I know this chapter took way longer to come out than I intended, but its also way longer than I though it was going to be. Expect a lot of action and violence this chapter, though not devoid of any emotion in the least bit. StarCraft is a game about a science fiction war, after all, even if it is only T-rated.


Revelations

The Cave of Relics was considered among the Khalai to be one of the most expansive and beautiful underground locations in all of Auir. It's stalactites were imbued with an abundance of crystals, a number of which were psionically attuned or at the very least close. The cave was less of a singular hollow of ground and more of a labyrinth of tunnels that snaked and crisscrossed for miles downward. The central, and most interesting point, was a large central chamber where the remains of the primary Shelak Tribe city could be found. It was there that Artanis hoped to find the last of the Xel'naga artifacts that were left on Aiur.

The Hierarch stepped through a narrow chamber, his blue and green Psionic Blades lighting up the cavern around him. Behind him stood Selendis, her own psi-blades ignited, with thirty Zealots behind her, eight of which held powered staves that could be used to spin around, cutting up any enemies that surrounded them. There were also fifteen Adepts, glaive cannons fastened to the female Protoss's arms, and four Hight Templar to provide psionic support.

Artanis eyed the cavern before him, noticing how quickly the light of their weapons was being swallowed up by the darkness below. They had only traveled a few dozen meters from the surface and already it was almost as dark as night. Only the scattered illumination of reflective crystals broke through, the light of their weapons winking back at them.

He sighed. He wished he could've brought some more mechanized support, but it was far too cramped to fit any Immortals or Dragoons through the entrance. And he dared not bring any more troops than what he had at the moment. Fighting in cramped spaces was not ideal for large quantities of units, no matter how strong they were. He remembered firsthand that most of the Protoss's victories against the Zerg relied on using the terrain to their advantage, whether it was higher ground or narrow chokepoints. Seeing as the cave didn't have any plateaus or cliffs, the latter would be the only way they could utilize their environment. Artanis would make sure that advantage wouldn't be turned against them via overwhelming numbers of their own.

The team descended into the darkness, their glowing weapons lighting as much as they could. Normally, it was enough for them to be able to see, especially considering their eyesight was naturally more attuned to seeing better in areas with poor lighting compared to most creatures. However, the cave seemed to almost swallow up the light, their vision becoming far more limited than many of them were accustomed to.

A minute or so passed as they continued before the cave opened up somewhat, spreading out wide enough for everyone to fit in comfortably. Four paths presented themselves to the group, each branching off in different directions. Each of them also looked identical.

"Four entrances," Artanis remarked. "Four choices."

"Perfect spot for an ambush, Hierarch," Selendis pointed out, taking a spot next to him.

He nodded in agreement. Indeed, if the Zerg had any sort of coordination left on Aiur, they would be primed to strike around the junction. There was enough space for the predatory creatures to move around the group without getting in each other's ways, thus allowing more them to pile on and overwhelm the Protoss expedition team.

No sooner had he finished his thought that the ground seemed to erupt around them, dust and dirt kicking up to reveal the forms of several large beasts. They hissed and spat, large, gaping filled with razor-sharp teeth snapping at them. Roaches, he thought. Each beetle-like Zerg was easily the size of fully-grown Protoss. They had a short, almost squat-like appearance, their thick, bulbous abdomens held up by six exoskeletal legs. Two pincer arms were on either sides of their faces, ready to grab and crush whatever decided to close in with them.

Many more forms emerged, from the smaller, nimble forms of Zerglings to the snake-like masses of Hydralisks. They chittered and roared before immediately charging forth, aiming to catch their prey off-guard.

Unfortunately for them, the Daelaam Protoss were more than ready for them. Zealots rushed to meet their attackers, blades drawn and eager to spill the blood of their enemies. Adepts fired their arm-mounted Glaive Cannons, bolts of psionic energy darting past the forward line of troops and striking the first line of smaller Zerg creatures. Most of them struck home, killing their targets instantly.

Above the horde, swirling fields of electricity began forming out of seemingly nowhere. Such a thing should not have been possible, but High Templar were capable of making the impossible possible. Lightning struck out at the Zerg, killing any who stayed under the cloud of death for too long.

Still, though the psionic storm did thin out the Zerg forces, it didn't thin them out enough. The chitinous beasts poured out of every crevice they could find, closing in to drown the Protoss in a tide of death. Six Zealots went down in seconds, ripped apart by a combination of teeth, claws, bile, and spines. Three Adepts soon followed, hails of Hydralisk spines focus-firing on the more range-oriented Khalai warriors.

Seeing as Artanis was at the forefront of the expedition force, the Zerg were easily able to surround him. They made to overrun him just as they did with the others.

But they failed to realize just one of the many reasons he had been chosen as Hierarch. He counter-charged the Zerg tide, smashing through several Zerglings and a trio of Roaches weakened by the psi-storm. Once his momentum was spent, he began slashing his blades about, cutting or otherwise impaling whatever insectoid creatures dared challenge him.

He continued to slice through the ambush force, his warriors either at his side or supporting him, but it was becoming incredibly apparent that even his momentum couldn't go on forever. It was after felling what felt like the hundredth enemy that his shields broke, continually being bombarded by Hydralisk spines. He faltered as he felt his shields shatter and that proved to be enough of an opening for at least one of the assailing beasts. An immense Roach, larger than the others and lined with some sort of green markings, lunged at him. Artanis lost his footing as the larger creature tackled him to the ground, pinning him in place. The Hierarch's blue and green psi-blades dug fissures into its body armor, but they failed to deter his attacker. It gnashed at the Protoss warrior, trying to bite his face off.

Suddenly, a flash of green cut across the body of the Roach and it ceased its attacks, seizing up, it's mouth hanging slack. Artanis found that he was no longer trying to push away an aggressor, only the mere weight of a dead body. A second or two went by before it split in two, neatly bisected at a diagonal across its body, and parting on either side of him.

The sounds of screeching and dying Zerg echoed throughout the chamber, with dozens of the creatures slumping over or falling to pieces before the eyes of the Daelaam. The few who did not experience such ailments either stood in shock or otherwise turned and fled, their primal instincts of self-preservation taking over. All were cut down by the rest of Artanis's forces.

It was only once the cries of panicked Zerg died down that the Hierarch stopped to calm his twin beating hearts. He closed his eyes briefly, mentally repeating several Warrior Mantras he'd learned in the early stages of his training.

The sound of whooshing air had his eyes shoot open only to see a cloud of shadow form before him. It lasted only a second before dropping down and dissipating, revealing the form of Matriarch Vorazun standing before him, Shadow Scythe in hand. Wind blew at her purple and gold robes, accentuating her lithe form. Behind her stood twelve Dark Templar, each with a Scythe of their own, and four Stalkers, their large, teardrop-shaped bodies crouched and at the ready.

"Matriarch Vorazun," he greeted, standing himself up. "It is good of you to join us."

"Hierarch Artanis," she returned. "It looks like my timing could not have been better."

"Very much so," he nodded. The young Protoss turned to survey his forces. The attack had been brutal and they had taken casualties, but it wasn't as severe as it could have been. Most of the expedition force was still alive, many with broken or weak shields. Only a handful had any lasting injuries, but it was not enough to impede them.

He turned his attention back to her as she spoke. "For a moment, I thought you were actually about to meet your end at the hands of a simple Roach," she said.

"I probably was if it weren't for you," he told her.

The Matriarch chuckled at the thought. "I can see it now," she teased, "'Artanis, Hierarch of the Daelaam, Savior of the Protoss, killed in battle by a single Roach while exploring caves'."

The male Protoss's cheeks turned a shade of blue. "That would be a very undignified way to go out," he agreed, feeling embarrassed at the idea.

She saw the way he was shifting on his feet uncomfortably and the playfulness in her voice faded. "I would have mourned your death either way should such a fate had befallen you," she attempted to console him.

The pair became somber as the conversation died down, silence reigning between the two. She only meant to poke fun at the absurdity of the thought, not embarrass him and make things awkward between them. She normally had a very dry sense of humor; it was just who she was. However, with all that had been going on between the two of them for the last several weeks, things felt more awkward, more tense, than they'd ever been before.

It didn't last long, with Selendis appearing right alongside the male. "Artanis?" she questioned, eyeing the Nerazim Matriarch out of the corner of her eye.

The Hierarch looked up, facing his closest companion. "Let us move," he said. He straightened his back, head raised as he returned to a confident, more familiar posture.

The group advanced, splitting into four even groups. Each group had six Zealots, three Adepts, three Dark Templar, a Stalker, and a single High Templar in it. Artanis and Vorazun led the one that went down the right-central path, Selendis leading the path to their left. Everyone else followed the guidance of the Hight Templars among them.

The Protoss advanced, with the Dark Templar leading the way, checking for traps or any unusual activity. Vorazun, for her part, stayed beside him, Scythe in hand, ready to react at a moment's notice. Artanis was relieved that she had chosen to go with him instead of leading another team. He was even more relieved that Selendis did not. He had no hard feelings towards her, for she was his apprentice and friend, but he was well aware that she still harbored some… misgivings towards the Nerazim Matriarch. She was not particularly fond of the ways of the Dark Templar, their methods of combat and warfare. She thought it was dishonorable, cowardly. The use of Void energy was not welcome either, a trait still shared by many traditionalist Khalai.

"I'm glad you came," Artanis spoke after several long minutes of walking, the sounds of shuffling feet and armor the only thing generating noise for the entire duration.

Vorazun nodded back. "As am I, Hierarch," she replied coolly, not wishing to further add to the discussion. In truth, she was still questioning if it was a good idea to come in the first place. She could feel her hearts hammering in her chest at the mere proximity of him, though whether that was from nervousness or excitement was not yet clear.

Seeming to sense her unease, he asked, "Have you figured out if you are interested yet?" Vorazun noted that he intentionally left 'me' and 'courting' out of the question. She could appreciate him doing his best to avoid sounding selfish, even if she could see right through it. He was always so selfless, the trait of a good leader, and it was something she admired so much about him.

"That is actually one of the reasons why I am here," she answered. "Rohana told me that there would come a time when I would know my feelings. I aim to see if this expedition will help realize them."

Artanis nodded in agreement. "For what it is worth, I will accept whatever you find, no matter if it good or bad." Silently, he had been hoping she would just reciprocate his affections. He was still impatient on this matter, giddy like a youngling waiting for a favorite relative or activity.

He chastised himself then and there. He should not be anticipating anything when it came to Vorazun. She would tell him how she felt when she knew she was ready, not before and not after. Pressuring her ran the risk of driving her away, another outcome he desperately wanted to avoid. Besides, her conviction and certainty was one of the many reasons he had felt attraction to her in the first place. She was strong-willed, steadfast, and passionate for her people, something he could admire about her.

It didn't help that she was beautiful too. With a thin, but muscular frame, well-proportioned hips, and sharp, but soft, eyes, there was something about her that he found so alluring among all of the other Protoss women he'd met. She did have a reputation of being more attractive than most of her Nerazim peers, but she also stood out above even Khalai females to him.

They continued downward for some time, with nothing but the glow of their weapons and psionic crystals to light the way. When he glanced her way, she glowed majestically in the dark like the moon in the night sky amongst the stars. She was captivating. Vorazun would glance his way every once in a while and he would withdraw his eyes from her, afraid of what she would think if she caught him staring.

Little did he know that she was struggling with the same thing. In the quiet of the cavern, she would glance over at him when he wasn't staring at him in turn. He was like a warrior, a knight in shining armor, regal and majestic. He was the savior of their species, even though she knew he would vehemently deny such praise. He was no glory-hound. He did not take credit for all of the things he did, even if she thought he deserved it far more than most.

His physical traits only lent to his more regal appearance, one that she found handsome, attractive. He was tall, muscular, held himself high. He had the scars of conflict, but his body wasn't overly mauled. She remembered what he'd looked like before donning that fancy armor, seeing his bare chest and well-built frame. He was unlike any Nerazim male she'd ever laid eyes on, well above any of the other men that had served alongside her. She hoped she would get a chance to see him out of his armor again in the future-

Her eyes widened as she realized where her mind was going, quickly chastising herself for such inappropriate thoughts. These thoughts were beneath her, should be beneath her.

But isn't this the main reason you joined him on this expedition to begin with?, another part of Vorazun's mind questioned. Aren't you supposed to be determining if you have feelings for him?

Yes, the more cautious, or perhaps pessimistic, part of her mind jabbed back, but physical attraction is not good measure of finding out if my feelings for him are anything more than surface level.

You've been pointing out more than just physical traits this entire time, Vorazun, the first, more suggestive part of her mind fired back. You admitted that he was regal, a good man. You admire his spirit and optimism, just as you have before. And you just admired his humility.

Back and forth her mind went, swinging like a pendulum between guarding herself from any romantic feelings and wanting to let loose with the idea that maybe, just maybe, her feelings for him were genuine, real.

So lost in thought was she that she didn't realize that they had made it to what appeared to be the central cavern in the Cave of Relics until she almost came face-to-face with an unpowered Photon Cannon. The Matriarch looked around to see multiple abandoned defensive structures, all lifeless, unpowered for years. Some had been offline for so long that roots and underground plants had already started ensnaring them.

She looked up, seeing the cave expand greatly. It was far larger than she had anticipated, with dozens of scattered Protoss structures littering the expansive cavern. The structures were in a similar state to those of the Photon Cannons, dim, metallic and beginning to be overgrown with foliage. At the far end of the cave she could make out ancient stone structures cobbled together into a massive temple, the size of which dwarfed the newer metallic Protoss buildings. If the younger Khalai structures looked like they were in the process of being retaken by nature, then these structures were their ultimate fate.

"We must be close," Artanis said.

Vorazun had to agree. If there was one place the Shelak Tribe would've put anything of value to them, it would be at the massive temple. Her brow furrowed as she assessed the surrounding area. If there were Zerg still here, they could be just about anywhere across the cavern. There was enough space for there to be enough organisms to vastly outnumber the entire team as well, even more so than the group they had encountered earlier.

Several lights winked into existence to their left and right, revealing the presence of the three other groups. They converged near the edge of the underground lake, reforming into a single, cohesive unit. Artanis devised a plan to make the task of actually finding the artifacts as efficiently as possible while being able to quickly converge into a comprehensive fighting force should they encounter resistance. The exploration force would take up a loose circular formation, with the outermost ring being comprised of Dark Templar. They were mostly there to act as scouts and a means of early warning to avoid any more potential ambushes. Next would be the Zealots, who would make up the hardened shell of the force. They were expected to bear the brunt of any incoming attacks, keeping them away from the more delicate range-oriented units closer to the middle. Adepts would make up the next ring, their closer-range Glaive Cannons there to assist the Zealots. Behind them, the Stalkers would be ready, available to offer their fire support in whatever area was needed, either killing weaker enemies or focus-firing on large, armored targets. The High Templar would make up the center, gathering up psionic energy to unleash upon large clumps of Zerg. Artanis, Vorazun, and Selendis would be just behind the Adepts, ready to rush to the aid of the Zealots but staying closer to the center to direct their forces.

Seeing as they were all in agreement, the expedition force fanned out as instructed, the Dark Templar leading the way.

The group progressed slowly, spending the time to thoroughly look for their primary objective. No one knew exactly what the Xel'naga artifacts would look like or how big they were. None of them even knew if there were even any left. But Artanis had a feeling they would know when they saw one.

The underground city remained ominously silent as they advanced, only the occasional sound of tunnel wind or dripping water disturbing them. The walls did amplify the sounds of the Khalai warriors shuffling about, heightening their senses. The Nerazim remained stealthy and silent, the threat of revealing themselves nonexistent due to their natural attunement toward stealth.

Vorazun was slightly irked at the noise produced by the large cluster of Khalai Protoss. The noise was far louder than any of the missions she'd deployed on with her Templar. Still, she chose to say nothing. It was not fair to call them out on failing at something they were not trained for.

She looked over at Artanis and was surprised to see that he was making less noise than his peers, although it could not be called silent the way the Dark Templar were. His armor was bulky, the plates rubbing against each other from the more subtle movements his body subconsciously did. Still, he was at least trying, a show at his willingness to learn of the ways of her people. It was adorable, almost like seeing a child's first steps. Perhaps she could further hone his skills, see to it that he became a representation of both sides of the Daelaam.

"Matriarch," one of her Dark Templar called out to her. "There is Zerg creep covering the ground ahead."

"Remain vigilant," she told him. "Inform us of any strange activity or possible obstructions when possible."

The Dark Templar did as they were told, their eyes scanning the surrounding buildings for anything unusual. They kept their weapons on hand, prepared to strike at the first sign of trouble. The rest of the group noticed the heightened tension, gripping their weapons tighter. They too began darting their eyes around, looking at every shadow or indent for possible signs of imminent danger.

Soon enough, the rest of the force was able to confirm the Dark Templar's findings, feet touching fleshy ground. A cold wind swept across the group, carrying the moist, decaying smell of the creep with it.

Vorazun bristled as the smell came over her. The Zerg had always been a repulsive species to her ever since her first encounter, the very antithesis of the Protoss species as a whole. Where her kind were ancient and proud, using their technology and psionics to achieve things no other species could, the Zerg relied on their Hive Mind. Everything they build was overtly organic, at once both a living thing and designed for a single purpose. There was no artistry behind them, no touch of elegance, only pure function. To a degree she thought they were even like the Khalai when she'd first met them with their unified consciousness and singular drive, but she soon learned that they were much worse. At least those within the Khala were still individual people, with their own thoughts and personalities. The Zerg didn't even have that.

She was glad she'd met Artanis at almost the same time as her first encounter with the Zerg, being there to further highlight the difference between his people and the invasive creatures. He helped show her that there was still individuality among the rest of the Protoss race, that they hadn't become the mindless automatons the Nerazim feared them to be. She couldn't be more grateful for him than that.

A loud voice suddenly boomed across the cavern, ringing against the walls and filling the empty silence of the underground city. "Foolish Protoss!" it hissed. "You should not have come here if you wanted to live! Now it is too late for you! Now you face the wrath of the Swarm!"

The ground erupted around the expedition force as dozens of Zerg creatures emerged from hiding, shaking off loose rocks and soil from their bodies with hundreds of individual muscles. They hissed menacingly as they revealed themselves, riling themselves up and attempting to sow fear into the intruding Protoss.

But the Protoss were not so easily scared. The Dark Templar engaged the threat as soon as they appeared, disappearing into the shadows and striking at those closest to them almost instantly. Glaive Cannons and Particle Disruptors sang the song of death as they unleashed bolts of energy at their foes, striking them as they came into view. Psionic storms surged above them further back, unleashing torrents of deadly energy onto the Zerg.

Just like last time, there were too many enemies to wipe out with a single burst of attacks alone. Even with the additional might of the Nerazim forces, there were still plenty of Zerg alive and well. They made to surround their prey, cutting off all possible escape avenues.

Still, the Daelaam Protoss stood strong and proud before their foes, advancing forward, closer to the larger, more ancient structure near the back of the city. Artanis and Vorazun pushed outward from the formation, moving past the Adepts to stand beside the Zealots. They formed a spear tip as the rest of the expedition force closed ranks, flanking the two leaders from either side.

As one, the Daelaam pushed forward, with Artanis charging into the larger concentrations of heavy Zerg creatures. Vorazun supported him, dashing forward to Shadow Strike groups of Zerglings and Hydralisks. Once her flurry of attacks was complete, she'd retreat behind the Hierarch, guarding his flank from any foes he didn't catch in time. They seemed to work well in concert, with him forming the strong base, a pillar of defiance, and her flowing around him like water, her actions synchronizing with his almost flawlessly. And this was all done without the guidance of the Khala.

The Protoss carved through the swarm like a hot knife through butter. Dozens died from blade and bolt alike, littering the ground with dismembered parts and crumpled bodies in their wake. The going was not flawless, however, as six Zealots, four Dark Templar, and two Adepts died, either from the tide of claws and teeth before them or by the concentrated force of Hydralisk spines and Roach bile.

They continued to advance deeper and deeper into the ancient city, not relenting for even a second. They knew that doing such a thing would leave them vulnerable to retaliation, something they could not afford.

Finally, after what had felt like a veritable sea of enemies, they managed to make it to the steps leading up to the temple. Much of it was covered in creep, giving the stone a slimy organic sheen. At the top of the stairs, a Zerg Queen stood tall and proud, staring down upon those who had pressed into what she had claimed as her territory. Around her were rows of Zerglings and Hydralisks, ready to protect their charge.

"Protoss," she hissed, her eyes narrowed as she sighted down the intruders. "You dare to barge into my home, aiming to destroy what little remains of the Swarm on this planet! You may think you have won, besting the Overmind and sundering the Swarm, but you will find that we are not so easily dislodged."

Vorazun furrowed her brow in confusion. Did this Queen not know of the truce between them and the Swarm, that Kerrigan had ordered it and Zagara was obeying it to the letter? She certainly acted like she didn't know. She had commanded her brood to engage their expedition force the moment they set foot in the cave. If she weren't so hostile now, perhaps they could've come to some sort of an agreement. They could've been shepherded off of Aiur without bloodshed, been brought back to Zagara and the rest of the Zerg. All they wanted was to secure the last remaining Xel'naga artifacts, make sure no one could use their power again.

Naively, Artanis attempted to speak to the Zerg leader anyway. "We are not here to destroy your nest, broodmother," he intoned. "All we want is to secure the remaining Xel'naga artifacts left on Aiur. If you let us through, we can return you to the rest of the Swarm without any more needless bloodshed."

"Lies!" the Queen screeched at him. "I know deception when I see it! The Queen of Blades would never accept us if we came quietly!"

"The Queen of Blades is no more," he continued to speak, urging her to listen. "She was the one to defeat Amon and prevent the destruction of our reality. We fought alongside the Swarm and the Terrans to do so. She sacrificed her control of the Zerg to save us all."

"Enough!" she cut through his plea, sounding more furious as the seconds went by. "I know my Queen better than any of your race ever could! She would never ally with any primitive Terrans or you lowly Protoss! And I will not have her insulted by the crafting of such obscene lies!"

Getting the feeling that she would not listen to reason, Artanis charged up the stairs, weapons ignited and ready to kill the Zerg leader. It was then that he noticed a pair of Hunter-Killers were flanking her. Their spines were far stronger and deadlier than those of normal Hydralisks, such was their lethality. All three of them opened fire on him, showering him with spines. They bounced against his shields like a harsh rain, draining them even faster than his more recent encounters.

The ground shook and Artanis briefly slowed his charge, trying to pinpoint the location of the disturbance. It didn't take long to find what was causing it.

A chunk of the temple exploded outward to his left, sending debris flying across the city. He covered his face to shield is eyes from the dust cloud that formed. When it cleared, he could make out the lumbering form of an Ultralisk, roaring at him as it presented its four Kaiser blades to him. The four Stalkers in the group immediately began to focus-fire on it, knowing they were the only things that had any hope dealing significant damage to it. Still, it shrugged off the first few shots before charging into the Protoss lines.

Artanis noticed that, as it started tearing through his warriors, two of the High Templar had merged together to form an Archon. They must've known just how truly desperate they were to take it on. The Zealots and Adepts were doing their best against it, but they were neither trained nor equipped to deal with the massive beast. Meanwhile, the remaining Dark Templar had to double their efforts to keep the remaining Zerg away, with many of the Zealots and Adepts diverting their attention away from the smaller creatures.

The bombardment of projectiles was beginning to subside as he, Vorazun, and Selendis cut through the supporting Hydralisks. He ended up taking the brunt of their firepower, but he was aware the Matriarch didn't have the shields and armor he possessed. She was faster than him, capable of dealing more damage to their lines with her Shadow Scythe and Void energy. Selendis was between the both of them in terms of combat capabilities. She was more durable than Vorazun, but less than him. She was swifter than him but unable to keep up with the Dark Templar's pace.

A howl of pain could be heard down by the rest of his warriors. The Ultralisk, beaten up and bruised by the concentrated force of the Stalkers and Archon, was slowing down, having lost one of its arm-blades. However, the Archon had disappeared, killed and dissipated into nothing as it lost the fight against the behemoth.

It turned to look up at them, noticing just how close the trio had gotten to reaching the top, getting dangerously close to the Queen. Bellowing out, it disengaged from the rest of the Protoss, aiming to protect its leader. He seemed to be the only one of the trio to notice the monster's approach.

It was at this point that he also noticed just how much closer Vorazun was to the Queen. And how isolated she was. The Ultralisk thundered up the steps, it's three remaining arms stretched out as it sought to envelop the Matriarch from all sides.

"Vorazun!" he called out to her. By the time she noticed the building-sized Zerg, it was almost on top of her. It loomed over her, its claws reaching out and around her, ready to catch her in its crushing grip.

The Nerazim Matriarch turned to face the threat as it cast its shadow over her, its glowing yellow eyes staring down on her with malicious intent. She did not have the time or energy to react, having only just gotten out of Shadow Fury against another pack of Hydralisks.

Her eyes widened as she saw death, her life flashing before her eyes. She saw her mother, so wise and humble, watching her with pride that only a mother could. She saw Mohandar, always quiet and supportive. She saw Artanis, strong, idealistic, wanting what was best for both her and her people, not letting history cloud his judgement. He was the closest thing she had for a friend now, the only one who truly believed in her out of all Templar, even among her own people.

She just wished she could've found out if she had feelings for him…

Vorazun felt a force hit, driving her off her feet and knocking the wind out of her. The force was swift and sudden, like a flash flood or a lightning bolt. She went flying off to the side, away from the Ultralisk's reach.

It was only once she was sailing through the air that she realized what had thrown her off her feet wasn't the Ultralisk at all, but Artanis himself, using his bulk and strength to push her away from the monster's talons, taking her place instead. She landed on her back and pushed herself up just in time to see him block two of the creature's blades with his own gauntlets, letting his psi-blade and Zeratul's Warp Blade keep the bony appendages at bay.

Unfortunately, this left him open for the third talon. Artanis's shields were all but gone, withered away by Hydralisk and Queen spines. He hadn't had time to get them recharged, so he would have to let his armor take the brunt of the damage. Even though it was strong and heavy, an Ultralisk's Kaiser blades could still pierce through it like tissue paper.

Artanis visibly recoiled as he felt the enlarged weapon cut across his chest, renting a hole through his ornate armor and across flesh and bone. He fell to his knees but kept the two other blades in his hands.

Seeing that he wasn't dead yet, the Ultralisk backhanded the Hierarch, sending him flying across the ground. He landed several meters away on his back, becoming dangerously still.

Vorazun's hearts were pounding against her chest as she saw Artanis fall and rest upon the ground, becoming far too motionless. She saw the gouge in his chest, his armor in ruins, with blood weeping out of the large wound. It was impossible, she thought. He couldn't possibly be dead. He couldn't. She felt her chest tighten, her normally-calm demeanor broken, her body shaking. For the first time in a long time she'd felt something that she'd never felt before: anger, pain, and grief all at once. Or, more accurately, wrath.

The Matriarch turned to look upon the Zerg that still lived, the Queen, Hunter-Killers, and Ultralisk sneering down at him. To most, they would've been far too much to deal with.

But, in that moment, she decided she didn't care. Her eyes narrowed in fury, gripping her Scythe until her knuckles were white. Her vision went red and she charged forth, dashing faster than she'd ever moved before, eager to avenge the fallen Hierarch.

The Ultralisk squared off against her, bracing its body as its much smaller opponent closed the distance. When she was within arm's reach, it lunged at her again, doing what it had wanted to do to her in the first place again.

Using a surge of Void energy, she zipped past the Ultralisk, her weapon cleaving through one of the gargantuan creature's legs with a single strike. It fell forward as it lost control of its center of gravity, struggling to balance itself.

But she was not done with it.

Landing on her legs in a crouch, she sprang off against the ground, propelling herself up the Zerg's back. She sliced her Scythe along its back, opening wounds and forcing it to howl in pain. When she'd gotten up to the top, she jumped down in front of it before whipping her weapon at it's face. The blade bit deep and, as she landed on the ground, out of reach of its head, it went slack. The creature keeled over before landing with a hard thump on its side, very much dead.

She turned to face the remaining three Zerg, her hunger for vengeance not yet sated. They stared back at her, ready to kill the Matriarch of the Nerazim.

She Shadow Dashed forward, getting up in their faces before they could even blink. One of the Hunter-Killers moved up to her, bringing one of its clawed hands to strike her down. She was faster, though, and her staff-like weapon bisected the enhanced Hydralisk.

The second one followed soon after, trying to do what it's brethren had attempted. Once again, she ended up being faster, cutting off one of its arms before slamming one of the blades down on top of its head.

As she rounded on the Queen, Vorazun could see the broodmother hesitating, taking a step back nervously. "N-now, Protoss," she said, her voice completely devoid of any confidence she'd had not even a minute ago, "w-we can talk about this-"

"Too late," Vorazun cut off harshly, completely done with the female Zerg's plea. The Queen had her chance to come peacefully, had a chance to stop the violence before it escalated. But, like many that came before, she had been too smug and thought herself too superior for such an action. And Artanis was gravely injured, possibly dead, because of it. Vorazun had never felt such hatred towards an individual before. She would see him avenged.

Before the Queen had a chance to even scream, Matriarch Vorazun cut across her body, darting back and forth as she unleashed her fury at the Zerg leader. She must've done it dozens of times in the span of a few seconds before she stopped, so blind in her fury that she hadn't even registered just how many times she'd slashed and cut at the broodmother.

When she was finally done, the Zerg fell apart into many unrecognizable pieces. The body didn't even look like the semblance of a living thing any more.

The haze of combat fell away as she surveyed her handiwork, calming her beating hearts. The sounds of the battle died along with their leader, the swarm falling into disarray. Most of the Protoss had been decimated in the process, however, with only five Dark Templar, two Stalkers, seven Zealots, four Adepts, and a single High Templar left. They all had injuries, some far worse than others. Still, they did their duty and finished off the ragged remains of what had once been the unified Zerg Swarm on Aiur.

"Vorazun," she felt Artanis call out to her weakly, his mind brushing against hers.

The Dark Templar turned away from the slaughter she had caused, rushing to his side and kneeling. She dropped her weapon next to him, placing her hands around his torso. "I am here, Artanis," she replied to him, trying, and failing, to keep the panic out of her psionic voice.

"Are you alright?" he asked, reaching a hand to brush against one of her arms.

She wanted to laugh in exasperation. Of course he was going to ask her if she was alright while he was the one with a gaping hole in his chest. Classic Artanis. Instead, she merely answered, "I am fine. You, however, do not look even close to the same."

"I guess so," he joked, looking down at the tear across his chest. Artanis groaned painfully, leaning his head back against the ground.

She looked away, not wanting to see the sorry state he was in. "This is all my fault," she murmured. "If I had paid more attention…"

"There was no way you could have known," he reassured her, his hand sliding down to grasp one of her own. She returned her gaze to him, squeezing it in response.

"But now you are hurt, most likely dying, because of my mistake," she said, still blaming herself.

"And I would have done it again even if I knew the outcome would be the same." He tilted his head up at her weakly. "I would do it a thousand times over, just to make sure you were safe."

She felt her hearts clench at the thought. It was hard to think about someone, anyone, who was willing to do that for her other than her mother or perhaps Mohandar. They both loved her; she knew that much. It wasn't hard to believe that Artanis did too, especially now. She wondered how she somehow didn't see it before, of all the times they had been together.

She saw his eyes begin to droop, whether that was from blood loss or exhaustion. "Do no fall asleep, Artanis," she ordered him. She was all too aware that, with how hurt he was, he might never wake up again.

"It is alright," he said, still trying to assuage her worries. It wasn't working.

"No, it is not," she told him with the same type of conviction in her voice that was normally reserved for defending her people and culture. She had used that tone of voice against him many times before. "You cannot die like this, not for me."

"Why?" Artanis asked.

Vorazun froze at the question. It was a very simple question, yet there was a weight to it that she couldn't describe.

"I…" she hesitated.

Then it struck her, why she was feeling this way, why the question had so much weight to her and why her hearts were hammering in her chest in a way that they had never hammered before. They had been why she was feeling the way she was for the last several weeks, possibly even longer than that. They had been why she stood by Artanis even in moments of doubt and darkness, why she had turned to him for comfort when she had lost everything else that had mattered to her.

She loved him. There was no other way to explain it. She loved him, probably for longer than she'd ever realized. She'd never felt this way towards anyone else and the only other people she'd felt even close to the same way were her mother and Mohandar. She knew she cherished them, loved them for being such important parts of her life. This feeling for Artanis was similar, but much stronger. He was the light to her shadow, a beacon of hope in her otherwise grim existence. He was strength, he was warmth, he was comfort. He was what she needed.

Vorazun didn't have the words to convey the way she had felt, the way she was feeling, when around him, especially now. Saying I love you didn't do those feelings justice. So she didn't. Instead, she opened her mind, allowing him to see what she was seeing and feel what she was feeling. She lowered herself until her forehead was pressed against his.

She felt Artanis choke up. Her eyes shot open and she stared down at him, lifting her head from his. But it wasn't pain that she saw in his bright, beautiful blue eyes. No, it happiness, contention. For the first time in a long time, she had seen true happiness radiating from him, the type that only came when all was right in the world.

His hand went slack and his eyes began drooping, threatening to close altogether. She noticed this and squeezed her hand against his tighter. "Artanis?" she asked quietly.

"It is… alright, Vorazun…" his voice clipped, his strength fading. "I… love you…" His hand went slack and his head fell to the ground, eyes closed.

Vorazun's eyes widened as she saw what was happening. "Artanis!" she yelled, pressing hands against his chest, trying to shake him awake. He made no response, continuing to be still. She felt her hands go numb as she continued to shake.

Finally, after what had felt like an eternity of trying, and failing, to get him to respond, she stopped. Her clawed hands let go of his chest, her body going limp.

She wrapped her arms over his chest, uncaring of the blue blood that was getting on her skin. Her head fell against her arms, hugging against him.

Vorazun, Matriarch of the Nerazim, began to weep.


Darkness. That was all Artanis felt when he lost consciousness. He didn't know what to expect when he finally died, only aware that he would probably die in battle. That was the ultimate fate of the Templar, to die in battle for the people, for the Empire. He expected to die far later than he did, though, hoped he would grow old, maybe start a family, have children of his own. He had hoped it would have been with Vorazun. He had hoped she would have expressed her love to him.

Well, at least one of those hopes came true, even if he had to die to get it.

He thought he would ascend to the heavens when he died. He believed in the gods of the universe, that they were benevolent and merciful, and that he would get to be alongside all of his fallen friends once more. Tassadar, Fenix, Kaldalis, Zeratul, countless others he had lost in the hundreds of years he had been alive.

He did not expect to feel a lingering sensation brushing against his mind, one warm and familiar.

Artanis, it called out to him.

He tried to respond, but found he did not have the strength to do so. Still, he mustered up all of his energy and tried.

Artanis, it called out to him again, please…

His eyebrows furrowed in confusion. Did it want him to do something? He didn't know what he even could do at this point. So, he tried again. A faint pulse of psionic energy flowed out from him. It was pathetically small. Younglings could make stronger pulses than that.

This time the voice came out stronger, more encouraging. Artanis, it repeated, please… wake up…

Was he asleep? He didn't feel asleep. He felt like he'd been drifting in the endless void for an eternity. But maybe that was all an illusion, a way to cloud his mind.

He tried again. The psionic pulse went out again, stronger than last time.

Artanis! it spoke loudly, with clarity and conviction. Now the voice was definitely familiar. It was feminine, had an edge of sharpness to it, but was warm nonetheless. It was hers.

His eyes shot wide open, which proved to be a mistake. The light shone down on him brightly, hurting and nearly blinding him. He squinted as they adjusted. It eventually got to tolerable levels and he was able to open them fully.

The first thing he noticed was how stark white the whole room was, bright as light reflected across its surface. He saw the familiar markings and iconography of the Daelaam, designs that were both Khalai and Nerazim in origin. He saw a door on the opposite wall.

Artanis looked down to see that he was lying against a bed, a sheet covering everything up to his chest. He realized he must be naked, or at least very close to it.

To his right, just on the edge, was Vorazun, her head and arms resting on the bed next to his chest. She looked content, peaceful, a far cry from the pain and sorrow she had when he last saw her. Yet, he'd heard her voice in his mind. Was she calling him in her sleep?

Artanis inched his hand over to hers before slipping his clawed fingers to interlace with hers, still covered in rings. He never knew why she had so many pieces of jewelry on her hands. He hoped he would be able to ask her later.

She woke up with a start, jerking her head off the bed, before seeing his their hands together. She looked up to see him staring down at her. She smiled softly. "Artanis," her voice croaked. She looked like she was seconds away from crying with joy.

"He is awake!" a voice rang out loudly. They both turned their heads to see Talendar standing in the doorway. How he hadn't noticed the massive Purifier before was a mystery. Maybe it had something to do with him still being groggy after waking up.

It took only a few seconds for several of his friends to file in. He saw Karax, Talendar, Selendis, and Rohana make their way in, crowding around him. Each of them radiated joy in seeing their friend alive and moving once more. They were all touched by his actions in one way or another in the past, and he couldn't be happier to see them.

They formed a semicircle around him. Selendis spoke first. "We thought we had lost you," she told him.

Artanis nodded. "For a moment, I thought I did too."

"How are you feeling?" Karax asked next, his mechadendrites clasped behind his back as his real hands wrung together nervously.

"Sore," the Hierarch answered truthfully. He didn't notice it before, but his chest was absolutely aching. He lifted up the sheet covering the rest of his body to see a mass of bandages over his chest. Still, when he poked even around them, his skin felt tender.

"How long was I out?" Artanis asked them.

They gave him nervous looks. He didn't understand why.

Finally, after several seconds of silence, Rohana was the one who broke it. "Just over ten days," she said. Artanis was shocked to say the least. He'd been in what was effectively a coma for over a week? Had he awakened any later, he might've become a Dragoon or possibly an Immortal. That would have certainly put him in a dour mood now that he knew Vorazun had feelings for him. Speaking of which…

"Vorazun was by your side the entire time," the Preserver mentioned.

"Indeed," Karax confirmed. "She would not leave your side no matter what we told her. We had to bring in water and something for her to sleep on while she stayed."

Artanis felt his hearts beat faster at the thought. He looked over at her and noticed her face go purple from embarrassment. He thought it was cute seeing her flustered like this. He gripped her hand reassuringly. There was so much he wanted to say to her, but he couldn't find the words to say them.

Sensing that they needed some time alone, Karax ushered the rest of them out. Selendis was among the last to go, giving Vorazun a wary glare. The Nerazim returned it.

"Is it true?" he asked her quietly when the door closed behind them.

She nodded. "Yes," the Matriarch finally answered.

"You did not need to do that," he tried assuring her, grasping her hand a little tighter.

Vorazun shook her head. "I wanted to," she told him.

He looked down at his lap, feeling guilty for getting himself like that in the first place. "I am sorry," he apologized to her.

She cocked her head to the side. "What for?" she wondered.

"For getting myself into a position where you had to see me like this," he said, gesturing to himself.

Vorazun looked at him softly. "Then do not try sacrificing yourself like that," she joked. "I do not need any more dead friends or family in my life."

"You know I cannot do that," Artanis told her. "Especially with you involved."

Her cheeked continued to turn purple. She was still getting used to being shown adoration from him. It was weird. But maybe she could get used to that. "Then I will be sure to never put you in a position where that is an possibility to begin with."

Artanis gazed into her eyes and her face returned to its normal color. She relaxed as her eyes locked with his. Neither of them spoke, for there was nothing to speak about. They simply basked in each other's presence, with love and adoration in equal measure.

He could hardly believe that, after all this time, he was finally able to catch the attention of perhaps the most beautiful Protoss he had ever laid eyes on. And that she felt the same as he did.

She could hardly believe that someone could have feelings for her and make her feel something other than cold disdain or fierce protection toward her people and culture. She trusted that he would do right for the Nerazim in the coming centuries. But, more importantly, she felt she could trust him with her feelings in ways no else could. She felt that he could be the light in her life that she didn't know she needed until now.

Of course, life wasn't just going to magically get easier simply because they were interested in each other. They both knew that the second they announced their relationship to the public there would be outrage on both sides, even despite being heroes. There would be people who would call them traitors for simply falling in love with a Protoss of a different culture. There would be those who would think they were merely manipulating each other for political power and prestige, there could not possibly be any love between them. Being the leaders of the Daelaam and Nerazim already painted a big enough target on their backs as it was.

But they would endure, just as they had ever since they'd know each other. They did not become the leaders of their peoples by being weak and spineless. They would stand strong together and show all of their naysayers that, no matter what they thought, they did love each other.

Slowly, they brought their foreheads together, pressing their crests against each other. Hesitantly, Artanis made the first move and gave her a tender psionic pulse. It did not take her long to return the affection with equal fervor.

There would be hardship in the coming years, that was virtually guaranteed, but, for the first time in a long time, he would look forward to it. Now that he had her, he knew, no matter what happened, he couldn't wait to spend the rest of his days with her.

Together.


Now that this is done, expect all chapters after this to be one-shots. I will notify you all if that changes in the notes before the chapter.

Hope you enjoyed!