How's My Driving?
For any questions, comments or critique you may have about my portrayal of Sarah Kerrigan.
Comments are screened!
Comments are screened!
Chau Sara, the Koprulu Sector, Friday
Chau Sara would be one part of their staging ground.
The days were ticking away, getting them closer to readiness-- Mar Sara, with its xel'naga artifacts, would be one of their first targets to hit. But Mar Sara's tinier brother Chau Sara was easier: terrans had never quite resettled there, and Kerrigan had had groups of Pillagers on the planet's surface for some time.
They had encountered terrans here before, and fought them; sometimes with losses, sometimes not. Now, though, the Kel-Morian Combine had done up some insane notion that they could come back and strip-mine the Sara system without interference.
Kerrigan intended to increase her presence on Chau Sara before they even got near it.
"It won't be long now," she said. "They are starting to get arrogant again."
[[ for River! ]]
The days were ticking away, getting them closer to readiness-- Mar Sara, with its xel'naga artifacts, would be one of their first targets to hit. But Mar Sara's tinier brother Chau Sara was easier: terrans had never quite resettled there, and Kerrigan had had groups of Pillagers on the planet's surface for some time.
They had encountered terrans here before, and fought them; sometimes with losses, sometimes not. Now, though, the Kel-Morian Combine had done up some insane notion that they could come back and strip-mine the Sara system without interference.
Kerrigan intended to increase her presence on Chau Sara before they even got near it.
"It won't be long now," she said. "They are starting to get arrogant again."
[[ for River! ]]
Somewhere Out In The Preserve, Early Monday Morning
For Fandom, it had been a week.
For Sarah Kerrigan, Queen of Blades, it had been but a few seconds. The Xel'Naga artifact had taken her and her charge by the metaphorical balls and flung them across time and space bare minutes before something had wiped it from the skein of the universe.
And now it was spitting them out in a flash of blue between the trees.
The loss of her Swarm hit Kerrigan at once, sending her staggering to her knees on her way out of the tear. Her hands flew to her head and she let out a high-pitched whine as her senses compensated for the fact that her massive army had suddenly been reduced to one.
She'd be grateful that she made it to Fandom later. Right now, she'd need a minute.
[[ for one, and nfb. ]]
For Sarah Kerrigan, Queen of Blades, it had been but a few seconds. The Xel'Naga artifact had taken her and her charge by the metaphorical balls and flung them across time and space bare minutes before something had wiped it from the skein of the universe.
And now it was spitting them out in a flash of blue between the trees.
The loss of her Swarm hit Kerrigan at once, sending her staggering to her knees on her way out of the tear. Her hands flew to her head and she let out a high-pitched whine as her senses compensated for the fact that her massive army had suddenly been reduced to one.
She'd be grateful that she made it to Fandom later. Right now, she'd need a minute.
[[ for one, and nfb. ]]
Entry tags:
Zerg Staging Grounds, Somewhere in the Koprulu Sector, Monday
Her universe was coming apart.
For weeks now, Kerrigan had heard - felt her creatures as they were ripped from this universe. She had had to step in to keep troop movements from falling apart as they suddenly had to work around absences the other zerg could neither register nor comprehend.
But it was moving too fast.
Weeks, she had dodged and weaved and worked her little ploys to ensure the survival of the swarm-- and now Tarsonis was gone. In and of itself, it meant nothing to her: it was a terran planet, and not a zerg one.
But it meant that now they were in danger. And so as she watched the oddity crawl into being in the distance, all impenetrable clouds and utter nothingness, she took a step back. Towards the Xel'naga artifact. The same one that had gotten her to Fandom in the first place so many years ago.
She was the Swarm. As long as she lived, it survived.
"River."
For weeks now, Kerrigan had heard - felt her creatures as they were ripped from this universe. She had had to step in to keep troop movements from falling apart as they suddenly had to work around absences the other zerg could neither register nor comprehend.
But it was moving too fast.
Weeks, she had dodged and weaved and worked her little ploys to ensure the survival of the swarm-- and now Tarsonis was gone. In and of itself, it meant nothing to her: it was a terran planet, and not a zerg one.
But it meant that now they were in danger. And so as she watched the oddity crawl into being in the distance, all impenetrable clouds and utter nothingness, she took a step back. Towards the Xel'naga artifact. The same one that had gotten her to Fandom in the first place so many years ago.
She was the Swarm. As long as she lived, it survived.
"River."
Entry tags:
A Backwater Planet, the Koprulu Sector, Tuesday Morning
Kerrigan crushed the hand of some hapless dead Protoss under her sharp heel without even looking twice. The field was full of bodies, and for once, their deaths weren't even on her - mostly non-existent - conscience. No, two groups of Protoss had fought here recently.
She wasn't entirely sure why, but she had a hunch it had something to do with the artifacts this planet was rumored to hold. Ah, those trusty Xel'Naga - you could always count on them to cause a good fight.
"What we were looking for here," she had to conclude, eventually, "Has already been taken."
The Hydralisk at her side turned its mindless eyes on her, goo dripping down onto her foot and sinking into the nurturing Creep below. It wouldn't be long, or much of the battlefield would be covered in it, and Kerrigan would be able to set up another base - another zerg stronghold too far out of the center of Koprulu to catch anyone's attention.
"Pity," she murmured.
[[ open for river, or for anyone who has her number, god forbid. ]]
She wasn't entirely sure why, but she had a hunch it had something to do with the artifacts this planet was rumored to hold. Ah, those trusty Xel'Naga - you could always count on them to cause a good fight.
"What we were looking for here," she had to conclude, eventually, "Has already been taken."
The Hydralisk at her side turned its mindless eyes on her, goo dripping down onto her foot and sinking into the nurturing Creep below. It wouldn't be long, or much of the battlefield would be covered in it, and Kerrigan would be able to set up another base - another zerg stronghold too far out of the center of Koprulu to catch anyone's attention.
"Pity," she murmured.
[[ open for river, or for anyone who has her number, god forbid. ]]
Entry tags:
From 29 Chimera Court to the Causeway, Wednesday Morning
Kerrigan was packing.
Oh, she didn't need to, but she had a feeling the squirrels - those little rodents - would be spying on her. She could have sent them skittering away, of course, but right now it was an opportunity to prove to Anakin that she really was doing as she had said. As a human.
Just because she didn't plan to return to the island right now didn't mean she might not want to in the future.
So: she was packing a completely unnecessary duffle bag. In about fifteen minutes' time, she'd be out of here, down the causeway, finally shaking this restrictive human guise and returning to her plans back in Koprulu. They had been developing new species of zerg for long enough. Time to start putting the next steps into motion...
[[ first piece of ocd open to all, and second to one... ]]
Oh, she didn't need to, but she had a feeling the squirrels - those little rodents - would be spying on her. She could have sent them skittering away, of course, but right now it was an opportunity to prove to Anakin that she really was doing as she had said. As a human.
Just because she didn't plan to return to the island right now didn't mean she might not want to in the future.
So: she was packing a completely unnecessary duffle bag. In about fifteen minutes' time, she'd be out of here, down the causeway, finally shaking this restrictive human guise and returning to her plans back in Koprulu. They had been developing new species of zerg for long enough. Time to start putting the next steps into motion...
[[ first piece of ocd open to all, and second to one... ]]
Kerrigan's Side of the House, 29 Chimera Court, Friday Early Morning
Fandom still held some surprises after all, as it turned out.
A certain young blonde telepath had shown up on Kerrigan's doorstep last night. That... had been a surprise. On the other hand, she had mused, it was almost as if the island were actively trying to cast its more talented inhabitants into her lap. Far be it from her to look a gift horse in the mouth.
So to speak.
Kerrigan had kept her curiosity in check the previous night, but Emma's mental state had been a little-- hm. Useful? She supposed she could find out how useful now, in the morning. And so by time dawn broke, Kerrigan was heading back into the room where she had left Emma a mattress, two cups of coffee in her hands.
[[ for one, nfb, and warning for potential consent issues later on in the thread. ]]
A certain young blonde telepath had shown up on Kerrigan's doorstep last night. That... had been a surprise. On the other hand, she had mused, it was almost as if the island were actively trying to cast its more talented inhabitants into her lap. Far be it from her to look a gift horse in the mouth.
So to speak.
Kerrigan had kept her curiosity in check the previous night, but Emma's mental state had been a little-- hm. Useful? She supposed she could find out how useful now, in the morning. And so by time dawn broke, Kerrigan was heading back into the room where she had left Emma a mattress, two cups of coffee in her hands.
[[ for one, nfb, and warning for potential consent issues later on in the thread. ]]
Entry tags:
Office Hours, Monday
It was getting harder and harder to keep her focus on Fandom at all, but this week-- this week she finally found the impulse to come down to her office and at least pretend to be working. Said pretending came down to running more simulations of protoss brain functions on the ludicrously outdated computer Kerrigan had sitting on her desk.
It was something, but she doubted it would allow for much in terms of insights. Oh well.
If only she'd gotten Zeratul's brains...
[[ open! ]]
It was something, but she doubted it would allow for much in terms of insights. Oh well.
If only she'd gotten Zeratul's brains...
[[ open! ]]
Entry tags:
Office Hours, Thursday
If there was anything Kerrigan's little voyage back home last week had proven, it was that plans were starting to get moving at a speed that, while promising, meant her time here would soon be at an end. She had gathered important intelligence and done up an enormous amount of interesting ideas -- it might be worthwhile to try and get some tissue samples from some of the students, and maybe find some use for Emma, but that was the extent of the use Fandom had left for her.
She set up in her office mostly to see if the girl would stop by, but like most weeks, her mind was definitely elsewhere. And then some.
It would be years before they made their next push, but developments were starting to get... interesting.
More interesting than an interdimensional hub could hope to be.
[[ open! ]]
She set up in her office mostly to see if the girl would stop by, but like most weeks, her mind was definitely elsewhere. And then some.
It would be years before they made their next push, but developments were starting to get... interesting.
More interesting than an interdimensional hub could hope to be.
[[ open! ]]
Entry tags:
Office Hours, Friday
Office hours... office hours.
It was that Kerrigan had promised to be here for them - even if she doubted any of the students would take her up on her offer - or she wouldn't have bothered. Following school schedules was starting to be less and less of interest as of late. More important things were happening in Koprulu; they were about two years into their build-up now, and the first strains of a new army were coming to fruition.
She was not unhappy with the progress made on the new... additions... to the Zerg brood.
Not at all.
She sat back in her chair in the office, and permitted herself a smile. And a quick mental pulse home to check up on the state of the new experimental Infestor strain.
Very interesting. Ino had proven her worth as an inspiration.
[[ open ]]
It was that Kerrigan had promised to be here for them - even if she doubted any of the students would take her up on her offer - or she wouldn't have bothered. Following school schedules was starting to be less and less of interest as of late. More important things were happening in Koprulu; they were about two years into their build-up now, and the first strains of a new army were coming to fruition.
She was not unhappy with the progress made on the new... additions... to the Zerg brood.
Not at all.
She sat back in her chair in the office, and permitted herself a smile. And a quick mental pulse home to check up on the state of the new experimental Infestor strain.
Very interesting. Ino had proven her worth as an inspiration.
[[ open ]]
Entry tags:
Office Hours, Thursday
It had been a while since Kerrigan last spent time in her office. Not that she really cared one way or the other, but it had been a good place to acquire intel on any visiting students... and the situation back in Koprulu had calmed down enough that she didn't have to spend most of her time telepathically instructing River from afar.
So now she was back in her office, leaning back in her chair as she pretended to use her computer for something. In reality, she was contemplating yesterday's class, and the various students' reaction to both the emitter and the disruptor.
It had been food for thought on several levels, including increasing the ability of her broods to withstand either effect.
[[ open! ]]
So now she was back in her office, leaning back in her chair as she pretended to use her computer for something. In reality, she was contemplating yesterday's class, and the various students' reaction to both the emitter and the disruptor.
It had been food for thought on several levels, including increasing the ability of her broods to withstand either effect.
[[ open! ]]
Entry tags:
Corner of the Junk Yard and Beyond, Sunday Morning
Kerrigan had specifically instructed River to get her one of those smaller, modified dropships the Dominion had been flying around lately. At the very least, it'd catch people's attention a little less than the Overlords she usually used for transportation.
And 'not catching people's attention' was a big thing at the moment. She had, after all, a student to look after, punish, and, well, facilitate in blowing shit up in a far safer locale. If that meant getting a good bead on her powers, then, well, that was just convenient, wasn't it?
There was another package on board - a Ghost suit River had, ah, acquired for Emma - but that could be delivered later. Right now, she was waiting for a rebellious little firestarter.
[[ for charlie and SP! ]]
And 'not catching people's attention' was a big thing at the moment. She had, after all, a student to look after, punish, and, well, facilitate in blowing shit up in a far safer locale. If that meant getting a good bead on her powers, then, well, that was just convenient, wasn't it?
There was another package on board - a Ghost suit River had, ah, acquired for Emma - but that could be delivered later. Right now, she was waiting for a rebellious little firestarter.
[[ for charlie and SP! ]]
Entry tags:
Office Hours, Thursday
Yesterday's meeting with River was still fresh in Kerrigan's mind. As a result, she was... thoughtful, and maybe a little distracted, adding what had been spoken about in class yesterday to her memories of the images she had been picking up over the past year or so.
Resignation and that malicious spark of hope that Zeratul had left behind fought each other in her mind. She couldn't get a grip on either, and that irritated her.
River would bring back succesful reports soon enough, she was sure of that. There would be new species of zerg. They would swallow up a great deal of her time, and then she could go hunting for xel'naga artifacts. Work this all out. Stop being party to human weakness...
Ngh. She embedded a pencil in the wall with her telekinesis and glared at it.
[[ open! though warning for SP later; today is going to be a looong day. ]]
Resignation and that malicious spark of hope that Zeratul had left behind fought each other in her mind. She couldn't get a grip on either, and that irritated her.
River would bring back succesful reports soon enough, she was sure of that. There would be new species of zerg. They would swallow up a great deal of her time, and then she could go hunting for xel'naga artifacts. Work this all out. Stop being party to human weakness...
Ngh. She embedded a pencil in the wall with her telekinesis and glared at it.
[[ open! though warning for SP later; today is going to be a looong day. ]]
Entry tags:
29 Chimera Court, Wednesday Afternoon
After her class was over, Kerrigan hurried home. She had put out a call for River to show her face this week, and her lieutenant's Overlord should have arrived at the corner of town a short while ago. Not that telepathic communication didn't generally suit their purposes fine, but sometimes it was just n-- useful to do these things face-to-face.
Maybe it was just a human affectation she had never quite managed to scrub away completely.
There were things to discuss, though; things about xel'naga artifacts, and terran troop movements, and Arcturus's amusingly fast new build-up for his shattered little empire. Most of them were convinced now that the zerg had run off and left them alone, and that impression suited Kerrigan just fine...
[[ for River, though the roomie can butt in before River gets here if she wants ]]
Maybe it was just a human affectation she had never quite managed to scrub away completely.
There were things to discuss, though; things about xel'naga artifacts, and terran troop movements, and Arcturus's amusingly fast new build-up for his shattered little empire. Most of them were convinced now that the zerg had run off and left them alone, and that impression suited Kerrigan just fine...
[[ for River, though the roomie can butt in before River gets here if she wants ]]
Entry tags:
Office Hours, Thursday
It was always lovely, the start of a new semester. So much potential. So many kids running around. And some of them were looking to her for guidance now - one of them for sure, though who knew what the next few weeks were going to bring.
Kerrigan, as a result, was not in a particularly terrible mood that day. She was sipping coffee in her office (though mostly for show) as she went through readings on her computer. Not that she hadn't been running analysis through River back home as it was, but it was almost comforting. Really.
Office hours were open. Kerrigan was present. And almost pleasant.
[[ open! ]]
Kerrigan, as a result, was not in a particularly terrible mood that day. She was sipping coffee in her office (though mostly for show) as she went through readings on her computer. Not that she hadn't been running analysis through River back home as it was, but it was almost comforting. Really.
Office hours were open. Kerrigan was present. And almost pleasant.
[[ open! ]]
Entry tags:
Office Hours, Thursday
There was powdered sugar in Kerrigan's hair when she arrived in her office that morning.
She was ... annoyed. Annoyed enough, in fact, to spend a good chunk of her morning glaring out the window at the little sugary 'snowflakes' drifting down from the sky while she picked the same from her red locks.
Sometimes, she regretted coming back to Fandom. Quite a bit.
[[ open! ]]
She was ... annoyed. Annoyed enough, in fact, to spend a good chunk of her morning glaring out the window at the little sugary 'snowflakes' drifting down from the sky while she picked the same from her red locks.
Sometimes, she regretted coming back to Fandom. Quite a bit.
[[ open! ]]
Entry tags:
Office Hours, Tuesday
Office hours.
Kerrigan was making little headway here, or back home. Sitting in her office like this was... not what she had been hoping to do with her days. But she had to make her appearances eventually, and well, it wasn't like anyone would notice if she let her brain drift Koprulu-wards.
Zeratul. It all came back to Zeratul.
Kerrigan's door was open, but Kerrigan herself was scowling noticably at the wall.
[[ open! ]]
Kerrigan was making little headway here, or back home. Sitting in her office like this was... not what she had been hoping to do with her days. But she had to make her appearances eventually, and well, it wasn't like anyone would notice if she let her brain drift Koprulu-wards.
Zeratul. It all came back to Zeratul.
Kerrigan's door was open, but Kerrigan herself was scowling noticably at the wall.
[[ open! ]]
Ulaan, Koprulu Sector, Saturday
Zeratul was a pain in the ass.
Days, Kerrigan had wasted in pursuit of this xel'naga 'prophecy', while the people of Fandom were on their inane trip. She had gone to the deep dark reaches of Ulaan, so far away in space, hoping that Zeratul's detour through Fandom had thrown him far and wide off the path.
It had thrown him, all right. But not nearly far enough.
Kerrigan's claws tore through the deserted protoss Stalker like it was nothing. She felt no joy in the act: Zeratul had escaped her trip again, and no amount of protoss slaughter would make up for it. Why did he insist on fighting the future, when it was obvious there was little anyone could do about it?
She needed to find and complete this prophecy. Soon.
The protoss's metal exoskeleton crashed to the ground at her feet. She ignored it, and reached out psionically. Zeratul had to be here somewhere.
[[ for River, should she wish, or for anyone who really wants to bother the angry alien on the hunt with a phone call; mild spoilers for the Zeratul missions of StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty if there are any comments ]]
Days, Kerrigan had wasted in pursuit of this xel'naga 'prophecy', while the people of Fandom were on their inane trip. She had gone to the deep dark reaches of Ulaan, so far away in space, hoping that Zeratul's detour through Fandom had thrown him far and wide off the path.
It had thrown him, all right. But not nearly far enough.
Kerrigan's claws tore through the deserted protoss Stalker like it was nothing. She felt no joy in the act: Zeratul had escaped her trip again, and no amount of protoss slaughter would make up for it. Why did he insist on fighting the future, when it was obvious there was little anyone could do about it?
She needed to find and complete this prophecy. Soon.
The protoss's metal exoskeleton crashed to the ground at her feet. She ignored it, and reached out psionically. Zeratul had to be here somewhere.
[[ for River, should she wish, or for anyone who really wants to bother the angry alien on the hunt with a phone call; mild spoilers for the Zeratul missions of StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty if there are any comments ]]
Entry tags:
Office Hours, Tuesday
Kerrigan was in her office mostly for show purposes. She was trying to put a direct line in with River. While she was fairly sure that Zeratul's detour to Fandom and his exit across the Causeway had bought them some time, and hopefully thrown the Protoss off course, his interest in what was going on on Ulaan was... troubling.
She needed a foothold. In fact, she might need to go and take another look herself...
From the outside, through the open door, she looked like she was zoning out with the radio on, blaring some old 70s rock tunes. Reality was a more complex matter.
[[ open! ]]
She needed a foothold. In fact, she might need to go and take another look herself...
From the outside, through the open door, she looked like she was zoning out with the radio on, blaring some old 70s rock tunes. Reality was a more complex matter.
[[ open! ]]