Skyshield Platform
"Damn it!" Jim snarled, "the zerg are everywhere and so's that bastard Amon!" With the flick of a hand, he gave the all clear to move forwards. The thought of looking over his shoulder and seeing Tychus being grabbed by the former Jayce chilled his anger, redirected it to the one responsible for all their suffering: Amon.
A spider-like silhouette stretched over the nook he sheltered inside before coalescing into Sarah, who slipped in and knelt beside him. She pitched her voice low, "we can't go back to the ship, if they aren't gone somehow then they are about to be." Fists clenching tightly, she glared at the ground, "I should have known about Abathur, I should have killed him as soon as I gained control," her words ended in sharp hiss.
He gave her knee a halfhearted pat. "We have to get back to Stettman and find us some wings, get ourselves the hell off this deathtrap." It didn't feel right, the idea of leaving everyone, and it twisted unpleasantly in his guts.
Both went still and silent as a pack of zerglings thundered past their shelter, kicking up dust and debris in their wake. Before the dust had even settled they were on the move, slipping ahead another painful inch towards an unknown destination. "Jim, Egon is a part of the Swarm," she reminded softly.
"Oh," his lips pressed into a hard line and he focused just a little too intensely on the horizon, "right."
"I am sorry," she pressed in close and privately enjoyed the warmth that radiated from him. Eyeing the large gap between themselves and another dark path.
"Don't be." He considered the area thoughtfully, trashed by the zerg twice over now, and took a quick glance around the corner before ducking his head back. He gave the all clear. "Mira Han has the kind of ship we need, let's go get us one."
A moment of shifting and they were prepared to sprint, bodies tightly coiled springs. Sarah darted out first and Jim a half-step behind, his eyes widening as a new figure was now there in the once empty space.
"Look out!" His heart leaped into his throat and he reached deeper into himself for more speed, more power, and rocketed into Sarah's already sprinting form. Together they crashed down as a deafening clap and blinding, searing light poured through the space they had just occupied.
Together they rolled and separated so quickly it looked like a practiced dance when they landed on their feet. Eyes wide in bright fury, Sarah reached up and touched her head. Pain bloomed and several stalks of half-severed hair sat between her fingers awkwardly. A low growl rose up her throat.
Egon, smiling widely as though there was nothing wrong with this picture, spoke. "Jim! I am so glad I found you," he reached up and adjusted his glasses with a spidery, threatening hand. His eyes were dark pits with a smouldering red gleam.
"Egon!" Jim bared his teeth, could he get a spike off his leg and throw it before the kid could take another shot? He was not sure. "Get a grip son!" He was surprised when Sarah gently touched his hand, indicating to not try.
"Oh, I have a grip." As his fingertips brushed off from the adjusted glasses, his hands snapped together in a motion Jim was sure the normal human eye would never be able to track.
No one present was human.
Jim and Sarah jumped away from one another as the searing hot attack carved through the air they had just occupied. Egon seemed surprised, watching as the two kicked off from the ground and launched at him from two different directions in slow motion. He could pick one, only one.
Sarah dropped to the ground heavily as the second thunderous attack came, the heat of it leaving her flesh smoking and burning. Amon wanted her dead the most.
Jim collided with the comparatively willowy form of Egon and threw him to the ground, grappling his hands and getting him wrapped up in a rough hold before sucking in a breath and snarling, "Amon, you slimy parasite! Let him go!"
Head tilting back painfully, Egon looked Jim in the eye and grinned hugely, a wide and toothy expression that never touched his face before. "Never."
Jim's eyes widened as Sarah charged, blades over her shoulders and crashing down with deadly intent. "No!" in a snap gesture he spun Egon and shielded him with his own body. There was no indication Sarah stopped her charge but for the small spray of soil and no pain following it. With a small sigh of relief, he turned just enough to show the vengeful Queen the cuffs now securely back around Egon's deadly hands.
Baring her teeth but straightening stiffly, Sarah shook her head with a clatter. "Jim, we can't just carry him around! He is a beacon to Amon's forces."
Standing, jerking the unwilling Egon up to his feet with him, Jim shook his head sharply in turn. "I am not giving him up! Not for no one!" Not even for her.
Suppressing a hiss of frustration, Sarah charged after Jim as he began a new quick pace. It was clear he intended to see this through, even with an extra handicap now hanging over his shoulder and grinning sinisterly back at her. "You don't have a," an unfamiliar flicker of movement in the starry sky caught her eye, "did you see that?"
Arching his back and trying to look at Jim, Egon twisted and writhed despite the danger of the spines all around him. "Your suffering will be eternal, just like your friends," his words were acid.
Firmly ignoring the devil on his shoulder, he cinched his arm tighter around the wriggling legs in response and looked upwards, eyes widening at the familiar shape as he caught sight of it. Barely visible against the dark of space, the ship was more a void of stars than anything. "It's a ship! Sarah, help me get their attention!"
Glancing around, ensuring there were no new enemies approaching, she looked again up at the slowly approaching vessel. She let out a wry huff when realizing what exactly the ship was. "That is a transport, a Hercules I think, hardly a getaway ship." It was a defenseless tin can is what it was, but she kept that criticism to herself.
"It's friendly and that is what matters right now!" His chest was about to burst from excitement. He wasn't one for prayer but if just one thing would go right today, he'd give his thanks.
"Fine," she resigned herself to following along. What else was there to do now but be with the one she cared about?
Sarah began to wave, wing blades and all, at the figure while Jim fidgeted with the small comm in his ear. A small burst of relief filled him as the crackle of open air signaled someone was listening. Hopefully it was the good guys. "Hey boys, we sure could use a lift down here!" It took a solid minute, the seconds felt like ages while he waved frantically, until the ship began to visibly change course towards them. "It's coming in!" he laughed, patting Egon's legs.
Sarah's arms lowered, full to the brim of wariness. She trusted her instincts her whole life, and they were screaming at her right now. "They never answered, it could be a trap Jim."
He had to believe this was a lucky break, he was well past due for one. Still, Sarah's wariness began to rub off on him and an uneasy feeling seeded itself inside his guts. "Could be," he admitted, "but we are awful low on options right now darlin'."
As the hercules-class dropship approached, it's many massive engines drowning out all sound and sending dust spiraling away in plumes, Jim could hear Egon chuckling softly, feel his chest shaking with each small exhale. "Heh heh heh."
Looking around, he noted a distinct lack of amon forces. Where did they go, and why were they not rapidly closing in on this? He tried to keep positive, looking over the ship as it came to land heavily on its extended legs. "This thing is brand new! Zerg haven't even touched it yet," he shouted.
The engines entered a low-powered state, quieting down enough for loud talking. "Just be ready to run cowboy," Sarah called, wing blades raised high and ready.
The last thing they expected was for a terrorized child to come springing over the ramp before it had lowered half way, screaming shrilly without even registering the forms in front of him. "H-h-help!"
Startled, Egon fell from Jim's shoulders to land with a thud as he jumped and reflexively caught the flailing bony boy with his outstretched hands. He even worried for a flicker of a moment that he might catch flesh with his nails. "Whoa!"
Hands catching hold of unnatural things, Tate's eyes focused long enough to see the sickly colored skin and black eyes of Jim. Sucking in a panicked lungful of air, he switched gears and tried to disentangle himself from the new menace. "Ahh!"
Looking past the now much harder to hold boy in his hands, Jim's eyes widened when a familiar shape came stomping down the ramp. "Warfield! Ah hell!" The General did not look himself, grinning as he was.
Sarah recovered faster, leaping at Warfield with wing blades extended. A sickly squelching sound filled the air as a pasty orange substance erupted from Warfield's flesh, splattering in her eyes. "Eugh!" Blinded, she faltered in the air and was effectively swatted away by the thick arm of Warfield.
"Hahah!" Warfield laughed, a cruel and dark thing, resuming his stride towards the otherwise occupied Jim. "Shame she didn't remember the kind of monster she made me."
"Sarah!" Jim shouted, dropping the child who quickly scrambled to dart away. Brandishing his claws at Warfield, he caught himself hesitating.
"Just get him Jim!" Sarah snarled, rubbing at the paste in her eyes furiously, wing blades slashing around her body defensively and recklessly, "Kill him!"
Shaking his head, Jim leaned back from a full-bodied killing swipe, the force of it ruffled his torn clothing. "I can't!"
Barely able to see and body fighting off the hallucinogenic effect of the paste in her eyes, Sarah squinted at the fight and felt her heart constrict in her chest. "DO IT!" She bellowed in impotent rage, he had to save himself.
Jim cried out when he blocked a heavy hit with his arms and a smothering cloud of yellowy spores erupted in his face. Unable to see or defend himself, he was quickly and expertly disabled by the General.
"Subjects acquired," Stetmann said in a deep, echoing voice, struggling to his feet with his hands behind his back.
Jim renewed his struggle only to find his hands pinned in place behind his back by the same restraints he used on Stetmann. The young scientist was free. "Warfield, Stettman, snap out of it damn it," he blinked his watering eyes furiously, unable to remove the orange blur over his surroundings.
"What should we do with our new friends?" Warfield asked casually, Kerrigan was already being herded by Stetmann. She could not hope to avoid a shot from the younger man in this position, no matter how non threatening he looked.
Egon paused. "Amon has plans for them. Imprison them," smiling, he followed Jim, Warfield and Kerrigan up the ramp into the ship. He loved it when everything came together.
Coiled deep inside his Leviathan, Abathur reached out to his new leader. Swarm is yours to command, Amon.
A burning rage, painfully intense and further amplified through the swarm, greeted the Evolution Master. The essence of the universe was there for the Swarm to take in his name now, that was a promise. Meet with my terran forces and move on the remaining rebels. They will drown in a sea of fangs and claws.
Peering into a vibrantly glowing green pool, Abathur brought his clawed fingertips together thoughtfully. As Amon commands.
Inside her stronghold, Mira Han nodded with a grin towards the unseen voice. "I've been waiting for this." With a word over comms, the assault began.
Nightmare
Groggy, a deep pain brought Tychus back to the waking world. "Hrng," he grunted, squinting and glancing around from the ground. "This don't look good." The pain wasn't helping, but he swore he was looking at red dusty earth, none of which belonged on Skyshield. Stiff beyond his years, he crawled to his feet and slowly stood, rocking unsteadily as the pain throbbed harder. "Where in the hell am I?"
"You killed me," a soft voice said, eliciting a jump from him. "He showed me."
It felt like his brain was about to flop out of his ear by the force he spun around. Eyes wide, he looked down on a familiar figure. "Jayce? Sugar, listen-"
She looked wrong. Right, but wrong. She was human and whole, but her eyes were dark and her smaller figure radiated malice. Clouds of rusty red dust kicked up around her in miniature tornadoes. "You didn't even bat an eye."
He could feel that hate, it set his nerves on fire. He let out a pained groan and tried to stave it off, this was a dream, it wasn't real. The wide expanse of red ground and stormy sky in every direction wasn't real. "I thought.." he tried to reach out to touch her. His hands were human again too, tattooed and all.
Baring her teeth in a display of anger, she cut a line through the air with her hand like a knife and he fell to the dust in response. Mar Sara. This was Mar Sara. "I don't care what you thought, Findlay! He has given me the gift of revenge, and I will not spoil it."
His eyes watered and his hand felt like it was being burned the closer to reaching her feet it got. A vice was pressing his body down into the dirt, a weight even he couldn't hope to carry. "I know I deserve it, damn it I do!" he wheezed, "But we can't let Amon go and win, that's what this is all about!"
A boot cruelly stomped on his foot, grinding it into the red dust of his dead home world. "Amon is my god now, and my god is not merciful!"
Clenching his teeth, he fought for some control, to exert his will like he had learned with the swarm. He'd crush her like a bug and be done with this before dinner. "No!" Remorse made his chest tighten and will fail, "I won't..." He blinked, eyes agitated by the red dust, just like he remembered they always were. "I can't. You gotta get us outta here Jayce." He looked up to her then, pleading.
She smiled down at him, stomping the plea as thoroughly as she stomped his hand. "You'll never have power again. That's your greatest fear isn't it? Being powerless. Welcome to hell, Findlay, I'm going to find every last one of your fears here."
Hot wind buffeted his face and the pain truly began.
Bucephalus
Emperor's Quarters
Pouring over the new data presented by his subordinates, Valerian wondered at Tosh and Lasarra. "They have combined terran and protoss psi to create a stronger shield. Incredible! How fortunate we are that Lasarra chose to stay with us, I would hate to think where we would be right now if-"
The door to his chambers opened with an ominous silence, clicking neatly into place as a young woman walked in. "Emperor Valerian, I am so glad I found you," her tone oddly blank.
Why was he not notified of a visitor? Even without guards his door should not just open like that. He stood cautiously and scrutinized the small woman further, there were some familiar features he recognized. "You are from the news...Kate Lockwell, I remember. What is going on?" His hand pulled away from the sword at his hip, if only marginally.
The shine of the light on her glasses cleared, revealing black eyes. "I came to deliver a message."
"No..." his hand returned to his sword quickly, heart leaping into his throat.
Kate Lockwell cackled, voice high and wild, "You can never escape from Amon, princeling!" she hurled herself at him then, a wild animal.
"NO!" he bellowed.
Serenely walking down a dark hallway, Lasarra paused as the lights flickered. Something is amiss. Do you feel the same, Gabriel? The terran was always present now, a deep connection she found both exotic and oddly comforting in its familiarity. He was gone.
Connecting so deeply with a terran. Disgusting.
The familiar voice, twisted and darkened with hatred, came from behind. She spun to face it then, the specter of her brother stood there towering, maimed like she had seen him before. Arut! No...Amon. She stepped back from the gruesome phantom. Begone, you have no sway here and we will see you destroyed for all the atrocities you have committed!
It came as a surprise when the phantom physically wrapped his hand around her delicate throat, staring into her wide horrified eyes. I think you don't understand what is truly happening here. Take a better look.
It was as though a veil fell away, the shield herself and the terran were powering was never real. She felt then the chaos of all the minds being consumed by Amon, and an agent of dark intent approaching Tosh. No...No! She struggled against the grip, trying to reach out like she had done before, to find the strong hand and end the nightmare. Gabriel! She couldn't reach, Amon's smothering presence deadening her senses.
We have so much to discuss, sister. Arut whispered, smiling with his dead eyes.
Cantina
Tosh placed his drink down and frowned. As the doors hissed open he spoke aloud, "There be a bad taste in my mouth."
If he didn't know what he was looking for, he would not have heard the two swishes of long legs walking in. "Maybe you should stop drinking that swill and succumb to my will."
Turning on his chair and sliding to his feet, he observed then the void of her mind, much more obvious than the presence of the no longer powerful ghost. "Amon? Girl, you better snap outta this."
Haughty and grinning, Nova pulled the long knife from her belt and assumed a combat position. "I quite like my master, I missed him."
Mirroring her pose, the two began to circle one another around the center table, beneath the quiet TVs. "De spirits don't speak to me anymore, but I knew dis day would come," he murmured, reaching outwards with his senses now to see what else was amiss.
"Did you know how badly I would crush you?" she taunted.
He reached for Lasarra and her soothing power, hoping to end the confrontation in a nonviolent manner. His own power never was good for anything but hurting. "That has yet to be seen," he said. It came as an alarming surprise when there was nothing to reach for.
Together, they lunged forwards and on to the table, knives flashing once and sending sparks flying. Falling away, they resumed pacing at a more aggressive rate. "Give in," she hissed.
"Never," he glared, not liking the idea of holding Nova's cold dead body in his hands. This fight would be over the moment he unleashed his power, Nova Terra was not one to be disabled like an amateur, psi or no psi. She wouldn't leave him a choice. Where are you Lasarra?
Skyshield Platform - Hercules
Stukov listened as several forms jostled by with muttered words of contempt and a familiar unnatural clattering. Leaning away from the sealed door, he considered the turn of events. Kerrigan yet remained, and so did hope.
From behind, a dark voice spoke in a crisp tone. "Alexei Stukov, you were a fun experiment." When Alexei whirled to face him, Narud stood with his hand stuck out, ready to be clasped in return. "It is time to come back home."
"Narud?" Stukov questioned, tilting his head as the twisted limbs connected to his shoulders trembled with poorly concealed rage at the sight of his former captor. "No, Amon, but I will enjoy killing your phantom all the same," his eyes brightened and he gave Narud a ruined smile.
The old man, hair snowy white and too damn perfect, seemed to ripple and warp, his voice twisting and echoing. "I think you misunderstand who is in control here, flea."
"Strike me down then, phantom. Show me you are really here and I will gladly rip you limb from limb," Alexei raised his twisted limb palm out, it would feel good to use this twisted power against Narud. Of all the demons in the universe that deserved it, he was surely at the top of the list.
Snowy white hair melted away, the guise Narud held for so long ripped off like a mask. Dark fleshed and terrible, his presence filled the room and made the ship shake as he roared, "Obey!"
Letting out a sniff of contempt, Alexei shook his head. "Hah, didn't think so. Go find someone else to puppet, worthless "god." Like a snuffed flame, Narud vanished. The room felt wide open, deafening in it's emptiness, but he was right; the creature was not there. "Good riddance," he muttered, there was business to be taken care of.
Mothership
Warnings chimed across screens and panels all over the ship, arrival to Korhal was imminent. Vorazun stood resolute, stave in hand. We don't know what shape the terrans are in, be ready for anything!
Zurthan's eyes widened when the starry blur on display cleared and their warp ended. A massive swarm of zerg, the biggest he'd ever seen, filled the space around Korhal. By the gods! Nerazim, combat stations!
As Zurthan ran to guide the troops assigned to him, Vorazun stared in quiet contemplation before gently reaching out to those in panic around her. It is too late then, Amon has control of the zerg, terrans and protoss. I have truly failed us in the darkest hour.
From a nearby battlestation she heard the frantic call of one of her crew. The zerg are approaching our front and the golden armada is warping in behind us! Matriarch, command us!
Tilting her head back, Vorazun closed her eyes and thought. Thought about the horrific tides of zerg and hybrid flooding across Shakuras and slaughtering her people, thought about her home world shattering into countless burning pieces; Raszagal, enslaved and murdered. When her eyes opened, both ends of her stave flared to life with an angry green psi energy and she lifted it on high. Fight until the end! Let the echoes of this battle resonate through the cosmos for eternity!
The ship had already begun to shake under the renewed assault of the enslaved khalai, and the zerg were turning like an ugly beast towards them now too. She hoped to be bathed in their blood by the time the end came.
Warp space
Stars whizzed by, endless blurry lines in the warp. They would arrive soon, Zeratul reached out to the mind of his second. I have questions that need answering.
Vornuum answered promptly, giving a strong sense of eternal patience. I have the answers you seek. Ask.
Peering at a raised image of the terran home world of Korhal, Zeratul pondered. It was troubling there was no new information to go off of. We arrive in mere minutes. How are we to strike? I do not know what my army is capable of, only what little I have seen between my travels, Ulnar and here.
As weapons of the gods, we wield the power of creation. You have seen what we do. It is paramount that we cleanse the corruption from those under the fallen ones sway. Vornuum said.
Weathered features crinkling in concern, Zeratul caressed the planet with a fingertip, setting it to slowly spinning. I have witnessed the phoenix creatures consume zerg, protoss and terran alike. Will they be destroyed?
No. They will become the fuel to give new life to this universe, life is never truly destroyed unless touched by the fallen one. He broke the cycle, we must fix it.
Where was the capital of the formerly ruined planet? Ah, there. The clawed tip of his finger pinned the spot where Augustgrad lay amidst the wastes. What was inside that city now? I am not sure I like the sound of this.
You know us to be good, prophet. We follow you but will do as we must, what we were created to do.
Eyes narrowing, he swiped away the image and stood, sensing the end of the trip and wishing an end to the conversation. I understand. The battle will be upon us shortly, make ready.
We shall strike with the fury of our makers. Vornuum faded from his mind.
The sheer violence that erupted through the view port forced him to take a step back. Protoss and zerg descending upon the mothership! What was before a desperate battle would simply be a slaughter within the next few minutes. By the gods! I pray the strength of this army is enough to stop this madness.
Hercules
A soft gait, punctuated by a slightly heavy left step, made Sarah raise her head in surprise. There was no light within the cell- truly just a drop pod sealed from the outside. "Stukov?" she murmured.
With a click and a few complaining beeps, the door to the drop pod slid open and revealed the infested man. "Here to help. Fear not, Amon holds no sway over me."
"Where are the others?" she said, quickly stepping out as he stepped back to make way.
A muffled call from nearby signaled Jim, "Right here."
"Here," said the now familiar child who peeked out from behind Stukov at her, fearful of one and not the other.
"The vessel is being taken to the Bucephalus," Stukov said as he inputted the code to set Jim free.
Baring her teeth and looking away from the child, Sarah scrutinized Stukov from behind. Nothing seemed amiss, other than the fact he was not under control of the dark one. "Amon wanted to make a demonstration."
"It would seem so," curling one fist behind his back, Alexei turned away from Jim and began to stride towards the front of the ship. The drop pod floor was simply a long line, not much room to maneuver even without CMC suits.
"Probably to watch everyone else die, knowing how cheery this guy is," Jim muttered, eyeing the way the kid just about clung to Alexei. There were some choice questions about this arrangement, but they would have to wait.
Voice hoarse, Tate tried his best to sound clear. "Are we going to die?
Sarah shook her head with a clatter. "No. You should go back in a cell, it's safer."
"No!" Tate stepped around to the front of Stukov, out of sight and out of reach.
"The boy has some uses," Stukov shrugged, accepting. "Let's go get this ship back."
"Jim," Sarah said gravely, looking over her shoulder at him.
Lips tightening into a hard line for a moment, he knew what she was going to say. He messed up. "I know," it wouldn't happen again.
Voice softening a touch, she turned away and resumed following their guide. "Just be ready for what you will need to do."
"I will," one more jot on a long list of hell to pay.
Void Seeker
Hanging in space, the army of the gods spread out like a shining spiderweb. We have identified strategic opportunities.
When his second made contact, Zeratul's head snapped up from the combat grid he was feverishly absorbing. Show me.
The grid shifted of it's own accord, guided by an unseen hand. The gently spinning flower that was the mothership, now under heavy attack, floated in front of him. Fleeing protoss mothership. It was an obvious choice, but he waited for the other. It was a surprise to see a large transport ship of terran origin to appear next. Terran vessel with zerg matter inside.
Without hesitation, he said. Both. I trust we have the resources to do two things at once.
It did not seem as though Vornuum objected. As you command.
The protoss refugees first, they are in danger and I wish to see them to safety. Zeratul pointed at the deadly flower, a thrill of excitement running through him at the thought of something new an exciting being revealed to him.
From the shining spiderweb erupted thousands of rays of light, cutting through space and landing on the mothership like massive spotlights. The light was so intense the Void Seekers sensors lost sight of it.
The minds of the protoss, he could feel them rapidly approaching! With a renewed energy, he thrust a commanding finger at the second image of the smaller terran ship. Now the vessel. He paused as another set of lights rendered the ships detection equipment inert. I sense something familiar here.
Methodically the spiderweb shape shifted, thousands of links breaking apart and reforming like a sphere around its now trapped targets. Just like that, a perimeter was established. Amon's khalai and zerg were buffeted away, scattered but quickly reforming.
Vornuum returned, the touch of his mind seeming troubled. We cannot purge Amon from the khala as it is.
Why not? Zeratul wondered out loud to his second. You destroyed the hybrid on Ulnar.
Returning to his sense of endless patience, the concern smoothed away like a tiny wrinkle, the creature spoke. The dark one is a parasite, feasting on the psionic energy of the khala. He now commands the zerg swarm and uses its hive mind to shield himself from us, and the energy of the khala now shields the zerg from us in turn.
Following the minds eye of the creature, he looked at the terran ship they captured. But an individual may be pried from his grasp. I understand. There are a mere handful inside the terran vessel. I feel them.
Inside the Hercules, Stukov paused. "We have stopped moving," his voice held a note of confusion.
Brows furrowing together, Jim reached out and placed a palm flat on cool neosteel, expecting the thrum of machines working hard. "We never landed and we aint falling neither," he moved his hand around, truly confused. "Just stillness."
Sarah did not seem to care, she was crouched and her blades were forwards, ready to lunge. They were at the door to the bridge, and Tate was ready to hit the button to let them in and start the fight. "Doesn't matter right now, get ready."
As soon as Stukov and Jim refocused and gave him the nod to go, Tate whispered "3...2...1!" and hit the button, ducking away quickly.
"Augh!" All three shouted as blinding light hit them like a punch to the face. All sound, all senses and all thought stopped.
As though far away, Jim thought he could hear voices; voices slowly approaching at a painful crawling pace. He hung in a limbo of confusion. No limbs worked, it seemed only his ears did.
James Raynor! I am grateful to see my old friend once more, even in such a state. A large hand, alien in shape, clasped Jim on the shoulder, he felt its warmth through his clothing.
A harder voice spoke, closer and closer now. A zerg without the hive mind. We will use it to fuel our defense.
No! You will do no such thing. The other voice came off as ancient, saying it came from an old man would not do it justice; and unlike the second voice, it was familiar.
Without the energy provided by the protoss, zerg and terrans, we cannot rid creation of Amon; the dark one will succeed. Jim did not like the sound of this ultimatum.
There was a pause before the old voice came back, wary now. So that is how you function. You consume them, a fate no better than what Amon offers.
No Zeratul, to join with us is to Ascend. You must understand. A note of pleading in the stronger voice then, and even Jim knew this was not something this person did often. Had to be a younger person then, full of piss and vinegar and attitude.
The old voice seemed drained, yet an undercurrent of steel remained. What choice do I have? Fate be damned, you will not take the lives of these beings under my care. Am I clear?
Understood.
Hanging in the silence of the now ended conversation, Jim focused on moving anything and everything. When his mouth moved, he couldn't keep the hope from his tone. "Am I hearing things? Zeratul? Can you turn the light down?" It had to be Zeratul, he'd met many people and beings in his life and none fit the bill quite like that wiley old protoss.
Apologies, old friend. Fate has given us a way in which we may defeat the dark one, but there is much to learn and so little time.
Blinking slow and hard, Jim swayed on his feet when he felt the ground suddenly. His surroundings were still the same, a terran ship with an open door he was about to charge through, but there was still an oppressive light shielding everything else from sight. "Alright, just gonna have to take what you say at face value right now. Where are the others?" Sarah. Where was Sarah?
As he calmly took the time to shake the hand of James Raynor, Zeratul raised the other to stave off further questions. Do not be alarmed, they are here and safe. We are isolating the infested terrans and attempting to use their connection to the swarm to aid us.
Behind and to the left came Sarah's voice, a note of surprise in it. "I didn't expect to see you alive, never mind saving me." When Jim turned to look at her he saw light receding from her body as though it was a physical, maybe even liquid thing.
It was impressive how indifferent the old protoss sounded. You yet have a role to play, how I feel about you has been irrelevant for a long time now, Queen of Blades.
"Not a Queen anymore," she glared.
And a little less prideful, that is good. Jim thought he heard a note of amusement in there, somehow.
Frowning, he looked away from the environment, quickly growing stranger by the minute, and focused on Zeratul. "Enough. How can I help?"
A small light sparked to life violently between Jim and Zeratul, its voice just shy of striking Jim with force. You cannot. Amon is strong enough that we can only partially separate these terrans from the hive mind. They are of no use.
Squinting and shielding his eyes, Jim said, "Hey now, glowing person. Let's just talk it over and see if one of us can figure out something that you can't." This was the voice he heard arguing for his death, he recognized it right away. But it was not a protoss, what was it?
The small sphere of light pulsed, ready to explode outwards with violent force. We do not answer to you, James Raynor.
You answer to me. Zeratul said, so calm they could have been discussing dinner.
Yes. It admitted, shrinking marginally.
We do as James Raynor says, the steel was back, your friends must be contained within cells, but they can speak with us.
"I have my doubts your protoss friends will listen to us," Kerrigan let out a huff, flicking a clawed fingertip at the strange material surrounding them and finding it non physical, just light... Just some psi tricks, she decided to not think too hard on it.
Zeratul stared at her hard, green eyes bright and glowing. Jim swore his friend looked younger than he ever had, the old weathered body lacking the age it did when he last saw him. There are no more choices. Hatred must be set aside, no matter how many crimes you have committed as the Queen of Blades, Kerrigan.
Sarah's eyes narrowed. "So be it."
Mothership - Stasis Chambers
Our captors arrive. Vorazun, ragged and spattered with blood, strode into the stasis chambers like a whirlwind, eyes still alight from battle.
Zeratul quickly turned to face the smaller nerazim, it seemed adversity had not softened the daughter of Raszagal's temper. You are not captive, Vorazun. It saddens me to see the remainders of our race aboard one ship, but I find myself glad to see you alive.
Her eyes narrowed into glowing green slits. What are these creatures you have brought, Zeratul? The kind of power it would take to pull a mothership from a battle like that... A shape, mostly concealed by Zeratul's form, shifting behind him caught her eye.
I discovered Ulnar. Already, Zeratul's hands were raising in a placating gesture.
She straightened bolt upright, possibilities and questions and wonders sparking through her mind. Impossible!
You beheld the truth with your own eyes. An army of the gods, come to save us from the dark ones grasp. Despite the good news, Zeratul felt the tension rise steadily, focused around what was concealed behind him.
What must we do to ensure their success? Her head tilted slightly, and her eyes were now focused on what was definitely a spike pointing out from behind Zeratul's arm.
Still as a stone and calm as undisturbed water, Zeratul focused intently on her and drew her eyes back to his with his sheer presence. Let us operate from your mothership. We have a plan and are already using a few of your containment cells.
Acutely aware of this tactic, her eyes narrowed marginally, a mean feat. Cells for what... or whom? Who have you brought with you, Zeratul?
Silent, Zeratul stepped aside and revealed his guests.
"The matriarch's daughter?" Kerrigan said from her cell as she saw Vorazun, "Awkward."
Vorazun's psi blades lit up immediately, and the matriarch took up a fighting stance. Release this murderer from her cage. Now.
Stay your hand, Vorazun. Zeratul took a half-step forwards, wary of the blade. He was not to be considered a friend either. A large, unfamiliar protoss stepped through the door and took in the situation.
You, the murderer of my mother, bring the destroyer of our race to me and demand I not act? Her voice was deadly quiet.
As quick as he surveyed the situation, Zurthan stepped forwards and asserted himself. Desperate times, matriarch. We have made the mistake of not heeding Zeratul before.
With a tremor of rage, her psi blades flickered and died. When she spoke next, Vorazun spared no venom. Keep your monstrous pets from my sight and do as you wish. Swirling around and striding towards the door, she almost knocked into Zurthan, who wisely stepped aside. Fix this, Zeratul!
As soon as the door slid shut, Jim let his breath go. "That was rough, she the boss around here?"
"You could say that," Sarah said, frowning. "We should start working, wouldn't want to overstay our welcome."
Your friends are placed in these containment cells, Zeratul gestured to Warfield, Stetmann and Stukov one by one, all frozen and still. They can speak freely when released, and he gestured to the small glowing button to press then, but must remain restrained for their own safety.
"Gettin' real tired of locking up my friends," Jim frowned, walking forwards and pressing the button immediately. It was disquieting to see each frozen in such a way. Each looked surprised and rubbed at their eyes as the stasis receded, no doubt trying to banish the blinding white that Jim had to work away too.
"It is easier when your friends will try to kill you," Sarah said as she watched, standing very still within her own prison.
Tate, mostly forgotten, quickly ran to Warfield's cell and placed his hands on the shielding. "Are you okay?!"
Zeratul watched the scene with a heavy sadness in his hearts. A poor place for a terran child. No doubt there were other children aboard, as many as the Nerazim could carry and then some.
"Not like there's somewhere else for him to be, Zeratul," Jim said.
"My friends," Alexei called, "I am not a fan of cages."
"You'll live," Sarah said curtly. "See any of what happened?"
"No. Only a blinding light and now the swarm...it feels distant," Alexei seemed troubled then. What was going on? He was never a true part of the swarm, he felt it, could pluck from it, but not now.
"Good, I'll fill you in later. But for now, we need your help," Sarah said.
Egon let out a ragged breath, loud enough to interrupt all nearby conversation. "Jim!" he flung up against the shielding, "I am so sorry, am I ever glad you are in one piece!" He pressed his forehead to the rippling shielding and closed his eyes, thanking every deity he could think of.
"Don't sweat it kid. We need your help again," Jim wanted to give the poor kid a hug, but he just crossed his arms instead. Now was not the time.
Wary, Stukov said, "It seems we have all day."
Zeratul stepped beside Jim and addressed the infested, looking over each one. We must undermine the integrity of the swarm hive mind in order to weaken Amon.
Egon gave a nervous shrug, "That would be a problem. I can't even hear the swarm," he swirled his fingertips beside his temples, "it's this fuzzy mess just out of reach."
"Same for me," Stukov echoed.
"Raynor!" Still rubbing at his eyes, Warfield waved, "Over here!"
"I thought you were dead, then you show up and try and kill me," Jim couldn't help but smile.
"Just like old times," Warfield chuckled, dismissing the strangeness around him. Nothing made sense anymore anyway.
"This is not helping," Sarah said.
Tate spoke, voice timid and well below the others flow of conversation, "The swarm has a leader right?"
Zeratul addressed Jim patiently, If they are not capable of assisting us, perhaps I can have them severed from the swarm similar to how you and Kerrigan have been.
"Oh please do!" Palpable relief all but radiated from Egon.
"Guys?" Tate fidgeted with his ratty shirt, voice going quieter by the second.
Warfield happened to look down at the boy and realize he was talking. "Tate? Glad you're okay son. What are you asking?"
As the others quieted to listen, Tate spoke, "Who is the new leader of the swarm? She was," he pointed at Kerrigan then, "right?"
"I was," Sarah said, eyes narrowing.
Jim started catching on, "Then Tychus was."
Egon blurted, letting out a woop, "Abathur!"
Kerrigan hissed, "Abathur," her fists clenched at the reminder of the deceitful worm.
Tate nodded, "What if you went after him? The swarm breaks without the leader, right? That's what they need to win?"
Jim rubbed his chin and nodded, validating the idea. "Good idea kid," he said.
Warfield smiled. "Good job son."
"Thanks," Tate looked at the floor, sheepish.
Zurthan's chuckle reverberated through their heads. Assassinate the new leader of the swarm, inside the swarm itself? Have you looked outside lately?
"Didn't say it would be easy, pal," Jim said, giving his chin another rub as a new chain of thought began.
I fear this may be our only choice, Zeratul said gravely.
Egon's eyes were already closed, thinking, exploring his thoughts when they were not his. After a minute of silence, it clicked, "I know where he is," he said.
Warfield nodded, he too had been hard at work. "I can feel him too, nasty critter."
"Yes, we can guide you to the new leader of the zerg swarm," Stukov tipped his hat and gave a ruined toothy smile.
"I'll do it," Kerrigan said immediately, wing blades stretching just enough to touch the shielding and force it to ripple.
"Like hell you will," Jim said.
Sarah raised her hands and gestured to those around them, "Who else but me then? Who knows the swarm better than its Queen, Jim?"
The door opened and Vorazun stormed back in. I will go. The dark templar are well versed in killing zerg, permanently. The matriarch had clearly been keeping tabs while not present.
Sarah glared from her prison, "I don't trust you."
Vorazun pointed with the tip of her stave, I don't trust you either. Tension hung between the two warriors, ready to be snapped by a simple violent action.
"Easy ladies," Jim held his hands up and pointedly stepped between Sarah and Vorazun.
Zeratul looked down from the stars and upon the scene before him thoughtfully, Calm yourselves, he said, As much as it may seem like a poor plan, I believe the two of you should work together. James Raynor and I must remain behind to lead and relay information to you, that much is certain.
Vorazun snapped, Fine, but you, she gestured sharply to the large form of Zurthan then, are in charge of this ship and its peoples while I am away.
"So long as you're watching my back, Jim," Sarah said, seemingly accepting of the situation.
Jim knew better, saw the coiled tension beneath the weaponized form of Sarah, "Always." His insides churned with worry.
Zeratul tilted his head, signalling the decision was made. Make your preparations, but hurry. I do not know how long we can withstand a concerted assault; I must seek council and strategize accordingly before you depart.
Jim watched as Vorazun physically cut off Zeratul in releasing Sarah from her containment cell. Now that was a tense moment, when the two stared at one another as the shielding fell, and then Sarah stepped serenely off the raised platform and came to Jim's side. He felt proud. "Zeratul, I'll need to get some gear off that rig you took us from. Gotta keep in touch with Sarah somehow," he said.
Vorazun's steady gaze fixed to Jim, and he got the feeling he was being read like a book. I will assign a crewman to assist you in recovering items from your ship. It seemed the matriarch was not completely opposed to what she read.
"Thanks," he said simply, grasping Sarah's hand in his. It was a relief to feel her give a comforting squeeze in return. It seemed strange that he was the one that needed it, given she was in the heart of the enemy; he supposed he was too, now.
Egon called from his cell, "You wont need a cloak, Kerrigan?"
With a clatter, she gave her head a shake. "No. My new friend will help me with that," she smirked.
Bridge
As the preparations begun and everyone filed off to their own assignments, Zurthan was left with Zeratul on the bridge. Putting two mortal enemies together on a mission that is not likely to succeed already is not a wise choice, old prophet, the warrior said.
Zeratul's eyes crinkled in mirth. I trust neither. I trust that they both understand the circumstances of their mission, and will do it for those they care about. There is wisdom in that.
It seemed that Zurthan accepted his words, because he took up his position beside him and began to bring up relevant information of troops and ships available on the console. Tell me of these creatures, I would assist in our defenses. We have few warriors left, but they crave to put their blades to the enemy who has brought us so low.
A spark of delight, something he had not felt in an age, lit up inside Zeratul then. He was born to discover and share information, this was his calling. I shall, and there is much to tell.