The next day, everyone was alerted to consciousness by a familiar rumbling. Not one of monstrous, approaching footsteps, but one from beneath that was consistent and slowly ramping up. Siesta held Louise close in their shared bed as they both built up their conviction, even as their hearts raced with fear at what they knew was coming.
Be on your guard, my apprentices, Nydus Worms are making their way through beyond this academy's walls, Zeratul unnecessarily informed them.
DON'T PANIC! Saito's voice suddenly rang in their heads. The girls did not see that nearly everyone else who was beginning to panic had paused, indicating they'd heard this as well. This isn't what you think! Trust me!
Perhaps about two days ago Siesta would not have listened to a single word he said. But after that experience in the other world? She couldn't help but feel a little softer towards Saito. It was enough to make Siesta relax. Slightly.
This did prompt bewilderment from Louise, however.
Since when do you trust him? Louise wondered.
I… can't explain why meeting that other Saito affected me like this, Siesta replied. Regardless, I can tell he's being truthful.
Louise was unsure how to trust that, but she trusted her wife, and that felt like enough for the moment. Though, the explosion of earth and rock accompanied by the first of many familiar screeches of the emergent Nydus Worms did shake that trust.
Saito's adrenaline completely woke him up as he psionically dashed from Kirche's bed, out the window, and landed gracefully on the grass before he further dashed beyond the academy walls to where the Nydus was emerging. He weaved through the soldiers preparing their weapons for imminent attack, even despite his warning.
Who could blame them? Saito thought as he left the academy, I highly doubt they'd be ready for this.
Just as he was drawing close to his destination, his path was blocked by a cloak of shadows that coalesced into that Nerazim he'd had a run-in with before.
You already betray us? Zeratul psionically snarled at him, making Saito wince at the intense aggression.
"I'm not!" Saito declared. "I asked for Omega's help. I know you don't trust them, but-"
Saito was cut off by Zeratul igniting his scythe, ,making him have to leap back to avoid being bisected.
"Listen to me, dammit!" Saito shouted as Zeratul leapt and made another strike that Saito scrambled to avoid, falling on his back as he barely survived. "I know you Protoss are weird about Zerg but you need to put that aside right now! We need all the help we can get!"
The smell of ocean filled the air, informing Saito of the Zerg pouring from the Nydus Worms he could see in the distance. That regard was nearly distraction enough to cost him his life as he needed to roll out of the way of another strike.
"From what I've studied in the archives, it wouldn't be the first time you'd worked with the Zerg! And this one in particular!" Saito shouted as he saw Zeratul pause in his next strike. It was enough for Saito to send out a haphazard psionic wave to push Zeratul back enough to allow Saito to rise and dash to the Zerg.
Zeratul, once he recovered, was in hot pursuit.
It is BECAUSE we have worked with this one that we are so acutely aware of its capacity for treachery! Zeratul retorted.
You should KNOW how Zerg hierarchy works! They didn't have a choice but to do what the Queen of Blades ordered them to do! Saito argued as he expended every bit of psionic energy to keep away from Zeratul, even as he was gaining on him.
That is no excuse. I am also aware they have enough autonomy to choose HOW they carry out their orders! This cerebrate was particularly brutal and sadistic in its methods! Zeratul blinked forward, further closing the gap between him and Saito as the human of the two could see the first Zerglings charging towards him.
Fine! Saito psionically shouted at Zeratul as he gathered energy in his one hand to blindly toss at Zeratul. He had no intent to hit, only to delay as he ran past the first Zerglings. Then see for yourself!
The Zerglings were upon Zeratul, who instinctively slowed to cut and slice at the creatures. As he did, however, he quickly found that they made no attempt to defend themselves. Or attack him. His strikes waned as he became more aware that they were ignoring him. He watched with increasing bewilderment as the Zerglings gave way to the Hydralisks which gave way to the Lurkers, which gave way to Ultralisks. Screeches above drew his eyes to approaching Mutalisks.
And all of them ignored Zeratul.
The stampede of Zerg merely headed straight for the academy, kicking up a massive cloud of dust as they did.
See?! Saito called out. They're not here to fight. Not us, anyways.
Zeratul, still distrusting, began heading back to the academy, where he could hear the thundering staccato of rifle fire peppering the air.
Your allies seem determined to embrace sure defeat, Omega's voice grumbled in Saito's head.
They're acting on fearful ignorance, Saito sighed. Just… keep the Zerg neutral. They should get the point eventually.
I would hope it is before all my children are slaughtered, Omega groused.
Saito regarded emerging drones from the Nydus. Looks like you planned for it, anyways.
I would prefer to replace as few as possible, Omega exasperatedly declared.
Saito couldn't help but agree.
Tabitha flew into an immediate panic as they were awoken by the rumbling of what they knew was a Nydus. Despite Saito's words, they could feel no sense of calm about it as they immediately began issuing orders to reposition what surviving tanks and other vehicles were left from their failed battle to the academy entrance. The distance, though, would prove to be too far. They knew even if they'd started repositioning the moment they felt the first tremor that they'd be too late.
They watched with a growing despair and panic as the first screeching Nydus emerged, knowing that the Zerg forces were not far behind.
"Tabitha? What's going on?" Penelope blearily asked.
"Zerg…" Tabitha growled, making their mother look at them with confusion. Right… she doesn't know. How could she know? Tabitha thought. "Monsters. Headed our way."
"Like the ones you told me about? Those… Tal'darim?" Penelope asked, her visage no longer bearing traces of sleep.
Tabitha grimly shook their head as they turned to a heavily sleeping Illococoo.
"Illococoo," Tabitha barked, causing the human-formed dragon to sit bolt upright, her hair a tangled mess and her mouth wet with drool. "Need you to be Sylphid. Under attack." Tabitha ordered.
Illococoo gave an owly blink before vigorously shaking her head and slapping her cheeks, "Right! Got it, sis!" Illococoo shot out of bed, grabbing Penelope's wrist as she did. "C'mon, mom!"
"Wait!" Tabitha called out as they finished queuing up their orders and put the communicator away before dashing to leave their room. The door opened just before they reached it, with the subject of their next objective being on the other side.
"What's going on? Are we under attack?" Kirche asked in a panic.
"Maybe," Tabitha truthfully answered, as Saito's words gave them just enough doubt not to be able to give a firm confirmation. Their head whipped around, looking for their staff.
Right, Tabitha remembered with a frown. Joseph destroyed it… They looked up at Kirche, her growing panic instilling in their heart.
"It's okay," Tabitha said as they stepped forward and took Kirche's hand, "We'll be fine on Sylphid."
Kirche looked down to see Tabitha give them a partially reassuring smile. Her worry green as she assumed the situation must have been dire for Tabitha not to be able to summon enough countenance for even that little lie.
"C'mon," Tabitha declared as they turned around, pulling Kirche along with them. The moment they turned, Illococoo gave a nod of conviction as they threw open the window and leapt from it.
A moment later, they heard a beating of wings, signaling to them that Sylphid was ready. The trio, with some hesitance from Penelope that Tabitha needed to spare a moment to comfort her over, jumped out of the window, landing on Sylphid.
"Let's go," Tabitha ordered as they spurred Sylphid forward to observe the coming Zerg that carried with them a scent of the ocean. They tried to keep Sylphid high and away from the approaching Zerg that they were thankful were all ground forces. A screech made them abandon that relief as they lifted their head to the noise and their eyes widened to see Mutalisks coming at them at a speed that they knew Sylphid could not outrun.
"Kirche! Prepare-!" Before Tabitha could issue any order, the Mutalisks were already in firing range, prompting Tabitha to will Sylphid to preemptively make herself a moving target.
However, instead of an onslaught of attacks that Tabitha needed to dodge, the Mutalisks merely passed them by.
Tabitha, Kirche, and a terrified Penelope regarded the passing, fleshy, crescent-shaped, near-draconic beings with confusion as the Zerg flyers slowed and began lazily circling the academy.
Tabitha took another look at the forces below, spotting the obvious gorgon-like forms of Hydralisks also ignoring them. Despite their ability to accurately launch their spines at objects far faster than Sylphid. And everything else ignoring everyone else on the ground.
Was Saito right? Tabitha wondered before they looked back at their passengers. "Going to land," Tabitha declared, prompting shock from Kirche and Penelope.
"I'm sorry, darling, but are you insane?! Do you see what's down there?!" Kirche stammered and shouted.
Tabitha merely narrowed their eyes at the Zerg that were now slowing down, ignoring any and all attacks upon them as they stopped in or around the academy. Even as they were shot and cut at by the forces below.
"Trust Saito," Tabitha stated as they brought a hesitant Sylphid into a dive whilst Penelope and Kirche gripped each other and screamed in protest.
Siesta was the first to burst from the room, with Louise closely following. From the room over, Eleonore, her hair a wild, tangled mess and her eyes blinking in an owl-like manner from behind her crooked glasses, also flew out, her wand at the ready as she shook.
"What's going on?! Why did I hear that boy's voice in my head?! Are we under attack?!" Eleonore asked in a panic as her head whipped to the girls.
"I don't know," Siesta honestly answered her. "It felt like Saito wasn't lying. So maybe nothing's wrong, but-"
The sound of rifle fire cut Siesta off, causing her to instinctively ignite her blade in a flick of her wrist.
"Stay close behind me," Siesta ordered as she swept into the lead of her wife and sister-in-law.
The trio swiftly made their way downstairs and out the door, beholding, with horror, a flood of Zerg that were just about to enter the academy grounds.
"Zerg?! Here?! I don't believe this!" Siesta heard Mama Cassandra shout.
Siesta turned to see her shoulder her stolen ghost rifle and fire a round into the approaching monstrosities.
"As if we don't have enough problems!" Mama Cassandra pulled back the lever of the rifle to ejecta shell then chamber another round before taking aim again as the Zerg flooded into the academy grounds.
It was then that Siesta noticed the Zerg were not going anywhere in particular. They entered the grounds, then, the ones that survived just… remained still. Every shot they endured, they did not respond to. They made no self-preservation nor self-defense efforts. And certainly no aggressive ones, even as their squealing sounds of pain and death filled the air.
The rifle fire slowed. The sounds of Protoss energy weapons quieted. And, eventually, there was a silent tension that filled the courtyard as Zerg, whose only movements were those of idle beings, peacefully stood among them. The army observed them with hesitance and horror, with trembling visible even from the power-armored marines that were surrounded by Zerg that could leap upon them at any time.
Siesta, without thinking, wandered closer to the Zerg, not hearing Louise's hissing cries for her to stop as she approached a Zergling that bore only one claw sprouting from the "arms" on its back. Its eyes met hers, causing her to jump back and brandish her blade at it.
It responded to the threat with a mere wet snort and chitter before idly pawing at the ground with its taloned feet.
What in the world…? Siesta thought as she found herself wandering closer to it.
You see! Siesta, and everyone else, could hear Saito psionically announce, They're not here to fight us! Siesta's head whipped to the academy entrance, where she could see Saito hop off of an Ultralisk that had stomped beyond the academy entrance. They're here to help us!
Upon hearing that, Siesta's credulity strained near its breaking point.
For hours, the humans present regarded the passive Zerg with, at first, overwhelming fear and hesitance. The more they dwelt among them, however, the more that fear and hesitance turned to curious wonder.
Early into those hours, Tabitha, upon landing, swiftly dismounted Sylphid and ran up to Saito, who was stroking his Ultralisk mount's leg with a serene smile on his face.
"What is this?" Tabitha asked.
Saito turned to see he was receiving an accusatory glare that made him wince, "I… talked to Omega. Just after we arrived here."
"Omega?"
"The Zerg Cerebrate we revived and controlled. That I freed," Saito informed as he turned his full attention to Tabitha, respectfully squaring his stance before them.
Tabitha raised an eyebrow before looking up, unconsciously trembling as they did, at the Ultralisk's face as it huffed and shook its head. They'd never seen one so up close before. That thought unconsciously replaced their fear with fascination as they absent-mindedly wandered forward, holding out a hand.
"Tabitha!" Kirche called out, causing Tabitha to both jump and jerk back from the behemoth-sized creature. Kirche was swiftly at their side, her eyes darting between the Ultralisk and the other Zerg with a naked fear before she turned that fear upon Saito. "What's going on?"
Saito pinched the bridge of his nose, "Okay, I'm not gonna explain this again, but, the Zerg the UED controlled? They're free. Because of me. So I asked them to help us."
Kirche gasped before she looked between him and the Ultralisk that was alternately giving dull stomps to the ground, looking like it was idly shifting its weight.
Tabitha punched Saito on the arm.
"Ow?" Saito said as he frowned at them and went to rub the impact on his right arm, only for his face to further sour when he saw he had no other hand to soothe the dull ache.
"For not telling me. Always tell your superiors about these kinds of things," Tabitha ordered with a tone as stern as the look on their face.
Saito straightened his face out before nodding at them, "Yes. Sorry."
"Yes and sorry, what?" Tabitha asked expectantly.
Saito slumped in annoyance, "Yes, sir. Sorry, sir."
"Won't happen again?" Tabitha asked, still maintaining the expectant tone as they wandered past Saito, despite Kirche reaching out desperately to stop them.
"No, sir," Saito said ,a wry chuckle on his breath as he watched Tabitha place a hand on the Ultralisk's foot that was about the same size as they were.
Tabitha's mouth fell open with wonder as their hand felt the smooth, hardened, chitinous carapace of the Ultralisk, even as they wrinkled their nose at the acidic, sour smell mixed with ocean that the creature emitted.
"You know…" Kirche said with a tone full of wonder as she wandered next to Saito, her one visible eye narrowing to scrutinize the beast. "Is it crazy that when they're not trying to kill us I think they're… kinda cute?" Kirche spared a guilty thought for her flame salamander familiar, making a mental note to check the stables for Flame later.
Saito, for his part, was distracted by watching Siesta. He smirked with amusement as he watched her keep alternately approaching, then recoiling, from one Zergling.
"I'll be right back," he told Tabitha and Kirche, who merely looked at him with confusion before they both started absent-mindedly feeling the Ultralisk, with Penelope still upon Sylphid, clinging to her and vibrating with terror at the arrival of all these monsters.
Saito approached Siesta, causing her, Louise, and the one he recognized as Louise's sister to raise eyebrows at him.
Saito looked between Siesta and the amputee Zergling before he trained all his focus on the former maid.
"You're psionic," Saito stated.
Siesta frowned at him. "Yes? You know this?" Her tone carried with it derision.
Saito chuckled as he stepped up to the Zergling and placed a hand on its back. "When you've fought them… have you ever noticed anything?"
Siesta blinked in confusion at him.
"Let me be more specific, have you ever… seen them turn away from you?" Saito asked with audible knowing.
Siesta's face was awash with confusion, now. She scoured her memories of all the times she fought Zerg, which turned out to be less often than she thought. Then, recognition replaced her confusion as she found it.
It was buried deep. In her most traumatic memory. But it was there.
When she gave herself up to the power of the Gandalfr.
She could see it.
She could see her body reach out to the Zerg that were coming at her.
See them cock their heads at her.
Then turn and begin attacking their fellow Zerg.
She gasped at the remembrance as her eyes went wide.
"Ah, so you do remember." Saito smirked as he stroked the purring Zergling's back.
"Wait, how would you know?" Siesta asked, pointing her still-lit psi blade at him.
"I was… watching. That night," Saito dispassionately stated before he met her gaze. "I could see it through some of the Zerg's memories and eyes as it happened."
Siesta gave a sharp gasp as she felt a knot in her chest. Her hate for Saito was born again as she glared at him.
"So… you watched as they-?"
"Yes," Saito answered, with no hint or trace of humor or smugness about him, only solemn resignation. "Though it doesn't mean much, or maybe anything, it's another thing I'm sorry about."
Siesta gritted her teeth at him. "Maybe I was wrong," Siesta snarled, "maybe… you're just a bad version. Through and through."
Saito, though slightly confused as to what she meant by that, guiltily looked away from her.
"Version? What-?" Saito whispered to himself before closing his eyes and taking a wavering breath. "Look, these Zerg aren't bound to me. If you kill me, they won't go feral."
Siesta narrowed her eyes at him, "What are you saying?"
"I'm saying you can kill me with no consequences," Saito stated with shaky resolve.
Perhaps days ago she might have leapt at the chance. Maybe even just twitched to act on that murderous thought. But now? It was fleeting. Instead, she merely gave a flat, slight frown.
"I don't want to kill you," Siesta said, with not a trace of hesitance in her tone. "But I'd be lying if I didn't admit that this sets us back."
Saito breathed a sigh that was equal parts relieved and resigned. "I know. It was sick of me to do that. You're… probably not going to stop learning of sick things I was involved with."
Siesta wrinkled her nose at him, making his gaze fall.
"But, look, that's not why I'm here." He gestured to the Zergling. "I was trying to teach you something."
"What are you doing with my sisters, you bastard?" Julien's snarl announced his presence as he marched directly up to Saito, with a fiery glare on his face.
"I'm trying to show them something. Something I think could be helpful," Saito stated, frowning at the slightly shorter boy before him.
"Oh yeah? And what could that-?"
"Julien," Siesta cut her brother off. She turned to Saito with the same, slightly frowning look. "Just make it quick."
Saito nodded before gesturing at the Zergling again. "Can you put the pieces together? How you being psionic is related to how you were able to briefly control the Zerg that night?"
Siesta took a moment to think.
"Wait, sorry, I didn't give you enough information." Saito groaned. "The Zerg operate in a psionic web of a hivemind. It's why they're so affected by psionic disruption…" he gave Siesta a knowing look, "…and powerful psionic will."
Siesta's eyes widened in understanding.
"The most effective, brutal, cunning, and powerful leader the Zerg ever had was an infested human that exceeded all known measurements of psionic power," Saito explained.
"Infested?" Louise asked, a tinge of horror in her voice.
Saito looked at her with concern, "Zerg… are not really the creatures you can see before you. It's… like a virus. That infects living beings. Twists them into apex predators of specific types to fulfill specific roles the swarm needs," Saito explained, seeing a growing fearful disgust grow on Siesta and Louise's faces.
"This Zergling," Saito laid a hand on it once more, "was a different creature entirely before the Zerg Swarm assimilated it, mutated it, and made it into a strain of ground troop that it mass produces." He indicated to the rest of the Zerg at the academy, "They all were. Some even peaceful and harmless." Both Louise and Siesta's faces fell from that revelation. "And… it can infect humans as well."
Louise and Siesta jumped back from the Zergling, causing Saito to hold up a hand and stump. "It's alright! None of the creatures here can spread the virus to you. They have specialized strains that do just that."
Louise and Siesta looked deeply unsure. And unsettled.
"Look, you asked what infestation was," Saito said, exasperated. "That's what it is. And the most powerful leader of the Zerg was an infested human." He gave Siesta another knowing look. "An infested psionic human. Do you see where I'm going with this?"
Siesta's mouth fell open in disgust/ "You… want me to get infested?!"
"What?! No!" Saito fervently denied. "I'm trying to tell you that you can control Zerg. With enough focus, you can bend them to your will. Zerg need psionic guidance and communication or else they are little more than your average feral beast. Ones with endless hunger and desire for violence, granted, but beasts nonetheless." Saito sighed as he saw the most acute disgust from Siesta's face fall away. "Just… try reaching out to this one," he motioned to the one-armed Zergling, "see what you can achieve. Then, you should have a feel for how you can direct other Zerg when we finally engage Amon."
Siesta, Louise, Eleonore, and Julien all winced at the sound of that name before Siesta hesitantly nodded. Saito returned the gesture before leaving to return to Tabitha and Kirche.
Siesta, meanwhile, twisted her mouth with uncertainty as she locked eyes with the Zergling. Its face looked so aggressively predatory. With narrow eyes below a bone structure that made them always look as if their brow was furrowed above lipless jaws that had rows of jagged, dripping teeth. And with each breath and snort it growled. To say Siesta was hesitant to try and… connect with such a being that she'd only known as a force of terror and destruction was an understatement.
Still.
As she watched Saito go back to Tabitha and Kirche, with the latter two safely touching an Ultralisk, she did begin to grow curious. Her thoughts were interrupted by a streak of panic as she saw Julien step closer to the Zergling, reaching out to it.
"Julien! Don't-!"
"It's fine, Siesta," Julien assured her as his hand met with the chitinous shell of the Zergling's body, gently rubbing its hardened, rough surface, "See?" He smirked at his sister, who frowned at him.
"Don't just take unnecessary risks like that!" Siesta huffed as she walked forward herself and forcefully took his hand away.
"What? It looks like it's fine," Julien indicated to the rest of the army, with Siesta seeing, in disbelief, other soldiers reaching out to touch the Zerg that were not reacting to their surroundings.
Siesta pursed her lips with uncertainty while Julien took the distraction as an opportunity to free his wrist, rubbing it before he took a place by Louise.
Louise, for her part, felt her head spinning from all that information. Hearing that the Zerg were formed by a disease certainly didn't help her perception of them. Or make her warm up to the idea of fighting alongside them. Though… the more she thought about it, and the situation at large, she realized she couldn't care about it. They needed all the help they could get. And it'd be much better to have the Zerg by their side than not. She shuddered at the idea of having to face Elves, Tal'darim, and Zerg.
On top of Amon.
Even thinking the name made her body tense.
Thankfully, she was distracted as she watched Siesta, her mouth still twisted with uncertainty, close her eyes and place a hand on the Zergling's head. She waited for a time she hoped was enough before she cleared her throat.
"Do you… feel anything?" Louise asked, unsure.
Siesta's face further contorted with uncertainty, "I really don't know. It's like… a faint buzz? Wait…" She could feel something. Buried beneath so many layers of webbing. At the core of the creature's will. Something that she could practically, physically, feel was made to be grabbed. There was something else hooked into it. Something else's will. When she reached out for it, it fell away all on its own, with Siesta scrambling to fill that void as she hooked her own will upon it.
Bidding? Siesta heard in her head. It sounded wet, high-pitched, distorted. Her eyes flew open to see the Zergling cocking its head at her. She didn't realize it was because she was cocking her own. When she straightened up, the Zergling followed her movements, making her involuntarily gasp.
"What is it?" Louise asked, concerned.
"It-." Siesta was cut off by the sheer disbelief as she wandered back away from the Zergling that kept its eyes intensely locked with hers as it purred. "It asked for orders."
Louise's mouth hung open as she turned her head back and forth between Siesta and the Zergling.
Siesta, unable to think of anything else, squared her stance before the Zergling before she cleared her throat.
She raised one of her hands, pointing a finger to the ground, "Sit."
The Zergling did not budge.
Siesta frowned when she heard her brother snicker behind her.
Sit, Siesta psionically ordered. The Zergling immediately became seated, causing the snickering to cease.
Lay down, Siesta ordered. The Zergling laid itself into a loaf position.
Roll over? Siesta hesitated in her order. The Zergling did not budge. Siesta sighed, Roll over. The more firm, sure order made the Zergling obey as it made a full sideways rotation.
"It's just like a dog, now," Julien laughed as he stepped past Siesta and went to tickle the underside of the Zergling's chin, with no visible reaction from the creature.
Siesta gave an exasperated sigh. "I don't even want to think about that."
"Well, you gonna name your new pet?" Julien teased as he frowned at the unreacting Zergling before scoffing at it.
Siesta gave him an unamused look, "No. I'm not about to get attached to such a thing."
Julien shrugged, "If you won't, I will." he gave the laying Zergling a scrutinizing look before he snapped his fingers. "Ichi."
Louise, Siesta, and Eleonore all regarded this with open-mouthed disbelief. With Siesta being the least confused of the trio.
"Why 'one'? Don't tell me you're saying I need to get more," Siesta groaned.
Julien raised an eyebrow, shook his head, then pointed to the Zergling's arms. Or, arm. "Because he's-"
"She's."
Everyone looked at the interrupting Siesta with raised eyebrows as she felt hot with embarrassment.
"I can just… feel it. Okay?"
Julien snickered again, "Okay miss 'I don't wanna get attached'."
Siesta scowled at her sarcastic, teasing little brother.
"She's," Julien gave her a smirk, "only got one arm."
Siesta sighed as she realized it made sense.
Louise and Eleonore, meanwhile, were unknowingly sharing a thought.
Cattleya must never know about this.
They both shuddered at the thought of their sister trying to raise pet Zerg. Which they knew she would absolutely do.
Meanwhile, Kirche had broken from everyone to head to the familiar stables, where she felt a wave of relief to see a familiar form. A boxy-headed, scaly, red-topped and white-bellied herptile with a long tail that, at its end, had a strong, flickering, orange and yellow-
"Flame!" Kirche cried out, rushing to her familiar that perked up at the sound of her voice and met her halfway. The fiery-haired woman fell upon the flame salamander, breathing a deep sigh of relief as she caressed his rough, dry, scaly skin.
"I'm so sorry," Kirche said as she pulled back and gave her familiar an apologetic look, "I'm so sorry I've neglected you. There's no excuse. Not really."
She embraced her familiar once more, "Don't worry, it won't happen again. Whatever comes next? We're gonna face it together, my beautiful familiar."
Flame gave a pleased huff as he wagged his tail.
Their tender moment was intruded upon when Kirche heard footsteps behind her.
"Ah, of course," Kirche heard the familiar voice of Guiche. She turned to see him leaning casually against the stable entrance, a warm smile on his face as Montmorency stood beside him. Kirche couldn't discern why she was blushing so bashfully, and it made her raise an eyebrow. "We kind of have forgotten our familiars throughout all this, haven't we?" Guiche awkwardly commented as he stepped inside, with Montmorency sheepishly following.
"Yeah, though… when I think about it, maybe it was better that way? It'd kill me if anything happened to Flame," Kirche stated as she petted her familiar.
"Same with me and Verdandi," Guiche agreed, just as a faint rumble appeared within the stable that manifested with a human-sized, pudgy, brown-furred mole that poked its head out of the ground, giving Guiche a starry-eyed look.
"Ah, there you are my beautiful Verdandi!" Guiche cooed as he dropped to his knees and went to embrace the creature, only for it to pop out of the ground, waddle past him, and twitch its nose as if sniffing at Montmorency. Guiche's initial confusion gave way to wide-eyed realization as he jumped up to try and stop his familiar, being just a moment too late as Verdandi had already tackled Montmorency.
"Get off! No! That's mine!" Montmorency cried out, trying desperately to keep her hand away from the creature as it tried to go after something shiny upon it that Kirche could see a glint of.
"Wait… is that-?" Kirche cut herself off as a mischievous grin took over her lips.
Guiche froze as his eyes darted around. Montmorency similarly froze, but only for a moment before she realized she needed to keep up the struggle against the mole who was trying to take her wedding ring.
Finally, Guiche sighed before he went over to his familiar, "Verdandi, I forbid you from messing with my wife's ring."
Immediately, Verdandia stopped, giving a small whine as it crawled backwards off of Montmorency, who breathed a deep sigh of relief before she stood up and brushed herself off.
"So," Kirche coyly teased, making the newlyweds jump, "when did that happen?" She pointed to the ring on Montmorency's finger.
"Well, uh," Guiche awkwardly drew out his words as he refused to look at Kirche.
"Last night! The Queen did it!" Montmorency blurted out, her freckled face awash with crimson.
Kirche giggled before she gave the two a warm look, "I'm happy for you."
This dispelled the sheepishness of the newly married couple as they returned her smile.
Tabitha's petting of the Ultralisk was interrupted when they heard a chime on their communicator.
"Got your order right here, sir," a feminine dropship pilot's voice greeted them with that same casual, playful tone they all seemed to have.
"Understood," Tabitha replied as they severed that link, opening a channel to all the soldiers present, "Clear a landing zone." The Marines, Ghosts, Medics, and smattering of Firebats heeded their superior's orders alongside the musketeers and regular Tristainian soldiers who were among their ranks.
Saito reached out to the Zerg to get them to follow suit, clearing a decent-sized area for the roaring, incoming ship to slow and land at. Tabitha, during these proceedings, went up to Siesta, who was still enraptured by the one-armed Zergling that was completely focused on her, following her movements.
"C'mon," Tabitha said, startling Siesta. "Got something for you." Siesta furrowed her brow with confusion as she looked back to Louise, who sincerely, innocently shrugged before she, Louise, Tabitha, Eleonore, Julien, and Ichi all went to the landing dropship.
Upon reaching it, Eleonore visibly shuddered as she remembered what happened the last time she was aboard one of those things.
"What's going on?" Tiffa, who had also joined them, asked. Agnes was close behind her, a look of curiosity on her face as well.
"I don't know, they said they have something for me?" Siesta answered, unsure.
Everyone except Tabitha's mouths twisted with uncertainty as the dropship's back ramp opened, revealing four marines carrying an elongated metal crate as they stepped out, gently lowering the container to the grass with a dull, heavy thud.
I sense something… familiar coming from that container, Zeratul said as he appeared within the group, startling only Eleonore.
Indeed you should, a familiar, feminine Protoss voice spoke up, with a flash of light from the nearby Pylon appearing and forming into the shape of Vorazun, who also joined the group.
Executor, Akhundelar, Vorazun respectfully inclined her head to the married couple, who returned the gesture.
"It's good to see you well," Louise said with a half-smile.
The honor is mine, my friends, Vorazun replied, placing a hand over her chest as she did.
What did you mean when you felt something "familiar" regarding the parcel that Admiral Tabitha has had delivered? Zeratul asked.
Vorazun held out her hands, with a similar, yet smaller, golden container manifesting upon them that she lowered to the ground.
By the phase-smith's request, I was working with him to create this, Vorazun waved her hand over the container, causing the top to dissolve into particles of light. And that, Vorazun pointed to the container that Tabitha was working the digital lock of, with it cracking open with a hiss and swirl of white, misty gasses a moment later.
Tabitha smiled and beckoned Siesta, while Vorazun stopped Louise from following.
Each of these is meant only for you, Vorazun informed as she gestured to the Protoss crate. Within, Louise could see what looked like a brassy diadem inlaid with green khaydarin crystals. It sat atop purple robes of a shade so dark they were nearly black. Louise looked to Vorazun, who gave her an imploring gesture that made Louise focus back on the vestments. She reached down and picked them both up by the robe, supporting the lighter-than-expected metal headpiece with one hand as her fingers traced its delicate, curved features.
As a fellow child of the Void, Vorazun began, pausing until Louise looked up at her, it was only fitting you would be adorned as we are.
Louise, her heart swelling with warmth, smiled at her as her fingers regarded the impossibly smooth garment that felt so cool in her hands. Her face then twisted with uncertainty as she realized she'd need to change into it. Before she could make any move to do so, however, the garment and headpiece dissolved into flecks of quickly-fading light, making her draw in a sharp, surprised breath.
There is no need to worry, Executor, Vorazun said as she gestured to the neckline of Louise's dirtied dress' collar.
Louise's eyes lit up with understanding as she stroked the hidden necklace she'd been gifted by Karax, which shifted her garments to those that she was just holding in a flash. It was so like Nerazim vestments, though altered to be more modest by human standards as she was not photosynthetic. A long dress with a loose, slanted hem where one side reached her shin and the other was just below her knee. Underneath it? Firmly-fitted, but not too tight, breeches that reached and fitted around her ankles, brassy boots that felt light, breathable, and durable. A single, small pauldron akin to what Vorazun wore. A dark purple chestplate that reached to her waist with shining, brassy, curved, symmetrical designs upon it, with the robe draping over it just past the chest. And atop her head, wrapping around her forehead and temples and curved to fit perfectly and comfortably around her ears, the diadem she'd seen earlier.
Louise held out her uncovered, save for the silvery gauntlet on her right one, arms and hands before feeling the vestments with wonder. They felt so light. And yet they also felt so secure. And perfectly made for her.
You make a fine Nerazim, Executor, Zeratul praised her, clapping a hand on her shoulder that was only covered by one of the dress' straps. She smiled to herself as she raised her gaze to behold Siesta, who was also adorned in something new that made her jaw drop.
Just before Louise was put into her new vestments, Siesta walked up beside Tabitha to look into the container, her eyes going wide with what she saw.
Armor.
Gleaming, golden, thick armor.
It looked like a Zealot's, but redesigned around Terran concepts of comfort.
Golden bracers. A chestplate that covered the entire torso instead of merely the chest alone. Though instead of platelegs… there was a large, golden armored skirt. Still, with golden grieves beneath them.
"One more thing," Tabitha said, interrupting Siesta as she was unconsciously reaching to touch the armor. She gave Tabitha an imploring, confused look that Tabitha answered by tapping the screen of their communicator.
At once, a green holographic image of Karax's head and upper body appeared above the armor.
Akhundelar! If you are hearing this message, then I am afraid I was unable to deliver this and the Executor's gifts, personally. I hope whatever the circumstances that you and her are okay, Karax began, making Siesta feel an immediate sting of tears in her eyes and lump in her throat. I worked closely with the Matriarch in designing this and the Executor's vestments. When I felt my lack of Terran expertise was hindering me, I passed it along to Friend Tabitha.
Tabitha gave a small smile at that.
I must apologize for using such invasive means that I understand violate rules of Terran modesty in order to make these properly, Karax admitted, but I hope that their usefulness will outweigh such a transgression. And that you will forgive me.
I do, Karax, Siesta thought as she wiped her eyes.
Should it come to it, I hope you will find these adequate parting gifts from me, Akhundelar, Executor, Karax said with a nod. And I hope you will accept my sincerest apologies for not being there.
Siesta, not knowing or caring that it was useless, nodded fervently as the recorded message faded and she looked back down at the armor, with her tears audibly plinking against it.
Thank you, Karax, Siesta mournfully thought as she reached out to touch it, for everything. Upon her touch, the armor disappeared. Siesta, immediately surmising what happened, touched the collar of her dress. Her adornments flashed and reformed into the armor, which she looked down to regard herself within. She gave a warm, solemn smile as she turned to Louise, who was looking at her with eyes alight with wonder.
"Don't forget this," Tabitha said as they tapped their communicator once more, causing the layer that the armor rested upon to fold away, and reveal what looked like a physical, shortened version of a psi blade. Golden, and, like her armor, inlaid with glowing, blue, khaydarin crystal.
She picked it up, sliding it over her right wrist and feeling the warp-matrix within it grip comfortably on her. Her Gandalfr powers told her exactly what it was. And how to use it.
Clenching her fist, she held out arm before her, and what looked like a pointed oval instantly expanded to a full-body shield. She blinked in awe of it before she willed it back to its original size.
She looked at Tabitha, who was giving an approving, and expectant, smile.
"Thank you, Tabitha," Siesta said.
"No problem," Tabitha replied.
Siesta heard footsteps just out of her line of sight, causing her to look over at the source of them, finding it was her wife. They each blushed and smiled at each other.
"You look wonderful," they each said at the same time, causing them both to giggle and a smattering of hushed laughter to manifest from those around. At the same time, they each embraced the other, nuzzling their heads into each others' faces as they felt the bittersweetness of this moment.
And wished Karax were here to hear one of his bright, chipper, earnest remarks that he would have given if they could have thanked him personally.
Once they had taken a moment to let the feeling wash over them, Louise approached Tabitha.
"We need to have a meeting," she informed Tabitha with a look of conviction before turning back to Vorazun and Zeratul, "with everyone."
There was not a single speck of resistance to the suggestion.
Gathered in the central multipurpose hall of the academy, Louise, Siesta, Zeratul, Vorazun, Artanis, Talandar, Henrietta, Julien, Aly, Mama Cassandra, Saito, Tabitha, Kirche, Tiffa, Agnes, Osmond, and Colbert had gathered. With all attentions placed upon the pinkette as they stared at a holographic projection that was provided by Tabitha. With data combined both from their resources and the remains of the Protoss Observer network to provide the clearest picture of what was happening.
It showed Amon's progress since their fateful, disastrous encounter days ago. And, based on what they could see, time was short to come up with any possible plan.
"He's already cut through Germania," Kirche gasped, immediately blanching as she thought of her family.
She visibly calmed when Tabitha placed a hand on one of her arms, "Already taken care of."
Kirche gave her partner a teary, grateful smile.
"It won't mean anything unless we can stop that thing," Saito declared, with everyone scowling at him, "What? I'm just saying…" he muttered, growing red from shame.
"What can we possibly do? Even the most powerful weapons I've ever seen, much less could ever conceive of, did nothing to the beast," Agnes stated.
"There's always something," Mama Cassandra said, her tone hopeful, "don't give in just yet, sister."
Agnes frowned at her, "Do you have a material plan or platitudes?"
Mama Cassandra raised an eyebrow at her.
"Can we skip all the clit measuring and get right to business?" Aly suggested with a groan. "Look, explosives. We still have those, right?"
I highly doubt Terran explosives could accomplish what our weapons could not, Artanis replied matter-of-factly.
"I get that, but what about a hole? Get that thing stuck in it. Sure it'll still be dangerous but only in one direction when it's trapped," Aly suggested.
"Don't have time for that," Tabitha shook their head, "got less than 12 hours."
"Well at least I had a suggestion," Aly grumbled.
"No, no," Siesta said thoughtfully as her face was overcome with contemplation, "if we can't damage it… then thinking about how to remove it as a threat is something to consider."
What would you suggest we do? Zeratul asked.
Siesta took a moment to think.
"Something like a catapult? No, that'd just delay the problem or make it someone else's…" Henrietta thought.
"Well, do you know any spells that can, like, teleport it away?" Julien asked Louise.
Louise instinctively began shaking her head before she stopped mid-shake and her face twisted with concentration.
"Maybe… but I need a moment to think about it," Louise rubbed her chin, "keep going. Maybe we'll figure this out."
"Perhaps alchemy?" Colbert suggested, making everyone look at him curiously, "I know it may seem… primitive and quaint… but it can be a rather powerful tool. If we can alchemize its skin to something less resistant to our attacks? Or even cover it in something that we could alchemize into something that would weaken it…?" His voice trailed off ponderously.
"I did see Guiche do that with Matilda's golem once," Louise pointed out. "Something to try, at least. Couldn't hurt."
Colbert smiled and nodded.
"Any other magical-based suggestions?" Louise asked.
Osmond cleared his throat, "Before this place was an academy, it was a military fort," he began explaining, "we could activate its old defenses, but it would require a team of five triangle-class or better mages to stay behind at each of the towers to concentrate their will entirely on the defenses."
Louise began counting on her fingers.
Guiche, Montmorency, Eleonore, Kirche, Osmond, Colbert, Henrietta? She believed they were all at least triangle class. But… having them stuck at the academy just playing defense would do nothing but slow their demise.
Louise shook her head.
"We'll need the firepower more than the defense," Louise decided.
"The best defense is a good offense? I like it," Saito said, smirking at Louise, who merely raised an eyebrow at him before going back to contemplating the earlier suggestion.
"Perhaps there's a weakness up close that we can't see?" Tiffa asked. "None of us have ever been close enough to see if there's any physical vulnerabilities. Maybe it has a soft belly or a weak point at the neck or something?"
"For that we'd have to wade through a sea of elves and Tal'darim," Agnes hummed with disapproval.
Our warriors may be able to sneak through the enemy lines and gather such intel, Vorazun offered.
Louise pointed to her, "Good. If you're confident they won't be spotted, then do so."
Vorazun respectfully bowed her head to Louise, who inclined hers in turn.
"Whatever we decide we'll probably need time to work it out," Saito said as he waited for all attention to be on him, "Me and Omega will use the superior Zerg numbers to shield our otherwise limited forces." He gestured with his head to one of the windows, "Omega is setting up Hatcheries now. We'll have more Zerg morphed on-site within a few hours." He looked directly at Siesta, "Would you be able to occasionally provide psionic orders to the Zerg when Omega and I are otherwise occupied?"
Siesta winced at the thought, with Louise taking her hand in reassurance.
"I can try," Siesta said. Saito nodded to her.
Our last remaining Purifier forces stand ready to meet their fate in glorious combat, Talandar offered.
Talandar, I wish for you to stop offering your Purifier brethren's lives so easily. They are just as much Protoss as any other, Artanis gently chided him.
I am well aware, Hierarch, but each Purifier has had their time, and come to terms with meeting their fate. We are honored to be able to give our lives twice for such worthy causes, Talandar pridefully stated.
Do not be so hasty to sacrifice yourselves, brother, Artanis said, each Purifier life is just as precious to me as any.
This is why we chose to serve with you, Hierarch, Talandar said, you have always treated us as equals. Not machines to be exploited as your forebears did.
Artanis and Talandar exchanged respectful nods.
We will provide Sentinels on the front lines alongside you, Akhundelar, Talandar offered. You will find their ability to cheat death even once every hour will be invaluable in saving lives.
Siesta blinked in disbelief before nodding at him.
"I think I have it," Louise spoke up, a look of conviction upon her face. "But I'll need to close distance. And time. Lots of time."
Everyone looked to each other before they looked back to her.
"You'll have it," Tabitha said, with everyone else nodding in agreement.
The meeting was dismissed once Louise explained her plan. And while everyone filed out, Tabitha beckoned Louise over.
"Just got word," Tabitha gestured to Artanis, who nodded at them, "Come with me. Need to get Eleonore, too"
Louise and Siesta, confused, followed Tabitha outside, where they gathered a studious Eleonore that was scrutinizing Ichi before heading to the Pylon. Upon their arrival, they were greeted with a flash of light that was coalescing into an unfamiliar form. Some kind of a golden cylinder, propped up into a slant on a similarly colored wide base.
Louise took a moment to fully behold what she was seeing. But her and Eleonore's eyes came alight with recognition when they did.
"Chii…" Louise whispered as she approached the stasis chamber, placing a hand upon it as she looked up at her unconscious sister visible behind the forcefield. Her brow furrowed with concern as she looked back at Tabitha. "Will she be okay? How long can she be left here like this?"
"Don't need long," Tabitha said as they stepped forward to stand beside Louise, their hands clasped behind their back. "Need you to get it open, though."
"But," Louise twisted her mouth with concern, "when we put her like this she was…" she tried to recall Karax's exact words. "Critical." Louise felt a lump in her throat as she looked back up at the slumbering Cattleya. "She doesn't have long."
"It's okay," Tabitha placed a hand on her shoulder before they looked over to an approaching Medic, "we're ready."
Louise blinked with disbelief. First at Cattleya, then at Tabitha. Her heart raced with hope as she bit her lip and shook her head, "Are you sure?"
Tabitha gave her a comforting, reassuring smile as Siesta drew close and took one of Louise's hands.
"Sure," Tabitha confirmed.
Louise, her eyes watering with premature joyful tears, nodded as she looked back at the pod and closed her eyes.
Probe: move.
She assumed her plain, new probe was around here somewhere. And if not, at least one of them had to have been recalled here from the Protoss base they'd established in Nephtys. Soon enough she felt and heard the approach of one such probe.
It stopped just beside her, just as she willed, and she opened her eyes and stepped back from the pod, with the Medic readying herself just before it.
Probe: interface.
A word she'd picked up from her blending with whatever consciousness manifested when she was flooded with the feeling of command. She couldn't accurately define it, but she understood it.
A blue holographic circle of symbols appeared before the probe's glowing eye, with larger concentric, similar circles appearing, each one in front of the other before until they stopped, all rotating until symbols lined up and they collapsed together with a couple of quick blinks as they flashed green and disappeared, with the forcefield dissolving almost immediately, and Cattleya taking a deep, laboured breath that had Louise nearly cry out.
Before she could, however, something happened that shocked her into a stunned silence.
"If I do this wrong? This will hurt a little," the Medic poised her needle-adorned arm over the visibly ailing Cattleya, "If I do it right? It'll hurt a lot."
The Medic drove the giant needles upon her wrist directly into Cattleya's chest, with her eyes and mouth flying open with a silent scream. Louise looked over at Tabitha with wide-eyed, disbelieving horror as Tabitha gave her an imploring look.
"Wait," Tabitha gently pleaded. "Trust me."
"All looks good," the Medic declared as she jerked the needles out before firing her green, healing beam to close the holes in Cattleya's chest. "Vital signs strong."
Cattleya coughed and sputtered as she sat up constantly patting her chest and taking deep, loud, steady breaths as her wide eyes darted around.
"Congratulations!" the Medic brightly said as she roughly clapped Cattleya's shoulder, making her grunt with pain of a power armored, massive, gloved hand suddenly hitting her, "You're my first patient! Ever!"
Everyone, including Cattleya, looked at the Medic with slack-jawed disbelief. She awkwardly cleared her throat, the reflective visor doing nothing to hide her embarrassment at having just revealed that.
"She's checked up and good to go," she coughed before giving a thumbs-up to Louise and making herself scarce.
Everyone silently watched her leave in a slight hurry before they eventually looked back at each other.
"Chii?" Louise asked, looking up at the revived, visibly healthier Cattleya.
"Louise?" Cattleya answered, taking a moment to blink a few times with disbelief as she rubbed her throat, "Wow. I can… talk? And it… doesn't hurt?" She looked at her hands, flexing them a few times as she regarded her newfound articulation. And steadiness.
Siesta, however, was unsure of this as she remembered a similar rush she got from a Medic once.
"Is this just temporary? Like when I got injected by that stuff back when we-." She stopped herself, the prick of fear stifling the rest of her words.
Eleonore looked over at Siesta with sympathetic concern, feeling the same doubt about Cattleya's new state.
"No," Tabitha shook their head. "Did get a stim injection, yes, but that was to speed uptake of her medicine. Gene resequencing retrovirus that's fighting her genetic illness."
Siesta, Eleonore, and Louise all gave vacant blinks at Tabitha.
They lifted their glasses to pinch the bridge of their nose, "Trust me."
"She's right," Cattleya said as her flexing had moved to her arms, a wide grin stretching across her face, "I feel great!" Her eyes traveled their surroundings, with her needing to do a lingering double take on a slithering Hydralisk that had her eyes widen with what Louise and Eleonore saw, with exasperation, was wonder.
"What is that?" Cattleya breathed to herself with a growing excitement before she leapt from the pod, with Eleonore and Louise each giving an interrupted cry of protest before Cattleya flicked her wand from one of her dress' sleeves and waved it to create an air pocket that cushioned her fall. She stood up stretching her back and lunging with each leg as she rolled her neck.
"Oh, Founder, you have no idea how satisfying this feels!" Cattleya brightly declared as she straightened up and looked at her wand. Looking over to an empty patch of grass and whipping her wand at it. In a mere moment, the ground rose into a cubic pillar. Cattleya slashed at it, and it formed into the visage of the Hydralisk she spotted earlier, looking picture perfect in every detail but color.
The Hydralisk, which had been startled by the sudden sound of bursting earth, whipped around to see it. It chittered and cocked its head to the side to try and make sense of what it was seeing. When the replica of it did not move, it gave a wet huff before being on its way out the academy entrance.
Cattleya, a bright look of excitement upon her face, turned to the others before throwing herself on a stunned Louise and Eleonore.
"I'm so happy to see you again," Cattleya whispered to them in a wavering tone as she dug her face into their shoulders, "I knew I was right to trust you, Louise."
"We're so happy you're okay, too," Louise heartily reciprocated her sister's affections as she felt her eyes grow hot from oncoming tears.
"I never thought I'd get to see you like this," Eleonore sniffled into her sister, "I can't even say how happy I am."
Cattleya pulled slightly back to look at Siesta, beckoning her to join them. Siesta, after letting the mild shock of that wash over her, did so, as she joined in their joyful reunion.
"Thank you," Cattleya said, "thank you all so much."
Louise tittered, "It's not really us you should thank." She pulled away from the group hug and gestured to Tabitha, "They're the one who found the cure."
"Not cure," Tabitha gently corrected her as they squared their stance before the sisters, "but treatment. Will let you live normal life as long as you take it regularly."
Cattleya pulled back and nodded at Tabitha before feeling her chest, through her now-hole-adorned dress, "Will it have to be like that every time?"
Tabitha gave a heavy sigh, "Yes."
Cattleya's countenance was overcome with anxiety.
"Kidding," Tabitha chuckled, making Cattleya frown. "Should be good for at least a month."
Cattleya, though feeling relieved regarded the state of her sisters' and sister-in-law's faces that were twisted with concern.
"There's… something else going on, isn't there?" Cattleya looked around again, seeing the scrambling of soldiers and insectoid, draconic creatures all around her, as well as a fair amount of maimed or otherwise injured individuals. "I suppose that would be an understatement."
The sisters and Siesta shifted uncomfortably.
"Short version is there's something coming," Louise began to explain, her face twisted with concern, "I… hope you won't resent that I wanted to face it with my sister."
Cattleya's brows stitched together as she gave her sister a warm smile. "Of course not," Cattleya brought Louise into a gentle, warm embrace, "I'd resent it more if you didn't."
Louise nuzzled into her sister, feeling a comforting warmth flicker within.
Just as she was, the group was interrupted by one of the creatures approaching them. A shorter quadruped one. With one clawed-arm sprouting from its back.
"Ichi! No!" Siesta hissed as she corralled the Zergling away from Cattleya and Louise, the elder of the two looking down at the Zergling with stars in her eyes.
"Really? You said you weren't gonna get attached to it and now you're already using that name?" Louise gave a disappointed sigh.
"Please don't give me a hard time about it," Siesta sheepishly replied. "It just… slipped out."
Cattleya broke from Louise and crouched before the Zergling, which squirmed past Siesta and began sniffing at a hand Cattleya held out to her.
"Your name's Ichi? That's a cute name. I'm Cattleya," Cattleya introduced herself to the creature as she drew ever closer to her hand, eventually rubbing her head into it. Cattleya immediately squealed with delight. "Oh it's adorable!" The Zergling laid iself down and rolled over, with Cattleya immediately using both hands to caress its belly. "Whatever it is, I definitely want one! No! I can tell they come in pairs! We need two!"
"We?!" Eleonore, Louise, and Siesta cried out as Cattleya blissfully giggled while playing with the Zergling that was melting at her affections.
I… don't understand what's happening, Siesta facepalmed as she realized even if she didn't want to bond with a Zergling, it looked like her animal magnet sister-in-law was going to.
The forces at the academy were scrambling to prepare. Based on what had been seen in their meeting earlier? They had merely hours before Amon was within range of them.
Tabitha ordered a line of missile turrets built, spending all available resources in building their defenses first before putting effort into production facilities to supplement any lost forces.
Tanks were positioned alongside the turrets that were each built in under a minute, with bunkers in the gaps between them and tanks positioning themselves just behind those. The bunkers were filled with a collection of Marines, Firebats, Ghosts, and Musketeers, with Tabitha and Henrietta doing their best to scatter them evenly throughout.
Saito and Omega directed the Zerg Drones to plant themselves and mutate into fleshy, castle-like structures that seemed to breathe and undulate in ways that indicated they were alive. From the various fleshy canals that came from the fleshy pyramids, crawling, slimy creatures emerged that Saito recognized as Larva. Almost as soon as they did, they curled and swelled into glowing, pulsing eggs that soon broke to reveal more Zerg forces that were positioning themselves at the frontlines.
Louise watched these proceedings with a growing worry. She remembered what happened during their last encounter with Amon. How badly it had gone despite all their preparation. Her heart was clutched with that feeling of failure. The doubt it manifested within her proved so powerful as to paralyze her as she watched the Zerg, UED, and Tristainian forces from atop the academy walls, just beside the entrance.
She was snatched from the jaws of growing despair as she felt a hand take hers, and she looked up to see her knight in golden, shining armor smiling down at her. Though only barely, as Louise noticed she didn't have to tilt her head up as much as she used to to look at her wife.
Siesta was the first to smile, provoking a similar one from Louise.
Executor, the couple's moment was interrupted by the approach of Artanis, Vorazun, Zeratul, and Talandar. Louise, though she lacked psionics, could tell they were looking at her with expectance. This is your world, Artanis continued as he stepped forward, thus, you must direct us in the best way to approach this coming threat.
Louise's face fell. Once again, the remembrance of her failure was taking over her mind. A squeeze from Siesta's hand dispelled it, allowing her to steel her countenance.
"Keep your forces back with the UED ones," Louise ordered, "We've lost too many Protoss already. There is no need to uselessly risk their lives." Louise looked out to the gathering Zerg swarm before the UED battle lines, "It's fortunate the Zerg are with us to help in the mitigation of such losses."
Louise was left taken aback by her own words. Her own tone.
Zeratul approached, emanating a feeling of reassurance. And plea.
Executor Louise, Zeratul said, I would ask that you… do not fight the presence within.
Louise and Siesta both furrowed their brows at him.
It is… Tassadar, Zeratul explained, making both girls' faces soften, and… if you would be so kind. I would like to speak with him. One last time.
Louise looked down in contemplation. A squeeze on her hand caused her to look back at her wife, giving her a reassuring smile. She looked back at Zeratul before nodding and taking a deep breath and closing her eyes, unsure of how to let herself go in such a manner as he requested. Luckily, all it took was a mere awareness as she, without knowing, drifted away.
When Louise opened her eyes again, it was not Louise who was present, with a serene smile upon her face and her eyes no longer pink, but glowing a bright blue as she-no-he looked up at Zeratul.
"Hello, my old friend," Tassadar's voice came from Louise, startling Siesta enough to drop Louise's hand.
Tassadar, Zeratul said longingly as he held out a hand to Louise, who was now being used by the spirit of her distant ancestor.
Tassadar reached out with Louise's much smaller hand and took Zeratul's arm in a typical display of Protoss camaraderie. Only for Zeratul to pull Louise's body into an embrace that left Louise's face awash with surprise before the serene smile returned.
"You have spent much time with Terrans, I see," Tassadar tittered before he pulled back, looking up at Zeratul. "I cannot tell you how much it warms my… well… this heart to be able to speak to you again."
It is the same for me, my old friend, Zeratul warmly agreed as Artanis and Vorazun stepped up and kneeled before Tassadar.
Old friend, I can hardly believe this is occurring, Artanis said, emanating a deep feeling of joy.
Indeed. I have heard stories of you, but to be in your presence is a feeling like no other, Vorazun said.
"Please, rise, my friends, I am no greater than any of you," Tassadar implored, "We are all equal in our struggle against the darkness."
You are too modest, Tassadar, Talandar spoke up, stomping forward and cracking the brick and stone of the academy wall, you are a Twilight Saviour after all.
Tassadar once more gave a single breath of a laugh, "And so is she."
Indeed, Zeratul said, though with a feeling of melancholy.
"I know why this troubles you, so," Tassadar's face fell. "It is… unfair to expect this of such a young being."
Zeratul nodded.
"Rest assured my friend," Tassadar stepped forward and once more took Zeratul's wrist, "have faith that things will not be so dire." He looked out to the coming, glowing red on the horizon and gave a serene smile that he turned to the Protoss present, "Faith before fear, my brothers and sister."
Tassadar broke from Zeratul to stand by Siesta, looking up at her with that same serene look as he took her hand, "I am overjoyed to be able to experience this." He looked to the Protoss again, "Overjoyed to be able to see that my brothers survive. That my sacrifice-," he stopped himself as a flash of remembrance went across his face before he gave a wry chuckle, "My sacrifices," he placed a hand upon his chest, "were not in vain."
With that Tassadar closed his eyes and faltered.
"Louise," Siesta whispered with worry as she caught her wife, who groaned before stirring back to herself.
"What happened?" Louise asked.
You have granted us a great gift, Executor, Artanis stated as he stepped forward, one we owe a debt to you that cannot be repaid.
Louise blinked in confusion at them before she remembered what happened just before she lost herself and understanding took over her countenance.
She looked up at Siesta, who was still holding her close, and gave a hesitant half-smile, "Are you ready, my Siesta?"
Siesta met her half-smile with a more confident, amorous one, "I am, my Louise."
They leaned in for a deep, affectionate, brief kiss. Each hoping it would not be the last.
Their moment was cut short as they felt a faint rumble. This one not constant. They slowly pulled away from each other, their faces falling to fear as they felt another faint, distant rumble.
I have found you, Amon's voice echoed in their heads, causing a flash of terror to strike at their hearts, there is no escape.
Amon's laugh reverberated through the heads of all, injecting them all with fresh despair.