Mom! Evil God!

"The Scavenger Pirates got what they deserved," Dr. Narud said at once. "In this world, no one has more right than you to judge their crimes!"

As he spoke with righteous indignation, a squad of Terran Empire Wolf-Helmet Royal Navy Marines escorted over a dozen ragged pirates from the foot of the stairs.

The pirates looked utterly wretched, haggard and emaciated. Even the beggars and vagrants of Augustgrad likely lived with more dignity than they did. They were people starved to the point of wasting away, so ravenous they looked as though they could eat their own arms.

Augustus looked in that direction and immediately spotted the Scavenger Pirates' leader, Alan Schezar. Though he was now little more than skin and bones, and the former Scavenger Butcher had been starved down to the size of a Galban hound, that gleaming bald head was impossible to forget.

"Your Majesty, this is Alan Schezar, leader of the Scavenger Pirates." The Royal Guard officer escorting the prisoners brought the pirate chief before Augustus, gripping his neck tightly with a broad Power Armor arm and kicking him hard to force him down onto one knee before the Emperor.

When the Emperor looked upon a criminal, he was not qualified to remain standing. He could only lower his head and repent.

"He sold his soul in exchange for illusory wealth." Zeratul stared at the infamous pirate, his burning eyes seeming to pierce straight through his soul.

"Alan Schezar, you have committed countless crimes against the human empire and our people." High Executor Artanis's voice carried unmistakable fury. "This is not."

"You aren't human, so shut up, Protoss!" Alan Schezar looked so frail that he seemed ready to collapse at any moment, but his voice remained vicious. He struggled desperately to shake off the hand pinning