Overlord over Char, Afternoon
Apr. 23rd, 2009 09:18 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
on_her_korhalStukov had been disposed of with DuGalle's own help. Now, the Earthlings approached Char, and the fledgeling Overmind that had been brought to life there by the other Cerebrates. The new Overmind had been Kerrigan's target all along - even up here, she could feel its mental forces reaching out, trying to claim her.
But she was stronger than that - and stronger than it, for now. She batted its attempts away, and leaned further over the screen that displayed the carnage below. "The UED is approaching the Overmind," Duran observed, "It won't be long until they inject it with neurostim drugs in order to pacify it."
In fact, Kerrigan could already see the medics rushing across the battlefield to do just that, tripping over the remains of dead Cerebrates and mindless Ultralisks. "Then I believe it's time we make our presence known," she said, "I'm not too happy about people barging into my territory, claiming what's mine."
"Of course, my Queen."
By now, her bearing had become more certain. She was no longer the twitching little creature she'd been in Fandom last summer. She held confidence. Even with the Psi Disruptor at their side, the UED was no match for her superior knowledge of the terrain - in every way possible. "And River's mission?"
"The portal we detected near Braxis appears to be holding," he said, obediently. "She won't run into any problems."
"Good." The edge of her mouth twitched into a mean little smile. "Duran, if you'll do the honours?"
---
"Excuse me, Admiral."
... DuGalle had expected Lieutenant Duran's return. Such treachery rarely went without a follow-up, unless you struck it down in swift reprisal. Despite it, he hadn't expected Duran to barge in like this, with no fear for his life, no support but a hard-to-identify shadow at his wing.
Alexei had died for him. Alexei had died to protect him from Duran's treachery. He would not forget about it. It was beyond his honour to.
"But I'd like to introduce you to someone," said Duran, smoothly. His voice seemed warped. Had it always been as such? Could DuGalle have detected his traiterous nature before Alexei had to fall at its hand?
Still, his eyes were drawn to something else. "Duran, you son of a bitch," he snarled, "What's the meaning of this?"
"Admiral DuGalle." And God help him, the thing actually smiled, like a parody of a human face. "I've heard a lot about you."
"What the--" he stuttered. Calm. Peace and calm. "What the hell are you?"
"I am Kerrigan," she said, still smiling at his screen, as if she could look straight through him even with layers upon layers of technology and distance forcing their seperation. "The Zerg you've killed here and the Overmind you've come to collect... are mine. As is our mutual friend Lieutenant Duran."
Zerg. But not. She was horrid. Some men around him began to look... queasy. He'd stand his ground. "You see, Admiral," she continued, "There are a number of groups in this sector who feel that your involvement here causes certain complications. My associates and I intend to make sure that your reign is short-lived."
She had the gall of sounding diplomatic. He would not stand for this. "You may find that difficult, you abomination, seeing as how I possess the means to disrupt your control of the Zerg." And thank you for that, Alexei, old friend. Forgive me.
"Ah, you're refering to your vaunted Psi Disrupter," she said. Of course Duran would have told her. But Duran had not held Alexei's secret. They still had the advantage. "It won't last you forever, Admiral. Sooner or later, I'll destroy it." Her next smile didn't even attempt to emulate anything human. It was predatory, simple and true. "Then I'll show you what the Zerg are really capable of."
His face twisted with rage. Never, not for this abomination, this thing. They were the UED. They would prevail. "Cut off--"
"Oh, and by the way, Admiral," she interrupted him, and that smile didn't go away. If anything, it brightened. "Your friend Stukov was twice the man you are. I'm glad you saved me the trouble of having to kill him myself."
The screen went blank before he could finish the order to cut it off.
He stared at it for a good, long while.
"Alexei..." he said.
He did not know the sinking feeling in his insides, not for a few moments until he put a name to it: guilt. Their new adversary had a flair for twisting knives.
She would die for it.
---
Kerrigan's smile dimmed once the connection went down. The look on the man's face-- "This one's for you, Harriet," she said, on an impulse.
Every pompous Admiral she'd smack down in the dirt - an image of Harriet's Doctor. These Earthlings reminded her all too much of London politics.
Vengeance was lonely in and of itself. Dedicating this one would do.
"My Queen?" Duran asked, hesitating.
"Set course for Tarsonis," she said, rubbing at her brow. "We'll need to claim a few Cerebrates for this next stretch."
[ some dialogue taken from StarCraft: Brood War Terran Mission 8, 'To Chain The Beast'. and we're done with the terran missions! ooc-okaaay. ]
But she was stronger than that - and stronger than it, for now. She batted its attempts away, and leaned further over the screen that displayed the carnage below. "The UED is approaching the Overmind," Duran observed, "It won't be long until they inject it with neurostim drugs in order to pacify it."
In fact, Kerrigan could already see the medics rushing across the battlefield to do just that, tripping over the remains of dead Cerebrates and mindless Ultralisks. "Then I believe it's time we make our presence known," she said, "I'm not too happy about people barging into my territory, claiming what's mine."
"Of course, my Queen."
By now, her bearing had become more certain. She was no longer the twitching little creature she'd been in Fandom last summer. She held confidence. Even with the Psi Disruptor at their side, the UED was no match for her superior knowledge of the terrain - in every way possible. "And River's mission?"
"The portal we detected near Braxis appears to be holding," he said, obediently. "She won't run into any problems."
"Good." The edge of her mouth twitched into a mean little smile. "Duran, if you'll do the honours?"
---
"Excuse me, Admiral."
... DuGalle had expected Lieutenant Duran's return. Such treachery rarely went without a follow-up, unless you struck it down in swift reprisal. Despite it, he hadn't expected Duran to barge in like this, with no fear for his life, no support but a hard-to-identify shadow at his wing.
Alexei had died for him. Alexei had died to protect him from Duran's treachery. He would not forget about it. It was beyond his honour to.
"But I'd like to introduce you to someone," said Duran, smoothly. His voice seemed warped. Had it always been as such? Could DuGalle have detected his traiterous nature before Alexei had to fall at its hand?
Still, his eyes were drawn to something else. "Duran, you son of a bitch," he snarled, "What's the meaning of this?"
"Admiral DuGalle." And God help him, the thing actually smiled, like a parody of a human face. "I've heard a lot about you."
"What the--" he stuttered. Calm. Peace and calm. "What the hell are you?"
"I am Kerrigan," she said, still smiling at his screen, as if she could look straight through him even with layers upon layers of technology and distance forcing their seperation. "The Zerg you've killed here and the Overmind you've come to collect... are mine. As is our mutual friend Lieutenant Duran."
Zerg. But not. She was horrid. Some men around him began to look... queasy. He'd stand his ground. "You see, Admiral," she continued, "There are a number of groups in this sector who feel that your involvement here causes certain complications. My associates and I intend to make sure that your reign is short-lived."
She had the gall of sounding diplomatic. He would not stand for this. "You may find that difficult, you abomination, seeing as how I possess the means to disrupt your control of the Zerg." And thank you for that, Alexei, old friend. Forgive me.
"Ah, you're refering to your vaunted Psi Disrupter," she said. Of course Duran would have told her. But Duran had not held Alexei's secret. They still had the advantage. "It won't last you forever, Admiral. Sooner or later, I'll destroy it." Her next smile didn't even attempt to emulate anything human. It was predatory, simple and true. "Then I'll show you what the Zerg are really capable of."
His face twisted with rage. Never, not for this abomination, this thing. They were the UED. They would prevail. "Cut off--"
"Oh, and by the way, Admiral," she interrupted him, and that smile didn't go away. If anything, it brightened. "Your friend Stukov was twice the man you are. I'm glad you saved me the trouble of having to kill him myself."
The screen went blank before he could finish the order to cut it off.
He stared at it for a good, long while.
"Alexei..." he said.
He did not know the sinking feeling in his insides, not for a few moments until he put a name to it: guilt. Their new adversary had a flair for twisting knives.
She would die for it.
---
Kerrigan's smile dimmed once the connection went down. The look on the man's face-- "This one's for you, Harriet," she said, on an impulse.
Every pompous Admiral she'd smack down in the dirt - an image of Harriet's Doctor. These Earthlings reminded her all too much of London politics.
Vengeance was lonely in and of itself. Dedicating this one would do.
"My Queen?" Duran asked, hesitating.
"Set course for Tarsonis," she said, rubbing at her brow. "We'll need to claim a few Cerebrates for this next stretch."
[ some dialogue taken from StarCraft: Brood War Terran Mission 8, 'To Chain The Beast'. and we're done with the terran missions! ooc-okaaay. ]
