Raynor's base on Aiur
It was hard to keep a straight face through Arcturus's angry raving. Bitching. Whatever you wanted to call it. Raynor managed through sheer force of familiarity, but he still had some problems not just putting a bullet in the guy's head for-- everything. Kerrigan. Turning on him. Arcturus had more crimes to his name than a Kel-Morian mining team. And he was still convinced he was owed something.
Whatever.
The sooner they got this whole deal done with, the better.
With the whole official meeting thing through, the day was looking up. The sun shone bright on Aiur, no word from the UED had been caught, and if he squinted right he could even ignore the giant Zerg structures breathing just beyond the line of his camp. Almost.
Until he remembered the next bullet on his schedule.
He strolled into the hallway with his hands clasped behind his back. "Listen, River... I've got another meeting, but you might want to pass up on this one. You won't get shit from me if you back down."
River tilted her head, giving him an enigmatic look and said nothing. Her feet were moving to inaudible music as she walked, and that seemed to take up more of her attention.
That didn't make it any easier. "River," he said, "It's Kerrigan." Yeah, this hallway seemed like a long one all of a sudden. "Which might seem kinda obvious going by the Zerg builds we got lounging outside."
Would she be able to keep pretending, River asked herself. Yes, she had to. "I am not afraid," she said. She too had seen the Zerg being close, sensed it even, and it made her human self a little more vulnerable. The need to stretch her wings and dance became a lot stronger. "I will join you."
Jimmy wished he had a cigar to chomp on right now. Should've gotten one off Arcturus. "Fine," he said, "But if I see any sight of you crawlin' to the back, you're outta there, got me?"
She gave a quick nod and an almost shy smile in reply. She wouldn't do that, even if it would hurt to hold back.
And now his boots felt like lead weights... the stretch to the back was a long one, but he got there eventually, put his hand on the lock pad that kept the door shut-- "Last chance to back out."-- and opened the door.
The creature within smirked. She crossed her legs on the rickety chair. Gotten the hang of that sitting-with-wings thing. "Jimmy," she said, "Long time no see."
"Sarah," he acknowledged, "Kinda wish it'd been longer."
River followed behind Raynor. While she spoke no words aloud, her mind reached out to Kerrigan, just expressing one thing. I've missed you.
Kerrigan's thoughts wafted out straight back towards her, carrying traces of self, comfort, and commonality. It's not going to be much longer, she soothed, One and a half out of three down. "Your campaign on Korhal was inspired," she said, pleasantly, "I only wish I could've gotten to see the look on DuGalle's face myself."
"You said you wanted to talk to me," Jimmy interrupted her, "So get to the point."
She smiled. It wasn't pleasant. "The UED are catching up on this position."
According to plan. There was a hint of a smile on River's face that she hoped Raynor didn't notice. She kept standing a little behind him, listening carefully. Any new instructions?
I've got Stukov dealt with, Kerrigan replied, Or I will, in a short while. I'm going to need you to rig up some interference before everything blows.
"So you're telling us to quit wipin' our noses and get going?" Raynor asked her, frowning bigtime. "What's your stake in this, Kerrigan?"
"I told you. I'm about as happy about the UED as you guys are. One of these days, they're going to go after those psi emitters in an attempt to take the Zerg, and I think we'd all be better off without that particular mess." Uncrossed her legs. Crossed them again. "You need to start rerouting power back to the Warp Gate. Shovel Arcturus into a fridge for all I care - tie it to one of your ships - and get out of here."
"And what?" he snorted, "You'll have my back?" Yeah, right.
Of course. Just say when. She glanced at Raynor. I think he trusts me even if I unnerve him.
Get a ship when the action starts. "I think that's about the stretch of our deal," she replied. "Second thoughts?" Wait until Duran apologises to the enemy.
"Fourth and fifth," Raynor said, through gritted teeth. "Is that all?"
And then? Those dance steps kept coming back to her.
We'll pick you up. "I don't think you've got any time to waste, Jimmy," Kerrigan leaned back, her heavy wings shifting with the movement. "They're going knock-knock on your door." We'll talk about the next stage when this one's wrapped up.
The room flared up with tell-tale red light. Gunfire was next, piercing the air with a hail of quick screams that died as quickly as they started. "Crap on a shingle!" Jim swore, "Couldn't you have been a little faster on that one?"
"Good luck, Jimmy," she said, and got up.
See you later. River spun around, and ended up pretending to hide behind Raynor.
With a flash of a feral smile in River's direction - could've caused that hiding, Jimmy would probably think - Kerrigan spun herself, hurling her enhanced Zerg body out the window.
"Let's go!" Raynor snapped. He was already halfway out the door, gun in his hands. "I need you to snag the pilots!" he yelled, "Somebody get Arcturus on ice!"
River leapt after him, easily catching up. She hummed to herself, fully intent to do what he asked.
Goddammit. Had Kerrigan been trying to keep him distracted? No. Wouldn't have been enough time anyway... "PILOTS, RIVER!" he called, "Get your ass to the Starport!"
"On my way," she said, then resumed the humming and danced to it down the hallway. It was a dance and she could still move fast.
Weird kid.
[Preplayed with on_her_korhal . NFB, NFI, OOC welcome]
Whatever.
The sooner they got this whole deal done with, the better.
With the whole official meeting thing through, the day was looking up. The sun shone bright on Aiur, no word from the UED had been caught, and if he squinted right he could even ignore the giant Zerg structures breathing just beyond the line of his camp. Almost.
Until he remembered the next bullet on his schedule.
He strolled into the hallway with his hands clasped behind his back. "Listen, River... I've got another meeting, but you might want to pass up on this one. You won't get shit from me if you back down."
River tilted her head, giving him an enigmatic look and said nothing. Her feet were moving to inaudible music as she walked, and that seemed to take up more of her attention.
That didn't make it any easier. "River," he said, "It's Kerrigan." Yeah, this hallway seemed like a long one all of a sudden. "Which might seem kinda obvious going by the Zerg builds we got lounging outside."
Would she be able to keep pretending, River asked herself. Yes, she had to. "I am not afraid," she said. She too had seen the Zerg being close, sensed it even, and it made her human self a little more vulnerable. The need to stretch her wings and dance became a lot stronger. "I will join you."
Jimmy wished he had a cigar to chomp on right now. Should've gotten one off Arcturus. "Fine," he said, "But if I see any sight of you crawlin' to the back, you're outta there, got me?"
She gave a quick nod and an almost shy smile in reply. She wouldn't do that, even if it would hurt to hold back.
And now his boots felt like lead weights... the stretch to the back was a long one, but he got there eventually, put his hand on the lock pad that kept the door shut-- "Last chance to back out."-- and opened the door.
The creature within smirked. She crossed her legs on the rickety chair. Gotten the hang of that sitting-with-wings thing. "Jimmy," she said, "Long time no see."
"Sarah," he acknowledged, "Kinda wish it'd been longer."
River followed behind Raynor. While she spoke no words aloud, her mind reached out to Kerrigan, just expressing one thing. I've missed you.
Kerrigan's thoughts wafted out straight back towards her, carrying traces of self, comfort, and commonality. It's not going to be much longer, she soothed, One and a half out of three down. "Your campaign on Korhal was inspired," she said, pleasantly, "I only wish I could've gotten to see the look on DuGalle's face myself."
"You said you wanted to talk to me," Jimmy interrupted her, "So get to the point."
She smiled. It wasn't pleasant. "The UED are catching up on this position."
According to plan. There was a hint of a smile on River's face that she hoped Raynor didn't notice. She kept standing a little behind him, listening carefully. Any new instructions?
I've got Stukov dealt with, Kerrigan replied, Or I will, in a short while. I'm going to need you to rig up some interference before everything blows.
"So you're telling us to quit wipin' our noses and get going?" Raynor asked her, frowning bigtime. "What's your stake in this, Kerrigan?"
"I told you. I'm about as happy about the UED as you guys are. One of these days, they're going to go after those psi emitters in an attempt to take the Zerg, and I think we'd all be better off without that particular mess." Uncrossed her legs. Crossed them again. "You need to start rerouting power back to the Warp Gate. Shovel Arcturus into a fridge for all I care - tie it to one of your ships - and get out of here."
"And what?" he snorted, "You'll have my back?" Yeah, right.
Of course. Just say when. She glanced at Raynor. I think he trusts me even if I unnerve him.
Get a ship when the action starts. "I think that's about the stretch of our deal," she replied. "Second thoughts?" Wait until Duran apologises to the enemy.
"Fourth and fifth," Raynor said, through gritted teeth. "Is that all?"
And then? Those dance steps kept coming back to her.
We'll pick you up. "I don't think you've got any time to waste, Jimmy," Kerrigan leaned back, her heavy wings shifting with the movement. "They're going knock-knock on your door." We'll talk about the next stage when this one's wrapped up.
The room flared up with tell-tale red light. Gunfire was next, piercing the air with a hail of quick screams that died as quickly as they started. "Crap on a shingle!" Jim swore, "Couldn't you have been a little faster on that one?"
"Good luck, Jimmy," she said, and got up.
See you later. River spun around, and ended up pretending to hide behind Raynor.
With a flash of a feral smile in River's direction - could've caused that hiding, Jimmy would probably think - Kerrigan spun herself, hurling her enhanced Zerg body out the window.
"Let's go!" Raynor snapped. He was already halfway out the door, gun in his hands. "I need you to snag the pilots!" he yelled, "Somebody get Arcturus on ice!"
River leapt after him, easily catching up. She hummed to herself, fully intent to do what he asked.
Goddammit. Had Kerrigan been trying to keep him distracted? No. Wouldn't have been enough time anyway... "PILOTS, RIVER!" he called, "Get your ass to the Starport!"
"On my way," she said, then resumed the humming and danced to it down the hallway. It was a dance and she could still move fast.
Weird kid.
[Preplayed with on_her_korhal . NFB, NFI, OOC welcome]