Ever witnessed a pissed off doctor chasing around a man in a wheelchair while he held onto freakishly sturdy, yet light, armor and screaming ‘My precious!!’ over and over at the top of his lungs?

Well, I am proud to admit that I managed if only barely, to prevent this event from occurring. The fact Green had a literal death-grip on my shoulders added up to the primary reason. The fact she had whispered something so horrible I dare not recall it shortly afterward was the second.

So we had left Caspians room about three hours ago, and I held back my bitching enough to see where they moved my new toys. I’d wait for Green to pass out and then nab them.

The rest of the day went by relatively quickly, as did the night. My attempt at going to play with my new gear was ruined by Leo, of all things, because he decided the cute woman in work fatigues doing night maintenance deserved being licked to death. That led Trenton to me, which then led to a call to Green and an hour of lecturing that I have chosen not to remember.

One of the few good things about the entire affair was that after one more blackout inspection that ended with far too many nurses shuffling out of the room I had previously been naked in, I was now sporting a clean bill of health and free too fucking walk. I didn’t walk, and of course, I ran, I ran all the way toward my armor and promptly began putting it on.

The most enjoyable part of this armor, in my mind, was no anal tube or catheter! Sweet Jesus I was free from the anal probing at last! It slid on easily, molding to my body. I was going to take this bad boy out for a test drive beyond the walls today. I chose to include multiple Imperial Guard and was going to grab Fernando as well. My thought was to make it a friendly competition. I should have known better.

I should have known better because I was a competitive fucker and did not like to lose. Fernando, Trenton, Georgie, a recovered Kelper and about ten other of my Ursine Guard, really need to make sure and remember the name change, were outside the walls in a cleared space with multiple targets made by Swann spread out before us.

The targets were designed to look like Zerglings though they moved and reacted far quicker than the Zerglings we had been fighting did. I’d asked him to make these in passing like a week ago to prepare all my people for when the Zerg began attacking. He was working on some Protoss targets as well, though they have yet to be added into my Game Universe at this time.

The game itself centered around how many of the Zerglings each person could destroy before they reached the halfway mark. Thankfully these targets were easily replaced, so the destruction meant little.

First up was one of the Ursine Guard that seemed to specialize in ranged. They took out fifteen of the thirty-five targets before they reached the halfway point. It was a fairly average score throughout their brand of Marine as well. Georgie nailed thirty of them, Kelper took out twenty-five while Trenton got a measly seventeen. That part was expected. He was doubled up on defense, and he prioritized close combat. He’d do fine in a firing line. He just wouldn’t be exceptional.

Fernando, the cocky bastard that he was, in my mind at this time at least, took out his cannon of a weapon and blew all the targets up in three shots before they made it anywhere near the halfway mark.

Cursing internally, I took the field. I regretted not having another weapon, something other than Chimera’s Tail that would allow quick firing. Taking a deep breath. I aimed at the center mass of the Zerglings and signaled that I was ready.

The targets took off, bounding quickly toward me. I fired a Burst Shot at the center one and took out four with the resulting explosion. Pulling the slide back, I ejected the spent bullet and slammed the slide home with a fresh cartridge. I was already behind compared to everyone else! Fuck! Gritting my teeth, I retook aim and tried to funnel in my Psionic Power. I felt the energy itself drain, without a draining headache that generally accompanied the sensation, and fired.

The bullet screamed across the field, bits of lightning arcing out around it. It looked like a giant glowing ball. When it struck the furthest right Zerglings target the bullet made a little sphere of light, and then the lightning raced along the Zerglings nearest it. The ones struck suddenly stopped moving and then small explosions ran out among those in the blast radius. I blinked a bit as ten Zerglings targets were suddenly nothing more than scrap metal. Oh yes, time to beat these fuckers!

I lost, by one Zergling, but that is neither here nor there. I will not admit my loss to the perfection known as Fernando and shall instead focus on why the hell my bullets took on an electric storm type of display when I injected Psionic Power into them without using the actual ability, Psionic Tempest.

I was debating these far more critical matters, NOT pouting as a certain demonic doctor might say when I decided the to say fuck it. I would wait until Nova woke up before delving deeper into that particular conundrum.

The thought of Nova once again brought me down, but I pushed it back as best as I could. Promising myself, I’d see her later today I went ahead and moved back behind the walls with my people.

Fernando was actively discussing the possible implications of my new gear in battles with Trenton when I managed to reach them at the head of the group. Mostly consisting of theories more than fact. Fernando felt that if I actively shoved an ability into the bullet, it might increase my range for said ability while Trenton thought it would blow up in the chamber.

Thinking about it, I decided that unless all hell was let loose upon us, I would not test that theory anytime soon outside of a highly controlled environment...with about thirty layers of some sort of nonconductive and indestructible metal between my body and the weapon. I would also need Caspian and Swann to assure me of at least a seventy percent chance it wouldn’t blow up. I looked lovingly at my weapon, make that ninety. I couldn’t risk her being hurt, now could I?

If I was honest with myself, I was half tempted to begin going into the Campaign Maps before my one month reprieve as well. The only thing that kept me from doing so was the fact both my people and I needed a break from all real conflict. I had no doubt the Confederates were going to place spies amongst my people at some point shortly. For now, it was less of a concern than building everything up though.

I had Fernando follow me back to the Command Center so I could discuss everything that needed to be done over the next month. Not just the improvements for Bastion.

Taking a seat, Fernando soon followed once he realized I refused to speak with him just...looming over me like some silent, creepy doll, I began.

“We need to start working on the Settlements you took over, not just the recruitment drives you started. I need them defended as well as Bastion.”

Fernando nodded, taking out a notepad. “I figured you would want something along that line being done, Sir. I have already sent ten SCV Riggs with experienced operators to each settlement to begin constructing a proper Barracks, Medical Facility, and wall. As I stated before I was also sending a few individuals to help govern them. I merely need your confirmation before sending out each party to their respective areas.”

The fact I barely remembered any conversation involving those places kind of bugged me. I might need to have a talk with Green about losing memories after her ‘treatments.’ I nodded instead, making it seem like I had some sort of intelligence driving me. I also chose to ignore the look he shot me that said ‘you poor bastard.’

“You have approval, send them out. I want evaluation reports at the end of the week detailing everything they need to make each settlement as defensible and Bastion as well as what they can provide to each other. The Confederates will be back. I want us all prepared to withstand the assault.”

“The Zerg as well, Sir? I know you don’t mention them a lot but with every mission, we have gone on they have shown up. I’ve received no current reports of them on Mar Sara, but I have no doubt that will change in the future. “ Sometimes I hated how perspective he was.

Sighing a bit, I responded. “Yes, as well as the Zerg. I’ll leave the primary defense against them to Duke. They will have to enter Mar Sara from space. At least that's what I believe should be the case. Duke will be the first line of defense, Chimera’s Rage and his Battlecruisers should deter the bulk of any swarm.”

Fernando nodded a bit before reaching over to the pad he handed me and scrolling down the list to a section detailing communications. I raised a brow after reading the report.

“That was something I have meant to speak to you about as well, Sir.” He paused, as if unsure how to proceed before continuing. “We have received multiple distress signals over the last few days from an unknown installation. The Ghosts are tracking the origin but have so far made no real headway. By all reports from scout teams sent in that direction, there should be nothing but wastelands as well. I’ll know more in a few days, but I think it's a Confederate testing facility. They are known for them.”

Shit, what the fuck? I frowned, not sure how I should handle that at all. If it was underground, it was a ‘ghost’ op. Not like the unit, but an actual operation not on the books. No one but the heads of the Confederate would know about something like it. That meant I might break the imposed treaty with the Confederates, The System had done me a solid there but investigating. At the same time, I couldn’t risk them having a foothold anywhere in my lands.

“Keep me up to date, I want to know as soon as we find something, understood?” he nodded, and we went on with our little meeting for a time before I had him leave. The fact that Leo continued to ignore me and play with him had no part in that at all, I swear.

Grumbling about traitor puppies I grabbed the little shit and got up. I had to see Nova still, but before that, I still had two more cards to activate that needed it now. One, the Protoss Item Card, two, the Hero Card.

Congratulations Player! You have successfully used the Protoss Item Card granting you one randomized item belonging to the Protoss race.

Congratulations Player! You have obtained a Psi-Matrix Crystal!

Congratulations Player! You have obtained one of the major items belonging to the Protoss race and their technology!

Congratulations Player! You have obtained advanced knowledge about the Protoss. Your medical and mechanical abilities have vastly improved.

Attention Player! Granting the Psi-Matrix Crystal to a scientist fluent in alien, or advanced, technology will give you unique perks for your people.

Congratulations Player! Due to such a rare item belonging to a race yet in your game Universe being brought into reality, the Protoss race has been introduced into your Game Universe. As of this time, there are three main factions of Protoss that have been spawned into being!

Psi-Matrix Crystal - Able to passively improve and upgrade all machinery near its place of installation.

Ok, some good news with that Psi-Matrix Crystal. I think that Raynor had something similar on the Hyperion for a time. The damn thing actively assisted his scientist with breakthrough and shit. I kind of want to throw it into The Orion or Chimera’s Rage with Caspian being sent with it, but I’d have to decide that later.

The other notification about the three main Protoss Factions being spawned into my fucking Game Universe was going to be a blessing and a disaster. What’s next, Amon? Goddamnit!

Alright, deep breath Damian, deep breath. Calm down. Like the Zerg, they shouldn’t be anywhere near me yet...right? Yeah, just keep thinking thoughts like that. It’ll be a-ok. A fifteen-minute freak out later and I was ready to use the Hero Card.

Congratulations Player! You have obtained the Hero Unit Dorothy Mengsk!

Congratulations Player! You have obtained a Hero Unit not in the original games, a unit designated as deceased and the prime reason behind multiple atrocities and deaths caused by a leading character within the games themselves. Use this knowledge how you will!

Congratulations Player! For obtaining the Unique Hero Dorothy Mengsk you have received a passive ability Cuteness Overload!

Cuteness Overload - Able to overwhelm any foe with cuteness. -WARNING- only usable by cute little girls, not stinky adult soldiers.

Ok, ignoring the implied shitstorm involved in this, what the actual fuck System? Did you seriously just tell me I am a stinky adult soldier? - Yes - Well, fuck you too. I waited exactly five seconds for it to respond, when it never did, I ignored it and focused on the loud, piercing scream going on in my quarters.

The sound was coming from an overly attractive little girl, ten or twelve would be my guess, with long black hair and high cheekbones. The very image of nobility. That must be Dorothy Mengsk, the name alone had me terrified of any future meetings involving someone related to Arcturos, but it was just a kid. Reaching my hand out to try and calm her down, hoping I could before anything else happened.

Trenton burst in right as I lay a calming hand on her shoulder, the one not occupied by a stuffed horse. That was when it went from awkward to horrifying. “LEAVE ME ALONE YOU PEDOPHILE RAPIST!!! WHERE AM I!!? MOOOOOMMMMYYYY!!!!”