Imperfect Symmetry
Shakruas had two moons.
Khastiana had known this before arriving on the twilight-shrouded world. She'd known that it would be different from Ash'Arak, She'd known that she'd be training with, and eventually, fighting alongside the Dark Templar. She'd known that she'd have to overcome her distaste for this gods-forsaken world if she was to survive. Because in this day and age, every protoss, Khalai or Nerazim, would have to do the same thing. And, heading for the Templar Proving Grounds, she could take solace in that so far, she hadn't let those thoughts cloud her judgement.
And yet…the planet had two moons…
"You are Khastiana, no?"
The Khalai stopped short. She looked around.
"I take it that you are then."
The protoss kept looking. She looked to the left. Then to the right. She looked behind her. And a Nerazim looked back at her.
"Your reaction time needs work."
My…what?!
For a moment, she wondered why she hadn't sensed the other protoss's arrival. But then it dawned on her. He was a Dark Templar. One outside the Khala. Bereft of any real contact bar spoken Khalani. It was no wonder she hadn't sensed his presence, Khastiana reflected. She couldn't sense what wasn't really there to find.
"My name is Trianul. I will be your instructor."
Khastiana stared.
"This surprises you?"
"How…how did you-"
"You can hide your thoughts, but not your eyes."
The Khalai lowered her gaze. Indignation coursed through her.
It wasn't long before she raised it though. She'd seen pictures and recordings of the Nerazim, along with varied accounts of the Khalai's erstwhile kin and their homeworld. Yet it didn't compare to seeing the gaunt figure in the flesh. He was taller than her, but that didn't matter. What did catch her attention was his green eyes. His severed appendages. The strange armour he wore on his shoulder blades and knees. The shaft that was slung along his back.
"You're my instructor," Khastiana began eventually.
"Indeed."
"And you're a Nerazim."
"Correct."
"I…"
"This surprises you."
It was a statement. Not a question.
"I…" The Khalai rubbed her fingers between her thumbs. "I just imagine that…well…different fighting styles…and…"
"You imagined one of your own. That a templar would train an aspirant."
It was another statement.
"Look," Khastiana began. "I'm not blind to what's happened in recent times. I know that we have to work together to survive. But the Zealot Order fights as one. It…I don't suppose you know of Saalok?"
"The moon of Aiur."
Yet another statement. Khastiana briefly wondered if Trianul ever had any questions of his own.
"Yes, Aiur's moon," the Khalai said. "A perfect sphere. Mathematically perfect. In the past, all zealots on Aiur were ordained under its glow."
"And you fear Shakuras will not provide you the same experience?"
"I know it won't. You have two moons. Their orbit's different. Their glow is different. Everything about them is different!"
"And you dislike what is different."
Khastiana's eyes flashed.
"On Aiur, you had one moon," Trianul said. "One moon, one order, one people. But here, there are two. Two moons for two peoples, yet orbiting the same world." He placed a hand on Khastiana's shoulder. "That is what you will learn here. Why our warriors use these training grounds together. Because we are different. Because we are like the moons in the sky. Because for all our differences, we must orbit as one. Fight as one. Be as one."
Khastina stood there. Trianul gazed back at her. Overhead, the moons shone from the sky.
"That is the first lesson," the Nerazim said. He walked past her, towards the training grounds. "Come."
For a moment, Khastiana stood there. For a moment, she gazed up at the heavens.
The moons gazed back at her, in all their imperfect symmetry.
Yet following her instructor, she resolved to remain in orbit.