-Chapter 29-
-Meeting of Allies-
-Some time prior to the fight between Kerrigan and Tassadar's Hallucination -
Dust kicked up over the dry windswept plains of Char, partly covering the hills and ground as the red dust was kicked up by strong winds like a sand storm over the land limiting range of vision. With heavy foot falls on the cracked dry earth Raynor and his men marched on wards after being stranded on the Zerg infested world. The newly infested Kerrigan and Nova destroyed their base and Horner and Warfield with the fleet were forced to retreat or risk being destroyed by the Swarm. Raynor marched on wards through the dry dust storm, taking a moment to look back at his remaining men. The weight of all the lives that had been lost just because he wanted to rescue Kerrigan pressed on his shoulders like a great weight. Gritting his teeth He turned forwards continuing on his march. Where they were going and to where they would go was not really on his mind. They had no means of communicating with the Terran dominion so calling for a pick up was out of the question especially with the Zerg guarding the planet so heavily. It would be suicide for any rescue party. They could perhaps blitz their way into the atmosphere after making a close planetary jump from warpspace but unless they knew where exactly Raynor and his men were they would just fly around until surrounded and destroyed.
Raynor came upon a large house sized boulder circling around it. On the other side of it he spotted a large cavity in the stone hill large enough to be used as a temporary shelter. Turning back to his men he waved them onwards. They followed him and all gathered in the half sphere cavity of the large boulder. They were out of the sand storm and could take a breather and let their suits power down a bit to conserve energy. Normally a CMC- 300 suit could last for a few days so they had at least that long before worrying about air at least. Raynor picked a wall and sit down leaning against it and placing his rifle against the wall beside himself.
"Sir what now?" asked a younger soldier. Must have been a new recruit. His voice sounded worried and young even through the speakers he lacked any of the sighs a experienced soldier would have.
"We have a few days of life support with our suits." Raynor replied, his voice stoic and not showing any emotion or strain. He couldn't be seen as weak or the moral of his men would suffer.
"Horner, General Warfield and the fleet should be fully repaired and ready in a few days. But the problem is getting in contact with them."
Raynor sighed glancing at his suits HUD display indicated his long ranged com pod on the side of his helmet was destroyed. It had happened when Nova almost took his head off. Never thought that day would come He thought.
"If we can get in contact with them in time they can blitz their way to the surface and pick us up and then warp out."
"What about the Protoss?" Sergeant Jon littlefield partly suggested and partly asked.
Raynor glanced in the Sergeants direction, thinking.
"We did pick up their arrival over Char but they just watched as our battle with the Zerg went on. They were maybe just watching us with no care but..." Raynor suddenly remembered the one time on Antiga prime when he meet Tassadar. The alien seemed quit honorable and perhaps willing to help Raynor and his men. That is if they could find them.
"Sir?" said Littlefield.
Raynor looked at him. "Hm? Oh sorry. Lost in thought. If we wait for rescue we may not last long enough. But the Protoss may, be willing to help us. If we can find them."
From what Hornor reported about the Protoss ship, they landed on the planet somewhere far east of the Terrans current position. Even though that's irrelevant now it still left a sore spot in Raynor's heart. As the sand storm raged outside Raynors mind drifted to the days after the battle on Tarsonis and the formation of the new Terran Dominion.
-The past-
In the newly completed Mengsk private apartments a blond man watched through a upper window as the new city was built up in the ruins of the old. Construction workers, civilian SCVs and bots all worked twenty four seven in shifts to build the new capital city of the new Terran Dominion including the imperial palace visible a few dozen miles away. The newly inducted Emperor Valerian Mengsk turned around taking a seat behind his impressive desk which was currently covered in several piles of paperwork. He would rather be out exploring a alien ruin as his chosen profession had been archaeology. Mainly Xeno archaeology. But several years before he had meet and made a deal with a certain blue haired devil as he called her, for the cure to his mothers cancer. She lived and his deal with the blue haired devil was sealed. Valerian leaned back in his shape conforming chair relaxing a bit as the fome adapted perfectly to his shape and temperature. He was still getting used to his new position but at least he had the teachers his father had pressed on him and their lessons so he was somewhat prepared for this role.
The intercom beeped. "Sir your guests are here." reported the Emperor's personal secretary.
Valerian pressed a part of his desks touch screen. "Let them in."
Valerian sighed somewhat regretting the fact he was here now. But what's done was done. Especially after shooting his own father, the then leader of the Sons of Korhal. But after the evidence all came to light about how Mengsk had used the Psi-emitter not once but twice to lure the Zerg to attack Terran worlds the rebellion was quickly losing what support it had from, its supporters and partly falling apart from internal conflict. Some of the more die hard members were of the mind Mengsk was just doing what was necessary while the majority were outraged that Arcturus would do such a thing. But all that blew over quickly after the news about Valerian and what he had done became public. He had stood up to his father and killed him to end the made man's scheme, pushing all the blame onto his shoulders and that of his still alive accomplice general Duke. Valerian chuckled to himself a moment before the double doors to his office opened. Raynor, Horner and the newly reinstated Horace Warfield all in high ranking officer uniforms walked to the emperors desk and saluted.
"Sir you called for us." Said Raynor.
Valerian gestured to the chairs. "Yes have a seat. Raynor you said you have been having odd dreams lately?"
"Yes. I believe it may be Kerrigan trying to contact me."
Horace scoffed. "I know that you and her have history but its highly unlikely that shes still alive."
Raynor glanced at the aging general. "I know that things are difficult right now what with the reconstruction and the political bs rebuilding the government and gathering supporters but leaving one of the most powerful ghosts in history in the hands of the Zerg can't be good for anyone."
Horace just grunted lowering his eyes. "You have some solid points Raynor but don't think of using your new rank just cause to go rescue your old girlfriend."
Both Raynor and Horace glared at each other.
"Now now you two don't go killing each other before the Zerg do." spoke the fourth member in the room.
Valerian and the others gave Haruka a sideways glance as she layed on the long velvet couch along the wall. Haruka was casually filing her nails without a care in the world. Even though She had been with Valerian since his ascendency to emperor hood she was not the blue haired devil that had came to him those years ago purposing to cure his mother of her affliction. No that honor belonged to another who looked just like Haruka but was obviously quite different.
Valerian started at her. "Haruka if you don't have anything constructive to add please return to your own office. Im sure you have as much work on your table as I do."
Haruka stopped filling her nails giving Valerian a cold and calm look that could send cold shivers down a man's spine.
"Ok since you asked nicely." Haruka stood up walking to the door. "But just so you know I think Raynors right. It may cause unforeseen consequences if those two are left in the Zergs hands."
Everyone breathed a little easier once Haruka was out of the room. Horner turned to Valerian with a raised eyebrow. "Sir. Why do you let her walk around like she owns the place? That's the forth time i've seen her invite herself into your office like that."
Valerian gave a subdued laugh. "Trust me Horner i've tried everything but it's like she can teleport or something. And i'm pretty sure she does things like that just to tease or mess with me. Even so she's a invaluable member of the new government. I wouldn't be as popular or have a as stable hold over the surviving old families and planetary governments of the former confederate worlds as I have if it wasn't for her help."
Horace gave a disapproving grunt. "Still sir I don't think it's in the new dominions best interest to keep her around forever. My gut tells me she has ulterior motives that may... not be in our best interest's."
Raynor crossed his arms and shrugged. "Can't say I disagree with you. Harukas definitely up to something but we don't really know all that much about her. So we shouldn't make a move until we know who or what were dealing with."
The two men shared a moment of matching ideals as they worried over the new Terran dominion.
Valerian clasped his hands together. "Well I do agree with the two of you but things aren't as simple as that. You all know how my mother has been supporting ever since I became the emperor..."
The word choked in his mouth still not completely used to the fact he went from being on the run with his sickly mother to being the emperor of the Dominion in just a few years and with little effort on his part.
Hornor shifted in his seat. "Yes. From what i've heard she had a carcinoid tumor, correct."
Valerian nodded slowly gently as if his neck would break from the words alone. "Yes, Usually it's treatable. But what with our running around from one planet to another trying to keep one step ahead of the confederacy agents we had little time to spend at any one hospital and money... was not always available to get my mom the treatment she needed."
"It was bad. The Carcinoid tumor is slow in it's growth and grow's in several places throughout the body and it often begins in the stomach, appendix, small intestine and other places. Symptoms often don't appear until late in the disease and are vague.
Valerian crossed his arms. "Someone very close to Haruka came to me years ago when my mothers symptoms became much worse. Her name was Ellen and she looked very much like Haruka. In fact I was at first of the mind that the two were twin sisters but they teasingly alluded to some other type of relationship. Ellen asked me to do something for her in exchange for curing mother. As you can see I took her up on the offer."
"Ellen huh!" Raynor exclaimed.
All eyes were on him.
"Do you know of her Raynor ?" asked Valerian.
Raynor looked Valerian in the eyes. "Yeah. She was a Sons of Korhal agent I meet on Tarsonis during the invasion back then. And It was her that sent Kerrigan and Nova to the Psi-disruptor to use it to open a escape route in the Zerg blockade."
"I see." Valerian was even more curious about this Ellen now. "So she knew the where about's of a top secret confederate technology and sent both Kerrigan and Nova there to activate it and disrupt the Zerg blockade around Tarsonis. But now you Raynor are having dreams about Kerrigan being alive. It seems to fishy to be a coincidence. It may reveal more about what Ellen and Haruka are planning and intending if we could retrieve Kerrigan and Nova if she's also alive."
-Present-
Raynor leaned back against the stone wall as the winds of the sand storm died down before stopping. He and the others watched as the sunlight beamed in from the clouds creating a beautiful spectacle of light and fluffy cloud strips colored both white, red and some pink creating a pleasing sight of natural beauty in the sky. Raynor even from his position could admire the view and the fact that even a world as deadly and in hospitable as Char could have its own beauty. They all spent a few minutes taking in the spectacle. The clouds shifting color and shape as the winds blew them through the sky. Feeling the time was right Raynor stood up shouldering his weapon.
"Alright boys lets get a move out."
As they marched out into the sunny sky Raynor vowed to survive and learn the truth behind what Ellen and Haruka are doing and what their really after.
Hours later a glint of light caught Raynors attention. Off in the distance he caught sight of a Protoss Scout plane flying over a wide open valley. The contingent of Terrans watched as the golden craft seamlessly whipped around in a perfect U turn at the end of the Valley now flying towards the west (Raynors right) Luckily the hills had gentle slop's that ended at the base of a rocky mountain range.
"Captain?" Sergeant Littlefield stated in question.
"Were following it. Prepare for some hard climbing."
Thirty minutes later the Terrans were at the base of the hill taking large steps as they marched up the mountains more traversable zones. One hour more and they had crossed the mountain getting lucky and finding a path all the way through it. Coming to the other side they arrived at a long lake. On the other side they came to a impasse as many paths lay before them splitting into a maze of hills and paths. Raynor remembering a trick one of his friends pulled back during the guild wars one time. He had some of his men break down their radios and some extra gear cobbling together a pair of em wave dowsing rods. It was odd and unorthodox but effective as the Protoss were the only technological races on Char other then the Terrans troops so the rods would only react to their techs Electromagnetic emissions. At least Raynor hoped Protoss tech emitted EM waves. It was still a long shot but turned out a lucky brake as the rods kept pointing in one particular direction no matter what direction the person holding them turned to.
Going down the path the dossing rods showed them the Terrans crossed more hills and traversed a valley before coming to a large open caldera crater surrounded by volcanic mountains. Floating in the middle of the steam and heated fog clouds was a large Protoss carrier.
"Damn we found it!"
"My legs are beat can we rest now."
"Hope they eat meat because i'm starving."
"Better pray that they are the welcoming type first." stated Littlefield.
Raynor turned to his men. "Stow the chatter. I believe they were expecting us."
The marines looked off in the distance as a Protoss shuttle flew directly at them. It slowed its speed descending slightly as it passed through volcanic cloud banks before coming to a stop over a almost flat patch of land. Moments later several Protoss exited the craft and started walking over to the Terrans. They regarded the Terrans with curiosity before stopping and focusing their eyes on Raynor whom they singled out for some reason.
"You are the one known as Raynor are you not?" the lead Zealot asked.
"Yeah that's me. Where you one of the Protoss that were with Tassadar on Antiga prime?"
The lead Zealot nodded. "Yes. I remember you from back then. We did not think you were among the Terrans whom landed on Char. Nor expect you to survive the Queen of the Zergs attack?"
Taking the comment as a question Raynor shrugged and replied. "Me and Kerrigan or the Queen of the Zerg as she's calling herself know a days I guess, were comrades once. Guess she felt a little sentimental because she let me and my men here go. Don't expect her to be so charitable a second time though."
"I see." the lead Zealot glanced around at the Terrans. "Executor Tassadar requests that you all take shelter in his ship the Gantrithor."
The Zealots turned around walking back to the shuttle. Raynor turned to his men. "Well you heard the guy."
Once in the ship Tassadar met with Raynor at the shuttle dock. The Terrans were turning their heads every which way in the large inner hanger marveling at the Protoss ship and its tech. The many stacks of miniature manufacturing blocks that created replacement Drone fighters, Teleport platforms, Internal plasma shield bulkheads, rows of Scouts, Shuttles and Drone fighters among many other technologies that the Terrans had yet to dream of let alone develop themselves.
"Welcome Raynor it seems that we meet yet again. I'm glad that you survived the Zergs onslaught. Also the environment in the ships has been changed to suit your biology so you need not keep your suits seals closed."
Raynor trusting Tassadar popped his suits helmet seal and flipped his visor back before taking in a deep breath of fresh air. Sergeant Littlefield was surprised at Raynor for going by the words of a alien and just doing that without testing the air quality first.
"It's fresh air boys no need to keep your visors down." Raynor exclaimed.
The Terrans popped their helmet seals lifting their visors and breathing in deep breaths of relief at the less stuffy environment.
"Im thankful to you Executor for helping us. I don't mean to be a burden or interrupt your mission or anything. But while i'm at it would you mind explaining why you were here on char?"
Tassadar shifted his weight from one leg to another in a simple sigh of body language that even Raynor could understand. It said he was uncomfortable about something. Raynor had a clue as to who was the cause.
"I was on my way back to the Protoss homeworld with a sample of Terran technology we had detected on the world of Tarsonis. We engaged a Zerg Cerebrate who was attempting to destroy the device at the time. I only tell you this because I feel that it would be dishonorable to not explain the whole story."
"You mean the Psi-disruptor!" Raynor exclaimed in surprise.
Sergeant littlefield shrugged. "Why take some piece of confederate tech? I know what the thing did but I would assume you Protoss could have developed something like it yourselves but more advanced?"
Tassadar clenched his fists in part shame and in part curiosity at the same question.
"We Protoss have been at war with the Zerg for around two hundred of your Terran years now. And yes we have attempted to develop a means to disrupt the hive mind of the Zerg to cut their means of communication and sow confusion in their ranks. We have had some successes in that regard but the Zerg hive mind adapted to our methods of severing the psionic ties of their hive mind. Any further attempt we made only lasted for shorter durations of time. But the psi-disruptor as you call it, that we found on Tarsonis was different. While it was still incomplete it was still able to heavily disrupt the Zergs collective hive mind all across the planet and beyond."
"How would a Terran tech be more advanced than something built by you Protoss?" Raynor exclaimed in great surprise.
Tassadar shook his head lowering his gaze for a brief moment. "I do not know. But what our phase smiths were able to discover suggested that the Psi-disruptors psionic wave phase energy was of a different type then what we Protoss had developed in our equivalents."
"I don't get it?" said a random Terran.
Getting back on topic Raynor asked. "But what does the psi-disruptor have to do with why your here?"
"As I have said my fleet had been recalled to Protoss homeworld to explain my actions to the conclave. The governing body of the Protoss empire. During the trip I received a telepathic call. I could tell it came from a Terran and remember sensing them while I was aiding you Terrans on Antiga prime."
"It must have been Karrigan." Raynor stated.
"Yes. I believe she and I, while not actually meeting personally formed some mental bond through our psionic power. It has been known to happen when two psionically powerful individuals make a impression on each other. Even without direct contact."
"Interesting?" Raynor stated. "I would think you Protoss would have a lot more experience regarding everything psionic then us Terrans. "
"We do." Tassadar replied. "But the mystery of how Terrans were able to develop a form of technology even more advanced than us... It seems a little too odd?"
Raynor gave a laugh drawing the attention of everyone else. "It seems there's more than one mystery to solve I guess."
"What do you mean by that Raynor?" asked Tassadar.
"Lets just say that I got my own mystery to solve. I'll explain but uh. Could we have some food and space to ourselves." Raynor was smelling his own BO emanating from his suit partly glad Protoss don't have a sense of smell. At least he thought they didn't.
Realising how long the Terrans had been walking around in their armor and the biological needs of species like them Tassadar gave a understanding nod.
"Of course. I've already had a chamber readied for you. We detected your approach before you entered the mountain range and prepared accordingly."
Raynor and his men were lead to a teleporting chamber and with some prompting from Raynor to the more nervous marines everyone was transported to a large cargo room with several prefabricated rooms each with a bed and a shower and proper plumbing. The open end of the rooms even had a kitchen. When asked the Protoss assigned to act as a go between for the two races explained that they had copied a lot of the interplanetary internet the Terrans used to communicate with. And that all the needed food stuffs had been fabricated and loaded into the refrigerators. The Protoss aide also had quite a few thoughts of his own concerning Terran technology. This caused some heated arguments but the aide was more or less of the mind that their discussions were information exchanges.
Raynor stepped out the shower of his room putting on a new set of cloth's from the dresser next the bed. Despite being made by aliens they were perfect copies of normal Terran cloths if a little simple in their design. Feeling refreshed Raynor fell back onto the memory foam bed doing his best to relax and come up with a idea of what to do next. The Protoss may be willing to transport them to Korhal but Tassadar seemed to have a mission to fulfill on on Char. Raynor and the rest of his men were most grateful to the Protoss for their hospitality but knew how precarious their position was and didn't want to anger their hosts. At the same time Raynor wanted to try and find a way to save Kerrigan and Nova if possible. He acknowledged the fact he himself didn't understand much about psionics or genetics but Raynor did understand Kerrigan and Nova wouldn't become so hostile unless their minds were being messed with in some way. But as to how to reverse the changes was the question.
A pair of knocks drew Raynors attention and he sat up. "Yes?"
"Sir it's me. Can we talk." said Sergeant Littlefield.
"Come in." replied Raynor.
The door slid open and Littlefield entered. He seemed to have showered and refreshed himself already like Raynor. "Sir I wanted to talk about our next move."
Raynor stood up. "Yeah. We need to get off Char and back to Korhal. I thought about asking Tassadar if he could give us a ride but after thinking the situation through I think we would be better off helping the Protoss for the moment. And then there's the possibility that they may refuse because they have a mission here to finish first."
Littlefield crossed his arms. "I see your point but they could at least let us get in contact with Korhal so we could inform them were still alive."
"Maybe." Replied Raynor. "And then there's that psi-disruptor stuff. I wonder if Ellen and Haruka had anything to do with its creation. They both knew about its existence and Ellen was the one who sent Kerrigan and Nova to it in the first place."
Littlefield just stood there in deep thought a moment. "I think we should talk more with Tassadar."
Raynor looked up at him. "Yeah. We need to come up with a plan and know exactly what we should do next."
Tassadar floated a few feet in the air in deep meditation with artificial sunlight flooding his chamber from two solar light projectors on the ceiling. As he rested and reflected on all the recent events not the least of which was why Kerrigan had called out to him, he also reflected on the conclaves order to return to Aiur and the political consequences.
"Executor, the Terran officers Raynor and Littlefield request a audience with you."
The telepathic message from the intermediary assigned to the Terrans woke Tassadar from his meditation. "Send them to the bridge. I will speak with them there."
Moments later Tassadar, Raynor and Littlefield meet on the Gantrithors bridge.
"Raynor I knew that we would talk again but it is a little soon."
"Sorry Tassadar but we kinda needed to ask a few things."
"What was it that you wanted to know?"
"Well...(Raynor and Littlefield shared a glancing look.) I know that you came here because of Kerrigan but what are you planning on doing now?"
Tassadar scoffed at him self. "Hmph. What in deed. The conclave would in all likelihood strip me of my command and rank as Executor for my failure to contain the Zerg in Terrans space. But in all honesty such things are the last thing i'm worried about. I've already told you about how I discovered the Psi-disrupter on Tarsonis. Such a technology could shift the war between the Protoss empire and the Zerg. It could even allow us to finally slay the Cerebrates."
"You mentioned them before. What are Cerebrates?" Raynor asked.
"The Cerebrates are the leaders of the Zerg swarm. Leading the unending swarm under the Overminds rule."
Raynor suddenly felt a realization hit him. "So the Cerebrates are like generals and the Overminds the leader. But you said that you could slay the Cerebrates with the disrupter. What did you mean by that?"
"The Cerebrates are linked to the Overmind through their hive mind. Over the course of the war with them many Cerebrates have been defeated and killed. But each time the Overmind infused their corpses with psionic energy that allowed them to resurrect in full. I myself has killed four Cerebrates but each time they resurrected. Even from orbital bombardments their flesh and bones mended."
"Seriously!" exclaimed Littlefield. "Thats crazy."
"Now I see why you Protoss despite all your psionic and technological advantages have had such a hard time with the Zerg." said Raynor lowering his head at the revelation this new information presented. How do you defeat a enemy that can rapidly replenish their numbers and are lead by immortal commanders.
"The Zerg are indeed a great and Terrible foe." said a mysterious voice.
The voice unknown to any Protoss seemed to echo through the chamber. Tassadar and the other Templar became weary as the voice was not one of their own.
"Who are you? Show you self." demanded Tassadar to the invisible infiltrator.
Raynor and Littlefield backed off putting some distance between themselves and the Protoss. Then the air buzzed with energy as a dark cloud manifested out of nowhere swirling around in a vortex and revealing a Protoss wrapped in ragged dark purple cloth a cloth mask (covering where a mouth would be on a Terran) and a cloak that covered his upper body. The only armor He had were shoulder pauldrons armor each having concentric dim golden rings with a large flat green jewel in the center, and a pair of gauntlets much like that of the Templar but a different design and colored as the pauldrons.
Upon seeing the new Protoss Tassadar and the other Templar became agitated and aggressive igniting their psi-blades. "Dark templar!" shouted Tassadar.
Raynor and Littlefield having backed to a wall quickly knew that this new Protoss was different then Tassadar and his templar but were still ignorant to the specifics of why Tassadar seemed so agitated at the so called dark templars appearance. The two Terrans decided to stay out of the way until things cooled off hopefully.
The dark templar raised his hands in a non threatening gesture. "Stay your blade Tassadar. I am Zeratul. Dark Prelate of the Nerizem. I come in..."
Zeratul was cut off as Tassadar charged him with a slash fully intent to kill. Jumping back Zeratul evaded the psi-blade evading its ken edge by mere inches. Tassadar kept attacking his strikes accurate and impossibly swift for a normal Terran but Zeratul was just as fast but far more nimble as he gracefully evaded each strike.
"Why are you here exile?" Tassadar demanded his countenance and demeanor far different than when he talked with the Terrans.
The two Terrans could hardly believe how Tassadar's behavior had changed just because of Zeratul's arrival but even so Raynor wondered what reason Tassadar had to attack without any warning like that. It seemed even at a glance that Zeratul didn't want a fight even with Tassadar on the offensive. Zeratul dropped lower evading a neck high slash then twisted out of a thrust before rolling under a slash with the same blade. Zeratul seemed to be controlling the fights direction as he seemingly evaded and danced around all of Tassadar's attacks. Even so Raynor felt that neither were really giving it their all.
Zeratul dodged several more attacks. "Your strike's are well aimed and fierce Tassadar. But..."
Zeratul ignited his own dark vivid green warp-blade deflecting a six strikes ending with a left handed strike from Tassadar. The clashing blades producing a eruption of light and sparks as the two opposing psionic energies meet. At that instant Zeratul kicked Tassadar back ending his attack for the moment.
"Your combat style is straightforward and somewhat predictable." Zeratul's words were calm and had no ounce of vindictiveness in them even seeming playful in a way. To Raynor this seemed more a misunderstanding then anything.
"Answer me Dark templar!" Tassadar again demand.
Zeratul shifted his stance to a more natural one. "I too came to Char called by Kerrigans call. It seems all of us were brought here for a purpose. One that not even Kerrigan herself could know."
Tassadar narrowed his eyes. "A interesting story but your actions bely another motive."
Zeratul bowed slightly keeping Tassadar and the other Templar in his sights. "I apologise for coming aboard your vessel uninvited but walking the path of shadows is the way of the Nerazim. And yes we had another purpose when coming to Char."
"We!" said a surprised Tassadar.
In the next instant five more dark templar appeared behind Zeratul in swirl's of dark mist.
Tassadar groaned as he realized that whatever means the exiles had employed they were completely invisible to both normal psionic detection and internal scanners on the Gantrithor.
"So you are not alone then." Tassadar said his voice more calm but still with a hint of agitation at his ship being infiltrated. "So then what is it that brings you here other then the call of the Queen of the Zerg?"
Zeratul's reply was swift and jovial. "A hunt of course. We dark templar often seek worthy opponents. And these Zerg seem worthy indeed."
Tassadar still having some doubts asked. "The Zerg have been here in the local sector for the better part of two centuries. Surly you dark templar would have encountered them sooner."
Despite what Tassadar thought would be a crack in the Drake templars logic and by extension his reasoning for being here Zeratul remained calm and composed.
"True. But one of our brothers and a one time allie of his who calls herself the Empress of the Zerg contacted us long ago. She said that the time will come when a Terran female will be infested and made into a Zerg and then call out to the stars. And that it would been then that we Dark templar were to enter the battle with our brothers and sisters from Aiur against the Overmind and his swarm. Additionally she warned that if we Nerazim were to reveal ourselves to the Overmind any sooner that it would be... a mistake that we could never take back. The Overmind would seek to wipe out our trip viewing us as the greatest threat to his swarm."
"Empress of the Zerg!" exclaimed Raynor catching Tassadar and Zeratul's attention.
"Yes Raynor that was what she called her self. But despite reservation between my people our matriarch Raszagal chose to heed the Empresses warning after careful consideration."
"So there are two competing swarms." spoke Tassadar his mind racing at the implications. "One commanded by the Overmind and the other by this Empress. Dark templar, do you not think that your actions are in subservience to this empress!"
Zeratul turned his warp blade off staring Tassadar in the eyes. "We have not been contacted by this Empress in hundreds of years. And for all that time we have carefully observed both the Overminds swarm and you Templar. Now after finally revealing ourselves I believe that the Empress of the Zerg was correct in telling us to stay out of the fighting until now."
Tassadar sneered. "And what wisdom makes you say that?"
"We dark templar use the void and its energies. It is the same as the type of power which the Zerg themselves use and. I believe that the Terran psi-disruptor you Templar have appropriated uses the same energy. That is why is was more effective then the psi-disruptors you templar employed previously."
Tassadar's eyes widened in realization as he had no counter to such a argument as all the pieces fit fully explaining one mystery. Except how this Empress knows the future. "I can only hope the Conclave make use of the Terrans tech."
Raynor turned to Tassadar who had calmed down now. "Does that mean that the Psi-disruptor from Tarsonis is back with your people?"
Tassadar nodded. "Yes. I also firmly told one of my subordinates to present the device and explain what it does to the Conclave so that it may be employed, Though I know not what has become of it." Tassadar turned back to Zeratul. "Tell me O dark one for what reason would you have to trust a Zerg?"
The Dark Prelate relaxed his stance pulling a small device that looked Terran in nature. "The Empress gave us this so that we may watch the actions of the Terrans and know that what she said is true. It contains information that I believe Raynor and the other Terrans should see as well."
Raynor walked up to Zeratul recognising the device as a crystal date drive. A high priced form of data storage with a holo-projector and internal power unit.
"What on it?"
Zeratul handed Raynor the device. "You will understand once you watch it rather then having me explain it to you."
"I'll do just that." Raynor said. He got a gut feeling looking back and forth between Tassadar and Zeratul getting the distinct uneasy feeling that they may start fighting again. "You two aren't going to start fighting again are you? I know im a outsider and don't know much about your culture but for whatever reason you two have to make you fight could it please wait for a little while at least."
Zeratul crossed his arms standing tall and still. "Our conflict may not involve you Terrans but I would like to explain our conflict and history some time later Terran."
Raynor turned to Tassadar who was still on edge and the two shared a glance. "Perhaps we could... become allies dark templar. But I want you off my ship. Next time you board should be through invitation only."
Zeratul nodded. "Of course. I apologize for my rudeness."
In the next moment swirling darkness enveloped the dark templar and they disappeared from sight. After their departure Raynor and Littlefield left returning to the Terran quarters while Tassadar had his crew scan the ship stem to stern for any sign of the dark templar. Entering his personnel room Raynor placed the data device on the table and turned on its projector. A holo screen floated in mid air displaying a series of files.
Raynors eyes were instantly glued to the file with his name.
Outside Littlefield guarded the door under Raynors orders making sure no one disturbed him. A hour passed before Raynor opened the door again and when he did he looked in a state somewhere between confused, angry and motivated as Littlefield could see a fire in his eyes.
"What was on the data device?" Littlefield asked.
Raynor shrugged waving him. "I'll explain."
Littlefield followed Raynor. The two sat down with the data device resting on the table.
"It had files on me Kerrigan, Nova, and even the Protoss." Raynor said.
"What kind of files?"
"Personal information... "Raynor started. "And history. Even stuff that should be impossible to know let alone have this kind of Info on." Raynor sighed hanging his head.
Littlefield glanced at the data device. "I take it it had personal information on you sir?"
"Yeah. But, some of the information has been blacked out. So not all of its readable. But in short it's basically a history file documenting certain events and the lives of various people including the Matriarch Raszagal Zeratul mentioned. As well as many other people, Me, Kerrigan, Nova, Arcturus Mengsk, and others that included Tassadar and Zeratul. But you want to know the weirdest part is."
"What?"
"The damn thing reads like a history documentary. As if someone was watching us up to this point. Or even knew what would happen before events even happened. It has a lot of information on many people up to this point in time and a little after. But a few things are blanked out. It also says that the Overmind will invade the Protoss homeworld Aiur in the near future and kill most of the population. And in another file it says that a Terran fleet from Earth and its colonies will arrive here in the Koprulu sector some time later after Tassadar sacrifices himself to kill the Overmind. Honestly Jon. The whole thing reads like a damn prophetic prediction or precognition of the future. I wouldn't normally believe a word of it but the information in there concerning events that had already happened is too damn accurate to ignore."
"Do you think that the Empress of the Zerg person has some kind of ability to see the future or something?."
"Hell I don't know," Replied Raynor swinging his arms out. "But if all that's in there is true I can see why Zeratul and the dark templar believe it. "
"Why's that?"
"Because it also has notes detailing consequences if the Dark templar don't stay out of the Zerg/Protoss war until this point in time. It also says that Zeratul will kill a cerebrate while Tassadar uses a hallucination to distract Kerrigan after she senses him and the other protoss on Char."
"I think we need to share this information with Tassadar."
Raynor nodded in agreement. "Yeah my thoughts exactly."
Some time later Tassadar himself had a look through the data device. Afterwords Him, Raynor and Zeratul meet again on the bridge.
"This information and its accuracy is concerning. It details certain events that should not have been or could not have been recorded at least not by outsiders."
Tassadar's words were stoic and serious as he continued.
"From what it says I will die slaying the Overmind after it invades Aiur using both the energies of both Templar and Dark templar. Before I would have said such would be impossible... but now that I've seen everything in here?"
"Tassadar. I have had a long time to reflect on the information contain on the data device and in all this time for two hundred years it has always remained in our care. Not once has it been given to a none dark templar and not once has its contents been altered in all this time. Do you understand what this means."
Tassadar started deeply into the dark templars bright green eyes feeling uncomfortable. His discomfort came from the fact he was not connected to Zeratul nor any dark templar through the Khala. The empathic psionic connection that links all Protoss in the empire making concepts such as lying or deceit of any kind impossible. There was still a part of Tassadar that greatly distrusted Zeratul and the other dark templar but another part of him recognised such thoughts as unfair as Zeratul has not shown any duplicity other then coming aboard the Gantrithor without permission. And the information on the data device is far too accurate concerning past and present events to be a falsification or trap of some kind. But the biggest question is how the so called Empress of the Swarm gained this information.
"Yes. It means that the Empress of the Zerg as she call's herself knows our fates and what the future will befall us. Even if we used this information to warn the conclave I highly doubt that they would heed our warning."
"So how can we use what we know to change the future." said Raynor. "Aren't a lot of your people going to die when the Overmind invades Aiur."
"As much as I would want to do so the conclave and its stubbornness will know doubt impede us in some way. The problem is believe ability. Unfortunately none of us have the clout to make them listen. After the fall of Tarsonis I was recalled back to Aiur. The Conclave were more open about my punishment, humiliation and possibly execution. I refused knowing that it was nothing more then a political maneuver by some. A form of retribution by others who wanted to put someone more younger and more easy to manipulate into the position of Executor for their own political gain."
Raynor huffed in irritation. "Glad to see politics are the same no matter where you go."
"Unfortunately true." Zeratul added catching the sarcasm. "But there are some good things we now understand."
"Like what?" asked Raynor.
"I have had a long time to contemplate the information on the data device. And with the information concerning the confederate psi-disruptor I know that dark templars void based psionic abilities are harmful to Cerebrates. The data device stated that I will slay the Cerebrate Zasz. If true it would mean a means to permanently slay the generals of the swarm. If we can accomplish such a feet even the conclave will be forced to hear us out."
Tassadar thought on it. "It may be enough to convince them that we are telling the truth and can prepare for the Overminds invasion of Aiur. Perhaps even prevent it. But I must ask Zeratul why concern yourself about the wellbeing of those that rejected and hunted your people?"
"A valid question Tassadar. True there was once a time I hated all Khalai for the exile of us Nerazim. But over the years I began to understand that the action of a few...
"The conclave." said Raynor.
Zeratul nodded. "Yes. Though I still greatly hate the Conclave for their fear of us dark templar It is still no reason to condemn so many innocents. For we Protoss regardless of being Khalai or Nerazim are all the children of Aiur."
Hearing such words from Zaretul filled Tassadar with a kind of pride for his people in a collective sense that was alien to him until that moment. "Zeratul." Tassadar said walking over to the dark prelate. "I believe I owe you a apology for my earlier attack."
"In that case allow us to properly greet each other. En taro Adun Tassadar."
Tassadar's face changed to something Raynor could recognise as a grin.
"En Taro Adun Zeratul." Switching to a more series tone He asked. "If what the information in the data device is true then some time in the near future Kerrigan will discover our presence. If and when it happens we will have proof that all the information the device contains is true. But until then I believe we should spend our time constructively."
"I agree." stated Raynor. "Tassadar we may only be few in number but give us ammo and materials to fix our suits and we Terrans will fight as best we can."
Tassadar nodded respecting Raynor's warrior spirit. "Very well. I will tell my phase smiths to prepare any thing you request." He turned to Zeratul. "Since we have time may I make a request Zeratul."
"Yes?"
"The information in the data device explains that I will in the future be able to willed the energies of both the Khalai and Void. I presume you are the one whom teaches me."
"I would presume that to be the case. Still is it your desire to learn. I would think doing such would be quit blasphemous to other Templar?"
"True. But I am willing to do whatever is necessary to protect Aiur and my people. I am not just following the whims of a prophecy. But are expressing my own will."
Zeratul considered the request and the situation. "Very well. I will teach you. But you must first learn the art of the shadowed blade. To learn to slay ones opponent without ones self being struck is the first step in becoming a Dark templar. After that is the Shadowwalk. It is our most sacred rite of passage. The initiate stands alone while making their way through a valley and keep only to the shadows, out of which Dark Templar will spring unexpectedly to assault them. Those who make it to the end of the valley without being incapacitated pass the test. If they endure, they become a Shadow Hunter. A true dark templar. It is also a path meant to align ones state of mind to the Void from which all Dark templars power flows."
"Whats the void?" asked Raynor. Tassadar also expressed a interest evident in his brows.
"The Void is the dimensional layer which other races such as you Terrans call warp space. But we Dark templar are able to directly connect to the Void. With which we can do this."
Zeratul blinked out of sight only to reappear across the room in a fraction of a second.
"Ok now im impressed." said Raynor.
"I see now. Your abilities are focused around your strong sense of individuality and through that discipline willed the powers of the Void."
"I am surprised that you could understand such with so little observation time."
"I am a student of history." Tassadar stated.
"Then let us begin your path in the ways of the shadows Tassadar."
Zeratul and Tassadar left the room to find a more suitable location while Raynor returned to his quarters to organize his men. Some time passed as everyone used what time they had to prepare. The Terrans started having combat drills with each other and even with some Zealots who had taken a interest in there new allies. The Tarrans learned how deadly and fast Protoss can be in close combat without anyone dying thanks to the Zealots using stun blades used in the training of young initiates. And the Protoss learned to work with other races where they normally look down on lesser races. The Terrans weret as skilled as the Protoss were in the arts of combat but they still had a warriors heart that refused to give up. And in one particular incident a Terran caught a Zealots wrist and threw the Zealot over their shoulder before splattering paint ammo all over the Zealots armor at point blank. Over time Raynor and his men became somewhat more skilled in close fast combat and their team work with each other and the Protoss only improved.
Tassadar's training with Zeratul also progressed. In a relatively short time the former Executor learned to think like a dark templar and stalk in the shadows striking at the most opportune time. Then the moment arrived and Tassadar untook the Shadow walk. All the Dark templar and Tassadar traveled to a valley closeby to conduct the trial. They were gone fore hours before returning and not a moment to soon.
Raynor and a Protoss preserver called Zamara waited on the hanger deck as the binary star systems second sun set in the horizon.
"It has been too long." said Zamara.
Raynor glanced over at the Preserver. "It's only been three hours. Depending on how large the valley is and weather or not they gave Him a few retries."
Agitated at the thought of Tassadar failing and having to retry Zamara projected a air of annoyance. "Tassadar doesn't retry. He will complete the trial on the first attempt."
"Ok ok I didn't mean anything by it." a few moments of silence passed as the two observed the clouds painted a orange and crimson sunset. "Still it's surprising that Char could be beautiful."
Zamara only hummed in response as the two of them watched the sky. It slowly turned darker with the setting of the second sun. Then as the setting sun was half way below the horizon a shuttle become visible as the suns light waned.
"There they are." said Zamara pointing to the approaching shuttle.
They watched as the shuttle came closer passed through the hangers shield and landed. Raynor and Zamara approached the craft as its doors opened. Tassadar Exited the shuttle followed by Zeratul and his dark templar and the Zealots that served as Tassadar's guards. The former Executor still didn't fully trust the dark templar but he was willing to explore a possible alliance.
"Tassadar. It is good to see you well." said Zamara. "How did your trail go?"
For a moment Tassadar stood silent and he and Zeratul shard a glance before turning his gaze to the preserver. "I have completed the trial. Though not with out some injuries. "
Tassadar rotated his left shoulder as if it were bruised.
"My student Zerion landed a kick that sent him into a stone wall." said Zeratul.
Said Dark templar stepped forward. "I was only following the trials ritual. If any of us were soft then the unworthy would pass without merit. But Tassadar's sense of the Void was not as dull as I thought."
"Zeratul. I'm grateful for you teaching me how unforgiving the path of the shadows are. And for Zerions serious attitude. I would not want to pass the shadow walk through duplicity. That being said I have always been somewhat interested in the dark templar. But I still do not fully trust you. I would not have allowed you to set foot on my ship or undergo this shadow walk trial if it wasn't for the undeniable information in that was on that storage device."
Zeratul nodded respectfully. "Then I am grateful for your patience and open mindedness."
Tassadar grabbed his head as all the Protoss sensed a powerful presence touch their minds.
"It's Karrigan." said Tassadar as he proceeded to converse with the Queen of the Zerg by telepathy.
From Raynor's perspective it seemed that Tassadar was just standing there.
"What did you talk about?" said Raynor presuming Tassadar telepathically conversed with Kerrigan.
Tassadar looked at him. "I provoked her to a fight. Even now she comes. This location is unsafe and the Gantrithor mus leave. But a small force must stay behind to keep Kerrigan occupied. And also, Zeratul."
The dark prelates eyes glowed with understanding. "I would take it that this would be the best time to slay the Cerebrate Zasz as the Empress information fourtold. I presume you will continue to be be untrusting of us until then."
Tassadar locked eyes with Zeratul. "Yes. I still have great doubts to the validity of the information that device contains."
Zeratul nodded understanding. "I presume the reason you wised to learn the ways of us dark templar was so that you could prove them yourself."
"Yes. I will use the energy of the void I recently learned to control to slay Zasz myself. We know where he is."
"Tassadar." Zerion spoke out. The energies of the Void are not so easy to control. I was once a Templar like you but then a traitor nearly killed me and in his attempt on my life cut my nerve cords. I was forever severed from the Khala which connects the whole of the Protoss empire, but as it so happens I was blessed with a strong independent will even before losing my connection to the Khala. So I, more so than most others easily embraced the path of the Void even without guidance from a teacher. All though master Zeratul had been a welcome teacher since my exile from Aiur. I believe it is still far too soon for you to undergo a mission such as this. Besides the information the Empress passed to us says that It will be Zeratul whom slays Zasz. I believe since you were the one Kerrigan connected with that you should focus on keeping her distracted while we dark templar kill the Cerebrate."
Tassadar could find no flaw in Zerions reasoning and knew that this was the best chance to kill a cerebrate. It truly did not matter who killed Zasz but proving the information the Empress passed to them to be the truth and that Void energy the dark templar could willed could in deed kill. Truly kill a Cerebrate. However his mention of a traitor was perplexing as it has been a very long time indeed since any Protoss had killed another. Deciding that he would ask about it later Tassadar conceded for now.
"Very well then." Tassadar admitted. "I am not able to fully cloak yet. But I can use void energy to hide my Khala energies to hide from Kerrigan. I will keep her busy while you slay the Cerebrate. But the Gantrithor must move to another location. Zamara."
"Yes." she stepped forwards.
"I want you to keep a close eye on all the proceeding events." said Tassadar.
Zamara with a understanding of her purpose as a Presurver nodded. "I will observe the Dark templar closely."
Raynor feeling like a third wheel in the conversation simply followed the Presurver. They took a teleport pad to a room with many holo monitors. Most were off while those that were active showed the surrounding landscape.
"What is this room?"
Zamara stopped behind a Zealot at a control console. She requested control over the some of the Observers that were't being used. Her being a Presurver made the request quit normal as it was common for Presurvers to watch certain events from afar with the stealth version of the Observers.
Raynor followed Zamara to a nearby console and watched as two dozen smaller holo screens blinked on. At first they showed a hanger before flying out of the Gantrithor. Half stayed around the area following Tassadar's forces to a nearby low land area with a large central plateau surrounded by magma. The second group followed the Dark Templar as they took a shuttle closer to their target.
"Won't the Zerg shoot the spy drones down?" asked Raynor.
Zamara kept her eyes on the screens taking in all the history that was being made here. "Yes if they approach the hive clusters and their defences. But the Observers are able to cloak. So long as they remain at a distance they will not be spotted."
Raynor watched the screens greatly focused on the coming battle.
The shuttle raised off the ground flying back to the Gantrithor. Zeratul, Zerion and the others cloaked beginning their long trek to Zasz's primary hive cluster. The Templar may be reluctant to believe the information that the Empress provided but Zerion and the other dark templar knew better. After all Zerion had personally known the Empress and fought along her side hundreds of years ago during the events on Earth.
Swiftly Zerion blinked from shadow to shadow sensing swarms of Zerg all around on patrol. Zeratul blinked next to him.
"It would seem the Cerebrate is on guard."
"Master do you think the Cerebrate knows were here?'"
Zeratul lightly shook his head."I believe not. Kerrigan perhaps warned it of our presence."
Zerion looked out to the flat plain stretching out before them. Off in the distance Mutalisk flew in concentric circles around clusters of floating Overlords.
"It is a great boon that the Zerg are not aware of our nature." said Zerion.
"True." replied Zeratul. "Since we use the same Void energies as them they could adapt and discover a way to sense our presence. But for the time being we have the element of surprise."
Zeratul blinked to the next shadow below a high rock formation quickly followed by his fellow dark templar. Over the course of the next few hours they weaved their way through the web of patrolling Zerg until arriving at the central hive cluster. It was undeniable that the Cerebrate was here. Peeking out from the shadow of a rock Zerion glanced around before taking a moment to admire the two full moons reflecting the light from the two suns on the other side of the planet.
"Properly terraformed this world could be a jewel one day." Zerion thought.
Refocusing on the mission at hand he searched the area. Many hundreds of Zerglings and Hydralisk were patrolling the area with hundreds of Overlords floating over head, moving randomly over head. Zerion moved on blinking from shadow to shadow cover to cover, keeping out of sight. Though he could just walk around unseen thanks to his Void cloaking ability relying on such was a failing and a sure sign of arrogance. The Zerg patrols were getting tighter and more concentrated the closer the dark templar got to Zasz, and the creep wasn't any help. But it did make blinking all the more important since it was the faster mode of movement. A few more hours later Zerion finally reached the Cerebrate however there was a problem. Two humanoid Zerg with bone wings and armored carapace guarded the Cerebrate as it looked on guard as if expecting a attack. But it seemed to be relying on its brood to detect intruders and wasn't paying attention to its surroundings but the two guards were. Zerion mulled over the fact information on the two guards were not in the data storage device that for told the future. But then again the dark templar aren't here to fight. This was never going to be a battle but a execution. Then for a fraction of a second Zerion saw Zeratul and his brothers and sisters move around in the shadows of the Organic structures. They were all getting into position around the Cerebrate.
Zerion prepared him self igniting his warpblade. Focusing his will into a tangible form a invisible warp blade projected from his gauntlet. Bending his digitigrade legs He relaxed aiming his warp blade at his target. If Zerion was Terran he would be taking slow breaths but no such thing was needed for a Protoss. Minute's passed, then ten, then twenty waiting for the perfect. The Cerebrate shifted its body around as if looking at something off in the distance raising its long body up into the air. It returned to the ground before crawling around. The two infested Terrans moving out of its way. And then it happened. Zeratul leaped from the shadows blinking right above the Cerebrates head impaling it. Moving in perfect sync Zerion and the other dozen dark templar already had their warp blades piercing into Zasz's body. Only a half second passed and every major organ in Zasz brain to heart was pierced. In the next half second the dark templar ripped their blades through the Cerebrates body cleaving off legs and scythe shaped arms along with large chunks of its body. A full second had passed and even as it died Zasz managed a fragmented scream of pain as its upper body crashed to the ground.
The two infested Terrans wiped around to the corpse quickly entering a high alert as they looked around for any attackers but only seeing the mutilated body and not the cloaked attackers. Zeratul was the only one who still had his blade buried in the Cerebrate his cloak started to fail as he flickered in and out of sight. Sensing something was wrong Zerion rushed to his masters side pulling the warpblade from the partly melted skull as a multiple fireballs shot past where he was a moment before.
"Master are you well?"
Zeratul blinked shaking his head. "Yes. I... touched the Overminds soul. It intends to devour the whole of the Protoss race and evolve the Swarm. We must return."
By this point the two infested Terrans were throwing fireballs everywhere now convinced that the attackers were cloaked in a way that prevented detection via psonic and normal means. But try as they might they only hit air. But it was at that moment they realised the other Zerg were acting strange. Then like a rubber band something in the minds of the Zerg snapped and they began attacking each other. Both Danial and Lala shot as much fire at the insane Zerg as they could muster to cut a path out from the blood bath.
-Chapter End-