Overmind

"Location Section 6, experimental sample has defected. Activate emergency plans 2 through 5." At the control panel, the research station director Bulova, had beads of sweat on his forehead and his legs trembled, but he wasn't about to turn tail and run. Instead, he issued the emergency plan instructions in the calmest tone possible, while still trembling.

The Hydralisk slithered across the smooth floor of the research station like a giant serpent, its long tail bearing titanium blades that whistled as they cut through the ground. It zipped over several protective fences, crushing them like building blocks and toys.

"Protect the Marshal!" Faraday rushed to Augustus's front immediately, followed closely by several Revolutionary Army soldiers in Power Armor who stood between the Marshal and the enemy.

As alarms and flashing red warning lights began to blare, researchers at the research station scattered in panic. The difference between the Korhal scientists and the Cerberus Company employees was that the former were still trying to maintain order and rush toward their leaders, while the latter were only thinking about escaping.

"It's coming for me." Augustus remained unmoved.

Because the research station was located in the extremely cold polar region with harsh conditions, it could not accommodate too many soldiers. Augustus himself did not bring many people with him, only a few guards.

Facing this terrifying beast, Augustus's face showed nothing but frosty coldness. People had never seen fear or cowardice in this renowned Revolutionary Army leader; he was as if he were a piece of steel that had just been forged.

As for Arcturus and Raynor, who were standing next to Augustus, they both remained calm. Arcturus simply drew his P-30 electromagnetic pistol and cursed, "Damn beast!" Raynor, on the other hand, gripped his Colt revolver and began aiming, saying that Arcturus was right.

"Kill it." He coldly issued the order, showing no hesitation whatsoever because of the rarity and value of a live Zerg specimen.

Augustus's guards immediately opened fire; they were well-equipped and well-trained, steadily aiming at the roaring Hydralisk.

However, the Cerberus Project's modifications to this alien monster did indeed forge its body into a suit of steel, so that bullets from Gauss Rifle could only leave non-fatal dents in its steel armor.

This Hydralisk possesses a kind of intelligence derived from its predators; its snake-like body moves around the control consoles and glass containers in the research station to avoid attacks from bullets, grenades, and electromagnetic pulse grenades.

The Hydralisk thrived in this environment, just like a true jungle snake. It zigzagged swiftly through the few obstacles in front of Augustus, moving as fast as black lightning.

The Revolutionary Army soldiers' gun barrels moved sideways with the rapidly moving Hydralisk, but they failed to inflict any damage on the monster armed with a sturdy chitinous carapace and steel armor. When it came within attack range, everyone could hear the clanging sound of its pair of titanium alloy blades popping out, as crisp as the hum of a sword being drawn from its sheath.

By this time, the Hydralisk was close enough to Augustus and the others. Like an angry cobra, it raised its upper body with its massive crest, its spine arched, and the powerful muscles in its spinal grooves contracted rapidly, launching countless sharp, gleaming titanium alloy blades at several times the speed of sound. These titanium alloy blades shimmered under the cold white lights of the research station, each one sparkling like snowflakes.

"Sarah!" Augustus shouted, his eyes fixed on the rapidly approaching Hydralisk.

"I'm here." Kerrigan wasn't wearing the Ghost operative Environmental Mimicry Suit that could amplify Psionics to some extent today; instead, she was simply following Augustus in a dashing military uniform.

Even so, Kerrigan's powerful Psionics was still enough for her to conjure an invisible wall of Psionics in front of everyone, blocking all the titanium alloy blades.

After being rescued by Augustus and having the Psionics suppressor removed from the back of her head, Kerrigan's Psionics were no longer restrained, becoming even more powerful than during her time Ghost operative.

Those at PSI level 8 and above possess the ability to teleport and manipulate objects, much like superpowers. Higher levels are classified as extremely dangerous, as these individuals are like Psionics bombs, constantly at risk of exploding due to uncontrollable factors such as emotions.

This group of Psionics is extremely rare throughout the Koprulu Sector. Those involved in Ghost Program generally believe that this type of Psionics must be restrained through additional equipment, otherwise the damage they cause will far outweigh their value to the Confederacy.

At this very moment, Kerrigan's Psionics index was still climbing steadily. The Psionics surging from her body was enough to make anyone with a designated human PSI level drop their jaws in astonishment, and to convince them that she was the most powerful of all known human Psionics.

Human PSI levels are capped at level ten, and only two people in the entire Terran Confederacy have reached this level. However, level ten is only a lower limit; there is no upper limit.

Because there are so few people at this level, the head of the Terran Confederacy's Ghost Program believes that there is neither a standard to follow nor a need to define a level above ten.

Without a doubt, Kerrigan was now much stronger than when she was classified as a Level 10 Psionics.

Psionics formed arcs around Kerrigan, resembling Psionics lightning. She stared directly into the Hydralisk's eyes, using her telepathic abilities to command the monster to retreat.

Then, just as Augustus had seen, the Hydralisk abruptly halted its charge—meekly retracting its two pairs of titanium scythes and slowly retreating.

At Victor V, researchers there discovered that Kerrigan had a strange, inexplicable resonance with the Zerg, something unheard of even among other Psionics. Moreover, it seemed that Kerrigan desired.

Although researchers believe the Zerg do not possess Psionics similar to those of humans and Protoss, they are extremely sensitive to Psionics. The Psionics of human Psionics has a fatal attraction for the Zerg, much like light is to flying insects or honey to bees. Ordinary Psionics can only attract the attention of the Zerg, but Kerrigan's connection to this race is inherently much stronger.

"Cease fire." Augustus quickly assessed the unbelievable scene and ordered, "Summon more soldiers, seal off the entire research station, and arrest everyone involved in the semi-mechanization of this Hydralisk."

Despite not understanding why the frenzied Hydralisk had suddenly become docile, the soldiers continued to carry out Augustus's orders. The polar research station was sealed off within minutes, and more Revolutionary Army soldiers were urgently transferred there.

"What did you do?" Aside from Augustus, who remained serious, Arcturus was genuinely surprised.

"Mind control? It's like controlling a human. At the Ghost Academy, Psionics of level eight and above receive similar training—mastering the use of their Psionics and mental power to control others. Simply put, it's using Psionics to take over control of the body from the brain. This also works on animals." Kerrigan seemed to suddenly remember something, and she screamed.

"Good heavens, Augustus won't allow me to control the Zerg!"

Before she could finish speaking, the Hydralisk, which had been slowly retreating back into its cage, roared again, clearly indicating that Kerrigan had relaxed her mind control.

"For God's sake, Kerrigan, you must control this monster now," Raynor screamed.

"How many can you control? One or more?" Arcturus's gaze was fixed on Kerrigan.

"I haven't tried." Kerrigan's attention was focused on the Hydralisk. "I think I could probably do it if I tried. It just wouldn't be very controllable, since my Psionics is limited."

"But Augustus wouldn't allow me to do that," she repeated.

"Can other Psionics agents do the same? If so, we wouldn't need to spend so much time and effort implanting mechanical neural networks to control the Zerg." Arcturus's gaze towards Kerrigan had changed. At the same time, he was also puzzled as to why Augustus clearly knew Kerrigan possessed this ability, wouldn't allow her to control the Zerg.

"It seems that only I can do it," Kerrigan replied.

Arcturus stared intently at Kerrigan, trying to decipher the meaning behind her words.

Arcturus was not unaware of this red-haired Ghost operative was always seen around Augustus. Kerrigan had once attempted to infiltrate Mengsk Sky Tower to assassinate Angus, and that alone was enough for Arcturus's Sons of Korhal to launch a series of investigations into her.

After all, Kerrigan was right next to Augustus, and Arcturus was very concerned about his brother's safety.

The assassination of Angus Mengsk was a significant factor that prompted Arcturus to change his attitude toward the Confederacy and the Revolution, because Angus's assassination meant that Katherine and Dorothy might also be in danger.

Arcturus had no objection to Augustus's decision to appoint the Ghost operative who had assassinated his father; he believed that if he were Augustus, he would have made the same choice.

Since Kerrigan is a top-notch Ghost operative, executing her would undoubtedly be a waste.

"Why don't you let her control these Zerg?" Arcturus asked Augustus directly.

"Because this is not stable, Arcturus. Kerrigan's case is an exception, and why she was able to do so remains a mystery." Augustus didn't say was that he was more worried that Kerrigan's contact with the Zerg would attract the attention of the Swarm, which would undoubtedly push her toward becoming the Queen of Blades.

Augustus still remembered what Kerrigan did after becoming the Queen of Blades —nearly eight billion people died at the hands of the Swarm by the time of Wings of Liberty alone.

For Augustus, he had to keep a tight rein on Kerrigan and guard against her heading toward a nightmarish end.

This is why Augustus preferred to support Cerberus Company in using mechanical modifications to control the Zerg, rather than letting Kerrigan try to control Zerg.

Kerrigan's abilities are indeed unstable. Her talent in this area is not enough to support her control of too many Zerg, and no one can guarantee that the Zerg she controls will not suddenly go out of control, which would undoubtedly be playing with fire.

The Revolutionary Army currently possesses a relatively small number of Zergling Zerg Hydralisk, which are insufficient to constitute a formidable military force.

While Arcturus was talking to Augustus, an entire company of fully armed Revolutionary Army soldiers entered the research station. They carried Hellfire flamethrowers and individual rocket launchers, possessing firepower sufficient to destroy an Arclite Siege Tank.

This group of heavily armed Revolutionary Army soldiers lined up in front of Augustus and his men, spreading out in a wide fan shape as they marched toward the retreating Hydralisk.

"I'm keeping Kerrigan away from the Zerg for her sake. If she weren't so reluctant to stray too far from me, I wouldn't have brought her here at all," Augustus patiently explained to his Arcturus.

"I think the risks are insignificant compared to the benefits of controlling the Zerg." Arcturus looked at Augustus, realizing that his brother had never cared about a woman—though Arcturus had never seen another woman around Augustus either.

For a moment, Arcturus fell into deep thought. Deep down, Arcturus was selfish; his entire life would never be associated with altruism. For him, apart from family, nothing was worth sacrificing to achieve a certain goal.

"I respect your decision. Even without Kerrigan to control the Zerg, we can defeat the Confederacy army." Finally, Arcturus said what he had been saying to Augustus all along.

"At least for now, I won't let her try to control the Zerg," Augustus.

"You know when the best time is," Arcturus said. "To exact my revenge on the Terran Confederacy, I don't mind waiting a little longer."

"I will only be satisfied when I see my enemies beheaded; nothing else matters," Arcturus said with the indifference he displayed when he killed the Kel-Morian men and pirates.

"Ah--" Suddenly, Kerrigan screamed, staggering and almost falling to the ground.

At this moment, as if to confirm Augustus's words, the Hydralisk controlled by Kerrigan roared fiercely once again. It no longer retreated, its lantern-like orange-red eyes scanning its surroundings, as if trying to memorize the appearance of the place.

"A more powerful Psionics creature has taken over my control of the Hydralisk." Kerrigan's face paled. "I can sense that presence, but it's very, very far away."

"What is that?" Raynor asked.

"Overmind," Augustus.

"Kill it! Now!"

grateful.