[++Experiment A-67... Successful++]
A cold voice from a adjutant echoed in a sterilize room.
In it contained a former queen of blades that is heaving as she finished her experiment.
She finished her experiment to see if she still able to control the Zerg.
Her sweat trickled down as she controlled her powers in a controlled environment.
And with Valerian persistent to examine her potential, she unleash the Zerg specimens at the lower levels as being petty, the reason she wasn't gunned down was the fact the personnel evacuated the levels that were infested by the Zerg.
And the only destruction was the hardware and the security bots.
This hidden facility is on the border between the Umojans and the imperium.
With the battle of char concluded.
The war reporters and news being flooded out, Acturus Mengsk was unable to act out of hand. Lest his image, that was already tattered by Raynor raid in his capitol to spread his old message. And attacking the coalition fleet after they decapitated the Zerg would place him more of a passive position. He may be a tyrant, but too many of his worlds is looking for a reason to join the imperium.
His fleet stood at the periphery of the planetary system as his armada was met by a damaged legions of ships of the combined coalition, guns still hot and fuming with exhaust of smoke.
As much as he would like to tempt fate. More of the Imperial ships arrived to assist their high lord. Each bigger than the last with more to spare.
More than what his fleet that arrived that the Imperium outnumbered his, eighty to one.
He turned his fleet and left for another opportunity.
His eyes glimmered in the darkness of his command bridge as they retreated.
Valerian took the wounded into this facility.
As promised Char was under Imperium Jurisdiction and agreed that the mining operations to pay for the dead pensions and the wounded, for the duration of their stay.
Alexander have other plans. While he may mine, he made the remaining Zerg in a complete stalemate. To make them... Feel pressurized, not to the point of extinction but as a target for them to evolve..
If he inform of Zagara still there... Maybe he would keep the swarm from being stupid.
He glance at the woman below him.
When she fought him on char, just when the artifact was about to be fully charge, she attempted to hack into his mind.
He knew that his body weakness was something that attack the soul.
He defeated her barely before "cleansing" her mental projection, to the point she have the potential of being the queen of blade... With a conscious side of humanity intact... A pure vessel of essence... That was his assessment.
Her desperate attack, not only crippled him, but now it take longer time to recover his mental state. And worse his ability is nerfed.
As if weakened as well.
So in short term, he is basically a enhanced human that is just below a space marine. Anything can literally kill him now. And he must make use of his mortality.
Though... He didn't exactly see what freaked her out... He is unaware of the abyss that is growing inside of him.. the hunger that dwell within...
Kerrigan, subjected to non invasive experiments as she was the only confirmed human that is free from Zerg infestation, as the first one, Vladimir Stukov went missing a year ago.
The only Zerg she had left was her hair that was akin to a Zerg carapace.
Other than that her body is somewhat human.
Aside from numerous scientist that observe her from the tinted glasses that separated them from her. Raynor took his time to be by her side everytime...
Alexander was a guest as he was the one that taken down the queen of blades and managed to live.
"Amazing isn't it?" Valerian spoke as he stood beside Alexander.
"How so?" Alexander spoke as he took a mug from the coffee machine. Wondering if the Umojans coffee have more of a kick than a threat neutralized.
"The first Terran free from infestation before our very eyes. And if it's done, we can trust that we have the capacity to be free from Zerg infestation."
"Be careful of being Hasty... Remember She's just free from the Swarm, she...is still human."
Valerian eyes open as he nodded.
"Forgive my eagerness... So you planning to bring them back to the imperium?" Valerian asked.
Raynor and Kerrigan... These two misfits were valuable in his eyes... More so when he knew their... Future.
"Of course, they are wanted criminals and I might find use for them. You already done your PR right? You and me, joining forces together against the Zerg have impacted your people mind?"
"I could never got it better... Thanks... God Father." Valerian smiled.
One of the Umojans Marine approached them.
"Is something wrong?" Valerian spoke.
"Sir, Dominion Ships inbound... Too many, Someone ratted us out."
Alexander frowned.
"Your father?"
"Afraid so... Seemed like he couldn't get rid of his obsession with Kerrigan." Valerian sighed.
"Get to the Hyperion, I bring those lovebirds away from this place." Alexander spoke as the klaxon alarms echoed across the facility.
And he headed out he met Tychus, already suited up and ready to help. Beside the hunk of a man were Crackhead and Buttpatch
Former UED marines, turned volunteer work for Raynor's raiders to a somewhat of a grey area of being in the imperial registered military.. and survivors of char, in a sense respect for these two outlier of the military gained some form of respect...
"Well Boss, seemed like we ain't gettin a happy ending huh?"
"Afraid so... Tychus, bail the dumb lovebirds outta here. But first thing first..." Alexander smiled.
"I got a rat to kill."
The base is in open alert by now.
Due to the secrecy, the Umojans gave a few ships of their own to assist the base and gave the imperial plausible deniability.
As they have extra hands and they also knew that Alexander Solair was in that facility. Having a leader of a state killed in their controlled space leave a bad taste.
But never would they imagine that the Wolf of Augustgrad have more tenacity to pick a fight with them.
Their fleet orbiting the facility came under attack and as they rallied their communication to alert their territory, found that their communication is jammed and only able to have communication in the system only.
As the remaining fleet that still linger in the orbit of the planet, fighting for their lives against the incoming horde of ships flooding in.
The entire facility was undergoing evacuation procedures.
But Acturus... He practically sent literally half his naval force loyal to him to attack the facility under the pretense that the Umojans were making Zerg Bioweapons of Mass destruction.
(A/n: A jab for Dessert Saber, Screw bill Clinton. Oh wait, he screw anything but his wife.)
The base defenses came to life as Dominion drop pods rained down and drilled into the halls of the buildings.
Dominion ghosts rushed out and began slaughtering anyone that was in their path.
Heading towards the single room that their spy located the Caged Queen of Blades.
A blond haired ghost walked among the battlefield that is accompanied by the numerous Dominion Marines.
"++Agent X41822N, What's Your status?++"
"We breached the Laboratory. Our informant data is valid. Three more blocks before we arrive to the queen of blade." The blond ghost spoke.
"++This is Squad Epsilon, We are-++"
The blond ghost frown as that was literally 15 block away from the intended target.
"Move men!" She growl.
In the targeted block, Alexander stood before the spy that sold information to Acturus. The spy received grievous wounds.
Alexander deliberately tweaked the spy transmission to divert the invasion and ironic that Raynor and Kerrigan broke out earlier than expected. But he found the spy.
He didn't speak, no... Disappointed as Alexander watched the spy heaved as he spoke his last words. His hand was a blood soaked trench shovel.
"My God will smite you! The void consume All! He will be your end." The spy laugh maniacally.
Alexander spoke before him.
"I pity you. You never see the glory of humanity... You worship a false god that takes and never gives. I followed a real one. Your soul is too worthless.. " he raised his shovel and bashed into the skull of a unbeliever.
Alexander cryptic words baffled the spy as in his dying light, he saw a shining Halo materialize upon his executioner head in the final moments of his life. And the madness within it.
The spy mentally screamed as the light from the halo glow so bright that it disintegrated the spy and turned him into dust. His soul obliterated.
Alexander walked out and headed towards to the trio location... As his golden halo is gathering a tint of blackish grey in a corner.
(Meanwhile.)
Raynor and Kerrigan ran across the facility, raising havoc as they try to find any shuttle to escape.
They saw people trying to evacuate.
Scientist, cleaning staff and Umojans soldiers.
"Damm, Sarah, Mengsk is like a possessive Ex." Raynor joked.
"Oh please, Jim, did you think about me when I was still a Zerg queen?" Sarah fired a ghost rifle as she saved Raynor from a marine that attempted to shoot him.
"Every single moment..." Raynor spoke as he did the same of a Trooper that tried to charge at her from the ceiling.
"Oi, Ya Lovebirds git ovah here! Topside been breached and swarmin with dommie tin cans, lil' Valerian told us to head deeper in the facility!" Tychus spoke at a Elevator leading deeper in the facility.
He was surrounded by the Umojans that were unable to escape and building up anything that would be used as sandbags.
The bulkheads that were locked were being pierced through by welding tools and howls of the Zerg that is bashing their way through.
"Holy hell, incoming, butt ugly Dommie assholes at 6 o'clock and fockin bugs at my 12th! Hold the line!" Yelled the Sargent as he took cover
The duo arrived and the bulkheads from the surrounding began to break and Zerg and Dominion ghost.
Kerrigan used her psionic to persuade the Zerg to attack the Dominion... Her powers wane, but she can convince a very few portion of the Zerg that she used to wrecked havoc... But not for long before they turned feral.
As the elevator descending to the lower levels, they witness the extent of her...
Laboratories overrun by Zerg creep and sounds of gunfire and the roars fo zerg.
Possibly the Dominion as the staff evacuated long before the attack had begun.
Pettiness of a woman cause so much destruction.
"Damm, lady... How many did you breed!" Raynor groaned.
Kerrigan smiled sheepishly.
"I... Kinda went too far." She spoke. A Zergling approached her and it purred.
The group felt shocked of the fact that Zerg is acting like a overgrown kitten than the surrounding is about to collapse.
"Let's get going, seemed like this place is falling apart! I ain't gettin paid for a few flatten corpses!" Tychus yelled as parts of the ceiling collapse from the bombardment or the fact the Dominion troops rained upon them? Or the fact they were on a time limit as the entire facility is locked down.
The survivors rushed to the now infested facility levels until they arrived at a checkpoint that guarded one of the few remaining transport out of this facility. It was filled with soldiers that is company strong.
"Damm, that's way too hot to simply walked into..." Raynor saw through the CCTV of the amount of Dominion hardware that is waiting for them. If they walked out, they definitely be ripped apart.
"This is the only tram station available, the rest have been destroyed or used." One of the Umojans soldiers spoke.
Sarah found a panel and spoke to Raynor.
"There a panel... One would gas, leaving the vehicles intact... And the others would release the Caged Zergs..."
++"Or how about a special trick?"++
Alexander voice spoke in the comms.
"Where the hell were you doing High Lord?"
++"Tying up some loose ends, found the spy that ratted your little rehabilitation moments. You better get your men ready to run at the first sign of the Domion troopers acting funny... I be at the tram now."++
Before Raynor could ask.
Kerrigan felt something like a wave of psychic force swept over them.
The Domion that was guarding the checkpoint was screaming in agony as they knelt down and screamed as their power armor is being erratic. And they began foaming at their mouth as they see something they shouldn't have.
Raynor and his group rushed forwards, ignoring the convulsing soldiers on the ground.
They found Alexander simply sitting at the railing with a cup of coffee still steaming.
"How..."
"Scrap Code that is mixed with a black wall virus, at least I am merciful... Provided their augmentation is not... Too invasive. Get the tram running, I managed to fool the folks chasing you, but for how long?" Alexander chuckle as he drank.
The tram came to life as it rushed towards the facility that held the last remaining evacuation shuttles.
Kerrigan noticed there was nothing chasing them.
She looked at Alexander patting the Zergling she brought with. Confused why that thing felt so familiar with him.
The journey was uneventful, provided they ignored the explosion and smoke behind them.
Kerrigan watched as the dawn is coming in this desolate planet. Even if she wants dpeace, war will always follow her.
As they arrived, the fighting was intensive,
The Umojans were trying to get to the shuttles that was across the bridge.
Dominion siege tanks opened fire at the evacuees.
As Kerrigan rushed forwards
She found herself separated from the rest as the group as the Siege tanks destroy the bridge.
"Don't worry, Sarah, we will find a way back to you!" Raynor yelled amidst the chaos and destruction.
Sarah smiled for a bit. But her happiness didn't end there...
As one of the the Dominion elite Vultures landed on the landing pad.
++Confirm, queen of blades sighted, Prepare to engage!++ The vehicle chain gun twirl to life.
Kerrigan smiled.
"Time to put my powers to good use." Her eyes glowed win psyker flames.
[Raynor side]
"Damn it! I ain't losin, you again..." Raynor muttered as he make a detour in the now defunct corridors to where Sarah is.
The fighting was intense.
But he was stopped by something...
His instinct gave him a subtle dodge as a whizz of a hypersonic round swept past him and hit one of the Umojans Marine shoulder.
A blond woman in a tight ghost skin suit walked from the shadows, her eyes is covered with a ghost headgear.
"Nova..." Raynor spoke grimly.
"If you didn't help me with my Tosh problem, I wouldn't have come to blows...now I have to kill you." She spoke coldly.
"Bring it on!" Raynor yelled.
Raynor paused for a brief second...
Why didn't she noticed Alexander walking towards her?
Before she realized what is going on. Alexander slap with his hands that made her unconscious.
"Sure... I would like to have a epic battle with a ghost, But did you forget Sarah?" Alexander spoke to him as he unloaded the ghost sniper rifle and tossed the magazine away.
Sarah made Raynor mind in a panic as he rushed in a corner of the corridors exit, Sarah stood on top of the destroyed Valkyrie and pondering something until she noticed Raynor.
She waved at Raynor..
"What took you so long?"
Raynor smiled.
"A bit too long."
They both heard coughing and saw Tychus and Alexander simply stood by...
"Enough flirting and get movin!" Tychus yelled.
Raynor transport arrived in the hangar of the Hyperion and many of the deck crew rushed towards the vehicle, they found several soldiers wounded and tagged them to medbay.
As they arrived at the command room they met Valerian that looked haggard.
"Sarah, Raynor, Alexander... This time we are at a Impasse with my father's troops." He gesture at the command table and a image of Orbital guns was being set up to aim at the fleet.
If they leave orbit, the guns would open fire on the remnants, and if they stayed Acturus task force would obliterate them the moment they escape the planet .
"I barely have the forces to take back the land and destroy the orbital guns..."
"And seemed like my forces is unable to send our forces in time, this is more of a political nightmare." Alexander spoke.
As he didn't alert the forces as it was indeed a political nightmare, he already taken the Kel-Morian and the United Earth Directorate, and having his armada move into Umojans space would frayed the nerves of the civilians of Umojans and they would see his ships as a hostility of being hungry of conquest.. such is the politics at work.
This time he need allies, not more enemies for the wounded Imperium to heal for the dark future ahead.
Acturus actually attack him in a hard place.
If he actually summon soldiers to aid him, Acturus would actually twist his actions to suits his agenda. So he had no choice to rely on this... Plan.
Sarah spoke that shock them.
"Valerian... Is there a Zerg nest nearby?"
Raynor tried to stop her.
"Sarah, don't do this, you just free from the Zerg! And I don't want to lose you again!" His power Armored hand held her shoulder, she can feel his trembled hands beneath that suit. But she touched his.
"Jim... I'm sorry, but I know that valerian and Alexander don't have the forces to save us this time... This is only what I can do." Sarah.
"Alright, Jim, why don't you and me follow her then. " Alexander spoke.
"If your fears feel assuaged... You and me are her links to humanity. If she falls, I sure I can hold her back. You are practically the one that remind what she once was right now." Alexander spoke.
Raynor hesitantly nodded.
"Alright, Sarah... You hear me... Don't forget us."
Valerian nodded.
"Alright, there's a small swarm outpost a few klicks away from the orbital cannons, laid dormant during the Brood war, it didn't spread the moment that you were freed from the swarm." He gave her the coordinates to the swarm.
Raynor and Sarah nodded as they leave.
Alexander spoke as he left.
"Valerian, take care of Tychus for me, he would be my... Corespondent."
"Boss..."
"Get your Heavenly Devil's Corps ready. You still get paid with hazard and overtime bonus." Alexander smiled.
Raynor Dropship flew silently that bypass the scanners of the Dominion security net.
As they landed, several Zerg drone approached her.
And a ancient voice echoed in her head.
"My queen, I am Naktul, a broodmother. You created us to extend your control of the Swarm. Have you returned to us?" It held a bit of hope and skepticism in the tone.
Kerrigan looked in her memories of her previous form and recognize the recipient.
"I will control this Hive Cluster, can you send reinforcements Naktul?"
"My Queen, Most of my broods is with me... It would take some time for us to reach there."
Kerrigan sighed. It was more than enough.
"Alright... If I still remember this... I need a spawning pool ready." She looked at the hive cluster now brimming with life.
Her actions have alerted the nearby garrisons of the Dominion. The hive cluster that deemed dormant now began to emit signs of activity.
They sent several patrols and scout to the sector and found that their force went silent.
This time they sent out heavier armored support.
It was in a canyon corridor that is the only way to ascertain the threat of the incoming Zerg.
And they found a lone marine stood before them amongst the dead troopers by his side.
"Wait... It's him, Jim Raynor the Butcher!" One of the arrival marines panicked as he pointed his finger..
A single shot from a cliff, pierced the one that yelled.
Alexander took sniper role as Raynor was his point man. With a modified lascannon sniper rifle he simply pull a trigger and a beam of light.
He glance at the Chronometer as it ticked down.
He drank a root beer as he was numbed of the fact he was in the battlefield once more.
Raynor didn't need to even fire as he was there for a shock factor and with his abilities he can literally shut off communications that concern with technology.
He felt bitter that he killed humans that followed a man that strayed from his path.
He glance at his scope of the trooper he killed.
Blood splattering from his power armor helmet.
Another pull, another dead soldier.
He saw dust clouds blaring up in the distance. Dominion heavy hardware.
Thors, Siege tanks and plenty of Valkyries.
"Kerrigan, if your little army is ready, I doubt even we can handle them at the moment!" Alexander mentally yelled at Kerrigan.
"Done, Boys watch the fireworks."
The Swarm acted once more.
This time Zerglings and Hydralisk swarm across the corridors.
Alexander took aim at the more heavily armored vehicles.
Piercing their pilot canopy with his rifle as he watched the swarm rushed into the defenses.
By the time the call of help came, the deed had been done.
All they found was ruins of a orbital cannon, dead men and a lot of Zerg infestation. With a call sign. A letter was bashed on a trooper helmet.
"We are coming for you Acturus"
Raynor drove his Dropship as he headed to the orbit of space and entered the former Zerg space that is now controlled by the Imperium.
Tragedy struck while the trio was in the surface. The moment that the orbital Cannon was confirmed killed, Valerian forced to evacuate before any more of his men died.
Alexander understood his concerns. But Raynor was silently driving his ship. As he made his way to the Zerg Space.
"Where to? The place would soon be swarming with Domion and... I doubt that any nearby human outpost would kindly let us in... Even if I do held the prestige of a High Lord..." Alexander spoke to Kerrigan.
"There is another way... My mind sense a leviathan nearby... Perhaps.."
"No Kerrigan!" Raynor tried to stop her.
"Look, I doubt that... Anyone of us would like her to be the queen of blades... But.. Raynor... You seen the vision haven't you?" Alexander spoke.
"What visions?" Kerrigan was puzzled o
Between the two men silence.
"Alexander! If you dare-"
"I will tell her Raynor... Whether you like it or not. She has to know or we are fucked."
"We... No...you have to be the queen of blades once more." Alexander spoke.
"You must be kidding right? Me with that?" Kerrigan eyes widen.
"Look, I would have been leading the charge against the future darkness... But... Kerrigan, no... The former queen of blades crippled me. How many died under your reign, I don't know, but... You have to be a Redeemer."
"I thought you are more powerful than me."
"I lied, whatever your former self did to me, I can feel my body weak, I was expecting a full on brawl, till that thing that revert you to human activated, but you just had to fucked my mind that I can't even use my powers properly." Alexander held one of his hands and simple sparks of lighting just flew out of his finger tips.
"I'm... Sorry."
"Hah, No problem... You and Raynor was fucked over by the gods in this realm, long before you met me."
"Gods?"
"Called themselves xelnaga and not what Narud told you. The Zerg, Protoss, Humans were but chess pieces in their great game. I was the outlier to ruin their plans and your actions prevented me from fully saving humanity from the incoming darkness..."
"You knew so much about these things, why haven't you told us?" Raynor spoke.
"Because you never asked... Or more specifically, you would never believe me."
"Do you believe in alternate history?"
"Why bring this up?" This ain't right."
"Because right now, Acturus would have put you in the slammer, had you executed, and Kerrigan went on a rampage just to kill Acturus. Her vengeance fueled her drive to become a more dangerous queen of blades just to destroy korhal.
But here... Right now, she have a choice, free from revenge, you can simply flee with her... I would take reins to defend what little life I have to defend humanity. Or... Would you accept the path you will take?"
Alexander looked at the couple.
"I will have to do it... So you saying you knew the future?"
"I'm not omnipotent like my stepfather, but it's more like your story have been passed around... Don't mess with a petty woman, or your kingdom burned down."
"Am I really that petty?" Kerrigan mused.
"Depends... But can you do it? Kerrigan? That you I knew from the future... Is fueled by vengeance and the desire for power to save Raynor and killing Acturus, and the you now... Is uncertain."
A full minute passed as she nodded.
"If what you said about the future... Then maybe I would be a better version than the one you predicted..." Kerrigan smiled.
"I would be in the shadows then... Even if I am weakened, I can still put up a fight if you truly went strayed from your path of being human." Alexander chuckle.
"Alexander....tell me... would she come back? After all this?"
"Raynor, you have those vision the most. She will... Believe in her."
"Or we are all doomed" Alexander thought to himself. As he internally check his body.
[30% Operational
Est of recovery: 3 years]
More worse than he actually anticipated.
The Dropship arrived at the leviathan and entered the orifices of the Zerg behemoth.
Countless Zerglings prowl from the fleshy corridors as to ascertain the danger and Kerrigan walked out, using her psychic powers to intimidate the Zerg.
"Kerrigan do you think you can control this swarm?" Raynor spoke as he grip his gun tightly.
"If they don't, I would kill them one by one until they obey me.
"No need to harm" a voice sounded. And a strange figure like snake popped from the orifice nearby.
"What are you?"
"I am Izsha. Your Majesty used to store all her ideas, thoughts and plans within me. Do you not remember?" The being spoke.
"Yes... I remember you... And you... Remember me." Kerrigan Psionic powers were like a tidal wave as Izsha nodded.
"You... Are the queen of blades... I obey." Izha nodded.
"Now ready the leviathans, we are ready for a comeback." Kerrigan noticed the hesitancy of Izha face.
"My Queen... When you lost against the male Terran over there. The swarm fractured as a whole as his fleet flooded across the Koprulu sector. Many of the Queens may not agree upon your return..."
"Then I shall get their approval by their brutality if I have to... Show me the nearest one."
"There are two planets, Planet Kaldir and Planet Char at the current abilities you can handle... Both have the swarm needed to fuel the swarm. Char have the biggest hatchery needed for your ascension my queen and there's a Swarm Queen Zagara is leading a fight against the Imperium forces.
while Kaldir, Swarm queen Nafash's, took the advanced Swarm bioform with her brood. However, there are signs of Protoss on the planet." Izha spoke her opinion.
"Hmm, I think we should better get your swarm at Kaldir, I can convince my forces to stand down in char, provided you don't destroy the mining operations. We just mine to pay for the dead. And Raynor and I can convince the Protoss in Kaldirt to stand down.
We are here to get the brood that is shattered, not make a genocide to let the galaxy know that you just lied and be a bloodthirsty monster." Alexander spoke his piece.
Kerrigan watched the two planets.
"I will take Kaldir, as much as I would like to return to my throne, the galaxy is lulled by my disappearance... Find planets that is not under the Dominion rule that have our swarm until then, Acturus will have to wait."
"You done well. I hope Raynor and I would not make a mistake...this time." Alexander smiled.
The journey is rough, by their estimation, it would take at least two days to their destination..
Kerrigan watched the two men before her attempted to sleep in the Dropship, she felt some doubts, about her role and the fact that she is forced on a role that she never anticipated...
"Good night Jim." She whispered as she wrapped a blanket around her and she heard a growl, she saw a Zergling approached her and snuggled next to her.
She shrugged as she slept...
"Good night to you too..." She smiled as she dozed off.
While she didn't saw Alexander was awake as his glowing eyes glisten in the darkness.
His eyes simply assess the creature before him. His voice is more akin to a machine.
[\\Possible avenue for termination?\\] he softly spoke.
[\\Current Strength is unable to contend to the current queen of blades.
Search for alternative power source in this galaxy to supplement your critical failure, Shard of the Emperor corruption detected, Estimation of delaying the threat is at 40% success, Rate of decay is approximately 3%\\...]
[\\Affirmative, Current User have memories of this realm, using psionic in this realm is barely acceptable. Pure Void energy is recommended as a substitute to repair current body.\\]
[//Data confirmed, viable solution for repairs... Sending forces to aid you?//]
[//Denied, Let the flow of history remain unchanged. Let the galaxy think we are the saviors....//]
[//For the shining path//]
Alexander eyes slowly closed as he slept for the night, the people in the Dropship unaware of the danger of Alexander slowly going turning something worse.