“So, Abathur, right?” Jean asked curiously. She knew the small creature in front of her was the chief genetic engineer of Kerrigan’s swarm. He was like the Swann of the swarm. Most of the evolutions and mutations that enhanced the battle capabilities of the zerg units Kerrigan had came from this fragile creature.

Abathur looked at Jean with his multiple eyes. “Affirmative.” He said shortly. Abathur’s speaking style was special. He used concise words to convey his point because it was more efficient than saying long sentences. The evolution master was the perfect example of zerg efficiency.

“If I am to be infected, then what is the best way to enhance my battle skills?” Jean asked as she sat down on the ground like she was in a picnic rather than in the body of a giant kilometer long monster. The creep felt soft and comfortable even for a human being like her.

Abathur moved forward slowly, and Jean didn’t falter as he moved to a dangerous range. The Abathur looked at Jean and reached out a claw. Abathur was slow, so slow that even without her computer chip Jean could dodge him, but Jean didn’t dodge. Abathur casually stabbed Jean in the shoulder and clawed out a piece of flesh. Jean hissed, this time it was real, not acting. She took off her mental chip and put it into her watch, so there was nothing to block her pain signals. She was immune to emotions, but she wasn’t immune to pain. She could still feel the burning sensation in her shoulder. The only difference was she could think logically despite the pain. Abathur put the piece of flesh into his mouth and consumed it.

“Human genes….weak...no psionic potential...add zerg mutations…add carapace...add claws... grant additional strength, mending, protection...keep intelligence...” Abathur said slowly as he processed the genes in Jean’s flesh.

Jean frowned as she processed the image of her with claws and carapace...oh, and naked. “Is there a way to keep the mutations hidden normally and allow me to change into the zerg form whenever I need to?” She demanded. In reality she didn’t mind being a zerg monster or being naked. She was simply aware that having claws and armor all the time didn’t really help her to fit in during further missions.

Jean had been thinking ahead. She knew her journey wouldn’t end with this universe. Eventually she would go to other worlds and complete other missions she was given, and she knew she wouldn’t be successful all the time. There would be a while when her tactics couldn’t save her. Sure, she still had the Warden forces and ships in her watch, but chances were they might not be enough in certain situations. She needed to use every chance she had to make herself stronger and increase her chances in the future. This was why she was on the zerg leviathan instead of in the safety of the Beetle. The zerg were masters in biotechnology, and with any luck she could use them to strengthen her currently vulnerable human body.

Everything, including the betrayal of Kerrigan, was part of her plan. She didn’t get surprised. No one, not even the queen of blades, could capture her if she wanted to hide.

Abathur thought about it for a while. “Possible...need mass energy...switch between forms...human form normally...switch zerg form ...mutation of certain genes...costly...inefficient...Unnecessary..”

“But possible.” Jean persisted.

“Why...terran cover?” Abathur asked straight to the point. He was right. Why would the swarm bother keeping Jean’s human form if all they needed was Jean’s mindset? Jean was a captive, not a customer. A zerg that looked like a zerg could think just like a zerg that looked like a terran. Why would the zerg spend extra energy to satisfy the demand of a captive?

Jean was prepared for this. “I might need to contact my allies, and if I’m infected they will notice something was wrong.”

“You...odd…” Abathur mummered. “You...want...infection...why…others...despise infection...” Usually the swarm needed to use force to apprehend and infect terran. The level of welcome this particular girl demonstrated was odd and suspicious.

“Well, I am going to be infected anyways…” Jean said with a desperate and hopeless tone, as if she had already given up on everything. “The least I can do is keep my pretty look and wear clothes all the time.” Abathur thought about it, but he was a zerg genetic engineer, not a terran psychologist. Logically speaking it made sense.

“I..report to...queen...decision.” The scientist said quietly. “For now...stay…here...” He crawled away, leaving Jean in the chamber alone.

For the next hours Jean stayed in the evolution chamber and did practically nothing. The waiting ended when a broodmother came to the evolution chamber and summoned Jean to Kerrigan.

Jean found Kerrigan in what acted as the bridge of the Leviathan. The queen of blades was there alone. Jean started to understand why Kerrigan wanted her to join the swarm even though she killed Raynor. The swarm lacked legit commanders. Most of the zerg units couldn’t really think and were more weapons than individuals. The broodmothers and special units like Abathur could think individually, but their commanding skills were troubling. Usually they would just use the overwhelming number of the swarm to conquer any enemies, but the Golden Armada was one enemy the swarm couldn’t overwhelm. In this case Kerrigan needed advisers like Jean.

“The swarm will be moving against the Golden Armada soon, but I need you to have psionic abilities first to be able to command zerg units.” Kerrigan flicked her fingers. A strange sense of beauty shined from the queen. “Abathur told me your advices of infection. I allow your plan.” She grinned at how Jean’s seemingly weak and emotional plea. To the queen of blades Jean’s plea of maintaining her original form and wearing clothes was laughable. Still the girl made a good point. Kerrigan still wanted to use Jean’s connections, and a fully infected Jean Turner with tentacles out of her mouth would be an obvious giveaway.

“Very well, my queen.” Jean perfectly played the role of a scared girl as she spoke quietly.

Kerrigan smirked and led Jean to a spawning pool. There, Jean stripped and jumped into the pool. She closed her eyes and allowed her entire body to sink into the liquid.