Buried deep at the heart of this living fortress lies the personal chambers of the human once known as Sarah Kerrigan, the Queen of Blades. This night, as happens every night, sleep for her does not come without a price. The nightmares from her past ripple through her mind in a never-ending chain of events, as she is rendered helpless to prevent the maddening display. The look of arrogance that is normally fixed upon her face has instead been replaced with one totally unknown to her new form. Her forehead creases into a look, not of one secure in their overwhelming power, but instead a look of uncertainty and fear. Once again, she feels the emotions flowing through her mind as fresh as they were on that fateful day. Her body is glistening with moisture as she continues to thrash wildly in her chambers. The same visions that have been her unwanted companions for so long continue to plague her dreams. She once again feels it take hold as the images cascade over her like a great wall of water threatening yet again to drown her in their folds.
Images come as a blur to her as they rush past in a maddening display. A flash of light and she is once again back at New Gettysburg. The ground trembles and the skies flash angrily as the Zerg and the Protoss battle each other across the planet as they leave a trail of destruction in their wake.
She hears the calls from her long dead comrades as they report in on the progress of the battle. Panic beginning to creep into the edge of their voices as the situation grows worse.
Her view shifts and she finds herself back at the extraction point. She hears her own cries of anguish at the news of their betrayal and the harsh memory causes her blood to boil with hatred as her soul cries out for vengeance.
The terrain rushes past her and she can almost feel the ground pounding beneath her feet as she tries to lead the rest of the survivors to safety, although she knows deep down that there was no such thing. A shrill warning cry is heard as a sharp pain races through her body and then the world goes dark. The last sounds she hears are from her people as the Zerg rip them apart under their claws and fangs; their cries of pain and agony stabbing through her very soul and crushing her spirit.
The image slowly clears and she finds herself once more within the darkened prison as her own hurried breath and a soft thrumming fills her ears. A soft hiss is heard above her and it is at that moment that her fears are truly realized.
She screams in horror as she vividly remembers the burning fluid slowly filling up her darkened prison, the feelings of hopelessness and pure fear gripping her heart once more as it did that fateful day, the day when Sarah Kerrigan died and was reborn into something far darker. She unconsciously grabs at her arms as she can almost imagine the old, searing pain scalding and deadening the flesh. She hears the ancient voice again rolling over and over and the same phrase hammering itself into the deeper recesses of her mind.
".You will be my greatest creation yet… for your coming will herald the end of our foes."
". No." she whispers softly to herself as if that mere word would drive the dream from her mind. ".Please. God no."
".Fear not my young creation… do not fight your destiny… for soon you will be made whole."
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" she screams defiantly at the ancient voice and then much to her surprise the nightmare fades.
Unexpectedly the image in her mind quickly changes from the darkened prison of the Overmind to something else instead. In a blur of emotions and sensations, she suddenly finds herself walking over a smoldering battlefield on a planet yet unknown to her. She stares skyward and spots the brief reflections of light coming from the thousands of pieces of wreckage from the blasted vessels that litter the cold void. All around her, hundreds of fires smolder on the barren surface casting dark rolling clouds everywhere. She passes a small pool of fluid and catches a glimpse of another reflection beside her own on the wavery surface. She immediately turns, extending her talons in reflex and to her surprise, the other form she sees is herself before her transformation. The tendrils on her scalp have instead been replaced with her long remembered flowing hair. Skin once green and dead to the touch is now smooth and warm on the form before her. The memory strikes a deep cord of sorrow in her and she closes her eyes and reluctantly turns away knowing that the image is a lie.
"You can't deny who you are, Sarah," replies her former self as she glares back accusingly with her brilliant green eyes, "no matter how hard you try to ignore or forget it."
"DON'T CALL ME THAT!" snaps back the Queen of Blades. "Sarah no longer exists," hisses back the Queen of Blades venomously as her eyes flare briefly. "Only I remain!"
"As long as you exist, I will continue to exist within you," defiantly answers back her image. "I will always be a part of you whether you want to accept it or not, Sarah."
"Sarah Kerrigan is DEAD! She was weak and foolish. I don't suffer from her flaws anymore. Now races tremble in fear when they whisper my name and all that oppose my will are destroyed without thought or remorse….nothing. NOTHING will ever harm me, again!" snarls the Queen of Blades as her eyes burn with a cold fire. "You can't comprehend the power I wield, what I have become,"
"I know what you have become," sadly states her former image, "you have become the very thing you have feared all your life. You have allowed the horrors you have endured to twist and warp you. You have become a monster, Sarah."
".No. No. NO!" snaps the Queen of Blades as she clutches at her head in an attempt to block out the voice of her former self.
"Look at the pain and misery you have inflicted. All the suffering you see around you has been your doing. You can't deny that anymore, Sarah."
"You LIE!" quickly snaps the Queen of Blades as her eyes burn with a growing fury.
"You know it's true, Sarah. You are a monster now," softly says the image before her.
"I am not a MONSTER! The ones who made me what I am now are the monsters!" screams back the Queen of Blades as she bares her teeth and lashes out at the form before her. The ghostly image quickly disappears and fades away like a vanishing cloud of smoke as her talons connect.
"You can't get rid of me so easily, Sarah," whispers the voice in her mind.
Kerrigan drops to the ground in anguish as she grits her teeth tightly and claws at her head in a futile attempt to purge the voice within. Her breathing is rapid, leaving small swirls of vapor in the chilled air, as her small form shudders briefly while she struggles to clear the thoughts from her mind. She slowly recovers her self-control as she succeeds temporarily in silencing the voice. Rising smoothly she begins to survey the area.
"What is this place," she asks quietly to her surroundings. Not receiving, nor expecting an answer, she slowly begins to resume her slow pace and soon finds herself passing through a dark rolling cloud; what awaits her on the opposite sides causes even her to pause.
The cloud is slow to dissipate but what it reveals is a vision that even she is unprepared for. Everywhere she lays her eyes, she sees nothing but death and destruction. Thousands, perhaps millions of mangled bodies; both human and protoss litter the vast field. Pieces of wreckage from smashed vehicles are scattered across the ground as small fires continue to lick at the burnt and blasted hulls. She continues to wander among the destruction, stopping briefly to examine the mangled forms that coat the ground like a newly fallen snow. The sky grows dark and she pauses to stare towards the heavens. A brilliant eruption is seen that causes her to shield her eyes briefly as two smaller ones are seen in the distance and it seems as if for a moment that the universe itself is coming to its end. The air around her quickly goes cold as the light begins to slowly fade from the surface of the planet until all that is seen are mere pinpricks of light from the stars above. She turns her attention back to the many bodies around her as the movement of one crawling form catches her attention.
Her curiosity peaked; she walks slowly, picking a clear path among the battered forms, until she reaches the fallen marine. Streaks of blood are splattered across the battered armor and despite the obvious pain the marine may be feeling, he still struggles for life. Such an indomitable spirit impresses her and she decides it’s worth her effort to find out who this brave marine may be. Stepping quietly next to the crawling form, she stops his efforts and gently lifts him upright against a rock formation. The chest of the marine has numerous slashes gouged out of the surface as a trickle of blood can be seen flowing from his grave wounds. The face visor of the warrior is lowered and shattered slightly enough to prevent her from seeing who this human may be. His breath comes as erratic shudders, forming small clouds of vapor in the chilled air and she soon realizes that this brave warrior does not have much time left. Recalling her past experience with these combat suits, she keys the visor release on the side of the helmet. With a soft whirring noise, the visor lifts up to reveal the face of the one person she would have never expected.
"Hello. Sarah," weakly whispers Raynor.
"Jimmy?!" cries Kerrigan, surprised at her emotions, long considered by her to be forgotten and dead, slowly begins to well up inside her.
".It's your. fault. all your fault. dar'ling."
"What's all my fault, Jimmy," asks Kerrigan defensively as she stares at his injuries. "What happened here? Who did this?"
".Why... you did... you've. killed us. you've killed us. all. Sarah," whispers Raynor as his eyes stare up at her filled with a deep sorrow.
"How can you blame me for any of this?" demands Kerrigan as she gestures to her surroundings. "I don't recognize this place. I've never even been here before," she snaps harshly.
".You… did all this, Sarah," forcibly repeats Raynor one more time as he gasps briefly and his body slowly begins to grow limp. She looks down at his pained look as old feelings begin to surface from within her.
"Jimmy," says Kerrigan softly as the harshness in her tone is replaced with a warmth she thought long dead, "how did this happen? What can I do to prevent this?"
". Stop 'em. dar'ling, stop 'em," he whispers as his hand reaches up and gently rubs her cheek. Kerrigan closes her eyes and presses against the gloved hand as she tries to recall the warm sensation from what seems like a lifetime ago.
"Stop who? Whom are you talking about? How do I stop all this?" she asks softly.
"I've got… to leave you now. Sarah," rasps Raynor weakly.
".No. Jimmy, please don't go," whispers Kerrigan softly as tears slowly begin to fall from her cold eyes.
"Don't cry, Sarah," whispers Raynor with a pained smile, "you can still… right the wrongs… you've done. you still. have a. chance."
".I'm sorry, Jimmy. sorry for everything. please don't go. I don't want to be left. alone," pleads Kerrigan sorrowfully as she gently cradles his dying form in her arms.
". Stop 'em. dar'ling, stop 'em," sadly whispers Raynor one last time before his eyes finally grow lifeless and empty.
"Jimmy? Jimmy?!" cries Kerrigan as she shakes his now dead form lightly.
".Oh God. please God no. don't go, Jimmy. don't go."
"Now, you truly are alone, Sarah," whispers her voice accusingly in the back her mind.
".No. No." Kerrigan murmurs to herself as the light on the planet quickly fades away. Her perception shifts rapidly and she catches a glimpse of herself from a distance desperately clinging to the cold dead form of Raynor in the rapidly approaching darkness. Her view changes again and she sees the ground rush past her in a blur until she is able to see the whole planet in time to witness a dark shadow slowly begin to spread out and consume the entire universe; a spine-chilling scream following quickly on its heels.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" she bolts upright in her bed and screams into her chambers as the ache from the loss cuts through her mind like a dagger and awakens her from this new nightmare.
Her eyes are slow to adjust to the dim lighting and then she quickly realizes that she is once again back in her personal chambers. Her breathing is rapid and erratic as her body is slow to adjust from the disturbing experience.
"No," she whispers to herself as she clutches her chest in a futile attempt to stem the pain growing within her. Streams of tears continue to flow down her face as Raynor's last words tumble over and over again in her mind.
". Stop 'em. dar'ling, stop 'em," softly echoes his dying words in her mind.
".I am. alone," she whispers sadly to herself as she braces her face in her hands and rocks her body slowly.
"But we will always be there for you, Kerrigan," whispers a new voice in her mind.
The unknown voice causes her to forget the earlier nightmare as long remembered combat senses flare to life and she quickly realizes that the source of the new voice is nearby. She drops and rolls into a combat stance as her talons extend from her hands. Scanning her chamber for any sign of the unknown presence, her mind focuses on a brief flicker of emotional surprise.
"I'm impressed my dear," softly replies the voice from within her mind. "You were able to sense my presence here despite my efforts. Your abilities have indeed grown."
"HOW DARE YOU VIOLATE MY CHAMBERS!" viciously roars Kerrigan as she silently curses herself for her earlier display of weakness.
"I don't know how you managed to make it in here but you will not live beyond these walls," viciously hisses Kerrigan as she desperately tries to locate the ghostly presence that continues to hover at the edge of her senses. "Show yourself and I may consider killing you quickly Protoss warrior!"
"Do not insult me," snorts the voice contemptuously, "and I doubt that you could kill me. Still, if you wish to see me then I am more than willing to grant you your request."
She catches a flicker of movement off to her side as her eyes attempt to identify the dark form advancing on her swiftly. The once dark and shapeless form begins to grow clear until finally the figure is completely visible in the pale green organic lighting.
"Hello, my queen," replies the figure with a tight smile. "It has been a long time."
"DURAN?!" hisses Kerrigan viciously as her eyes flash with a cold fury. “HOW DARE U DARE TO SHOW YOURSELF AFTER ALL THESE YEARS?!"
"Yes, 'o Queen of Blades and there is much I need to discuss with you."
"The only matter that we have to discuss is your betrayal and the manner in which you are going to DIE!" screams Kerrigan as she leaps at her former servant intent on gutting him.
Her talons flash briefly in the dim lighting as she rapidly closes the short distance to her prey. Unleashing a blood-curling scream, she rears her arms back in preparation of the violent motion that would cleave her prey in two. With her eyes fiercely glowing like hot coals in the subdued lighting, she leaps and stabs her talons through Duran's body. Her mad fury subsides briefly enough for her mind to register that he is still standing despite the obvious severity of his wounds, a contemptuous smile creasing his features. The smile only causes Kerrigan's fury to escalate as she quickly withdraws her talons in a sweeping motion and slices cleanly across his body. Yet again, he remains standing wearing the same smile and much to her surprise, his wounds sealed rapidly before her eyes. That last event causes her to cease her attack as curiosity now takes control of her actions.
"What are you?" cautiously asks Kerrigan as her eyes narrow suspiciously; her talons slowly retracting back into place.
"I, and those like me are beyond anything you could possible imagine 'o Queen and I come to bring you an offer from my masters," states Duran as the last of his wounds finish sealing.
"You would be wise to consider their proposal," quietly adds Duran, the tone of his voice hinting a subtle threat.
"Do not seek to threaten me with your words, Duran, if that is indeed your real name," retorts Kerrigan as her eyes flicker briefly with irritation. "I have little reason to believe you considering our past relationship. I have more reason instead to see your body broken and bloodied before me."
"Then try and kill me," says Duran without hesitation, "but know that you will end up depriving yourself of the enormous power and honor that was offered to you."
Kerrigan pauses for a moment to reflect on his words as she slowly begins to reconsider his proposal.
"And who are these masters that you speak so highly of," asks Kerrigan as she attempts to probe the depths of his mind for information. Much to her surprise, she finds herself unable to pierce his mental defenses this time and that draws a slight frown from her.
"Simply put, they are the beginning and the end of all that is in the universe," states Duran cryptically as he smiles inwardly at her failed attempts to reenter his mind. "They have much that they are willing to offer to you."
"Very well," grudgingly states Kerrigan as she gestures for Duran to follow her, "You intrigue me enough that I am willing to hear your masters' proposal. However," and she pauses to pin him with an intense stare, "if this is a trick, or some kind of elaborate deception, I will see to it that you suffer slowly and unimaginably for your past transgressions."
"Of course my, Queen," softly responds Duran with a wicked smile as he follows Kerrigan into her throne room. "We would expect no less than that from the Queen of Blades."
***
Location: Forsaken Regions, Forward Koprulu Sector base of the UED
In this area of unexplored space, several dozen light-years from the massive gaseous nebula that dominates this region lies an impressive network of orbital platforms and space construction docks. A half-dozen massive lattices litter the area, some of them containing several vessels under construction as the flare from the hundreds of fusion torches from robotic worker units light their metal exteriors. Numerous supply vessels shuttle back and forth between the platforms and the distant planet below as the crews onboard carry out their duties.
Located at the center of the main orbital platform in the lower orbit of this planet, a meeting has just completed between the two unlikely forces now operating here together.
"So where do we go from here, sir?" quietly asks Bill Janick as he steps to the side of his captain to watch the construction taking place out in the yards.
"I'm not to sure, Bill," replies Raynor softly as he slowly begins to feel a strange sensation in the back of his mind. "And what did I tell you about that sir crap?" he asks with his familiar smirk.
"Sorry, Jim," replies Janick as he chuckles softly, "I guess old habits die hard."
"No problem, Bill. And as to your question, to be perfectly honest with you, I'm not completely sure right now."
"Still no further word from your men, Jim, " asks Torral softly as he steps silently beside him to watch the construction as well.
"Nope," simply replies Raynor with a small shake of his head.
"Well," says Torral as he glances at a passing shuttle, "we should hear about them soon enough. We've got sensor posts scattered throughout the area on the lookout for them."
"Any ideas as to what news he's supposed to be delivering," asks Janick.
"Not a clue, Bill."
"It might possibly have something to do with those intelligence reports my people brought up at the meeting," offers Torral. "Those reports of mass troop and equipment transfers to the Umojan territories will probably fit in with your man's findings."
"Yeah, I was thinking about that too, Jeffrey," says Raynor. "I'm surprised your people picked up on that little tidbit of information," adds Raynor with a raised eyebrow.
"Even though we've chosen to keep a low profile, Jim," says Torral with a brief chuckle, "we still try to keep tabs on what's going on out here. Let's just say one of their supply shipments somehow wound up in our hands."
"Aw damn," replies Raynor, his voice dripping with sarcasm, "I wonder how that happened?"
The group ripples with polite laughter over the comment.
"Well, we haven't exactly been sitting around doing nothing, Jim," says Torral with a brief gesture of his hand towards the construction yards.
"So we've seen, Jeffrey," comments Raynor as he watches a newly manufactured section added to one of the sleek looking vessels in dock. "Quite an operation you guys have running here. I'm impressed."
Torral follows his gaze and watches as the section is fused onto the hull in the distance and smiles.
"Our new fleet," says Torral as he continues to watch the construction, the pride evident in the tone of his voice. "After the losses we suffered against the Zerg, we thought it best to start using equipment more along the lines of what we are accustomed to dealing with."
"Pretty impressive gear," comments Janick as he whistles softly in admiration, "and you say all of those new ships can practically run themselves."
"That's correct, commander. Those capital ships out there are, for all intents and purposes, fully automated. They require only a fraction of the crew to fill an older cruiser, yet they surpass it in all categories of firepower and performance. Besides," and he pauses briefly, "our lack of personnel kind of made the decision a necessity."
"Well, you sure do make 'em pretty, captain," comments Janick as he leans forward some to admire the lines of the nearly completed ship.
"I don't get it, Jeff. Why the slight of hand show? Why didn't you UED guys just use your current gear instead of using all our old technology," asks Raynor as the discussion turns to one of his unanswered questions. "You could have wiped the floor with all the colonials in this sector with that level of tech."
"The decision to not reveal our current tech level was left up to the Admiral's discretion," sourly comments Torral. "Most of us in the fleet didn't agree with his call but it wasn't our place to point it out."
"Didn't work out to well for you and your boys, captain," sadly states Janick.
"No, it most certainly did not, commander. The Admiral's idea of 'fair-play' I'd wager."
"Why'd you guys stick around afterwards then," asks Raynor as he leans against a railing for support. "Why not just head on home back to Earth after the earlier disasters? Just forget it ever happened and just call it a day?"
"Because like you, Jim," and Torral smiles briefly, "I don't like leaving business unfinished."
"Ok," concedes Raynor with a chuckle, "you got me there. If I were in your boots I would've probably done the same. Did you guys ever make an attempt to get word back to Earth about your situation?"
"I'm not sure if we succeeded," replies Torral with uncertainty, "we managed to outfit a small task force with what we could scrape together after that skirmish with the Zerg and send them back but we haven't heard from them in sometime. I'm not even sure if they made it home considering the damage to the vessels. The odds of them actually succeeding were pretty slim."
"So help from Earth is just a big maybe," asks Janick, as he wants to clarify the nagging question.
"Sadly, you are correct, commander. As far as we know, Earth has no idea what happened to us after we took Char. Directorate command more than likely assumes we are merely solidifying our control on this sector."
"Will they send reinforcements," asks Raynor softly as the sensation in his mind continues to increase.
"Eventually," offers Torral as he sighs quietly, "but I have no idea as to when or how many that will be."
"So it's just us in the meantime then, right," asks Raynor, as he wants to make the issue perfectly understood.
"In a word, yes."
"Damn," rasps Raynor as he gently rubs the side of his temples.
"I know it sounds bad but we'll make do, Jim. It's what we've done for three years now without much help."
"It's not that, all of the sudden I'm getting a four alarm headache. Feels like my skull is gonna pop," says Raynor as he screws his eyes tightly from the pain.
"Cap'n, you going to be alright?"
"I'll be fine, Bill," replies Raynor with a dismissive gesture, "probably just need to lie down that's all."
"Maybe you should head down to the medical center, Jim," offers Torral with concern in his tone. "Have my people check you out."
"I'm sure it's nothing. I should just head back to my quarters, get some rest."
"Very well," responds Torral reluctantly, "but if it gets worse I highly suggest you go to medical."
"Don't worry, I'm sure Bill here will see to that," says Raynor with a pained smile. "Nite all," he adds as he walks away.
"That's never happened to him before," comments Janick with a worried look on his face. "He hasn't slept much this past few days so maybe that's probably it. Still though, maybe I should keep an eye on him."
"I knew you were a good man, commander," states Torral with a smile. "If it gets worse and he refuses to go to medical, we'll just have to knock him unconscious and drag him there."
"Yes, sir," responds Janick with a chuckle. "I'll fill you in later."
"I'd appreciate it."
Torral watches Janick take off after Raynor and wonders what all that was about. Further musings are interrupted as the soft footfalls of a junior officer are heard as he rapidly approaches from behind. The young officer halts exactly two feet away, snaps off a crisp salute and delivers his message.
"Sir, Commander Hamilton wishes for you to join him in the CIC. One of our sensor posts has detected the passage of a craft through their sector and he thought you should be notified immediately."
"Is it that transport we were expecting?"
"No, sir. It's," and the officer pauses briefly, "really something you should see for yourself."
The tone in the young officer's voice piques his curiosity and Torral wonders silently what this new surprise may be.
"Very well, ensign. Lead off," says Torral as he gestures for the young officer to lead the way. After traveling down a couple hundred feet of corridors and passages, Torral finally arrives with his aide at the combat center and quickly discovers that the concern of his officers was indeed warranted.
***
Location: Several dozen light-years away from the UED base
The pilot of the heavy fighter began to grow concerned the deeper he traveled into this unexplored and menacing looking region. He checks his data and glances over it briefly in order to insure that the information that he gathered was indeed accurate. His thoughts drift briefly to the mass graveyard of ships and wonders if he might share their fate as well. He reluctantly pushes the grim thought from his mind and returns his attention to the surrounding space lanes.
He shields his eyes briefly as a particularly intense electrical discharge crackles through the gaseous nebula. So intense was the discharge that a sharp beep is heard from his fighter's systems as his shields flicker in an attempt to dissipate the energy absorbed. The pilot's eyes narrow slightly and he begins to doubt whether it was a good idea to follow that unknown signal. He looks down at the panel to his right and carefully scans through the status reports from his onboard systems. He spots the item he was searching for and confirms for himself that the psionic transmitter secured to the bottom of his hull is still running. He adjusts his course slightly to a new heading and silently hopes that he finds what he was looking for at the end of this long journey.
***
Location: Primary Orbital Platform of the UED
"Are you sure you're ok, Jim?
"Damnmit, Bill," snaps Raynor as he pounds the pillow beneath him to support his head better, "what're you? My mother?"
"Just making sure, Jim," replies Janick as he raises his hands slightly in a gesture of surrender. "You looked pretty wrung out there earlier and we we're just worried-"
"Relax, Bill. I'm better now. The pain seems to be fading now that I've decided to get off my feet. Guess I just needed to lie down."
"You sure you're ok," asks Janick as he eyes him suspiciously.
"Trust me," responds Raynor with his usual smile.
"Alright, Jim," says Janick reluctantly, "if you need anything just let us know."
"I got it, Bill. Now kill that light so I can get some shut-eye."
"Aye, Cap'n," replies Janick with a grin as he leaves the room and the door hisses softly shut behind him.
"And wake me in two hours," yells Raynor after his XO through the closed door as he shuts his eyes in hope that it stops the pounding in his head.
Meanwhile, in the combat information center, the source of Raynor's discomfort is unfortunately about to be dealt with in the worst possible manner.
"Evening, Captain," briskly says Hamilton as he steps to his side and hands over a data pad with numerous readouts. "We just received a burst signal from sensor outpost thirteen and I thought you should be present to see it."
"As you can see, sir, we seem to have attracted the attention of a visitor."
"It sure looks that way, Erik."
"Just the one fighter," asks Torral as he hands over the pad and moves to the central display.
"Yes, sir, and that's what's really odd," answers Hamilton with a confused look on his face. "We've contacted outpost thirteen and they confirmed it; he's all alone. He picked a real good place to get away from it all if that was his intention."
"I'd say," replies Torral with a brief smile. "Is this the most recent update on the fighter's track?" he asks as he traces his finger on the course line.
"Yes, sir. Two other outposts have confirmed his track before they lost contact with the target. Whatever reason brought him out here; he's heading straight for us."
"What do we have out there for an intercept?"
"Nothing close by at the moment but Lt. Commander Assari's squadron was in the cradles prepped for their patrol. We were about to release them for their patrol but we can send them the vectors for the intercept instead."
"Do it. I don't want that Protoss fighter getting within visual range of this installation. I would have liked to capture it but we can't risk him getting word out about us. We could always try to reverse engineer their technology from what we can pull from the wreckage."
"Aye, sir." Hamilton moves to a nearby console and keys the comm system for fighter command. "Commander, you are cleared for an intercept."
"Just what we wanted to hear, command. Cobra leader out."
"Good hunting, Sultan."
On command, a dozen wraiths are quickly ejected into the cold void and blaze off towards their distant target.
"There was one other matter that I wasn't too sure if I should bring to your attention, sir."
"What is it, Erik?"
"We've received a few reports from the medical sections. It seems some of our people have been reported suffering from headaches."
"Headaches you say," asks Torral as his eyes narrow slightly with concern.
"Yes, sir. It seems that the cases range from mild to sometimes even downright painful. The medical staff can't seem to offer an explanation but they believe it is the result of some kind of psionic energy pulse. Most of those reporting the headaches have been listed as possessing some degree of psionic potential."
"That might explain Jim's earlier condition."
"Excuse me, sir?"
"Captain Raynor was complaining about a headache when I spoke with him last. Could the arrival of this Protoss fighter somehow be related?"
"Possibly, sir. The medical reports started coming in about the same time this fighter was detected but it's too early to say for sure."
"We'll find out soon enough," comments Torral as he watches the wraiths on the verge of making contact. "Erik, could you see to it that someone from medical checks up on captain Raynor."
"Of course, sir," replies Hamilton as Torral turns his attention to the indicators on the central display.
Back in his quarters, the piercing sensation that Jim Raynor was experiencing earlier has been replaced with a dull numbing one instead. The mild reduction in the pain does little to comfort his suffering as his mind struggles to understand what brought this on. Recalling a relaxation technique taught to him by an old friend, he relaxed his body and tried to ease his mind by focusing his thoughts. His forehead crinkles with slight confusion as he wonders if he is performing the task correctly. Suddenly the sensation fades and he exhales noisily with relief as the pain slowly begins to slip away. Much to his surprise, the pain is replaced with something else. It takes him a moment to comprehend what it is that he is hearing and even then he still doubts what he hears. He listens to the whispering voice in his mind as the words repeat in a loop and then like a flash of light, everything becomes clear to him.
"Oh hell," whispers Raynor as he quickly bolts upright in his bed.
He immediately scrambles for his boots and keying the lock to his door, rushes out into the passage way at a dead run towards the CIC.
***
Several light-years away from the UED base, the Protoss scout continues on to his destination totally oblivious to the dozen barely visible shimmering forms slowly circling in on him like a pack of hunters.
"Command this is Cobra lead."
"Go ahead, commander."
"We have the target in view and he's still coming in dumb, sir," states Lt. Commander "Sultan" Assari as he arms his weapons load. "Do we negate the target or cripple it for capture?"
"Captain?" asks Hamilton as he waits for the final decision.
"Take it out," softly orders Torral.
"You are weapons free. I say again, you are weapons free Cobra flight."
"Roger," simply replies Sultan as he keys his squadron frequency. "Cobras seven through twelve, you've got high cover; two clicks and trailing. I'm not taking any chances if this is some kind of trick. Watch our backs, Lydia."
"Copy, Sultan. We've got you covered, boss," replies the squadron XO as her section immediately breaks formation and climbs the 'z' axis.
"Cobras two through six, you're with me. Set warheads to a proximity detonation; we'll burn him on the first pass with a missile spread."
"Copy that lead," comes the reply from his squadron mates.
"Charge!" yells Sultan as the six wraiths leap forward and quickly accelerate to within missile range; the locking tones already beginning to beep in their headsets.
"Jeffrey! What's going on?" asks Raynor as he stumbles onto the command deck panting from the exertion of his run.
"Jim, what are you doing here? You should be down in medical. I've been getting reports about-"
"Never mind that right now," says Raynor breathlessly, "what's going on out there?" he asks as he points to the tactical display.
"One of our outposts picked up a Protoss scout on a direct path to our base. I've got a squadron intercepting it right now. Why?" asks Torral with a confused look on his face.
"Call 'em off! Call 'em off, Jeff!" snaps Raynor as he moves closer to the displayed images. The chatter from the squadron fills the room and Raynor watches in horror as six wraiths converge on the lone fighter.
"Commander, order Cobra flight to break off now!"
Hamilton quickly keys the comm to that of the squadron and Raynor prays that he isn't too late to prevent an oversight from turning into a grave mistake.
"I've got full lock on target, Sultan" announces Cobra five.
"All units stand by to fire on my command," says Sultan as the fighter begins to fill his view.
".Steady. steady. FIRE!" he shouts as he stabs down on his trigger. A volley of twelve missiles surge out from the wraiths as a frantic voice is heard over their channels.
"Cobra flight, cease your attack! Break off! BREAK OFF!""
"Shit! We already launched!" he screams back at the voice.
The missiles, totally oblivious to the carnage they just created continue on remorselessly as their target desperately drops into a series of evasive maneuvers.
"Oh God, no," whispers Raynor as he helplessly watches twelve new contacts suddenly appear on the tactical display and rapidly close the distance to the doomed Protoss scout.
