"You better have good reason for disturbing me from my quarters, General."
"Why yes sir, I do. This is the intruder we spotted inside our perimeter."
"Well then, what's your name stranger?"
"My name is Xagnir."
"Xa...Xag...ah forget it. Mind if I call ya X?"
"That will suffice."
"If I may interrupt sir, but this stranger talked of pursuing a creature called Diablo." Said Colonel Williams
"Diablo? Could he mean the Zerg?"
"Perhaps. I would like to detain the stranger for questioning in the detention block, if you permit it sir."
"Very well, go ahead General."
At that very moment, alarms started flashing and sirens went berserk. The entire meeting room was pure chaos. Xagnir jumped up and drew his massive sword.
"Whoa, easy there big fella." yelled Raynor. "No need to fight in here. Corporal, status
report."
"Ummm...yes sir. It appears that a large zerg body has been spotted in sector 5.2, 8.4." reported Corporal Hanivos.
"Damn! That's the weakest point of our barricade! Send 3 squadrons to reinforce that area! We can't let them break through!"
Xagnir heard the whole conversation. Zerg....Diablo....a connection? If so, he needed to fight these zerg.
"Excuse me Commander Raynor, but I may be of some help in the ensuing battle. I have fought much evil and I am ready to take on some more."
Raynor turned towards him and smiled.
"Why sure! Go right ahead. We could use all the help we can get. Go over with Youngstat and he will escort you to the departing dropships. Good luck X."
Xagnir saluted as he had seen the others do. Raynor smiled and snapped off a salute back at him. Xagnir turned and followed Youngstat back through the maze of tunnels and passageways until they reached the outside. Youngstat motioned toward a large concrete pad with flashing lights surrounding it. Upon the pad, several lumbering dropships sat with cargo doors gaping wide. Marines, medics, and firebats stood in formation until the order to board was given. SCVs scurried about, loading supplies and ammunition. Company leaders barked out orders and gathered together to talk strategies.
Xagnir tried to take in all the surrounding action. The tension filled the air as each man and woman got prepared to fight. Youngstat led Xagnir to a dropship with a large man standing in the entrance.
"Xagnir, this is Major Jackstone. He will be in charge of the company you are joining. Fight well for him." said Youngstat, attempting to be heard above the commotion.
"Welcome aboard, uhh...Xagnir. I have no idea how you usually fight, so I'm just going to let you go at it. Just be sure not to kill any of our guys or get yourself killed. And that is one hell of a getup. Now climb in soldier."
Xagnir climbed in to the watching eyes of the rest of Company 73 Delta. He slowly walked to an empty space and sat. The eyes were still on him. He looked about as everyone looked at him. The dropship slowly came alive, and rumbled into the atmosphere. The feeling was a bit unsettling, but Xagnir overcame it. With the exception of the engines, the interior was dead silent. One marine next to Xagnir finally broke the silence.
"Howdy there partner. My name's Billy Joe. What's your name?"
"I am Xagnir. It is a pleasure to meet you."
"Well, Xagnir, I'll be fighting right along with ya. How’s about you cover my back, and I'll watch yours.
"Sounds like a plan."
"Alright. Sure is nice to have someone like you on our side."
The dropships quickly sliced through the atmosphere, while putting up the illusion of being sluggish. An announcement came through the comm systems of each ship.
"This is Lieutenant Franct with the Wraith Omega Wing 702. We are quickly approaching our landing coordinates. Once we have landed you are to head to the front lines to stop the advancing zerg wave. My wing will provide air support. Good luck to ya'll. Franct out."
With this the men and women of 73 Delta began muttering and whispering among themselves. Last minute checks of weapons systems were run and everyone began psyching themselves up for the ensuing battle. Billy Joe turned to Xagnir.
"Alright buddy, here we go. Now don't forget our agreement ok?"
"I will fight along side of you."
"Sweet. Ok, here comes the landing."
The dropship settled to the ground with a slight thud. Almost immediately the doors flew open and the soldiers ran out like a living river. The zerg were still a few miles away. The flood of troops continued quickly across the countryside towards their goal. The sounds of war could be heard in the distance as the small division of troops held their ground, waiting for the reinforcements to smash the zerg forces. Xagnir checked his supply of potions, a town portal, and a few backup throwing axes and knives. Only a
mile to go. Ammunitions were loaded and visors closed. The screams of human and non-human origins echoed across the battlefield. Xagnir knew that somewhere out there Diablo lurked, and this battle was to be but one small skirmish along the way. The flood continued and wham! they hit the front lines.
Gauss rifles were quickly emptied into the first targets seen. Packs of zerglings and hydras were sliced to bits by the volley of bullets. Xagnir let out a shout and instantly all the surrounding marines felt some sort of boost. The spikes hardly hit their mark and claws seemed to miss. They felt invincible. With this in mind they increased their ferocity and thinned out more zerg. Xagnir quickly studied his new foes. He had never seen anything like them. The truly must have been spawned from hell. A zergling rushed up to him and with one swipe of his sword the ling was cut in half. This comforted him. They weren't too hard to kill. He ran across a small hill and a pack of
hydras spotted him. A wall of spikes flew at him and he ducked behind his massive shield. He heard the clatter of spikes hitting the metal. He slowly moved toward the hydras, always behind the shield. He then let out a primal war cry. The hydras were stunned for a second. This allowed him to get close enough to dispatch the evil creatures. Then he remembered. Billy Joe. He turned to look for him. Ah ha. Up near
the top of the hill. He rushed up to him.
Billy Joe laid face down on the dirt. Xagnir turned him over to see several spikes sticking out from his armor. Blood covered his face.
"Billy Joe. I have seem to have let you down."
"That's no....problem." said Billy Joe, gasping for breath. "I did...didn't...know you cou...could run that.....fast."
"Here." said Xagnir reaching into his pack. "Drink this, it will make you strong."
He pulled out a red liquid in a glass bottle. He put it into Billy Joe's mouth and quickly poured in the contents. The spikes in his chest fell out of his armor onto the ground. The blood stopped flowing out of the holes as the wounds closed up with incredible speed. Billy Joe stood up, amazed.
"How? What? Huh? What was that stuff?"
"It was merely a healing potion. I have plenty of them."
"That's a medical breakthrough! If everyone had some of this, we would have no problem taking out the zerg!"
"Really? I thought anyone that fought evil had some healing potions."
"I've never seen the stuff!" He paused and looked around the battlefield. "It appears that there is no more threat here. We gotta show this stuff to the doctors and scientists back at base!"
"Very well. Let us make our way back."
They walked back over the hill to the small outpost where everyone was rejoicing over the victory against the zerg. They made their way into the Officer's Club and sought out Major Jackstone. They found him at the bar, quietly studying an attractive blonde. Billy Joe slowly walked up to him and tapped him on the shoulder.
"Huh? Go away! Can't you see I'm busy!"
"Sorry to interrupt sir, but this is of utmost importance. Xagnir here has an amazing healing concoction. We need to get it to the science and medical teams A.S.A.P. It could cut losses by up to 80 percent!"
"What! 80 percent! Holy Shit! Lemme see some of this stuff!"
Xagnir pulled out a fresh bottle and gave it to Jackstone. Jackstone shook it a bit, held it to the light, and then took a small sip.
"Wow! That's got some kick! But what does it do?"
"Look at that scratch on your hand sir." said Billy Joe.
Jackstone watched in amazement as the small opening seemed to sew itself back together.
"Oh my God! What the...? I can't believe it! Ok soldier. You and Xagnir have my
permission to head back to headquarters on the next dropship. Hopefully the guys back home can do something with it. Oh and Xagnir. I saw your fighting out on the field. Nice work."
"Yes sir. Thank you sir. Good luck to you sir."
They saluted and Jackstone went back to his studies. Xagnir and Billy Joe walked outside towards the launching pad. They climbed into the nearest dropship as the doors closed softly behind them. As the dropship climbed into the air, Jackstone couldn't believe how much one stranger had helped them out.
