The Fall of ORACLE Heavy Industries, Tarsonis

My name is Mina Rhineheart, a young woman.  And today well, I’ll lose my job, among other things.

A loud explosion ripped a section of the city apart sending me among a few people to the ground with cries of fear and terror.  What was happening, my mind screamed for me for my voice was locked as I stared in horror at the ball of fire and smoke that rose into the sky.  That was the shopping district, I think to myself, I was just there!  Oh Creation, I think as I climb to my feet.  Someone hits me as he runs pass knocking me to the ground.  I know my cry had escaped my lips but no one cared, everyone was terrified trying to escape.  I climb once again dodging the next terrified person who was pushing to break pass the crowds.  Another explosion ripped through a section of the city.  Wraiths were in the air screaming over the city heading towards a section.  I can see the missiles that race to strike something on the ground.

Was the military Insane?  What of the people that were there?  Was the explosions, the fire, and smoke, the chaos and fear, all brought about by the military?  I watch as a building is obliterated by a missile.  I decide that I must reach ORACLE and the Infinity Team, surely a shuttle was there waiting to evacuate the city.  Zeruen was probably worried.  A cry escapes a group of people a bit ahead of me, people were flooding back in another direction.  Towards me, I think alarmed.  Someone up there falls and I see it, a tail of some creature.  People were dying before me, the cries of panic had turned to pain and fear.  Something was killing them.  I’m so terrified so scared that I can’t make myself move as people buffet me as they race towards the destruction of a city section.  Then I see it, a small creature with rows of bloodied teeth and claws, the arm of a person hanging from its mouth.  There was suddenly no one around me.  Creatures were chasing others down, killing, slaughtering.

“Z, Zeruen,” I gasp breathlessly, “Help me.”  The creature regards me as it tosses its meal, it growls low and a makes a threatening step towards me.  I gasp and take a frightened step back.    It suddenly lunges at me and scream in terror falling backwards and eyes shut.  Death so close, a painful meaningless death breathed on me, but after a moment I open my eyes to a strange sight.  The creature was pinned, frozen in the air, with a fine red beam impaling it.  Not waiting to see it do more I sprint away racing towards ORACLE.  An explosion rips the land apart behind me where the dying and the creatures were, a loud explosion that sends me screaming to the ground.  I was thrown pretty far as well stopping as I hit hard a building wall.  I lay there dazed for a few moments my eyes staring at the blood red sky.

I… I should have stayed with my parents, I think to myself.  Now I’m going to die.  For what?  A ‘dream’ to fly?  Is that all you’ll leave me you stupid Universe!  The smoke and red sky was suddenly removed and my eyes widen as I see the glint of fire light against a pure black metal hull.   A spacecraft, a large one, here on Tarsonis!  I climb to my feet slowly.  My eyes scan the magnificent lines ever curve every angle.  This was no Terran or Protoss ship, those ungainly Battlecruisers were nothing to this one in shape and beauty.  A red beam pulses from it to strike at the city.

Then I heard it, a desperate female’s voice, in my head… or from a nearby holo-vid?  “Return him to me!  Hyun!”

I shake my head and continue.  I saw no more signs of wraiths, only minute beams striking at creatures in the city.  I hurt all over, an arm stung, I think my leg is bleeding.  I press on though, following the roads where the dead littered.  So many… so many have died.

“What in the name of all Creation is going on!”  I shout suddenly and gasp as I spy Zeruen standing there, his wonderful and short auburn brown hair waving in the wind.  His white over coat was whipping about.   He looked so strong standing there, unlike anything I had seen a man before.  But he had always been there for me, he was the one that brought me to the Infinity, it was he who gave me the strength to get this far.  I realize that perhaps I love him.  He turns though, casting those intense indigo eyes upon me, I see the concern there and a sadness.  I approach him, near to tears and ready to break down.  He gathers me up though stopping quickly any crying I may do and whispers into my ear.

“I must go and I cannot take you, my Tymora Novientia.  Shhh, if you want to know finally what that means, then you must find me.  On the distant world of Vryndrin Shyn.  I have left you everything that can help you.  The Infinity, its Core, a Talented man is somewhere in the sector, he’ll make it for you.”

“Zeruen?”

“Vayluna Sol will be leaving soon, her Engines are not attuned, and so cannot stay and I must go with her.”

“Why can’t I go with you,” I beg my voice thick with confusion and sorrow.

“You must be stronger, you must give your heart, your all, to someone else.  I am not worthy of you,” he says his voice calm, it always calm.  He puts me at arm’s length and smiles gently.

“I don’t understand,” I tell him with tears in my eyes.

“One day you may.”

Suddenly I am alone.  There is no ship, no Zeruen.  As if in a daze I stand there, with ORACLE Heavy Industries towering nearby.  My wrist communicator vibrates and buzzes as I stand there.  Was it all a dream?  Has my mind finally snapped?

“Mina!”  ORACLE’s voice suddenly breaks through my dazed mind.

Quickly I turn to the wrist communicator.  “W, what?  What is happening?”

“You are alive good.  You must hurry, come to my Chamber.  You must rescue the Infinity Core!”

“The, the Core?”

“She is young still, she doesn’t deserve to die a meaningless death.  Not after all the hard work you put into her.”

“Me?  What are you talking about?”

“Less Questions more running!”

I do as commanded, I have followed ORACLE’s voice for as long time now, its almost habit.  I race into the building but halt my eyes widening, it was a pool of blood here, dead bodies.  I can’t help it a scream escapes my lips.  I knew these people!

“Hurry!”

“B… but!”

“You are all I can count on.  Zeruen said that you would be able to.”

Z, Zeruen?  I take a deep breath and dash to the elevator screeching to a halt as I see another of those creatures here devouring one of the ladies.  I stare at it my fear switching to anger.  I knew these people, I talked with them, I learned of their lives.  Lives that were more pure than mine!  Why?

“Why!” Somehow a gun in my hand, its bloodied but I don’t care as I send a stream of bullets at the creature.  The creature spins around crying out as my hail of bullets shred into its.  It tries to attack me, it tries but I empty the clip into it, and well most of the wall and floor too but in the end the Creature was laying dead.  I stand there in shock and look down at my feet.  A security man had been there.  Quickly I grab his clips and take a rifle from one of the others.

“Don’t worry Infinity.  I’ll save you!”

I dash into the elevator which immediately descends into the development and testing floors.  Floors that had been home to me.  Infinity, I think sharply.

The elevator stops and I find myself in ORACLE’s room.  The large AI glowed and pulsed with light, its sphere shape a dance of colors and light.  A holo screen activates and ORCALE talks.  “You must hurry.  In the cabinets there are data units.  You must take the plans.”

“The Core?”

“After the base data, if you make it fast you will have time to spare in saving your daughter.”

Daughter?

“If we survive this you must tell me everything,” I say running to the cabinets.  I gather all sorts of cards and devices.

“Don’t worry.  I will.  Your Holo-device, the gift from Zeruen to appease your restless and impatient heart.  Its capable of holding all of Infinity’s data… well all of it except the Core.”  I pull out the slender device, the gift from Zeruen from my holding spot and race to ORACLE’s physical form.  Together with the largest data cards we fill the holo-device.  All the plans, the test data, all of it.  But without the Core, what would happen?

It took a few moments longer than I had desired, the sounds around us reminded me the hell that was happening outside this room.  But soon I had everything on the Infinity, everything that ORAC LE could grant me.  All that was left was to protect the Core.

“Now Mina.  The lower floors, there is a half a meter thick metal barrier.  Currently the control unit that I use to open and close it has been severed by the alien creatures.  They don’t seem to be interested in the Core now, but it must not fall into the hands of those who would abuse its power.

“Infinity’s Core?”

“Like a child she will grow and learn, but for now until you can return, tuck her in.  Allow her to sleep.”

I followed ORACLE’s directions diving down into the depths of the building, running as fast as I could.  With the weapons I had gained killed any alien I could find, which thankfully due to the bullets and magazines I had acquired I was able to do this with little problem.  Finally I reached the Underground hanger where the Infinity was being built.  They had indeed started work, for the frame, the body was laid out, but in the heart of the frame was a large black sphere where massive cables were attached and computers flickered.  Lights blinked along erratically along the  various sides, reds, yellows, and greens.  Did the Core know what was happening?

I climb down the stairs quickly nearly tripping a few times till I came to the large Core.  It was then that I noticed the dead that lay here.  The Crew, those closest to the project, dead, and yet I had not seen Zeruen’s second in command, or a few of the others.  I step pass them slowly and step into the frame work, with a smile I gently touch the sphere.  The Core of the Infinity.  This was the system that would help me, be my partner.  ORACLE called her my daughter though, how true was that.  Once was I done here ORACLE would have to tell me what was going on.

“It’s alright,” I tell it gently, softly, soothingly.  “I won’t let the bad things get you.”  The lights flicker and flash their pattern changing, calming.  “Yes, I will protect you, first though you must sleep.  If you do, the time between our separation will be shorter.”  There was a moment of blinking lights, then it began to dim.  “Yes.  Dream well, Infinity.”

After I was sure I went to the computers and smiled as the showed a cute little face sleeping.  As quiet as I could I made my way to the Barrier controls and manually started them.  Slowly the barrier rumbled across the only opening and when it closed a sound that seemed more final than I had desired reverberated throughout the building.  I then turn my attention one last time on the panel.  With a few quick runs I reprogram it not to open unless I told it too.  My voice imprinted I race back up to ORACLE… it was then I noticed something had changed.  The air conditioning systems were silent and above me light was gone.

“ORACLE?”

Its voice came over the speakers, a finality to its female tone.  “I am sorry Mina, Infinity will have the data that you want.  But soon Tarsonis will fall, the aliens will have this world.  You will have to escape, you will have to live.  The Infinity is for you, if you must tell others of her design you may but the Core, is yours she will not respond to others.  When you return raise her, don’t mistreat her.  No go, before its too late.”

I run as fast as I can and find ORACLE’s room locked from me.

“I will self destruct.  I will protect the Infinity Cradle with my life.  Go!  Find allies, fight for what you want.  Protect those that you love.  The aliens are away from the lower floors, hurry before they come back.”

“I… I can’t leave without you!”

“That is a sad statement for I cannot leave here.  Remember the time you spent, remember us.”

With tears in my eyes I run, all the while I hear ORACLE’s voice, her countdown, her final will.  Why, why did they have to make her so life like!  I jump from the doors and into the hell that Tarsonis had become.  In the distance mushroom clouds were rising.  The shadows of Battlecruisers blotting out the sun.  Alien flying machines in the sky.  What was happening!  I run, I run as fast as I could.  And then the world exploded, well it felt that way as ORACLE destroyed the building, the ball of fire she had become expanded and threw me.  I hit the ground somewhere hard, my head smacking the earth hard.  I moan and fight away the darkness and desire to sleep.

I don’t know when it happened or how, but when I blink open my eyes and cry out in pain, I find myself strapped to a bed.  The moans of others fill the brightly lit room.  A doctor, I think stands over me.  A bulky armored suited man stands nearby a red cross marked on it.  A military medic.  

“W, where am I,” I gasp through burning lips and raspy throat.

“Away from Tarsonis.  You should be thankful.”  The straps are released and the doctor hands over my device.  At least I think its mine.  “This is all we found on you.”  I activate as I lay there bringing the sleek design of Infinity to bear.

“I, Infinity… “ I sob as tears rush down my face.  The medic leave, they go to care for others as injured if not worse than I.

This was the start of my battle… as I wandered from place to place.  It was Raynor’s men that I eventually fell in with, it was they that broke me from my sorrow and lit the fires of determination.  I would have the Infinity.  I knew I must have it.  The trauma of its lost shocked some memory from me, details of Tarsonis’ fall were vague.  But I knew one thing.  If I didn’t fight for Infinity, then I was as good as dead.

Sierra Squad as I was accepted in, was the only way.  A Pilot without a ship.  That was me.