Chapter 53: Septerra Core Arc - 3
General Campbell was standing there in absolute shock. The doomsday weapon he spent his life working on had failed. Granted, it wasn't because he miscalculated or screwed up the designs. Instead, it was destroyed in route by some creatures. Creatures he never seen before, if he had to describe them, it would be as giant teeth with wings.
The appeared out of nowhere and tore his weapon apart. However, he couldn't bring himself to be mad. When his daughter came through the door with a message from their leaders telling him this war was false. Well, it seemed like divine intervention that kept him from being a mass murder.
Suddenly, he found himself shaken from his shock by the announcement that Chosen ships were descending. His own fleet was exhausted, Jinnam's fleet was probably no better off. He turned to his daughter; her safety was more important. Her friend took her away.
Campbell looked at the onslaught with his daughter safe his new priority was saving the fifth fleet. They wouldn't be able to stop the Chosen, but he would be dammed if he didn't make sure they never make it back to Shell One. Another small blessing became known, because the doomsday weapon was intercepted, and the message delivered by his daughter. The Chosen had no idea he had another missile, so, they're not going to think to take it.
...
Zagara was getting everything ready. Her mission was clear. After stopping those humans from destroying each other with that missile, she would no longer need to hide. This place was... it was suitable for her current brood's needs. Volcanic areas like Char, but also poisonous areas from a toxic swamp, too a hazardous mold forest, just as promised.
Sadly, without an evolution master, her brood was evolving at random, but the fact they could evolve at all was useful. She was told this brood would be temporary and they would disappear when they served their purpose. She herself was down here, not just to create a brood to assist Master Khan, but to see if this land was a suitable temporary home for her hive. The idea that the landmass would be brought in its entirety as longed as she properly subjugated it was unbelievable, but she learned not to doubt the man.
She looked at herself, she did that more often. She couldn't help but compare herself to his consorts. Her creator, the Queen of Blades, had created her to be an extension of her will over the swarm. Vastly superior to the cerebrates who couldn't defend themselves or even move on their own. But the truth is, that even with the improvements that was granted to her, Zagara was still lacking.
In the past she wouldn't have cared. It wasn't like breeding with a Terran was something that was needed. But now reflecting on the fact that Kerrigan still had a physically appealing body by Terran standards, Zagara felt her own appearance was now lacking.
A voice began to whisper in the back of her mind. She first heard it after Khan had summarily defeated her with barely any effort. Every time she began to think about Khan that voice would get just a little louder. Now it was telling her that she could undergo a metamorphosis to get a body more compatible and more appealing to Khan.
The problem was she had no idea how long such a thing would take, or at least that was the excuse she kept giving herself.
Her thoughts were interrupted by explosions off in the distance. The Chosen were here, probably destroying the mines handled by Ankara and Jinnam. Now was the time, she would send some zerglings first to test their response, then she will unleash her brood and wipe them out. Plus, if she could kill that Doskias or one of his generals then Khan might give her some recognition. She sent a pack of zerglings out, now was definitely not the time to hesitate. She knew these Chosen's purpose and they would not succeed.
...
Maya was sitting at a bar, in the red-light district on Shell Four. Selina a former general had managed to help them escape, but her ship was badly damaged. So, they were stranded. There was arguing about what they should do next, Corgan wanted to cut their losses and return to Shell Three.
When suddenly a Chosen soldier entered. Selina recognized him a someone who served called Gunner. He came seeking out Maya and had a message that chilled her to her bones. Shell One had fallen, not to Doskias but to some unknown army. Selina was left speechless, even Corgan didn't know how to respond.
The soldier then told them that Gunner was asking for her help, while they were stuck dealing with this new threat Doskias would be most likely to act without restraint. Then the soldier told them that Doskias was preparing giant lenses to create an artificial conjunction, the only comfort from the sudden attack was that the keys were taken by this new enemy.
Maya looked at the soldier and then she asked, "How long do you think Gunner can hold out for?" The soldier said, "He promised to fight to his last breath, but honestly this new enemy is well equipped so, I don't know." My looked at the others, they had a serious choice to make.
...
Doskias was standing on the bridge if his ship. Very angry at the news he was getting. First, Balcaam was reporting that their mining efforts were going nowhere because the soldiers couldn't deal with the local wildlife. Second, Kaleb had failed to get the keys, because they had already been stolen by someone else. Worse yet, Shell One has fallen.
Granted news of the emperor's death had made it easier to swallow, but this was something that needed to be corrected immediately. He had a decision to make, either he could deal with the issues of his mining operations, or he could head back and take back Shell One. Admittedly, it would make things easier going forward, but by the time he finished, Shell Five's Ankara and Jinnam could have rebuild themselves and become a hindrance again.
He gave the order and said, "Kaleb! Get this infestation under control and get my mining operations back on schedule! Balcaam! Selina has abandoned her post, so I'll need you to make sure Shell Three remains open to us. I will get the keys, and deal with whatever obstacles stand in my way. You have your orders, now go!"
Kaleb and Balcaam both acknowledged his orders and left. The Magi entered, they wanted to know his plan was going forward. He told them and then he began to organize his troops, perhaps he should've taken Shell One from the beginning. Either way, he's doing that now, and the people will be grateful, as they should be.
...
Khan was looking Alisa right in the eye, as he continued to thrust away. Alisa for her part was openly grunting and moaning. Gunner's dead body, barely even cold yet, was cast to a corner. The meeting had not gone as completely Khan expected.
Alisa and Gunner showed up, but Gunner's first action upon seeing Khan was to draw his sword. Alisa, in a panic stabbed Gunner, the sudden betrayal was a shock to Gunner to say the least. Alisa allowed her weapon to drop to the floor as Gunner fell over. She found herself stunned by her own actions.
As Khan approached, Alisa started making excuses, saying things like Gunner was acting on his own and she didn't have anything to do with it. Khan calmed her by placing a hand on the side of her face and said, "Tell me what you need." She looked at him and said, "I need you to protect my people from the heretic Doskias."
Khan smiled and then whispered, "Agree to be mine, give everything you have to me, and Doskias will trouble you no more."
With trembling lips she said, "Yes." With a wave of his hand Gunner's body slid to a corner. Then he began slowly undressing Alisa while slowly kissing her neck. It was clear she was beyond nervous.
As she stood there without a stitch, Khan admired her, then his own clothes hit the floor. As Khan lifted Alisa, he never broke eye contact. He started slow, being gentle. Gradually increasing his pace, the sweat on her body building up and glistening on her skin. His hands massaging her breasts.
The sound of flesh slapping against flesh was echoing of the walls, Alisa was unrestrained in her begging. She started getting tighter and hotter with each climax. Until finally, Khan hit his peak and painted her insides.
Alisa was laying there on the floor, breathing heavily. Khan felt it, he wanted more, but she couldn't go another round. Khan was initially disappointed, but then he remembered Layla was alone on Shell Three. He got dressed, before he left, Alisa gave him the Imperial Seal and told him her armies was his to command.
...
Doskias was not sure what was happening. Chosen ships were standing against him, it was a sight he wasn't expecting. Apparently, these dogs had already been brought to heel by the very man who conquered the Shell. His forces were slowly being overwhelmed by these turn coats. Then he received the news that the Magi had been destroyed.
Then another message came in telling him, his ship had been boarded. He held Gemma's sword in hand, this powerful weapon had been found in a recent dig site. He hadn't really planned on using it, but he was not about to lose when fulfilling his destiny was so close at hand. The door to his bridge blew open, his soldiers opened fire at the opening, but were soon blown apart.
A single man passed through the smoke. With sword in hand Doskias yelled, "You insolent- krch!" Doskias found himself cut off; he couldn't speak he could breathe. He began to float up off the ground.
He desperately tried to struggle. The man didn't say anything, he just swatted his hand. Then Doskias's vision began to split. Was this his destiny, to die without achieving anything. As his vision fades, he hears the man say, "Now this annoyance is dealt with, on to the important things."
Was that it? All his planning, the things he did. It was nothing more than an annoyance. Some destiny, he would've been better off as a street urchin.
...
Khan was sitting on a makeshift chair, in the mountains on Shell Three. Layla kneeling between his legs sucking on his cock with hearts in her eyes. The bodies of the Holy Guard scattered about. Breaking her hadn't been as satisfying as he hoped. He still enjoyed of course, but if Corgan was there begging Layla to stop and she ignored him, then Khan thought that it would make the moment better.
Both Shell Two and Three are now his, and Zagara sent him a message telling him that Kaleb was dead and Shell Seven was hers. He told her she could move on to Shell Six.
His information perks told him Maya was still on Shell Four. He could go now, Shell Two had proven no challenge, the only person with authority was the mayor of Oasis. That fool collapsed like a house of cards without that robot army. Balcaam fared no better.
Khan grunted as he unleashed his load into Layla's mouth. He lifted Layla on to his shoulders, why? Because he felt like it. His next destination was Shell Four, time to see what fate had planned for Maya.