The Ghost and the Fountain

[Sarah_Kerrigan]

Shortly after the Company arrived, the situation devolved into a volatile mess. In addition to the assigned Target – the Teenager with Scarlet hair – there were now not one but two more unknown variables to consider. Simmons reflected for a moment, sliding his helmet down and holding it against his chest just beneath an armpit. He watched the Boy who didn’t speak nor act in any reasonable way. In fact, if questioned at a later time about his subsequent report, he may be hard pressed to explain the behavior if the Subject was not present to provide himself as evidence. Mutes were rare in the Omniverse (assuming that the boy was one) after all. Almost arrogantly presuming that Omni wouldn’t want someone that couldn’t speak in his creation.

Pondering what course of action to take, he glanced in the direction of the latest arrival. At least the Beast and Man had not approached yet, but this was not the time to take any chances. Simmons pointed, and a group of five Stormtroopers kept their blasters steadily aimed in that direction. They knelt positioning the Fountain as their cover – despite the fact they were well aware it could change shape in the blink of an eye. The fact of the matter remained; they just were not expecting a combative operation to become of this. They scouted out the locale beforehand and neither of the newest Primes were among the Ghost. Now, they just were. Omni must have been having a field day with the Summoning up in the Oververse. That or wanted to toss them about a bit.

Sarah on the other hand did not find the Boy odd in the least. It helped slightly that she could read his mind, and had done so when she realized she was no longer the lone outsider in the White. Exactly when he or the others in the distance arrived she did not know, but what worried her was she did not even notice their presence in the first place. At least for now however, she knew the fair-skinned swordsman was not a threat. Barely anything more than a curiosity. His mind nearly blank, but riddled with confusion, the lack of understanding and the awe that came with finding everything apart from himself unique. It seemed he saw the World through the eyes of a newborn. More importantly however, given his naivety, it would be rather easy to sway him to her cause – should that be necessary. For now though, she laid the groundwork.

”Yeah, I’m a ‘her’ ” the Teenager spoke telepathically to him, nodding as though to teach him the context behind the motion. This may have shocked him since he continued to stare at her – specifically her mouth – watching to see if it would shift. When it didn’t he took a step closer and extended his hand forward. She just shook her head then spoke silently again: ”Her,” she repeated gesturing to herself thereafter, ”Stop.” He lowered his hand (he knew that word) and turned back to the group in White. She took that chance to advance forward shortening the distance between herself and the Commander. 8 meters, she thought judging the distance. In a healthy state she could cover that distance in less than a second and a half. Currently that might not be possible. But, she stared at the Boy; he had weapons. A lot of good one blade will do against thirty strong. Still something was better than nothing at all.

Of them (the primes) that appeared lately in the Nexus, the pointy-eared brat was certainly one of the strangest he had come across. The way he just stared dimly with wonder and seemed to not grasp basic concepts was extraordinary actually. While his attire suggested that Camelot would suit him far better than the massive sprawling Tiers of Coruscant, Simmons could not make that decision. Orders were orders, and to put it bluntly: he needed the Girl to come with him. According to what Intel they had gathered, she carried potential that the Empire might be able to exploit given enough time. Smirking he wondered if she knew how long she rested by the Fountain. It hadn’t been a matter of hours.

“Look,” he began nearly sighing with a breath into the word. There was a pause but only a brief one to check the path of his men further on past the Fountain. “I need you to accompany me to Coruscant. I have orders to get you registered.” Kerrigan didn’t make another move, and her expression remained unchanged and stern. Despite what could be seen as irritation or an aloof persona, she kept her arms loose and free indicating an openness, and perhaps cooperation. Although if he had been keener in his observation he might have noticed where her eyes lingered: drawn upon the Sword latched to a certain Boy’s back. The Camelot freak as they may have called him yet again, if not for the intervention, peered back and forth between them – at a loss. Sarah continued to play games with Simmons’ perspective. She knew enough about body language to know how to appear passive.

Meanwhile, a few of the Company had parted from each other walking away from the Fountain as it morphed. Shaping itself again the Fountain, burrowed becoming a pool that glistened with mist. From above water fell from nowhere, cascading down and showering all with its sprinkles of droplets. The footfalls carried them closer to the last of the newcomers. They only stopped a few meters short of the approaching Prime. “He’s not a new arrival,” one reported back. “There’s record of him passing through the Nexus at least once before.” The Trooper lowered his blaster but kept his eyes on both Jak and what he considered to be some kind of rodent. “Unless you have business here, move along, Prime.” The order though direct may not have held authority, considering that most of their attention kept them divided at best. They were split from the rest. It soon wouldn’t matter anyways.

The Boy may have felt it: the slight quiver and slinking shift of steel, or he may have not. Either way, Sarah acted swiftly, and her eyes glowed lingering in deep emerald as the psionic pathway opened. The blade unsheathed, hovering momentarily in the air, and bolted piercing its trajectory forward. Only staying point just in time before slipping through the chest of Simmons. There it kept aloft, twitching with intensity. Still weary, the Teenager struggled to keep it firm, focusing the breadth of her attention on it and never once breaking eye contact. “I’m not going anywhere without insurance. All of you, lower your weapons.” Playing on the Gambit of loyalty Kerrigan hoped for two things: that they wouldn’t see through a bluff, and that they were actual required to ensure the safety of their superiors. In the Confederacy such was law, but here she had no knowledge to back the theory. The first signs of emotion plagued her visage, while sweat trailed down her forehead. One slip and I kill him. It can't come to that. she thought blankly, waiting for the Storm to break out in the White.