That was when Tychus realized that Cassidy had taken a spike through the chest at some point in the exchange of fire and was lying on her back looking up at the sky. He hurried to kneel next to her and placed a hand under her head. The liquid in her throat made a gargling sound as she spoke. “It wasn’t personal… . It was never personal. You know that.”
“Yeah,” Tychus replied soberly. “I know.”
Doc forced a smile, and was about to say something else, when her eyes went out of focus. She was gone.
Tychus swore, forced himself to rise, and took a look around. That was when his eyes came to rest on Vanderspool. The officer was on his knees, clutching the bloody mess that was his shoulder and sobbing loudly. “Please!” Vanderspool pleaded as he looked up. “I need a medic! I’ll pay you!”
“Doc is dead,” Tychus said flatly. “You killed her.”
That wasn’t true. Not that it mattered. Raynor stepped beside Tychus, looked down at Vanderspool, and felt the anger start to build inside him. Because there, kneeling in front of him, was the personification of everything he had come to hate. How many people had given their lives so that Vanderspool could line his pockets? Hundreds? Thousands? It was impossible to say. But one thing was for sure… . It was never going to happen again.
Kydd joined his brothers, rifle at his side, and the three men watched the colonel writhe in agony, his façade of power and strength shattered by his own greed.
“Your father wants to see you,” Vanderspool pleaded to Kydd. “I know where he is. I’ll take you there. Please, I’m in pain.”
Kydd snorted and shook his head.
Pax’s pistol was lying on the tarmac. Vanderspool made a grab for it and Raynor stepped on his hand. Flesh gave way, bones broke, and Vanderspool screamed.
“I can ease your pain, you piece of trash,” Raynor growled as the skull on his visor whirred and his real face appeared. His voice was unnaturally cold, guttural. Seething with rage, Raynor brought the gauss rifle to bear. “Good-bye, asshole.”
Vanderspool’s eyes grew larger, he opened his mouth to say “No,” and a single spike slammed into his chest. As the officer toppled over onto his side, Raynor felt his anger melt away, to be replaced by something else. Somehow, without intending to, he had become part of the very thing he despised. A universe in which the Old Families could take whatever they wanted, send brain-panned citizens out to fight interstellar wars, and kill with impunity. The realization was followed by a profound sense of shame—and a determination to be who he wanted to be. Or, in his father’s words, the man he chose to be.
The three men stood there for a moment. The area was completely silent except for the crackle of flames as they continued to devour the city—and the sudden whine of engines as Vanderspool’s dropship prepared to lift without him. Tychus was the first to speak. “The Hellhounds will be here soon. We’d better get a move on.”
The men turned toward the remaining dropship. Haster had dropped the ramp by then, and was waiting inside, as they began to make their way up. Tychus led the way, with Kydd right behind him. Raynor paused to take one last look at the city where so many of his friends had given their lives. We weren’t angels, Raynor thought, we were the Heaven’s Devils. The best of the worst.
The thought brought a nostalgic smile to Raynor’s lips and it was still in place as the dropship took off and left the carnage behind. He was going AWOL, so his war was over, but he would never forget the friends who had fallen in the town of Korsy. Not ever.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
William C. Dietz is the bestselling author of more than thirty novels, some of which have been translated into German, Russian, and Japanese. He grew up in the Seattle area, spent time with the Navy and Marine Corps as a medic, graduated from the University of Washington, lived in Africa for half a year, and has traveled to six continents.
Dietz has been employed as a surgical technician, college instructor, news writer, television producer, and director of public relations and marketing for an international telephone company. He is a member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, the Writer’s Guild, and the International Association of Media Tie-In Writers.
He and his wife live near Gig Harbor in Washington State, where they enjoy traveling, kayaking, and not too surprisingly, reading books. For more information about William C. Dietz and his work, visit: williamcdietz.com.
STARCRAFT TIMELINE
c. 1500
A group of rogue protoss is exiled from the protoss homeworld of Aiur for refusing to join the Khala, a telepathic link shared by the entire race. These rogues, called the dark templar, ultimately settle on the planet of Shakuras. This split between the two protoss factions becomes known as the Discord.
(StarCraft: Shadow Hunters, book two of the Dark Templar Saga by Christie Golden)
(StarCraft: Twilight, book three of the Dark Templar Saga by Christie Golden)
1865
The dark templar Zeratul is born. He will later be instrumental in reconciling the severed halves of protoss society.
(StarCraft: Twilight, book three of the Dark Templar Saga by Christie Golden)
(StarCraft: Queen of Blades by Aaron Rosenberg)
2143
Tassadar is born. He will later be an executor of the Aiur protoss.
(StarCraft: Twilight, book three of the Dark Templar Saga by Christie Golden)
(StarCraft: Queen of Blades by Aaron Rosenberg)
c. 2259
Four supercarriers—the Argo, the Sarengo, the Reagan, and the Nagglfar—transporting convicts from Earth venture far beyond their intended destination and crash-land on planets in the Koprulu sector. The survivors settle on the planets Moria, Umoja, and Tarsonis, and build new societies that grow to encompass other planets.
2323
Having established colonies on other planets, Tarsonis becomes the capital of the Terran Confederacy, a powerful but increasingly oppressive government.
2460
Arcturus Mengsk is born. He is a member of one of the Confederacy’s elite Old Families.
(StarCraft: I, Mengsk by Graham McNeill)
(StarCraft: Liberty’s Crusade by Jeff Grubb)
(StarCraft: Uprising by Micky Neilson)
2464
Tychus Findlay is born. He will later become good friends with Jim Raynor during the Guild Wars.
(StarCraft: Heaven’s Devils by William C. Dietz)
2470
Jim Raynor is born to Trace and Karol Raynor, farmers on the fringe world of Shiloh.
(StarCraft: Heaven’s Devils by William C. Dietz)
(StarCraft: Liberty’s Crusade by Jeff Grubb)
(StarCraft: Queen of Blades by Aaron Rosenberg)
(StarCraft: Frontline, volume 4, “Homecoming” by Chris Metzen and Hector Sevilla)
(StarCraft monthly comic #5–7 by Simon Furman and Federico Dallocchio)
2473
Sarah Kerrigan is born. She is a terran gifted with powerful psionic abilities.
(StarCraft: Liberty’s Crusade by Jeff Grubb)