trans_9 | Meatslop: It's what's for breakfast, lunch, and dinner [Open]

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Meatslop: It's what's for breakfast, lunch, and dinner [Open]

It had been months since Stacy had released Sarah Kerrigan but the meatship hadn't seen very much of her. It wasn't because she preferred to spend her days alone, at least not solely. It was safer this way. For her and for everyone else on the ship. She had come clean to the Captain, given him a short explanation of her reign as the Queen of Blades. She knew that he could not legally imprison her for crimes she had committed in her own universe but she was still surprised that he hadn't arrested her on the spot. It's what he should have done. Murderers shouldn't go unpunished, especially not when they'd murdered billions people. But then just because Kerrigan wasn't behind locked away didn't mean she wasn't a prisoner. She didn't remember everything but what she did was played out in brief bursts. Images flashing into her mind before vanishing as quickly as they had come. But that was good. That was what she deserved. And slowly she became accustomed to this new life. Barely interacting with others, training, waking up wracked with sobs and shaking.

And then he came. One day. One day with Jim Raynor. Because Stacy hadn't tormented her enough.

If one were to speak in metaphors, you might say that there was a hole in her heart. Kerrigan would say that was a terrible metaphor as she no longer had one. It was more a reminder of what she was missing. What she could have been had the zerg not claimed her.

Now Kerrigan sat in the messhall. It was not as popular as it once was now that there was a supply of real food but it was not as empty as she would have liked. Usually Kerrigan ate quickly and left but today, and in fact every day since Stacy's surprise "gift" to the crew, she sat staring at her slop but not seeing it at all. You would expect more from a telepath. They were supposed to get lost in others' thoughts, not their own.

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Kerrigan sat up straight, looking at the other woman intently. "How is it you can be so blindly optimistic when you're in a position of power? Surely you've seen enough by now to accept the truth of the situation."

Dhianeila was far too used to this-- even off of Stacy. She didn't flinch, she didn't look as though the words had suddenly stricken a chord of realization, but there was a look in her eyes that changed as she spoke: something focused and determined in them. "The truth ... we still do not know what, exactly, the truth of our situation is, do we?"

"You're right and you're wrong. The truth is we're- what's the phrase? Stuck between a rock and a hard place. We tried getting answers from them and the only answer we got was they are intent on killing all of us. The Daligig, meanwhile, are happy to keep us in the dark and are enthusiastic about using us for their own purposes." Kerrigan's words were hard and cold and so was the look on her face.

"I believe that is why aiming to learn why they have targeted us in such a way will aid us in discovering a key to put an end to things." She paused briefly, because she knew the sort of doubts people had about actions like that. "I'm not under the assumption that this task will be easy, however. But, in comparison to the bloodshed that occurs when we have no choice but to fight to defend ourselves, it is not a more difficult task than what we are already facing now. And at least the possibility of a different outcome through coming to understand and learn from the Ohm would save us from having to fight more. And wonder more."

She looked down at the table. "As for the Daligig, I do also wish they would comply with the questions we're asking them. I would like to hope their actions are for good reason ... but I'm afraid we are in a difficult position with them. If we were to make them our enemies, it would be them along with the Ohm who would attack us."

Of course that was assuming the future held them as allies. Dhianeila still wondered if they would someday discover a piece of information that would actually cause a cut-off from the beings, if their intentions were bad ones. But she didn't want to assume the worst.

"Maybe the Ohm don't have a reason. Maybe they just like killing or the power that comes from eliminating all your enemies and potential threats." She said quietly.

But then the edge came back to her voice. "The Daligig have all ready used us as guinea pigs. When we've dealt with the Ohm then they're going to be next. They can't have their pawns getting too powerful." And she needed revenge.

She shook her head gently. "Those feelings ... not only during the battle on Lirath, but when I tried to speak them before that, I felt it as well. It does not seem likely they are acting without reason. But even so, that leaves many possibilities as to why they wish to harm us. That is why my wish is to keep attempting to learn. Because perhaps the Daligig's actions could be connected to them as well."

Kerrigan shook her head. "You're a fool. They're not going to listen to us and we won't be able to make peace with them. Have you ever met evil, Councilor? Have you never seen the face of your enemy and found nothing but rage? Should I show you what it's like?" Her gaze was sharp and penetrating. Worse than that, there were waves of anger pulsing around her.

"I thought I did, many times before," she admitted calmly. "But in the end, it was never the case of any being harboring nothing but hatred. They were simple misunderstandings. The inabilities of those who have not advanced enough or have advanced in such different ways that communication and understanding have, unfortunately, become difficult between races spanning across just one universe. And for us who now travel through many, those differences are even greater."

Kerrigan laughed. "Misunderstandings." Yes, that was why she butchered any terran or Protoss foolish enough to come her way. "Yes, many petty wars have begun because of that. But there are also wars fought to overthrow a fascist government. There are wars started for revenge- those are my favorite-" She added with a smile. "And then there were times when I simply wanted to rip out someone's throat. There was no reason."

The only thing that may have fazed her was the remark of just feeling like ripping a throat out just because. But even then, much of her experience with actions like that - mistakes and misunderstandings... she nodded at Kerrigan. "There are many pointless actions taken by people. Humanity, where I am from, is still a very immature race in comparison to others who have advanced before us. We still continue to repeat actions much like that, as well. Despite knowing how wasteful it is."

Kerrigan leaned forward, never breaking eye contact. "If I couldn't feel you I'd think you're taking this stance deliberately to see how everyone reacts to you. But you really believe it, don't you? You think humanity can go so far to put aside all its raw emotion? You think one day there will be an end to suffering and pain. That someone, or perhaps a council, will wisely rule over everyone and no one will be used or discarded. Everyone will be valued and treated fairly. It won't happen."

"I believe that humanity, like the countless other beings in the universes, can grow and mature out of such a state. I by no means expect a very fast rate of maturity, but ... I have experienced signs that it is a progress, if not a slow one." She only wished she could be back home to see it through. "And I do believe in it, truly. I apologize if I've come off any other way."

This was too much. This was absurd. How had this person been elected? How had she not gotten herself killed?

"And do you," Kerrigan whispered. "Think that monsters like me can be redeemed?"

~~Because she's mfing Dhianeila Y Leisha Altoria Ol Yunos, that's how~~

"I believe all who are able to flaw can overcome the weaknesses of those flaws. Monsters do not exist."

It happened in an instant. Kerrigan leapt from her seat, over the table, and onto Dhianeila. One hand went for her throat while the other to her arm. With that much momentum they would both be on the floor in seconds.

And in that instant, Dhianeila felt the surge of emotion just as she jumped. But despite all of her mental powers, Dhianeila was still but a human, small and frail and unable to move out of the way or react in time. She fell back easily, but she didn't make a move to push her away or fight back, only moved to try and break the fall as easily as possible.

She did look very surprised by the movement - both because it was so sudden, and because it was something that rarely happened where she came from. But her Lotus Squadron wasn't there with her, and they weren't so much bodyguards as much there as her aids and to ensure that people kept their distance from her and the weight of her powers. Aneasha wasn't there, and neither was Iolaous. Age was there, though. But Age couldn't be by her side at all times.

Hitting the ground, Dhianeila winced. It hurt, but she didn't move, and she didn't speak, she just looked up at Kerrigan, waiting. Through the surprise of it her eyes wondering, asking her why.

"What do you think now?" Kerrigan tightened her hold on Dhianeila's neck. She moved her other hand down the woman's arm to her wrist, then jerked over to grab the other wrist and pull them together. Her legs moved around Dhianeila's to pin them down.

"I can't count the number of ways I could kill you, even if you didn't make it easy for me, and believe me- you do make it easy. If I had my blades I would have cut you open before you hit the floor. You have no idea how much blood is on my hands. I razed worlds. I set my zerg upon billions of men, women, and children. I have personally killed thousands of people. I have one question for you, Dhianeila. Do you still think monsters don't exist?"

The discomfort from Kerrigan's physical hold on her began to show - but then again, Dhianeila wasn't the stubborn type to hide expressions of pain when she felt it.

Hands stained in blood - even her's were, when you looked at things from certain perspectives. Being a leader, having no choice but to fight to stay alive long enough to try and find answers, having those who believed in you, followed you, fought and died for you. Even hesitating to stop her own brothers from causing massacres had been a costly hesitance. She didn't know Kerrigan's story - the state of her world and the reasons why such acts had to be carried out. Whether or not Kerrigan wanted to do any of it or if she felt proud of that fact that she had now. Dhianeila didn't believe anybody would be.

So she responded, voice slightly cracked from the hand on her neck, but still sure. "I do."

Kerrigan's lips twisted as though she were about to growl. She squeezed Dhianeila's throat hard enough to cut off her breathing. And then, just as suddenly as she attacked, Kerrigan released her. She stood and walked away. Her entire body was shaking.

She sat up, a hand rubbing at her throat as she coughed, taking in a few short breaths as if to calm her racing heart. Did she think Kerrigan would actually kill her? Not really. But that didn't mean Dhianeila was frightened by her actions. Frightened and worried and concerned all at the same time. Was she trying to prove something? Why was she be so insistent on others having such a terrible view on her because of her past? Maybe it was guilt; Dhianeila hated when the past had to have so much bearing on the present if a person truly wanted to move away from it, but that was exactly why guilt existed. And wasn't Kerrigan's relenting proof enough that she wasn't the monster she claimed to be?

She watched Kerrigan go without a word, or a call for her to not to leave. If the woman was so unstable and angry at the moment, it was probably best to let her be for the time being.

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Meatslop: It's what's for breakfast, lunch, and dinner [Open]

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