Nissa has entered the chatroom.
Nissa: Moo. Where are you guys?
Moo. Moooo.
I hate time zone differences.
...
Nissa: I'm bored
Ori Dori
Kili fili
Oin Gloin
Balin Dwalin
Bifur Bofur Bombur
Uh...There's Thorin of course.
Um, that's only twelve. I'm missing one.
Crap.
Statkus has entered the chatroom.
Nissa: Hey
Your chat name is your real name?
Statkus: Hello.
I don't like fake names.
Nissa: Why not? They're fun.
Statkus: Meh. Any news on the alien front?
Nissa: Yeah
He said that he just wants to figure out how to leave and go
but he also wants to know more about Blizzard.
Statkus: Find out anthing?
*anything?
Nissa: Not really
Hard to get information on Blizz that's online
Interviews don't tell much
Mostly warcraft
Statkus: i haven't played that in years
Nissa: you live in Cali
Can you go to Irvine?
Statkus: Oh sure, I find the building that's Blizzard
And then go in and ask if I can find out why they made starcraft?
Weird
Dr. Whooves has entered the chatroom.
Dr. Whooves: 'ello
what is going on?
Nissa: nm
I showed Charlie the Protoss missions
Statkus: This is a "lolspeak" free zone
And that's "nevermind", not "not much"
Dr. Whooves: ooh, he didnt freak about dying?
stfu statkus
Nissa: lol rofl
Statkus: ...
Nissa: nah, Charlie was...calm, I guess. More mad at Zeratul than anything else.
Dr. Whooves: zeratul?
whats he mad at zer for?
Nissa: Besides the whole Aiur thing
he's mad at Zer for listening to Kerri
thinks he should have known better
Statkus: Zeratul should have, maybe.
I don't know, we weren't there
Nissa: Thing is, if you're an infested human who just got free of the Zerg Overmind, wouldn't you try and go find your human friends instead of trying to be buddy buddy with Toss?
The only Toss Kerri really knows are people who hate her.
Dr. Whooves: good point.
i didn't think of that.
Nissa: did you beat the game yet?
Dr. Whooves: i cheated my way through
just to see the story
i'm still on the toss missions on my non-cheat run
Statkus: What did you say?
Nissa?
Nissa: what?
Statkus: when Charlie said that he just wanted to fix his ship and leave?
Nissa: I said I'd talk to you guys
But it sounded like a good idea to me
Statkus: ...
Dr. Whooves: i don't know
Statkus: I know you like him or something, but he hasn't hearend our trust yet
*earned
Dr. Whooves: i wish i could talk to him
i don't really know what to do at all.
Statkus: You saw Protoss missions, right, Toby?
Dr. Whooves: yes
charlie's a jerk
Statkus: I know...
Dr. Whooves: i mean, i like aliens and things
but i didn't think the first alien i met would be someone who thinks tassadar should have killed more humans
Nissa: That was because the human worlds were infested
and Charlie thought blasting them would get rid fo the problem.
Statkus: ...Excuse me while I bang my head into my desk.
Nissa: The confederacy let the zerg rise up. Their fault.
Statkus: So you're just going to trust this guy to not cause trouble?
Nissa: what trouble would he cause? I've already discussed things with him
If this is his past timeline, he'll only ensure humans learn anti-Toss technology
If this isn't his past timeline, he won't do anything at all
Dr. Whooves: that's what i thought
Nissa: Even though his morals are different from ours, he has morals.
Prolly won't shoot us
Dr. Whooves: he's kind of a prude
he might shoot at porn sattelites
Nissa: that's hilarious. I approve
Statkus: ...Bethany, whose side are you on?
Nissa: I'm on nobody's side, because nobody's on my side
Dr. Whooves: lol
lotr ref
Statkus: Yes, that's for sure.
Nissa: Well, I wanted to talk to you guys because I wanted to know if you could see a problem with his plan.
You know, him staying until he can get back
Statkus: How fast can he get the ship fixed?
Nissa: he doesn't know. Seems pretty confident about it.
Statkus: We don't have the authority to give him permission.
Dr. Whooves: does anybody?
nobody owns space
Nissa: My question is, no matter who gives permission, is there something inherently harmful in letting him hang out in space?
Statkus: The United Nations should say if he can.
Nissa: The WHAT?
The UN is a pile of useless beauracrats who waste money and time.
Statkus: They're the only multi-national authority.
Nissa: The only thing they're good at is talking trash about Israel and supporting suicide bombers
Don't care. They've accomplished nothing.
Statkus: Paranoid.
To answer your question, Charlie isn't the sort of person who leaves well enough alone.
Dr. Whooves: he's got a bad temper
Statkus: I think if we leave Charlie there he's going to do something we don't like.
Soon enough something's going to irritate him.
Nissa: Okay, so wht's the solution to that?
Statkus: We have to keep an eye on him.
No deal unless that.
Nissa: Do we know who to contact in the government just in case?
Statkus: There's lots of UFO sightings organizations
I think they'll listen
We just won't say Protoss.
Nissa: email me a list.
Statkus: No, I can copy/paste
HBCC UFO Research
National UFO Reporting Center
Mutual UFO Network
Center for UFO Studies Sightings Report
Nissa: handy
Write up a letter for them
Statkus: Trust me, I have.
I'm also copy/pasting all conversations we have on the topic
Dr. Whooves: i can phone the telegraph
the media would love a story on aliens
Statkus: Great.
Dr. Whooves: it would be an absolute sensation
Statkus: We just need evidence.
Nissa: Evidence?
I already told Charlie I wasn't going to steal his stuff.
Statkus: No.
He might catch you.
Just pictures and video.
Nissa: I don't know...
I want him to feel like he can trust me
Not like he's a prisoner or something.
Statkus: The trouble with your plan is that there's no consideration in case of emergency.
What do we do if he doesn't listen?
Dr. Whooves: he's hundreds of years old
is he really going to listen to anyone?
Statkus: So you agree with Bethany, then?
Dr. Whooves: i think so
it's better to get him on our side
if we can
Statkus: This is Aldaris we're talking about.
He's too stubborn.
Dr. Whooves: exactly
so we shouldn't force him to do anything
make him think he's being nice on his own
Statkus: And how do we do that?
Dr. Whooves: idk
i wish he would talk to me
Statkus: Life is not Dr. Who.
The chances of something going horribly wrong are pretty high.
Nissa: And they wouldn't be if we tried to film him?
Statkus: We just need to be prepared
Dr. Whooves: it's pretty hard to prepare against someone who can read your mind
Nissa: My point exactly.
Statkus: So we just wait until he does something wrong, then?
Nissa: Negotiations are complex things.
Statkus: I wish the one he talked to the most wasn't the most flaky person in the group.
Nissa: Hey!
you had your chance.
Statkus: ...Whatever. Just let him know he's not going to get away with anything stupid.
Nissa: I'll try.
Statkus: I have to go. My girlfriend is here.
Nissa: 'k
See you later
Dr. Whooves: bye
Statkus has left the chatroom.
Nissa: Dr. Whooves?
Dr. Whooves: ?
Nissa: BROOOOOONYYYY
Dr. Whooves: lol.
and proud of it
i wonder what charlie is doing right now
Nissa: Dunno
maybe bored out of his mind
Dr. Whooves: i would be pretty bored too
i don't want to be on a ship forever.
-t-
The light shone in his face, its brightness stinging at even his eyes. It had been some time since Aldaris had been in the light such a bright sun, and as he stood there with his eyes shut, he could imagine that the scenery around him was the ancestral home of his family. He could feel himself standing in the open valley before the country cottage, surrounded on all sides by trees and the pathway to the seaside. The cottage, one story like the most ancient of Protoss architecture, lay extended over a small hill like a blanket. Aldaris almost expected that he would turn around and see its wooden eaves and tan plaster walls again.
It was the thought of his mother standing at the door that brought down his little fantasy. Certainly, she had been there in the past, standing at the door in her traditional karagou robe, waiting for her son to return so that together they could prepare for the summer festival in the Pyrgos province. However, his mother had been deceased for many years,reminding him that the scenario in his head was a distant memory and no better than a fantasy. Her death had been peaceful and unremarkable, nothing at all like those lost in the Aiuran war. It pained him to think what might have happened to his mother's grave in the advent of the Zerg.
At that point Aldaris forced his eyes open. Instantly his dream collapsed. The scene that replaced it was at least better than thoughts of Zerg-ravaged Aiur; instead of trees older than his grandfather before him, there was a massive cliff, leading down into the ocean. Humans called it the Pacific. What few trees there were far smaller in scale, some distance back from the cliff. Many looked to the Judicator more like massive bushes. They were, however, inoffensive, and the sparse grass that grew beneath his feet was at least more pleasant than the sands of Shakuras.
Though the sun was bright, Aldaris shuddered. As much as the Dark Templar seemed to like the smoky haze that was Shakuras' cloud cover throughout its year, he'd always known he could scarcely tolerate a world where only the moonlight could shine through such a mist. The only place on that blue, blue planet Aldaris felt even slightly at home was at the Xel'Naga temple, where somehow the presence of the ancients was palpable.
Aldaris stood there in the morning light, forced to admit to himself that there was nothing especially wrong with Earth as a planet, absent of whatever the humans had done to it. Even his disdain for the type of tree was really a personal choice; they were simply too small. Now that the Judicator found himself in such a peaceful place, he realized that all he really missed were his companions. Aiur was gone, and he had no home on Shakuras. All that really called to him were his companions, those loyal to the Khala, all depending on him, waiting in the sands of Shakuras for their leader to arrive.
And he would not. Because he was here. On Earth. While everything he'd stood for was mocked by the little creatures, all ignorant that their computer game was his true life.
Aldaris shut his eyes again. The strength of this sun refreshed him, and he could feel it soak into his skin and give him strength. It was a strong light, and part of him wondered if Earth's star was younger than Aiur's. How embarrassing it was to have stumbled in front of Bethany! He hadn't realized how low his endurance had gotten. Artificial light only went so far in sustaining a Protoss, and he'd been stuck on his ship for several weeks. As much as he hated to admit it, even if only to himself, the human was right; he was obliged to leave his vessel after a time.
I am no Templar...I am of the Ara tribe, the family of Pereclus. Aldaris' eyes darkened along with his thoughts as he stared at his hands. One cannot modify the inheritance of the body.
Aldaris paused. He extended his hands before himself, staring at his fingers as he stretched them in the light. They moved better, he thought, and as he clenched and relaxed his hands the stiffness he'd suffered from them the past two weeks melted away. The sunlight here was more than enough to soothe his condition and render it ignorable, at least for a while.
Brrrrrrinnng!
The jolting noise snapped Aldaris out of his thoughts. He silently cursed his lack of caution and instantly scanned his surroundings as he went for the nearest clump of trees. The Judicator detected the mental presence of a human not too far away, and with relief noted that the man felt annoyance - not anger, confusion, or anything more logical for someone who had just seen a giant alien in his yard. Apparently this person found the sound almost as annoying as Aldaris did.
Curious, Aldaris extended his powers. He couldn't hear any audible sounds from that distance, but with only a little mental effort, he could make out a conversation by listening to the man's mind. It never occurred to Aldaris that he was being rude, and had it, there is no guarantee he would have cared.
"Hello?" said the local human.
"Mr. Kensley? It's Tom." a voice burdened with worry spoke. Aldaris sensed that this person was not present, so they must have been communicating with some sort of machine. "There's been an emergency...it's Alice."
"What happened?"
"She was in a really bad accident. She's in the hospital now, and I don't know if she's going to make it out of surgery..."
Aldaris listened with one "ear" and with the other examined the thoughts of this "Mr. Kensley". He was an adult male, not too recently widowed, and Alice was his daughter. He lived alone in the country, and his daughter lived at some place called San Francisco.
He could not be snuck up on a second time. Aldaris detected instantly the violent impulse directed toward him, even before the sound of frantic barking distracted him from the phone conversation. Up through the underbrush came a dog that only humans would call large. The brown thing still barked and snapped at him, but didn't dare come close. Aldaris already had hold of its mind.
"Sharashnana, Raasha...polempatul sharashnana..."
The chant and simultaneous neural connective technique worked best on Aiuran animals, but it seemed to do for this dog. After all, in theory it would work on any domesticated animal. Aldaris looked into its mind and forced his way into its emotional core, silencing it and having it sit down so that he could continue to listen to the humans. As he did this, Kensley finished his conversation with Tom. Soon enough, the sound of a door opening and then slamming jolted the countryside.
Is everything about this human obnoxiously loud?
Mr. Kensley graciously confirmed Aldaris' theory by yelling out for his dog.
"Wolf! Woooolf!" the man shouted. "Where are you, boy?"
Aldaris turned to the dog. It sat there, peering out at him with its somber brown eyes. With slight gesture of the hand, Aldaris released it. Instantly Wolf took off, heading for the sound of his master's voice. The Protoss waited a couple of minutes, slowly going nearer to what he knew had to be a house of some kind. Soon enough the irritating sound of a Terran motor engine roared into the air, then faded out as Mr. Kensley departed. Aldaris waited only a few minutes longer inspecting this person's homestead with a critical eye.
Good enough.
Aldaris raised a hand over the quorrian embelm tied tightly around his left shoulder, lightly touching the deep purple gem on its surface. This place shall perhaps prove useful to me in the short term.
With the flick of his fingers, the embelm produced a cloud of blue smoke. When it blew away, the Protoss was gone, with no one to witness the disappearance but a small chorus of birds.
\\\\\\\\\\\\
Author's Notes New:
- Boy did the whole brony thing age poorly. People don't even talk about that sort of thing anymore. Though I suppose they might make a return once the new incarnation of pony show comes about. Again, that's not a thing I'm going to be changing, as this is a journal fiction, so it is what it is. Man, has life changed.