Chapter 18 – A Change in Course
August 31, 2502, 00:00
Raynor's Raiders Command Ship Hyperion
Inter-system Space
As he returned to the waking world, Raziel found himself lying on a bed in the Hyperion's medical bay while Raynor and Shepard watched over him.
"Glad you're back with us buddy." Raynor said. "We were getting a bit worried."
"How long has it been?" the wraith asked, once again feeling something akin to a migraine.
"A couple of hours." Shepard informed. "With your physiology we had no idea what was going on or what we could do about it."
"Your concern is unwarranted…" Raziel said, hesitantly sitting up and then standing and testing his legs. "But… appreciated."
Once again, the wraith could not help appreciating how baffling the situation was. So far removed from his world of origin, monstrously powerful by human standards and impossible to permanently destroy – as far as he knew – and still his companions treated him as one of them, showing concern for his well-being.
Still, the sting of betrayal by his master and siblings was not so easily forgotten. That betrayal and the purging of his entire clan had shattered whatever bonds of trust he had known before and left him feeling completely isolated. While there was something strangely reassuring about the attitude of his newfound allies, he could not bring himself to fully trust anyone.
"So…" Raynor said. "Since we know jack shit about the way you work and the Protoss are probably on the same boat…"
"I have had worse." Raziel stated rather curtly. "I will see my vengeance to its conclusion. I cannot allow a simple brute to be an obstacle in my path, especially now that I know I am on the right track."
"What?" Raynor muttered.
"Ah yes." the wraith realized. "You likely did not see it. Kain was there, yes, but the beast that barged into the scene is equally concerning. I cannot fathom how it would have made its way here."
"You kinda lost me there, yeah." Raynor said with a nod.
The wraith sighed.
"Some background is in order, perhaps. Before, I mentioned the corruption of the Circle and how Kain was murdered and brought back to be their executioner."
"Yeah. I guess you really weren't pulling my leg back there." Raynor recalled. "He did look the part. But between the soul eating stuff, vampires, magic and all that, regular folk like us can feel a bit lost."
"Regular?" the wraith scoffed. "Even by your people's standards, you and your lot can hardly be considered such. But I digress."
Getting the feeling that the conversation was going to be a long one, Raynor pulled up a chair and sat down.
"Go on."
The wraith nodded and sat back down on the bed, though its comfort meant nothing to him.
"Bear in mind that this is all second-hand, and no one truly knows how reliable the narrator was, but during a portion of his journey, Kain came upon the city of Avernus, which was at the time overrun by what can only be described as a demonic invasion."
"Demons?" Shepard interjected. "Are you shitting me?"
"I no longer possess the physiological capability." Raziel retorted, deadpan.
"I didn't mean it literally." the Specter tried to explain. "I meant… ah never mind. Go on."
"Yes, demons." Raziel continued. "Of the towering, horned variety, much like some I saw in Athame's collection of Terran mythology upon my visit to the library."
"Your neck of the woods sounds pretty messed up." Raynor remarked. "Even more than I thought. I mean, between vampires, magic pillars that rot the world when their keepers lose their minds… I guess we're the lucky ones."
"Perhaps." Raziel pondered. "Though your so-called nuclear weapons and the rest of your arsenal could easily render a thousand worlds lifeless."
"I suppose they have their ways of compensating for the weaknesses of the flesh. Even without their flying craft, their armaments and psionics would make them a force to be reckoned with."
Part of Raziel couldn't help wondering how much damage the likes of a Terran battlecruiser or a Protoss carrier might inflict on Nosgoth or how easier even one of them might make enacting his vengeance on Kain, but with the haze of hatred not overriding his intellect for the time being, he knew it would not be that easy.
"If he were to be caught completely by surprise, perhaps. But it would still be too simple. Too swift."
"Still with us buddy?" Raynor asked, waving a hand in front of the wraith's face.
"Idle thoughts." Raziel retorted, quickly snapping back to the present. "The main point is that, at least by Kain's account, that demonic horde was somehow summoned to Nosgoth by one of the Guardians. Azimuth. A madwoman who possessed the power to peer into other realities… and apparently summon some of their denizens."
"And one of those things showed up in New Folsom while you were squaring off against Kain?" Raynor asked.
"Not as much facing off as the bastard toying with me…" Raziel fumed inwardly.
"Something along those lines. I had never actually seen one of the creatures before, since they vanished after the purging of Avernus, but it stands to reason that they would still exist somewhere. What I do not understand is what one of them would be doing there of all places."
"Any idea how that Azimuth managed to pull that off?" Shepard asked.
"According to the tales, each Guardian carried an artifact tied to the fundamental force their Pillar represented."
"Your world sounds pretty complicated." Raynor remarked. "And messed up. How does that stuff even work?"
"Each of those artifacts granted its bearer great power over that aspect of reality… but if I recall, Kain did start out intent on restoring the Pillars."
"So what made him change his mind?" Raynor asked.
"Apparently, the ones guiding him neglected to inform him that there was one last sacrifice to be made." Raziel recalled.
"What do you mean?" Raynor asked.
"Once the Guardians had been corrupted, the only way to achieve this was to put them to the sword…" Raziel explained. "And return the artifact to the corresponding Pillar. Kain was promised a cure for his vampirism… but there was no cure. Only death. He was meant to be the replacement for the slain Balance guardian, but was tainted from birth and thus rendered unsuitable."
"I guess that explains a thing or two." Raynor realized. "If he was duped into the whole thing just to be told to off himself at the end…"
"You do not understand." Raziel hissed. "The Pillars are tied into the fundamental forces that sustain Nosgoth. His refusal condemned the entire world to a slow decay."
"Look, I ain't takin' his side here." Raynor argued. "But you gotta admit the whole deal sounds pretty shitty. He sounds like a real bastard but the way you tell it, both of you got played."
"Perhaps…" Raziel grumbled. "The difference here being that my actions did not condemn an entire world. That bastard has been allowed to play god for too long."
"But so… how did something Kain tangle with on your wold end up here?" Raynor wondered, bringing the discussion back on track.
"I do not know." Raziel admitted. "I was brought here by a mishap involving a device crafted by the Guardian of the Pillar of Time. I had no idea it could also bridge the gap between worlds. That thing, however, just barged in, seemingly by its own power."
"So what now?" Raynor asked.
"Now I must discern why Kain fled again instead of finishing our pending business." Raziel reasoned. "Perhaps he still has more plots within that diseased mind. Perhaps he is simply toying with me. Or perhaps someone is toying with both of us."
August 31, 2502, 06:00
Vempari Segment Headquarters
For hours, Kain had lingered in mist form, silently watching the corpulent bald man scurry about his business in his personal lab.
For some time, he moved between the various experiments littered the work space. Given the random assortment in view, Kain suspected that most of them derived from personal interest rather than some mandate from the Emperor.
On one workbench was a large reinforced glass container where some sort of tissue samples were growing in a nutrient solution. From the brownish coloration and the smell that was somehow seeping out, Kain had little doubt that these samples had come from the Zerg. The scientist paused for a moment to look at the readings on a pair of screens hooked to the container and nodded, before moving on.
On another workbench was a set of small crystals emanating a soft bluish radiance. The energy they were giving off and the golden metal frame that was holding them in a circular pattern suggested they had been pilfered from the Protoss. The scientist's sausage fingers moved with surprising precision, adjusting some components, and then he activated a small portable power generator that was connected to the base of the object through a pair of cables. The energy surged through the apparatus, but the crystals started shaking violently and he quickly switched off the generator. He then leaned closer, examining the device for signs of damage. Finding none, he moved on.
And so he continued, tending to his disparate experiments. Kain was growing bored and frustrated, but he ignored the hunger beginning to gnaw at him. For lack of a better term, something felt wrong, and his instincts told him to be patient.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the scientist headed to an adjacent chamber. Kain followed from a distance and saw him head to a wall where a printed image of a supernova was hanging, set in a simple metal frame. The man touched the lower left corner of the frame with his index finger and some hidden mechanism sprung to life, sliding the frame to the right and revealing a wall safe.
Kain watched as the man placed a clammy hand on a panel and the biometric identification system lit up in acknowledgment before the door swung open. The scientist reached inside and produced a strange crimson gem of sorts, cut at uneven angles.
"The plot thickens…" the vampire thought.
While he did not recognize the substance, he did feel a palpable sense of dread emanating from the gem, as though it were something completely out of place, not meant to exist then and there. The human, on the other hand, seemed excited by its presence, almost giddy.
Kain followed the corpulent man as he dashed back to the previous chamber and attached the strange gem to the crystal array. Before he could activate the generator again, however, a thin humanoid figure appeared in the chamber in a puff of smoke.
Keeping his distance, Kain studied the newcomer. Their garb, covering them from head to toe, resembled the Dark Templar outfits he had seen in the Dominion's records, aside from the fact that it was pitch black and without any discernible features. The figure's mere presence seemed to dim out the lights around it, but Exaccus stared at it without flinching.
"Yes?" the scientist asked, sounding rather miffed at the interruption.
The figure wordlessly produced what looked like a roll of parchment and handed it over. As the scientist took it and unfurled it, Kain froze, recognizing the runes scribbled across it.
"You know I'm not fluent in this gobbledygook." the rotund man grumbled.
"Not my concern." the shrouded figure retorted, its voice barely a whisper.
The scientist's eyes narrowed and his face contorted into an annoyed scowl.
"Considering the means at your people's disposal, surely you have a better way of relaying information."
In response, the shrouded figure pressed a finger to the scientist's forehead and the man abruptly hissed, seemingly in pain.
"You have been careless." the black-clad stranger stated. "The Master is not amused."
"Not my fault one of those horned goons decided to stick his head in." the scientist retorted, glaring daggers at his interlocutor. "Do you have any idea how difficult it is to keep Mengsk placated and the project running at the same time?"
"If this task is beyond your skills, then perhaps Betruger can take over."
"All that charlatan does is toy with artifacts. I get actual results. Besides, wasn't your agent in Shakuras supposed to keep the wraith busy?"
Kain tensed up upon hearing those words. Instinctively, he focused his thoughts and reached out with his senses. The tracking spell he had cast upon his wayward former servant was still holding and he could sense Raziel's position somewhere in space.
While allowing Raziel to roam free had not been part of Kain's plan, neither had the entire side trip he found himself in. For the time being, with no means of returning to Nosgoth, but doubting that anything in the Koprulu sector could pose a serious threat to Raziel's continued existence, Kain had seen no value in attempting to confine or bait him further. In fact, given the wraith's stubbornness and propensity for uncovering hidden knowledge, perhaps he would eventually stumble into a means of return by himself.
"The wraith has proven more troublesome than anticipated." the shrouded figure admitted. "But he still has his uses. Do you?"
"Oh, drop the theatrics and veiled threats." Exaccus retorted. "You know that you need my irreplaceable intellect."
"No one is irreplaceable, human. You would do well to remember that… and your place."
With that, the figure vanished in a puff of smoke.
"Bah!" the scientist grumbled to himself. "Always have to get the last word in, do you?"
With that, he turned his attention back to the parchment.
Shifting around, still in mist form, Kain managed to get a better glimpse of it. He had definitely seen those runes before, and they seemed to contain instructions for some sort of arcane ritual involving a gateway.
"I wonder what that so-called Emperor would think of this..."
Unnerved by what he had heard, Kain seeped through the grating of a ventilation duct and made his way through the space station's maze of conduits, until he emerged at an air filtering station on the other side of the facility.
As he walked back to his quarters, Kain digested the new information. While he doubted that the so-called agent in Shakuras could do any lasting harm to his plans, knowing that there was some sort of conspiracy afoot piqued his curiosity. Investigating that would certainly prove more interesting than sitting around waiting for another of Mengsk's special assignments… though he would need to find a pretext for his absence. Then again, he had entered the agreement with the express intent of making use of the Dominion's resources to track down Raziel. Having fulfilled that goal, he debated the merits of continuing that partnership.
"I suppose there is no point in burning bridges just yet. Though his ego is grating, his resources could still prove useful."
Truth be told, finding himself adrift in a vast sea of stars rather than confined to a single world was still a baffling experience. Were it not for his mission, he might have even considered taking a few centuries to thoroughly explore his strange new surroundings, but his plans for Nosgoth took precedence over everything else.
August 31, 2502, 16:00
Outpost Caldos
Outskirts of Protoss Space
"I am surprised." Raziel remarked as he descended the boarding ramp and beheld a large metallic dome where several Protoss Scouts and Corsairs were parked. "I did not think the Protoss constructed space stations."
"From what I hear, there was a time when they did." Raynor explained, keeping stride with him. "Long before Tassadar or Adun, they set out to explore the galaxy."
"To boldly go where no man has gone before?" Shepard remarked. "I guess they're not that different from us after all."
"Ah yes." Raziel recalled from his time in the archives at Shakuras. "Until the Kalathi Intercession… and the death of an entire species."
"Yes." another voice added, as Patmos came into view, waiting for them at the bottom of the ramp.
"Why am I not surprised to see you here?" Raziel asked, slightly narrowing his eyes.
"Perhaps because your presence causes ripples no matter where you go?" Patmos answered evenly. "But yes, during that golden age of exploration, our people constructed several outposts and remote stations in order to support those expeditions. But then we withdrew back to Aiur, leaving them behind… along with some other things."
"What other things?" Raziel asked.
"We abandoned several colonies." Patmos reminisced. "The carriers we use today may be impressive, but they pale in comparison with the motherships of old, which were sealed in secure facilities and remote moons, along with some of our more formidable weapons."
"Sounds like you could have used those back on Aiur." Raynor pointed out.
"Indeed." Patmos answered. "But I suppose we grew fearful of our own power… and if we still had those weapons and ships at hand when the strife between the tribes escalated, we might not have survived long enough for Adun to bring us together."
"So… history aside, what exactly brings you here?" Raziel asked.
"Another vision." Patmos explained. "You have broken the chains of others and your strength continues to grow…"
The Protoss paused for a moment, circling around the wraith.
"Strange… Something about you feels different today. A subtle shift in your energies."
"I would not know anything about that." Raziel said with a shrug. "But I do know that we had a curious encounter during our mission. A demonic creature whose kind Kain supposedly once confronted on Nosgoth."
"Ah." Patmos said. "The vision becomes somewhat clearer. That would open the way to some rather interesting questions."
"Such as how that creature made its way to that world." Raziel said.
"Any theories on that?" Shepard asked.
"I may not be as familiar with its intricacies, as some, but I know Protoss devices when I see them." Raziel said. "It would seem that we stumbled upon something else on that prison world."
"Yeah, and some of those gadgets reminded me of the dimensional gate we used to evacuate the Protoss from Aiur a while back." Raynor added.
"But why would the Dominion want to set up a research lab on a prison of all places?" Shepard wondered. "I mean, it's clear they were using the prisoners as test subjects, but what for?"
"It is possible that they are trying to co-opt Protoss technology for their own ends." Patmos said. "Possibly to strike at us or their other enemies. We know the Dominion has been trying to obtain samples of it for some time, either directly or through the Moebius foundation."
Patmos led the others out of the hangar and into the old barracks.
"I am certain the others will be relieved to know that you made it out of the Vesperia."
"Ah, but you already knew, did you not?" Raziel retorted. "In fact, I was wondering how my current traveling companions knew exactly where to find me."
"Which brings us to the next question." the wraith continued. "So far I have been accosted by some mockery of Dark Templar… and the Vesperia was attacked by some other creatures who seemed bent on crippling the ship while it was in transit. What do you make of that?"
"It would seem that someone is actively targeting you." Patmos pondered. "Almost as if they do not realize that striking at your corporeal form would not be enough."
"I have been thinking about that." Raziel noted. "While I could in theory gather energy and reassert myself in the physical realm, I do not know what would happen if this form were to be destroyed in the void between worlds… and I would not care to find out."
"Wait… you can do that?" Shepard asked.
"Assuming that the conduits I used for that purpose also exist here in some capacity." Raziel confirmed. "Though even if they do not, I would still find a way. But I would rather not be stranded in a place without any semblance of gravity."
"That would go a long way towards explaining why your assailants would strike while the ship was in transit." Patmos reasoned. "But how did you make it out?"
"A strange Dark Templar waited for me with the last shuttle." Raziel recalled. "But the shuttle crashed and that was the last I saw of them."
"It would seem that you have someone watching over you, then." Patmos noted. "Word of your deeds is already spreading through the ranks, but I have the feeling that there is more to this."
"Actually…" Raziel recalled. "When I confronted those creatures on the Vesperia and the demonic creature in that prison world, the Reaver did something strange. It was almost as if it had turned into a snarling, bloodthirsty beast."
"I fear I can be of little help in that regard." Patmos conceded. "If you do not know why that happened, then I would be at even more of a loss, since I am not familiar with that weapon's history. I will say something, however."
"What?"
"That is a strange blade you wield." Patmos elaborated. "It is not a projection of psionic or void energy and it does not derive from any device. It seems to be inextricably bound to you, to the point where I cannot tell its energy apart from your own."
"What do you mean?"
"Exactly what I have said. While the blade's presence is ravenous and deranged, in essence its energy is indistinguishable from your own."
"But… how exactly is this possible?" Raziel wondered. "The blade was already ancient long before my time. I do wonder why it was sundered when Kain struck me with it… and why it attached itself to me in such a manner."
"Another question to add to the pile." Patmos pondered. "But what exactly do you know of the blade?"
"Not much." Raziel admitted. "Only that the Soul Reaver, true to its name, devoured the soul of whatever it struck. Kain discovered the blade in Avernus during his days as a fledgling and it became one of his prized possessions. He carved a bloody path through Nosgoth with it after toppling the Pillars."
"So as far as you know, you were the only one to withstand its bite." Patmos deduced. "And not only that, but the act of striking you sundered the blade."
Raziel had no answers, only endless questions. The only person he believed might have some answers would not exactly be forthcoming. Still, his desire – no, his need to know – was beginning to temper his urge for a swift vengeance. Not that he would admit it out loud.
"Everything seemed so deceptively simple… and yet this entire ordeal grows more convoluted by the moment."
Patmos stared at Raziel for a long drawn out moment and then spoke again.
"Perhaps we are approaching the question from the wrong angle… and instead of focusing on the blade we should focus on you."
"And what would you suggest then?" Raziel retorted, trying not to show his frustration.
"I believe that by now you and I have reached the same conclusion." the ageless Protoss said. "Even if your former master does not have all the answers, he has invested far too much into this – into you – for his actions to have been merely spurred by a moment of anger."
If Raziel still had a mouth, it might have fallen slightly ajar.
"No, I cannot read your mind." Patmos clarified, as if anticipating the question. "But when the wrath clouding your judgement subsides, even partially, you may begin to see things a little more clearly."
"I also do not understand why he fled again." the wraith silently pondered. "What exactly is he trying to do?"
"This is a vast galaxy." Patmos said. "The Zerg are far from being the only threat out there, and even a being such as you may struggle if the hounds of the Void are on your trail."
"Do you know what those things are?" Raziel asked, a little suspicious at his choice of words.
"I do not know for certain. But it is clear by now that they wield the power of the Void… and that they have an interest in seeing you neutralized."
"There are more pieces in this puzzle, even if some of them may not belong here." Raziel said. "When I passed that Dark Templar trial and touched the Argus Stone, something happened to me. I heard… voices. When I struck down the demon in that infernal prison, the same thing happened."
"Do you recall what those voices said?" Patmos asked.
"The first time, a voice uttered two words, but their meaning eludes me. Ozar Midrashim. The second time, two beings were conversing regarding blindness… and the difference between knowledge and wisdom. Does this make any sense to you?"
"I do not know what this Ozar Midrashim is, but that conversation may provide some clues. In the meantime, I have also spoken to Athame regarding your other findings."
"I still do not know how a statue with human features could have been erected in one of these worlds centuries before the exiles made their way here."
"The paths of the Void are winding and convoluted." Patmos mused. "Some say they bridge the gaps between worlds… and the boundaries of reality themselves. As for the voices… you are not the first to experience strange phenomena after being bathed in its energies. Dark Templar completing their trials often reported fragmented visions."
"And I believe the Stone may have done… something to the Reaver as well." Raziel added. "Even if I do not know who or what my assailants are, the Reaver has been reacting to their presence in a rather extreme manner ever since I touched the stone. Almost as if it knew them."
"It is regrettable that we have no means of communicating with that… spirit." Patmos said. "All I can sense from it is rage and hunger. You would do well to remain vigilant lest it begins to influence you."
Patmos paused again and straightened up.
"Your path is not clear to me and I believe this sordid tale still has many twists and turns ahead. If you are to uncover the entire truth, then you will need to hone your skills and reach your full potential. You cannot rely only on your physical strength, the blade or those glyphs of yours."
"Meaning that you would have me continue my psionic training." Raziel deduced.
"Yes. Doubly so if you are being pursued by wielders of the Void. They are adept at dulling minds and senses and no one knows the true extent of their abilities. The Dark Templar may have spent centuries studying its power, but even they do not possess the ability to warp into a ship in the middle of space."
"I still do not fully understand these powers..." Raziel conceded. "But I will master them for the sake of my vengeance… and to wipe out the Zerg blight! I have seen what those creatures can do and their taint must not be allowed to spread unchecked."
The ability of those creatures to corrupt and consume everything in their path profoundly disgusted Raziel, perhaps even more so than his former vampiric brethren did. While a good part of him was still obsessed with the object of his hatred, he could not in good conscience turn a blind eye to the threat the Zerg represented.
"The enemy may not be the same… but the mission of the Sarafan continues."
"Well then…" Raynor chimed in. "I'd love to see what's gonna happen next, but we've gotta take the Specters we freed back to Tosh. We can drop you off somewhere along the way though."
Raziel glanced at Patmos.
"Where shall we continue this training?"
"There is a world on the outskirts of the Vec system." Patmos explained. "Once, the High Templar of of old erected an archive there. "After our age of expansion ended, that world was hastily evacuated. There were plans to return and relocate its contents to Aiur, but they were never enacted."
"And just how would you know about such a forgotten place?" Raziel wondered.
"I was there when it was first erected." Patmos said matter-of-factly.
"Just how ancient are you exactly?"
"One day, perhaps you will find out."
