Eyes of a Tragedy

The tape is wrapped in brown paper - as is the package beside it.

When activated, it immediately begins to play Kerrigan's voice, warped in its current incarnation. "Lee Adama. I have to admit, your graduation almost passed by my mind. I've got a lot of self-righteous men left to kill; you can see where this might get me a little preoccupied. Still, I wasn't going to let this occasion pass by without a little tip of the hat.

"We didn't leave on very good terms. I hope you'll forgive the confusion of my departure. As it turns out, you're actually one of the less disappointing men I've had the privilege of meeting in my life. How's that for surprises? In fact, I think I might be the one lacking something on this one. Sorry I couldn't be there, Lee. Plotting the defeat of my enemies takes something out of me. You can't plan for everything...

"Congratulations on surviving this far, by the way, if you have. I'm happily surprised. If you haven't, it's not like you're getting this, so I couldn't give less of a shit. As for me, it turns out that the climb from pawn to queen is a long one, but damn, it's quite the view. Speaking of which, I hope you're giving your old man the finger - authority figures aren't quite what I'd imagined. Still...

"Don't think I've forgotten about you. I've still got your number, Adama. And trust me, one of these days, I'm coming to collect on it. Until then, live free... and give Harriet Jones and Roy Mustang my best regards. Try not to start any fights with River: she was out of your league then; there's no stopping her now, and it'd be a damn shame if you got yourself killed on graduation day.

"As for the gift, I would've gotten you some handcuffs for nostalgia's sake, but somehow I think your girlfriend might disapprove... Catch you soon, Adama."

Click.

The package contains a prototype C-7 pistol with a number of rounds. It has SK ♥ drawn on the paper in a mockery of teenage girl bubble letters.

The square was large: so giant it could go on for full football fields in either direction. Perched near its center stood a giant statue, newly chiseled, with the features of an aristocratic, proud man-- Arcturus Mengsk-- set out with sharp, laser-burned detail.

Behind it, the spires of a dazzlingly new city reached for miles into the sky, gleaming with light. Ships shot through the air, weaving their way between them. The blue light of this planet's sun cast interesting lines on the windows.

And the square? The square was covered-- in flowers, in chairs, in people. A small platform sat in front of them, and behind it, a dais for some yet-unknown purpose.

It was a funeral, then; but for a funeral, there was a strange vibe of excitement passing through the crowds.

( Death was too silent; Lee had learned about being stoic, and to Roy, this was all too familiar. )

[ nfb, nfi, parts ganked from the end of StarCraft's Terran campaign, preplayed with by the AWESOME stupid_toasters, moonbrain_tam and light_a_spark and OOC-okay! ]

She hadn't moved much since arriving home the previous night.

Curled up in a far corner of her own bedroom, Kerrigan was breathing in the silence like a lifeline, one ticking second at a time. Quiet. Quiet quiet blissful quiet. It had been such a rare commodity since over a week ago, when the buzzing had started.

The buzzing which almost collapsed her mind's grafted-on dampeners entirely. Adama had meant well, but taking her into an area full of sick people had not been the world's most brilliant idea.

Maybe someone should know.

But not now. Now the quiet had to soak into her bones again, let her take the reigns. Once she snapped out of this, she might worry about fleeting moments that might have hurt those she knew, but now...

Silence was almost back.

[ linkdroppy, but open if anyone wants to come by ]