CHAPTER 6: Fall of a Hero
"Executor Adun," proclaimed Azcodan, "In disregarding orders and hiding the Rogues from the Conclave, you have openly defied the Khala's law."
Adun did not reply. He knelt before the Judicator Caste, feeling the cold stone floor of the Tribunal beneath his feet. The coldness seemed to grip his entire body, worsening the fear that already clutched his heart.
Azcodan continued with his proclamation, oblivious to Adun's discomfort. He paused to glance at the young Templar. "Judicator," said Adun, "I did what I felt was right. I did it for the benefit of everyone, the Rogues as well as the people of Aiur."
"Adun," remarked Azcodan sternly. "Did you honestly believe that the Rogues would change their old ways? Would you let them into our provinces, thus bestowing them a chance to corrupt our people? Would you undo all that Khas has achieved!?"
"No!" choked Adun in horror.
"For your indiscriminate offence," continued Azcodan angrily. "You shall be stripped of all rank and officially exiled from Aiur!"
"That would not be the wisest course, Azcodan," remarked Khanoz from the opposite end of the Tribunal. "To officially declare his exile, we would have to state our reasons. Do you wish to publicly acknowledge the Rogue presence on Aiur?."
Azcodan looked at the tall Protoss uncertainly. "Then what would you advise us to do, Khanoz?" he remarked.
"Exile the Rogues," replied Khanoz. "We will decide on this Templar's fate when the face of Aiur has been wiped clean of all Rogue influence!"
Before Azcodan could reply, Judicator Kirinal, who had been keeping a low profile at the back of the hall, rose suddenly. In his hand he wielded a psimitar, an ancient but dangerously effective weapon of the Protoss. Only the highest- ranking Judicators were ever allowed to even touch one of these weapons.
"Khanoz," snarled Kirinal. "You will maintain your silence. The fate of the Rogues is not for such a young Judicator to decide."
The long tempered blade of the psimitar gleamed in the soft light. Khanoz knew Kirinal's trick. The old Master would not dare to use his weapon, for wounding one's brethren was a dishonourable act, punishable by anything between demotion and death.
"Judicator Kirinal," said Khanoz firmly. "You have not been yourself lately. Why have you not attended the recent Conclave meetings? Why are you so defensive of the Rogues? Why, do I sense their tainted influence on your mind!?"
Kirinal stepped back in horror. "You would accuse me of heresy?" he replied defiantly.
Beneath his defiance, Khanoz sensed a slow recognition of the truth, and an utter feeling of dread and horror.
"Kirinal," he said calmly. "You shall keep your secret no more. I declare you unfit to h-"
Kirinal lunged forwards with an almost animal scream. The razor-sharp blade of his weapon sliced deep into Khanoz's shoulder, severing muscle and sinew. The Conclave retaliated in shock as Khanoz's massive form slackened to the ground, the left half of his torso neatly cleaved in half.
"NO!" came the guttural roar from the back of the hall. The Judicators turned to see Aldaris spring forwards from his position of guard, covering the vast span of the hall in a few seconds.
"Hold your rage, Zealot!" ordered Kirinal.
Oblivious to the command, and caring not that Kirinal still wielded the deadly blade now stained with his father's blood, Aldaris ignited his psi blades, bringing them down hard on Kirinal's chest. The Zealot knew, with a feeling of dread, that he would be severely punished for his deed, but his anger surpassed his fear of the Conclave's punishment.
The Judicator looked up weakly at Khanoz's son, sensing the sheer joy of vengeance beneath Aldaris' anger. The fiery look in the young warrior's eyes was the last sight he looked upon, before the darkness of death closed over his head.
Aldaris drew his arms back, retracting his blades without a word. He then looked up to address the Conclave. "These Rogues have corrupted the very heart of the Conclave, they have blemished the Khala's light with their eternal darkness! From this day on, they shall be known only as the Dark Templar, and shall be cast into the dark void of space where they belong!"
Azcodan looked upon the young Templar, nodding his head in approval.
"Executor Adun," proclaimed Azcodan, "In disregarding orders and hiding the Rogues from the Conclave, you have openly defied the Khala's law."
Adun did not reply. He knelt before the Judicator Caste, feeling the cold stone floor of the Tribunal beneath his feet. The coldness seemed to grip his entire body, worsening the fear that already clutched his heart.
Azcodan continued with his proclamation, oblivious to Adun's discomfort. He paused to glance at the young Templar. "Judicator," said Adun, "I did what I felt was right. I did it for the benefit of everyone, the Rogues as well as the people of Aiur."
"Adun," remarked Azcodan sternly. "Did you honestly believe that the Rogues would change their old ways? Would you let them into our provinces, thus bestowing them a chance to corrupt our people? Would you undo all that Khas has achieved!?"
"No!" choked Adun in horror.
"For your indiscriminate offence," continued Azcodan angrily. "You shall be stripped of all rank and officially exiled from Aiur!"
"That would not be the wisest course, Azcodan," remarked Khanoz from the opposite end of the Tribunal. "To officially declare his exile, we would have to state our reasons. Do you wish to publicly acknowledge the Rogue presence on Aiur?."
Azcodan looked at the tall Protoss uncertainly. "Then what would you advise us to do, Khanoz?" he remarked.
"Exile the Rogues," replied Khanoz. "We will decide on this Templar's fate when the face of Aiur has been wiped clean of all Rogue influence!"
Before Azcodan could reply, Judicator Kirinal, who had been keeping a low profile at the back of the hall, rose suddenly. In his hand he wielded a psimitar, an ancient but dangerously effective weapon of the Protoss. Only the highest- ranking Judicators were ever allowed to even touch one of these weapons.
"Khanoz," snarled Kirinal. "You will maintain your silence. The fate of the Rogues is not for such a young Judicator to decide."
The long tempered blade of the psimitar gleamed in the soft light. Khanoz knew Kirinal's trick. The old Master would not dare to use his weapon, for wounding one's brethren was a dishonourable act, punishable by anything between demotion and death.
"Judicator Kirinal," said Khanoz firmly. "You have not been yourself lately. Why have you not attended the recent Conclave meetings? Why are you so defensive of the Rogues? Why, do I sense their tainted influence on your mind!?"
Kirinal stepped back in horror. "You would accuse me of heresy?" he replied defiantly.
Beneath his defiance, Khanoz sensed a slow recognition of the truth, and an utter feeling of dread and horror.
"Kirinal," he said calmly. "You shall keep your secret no more. I declare you unfit to h-"
Kirinal lunged forwards with an almost animal scream. The razor-sharp blade of his weapon sliced deep into Khanoz's shoulder, severing muscle and sinew. The Conclave retaliated in shock as Khanoz's massive form slackened to the ground, the left half of his torso neatly cleaved in half.
"NO!" came the guttural roar from the back of the hall. The Judicators turned to see Aldaris spring forwards from his position of guard, covering the vast span of the hall in a few seconds.
"Hold your rage, Zealot!" ordered Kirinal.
Oblivious to the command, and caring not that Kirinal still wielded the deadly blade now stained with his father's blood, Aldaris ignited his psi blades, bringing them down hard on Kirinal's chest. The Zealot knew, with a feeling of dread, that he would be severely punished for his deed, but his anger surpassed his fear of the Conclave's punishment.
The Judicator looked up weakly at Khanoz's son, sensing the sheer joy of vengeance beneath Aldaris' anger. The fiery look in the young warrior's eyes was the last sight he looked upon, before the darkness of death closed over his head.
Aldaris drew his arms back, retracting his blades without a word. He then looked up to address the Conclave. "These Rogues have corrupted the very heart of the Conclave, they have blemished the Khala's light with their eternal darkness! From this day on, they shall be known only as the Dark Templar, and shall be cast into the dark void of space where they belong!"
Azcodan looked upon the young Templar, nodding his head in approval.