Tails of the Templar: Part 1, Voice of the Khala
Chapter Two: Rathul's Message
Time: Tassadar's brief return to Aiur
Kadar mentally sighs as he runs through the forested area outside of Antioch in order to avoid detection by any of the Conclave's possible blockades across the road to the Stargate. As he is running to meet up with that High Templar that caused him to come to the surface in the first place a thought occurs.
If Rathul's theories are correct then there is not much time left before all is lost, we must hurry to Char and try to stop the Zerg before Aiur's location is revealed. As he continues towards the Stargate, a question arises in his mind. How did this all begin anyways?
Time: Burning of Chau Sara (Flashback)
Tassadar, leader of the protoss fleet, stared at the burning planet of Chau Sara, regret nearly flooding from his mind. "What have I done…?"
Zamara, a preserver, responded as rational as ever. "It was inevitable, the Zerg had infested it, and it had to be done."
Tassadar sighed. "I know…but that doesn't make it right."
Time: Moments after the Burning of Chau Sara (Flashback)
Aldaris imparted a message to Tassadar to scout the sister planet, known as Mar Sara, and burn it if any trace of infestation is present. After a tense moment, Aldaris terminated the transmission. Tassadar for a few moments was silent. Zamara noticed her friend's frustration and uncertainty and sent waves of comfort to him.
"Thank you Zamara…we head toward Mar Sara."
As they traveled, fresh uncertainty placed its roots in Tassadar's mind and he turned to Zamara and asked what she thought should be done.
She responded as coolly as ever. "Obey the Conclave's orders."
Tassadar turned to face Kadar and saw him as calm as ever. "Kadar what is your opinion on this?"
Kadar mentally sighed and looked Tassadar straight in the eye. "The killing of millions is never easy, and most assuredly morally wrong. But what is done is done, the Conclave has wished it, and so we obey. That is our duty as Templar."
Tassadar sighed, his four-fingered hand rubbing his face as he contiplated Kadar's words, also feeling Kadar's sorrow at such a conclusion. "Perhaps you are right."
Kadar waved a hand at Tassadar as a signal to stop talking. Some of the crew turned their heads and stared in awe at Kadar that anyone would tell Tassadar to be quiet, not breaking contact, waiting for his words. Kadar did not disappoint. "I was not done, Executor."
Tassadar stared more intently, but more in interest than agitation at such disrespect. "Then continue, my friend."
"But should duty override our morals? Should we jeopardize our soul's sanity just because a bunch of haughty Judicators say so?"
This time there was a gasp from all the crew in the room, for Kadar had sent the message to all present.
"You would dare question the Conclave?" half yelled a crewmember.
"Maybe he's right…"
"What are you saying…?"
The mental rumble of thoughts was unrestrained, but all were wondering the same thing, What was Kadar thinking? Tassadar lifted his four-fingered hand to motion for silence and the mental cacophony quieted down.
"Continue."
Kadar nodded his head in thanks and continued. "What I am saying is that at times one should obey the Conclave with unquestioning loyalty, for they have kept our people safe for millennia." There was hesitation but he continued. "Now is not one of those times."
All eyes shifted to Tassadar in anxious anticipation of his response, but none came. All was silent when the Ganthrithor spotted a terran Battlecruiser…and history knows of what transpired there.
Time: Tassadar's brief return to Aiur (Flashback Cont'd)
Hovering over Aiur, Tassadar received a mental message from the mutating Kerrigan as she pleaded for aid. After notifying his fleet and crew he made the decision to leave the fleet at Aiur while he and his carrier go to Char to attempt a rescue of Sarah Kerrigan.
While preparing to launch, an encrypted message is received on the Ganthrithor from a high templar called Rathul. "Hail Executor! I also received the Terran's call for aid, though it specifically called for you. I wanted to let you know that I was able to temporarily reverse the link and caught a brief glimpse of the leader of the Swarm, the Overmind. While this news in and of its self is quite important, I have a theory, but I am afraid that the Conclave will not let me explore this any further. I require your aid in this manner."
Tassadar's eyes scrutinized the image of Rathul as the High Templar continued.
"I will reveal more later, but only if you can get me safely on to your ship. I must end the message here for I fear any longer delay could be of dire consequences. En Taro Adun, Executor."
Both Zamara and Kadar waited silently for Tassadar's response. It finally came after several agonizing seconds. "Kadar." Kadar stood to his full height. "I want you to head down there and bring Rathul on the Ganthrithor, you must be quick about it for I must confirm what he says in the Khala, and if he's telling the truth then we may need him more then most could ever think was possible."
Kadar saluted Tassadar and gave him one last mental message before he departs. "En Taro Khas, Tassadar."
Tassadar nods his approval. "En Taro Adun, Kadar."
As Kadar ran out of the bridge he made his way to the nearest hangar bay, where he could take an interceptor to the surface. As he made his way down the hallways he passed by several large doorways, masterfully created by the he same class, the Khalai, who had crafted the buildings and other structures on Aiur's surface, and fellow protoss who quickly saluted him and continued on their way. When he finally got to the hangar he immediately ran to the Interceptor closest to him. As Kadar entered the small twin engined craft, he realized that this fighter only had enough power, supplied by the khadarian crystal in the control consol, to reach the surface but not to make a return trip. Understanding that this meant he would have to find another way back to the Ganthrithor, he powered up the small craft, and with just a thought opened the hangar doors and flew out of the supercarrier. Those Carriers nearby, on ruetine patrol, noticed the minuscule vessel's only sign of a succesful launch, a mere flicker of light as the engines fully engaged, leave the gargantuan gold hull of the famous supercarrier that was a true sign of the Protoss' strength and skill.
Kadar landed safely in a nearby jungle so not to be noticed, just in case the Conclave had hidden spies at the nearby Stargate. He departed the craft and set out to meet up with Rathul outside of the Templar Archives where the message had come from. As he walked towards the immense city of Antioch, he noticed the soaring skyscrapers' golden tips reach into heavens, far above the towering walls that had been erected to keep wild beasts, and in the near future Zerg, out of the vibrant city. As the majestic gates opened to let Kadar in, he noticed a slight increase in patrols along the walls and city streets then he remembered seeing the last time he was here, the last time he had seen his family. He shook his head at the recollection of his beautiful wife and son, realizing that he did not have time to waste on checking up on personal matters. A thought occurred as he ran through the streets of Antioch.
This better be worth the risk to Tassadar's safety.
As he neared the Templar Archives he noticed a cloaked figure meditating outside the structure. Kadar, wary that this may be a trap, sent a private thought to the figure in question. "Hail Templar, are you Rathul?" Any sign of subtlety forgone.
The cloaked figure looked up with fire in his eyes. "Who wants to know the identity of a rebel?"
Kadar stared a little more intently at the cloaked figure. "I am Kadar, servant and now messenger of the mighty Tassadar, and have come at his behest to find the one called Rathul."
The figure stood, so quickly that Kadar was completely thrown off guard. "I don't know if what you say is true or not, come with me in the Khala now." The two figures entered the Khala and their feelings and emotions became known to each other instantly. The cloaked figure opened his eyes fully. "I see."
The voice was so calm that it caught Kadar a little off guard. With that, the figure moved with startling speed towards the building and almost seemed to go through the door panels temselves. Kadar as shocked at seeing this but realized that he simply had disappeared. Kadar was rather shocked but kept himself composed so as not to draw any unnecessary attention to himself and the situation at hand. He then proceeded to the structure and the doors, almost with a will of their own, opened before him. He walked through into the great hall, where statues of past executors lined the way up to the Archives themselves. Kadar scanned these once comforting symbols of Protoss strength and glory, expecting an ambush from a large group of fanatical templar to happen at any moment.
There was an attack, but not in the same way that he had expected. Rather he was slowly lifted off of his feet and brought closer to one of the statues. Soon Kadar was only a few inches from the one representing Adun and he heard a loud booming "voice" which seemed to come from everywhere in the room. "I remember from times past how the Conclave wanted to rid our world of the Dark Templar, whom they considered a cancer of sorts." A pause that was more dreadful than the speech itself. Then it continued. "Now the Conclave has done it again, they have deemed it necessary to rid themselves of a cancer, however, this time it is with another race that had no quarrels with us and now think we are genocidal monsters for the destruction of one of their planets. This has gone on long enough, the Conclave has failed us for the last time; they are holding our race back." A second pause that chilled Kadar to the bone. "I am the one you seek, the one known as Rathul, and I am more than willing to help you and Tassadar to prepare for the Zerg."
With that, Kadar was brought back down to the ground. Then, after a moment, from the shadows, Rathul appeared. Kadar was rather surprised at what he saw as his trained eyes began to analyze the figure before him: the protoss was tall, though not as tall as typical High Templar, maybe six foot three. It was a curious thing but something that clearly would not have any detrimental effects in battle. Also, he did not wear any of the high templar golden armor; rather, he simply contented himself with a simple black torso armor that did not seem to protect much of anything except the very center of the chest. There were also two black bracers on his wrists that pulsated with psionic energy every few seconds. Overall, there was nothing inherently intimidating about him. Apparently the figure had read his thoughts.
"You know from your training that what an opponent looks like has nothing to do with his or her ability in combat." He continued. "You need to learn, so face me in combat now!"
Kadar mentally sighed. "We don't have time for..." A psionic blast from Rathul cut Kadar short of his message as it sent him flying towards the doorway. As Kadar slammed into the metallic panels he became dazed and fell to his hands and knees, amazement and anger flooding from his mind.
Rathul chuckled dryly. "I believe I made my point."
As Rathul turned around Kadar lifted himself up on one hand, and using the other one, fired his own psionic blast that sent Rathul flying. Rathul skidded across the floor, part of his cloak flying over his head. Kadar cracked his neck as he got up. "You should take your own advice."
Rathul got up and bowed towards Kadar. Kadar mimicked the gesture. "Now, are you going to come with me to Tassadar or not?"
Rathul looked up, resolve brimming in his eyes. "I shall, but…"
Kadar sighed. "Now what?"
Rathul brushed dust off his legs. "We must do so separately."
"Explain."
Rathul walked until he was mere inches from Kadar. "We don't want the Conclave finding us both."
Kadar sighed again, only this time with true annoyance lacing it. "Why are you so worried about the Conclave? I mean, I don't like their policies and all, but that doesn't mean that I'm going to accept that they are out to get us."
Rathul lowered his head in the sign of not shame, but disappointment. "I thought, of all Protoss you would understand." He stood to his full height. "I must show you then, but not through the Khala, I believe you need to actually witness the foolish actions of the Conclave at work, not receive them second hand from me."
"What do you mean?"
Rathul walked outside and Kadar followed. As they got outside Rathul pointed to a tall structure. "On the fiftieth floor reside two templar that have been in almost constant contact with the Conclave…"
"How do you know this?"
Rathul ignored the question and continued. "The two templar tend to receive a message from the Conclave at a set time. They will be getting a message soon. If you want proof, then spy on the two templar as they receive the message."
Kadar's agitation at such a suggestion is sent straight at Rathul. Rathul didn't even blink as the wave of negative thoughts and emotions hit. "That is not the templar way, Rathul." Anger lacing every word from Kadar's mind.
Rathul shook his head. "Desperate times call for desperate measures."
Kadar paced furiously, but it was obvious Rathul's words were sinking in. "On one condition."
Rathul looked at Kadar, mildly surprised. "And that is?"
"What is so important that you must come with Tassadar to Char?"
The two met in the Khala on the spot and Kadar's eyes grew quite wide at the information that Rathul was giving him. "I see now."
Rathul nodded his head in gratitude. "I shall head towards your ship and await your arrival."
Kadar's embarrassment is at first very present, and then it disappeared. "Unfortunately, the energy for my craft is depleted. We need to get a new one."
Rathul's disappointment at such an oversight from a High Templar was almost palpable. "That does complicate things." For a moment Rathul s silent, his hand rubbing his elongated chin. After a few seconds, he reveals his plan. "Then I shall meet you at the nearest Stargate."
Kadar saluted Rathul. "En Taro Khas, Rathul."
"En Taro Adun, Kadar."
Time: Tassadar's brief return to Aiur (Present)
Kadar's flashback ends right as he sees the Stargate. And what a sight. The large curving almost cylindrical structure towers above Kadar's six foot seven form. As he walks inside he sees an unusual increase in guards posted at the entrance as well as around the interior then he remembered there being when he...Kadar shook his head of he incoming memory and focused on why there was an increase in guards at all. Noticing the small interest they were taking in him, he realized they were not there to get him, rather as a military precaution in case, of all senarios, the Zerg found Aiur. "If only they knew how close that threat could really be." Looking around for any other possible threats, he only noticed the normal amount of Khalai engineers building and doing ruetine check ups on the variety of space fairing miliary craft present. Kadar sighed with relief. "So far so good, it looks like the Conclave might just leave us alone after all."
The sound of marching soldiers and metallic legs moving causes Kadar to bow his head slightly in frustration. He knew it was too good to be true, but what really got him was the voice that entered his mind. "Kadar you are under arrest under the order of the Conclave, will you comply?"
Not again, well at least his friend…
No sooner had the thought began another voice slammed into his mind, laced with hatred and contempt. "You no good son of an Omhara! You wrecked my quarters¬now I'm going to make you pay!"
For a templar, he sure is open with his feelings towards me, but at least he's honest.
Kadar turns to see a platoon of zealots and dragoons lead by the hunter and the templar he had confronted back in Antioch. Kadar sighs.
"Not you two again."
Author Notes: This chapter took a while to compile together, I thank my real life friend Walker of Shadow for helping me with this chapter and making sure all my lore is correct, for although I am a Starcraft fan, he has been a bigger one for a longer time, and I'm quite grateful for that. Reviews are greatly appreciated!
