Chapter 66: Awakening of the Firstborn

There were so many new mutations, strains, and variants that had been received from the deceased drone, recovered from the destroyed secret research facility. Despite Kay's recent accomplishments, he was contacted by Corvurn Junior and was given brief and specific instructions on how to severely wound the Golden Star Empire. He had no idea on just how important Kragnon's genetic ancestry was, but his heritage had granted him an unseen privilege that Gollog seemed to covet. It was a trait that allowed him some kind of mastery over any technology that belonged to the Kiln Keepers, or perhaps to other forms of technology that Kay was unaware of. In short, Kragnon was now a very important asset that Kay greatly needed.

However, more urgent matters needed to be addressed. Specifically, the time traveling advisor that had recovered from her recently induced coma, and the angry naked protoss that had finally awakened from his twenty year coma. In Othafurn's case, she was experiencing panic and terror all at once. Kay wasn't sure if he wanted to meet with her at the moment. The protoss, on the other hand, was harming the swarm from within its very operations underground. Kay considered his options and settled on trying to calm down the angry protoss by himself, since he regarded him as the more problematic party. He walked past Corvurn as he began preparing himself for the encounter. "Corvurn, tend to Othafurn and try to calm her down. I'm going to deal with the protoss I brought back."

Corvurn nodded and bowed. "Will placate command organism Othafurn. Easier task, compared to protoss placation." He said, turning to the guarded hatchery and slithering to it.

Kay sighed. He wasn't sure if he was mentally prepared to calm down a rampaging protoss. But then again in a technical sense, he was biologically immortal. He could afford to be patient. But he knew very well that patience was not a skill he could use reliably whenever the protoss is concerned. They were prideful warriors that lorded the title of 'firstborn' to themselves, and they often consider themselves superior over the zerg and anyone else that had a sentient brain. But pride or not, Kay was not about to have an unruly guest decimate any of his hive clusters, protoss or otherwise.

There was murderously loud yelling emanating from a recently hollowed cave, where even the creep was prevented from growing into it. Flashes of angry blue light brightened the cave, which had chased away zerg organisms of different breeds. Zerglings and queens quickly skidded out of the underground chamber that was specifically built to house an unconscious protoss. Sadly, it was not designed to contain one that was arisen and enraged. A naked protoss slammed his fists and feet against zerg hide as best as he could, and sometimes used his claws to disembowel a couple zerglings, removing their precious organs from their guts. If anything, the protoss had woken up and was in a grumpy mood.

After the zerg had vacated the cave, silence filled it as a dim glow barely emanated from its entrance. Kay carefully inspected the cave entrance. He was somewhat apprehensive, but he knew better than to anger a protoss and force a confrontation. Like the zerg, the protoss are easily provoked. Unlike the zerg, however, the protoss are known for their grudges. "Uh... Hello in there? I know that it's a little late telling you this now, but... I want you to know that you are safe here. Nothing here wants to hurt you."

"Leave me alone, or face the wrath of the protoss."

Kay sighed and shook his head. "Listen to me. You have just recently awoken from a coma. You must be very disorientated and confused right now. If you agree to listen to me, then I will give you as much space as you need. But if you're going to be an ass and threaten me every time I try to engage you in a friendly conversation, then I'm going to start to think that saving your ass from that secret research facility was not worth the effort. But I did save you from containment, and I think that requires some form of exchange of words between us. Do you understand me?"

"Even with my nerve cords severed, I cannot sense the Khalai. Their voices are either distant, or gone. Tell me. Have we lost the battle with Amon?"

Kay was hesitant to answer. It had been so long since that battle, and he had no idea on how it had went when he tumbled into the void. "... I uh... I think we were winning. But listen. I need you to brace yourself when I tell you this. Are you sitting down?"

"I care not for the words you have to say to me, infested terran. Though my nerve cords are crippled, I can sense that your mind is riddled with foul plots. That, and I sense overwhelming power within you. A dormant fraction of mental strength belonging to an ancient enemy of my kin. Whoever you were in your past, Kay, know that I will not help you in whatever way you ask. Not until the Khalai comes and retrieves me. We fought against the dark god, true, but know that it does not mean that such an alliance will spark a friendship between the firstborn and the zerg. Begone from my sight."

Kay pursed his lips. He has no idea what the protoss was talking about. He decided to change the subject. "... Alright, I guess I'll rip this band-aid off. You have been in a coma for twenty years."

"... I do not detect deceit from you. And yet... This information cannot be right. Twenty years?"

"We're on a world called the Kiln Prison System, and its inhabitants, a lizard people that are called gilanians, uses a calendar system where a year equals about two hundred days. If you do the math, that's two hundred times twenty, which makes it about four thousand days. So... Yeah, we've been on this planet for twenty of its years."

"... That cannot be possible. Surely, this must mean that we have all failed, and that our existence here is merely a progression of Amon's twisted desires?"

Kay shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know how to explain everything to you, but we only survived by the inadvertent actions of these gilanians. They opened a wormhole that was far from their home, and in doing so, extracted us from the void itself. That was twenty years ago."

"... No. I care not for your words, infested terran. If you continue to vex me with your wretched terran diplomacy, then I will make you regret your persistence. Consider this your final warning."

Kay shook his head. "Listen. I'm trying my best to be a kind host here. Can I at least offer you some water and light? Or maybe some fabric to drape yourself with? I don't really know any tailor shops that caters to protoss on this world, so... you might have to make due with what you get."

"And I have told you to leave me alone for the last time. SARAHT TUUN!"

The air rippled with a sudden distortion as electricity crackled in the air. Kay could feel the carapace on his body being attacked by sudden charges of energy, their bright tongues tasting and charring his body. Two seconds after the psionic storm had enveloped him, Kay was struck by yet another psionic attack that left him with a massive headache, followed by his entire energy reserves becoming deplteted, feeling as though the energy that he kept within himself exploded in a plume of fire. Kay quickly backed away from the cave as quick as he could, dodging several psi blasts that nearly struck his torso or face. He quickly found refuge at a bend in the tunnel, but he knew that he was far from safe.

Kay immediately regretted his decision to save the protoss. "FUCKING HELL!"

"Kay? Are you alright?" A familiar voice asked. When Kay turned around, he saw that Othafurn had recovered from her temporary coma. He also saw Corvurn with her, following behind her and next to her long tendrils and tail that stretched behind the bend of a tunnel.

"WHAT?!" Kay shouted as he palmed his head.

"I asked if you were alright." Othafurn replied, concern in her voice.

"WHAT?! ... I THINK... Ahem. I think I'm fine. It's hard to hear or listen with a headache sometimes. Gah." Kay said, slowly shaking his head and groaning in pain.

Corvurn shook his head as he analyzed Kay's physical condition. "Detecting physical damage. Wounds extensive. Requires healing. Problematic. Query. This damage caused by single protoss organism?"

Kay sighed as he turned around again and peered from the bend in the tunnel. The dimly glowing cave was several meters from his position, but he knew better than to get close to it again. "Not just any single protoss organism, Corvurn. He's one of those protoss that can... Uh... Grah, my head's killing me. You know. One of those guys that floats above the ground? Carries those khaydarin amulets to boost their powers? Uses some kind of... library structure to gain new abilities?"

Othaforn widened her eyes. "... Do you mean that he is a high templar?"

Kay nodded as he kept watch on the protoss' cave entrance. "One of those guys, yeah."

Corvurn sighed and looked down. "Complicating. Surviving protoss organism dangerous to swarm. Disruptive. Dangerous. Recommend elimination."

Kay shook his head. "Last time I checked, the protoss and the zerg had allied together in order to fight Amon. And since I slightly remember belonging to the terrans, whom had begrudgingly agreed to join forces with said factions to save the universe, I'd rather maintain that alliance. If I had to choose between making nice with the protoss or to go back to the days of grudges and war, then I choose survival over bitter conflict."

Corvurn growled and slithered up to Kay. "Protoss organism provides unique opportunity to evolve swarm. Must analyze. Must test assimilation methods. Must dissect."

Othafurn stared at Corvurn and shook her head. "Corvurn. Genetic material extracted from the protoss is completely useless to the swarm."

Corvurn growled at Othafurn. "Understands implication. However, research important. Every attempt, informative."

Kay turned abruptly around and pointed a threatening finger at Corvurn's face. "You are not to lay a claw on him!" Kay shouted

Corvurn turned to Kay and growled at him. "Command organism Kay must understand. Protoss is enemy to swarm. Must adapt against all enemies. Primary goal of swarm is to evolve."

Kay's gaze became stern as he shook his head at Corvurn. "Oh yeah? Well, do you remember what purpose I gave you, before you even made that little egg around yourself?"

Corvurn paused, but nodded as he pleaded his hands together. "... Purpose remembered. Assist swarm in fashion that evolution master can accomplish."

Kay nodded and crossed his arms. "I said 'become our evolution master and help me, Virid, and the zerg swarm that only an evolution master could.' I was thinking we could try to help the protoss so that he might return the favor and help us back someday."

Corvurn reared his head back and tilted it. "Unlikely. Uncertain. Cannot see how protoss organism can assist swarm."

Kay rolled his eyes. "Let me put it like this. Would you rather kill him now and further sour our relationship with the protoss in the Koprulu sector, or would you rather befriend this one protoss and at least have him less likely to fry and kill any zerg organism that's near the cave he is staying in? Think about it. Which option favors our survival more?"

Corvurn paused for several seconds and looked down at the ground. "Hmm..." After he was given some time to think about it, Corvurn exhaled. "Second option improves survival, yet undesirable. Protoss organism separated from Koprulu sector, and protoss factions. Incapable of communicating with protoss factions. Separated, like current swarm with primary hivemind. However, chance of indirect assistance is marginal. Reluctant, but will assist protoss. If protoss organism assists swarm afterwards, then swarm benefits."

Kay smiled warmly. "Kay. That's good to know." Kay's expression turned into a frown when he turned back to look at the cave entrance beyond the bend in the tunnel. "But then that leaves us with a naked and angry templar that has zero tolerance for both zerg and infested terrans."

"Query. How to assist protoss organism?" Corvurn asked.

Kay had very little memories to draw upon in regards to the protoss they retrieved from the secret research facility. How WOULD Kay assist a naked protoss that was far from his people? He had no answers, but he did have a few ideas. "No clue, but we can start by giving him plenty of light, fresh water, and some space to himself. Oh, and clothes. I think some kind of clothing would be important for him too." Kay turned around to face Corvurn. "Have you given our protoss guest some water and light yet?"

"..." Corvurn seemed hesitant to answer.

Kay narrowed his eyes at Corvurn. "... Corvurn?"

"... Yes?"

"Did you get some water and light for the protoss yet?" Kay asked.

"... Was about to. Distractions required attention. Will perform previous task now." Corvurn said, turning around and crawling away.

Kay sighed and shook his head as Corvurn slithered off. "We might have been enemies with the protoss once, but we need to work together or else this prison world is going to become our tombs." Kay then turned to Othafurn. "Anyway, I wanted to ask you about something."

Othafurn blinked. "Yes?"

"You were shouting about something when you woke up from your coma. What was that about?" Kay asked.

Othafurn's expression shifted into confusion. "... I am unsure. Was I really shouting after I had recovered?"

"You kind of were. You yelled something about my mental stability or something." Kay replied.

Othafurn stared at the ground for a few seconds, but then she shook her head. "I'm sorry, but I don't have any recollection of what I said."

"You were, like, scared about something when you returned from unconsciousness. Terrified even." Kay pointed out.

Othafurn nodded absently. "... Would you like to create a mental link with me? Perhaps we can find the information we need in your memories?"

Kay immediately backed away from Othafurn. "Uh... No thanks. From my personal experiences of linking my mind with yours, I somehow always get a raging headache. That, and I don't want to risk getting you into another coma. I mean... You did woke up from one just recently."

Othafurn paused, but nodded. "If that is how you feel, then I understand. I will abstain from bridging our minds together again, unless a mental link is absolutely necessary."

Kay sighed and nodded back at Othafurn. "Kay. Thank you." He said as he relaxed more easily in Othafurn's presence. "I guess we can figure out whatever the hell THAT was later. But right now, we need to ask Kragnon if he can assist us in our mission."

Othafurn tilted her head, and was further confused. "Mission? Our mission? Uh... Has something happened?"

Kay nodded at Othafurn. "Yeah. Corvurn Junior, from the doomed timeline, where all that chrome slime covered everything, told us that we need Kragnon's help to infiltrate into a commander's fortress. Apparently, there is something there that would weaken the Kiln Keepers and the sky rings." Kay explained.

"Really?" Othafurn said, surprised. "Did he tell you what it was?"

Kay paused and shook his head. "Uh... No idea. But to get what we need, we need to infiltrate into the fortress that one of the commanders has made their headquarters in. To do that, we need Kragnon to help us get inside."

Othafurn nodded. "I see. Shall I have our changelisk named Johnny inform him that we need his assistance?"

Kay shook his head and sighed. "I want to meet him in person. It's been a long time since we last talked, so I think it's only right that I meet him again." Kay said as he already began walking to the closest nydus network. Kay stopped partway in his travel to the nydus network and turned back to Othafurn. "Actually, have Johnny inform Kragnon that I'll be seeing him soon."

Othafurn bowed. "It will be done."

Kay nodded at Othafurn before he continued on his way for the nearest nydus worm. Kay was hesitant to meet with Kragnon again, especially since he had not been in contact with him for the past twenty years. However, for some reason that Kay could not explain, Kay also felt as though he hadn't seen Kragnon for an eternity. But through the zerg's hivemind and its perception of time, Kay had only been separated from the swarm for decades. Worse still, Kay had retained no memories from his imprisonment in the era agent's temporal tomb. He didn't even know how long he had been inside of the temporal tomb, his memory completely failing him when he tried to recall some scant fragment of memory of that entombing place. However, since Kragnon was supposedly the key to defeating Gollog and his Golden Star Empire, Kay will have to endure the awkward moment that occurs when two people, who haven't seen each other in a while, becomes acquainted once more.

"Master Kragnon?" Johnny said to a dressing lovechief. It was currently morning at Tak's palace, and Kragnon was getting himself dressed behind a dressing screen, within Baroness Tak's bedroom. Kragnon was currently undressing from his pajamas and was slipping himself into formal wear.

A short sigh escaped Kragnon's lips as he donned a newly laundered shirt. "Out of all the days she chose to send that expedition, it had to be yesterday. Oh, but at least there is good news! All of the random lightning storms are gone! The yellow danger zone anomaly stopped creeping closer to Gargantua! And that giant bright eyesore is finally gone! Oh wait, that's right. The empire is still fighting the zerg, we are still far from being safe from Gollog's wrath, and I have to worry about a college fund on top of everything else. My talents are not exactly for public use, mind you. If I ever do use them in public, then Gollog is going to catch wind that I'm here and will proceed to kill everyone, destroy everything, and control the entire world for an eternity after. Can it get any worse than this?"

"Master Kragnon?" Johnny asked again.

"Fucking fucking fuck, where is my handkerchief? Oh... Meh, well it's not the worst thing to lose today. Unlike yesterday, where we managed to lose an entire desert platform to gods-knows-what happened! WE don't even know what happened! We just sent them off, hoped for the best, and then thought that maybe we'd get a message back. You know, to let us know that the expedition team is okay and that their mission was a success? I'm still kind of waiting for that message to be broadcasted, but even I am starting to lose hope. I'll tell you this for sure. If I had the time to calculate how many ways this mission could have gone wrong for the expedition team, I might take the time to write a theorem that illustrates every conceivable variable that would occur in the desert, and possibly convince everyone that the mission to analyze the zerg flower in the red zone was a bad idea. Ugh! It makes me sick to know that you orchestrated this thing, and did it from right behind everyone's backs. But I knew better. Oh, I knew better, and I still tried to keep my head out. But damn it all, it was a huge risk to my private life!"

"Master Kragnon?"

Kragnon sighed again and peered over the dressing screen. "What, Johnny?" He said, as though annoyed by Johnny's constant attempt to get his attention.

"A representative from... my family, has decided to meet with you. It is imperative that you get yourself ready for the occasion."

Kragnon paused. "... A... A representative? They... I mean you... Uh. Your family has never sent a representative to meet me before."

Johnny nodded. "Not only that, this representative was the very person who had saved you from certain doom, twenty years ago."

Kragnon's breath was still. "... He's back?" He said in a dumbfounded way.

Johnny nodded again. "Kay wishes to talk to you in a private location. There is something that we need from you, and we suspect that your assistance will greatly help us hinder, and perhaps completely destroy, Gollog's empire."

Kragnon looked down at the ground in deep thought. "... So he IS back." Kragnon shook his head. "Alright then. Firstly, I'm going to have a quick breakfast. Secondly, I'll have to convince Tak to give me some privacy. Failing that, I might need the use of one of your changelisks to disguise as me and divert her attention from what I am really doing. Thirdly, we are going to need a bare dirt floor."

Johnny smiled. "I had already thought of that. Thanks to Baroness Tak, there is a sub-basement that had been constructed a while ago. It has ground that is bare of any kind of floor or tile work, and it is a room that is perfect for our purposes."

Kragnon tilted his head. "What kind of room is it supposed to be?"

"Oh, I told her that I needed a room that can store my failed technological projects. You know, to review later. But between you and me, it's actually a location for the shrylisks to come up and transport technology and resources for me to use and experiment with." Johnny replied.

Kragnon sighed and shook his head. "Shrylisks. Zerg shryik serpent pawns. Tak would have a major fit if she knew there was a hole to an underworld of zerg right under her palace."

"Better not tell her." Johnny added. "It wouldn't do anyone good risking more than one hell to break loose."

Kragnon furrowed his brows at Johnny and stared at him. "... Ha ha ha ha ha. Very funny." Kragnon then shook his head and continued changing his clothes. "Fucking shape-shifting voice-changing demon."

"Be careful talking like that." Johnny warned Kragnon jokingly. "If you say that in a hive cluster, then you're likely going to have a fat ass sit on your lap."

Kragnon chuckled. "You know, that doesn't sound so bad."

"I was talking about one of OUR fat-assed zerg queens. You know, the ones that the Golden Star soldiers call 'caretakers'?" Johnny informed.

A long pause pervaded the air. "... Hmm... Uh... I'll remember well to be more respectful to your family then."

Johnny sighed. "I'll get a changelisk ready for us, just in case Baroness Tak decided to decline our private meetup with my family's commander."

"Mm. ... Say, that does leave me with a question." Kragnon mused. "Since Kay is back, would that make your family's government system into a tetrarchy?"

Johnny snorted in an amused manner. "You know what? I think it would."

"I see. Huh. Alright. Coming out now." Kragnon walked out from behind the dressing screen. His attire consisted of soft and looser fabrics, which were popularly worn among middle aged gilanian men. Kragnon had currently donned a red and brown tunic, with red suspender pants worn underneath. Kragnon patted at his clothing for a few seconds before facing Johnny and shrugging. "Do I look presentable?"

Johnny nodded. "Very much so, sir. Now get yourself fed and tell Baroness Tak you have to be somewhere. If that fails, then I have plan B at the ready. Kay will be waiting for you."

Kragnon nodded and began walking to the the private dining hall, which was part of a routine that had went on ever since he became a resident of the palace. Despite being separated from his artificial intelligence, otherwise known as the judicial intelligence core called Maiden, he merely traded a life of secluded squalor and abundant knowledge to one of plentiful social connections and abundant wealth. Though he had missed the halcyon days when the people in the Hidden Water Spring Tribe were still alive, he was still happy of the fact that he was able to leave the tower and be with the rest of his species after a long period of cold-pod hibernation.

However, no matter the good intentions within a meeting that was long awaited, it would instantly be sullied by the most unexpected twist.

A/N: 1000 Whose Line Is It Anyway points to whoever guesses what happens next? :3