Chapter 7: The Choice
"We have arrived at Char," Artanis said. "And it seems that the UED has not sent a fleet to pursue us. With the Uraj secure, it is time for us to retrieve the Khalis. Zeratul have you locked onto the location of the Khalis?"
"Yes. I remember sensing its power the last time I was on this world, and it is still here," Zeratul said. "However, our sensors indicate a massive, fluctuating energy signature at its location. I am, however, unable to identify the signature's source."
"That should be obvious, gentlemen; the source is the Overmind itself," Kerrigan said. "When the cerebrates merged together, they must have locked onto the Khalis' energies and nested near it. It's probable that there'll be a number of broods protecting that area. To retrieve the Khalis, it is practically necessary to break through all of the defenses surrounding the Overmind. The choice here is simple. Kill the Overmind and the Khalis will become yours."
Zeratul looked to be deep in thought. "To assail the Overmind directly will be dangerous. There is no doubt that the zerg will utilize all that they have to defend the Overmind. And there is no guarantee that we will succeed."
"There is no true battle that is without danger," Artanis said. "Our mission is to retrieve the Khalis, no matter what it takes."
"Remember your orders," Kerrigan said. "Your Matriarch instructed you to slay the Overmind should a suitable opportunity arise. What better chance is there than right now?"
"I do not mean to speak negatively of our warriors, but the broods on the surface are too numerous. We cannot defeat them should they put their full force against us," Zeratul said. "We have gathered here the entirety of what Shakuras can spare. Should we fall, Shakuras falls too. The safer plan of action is to retrieve the Khalis with stealth and escape."
"With how close the Khalis is to the Overmind, there is no doubt that the region will be guarded heavily," Kerrigan said. "There will be no way to sneak up undetected and you will have to fight through the broods around the Overmind anyways. But fear not because you won't need to fight alone. I have zerg under my control on the surface that I can use to support the attack. They will take the other zerg by surprise, allowing us to claim victory."
"How confident are you in this plan?" Artanis asked.
"I believe that we have a strong chance at victory," Kerrigan said. "I'm also hoping to get some help from a friend of mine, the cerebrate Kaloth. He is one of the zerg's finest commanders and with his aid our chances of success will greatly improve. However, I will need you to commit to the attack if I am to take this course of action. To turn against the rest of the zerg without managing to deal a decisive blow to them would be an unwise choice for both me and him."
"Kaloth? I recall hearing of him," Artanis said. "Was he the cerebrate that led the initial invasion of Aiur?"
"Yes, he did help the Overmind to establish a foothold on Aiur. His tactical skill was able to secure the victory in the opening stages of the war," Kerrigan said.
"His skill is indeed unquestionable. His forces were a menace to us during the invasion of Aiur. Even Fenix ended up falling to him at Antioch during the surprise zerg attack."
"Well, back then we were fighting a war against each other," Kerrigan said. "The Overmind had commanded that we attack, so we had little choice."
"He was a formidable enemy, but he also can be a powerful ally," Artanis said. "We can indeed prevail should you two join us in the attack. Should we slay the Overmind, it will be a great victory for all of us. We won't have a better chance than this."
"Very well, the Overmind will die this day," Zeratul said.
"Excellent, while you are preparing the attack, I will need a ship to join up with my forces on the surface," Kerrigan said. "I shall lead an attack from the east while you go from the west."
"I shall have a swift ship to escort you to the surface," Artanis said. Then he turned to address Selendis. "Executor, prepare our forces for deployment. I want the enemy forces identified and battle plans made as soon as possible."
While the protoss were busy preparing, a group of protoss came to bring Kerrigan to the ship. "I am Iluron," the zealot in front said. "I have been tasked with sending you to the surface of Char."
They walked a short distance through the vessel before arriving at the hangar bay. There was a ship waiting, its engines already being started up. It was clearly quite meticulously designed and had the sleek aesthetic characteristic of protoss ships.
"This is one of our best shuttles," Iluron said. "It is typically used by our most important people for vital missions. To have the chance to be in one is a great honor."
"Touching. As long as it works, it will be sufficient," Kerrigan said. "It just needs to get the job done. Now, we need to get going. If you want to spend time expounding on its capabilities which it no doubt has a lot of, it would be better if you do it once we are moving."
They quickly got into the shuttle after that and it began heading toward the surface of Char. Kerrigan directed the pilot to bring it to one of her hive clusters on the surface. It was a tense atmosphere inside the shuttle as it began heading down to the greatest concentration of zerg in the sector. Iluron stayed silent, deciding not to further describe the shuttle's characteristics beyond just a rough overview.
Suddenly, the pilot called out in alarm. "There are a flock of mutalisks chasing after us."
"Isn't this vessel supposed to be cloaked?" Kerrigan asked.
"It is," the pilot replied. "But they must have detected us somehow. I was sure to stay far enough away from the overlords though."
"Damn it, Daggoth must have improved the detection capabilities of his overlords," Kerrigan muttered. "I didn't think that he would be patrolling this area so vigorously. Now that we have been spotted, it is unlikely that we can shake off a pursuit."
The ship shook. "We've been hit by scourge," the pilot said. "The shields are down and the engine has been damaged. The ship is going down and we will have to make a crash landing."
"Zanosh, make sure that the emergency shock absorbers are working. We will need it if we are to survive the crash," Iluron said.
"Adun protect us," he murmured as he got to work, all the while the ship began dropping in altitude. Meanwhile, the rest of the crew braced for impact.
As the ship approached the ground, the pilot cut the speed as much as possible but even so it was still moving with quite a lot of speed. It didn't quite hit the ground directly but rather slid across the ground as the frame of the ship crumpled. Blue smoke rose up from the wreck as the crystals within the ship shattered or overloaded and as the ship finally came to a stop, what was left collapsed inward on itself.
A few moments later, the wreckage stirred as debris was forced to the side. Kerrigan burst out from the side of the ship, shaking off the scraps of metal and crystal that covered her. A moment later, Iluron cut his way out the other side of the ship. There was still some rumbling coming from inside the ship as the others were working their way out.
Iluron got to work cutting through the sides of the ship with his psi blades, followed by Kerrigan doing so as well. Soon, Iluron pulled a high templar out of the wreckage.
"My thanks for rescuing me," he said. "I had gotten stuck inside."
"Were you injured, Kalrak?" Iluron asked.
"A bit," he replied. "But I am still capable of moving and fighting."
Iluron pulled another body from the wreckage. This one though showed no signs of life. "He is one with the Khala now," he muttered before continuing his searching.
Zanosh emerged from where Kerrigan was digging, followed by a dark templar. "Esadril and I found the pilot. He died in the crash."
"Then it is just us left then," Iluron said. "Our communications equipment is completely destroyed and we cannot contact the fleet."
"We can't stay here for long," Kerrigan said. "The Overmind's minions will soon be crawling over this place to look for us. We need to make it to one of the hive clusters under my control, but that is some distance away and the Overmind's minions stand between it and our position. We're going to have to take a stealthy approach and avoid attracting too many of the zerg. Moreover, I can't let the other zerg spot me. I'm supposed to be attacking some terran worlds right now. If I unexpectedly show up now at the same time the protoss are attacking, the mission will be exposed."
"How do you plan for us to make it past so many zerg," Esadril asked. "While I may be able to avoid being found for some time, not all of us are as trained in stealth. It is probable that a passing flier would spot us."
"There are many tunnels that lie underneath the surface of Char," Kerrigan said. "There is an entrance not far from here, and we can go through the tunnels and avoid the zerg on the surface. We may run into zerg patrols down there though, so we will need to be on guard and fight through them quickly if we are intercepted."
"That seems to be our only option," he responded. "Let us go then."
"Esadril and I should go scout ahead while cloaked to spot any approaching zerg," Kerrigan said. "We can keep in touch telepathically to inform the others of what we find."
The two disappeared from sight, leaving the other three to walk forward together over the desolate volcanic rock. They kept watch over their surroundings, though nothing came into their sight, a good thing because that would mean the enemy would spot them too. Then, they got a message from the Esadril saying that there was a flock of mutalisks heading in their direction.
Looking around quickly, they spotted a rocky overhang just a short distance away. They ran toward it quickly and hid under it. For a short while they waited until finally the mutalisks arrived, flying over their hiding place and into the distance. Once they finally went out of sight, the protoss emerged again and continued toward their destination.
They soon arrived at the entrance to a cave. There, Kerrigan was waiting for them. When the dark templar returned as well, they were ready to start moving in. Leaving the harsh surface of Char, they descended below the ground, the light behind them fading until finally they were in darkness. They were in a lava tube, formed from a volcano that had erupted long ago. Now, the tunnel had been repurposed by the zerg, expanded and connected with other tunnels.
In the dark tunnels, the protoss used the light of their psi blades to show their way. The tunnels were like a twisting maze with branches in every direction. Kerrigan guided them in the right direction, navigating the tunnel network as they moved toward their goal.
"We seem to be taking quite a roundabout path," Esadril noted. "Are these tunnels so sparse as to make this the only way through?"
"Not at all, there are many tunnels here and shorter paths to our destination," Kerrigan said. "But those paths go directly under hostile hive clusters and would be filled with enemy zerg. Out here, there should be less patrols to worry about."
Suddenly, she stopped as she sensed something in the distance. "Withdraw your psi blades and get up against the wall," she said. "There are other zerg coming."
Though the protoss didn't hear anything yet, they hid against the wall. They waited in darkness and silence and nothing came by. Then, they finally heard low growls and the sound of armor scraping against the ground. The sound echoed off of the narrow confines of the tunnel, blending into an eerie mixture. The hydralisks slithered past just several meters away from where the protoss were hiding. Along with them ran a few score zerglings. One of the zerglings began wandering over, getting ever so closer as it sniffed around the ground. Then, it turned away and ran back.
The next several minutes felt like almost an eternity. It wasn't clear how many zerg there were, dark as the tunnel was, and only the sounds revealed their presence. Finally, the noises began fading out as the passing zerg moved away into the distance.
"That was a close one," Kerrigan said. "We need to keep moving quickly."
They continued to progress cautiously, but also speedily. The longer they spend in the tunnels, the greater chance there was of being caught. As time passed, their apprehension only grew.
Eventually, they had made it most of the way through the tunnels, and there was just a short distance left. Then, the skittering of zerg filled the tunnels around them. The group looked around warily.
"Damn it, the zerg have been stirred up into a frenzy and are moving through the tunnel," Kerrigan said. "Something must have riled them up. There is no way we can get around them, we will have to fight our way through. Fortunately, the exit won't be too far away.
Then, the first zerglings came into sight and the protoss unsheathed their psi blades. Iluron and Zanosh who were in the front charged into the fray while the high templar began frying the zerg from a distance. Meanwhile, the two cloaked members of the group began picking away at the zerg from the sides.
The small group of zerg was quickly eliminated, but by now they had attracted attention and more and more were coming. Picking up the pace, the small group of protoss and a zerg continued their journey. Ahead, a large group of zerg had gathered to block their path to the exit.
Kalrak shot out a psionic storm toward the zerg, clearing out most of the tunnel in front of them. Yet as the group advanced, more zerg began coming in from the sides. It was a flurry of claws and psi blades clashing against each other, but slowly the zerg were pushed back. Then, a group of zerglings popped out from under the ground next to the high templar.
Caught by surprise and slowed down by his earlier injury, Kalrak was unable to react in time and the zerglings jumped on him. Iluron turned around but was tackled by several zerglings, forcing him to fend them off. Then, the zerglings attacking Kalrak were suddenly yanked off by an invisible entity before being cut down the middle.
Kalrak tried to get onto his feet but collapsed again. "You should go on without me."
Iluron ran back to him. "We can still fight through this," he said, grabbing ahold of Kalrak and lifting him up.
"There are too many zerg," Kalrak said. "I won't be able to use another psionic storm in the state I am in."
"Allow me then," Kerrigan said. The air crackled as psionic lightning filled the tunnel once more. Fortunately the zerg within died quickly enough that they didn't get a good look at the origins of the attack. With the amount of zerg thinned out, they were finally able to make it out of the tunnel, beaten and battered but still alive.
Turning back toward the tunnel, Kerrigan focused for a moment. Then the rock shook and collapsed, caving in the entrance. "It will take some time for them to dig through," she said. "We don't have much farther to go."
Their pace was slower than before with one of the zealots needing to carry the high templar. Still, it seemed like the zerg weren't putting that much effort into pursuing their small group, focusing their efforts elsewhere instead. It was only when they were nearly at one of Kerrigan's hive clusters that a flock of mutalisks appeared in the distance.
"We've been spotted," Iluron. "Will we be able to take shelter with your zerg, Kerrigan?"
Kerrigan thought for a moment while they were running. "You can, but it will be difficult. The other zerg must think you have been killed. When we approach the hive cluster, you will be swarmed by zerg. Don't resist."
"Very well then, I shall trust you in this." Iluron looked up. The mutalisks were already fast approaching and there wasn't much time left.
A group of zerglings and an overlord emerged from the hive cluster and ran toward their group. The four protoss were quickly surrounded and the zerglings began piling on. However, down below the zerglings dug a hole and quickly pushed the protoss in while the small heap of zerglings covered up what was going on.
The ruse worked, and soon the mutalisks flew away with the protoss seemingly killed.
"Being covered by zerglings is deeply unpleasant," Iluron after being dug out. "Still, it is better than dying."
"You all can stay at this hive cluster for now until Artanis is able to pick you up," Kerrigan said. "I have some preparations to make now."
As Zanosh began carrying the high templar away to put him down somewhere else, Iluron spoke. "I had been on Char once before. I didn't expect to be here again, especially in these circumstances."
"Oh did you? We must not have had a pleasant meeting then," Kerrigan said. "That is all in the past now though."
"I must say, it was more frightening when we had to fight against you compared to now," he said. "It is thanks to your aid now that we were able to survive."
"Well, the ship only flew out here because of me," Kerrigan said with a shrug. "And I did need you all to clear a path here. That being said, you were all quite capable."
"As were you," Iluron acknowledged. "Now, we have a battle coming up. I do wish to participate."
"I'm afraid you won't be able to do that yet. I have something else to handle first," Kerrigan said.
After the protoss took refuge in the hive cluster, Kerrigan went to meet a cerebrate. His zerg were already mobilizing as the protoss were descending upon Char, and it was at this time that she arrived at the hive cluster which was teeming with zerg. Though they weren't her zerg, they parted before her all the same and allowed her to approach the cerebrate at the heart of the hive.
"Kaloth, I see that your brood is getting ready for a fight," Kerrigan said.
"You were supposed to be invading terran worlds, Kerrigan. And now you appear on Char without a word while a protoss expedition is poised to attack. What exactly is it that you are doing?" Kaloth asked.
"I have brought the protoss here to aid me," Kerrigan said. "They shall kill the Overmind that Daggoth has arranged to be created."
Kaloth sighed. "So you seek to tear the swarm asunder."
"There can only be one at the top. Should the Overmind grow to maturity both of us will be forced to serve it," Kerrigan said.
"Is it truly so bad to serve?" Kaloth said. "Even Daggoth only plans to lead the swarm until the Overmind is matured."
"Daggoth cannot conceive of a life without the Overmind, that is why he wants to recreate that which is already gone. The new Overmind will always be a shadow of the old one."
"Even so, the swarm needs unity if it is to survive," Kaloth said. "Creating a new Overmind can provide this."
"I will not serve another again," Kerrigan said. "It is something I cannot tolerate. If the swarm is to be united then I must be the one to lead it."
"Why would the swarm be better off being led by you?" Kaloth asked.
"Sometimes, it is more effective to work with some to fight others than to face everyone at once. Divide and conquer. Right now, the zerg have made many enemies and we are on the back foot. I am far more able to turn the situation around to our advantage by connecting with our former enemies. The success of that plan can be seen now."
"Right now, it seems to be more for your advantage," Kaloth noted.
"I won't deny that I wish to eliminate the Overmind for my own interests," Kerrigan said. "But I can lead the swarm to success as well, just differently than Daggoth."
"Oh Kerrigan," Kaloth said with a sigh. "You should have talked with me first rather than acting so soon. Did you not forget what happened with Zasz."
"I have made mistakes in the past," Kerrigan said. "But I have learned from it. Kaloth, I will be sure to seek your advice in the future. But this was something that I had to do."
"Are you truly intent on going through with this? Must we zerg fight each other?" Kaloth asked.
"I've made my choice," Kerrigan said. "The fledgling Overmind must die. I can accept nothing else. The only question is, where shall you stand? Will you support me in this, or do you intend to join the ranks of those who have abandoned me?"
"Do you truly harbor such doubts still?" Kaloth said. "I guarded you during your rebirth, and watched over you as you grew and learned. It was for that purpose that I was created, and I have been with you every step of the way. I would not rebel against our Father, but the imitation holds no sway over me. If you must fight my brethren, then I too shall fight them."
"Good, I knew I could count on you," Kerrigan said with a smile. "Now, let us begin our attack."
She walked out of the hive and joined with her army as the attack began. While she would fight, the cerebrate would watch over her as he always had, commanding the forces of the swarm. Though this was a fight greater than any they had experienced before.
Author's note: I know that according to Blizzard, the Episode II and Episode VI cerebrates are different, with the first dying on Aiur. But this was never stated in the games and I choose to believe that they are the same entity, because that makes the story much nicer. Also, I chose Kaloth as the name for the cerebrate here because after looking on the wiki, he is the named cerebate who survived past Brood War. And since nothing says he isn't the cerebrate, I chose to use that name (also I am bad at inventing names).