Kerrigan was not about to get into the habit of trusting anyone with that last name. I will speak with them now. Continue as you have, but no longer physically control them. What they do is no longer our business.
Letting go of Shlassa's mind, Kerrigan steeled herself both for the conflict and having to look these men in the eye after what she had done to them. In a blink, all six infested men were pulled from what they were doing, bodies left frozen as their minds were pulled away.
They stood together, side by side, looking confused and disoriented while Kerrigan stood across from them. Their surroundings were a plain white, drawing sharp attention to their alien features. Kerrigan observed them with a sad expression, and soon their gazes landed on her- she felt their hatred.
"Sarah?" Jim tilted his head, brows furrowed as he took in her new look. Sarah looked like she was ready to burst at the seams, cracks in her flesh and armor revealing a purple glow.
"She's pulled us into a dimension of her own making within our minds, I think." Stetmann had crossed his arms in discomfort, unsure what to do.
"Got all juiced up and ready to kill us? That it?" Warfield hissed, gritting his teeth in anger. He was still attempting to come to grips with chewing on an animals corpse.
"Oh no. Why would she kill us?" Tychus piped up, fists clenching tight as he glared. "Wouldn't waste all that time breaking our bones and tearing our skin off just to not use us. So what's the orders, your fuckin' majesty?"
Swann was silent and seething, he had nothing to say, not yet. Horner likewise remained silent, keeping his own council and letting others voice what he felt.
"Quiet." Soft. Warm. But a command all the same. Sarah waited a moment, seeing if anyone would interrupt- even though they couldn't. "Much has changed since we last met. I want you to know that I am sorry, and you are free from here on out. I will never command you again." Taking a slow breath, she registered the disbelief and suspicion on their faces for a few moments before continuing.
"I went to Zerus to acquire power, I found it and I'm not done yet. But something happened, all the wrongs I've done are so much clearer now. I found remorse, guilt and sorrow. The taint of the Fallen One, Amon, is gone." Pursing her lips and furrowing her brows as tears, not felt in so long, threatened.
Hardening her resolve as all six continued to glare at her, she took another breath. "I also remember who started all of this, who brought the Queen of Blades to life. Arcturus Mengsk will answer to the swarm, we are coming. Do not forget the name that started all of this, Jim. Do not trust Valerian Mengsk." Done getting her say in, Kerrigan released them and at once there was a storm of voices and emotion.
"You just- you just turned us into monsters and now you're saying sorry?" Jim was incredulous, he wasn't sure if he could find the words to explain just how weak the word was for this situation.
"I just ate an Ursadon with my bare hands like an animal, and now I'm free?" Warfield was wondering if attacking in this place would do anything.
"Oh but she said she's sorry, that'll fix us right up. How about you give me my damn body back?" Tychus growled, thumbing his chest for emphasis.
"And all those Protoss we blew up, suppose they'll have to accept sorry too. Good thing we can tell them we're free now." Swann muttered, crossing his arms and looking down, not sure what to make of the load of shit he'd been handed.
"Can we undo our infestation?" Stetmann focused, attempting to hold Kerrigan's gaze.
"I doubt it." Unable to hold Stetmann's searching gaze, Kerrigan looked downwards and closed her eyes, thinking.
"Forget about us." Jim muttered, resigned. "What about Korhal? All those people you're going to bring the swarm to? You'd kill them all to get at Mengsk, even though you said you have found remorse and guilt and sorrow? You haven't found a damn thing, Sarah!"
Demeanor darkening, Kerrigan glared at Jim and clenched her jaw. "You're welcome to join me in killing him, all of you. So many lives can be laid at his feet."
"Only one person turned us into monsters, Kerrigan, and that's you." Jim pointed a finger firmly in her direction, accusing.
"The swarm will land on Korhal and Mengsk will die: these two things are inevitable." Smirking slightly, Kerrigan tilted her head. "You could of course evacuate the planet to save lives, Jim. See how everyone treats you." It was wrong to say, and his injured look confirmed it, but if there was one thing that would never change- it was what she was going to do to Arcturus Mengsk.
Clenching her fists at her sides, Kerrigan looked at her creations- killers, each one. "Don't kill Shlassa. She is protecting you from the swarm's hive mind. If she dies, it will either turn you into mindless beasts or drive you mad if your minds aren't strong enough. I don't know which." Looking at Stetmann specifically, she muttered. "If you choose to pursue removing your infestation... Don't let someone turn you into a lab rat."
"Sarah, wait!" Jim shouted, but the realm she had pulled everyone into was gone and reality came back with a hard jerk.
Blowing out a breath, Kerrigan tilted her head back and muttered to herself softly. "Nothing would have made that conversation easier." There was one message left to send, and she had to be careful, oh so careful.
Jayce was throwing her weight into an industrial sized wrench, gritting her teeth and grunting as the rusty bolt she was trying to tighten screeched in indignation. It was exhilarating to just have her arm back and to be able to get back to this kind of work, she was happy in her own way- even if the red emergency lights were on and the ship was one step from exploding. Without warning, a pressure built inside her mind, threatening the worst headache she had ever imagined- or maybe her brain was about to explode, she wasn't sure. Either way, she stumbled backwards from her chore and hollered without inhibition. "Ah! AHH!" Her face planted into the grated steel floor shortly after her body went limp.
Gasping and stumbling over nothing, Jayce opened her eyes and was greeted with the disorienting visage of the Queen of Blades and a perfect white space. Looking similar to a fish out of water, Jayce glanced around before looking back at Kerrigan, who was waiting patiently, and whispered. "You."
"Me." Kerrigan inclined her head slightly.
"Am I... Dead?"
"No. But you will have a hell of a headache." Too-wide lips smiling slightly, Kerrigan took a good look at Jayce. She had yet to see the terran with her own eyes. Stained orange jumpsuit, average height, scraggly dirty blond hair, a half-assed pony tail and an overall tomboyish look; Kerrigan found herself amused. "You don't look like I thought you would."
Placing a palm to her forehead and pressing firmly for a few seconds, Jayce lowered her hand and saw that nothing had changed. Guess that was that. "Well I don't get by on my looks, I guess." Swallowing, she tentatively looked over the Queen of Blades in turn, noting some differences from when she last saw video footage of the biggest force of destruction in the Koprulu sector. "You're different too... But I'm guessing we're not here to discuss anatomy." There were quite a few questions coming to mind, but Jayce wasn't sure she wanted the answers yet.
"No, we aren't." Locking eyes, violet to green, Kerrigan sauntered up to the smaller terran and considered her next words. "I let you live before because I thought they would kill you themselves, they haven't and the situation has changed." The worn down terran looked resolute. "I have set them free, they are truly in control of themselves once again; but the danger to you remains. I would not stay if I was you, especially if they decide to kill Shlassa." At Jayce's confused expression, she corrected herself. "The broodmother, that's its name."
"Thanks but... Why are you warning me?" Brows furrowed, Jayce looked Kerrigan in the eye, although it was a struggle to keep locked with the predatory gaze. Perhaps it was the exhaustion that kept her so calm, or the unreal location, she wasn't sure.
"I used you as an experiment and for the first time since I became the Queen of Blades, I regret it and find myself in the position to rectify that... Among other things." Pursing her lips, Kerrigan thought once again on the reaction of Jim and his men. Maybe the truth was she just wanted to have a calmer interaction. "You deserve the chance to live."
"I trust them, I will stay." It was a definitive answer, Jayce was nothing if she wasn't stubborn.
Raising her hands slightly, Kerrigan shrugged. "Your choice. I felt I owed it to you to let you know what is happening myself, beyond this point you are on your own."
"Why did you infest them? Why not just kill them?" Feeling the end of their conversation nearing, Jayce tried to squeeze in at least one question she felt pertinent.
Kerrigan paused, searching herself for the truest answer. She did not like what came out of the darkness. "To torture them, make them demoralize the entire Terran race. They were heroes and I turned them into the enemy."
Jayce grit her teeth. That was a lot of effort for pure malicious pleasure, but who was she to judge? "Can it be undone? What about the crew?"
"I don't know. I had the Xel'naga artifact utterly destroyed, and if they go to their fellow Terrans for help with that... They will end up as lab subjects, nothing more. The crew? They are husks, there is nothing to restore." Bitterness seeped into her words, Sarah had more than enough experience with Labs for a number of lifetimes- none of it good.
Sighing and palming her forehead once again, Jayce felt overwhelmed. Her head hurt and the lines between good and evil had become a mucked up gray as of late, this did not help. "I will do everything I can to help them, I owe them as much."
Nodding slowly, Kerrigan placed a hand on Jayces shoulder and sent her back to her mind with care. Jayce would end up sleeping on the floor where she lay, succumbing to exhaustion. Probably for the best, it really would have been a terrible headache.
Back on Zerus, Kerrigan opened her eyes. Both interactions had only been a few minutes tops, but she hadn't felt more emotionally drained than what seemed like a lifetime ago. But there was no time for rumination, not yet; The hunt for the primal pack leaders needed to begin- regardless of resurfaced feelings.
The mark of Amon is no longer upon you. You are pure, and ready to consume the primal pack leaders. Take their power for your own, Primal Queen. Zurvan whispered in her ear.
"Amon." Kerrigan murmured to herself, staring resolutely into the ash clouds overhead as she stepped out of the Hive. Thousands of drop pods were crashing through the atmosphere within her sight, and millions more beyond it.
Hyperion – Deep Space
Prior to Kerrigan's surprise visitation, a massive wave of activity happened immediately after the Hyperion's warp jump to safety.
The Bucephalus followed and was now idling nearby, those who were gazing at the Hyperion saw the engines and white lights of the ship flicker and die out. Emergency power booting up gave the ship an ominous look, the red glow replacing the normal white lights as seen in space. Valerian haled the captain immediately.
"Captain Horner, what is the status of your ship?" The image of Matt Horner appeared, red lights illuminating him, shadows deepening his frown.
"We were functioning at 40% capacity before warp, at best. Our engines and power have kicked out and we'll need time to repair. Nothing to be done about it, Valerian."
Eager to seize on the opportunity to further prove his goodwill, Valerian inclined his head briefly. "I can have a team of engineers on your ship and helping to repair it within the hour."
Lips tightening, Horner shook his head sharply. "Not right now. I need to go check up on Jim and them, and we need time to sort some things out. No offense, but you've got a lot of questions to answer and we don't trust you right now." There it was. Horner waited, fingers curling tight behind his back. The Hyperion and the remainder of her living crew were vulnerable and Valerian was fully capable of invading the ship.
Without pause, the prince nodded thoughtfully. "As you wish. Consider my offer still on the table, we will wait in the meantime."
Pleasantly surprised, Horner smiled. "Thanks junior. We'll be in touch." Closing the comm, Matt half closed his eyes and felt out towards Jim. The confrontation going on cut his high short.
Once everyone had righted themselves, Lasarra took a step back and watched in alarm as Jim caught sight of her and realization bloomed on his features.
"What the hell is the Protoss doing here?!" Jim's eyes focused on Tychus immediately, no doubt in his mind. Especially when Tychus squared his big shoulders and looked down at him stubbornly.
"I ain't gonna let myself get blown up because you're sentimental, Jimmy. Took it with us for extra security purposes." Thumbing over his shoulder at Lasarra, her eyes tightened in anger.
Warfield had positioned himself closer to the alien, ready to strike if necessary. "Looks like the ship took a beating. Doesn't matter how or why the Protoss got here right now, we need to get her locked up and find out what's going on." Making to curl a hand around Lasarra's arm, she recoiled to avoid it, disgusted.
I will walk where you choose to lead me, you need not touch me. The smell coming off the three infested was absolutely foul, they were even steaming as the blood, ice and stringy meat chunks that had gotten on their bodies thawed.
Yielding to Warfield's sense of reason, Jim snapped irritably and pointed at Tychus. "Don't think you're off the hook Tychus, you and me are coming back to this later."
Hate to interrupt but we've got a situation here, Jim. Horner finally spoke up as they began to herd Lasarra deeper into the ship, noting the emergency lights.
"We can put it in the med bay quarantine, lets go." Tychus all but growled, relief at being back in a warm, dry ship all but smothered out.
Talk to me Matt, what's goin on? Jim trailed behind the group, focused more on listening. The captured protoss was still no danger, as far as he was concerned. The protoss who'd want her back, on the other hand...
It's Valerian, sir. He is here on the Bucephalus and they are idling nearby. He saved our asses back there. He also offered to send engineers over to help but... Horner let it hang, there were a few very good and obvious reasons to not let any uninfested people on the ship. Namely Shlassa.
Yeah well maybe we should talk to Shlassy about it because me and Jayce ain't fixing this tub by ourselves and you kids aren't gonna be any use at all. Swann had been listening, of course. Currently in one of the engine rooms trying to isolate what wire blew where, the amount of work ahead of him felt staggering- he was no longer so adverse to getting help from the exiled prince.
Invaders will not be tolerated. Shlassa spoke, a note of finality in her tone. Any newcomers would be killed, maybe worse. What of this Protoss scum you have brought? Surely there is no use in keeping it. The broodmother's tone had shifted to one of deep loathing, there was no love for the great enemy of the zerg. Warfield, Tychus and Jim already felt a sharp tug at their insides, as though the broodmother was about to puppeteer them.
Hold it. Jim was hasty, scrambling to think of a reason to keep their new prisoner alive. She's a bargaining chip! If the Protoss come they ain't gonna blast this ship so long as she's here.
Hissing verbally, Shlassa glared at Stetmann who was nervously playing with a pen between his fingers, listening to the whole exchange and simultaneously worrying about what might have happened when Jayce came to the room. The Selfix armor had been moved slightly, it was clear she had been there even though he did not remember.
I fear not the protoss! We will crush them!
I don't know that much about zerg, or being one, but I doubt we're capable of surviving in space after our ship has been blown up. Pull your head out of your ass, Shlassy! Swann was all too ready to butt heads with the broodmother, and it seemed possible the two had been bickering for the entire time Jim, Tychus and Warfield had been on the ground.
My name is not Shlassy. Shlassa was immediately pissed and Jim cut in, trying to stop the escalation of the argument.
We need all the cards to play that we can get our hands on right now, period. Jim watched as Lasarra was shoved into the quarantine room, slowly turning around to look at them through the clear walls with venom in her eyes. Jim's jaw tightened as he set the door to locked mode and turned to face Tychus and Warfield, each looking at him in turn.
The Protoss may live, for now. Shlassa relented. Bickering with the one short Terran had worked her nerves raw and murdering them all wasn't an option. She wanted to be done with them.
Jim glared at Tychus then, motioning with a jerk of his head for him to follow. Warfield wisely chose to leave through a different exit.
Completely oblivious to what was going on in regards to the crew at the moment, Jayce was suited up and ready to fix anything that got in her way. A standard issue snake light was coiled around her shoulders on top of the usual tools and her datapad was hooked up to her belt. Climbing up a service ladder into the dark walkway above, she found herself walking one of the many little used paths between the walls and above the ships corridors, hunting for the bolt that would cut the flow of searing hot hydraulic fluids up ahead so she could make reparations safely. Twirling the large wrench in her hand casually, she whistled a little tune- this is what she was good at. Murdering aliens and directing a battlecruiser in combat were not her thing.
Tapping her datapad and opening a comm with Swann, Jayce sounded entirely too happy for his liking. "Almost at the hydraulic leak in this sector, boss. Shouldn't take long to fix, where to next?"
"Ugh. Quit being so happy." Clanking and scraping muffled his voice and Jayce smirked, shining her light ahead and spying the bolt that would need turning, eyeing the rust all over it. "Once you're done there just pick an engine, any engine, and get there. I'll make sure there's no infested in the way."
"Yes sir." Ending the comm, Jayce stepped up to the bolt and fit her wrench on it, rolling her shoulders in anticipation of the fight.
Tychus stalked after Jim, all the grievances he'd been keeping down for the sake of possibly getting out of this mess were coming boiling to the surface. Likewise, Jim was clearly seething. When they had entered a long nondescript corridor, he slammed a hand into the wall beside him and rounded on Tychus.
"You need to start listening, Tychus, this is my ship and I'm the commander here. This ain't Heaven's Devils and it sure as hell ain't us robbing trains." Tychus glowered.
"Newsflash, Jimmy. We're stuck together right now, both of us takin' orders from your old girlfriend." Jim looked fit to burst at the mention of Kerrigan, widening his stance and clenching his fists while baring his teeth.
Widening his own stance, Tychus smirked. "You've been riding on my last nerves since this entire shit show began, with your mopin' and bein' damn near useless. You think you're gonna have another go at me, partner? I ain't stuck in some suit this time, see how well it goes." Shlassa was watching the two with quiet alarm, questioning if she would be able to control them if they started fighting one another. It was with relief she received Kerrigan's message, watching afterwards as all six infested men jerked and went stiff, held frozen.
When Jim and Tychus were shoved back into their bodies they stumbled towards one another, disoriented.
"Holy- ugh." Tychus grunted and slapped a meaty hand onto Jim's shoulder, giving him a little shake.
"I can hardly believe that just happened." Jim had a dazed look on his face, looking up at his old friend.
"Listen, Jimmy." Tychus took a breath, squeezing Jim's shoulder fiercely, like the action could ground him in reality. "I didn't mean any of that. But before we go dealin' with our new found freedom, I want you to know that it took a real long time for me to agree to betray you to Mengsk, you readin' me?"
Sarah. Born again, stronger and more zerg than ever before. It was the exact opposite Jim could've ever hoped for, but still. Her claims of recovered emotions and feelings, tossed in with a new genocidal threat. All the feelings he had begun to let unravel for her came back, jumbled up so fiercely he didn't know if he'd ever recover. Tychus. He was talking and it was important. Jim felt the anger leave his body in one great wave, he had been tortured- there could be no other explanation for a sentence like that.
The golden chips he had for pupils focused on Tychus, staring at him hard for a moment before he reached up and slapped his friend on the shoulder in turn. "I read you, and I know I've sworn it a thousand times before, but Mengsk will pay for everything he's done and all the folks he's hurt." Squeezing hard, he let go the same time Tychus did, sighing. "Wonder how everyone else is taking this. Hell, I wonder what we can even do now. We were all workin' towards this big fight for our own freedom and here it is, dumped in our laps."
"I wager everyone else is feelin' about the same." Tychus grumbled, looking around and thinking. "Seein' as well got all this free time all the sudden, I think I'll start with some pants. Maybe a shower."
Jim nodded. One look at Tychus and he knew he couldn't look much better himself, all crusted up with blood and goo- never mind naked. Even if it was an armored kind of naked, it didn't sit right with his very terran sensibilities. "Right. One thing at a time I suppose."
Horner slumped in his chair, disbelief written across his face. Free. Where to even start? Was there a point to continuing? He thought about Valerian, and becoming a lab rat like Kerrigan had ominously warned. He also thought about Korhal and all those people who didn't even know the swarm was coming. Getting Jayce to safety, well she'd made it clear she wanted to stay and help anyway, wasn't really a thought anymore, but the people of the core and fringe worlds were already suffering. Humanity couldn't take another hit from the zerg like this, they had to do something. Had to.
Anyone out there? He thought, idly wondering what was going through their minds.
Yeah. Wow! Can't believe we're free! I can start working on trying to reverse our infestation right away, maybe even get some of my research projects started up again. This is great! Horner almost rolled his eyes at Stetmann and his misguided enthusiasm.
Not feelin' too damn free right now. Swann grumped, no doubt working on the ship somewhere. What, we're just gonna cruise around in this ship forever, us against the universe? Questing for some reversal of our infestation that may or may not exist? Call me a skeptic.
Jim was right, doesn't even matter that we're infested right now. We've got to warn Korhal, hell, the core worlds, somehow. Warfield was well ahead of Jim and Tychus, already cleaning the filth of Kaldir away in the sonic showers. Next stop would be another set of clothing. You said Prince Valerian is here? We need to talk to him immediately.
After I'm done finding some pants. Tychus intruded.
Pants? Horner quirked a brow, not entirely sure if he wanted to know.
Eh, long story Matt. Lets just say the clothing didn't take to Kaldir very well and leave it at that. Jim chimed in, embracing the conversation since his alternative was Sarah's face staring at him in a white room.
In the Lab, Stetmann had already started preparing blood samples to test and begin work on undoing their infestation- or learning about its workings at the cellular level, at least. Shlassa was no longer stifling his thought process, it was like a great veil had been lifted away, the freedom was incredible. The thought of the broodmother gave him pause; she was still standing silently across the room, like some kind of spidery sentinel. "What are you going to do now, Shlassa? I mean... The Queen of Blades told you we're free now, right?"
Tapping her fingertips together, a subdued expression of her personal glee, Shlassa was feeling very forthright with the advent of not having to thought-police the ridiculous Terrans anymore. "I must remain to safeguard your minds from the swarm still, unless you decide you wish to join with the hive mind." She chuckled softly, the thought of them losing their minds was pleasing.
"Ah. Yeah. Probably don't want that. I sure do wish I could study it though!" Shlassa sighed slightly, the thought of spending eternity stuck with Stetmann did not enthuse.
"Oh, uh! Say... When we were defending ourselves from the Protoss, did Jayce come in here?" Swallowing, Stetmann watched the broodmother for a visible reaction, although she gave none.
"Yes. The Terran woman entered the lab and attempted to use the machine you left out for her." A long fingertip pointed towards the Selfix armor casually.
"But she didn't, what happened?" Worry spiked at his insides. It would be on him if something happened to Jayce in the lab while he was there. He still wasn't over the trauma of pissing off Tychus the once.
"She was unable to use the machine." Leaning forwards slightly, Shlassa was looking forwards to his reaction at this next part. "I mended her arm myself." The way the little fool gaped was food for her soul.
"But she's a Terran! She could be infested, she coul-"
Shlassa interrupted him before he could enter one of his strange rants. The Terran's ability to do run on sentences was legendary, as far as she was concerned. "She is not infested, she is in tact. Check her yourself." Casually, she felt through the ship with her mind, seeking the one that was not connected. With a hiss she felt the bright energy of the Protoss, smothering it down before continuing. Tilting her head slightly, she found Jayce laying on the ground. "Hm. Well, she was intact."
"What?!" Running a hand through his hair, Stetmann whipped out his datapad and brought up the display of Jayce, thanks to the tracking pin, and his face fell.