The planet of Braxis, Sunday

[moonbrain_tam]

They should find the big ones first. River strode through the grass with determination, her mind open for any zergs within range. Around her circled her small troop of zerglings, should any Terran troops attack them.

Over there. River sensed something move behind the scarred ruins down the slope to her right. A Devouring One? There was no need to

Comments

[on_her_korhal]

Within moments, there was the tell-tale sound of machine-gun fire as a squad of five Terrans noticed something off. They just weren't sure what.

Being marines, ergo, firing off into the blue nothing seemed like the best option.

[moonbrain_tam]

It wasn't very elegant, River thought, but she could dance even if her partner chose to step on her feet. Crouching down, she sought their exact location, then moved in a semi-circle to end up behind them.

[on_her_korhal]

"D'you see any of them?"

"Nothin' for a mile, boss!"

The marines were completely clueless to her presence. They were still staring in the direction they'd originally seen her coming from.

[moonbrain_tam]

They were innocent and sweet like little baby birds. River approached them, the zerglings in tow, moving quietly through the grass. Small and abandoned little birds, shouldn't have been left alone like this. With a sudden leap she stood in their midst, wings spread.

[on_her_korhal]

"Holy--!" one yelled, sweeping around with his gun to get it at nigh point-blank range with the girl.

"ZERG!"

[moonbrain_tam]

With one swing of her wing, his head came off. The zerglings charged, one target each, as River spun around, humming to herself.

[on_her_korhal]

The surviving marines began to fire their weapons into the zerglings, but it was all for naught as they found themselves overrun. Some of them screamed. One of them lost his gun and wound up shooting several salvos into the air before he died.

In the end, they wound up a messy, messy pile of blood, and the Devouring One called from afar.

[moonbrain_tam]

Standing in the midst of the blood and body parts, River called back to it. It wasn't alone any more, and they would find the others too.

[on_her_korhal]

The Devouring One twitched in mindless confusion.

And then the psi emitter reached it, and with it, River's call, and it reached back.

Home?

[moonbrain_tam]

Home. Join us. We're taking you home. Zerg should never be alone.

River left the slaughtered marines and headed towards the ruins.

[on_her_korhal]

The Devouring One hissed something truly satisfied after River, and fell into step without even another mental word, just a sense of contentment as everything fell into place.

Somewhere out there, Torrasque roared something confused, in pain, lonely.

[moonbrain_tam]

We're coming for you, River called out, stopping for a moment to sense the direction of the call. Then she set off, leading her troop down the slope. It wouldn't be lonely for long.

[on_her_korhal]

The ground began to shake under the force of something approaching.

Marines first, of course. Ten of them. But behind them came a large tank, rolling up to the slope with purpose.

[moonbrain_tam]

That would require a little more effort. They were on higher ground, which was an advantage, but a distraction would be useful.

Surround them. The message was sent, and then River rushed down the slope.

[on_her_korhal]

The Zerglings rushed down on command, and some of them were met and killed by enemy fire, snuffing their lives out of the tight mental net that united all the Zerg.

But the rest were more succesful, and one or two marines died almost instantly as they surrounded the tank.

The tank turned sluggishly, pointing itself at where River was headed, unleashing a blast in her direction.

[moonbrain_tam]

River leapt forward, diving away from the fire. It was slow, she was fast, that was her main advantage here. Her troop should be able to finish it.