Part Six: The Drill Points the Way

On the top of the mountain overlooking the jedi temple, Daneel and Zharn sat across from Grogg. The padawan felt like he was in a crossfire between the elder shaman and his jedi master. Beads of sweat formed on his brow as his eyes wandered from the visor of the miraluka to the eyes of the other orc. Neither displayed any hint of disappointment or displeasure in him, but Grogg still felt uncomfortable. The mood on the climb up had been jovial amongst the three of them, but as usual Grogg was the last to the top and the two elder jedi had already seated themselves with crossed legs with calm yet strangely stern expressions. The sudden seriousness in the two men made the padawan nervous. Was this another test or had Daneel learned of his bold mistake during his lesson with Kai'moira earlier that morning? Silence followed for several minutes while nervous sweat continued to pour from Grogg's pores. The padawn found it near unbearable and was about to speak just to hear something, but it was Zharn who spoke first.

"Are you a proud orc, Grogg?" the shaman asked. Taken aback, Grogg just stared at him wide-eyed. "Not the kind of question you expected?" The padawan shook his head. He was expecting something about what he had done, but not quite in this manner.

"Master Kai'moira told me of what happened during your session with her this morning," Daneel said. "That you actually tried to change your DNA."

"You told her you hate your green skin and wanted to change it to the brown tone of our forefathers," Zharn added. "You are like me…born after those times when Ner'zhul and Gul'dan sold us into Sargeras' slavery. Unlike our fathers, we never knew what it was like to have brown skin…so why…"

"I don't hate my green skin," Grogg interrupted. "I just said that our people were not meant to be like this and asked if there was a way to change back to what we were."

"It goes much deeper than that," Daneel stated calmly. "I can sense it in you, my padawan. There is a deep desire in you that wishes you looked differently than you do."

"Was it your time living in Outland? Was that why you never wanted to return to Azeroth? I know orcs still live there as we were before the betrayal," Zharn added.

"It's…it's nothing like that at all," Grogg protested. For a moment there was silence as the two men held him in their gaze. More sweat formed on his brow and began running down the sides of his face. "What?" He expected another barrage of questions…more of this inquisition…at least it was beginning to feel like one to Grogg, but confusion overcame him when the two men looked at each other and smiled. "What?"

Zharn chuckled and looked down at the jedi temple. Daneel gave a slight nod and spoke to his padawan. "I think I know who she is."

"I should have expected this," the shaman laughed. "So I have lost this wager, my friend."

"I told you who I thought was behind this…or more to the point the reason behind this desire to act as he had attempted," Daneel responded with mirth. "And a deal is a deal…you have to…"

"What are you two talking about?" Grogg asked interrupting them. The jedi master and shaman looked at each other and laughed. "It's nice to see you two are enjoying this, but can you please fill me in on what is going on? What wager? Who is this she?"

"He has to admit it, or the bet is off," Zharn said to Daneel. "He has to say her name."

"Who's name?" the padawan asked.

"The woman you admire so much as to want to change your appearance to get her attention," Daneel replied. Grogg's eyes widened as the realization sank in. They knew. "She is a very beautiful woman. I can't say I blame you for being attracted to her, but I can assure you she would not want you to change anything…especially if she has those same feelings for you."

"You think no one has noticed?" Zharn said. "The way you sneak a peak whenever you can when she is around…you stand near her when we gather as a group…the way your expression changes to one of longing whenever she speaks…you're smitten and we can all see it."

"Our wives suggested we have this talk with you, but I have been waiting allowing you time to act on how you feel. When Kai'moira told me about your lessons this morning and what you had done…although she was not sure why, I knew, and that made me realize now was the time to have this talk with you," Daneel added.

"Have I been that obvious?" the padawan asked.

"Yes," Daneel and Zharn answered together.

"I wanted to change my skin tone…I admit it…because I wanted to be more attractive to her…if that's even possible," Grogg confessed while lowering his head. "But her race sees orcs as beasts…unthinkable, warmongering…beasts. I thought that just maybe if my skin was like our forefathers then perhaps I would look less like a beast in her eyes. If my skin was not this ugly green color then perhaps she might also find me worthy…so I tried to change that…but I can't…and she will never love me."

Zharn reached over and placed his hand on Grogg's left shoulder. The padawan looked up…sadness etched across his face. "You think my wife cares how I look?" Zharn asked. "She is a beautiful woman…a draenei…and yet she loves me completely despite my green skin and tusks and sometimes look like a beast. But she doesn't care about such things. She loves me because of who I am…not what I look like."

"And the woman you find yourself attracted to shares many of those same views," Daneel added. "I know…I trained her for over a year. She does not seek outer beauty as much as she desires those attributes that come from the heart. You have a greater chance at winning her affections than you imagine."

Grogg nodded and stood up. Looking down at the two elders of the jedi order he said, "I need some time alone to think on this." And with that he turned and walked off seeking solitude some distance away on the mountain top. Daneel and Zharn watched Grogg walk away from them, both men smiling. After the younger orc had left earshot, the shaman leaned over towards the miraluka as he watched Grogg find a tree and sit down near its trunk.

"He doesn't know…even now…that she is just as smitten with him," the orc said smiling.

"He does not…and she does not know he loves her," Daneel responded. "She is always giving him little touches…a hand on the arm…rubbing his back when he is out of breath after sparring…and she is always watching him with hope in her eyes. They do not know it yet, but they are destined to be together."

"We gotta get these two kids together," Zharn said with a chuckle. "But I think that is something better left for our wives to arrange."

"Agreed," the jedi replied. "Now…about our bet…"

Celeste stood in the temple courtyard watching the mountain where Daneel, Zharn, and Grogg climbed while behind her Illiana sparred with Dorak. Unlike her sessions with the weaponmaster, the elf's lessons were slower paced with several breaks for instruction and demonstration. But as she watched the three men climbing, the jedi was nearly oblivious to the lightsaber clashes behind her. From her distance she could barely make out the three men as small dots that moved upwards along the mountain face. One brown dot next a blue one, but her attention focused on the other brown dot under them. They reached the top near dusk, and now as the light dimmed from the setting sun she remained focused on the mountaintop waiting for the three of them to begin their descent. When she saw that they were spending the night on the mountain, she turned around to find that Illiana and Dorak had ended their session and departed leaving her alone. In fact there was no one nearby. It was then she also realized, as she looked down, that she had stood there watching them for several hours while holding her hand over heart. With a sigh she turned back to face the mountain and knelt on the ground. Closing her eyes she reached out through the Force and with the inner eye projected her vision to the top of the mountain. This variation of Force Sight she learned from her former master and was one of his first lessons to her in Eversong Woods. The world appeared to her in much the same way that her master described was his normal vision. There was no light or dark, just varying shades of a golden hue over everything with faint hints of color. She found Daneel and Zharn sitting near a campfire. With this form of Force Sight, Daneel appeared with a bright golden glow with the Force flowing all around and through him. Zharn had a similar glow, but not as intense as the jedi's, and while the Force flowed around him it did not exactly go through him as it did her former master. The miraluka was leaning over the back of the orc, and in his had was a small device she knew was for hair trimming, and the orc's once long and braided beard dangled from his clenched fist. The shaman was not angry, but wore a resigned expression telling Celeste that he accepted his end of the bargain which apparently was the beard he had worn for as long as she had known him. Now, except for his eyebrows, the shaman was completely shorn on his head. Inwardly she smiled knowing something had happened between the old friends…some kind of wager she guessed and her former master had won…and then she frowned as she realized Grogg was not with them. She looked around and sensed him some thirty yards away. Moving in his direction, Celeste found him sitting cross-legged at the base of a tree, arms propped up on his knees with his chin resting in his hands. Like Daneel he was bathed in a bright golden glow with the Force flowing around and through him…and he was beautiful to her. His brow was furrowed as if he was in deep thought. She reached out to touch him…to touch his cheek and reassure him, and then remembered that she was not physically there on the mountaintop with him. With a sigh she retreated back to her body in the valley. Opening her pale blue eyes she looked back up at the mountain and without thinking brought her hand back over her heart.

For the next two days she observed the orc and was frustrated that at times he seemed to purposely avoid her. Not that it was something hard to do, with the new arrivals everyone was excited and split off with Dorak, Kai'moira, or Olivaw at one time or another getting to know each other and learn more about the galaxy they came from. Grogg spent a lot of this time with Kai'moira as he continued to learn the healing arts of the Force. For Daneel his visits were times to catch up with what was happening in their home galaxy, but more importantly to learn about what his sister had done in his absence. Celeste knew her former master well enough to know that although outwardly he appeared to have moved past his grief, there were times she saw him alone or with Demira and she knew by observing their body language that he was hit hard by Zufa's death. This morning, she watched as the jedi grand master and his wife walked across the valley to the jedi temple. As usual they held hands as they walked, but this morning Celeste noticed that from time to time they would stop and he would lower his head to her shoulder.

Illiana again was sparring with Dorak while Olivaw had brought a chair nearby to sit and watch. He played with his guns…blasters he called them…and sometimes boasted that a good blaster was better than a lightsaber. The day before, to prove his point, he shot a bird flying high overhead. Kuro was angered until just before coming to the ground it spread its wings and flew away. She scowled at the smuggler who only laughed and claimed his weapons were set to a light stun and that he would never kill a helpless animal unless survival demanded such. There was also the moment not long after that incident when Kai'moira approached wearing one of the sexiest outfits Celeste had seen created by Kitali. The slender chiss woman wore a billowy top with long sleeves and a collared yet plunging neckline. It was dark red with black bands at the wrists and across her chest where the top ended just below her breasts. From her waist down was a matching full length skirt with a black belt and a long triangular pattern that started at each hip and ended just between her feet. A long whistle from the smuggler stopped the sparring jedi, and even warranted a glare from Illiana towards Olivaw. Kai'moira also opted to wear her hair loosely down across her shoulders, and Celeste realized just how beautiful the jedi healer was. Beside her was the draenei obviously proud of the new design wearing a similar dress that was white with dark blue trimming. Nobody was surprised at Zharn's whistle and subsequent lifting of his wife and telling everyone they would return in a few hours as he carried her off back into the jedi temple…Kitali giggling the whole time. Apparently she loved the newly shaved orc just as much as she loved him with his long braided beard. Celeste still had not learned what led to that wager and how Zharn had lost to Daneel.

Now she stood on the balcony of the third level of the temple looking out to where Grogg and Kai'moira sat in the middle of the valley in a small grove of trees. Her hands rested on the newly carved railing as she leaned out and closed her eyes. Today she wore her own version of Kitali's new design that was emerald green with white trim.

"It's an amazing view from up here," she heard Dorak say behind her. Celeste turned to see the weaponmaster standing on the far side of the oval room. He was wearing new brown robes Daneel had crafted for him the day before. Only Olivaw continued to wear the same black duster since their arrival. Dorak was standing with his hands clasped behind his back as he walked across the room to join her on the balcony. "You missed our sparring session," he said as he stopped to join her looking out over the valley.

"I'm sorry, Master Dorak," she answered. "This morning I guess my mind is a little preoccupied."

"No worries," he replied. "Sometimes it's good to take a break and meditate on what you have learned…or on what troubles you." She looked over at him to see him smiling as he still looked out towards Kai'moira and Grogg. "This really is an amazing view."

Celeste looked back out towards her padawan. "Master…could I ask you something?"

"Of course."

"How did you know you loved Zufa? I mean…when you did you know?"

Dorak chuckled as he unclasped his hands and rested them on the railing. "I knew the moment I saw her."

"So you…you approached her right away?" the young woman asked.

"Not at all," he replied with a shake of his head. "I was much too nervous to approach her about my feelings for about the next four years." He looked over to Celeste. "Not only did our order frown upon romantic relationships, but she was easily the most beautiful woman I had ever met and the sister of my closest friend. I was afraid of what she would say when I told her. Would she reciprocate my feelings? Would she report me to the masters of the academy and thusly end my chance at becoming a jedi? And how would Daneel react? She was, after all, his little sister. All of those questions plagued my mind whenever I was around her."

"It's such an unbearable feeling," she said quietly. "Not knowing."

"I take it you have not told him how you feel?" Dorak asked causing Celeste to look over at him. His smile was warm, kind, and friendly. "May I ask why?"

"I don't know that he could even have an interest in me beyond being a fellow jedi," the woman answered. "I doubt he could ever feel the same way about me that I feel about him."

"I don't understand how he couldn't," Dorak stated. "You are a beautiful woman and a powerful jedi…"

"And I am a human," she said interrupting him. "I know where you come from races intermingle all of the time, but on Azeroth that is not so common. His race and mine hate each other. I'm not saying he would hold the same prejudice against me, but I highly doubt that he would find me beautiful."

"Are you so certain?" Dorak asked and then pointed with his chin. Celeste looked out to see Kitali and Zharn walking in the courtyard holding hands. "From what I have been told their peoples hate each other as well, but those two are very much in love despite the feelings of their respective races."

"Their situation is different," Celeste said as she watched the shaman couple.

"If you look at your situation that way and never act…you will never know," Dorak said as he released the railing and turned to walk out of the room. "It took me years to find my happiness with Zufa and there are days now I wished I had acted sooner. Now that she is gone I cherish every single day I spent with her…if only I had more of them…if I had told her sooner how I felt instead of waiting years I would have those days to cherish as well."

As Dorak walked out of the room, Celeste looked back out to where Kai'moira and Grogg had started walking back to towards the jedi temple. She bit her lip in concentration as she thought about what the weaponmaster had just told her.

"Can you hand me the hydrospanner?" Daneel asked as he lay under the console of the new machine being constructed to house and hold the noetikons and their vast amount of information. The large rectangular base was ten feet deep, twenty feet wide, and stood three feet tall. The console sat above it with an additional foot overhang on the front and sides with a raised dais about six inches tall with three holo interface and suspensor fields to hold the individual noetikons in place. Across the back was an elaborate nine inch thick brace which held holo projectors and various sound devices for communication with the holo images that would act as the device's interface. It was as close a duplicate as Daneel could fabricate to the original noetikon computer back in the jedi temple on Tython. Currently his head and shoulders were hidden from view inside the base, and he held out his left hand waiting for the tool he requested.

"Windi is going to be upset when she finds out you did all this work without her," Demira said with mirth as she handed her husband the hydrospanner. She was sitting next to the base and under the overhang with a box filled with several types of tools scavenged from the sith base in Eversong Woods, the jedi's crashed ship, and the Titan base north of them. "Her last message was very cryptic, don't you think?"

"I find that most of her messages are cryptic," the jedi answered with a chuckle as he accepted the tool which quickly disappeared into the base. His tan breaches and top had a few grease smudges, but Demira's similarly styled red clothing was spotless. "But I do find it perplexing that whatever she discovered was important enough to keep her there the past two days instead of coming here as she planned. She's been looking forward to working on this project almost as much as I have."

"Whatever it is has to be something very technical or scientific," Demira added. "Especially after she helped to design and build the noetikons we gave to Tyrande and Alexstrasza to fill with knowledge." She leaned over to look into the panel. There was just enough light to see Daneel's face as he worked on something above him. "What do you suppose it might be that has her so excited?"

"It's the drill!" Windi shouted as she walked in from the other side of the room. Demira looked over to see the gnome with pink hair tied up into two ponytails and wearing a set of black coveralls. One thing that was constant about Windi…she was always changing her hair color. From inside the machine there was a clattering of tools and an exclamation from the jedi as he banged his head against something in reaction to Windi's statement. "It's moved!"

Demira sat up and looked at the gnome while Daneel crawled out from inside the machine. He held his hand to his forehead to staunch a trickle of blood from a small cut just above his visor. "What do you mean it moved?" he asked.

"It's moved…or it did before the mechagnomes reverted it back to its original position."

"Who moved it?" the mage asked.

"No one…that's the dilemma that's confused me for the past day," Windi answered as she stopped near the couple. She smiled and sat down cross-legged on the ground. "There are about ten of us working and studying the machines in the facility, but none of us ever go near the drill. There's nothing new to discover…until yesterday…when it moved. I noticed something was amiss when the mechagnomes around me all started heading to the drill. I followed them to see what they were doing, and I swear that thing was almost twenty degrees off. Within an hour they had it pointed down again, but I was curious as to what caused it to change in the first place."

"What was it?" the couple asked together.

"I don't know," she answered.

Demira and Daneel looked at each other and then back at the gnome. "You don't know?" they asked.

"Nope…but I have a theory," she replied with a smile. "I found an activity log for the device. Seems that in the beginning, when it was installed, there were centuries where it was constantly straying from target. The mechagnomes would fix the targeting and then change the programming to adjust for whatever pulled it off track so that similar or exact occurrences would not affect it again." She reached into a pouch at her waist and pulled out a folded sheet. She handed it to the jedi who unfolded it and examined the scribbles made by Windi. Demira leaned over her husband's shoulder to see what the gnome had written. "At first they had to make adjustments for weather conditions, solar radiation, gravitic shifts along the planet's ley lines, and all other kinds of natural phenomena. As the different races discovered magic and arcane energies, their use of those caused minor changes in the ley lines thus altering the alignment of the drill. Once those corrections were made, the drill didn't move. Now this happened a lot, like I said, for the first few centuries, but for the past twelve thousand years there have been only five occurrences when the drill moved."

"You mean it had been stabilized?" Daneel asked and the gnome answered with a nod. "So these last five times are anomalies?"

"Yeppers," she said with a smile. "The first one was…roughly…ten thousand years ago. Then the next one after that was about fifty to sixty years ago. My ability to read Titan is still rough so that's about as close as I could narrow the timeframe. Then the third was about five years ago."

Demira and Daneel again looked at each other and then back at the gnome. "That last one…are you certain of the time?" Demira asked.

"Uh-huh…about the same time Daneel arrived on Azeroth," Windi answered. "When I saw that I checked into similar types of events…the War of the Ancients and then the activation of the Dark Portal when the orcs first arrived here. Both events fit with the times when the drill moved."

"The ancient portal was when Sargeras first tried to come to Azeroth through a very powerful portal enhanced through the use of energies from the Well of Eternity," Demira said quietly.

"And I checked the direction of the drill's change in position…and it was at what is now the Maelstrom. But ten thousand years ago that was the location of the Well and the portal the highborne used to bring the Burning Legion to Azeroth." Windi stood and started pacing. Demira's gaze followed the gnome while Daneel continued to examine the paper she had handed him. "The direction of the drill at the second instance was towards the location of the Dark Portal. Now the funny thing is that when it was destroyed and then later rebuilt the reactivation had no affect on the drill…the programming corrections must have been made and since it was essentially the same device the drill remained unchanged. The third time it pointed towards Eversong Woods…where Daneel's fold in space and time coincided with your portal…and what brought him here from a distant galaxy. Each instance there was tremendous forces of energy and they each somehow affected the drill's alignment."

"But the mechagnomes corrected the problem each time and reprogrammed it to ignore similar instances," Daneel said. "So each portal in those three instances was different from each other…just enough…that the drill was affected."

"Precisely," Windi said with a point of her hand as she continued pacing back and forth before them.

"But you said this has happened five times…you have only mentioned three," Demira stated. Windi nodded as she stopped pacing. "What about the other two? When did they happen?"

"That's the confusing part," the gnome answered. "Both times were in the past week." Daneel finally looked up from the paper. "I saw the strangers outside…friends of yours?"

"Two jedi and a smuggler from the same galaxy I came from. Old friends of mine, in fact, that had been looking for me when they encountered a similar spacial rift that tore my ship apart."

"Using the same technique as yours, I bet, but without the corresponding portal on this end…and came here through blind luck or your Force…but still different enough from your arrival that the drill moved," Windi said as she sat back down. "That was last week. But yesterday it moved again. Now both times it pointed south towards Kalimdor."

"Dorak, Kai'moira, and Olivaw arrived in Ashenvale," Demira added.

Windi looked at Daneel specifically. "Have you had any other friends arrive?"

Daneel shook his head. "But I might have a theory of my own. Raeva is near Desolace investigating Mannoroc Coven. The druids in the area were concerned that the Burning Blade clan and the satyrs had become quiet and almost ceased venturing outside that region."

"The first two instances were caused by magical portals here on Azeroth…first to bring the Burning Legion and ultimately Sargeras, and then the orcs who were his thralls at the time," Demira said. "Satyrs were originally highborne elves who were corrupted by Sargeras in that ancient war and are believed to always strive to bring the Legion back to Azeroth. What if they have succeeded in opening another portal to the demon's realm?"

At that moment Illiana ran into the room drawing everyone's attention. Her hair was disheveled as were the black robes she wore. A worried expression etched her face. "Master Daneel," she said out of breath. "I've felt a disturbance in the Force…have you heard from my mother? She normally contacts us every day or two, but it's been over four days now and it's not like her to be out of contact for this long. I feel something bad has happened to her."

Raeva clung to life in a small, unnamed outpost on the southern edge of the Cenarian Wildlands. Aeyrn and Adaria had brought her to this place in hopes of finding a druid capable of healing her wounds, but so far the two practitioners they found were mostly unsuccessful. They could keep her alive, but something in the wound prevented it from mending properly, and in desperation they had sent for more healers from nearby Karnum's Glade, but even they were unsuccessful. During the last two days as they attended to the elven jedi, she woke briefly only once and spoke one word…Illiana.

Aeyrn had searched through the elf's possessions as the healers worked to save her life, and in one of her pouches he found a small round device that he recognized as one used by the jedi for some form of communication, but this one had been damaged as bare wires and part of the plating was missing. After the first day when none of the healing seemed to help Raeva, he looked at his sister and with an unspoken understanding transformed into a raven and took flight. He was now over the sea between Kalimdor and Northrend. He hoped he could reach the jedi and return to Raeva in time to save her.

All of the jedi sat around the large table in the dining room of the jedi temple. Daneel sat at the head while Demira sat on the far side across from him. To his left sat Kai'moira, Dorak, Grogg, and Celeste while on his right were Kuro, Kitali, Zharn, Windi, and Illiana. Joining them, but not at the table, was Olivaw who leaned back in his chair trying to appear bored. The jedi grand master rested his elbows on the tabletop and looked at each member of their order.

"I've called you all here to give you some troubling news," he started. "As most of you know, the Cenarian Circle approached Ysera for assistance in investigating Mannoroc Coven in Desolace. The satyrs and Burning Blade Clan had been acting strangely which concerned them greatly. Ysera in turn asked me for assistance in this matter, and Illiana's mother volunteered to go to Desolace and uncover what was happening in that region of Kalimdor. Earlier today Illiana told me of a disturbance in the Force she felt around her mother. I have also reached out to her through the Force and sense that she is in great pain…and her life is in jeopardy." Concern crossed the faces of all those present in the room. Even the smuggler sat up in his chair no longer trying to act aloof. "I am convinced Raeva has discovered something that has placed her in great peril…and we must act."

"I have already contacted the other flights regarding this," Kuro added. "Tariolstrasz and Vethsera are flying here from Wyrmrest Temple, and the three of us will fly south to Desolace on the morrow."

"You will not be going alone," Daneel said as he looked at Illiana. "I do not presume to keep you here as it is your mother who is in danger. I doubt I could keep you here if I wanted to, so you will go south as well." He looked over to the chiss healer. "Normally, Kai, I would ask you to join them since you are the best healer I know, but there are no chiss on this world and your presence would draw a lot of attention…and right now the less attention we garner the better."

"Grogg is more than capable," the jedi master replied. The orc padawan looked at her with wide eyes. "He has more natural ability in the healing arts than he realizes, and I feel he is ready for this kind of trial in his training."

Without thinking or realizing she did so, Celeste reached over and grabbed Grogg's hand. He looked are her in shock, but if the others in the room noticed her action and his reaction they said nothing.

"I'm going also," Olivaw said standing up from his chair. All eyes turned towards him…as well as Daneel. "This is a rescue mission…to call it anything else would be a lie…and who do you know of that is better in rescues than me?"

"You are the best I know of, that is true," Daneel answered. "But…like Kai…there are no zabrak on this world…"

"That's a load of banthashit and you know it," Olivaw retorted. "One of your own is caught behind enemy lines…and nobody gets left behind…"

"And she won't be," Daneel said interrupting the smuggler. "But I cannot send you with them." Olivaw started to protest again but the jedi grand master held up his hand. "I would prefer to have a jedi master along with the others at this time." He looked over at Dorak. "I hate to ask this, my old friend…"

"You don't have to," the weaponmaster replied. "I would consider it an honor and a privilege to join them. I also will look out for our two padawans here and teach them what I can while we are on this mission." He looked over to Celeste and gave her a nod.

Daneel looked across the table to Demira while the smuggler sat back in his chair with a huff. "Hon…like we spoke earlier they will need a portal opened to Darnassus when they depart in the morning." The mage nodded while Daneel looked at Kuro. She smiled at the jedi knowing what he was doing…a portal to Darnassus would cut at least a day off their journey. He stood up and leaned on the table. "Now…you six will be our expeditionary force," he said to all of them. "Windi has also made a discovery that I feel is linked to the danger Raeva faces or is facing. She will return to the Titan fortress and monitor the drill. It has been changing its aim when large portals have emerged throughout history…most recently being yesterday morning and located roughly in Desolace. While we have no concrete evidence to support this theory….I am making the decision to act on this as if it were fact…I believe the satyrs and orcs in that region have begun to open a portal and being that they are demon followers…they are opening one to allow the return of the Burning Legion."

Those in the room native to Azeroth gasped. Kai'moira and Dorak looked at the others not quite understanding what Daneel was saying. Olivaw stood up again. "What's a burning legion?" he asked.

"The Burning Legion is the demonic army of the demon lord Sargeras," Kitali answered. "They have been to this world twice before and each time almost destroyed it before they were driven back to their realm. They seek the death of all living things…all living things. If they are set to return now…with the Horde and Alliance warring as they are…then the timing of their arrival couldn't be worse."

"If Go'el were leading the Horde, I know he would end the fighting with the Alliance to fight the demonic army," Zharn added. "But he is not Warchief…Garrosh Hellscream is…and he will not stop his war with the Alliance…not even to face the Burning Legion. Any other Warchief I think might, but not him."

"And so long as Garrosh continues his war, Varian Wrynn cannot divert his forces to help us either," Demira added. "I have already contacted Tyrande Whisperwind via holocom. The druids will aid us should our theory prove correct…and her spouse fears it might be. We don't have time to try and contact the Argent Crusade…they are mostly in the Eastern Kingdoms in and around the Dark Portal or in Outland."

"I'll head to the Maelstrom," Kitali said. "I'll talk to the Elder Council of the Earthen Ring. I'm certain they would join us in this. Go'el is occupied in Orgrimmar at the present time, but other shamans could prove valuable in a fight against the Burning Legion."

Daneel nodded to the draenei. "The rest of us will travel by conventional means to Desolace. Dorak…keep in regular contact with us via holocom. I don't think the Legion has come through the portal yet, but should you discover they have then we will have to accelerate our plans. Otherwise we will meet you at Karnum's Glade just outside Mannoroc Coven about a week after your arrival. Tonight…everyone get plenty of rest. Tomorrow, we depart for the south…and for Desolace."