The sun shined brightly on the volcanic grounds of Char. The creep was slowly disappearing. And underneath was grey, unnourished, but potentially harvest-worthy earth. The huge mountains of creep began to fall away, revealing even more disappearing creep. The surface of Char had been scared by the purge of the Protoss. Now that the hindrance of the creep was gone, this small planet had already begun to recover from its deep wounds inflicted by all 3 races. Protoss energy, zerg corpses, and terran ammunition violently clashed with one another on the surface of this sphere volcano. And the terrans had come out on top. As Raynor looked upwards, he saw the remainder of the Dominion fleet, circling in high orbit. Jim definitely could have thought of some more useful ways those Battlecruisers could have contributed to the fight.
Raynor spotted Swann nearby. He called his trusted friend over. The meaty man's initial shock of seeing Tychus dead on Raynor's shoulder was little compared to how his heart skipped a beat as he saw the former Queen of Blades, looking so small and delicate.
"Jesus, what happened in there?" he demanded.
"I'll explain later. Swann we need to get Sarah up to the Hyperion now. Don't alert anyone you don't have to."
Before that day, Swann would have questioned Raynor's sanity. But after he had went into the Nydus tunnels, side by side with his commander, the older man had far more respect for his commander. He nodded to Raynor and called down a dropship. He quickly moved the frail woman onboard and climbed in himself. Raynor prepared to do the same.
"Raynor!" Warfield marched over to him almost looking happy. "Prince Valerian is waiting on us."
Swann lifted the dropship off and Raynor regrettably stayed behind. Annoyed and anxious, the two commanders arrived at the repaired communications hub.
"Well commander it looks like we did it," said Prince Valerian proudly.
"We?" Raynor narrowed his eyes.
"Well, I meant only in tactical command," the young Junior replied.
"You mean when you made the tactical decision to lose half of our forces in the initial assault?"
"Well as long as you are skipping the pleasantries, I will do the same. General Warfield get your men and detain Mr. Raynor," ordered the Prince.
"What the hell is this?" asked Raynor angrily.
"You didn't really think my goal was to gain political favour from this, did you?" the young man grinned widely. "What kind of idiotic motive would that be? My father and I played you from the beginning. We used you to defeat the Queen of Blades and now we'll take both of you and make sure you are locked away. With you two out of the way, my father will have gotten rid of his two most dangerous enemies. And he'll regain his absolute rule over this sector which of course will be mine soon enough."
"Like father, like son I guess," said Jim. "You're a Mengsk. Betrayal is hardwired into your brain."
"Enough of this. Warfield, restrain him!"
The old general paused.
"Are you going to turn your back on me too?" Raynor asked the general. "We fought side by side while Junior over here watched from the safety of his flagship and your allegiance is still his?"
Warfield turned to Valerian. "I'm done taking orders from a voice in space that doesn't have the decency or the courage to come down to the battlefield. It's a test of character to see if you'll risk your life for your men, and you failed your highness. The Emperor has been fooling us all."
Raynor stepped forward, smiling, "You got a lot to learn Junior."
The young prince glared angrily.
"The situation has changed. The odds now stack in my favour. Will you run like your father?"
The screen went blank. "I guess that's a yes," Warfield said to Jim.
"I appreciate this general. I really do."
"That fool blackmailed me into coming out of retirement. I'd gladly sever ties with that arrogant and spoiled brat. Not to mention, it seems more beneficial to my health to be with someone who knows what the hell they're doing."
Raynor smiled. "Well we better get moving."
OOO
"How is she?" Raynor asked Stetmann.
"Well given the circumstances, I'd say she got off easy, but she's in real bad shape commander," said the young man. "But given her dangerous potential, such as her elaborate history of bringing death and chaos I can't say that this is a bad thing."
"I get it Stetmann," said the annoyed commander. "It looks like that Yamato cannon did a real number on her."
"I'm unable to accurately comment," said Stedman. "My doctorate was not in medicine."
Raynor sighed. Talking to Stetmann was as entertaining as talking to the adjutant.
"Sir is it really necessary for all these guards here?" asked the scientist. "They are getting in the way? My lab is very secure. I doubt our guest needs extra security."
"That's security for us, not for her," replied Raynor. "Just keep me posted on her condition."
The commander thought about going to the cantina and then decided against it. Every person on the ship must be there already, drinking their worth. Instead, he went back to the bridge where a lone figure stood.
"Friend Raynor, you have proved yourself to be ever resourceful. You have won a victory over the zerg in one of their primary bases of operation. The protoss could learn from your actions as they must already be planning the retaking of Aiur in the wake of the Queen of Blade's...incapacitation. You continue to amaze me, friend. And I am glad you heeded my warning."
"Zeratul," said Raynor smiling. "It's just like you to show up now. You know we could have used your help on Char."
"If I were there, I would have ended up as the zerg are now. The Xel'Naga artifact purges all of its creations not simply the evil ones."
"Did you come here simply to congratulate me old friend, or did you want some free beer?"
Zeratul gave a telepathic chuckle. "Even if I wanted your liquid poison, what would I have to consume it?"
"But I came as soon as my observer recorded your victory. A new Matriarch has been chosen. As the successor is a male his status has become Hierarch. Artanis has ascended to the position and has called an emergency meeting. All our forces are being called back to discuss the prophecy. I request your presence there."
"I'll be there if I can, Zeratul," said Commander Raynor. "But first we have to head to Haven. Like you said, if we lose Kerrigan, it's the end of the world right? I got a doctor and recent zerg expert who will help me treat her."
"Ah, Haven. I heard what you did there."
Raynor scratched the back of his head. "Well...you know..."
"Fear not old friend. We protoss do not hold grudges against one who has fought alongside of us in the past, though Executor Selendis is none too pleased with you. In either case Haven is a protoss world. We shall meet there."
The old protoss vanished in a cloud of black smoke. A slightly intoxicated Matt Horner stumbled into the bridge. Handing Raynor another cigar, they stood in silence for a moment.
"I heard about Tychus," said Horner finally. "I'm sorry. I knew he was an old friend."
"You were right Matt," grunted Raynor. "The entire thing was a trap. We played right into Mengsk's hands."
"Maybe, but look what we accomplished. We got a sizeable Dominion Battle Group on our side, not to mention we just gave the zerg a blow so hard, it'll take months for them to recuperate their losses. So what's our next move sir?" asked Horner eagerly. "We have General Warfield's entire battalion on our side. There are an unlimited amount of targets we could strike to sabotage Mengsk. I reckon after Tychus, you'd be itching for a little revenge."
"Like you said, Mengsk will have to wait," said the aging commander. "We're meeting Doctor Hanson on Haven."
OOO
Incessant chatter woke Kerrigan from her deep slumber. She opened her eyes and let the light consume her. Even if it was artificial, Kerrigan felt momentary bliss, akin to the moment she was freed. But that too soon faded more quickly than it had come. She slowly turned her head to either side. The room was completely white and sterile. Luckily she found herself more modest than the last time she had awakened. A very small window gave her access to the world beyond her strange room.
Trying to stand up, Kerrigan winced in pain. She stared at her arms which were punctured with more needles and tubes than she could count. She ran her smooth hands on her head and found out surprisingly that her fiery red hair had begun to grow once again. Though it was only a small layer, Sarah smiled, or at least tried. On her head was also a very strange object. She felt it with her hands, trying to remove it, but it was held in place. Thinking hard, she guessed what it was.
"Don't try to make any sudden movements," said a calming female voice. "Your body is still recovering. And please don't tamper with the psionic dampener. It is for your own protection."
Again, Kerrigan had to consciously move all the muscles in her mouth to formulate words. "Where am I?" she croaked.
"You are on the planet Haven. I am Doctor Ariel Hanson. You were brought to me by Commander Raynor. I'll be making sure you recover."
"Jim!"
"Where is he?" Sarah asked desperately. "Where is Jim?" She stood up again. This time she was able...momentarily. Seconds passed before she collapsed to her knees. The doors hissed open and two ghosts silently marched in and helped her, albeit cautiously, back into her bed.
"Don't over-exert yourself Miss Kerrigan. We don't want to give these jarheads anymore reason to want to kill you."
Kerrigan tried to protest, but already she felt herself succumbing to the cold, dreamless void of sleep. She had been sleeping for over half a decade. She'd be damned if she spent one more moment unconscious. Alas the anaesthetic overpowered the still frail mind.
"I'm applying a sedative. Don't worry Miss Kerrigan. Be patient."
The patient's eyes closed once more let the complications of the outside world continue without her.
OOO
"Unacceptable!" roared a high templar. "We have surrendered much of our world to the terrans already. We will not stand for the increasing danger they bring upon us. Forget the huge fleet of Terran ships docked in our bays. What about the Queen of Blades on our very earth? The terran Hanson was able to quarantine the zerg infestation in her people but she will not find similar luck in redeeming the fallen Kerrigan."
"It is not up for debate," stated Zeratul coolly. "Nor is it your place to speak. We wait for the arrival of the Hierarch."
Jim sighed tiredly. He had had to fend off waves of Protoss protests of their and specifically Kerrigan's presence on Haven. He caught a glimpse of a small blue shimmer before a massive entity of gold and sapphire appeared. The mothership.
Even through Zeratul's vision, Raynor had not grasped the sheer enormity and power exuded by the flagship of the Protoss. The vessel gave off so much energy that Raynor could feel it several thousand feet below and could already sense that his understanding of the Protoss would never be complete. This enigmatic race would always be the mysterious Firstborns.
The ship descended slowly, hovering now only a couple hundred feet from the surface. More shimmers occurred, though in much smaller proportions and on the surface of the planet. These shimmers started taking specific forms. More defined features began forming until finally, Raynor faced the Protoss Hierarchy. There stood Artanis and his most trusted warriors.
Artanis stood much taller than Raynor, though his youth was still noticeable even through the eyes of a human, but that did not diminish from his grand appearance. His armour was decorated with blue jewels near the chest and shoulders. Artanis wore a very elaborate golden headpiece with a pointed ornament underneath his chin. All in all, Artanis, not to mention his mighty brethren behind him, was a sight to behold.
"En taro Tassadar my friend Raynor," spoke Artanis coming forward. "Your victory over the Queen of Blades has reenergized my kind. Come, we have much to discuss."
Raynor vaguely recognized some of the figures following Artanis. One in particular stood out. In the most disdainful way a Protoss could muster, Executor Selendis sent a death glare at Raynor before swiftly turning her head away and ignoring his very existence.
"Women," he muttered.
Nearby he heard the protoss talk amongst themselves.
"Have our prayers been answered?" asked one.
"It must be an act of the Xel'Naga themselves. Our greatest commanders have rallied to our home. Nevermind young Artanis, but Zeratul has returned!"
"He will play a key role our struggle," said another. "He is without a doubt the strongest Protoss we have ever seen."
"Have you heard the reports? Zeratul clashed with the Queen of Blades herself and returned unharmed."
Raynor walked past the telepathic conversation and entered the Great Hall of the Protoss world of Haven. As per usual Protoss architecture, vast symmetrical towers and giant arches were bathed in gold. Everywhere, Khaydarin crystals rested, hovering near the windows, rejuvenating all passing by with a faint blue hue.
"So this one Terran has triumphed over the Queen of Blades," spoke Prelate Urun. "I would have never thought it possible. One glance at their primitive starcraft and I deemed it not capable of flight, much less combat."
"Easy there," said Raynor gritting his teeth. "Our ships helped us out of tight spots more times than I care to remember."
"Perhaps, but it pales in comparison to my mighty Fleet of Phoenix," replied the proud Prelate.
"The terrans deserve more credit than is given to them," spoke the Prelate Mohandar. "They defeated our esteemed Executor Selendis. Is that not a testimony of their might?"
Raynor swore, he heard a feral female growl in his mind.
"It is not his skill that matters, but rather what his skills have procured," said the deep voice of the old Dark Templar.
"Zeratul!" the protoss gasped in unison.
"We received word that you were seen on Ulaan," spoke Artanis. "I am grateful that you have returned my friend. And thankfully, he is not the only friend returned," spoke Artanis. He turned to Raynor. "A familiar face has returned to us to help combat the zerg. An old comerade..."
A large immortal moved its mechanical legs and stopped in front of the Protoss Hierarchy.
"Twice dead, I have returned."
"Fenix," murmured Raynor in awe.