![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
on_her_korhalTo say that those present were giving their-- guest-- a wide bearth would be... a massive understatement. Kerrigan's immediate personal space was so empty you could almost hear the crickets chirp. But she didn't seem bothered.
Of course not.
Just earnest.
There was a long silence. The Protoss stared amongst each other expectantly, as if willing someone else to speak. At long last, it was the Matriarch, Raszagal, who opened with her first words. "Now then, Kerrigan," she said, "Perhaps you had best explain yourself. What is this news you've come to give?"
Kerrigan sighed. Her answer was brisk. "There is a new Overmind growing on Char."
"What? Impossible!" Zeratul burst through his self-imposed silence, his eyes set right on the abomination. Watching her. "Why should we believe anything you have to say?"
She met his gaze without hesitation. Earnesty again. "Because, Zeratul, I'm no longer the mindless murderess whom you fought on Char. The Overmind is dead. Whatever warped control it once had over me, is gone." And determination. Decisiveness? Something between these emotions.
She set the line of her jaw. It was a human motion. "I know that this is a lot to take in all at once," she said; her stoic demeanor suddenly snapped, and emotion blurred into her voice. "But you've got to believe me! There's more at stake here than--"
"She lies!" Ah. And there spoke Zeratul's light brother, Aldaris. "She is infested to the core! I for one will not listen to any of this--"
"Silence, Judicator." In this mesh of emotions, the Matriarch was a welcome source of calm. Zeratul turned to her. Turned to calm. "Continue, Kerrigan," she said.
Kerrigan gave her a thankful nod. "Apparently, many of the renegade Cerebrates, commanded by Daggoth, have merged into a new Overmind."
The mood in the room, tense before, now worsened. A new Overmind. And the Protoss had only just sacrificed their greatest, their brightest, Tassadar to kill the old one.
Her eyes flitted around the room. "Fortunately, the creature is still in its infant stages," she clarified. "It can't control the Swarm yet, but Daggoth and the others still have control over most of the Broods. The two Cerebrates you killed here were part of Daggoth's forces." Her composure still seemed to be wobbling, uncertain, almost.
"Look, I don't need to tell you all what might happen if that thing reaches maturity. I can guarantee you that, should it awaken, it'll take full control of me just like it did before. I don't want that to happen, and I'm pretty sure you don't want it to, either!" Anger, and confusion, and determination. Honesty, then? Truly?
Zeratul was no longer certain of any of this. "Even if what you say is true, our priority is to save this world, not assault the new Overmind," he pointed out, "We must find the crystals Uraj and Khalis before we are all vanquished." Priorities. They could not be drawn in by this Zerg creature when their need was highest, when the fate of their entire species hung in fragile balance.
"Then I'll help you with your search," she said, simply. "If you can defeat the renegade Zerg gathered here, it'll weaken the efforts of Daggoth and his ilk."
There fell another silence. What, indeed, could they say to that? A Zerg Queen, offering herself up to aide them? Kerrigan watched them all expectantly, the remnants of her previous composure beginning to slip together again, to piece together the mask.
If that was the mask, at least...
"My children, you must put aside your fears and misgivings to accomplish what must be done."
And the Matriarch would speak. Would decide for them. And so, Zeratul acquiesced to her wishes.
"For the time being, Kerrigan will assist you in your endeavors. Though she has been your enemy, it is enough that we share the same agenda now. Allow her time enough to prove herself to you, and you may find her to be a valued ally. For now, you must focus on the task at hand." She nodded twice. Firm, firm decisions from the Matriarch's hands, and voice. He would keep his doubts to himself. "Search for the Uraj on the planet Braxis, and let nothing stop you from recovering it."
There was only one voice they hadn't yet heard on this. He turned towards the young former Executor. Artanis. Tassadar's replacement, shortly before his death. Inexperienced, but that flexibility might save them during the days ahead.
Zeratul expected great things of Artanis.
Had he been Terran, Artanis would have swallowed. Instead, he stood quiet for a moment, the focal point of many a look. "We will do what you ask, Matriarch." A psionic sigh passed through the room. "But you cannot expect us to forgive Kerrigan's crimes against our race!"
Kerrigan bowed her head. She seemed accepting of that sentiment.
As Artanis turned to give his commands to his replacement, the new Executor, Zeratul retreated. And so did Kerrigan. Their eyes caught for a single instant.
He had a great deal to think about.
[ dialogue taken from StarCraft: Brood War mission 4, 'The Quest for Uraj'. OOC-ok, la ]
Of course not.
Just earnest.
There was a long silence. The Protoss stared amongst each other expectantly, as if willing someone else to speak. At long last, it was the Matriarch, Raszagal, who opened with her first words. "Now then, Kerrigan," she said, "Perhaps you had best explain yourself. What is this news you've come to give?"
Kerrigan sighed. Her answer was brisk. "There is a new Overmind growing on Char."
"What? Impossible!" Zeratul burst through his self-imposed silence, his eyes set right on the abomination. Watching her. "Why should we believe anything you have to say?"
She met his gaze without hesitation. Earnesty again. "Because, Zeratul, I'm no longer the mindless murderess whom you fought on Char. The Overmind is dead. Whatever warped control it once had over me, is gone." And determination. Decisiveness? Something between these emotions.
She set the line of her jaw. It was a human motion. "I know that this is a lot to take in all at once," she said; her stoic demeanor suddenly snapped, and emotion blurred into her voice. "But you've got to believe me! There's more at stake here than--"
"She lies!" Ah. And there spoke Zeratul's light brother, Aldaris. "She is infested to the core! I for one will not listen to any of this--"
"Silence, Judicator." In this mesh of emotions, the Matriarch was a welcome source of calm. Zeratul turned to her. Turned to calm. "Continue, Kerrigan," she said.
Kerrigan gave her a thankful nod. "Apparently, many of the renegade Cerebrates, commanded by Daggoth, have merged into a new Overmind."
The mood in the room, tense before, now worsened. A new Overmind. And the Protoss had only just sacrificed their greatest, their brightest, Tassadar to kill the old one.
Her eyes flitted around the room. "Fortunately, the creature is still in its infant stages," she clarified. "It can't control the Swarm yet, but Daggoth and the others still have control over most of the Broods. The two Cerebrates you killed here were part of Daggoth's forces." Her composure still seemed to be wobbling, uncertain, almost.
"Look, I don't need to tell you all what might happen if that thing reaches maturity. I can guarantee you that, should it awaken, it'll take full control of me just like it did before. I don't want that to happen, and I'm pretty sure you don't want it to, either!" Anger, and confusion, and determination. Honesty, then? Truly?
Zeratul was no longer certain of any of this. "Even if what you say is true, our priority is to save this world, not assault the new Overmind," he pointed out, "We must find the crystals Uraj and Khalis before we are all vanquished." Priorities. They could not be drawn in by this Zerg creature when their need was highest, when the fate of their entire species hung in fragile balance.
"Then I'll help you with your search," she said, simply. "If you can defeat the renegade Zerg gathered here, it'll weaken the efforts of Daggoth and his ilk."
There fell another silence. What, indeed, could they say to that? A Zerg Queen, offering herself up to aide them? Kerrigan watched them all expectantly, the remnants of her previous composure beginning to slip together again, to piece together the mask.
If that was the mask, at least...
"My children, you must put aside your fears and misgivings to accomplish what must be done."
And the Matriarch would speak. Would decide for them. And so, Zeratul acquiesced to her wishes.
"For the time being, Kerrigan will assist you in your endeavors. Though she has been your enemy, it is enough that we share the same agenda now. Allow her time enough to prove herself to you, and you may find her to be a valued ally. For now, you must focus on the task at hand." She nodded twice. Firm, firm decisions from the Matriarch's hands, and voice. He would keep his doubts to himself. "Search for the Uraj on the planet Braxis, and let nothing stop you from recovering it."
There was only one voice they hadn't yet heard on this. He turned towards the young former Executor. Artanis. Tassadar's replacement, shortly before his death. Inexperienced, but that flexibility might save them during the days ahead.
Zeratul expected great things of Artanis.
Had he been Terran, Artanis would have swallowed. Instead, he stood quiet for a moment, the focal point of many a look. "We will do what you ask, Matriarch." A psionic sigh passed through the room. "But you cannot expect us to forgive Kerrigan's crimes against our race!"
Kerrigan bowed her head. She seemed accepting of that sentiment.
As Artanis turned to give his commands to his replacement, the new Executor, Zeratul retreated. And so did Kerrigan. Their eyes caught for a single instant.
He had a great deal to think about.
[ dialogue taken from StarCraft: Brood War mission 4, 'The Quest for Uraj'. OOC-ok, la ]
