Vision, People, Purpose
These days, Artanis wasn't sure what the greatest threat to his people was - the enemy without, or the enemy within.
The enemy without was many, and easily identified. The zerg, or at least those under the command of Broodmother Niadra. Not that he trusted Zagara to any real extent, but she'd at least confined her Swarm to Gystt. Not like Adena, where the Terran Dominion had proven itself to be incapable of trust. Whatever the intentions of men like Valerian and Raynor were, or had been, they were but two individuals in a mass of billions. And it was in the human condition that psychopaths rise to the top.
He could take some pride in knowing his people were above such petty disputes. "Some," however, being the key word, because the protoss were not above strife either. That left the question of the foe without - the Tal'darim. A group quite willing to strike against the Daelaam when it suited their purposes, and that had become increasingly common. And with the emergence of the Ihan-rii, while Artanis dared to hope that there might be common ground between his people and theirs, so far, it had not been forthcoming. The Ihan-rii had focused on retaking their ancient homeworld, and for now, at least, wanted nothing to do with the Daelaam.
"Hierarch?"
He supposed that covered the last of the enemies without. So turning around, he saw Prelate Enak walk over.
"The latest reports from Aiur."
Artanis looked at the Nerazim before him. Enak was shorter, greyer, younger, and his eyes shone a dark red. Only scant solar returns ago, he'd been unknown to him. But having proven himself just as capable with his mind as his blade, Artanis had given the Nerazim a place at his side. He was, effectively, the second-in-command of the Spear of Adun. The most powerful warship in the Koprulu sector. Only, as Artanis took the khaydarin shard from him, he was reminded that having the most powerful weapon in the galaxy meant scant little when it came to targeting the individual.
Death...strife...discord...rebellion...
It was a sensation close to being immersed in the Khala. It was a sensation that required the psychic link to operate, and would have been unusable by a non-psychic species. It was a sensation that caused despair to flow through Artanis's hearts as the latest report of the situation on Aiur was conveyed to him. More kin-strife. More discord. Khalai mistrusted Nerazim, Nerazim mistrusted Khalai, the few Tal'darim who remained kept to the shadows, and the Purifiers maintained their own splendid isolation. More deaths. More violence. The data entered his mind, and his mind came to the same conclusions that it had for awhile now - the Daelaam were falling apart.
"That bad then?" Enak asked.
Artanis's eyes twinkled in quiet mirth. "How could you tell?"
"I've long learnt how to read people." He tapped his nerve appendages, long since severed like all Nerazim and indeed, like all Khalai, thanks to Amon's machinations. "If I may say so hierarch, your mind is as clear as a cloudless sky."
Artanis turned his gaze to the void of space. "If only that were so." He watched as Enak came to stand beside him. "I'm afraid that clouds have long been gathering over Aiur."
Enak shrugged. "One does not solve a millennium of separation over a few solar returns."
"Then how many? And do we have time?"
Enak's eyes dimmed. "I cannot answer that. You are the hierarch. It is your oath to lead the Daelaam into a brighter future."
Artanis almost laughed. He had no doubt that many had heard such words. Khas himself, the Conclave, the Hierarchy, and now, himself. The lord and master of a broken people, trying to rebuild in the shadow of their former civilization, watching those under him do a good job of damaging everything they tried to build.
"So what say you then?" Enak asked. "The Spear maintains its position on the edge of Daelaam space, as a warning to those who dare enter it. In the meantime, sparks of discontent on Aiur threaten to become an inferno. The people wonder where their hierarch is."
Artanis looked at the praetor. "And what would you suggest?"
Enak remained silent.
"One people, one purpose," Artanis said. "That is the creed we have tried to strive by. But what good has it done? Our kindreds are at odds. With each setting of the sun, more blood is spilt. The Khalai try to recreate the Khala. The Nerazim fear any loss of their identity. One cannot be subsumed into the whole, but the whole must still endure."
Enak's eyes twinkled. "No-one said that the mantle of hierarch was to be worn lightly."
"One people, one purpose," Artanis repeated. "But if those words do not reach our minds..." He put a hand on Enak's shoulder. "What would you have me do?"
Enak's eyes flashed. "You ask me, hierarch?"
"You have proven yourself as capable a leader as warrior."
"As have many. Should you not ask them?"
"I..." Artanis trailed off, before murmuring, "I may. But in this moment, I am asking you."
He knew it was presumptuous. But he also knew it was the right choice. Enak was one of the wisest protoss he knew. Indeed, just being in his presence came him a sense of calm that he could scarce find these days. All of Enak's great deeds, all of his wisdom...it did Artanis some good to know that he was in the presence of one as wise as the Nerazim before him.
Enak bowed. "You honour me, hierarch." He raised his gaze, his dark red eyes locking in with Artanis's sky-blue ones. "You are, of course, the leader of the Daelaam, whereas I am but a prelate. But as you have asked..." He paused, before whispering, "one people, one purpose. That is our creed, is it not?"
"Indeed. Though it appears that many forget it."
"Or they remember, but pay it no heed." Enak sighed. "Perhaps your problem is that you still think as a Khalai. You think of the whole, and not the individual. Perhaps...perhaps we are not one people, but many. Perhaps it is not one people, but one vision."
"One vision, one purpose?" Artanis asked.
"Precisely. And whose vision hierarch's, but yours?" Enak's eyes flashed, and Artanis found himself drawn into them. "We need a new vision for the Daelaam. Because clearly, the vision as it stands has not sufficed."
Artanis wanted to object, but held his words back. Enak's words were harsh, but they were true. He'd failed to maintain the Daelaam. Clearly a new vision was required. He had to lead a new trail, regardless of the whole. The whole would fall into line. He just had to draw it.
"If I may offer another piece of wisdom," Enak added. "It is that peace comes from power. Peace through power, as the saying goes."
"I know not that saying."
"Oh, it is a Tal'darim one; one which I picked up during the End War. Obscure, granted, so I doubt the Tal'darim who remain on Aiur will have necessarily heard of it."
Artanis decided not to contest the point.
"Return the Spear to Aiur," Enak said. "Tell your people that the fighting stops today. That you are their leader, you command the Spear, and that peace will be maintained. Achieve peace, and with power, peace will be found on Aiur and beyond."
Artanis looked out into space. "Withdraw the spear from our border? There are those who may take that as opportunity."
"They may. But they will wither in the face of the Daelaam's new found unity. Once, the Protoss Empire ruled this part of the galaxy. Who is not to say that we cannot do the same?" Enak put a hand on Artanis's shoulder. "You know, of course, that I am correct."
Artanis looked into Enak's eyes. The age, the wisdom...he saw it all. Of course Enak was correct. Of course he had to take the Spear back to Aiur...how had he ever thought different?
"I shall consider your words," Artanis said. "In the meantime, you are dismissed."
Enak bowed. "Of course, hierarch. Whatever your choice, I am here to serve."
The hierarch's eyes twinkled. "I do not doubt it."
The truth of the matter was, he'd already made up his mind. He would take the Spear back to Aiur, bring all four kindreds into the fold, and solidify his grip on the Daelaam. After that, none would bring harm to the protoss. Neither the enemy within, nor the enemy without. He had become the ruler of a broken people. But he had many centuries ahead, and before he left this world, he would see the Firstborn renewed. Reborn. To emerge from the ashes, and drive all foes before them.
He would not tell Enak this for awhile. It would not do either of them good to believe that the prelate had undue influence over him. But once again, Enak's voice had rung true. And he was not one to turn down good advice. His eyes shining, he gazed out into the void of space. Thinking of home. Of Aiur. And the thousand worlds that he would watch over in the years to come.
One vision, Artanis reflected. One purpose.
##
As he walked through the halls of the Spear of Adun, the xel'naga which called himself Enak fought the urge to laugh.
The protoss were the most powerful species he'd ever encountered. Even the technology of the scrin paled in comparison to them. But even they were mortal. Fallible. And Artanis was a youngling even by their standards. Waltzing into the Spear, bringing the hierarch under his sway, pointing him in the direction he wanted him to tread...it was easy. All so easy. In another life, in another universe, he'd manipulated humanity for thousands of years in his grand plan. The protoss might be wiser than the sons and daughters of Earth, but their hubris was their downfall. Even humbled, he could sense it in their hearts. Their longing for their past glories. Their desire to rise above all other "lesser species." It was a desire that resided even in Artanis himself, no matter how much he might deny it. And all he'd done was turn up at the right time, at the right place, and gain the hierarch's confidence.
He stood aside as he watched a pair of Templar march by. Behind their helmets, he could sense it. Distrust. Resentment. Not all protoss were easily swayed, but then, that had never been how he'd taken power. Influence those above, not those below. Once those above were under your control, once you had control, all those below would fall into line. It was why he'd been able to raise an entire army in his service, and over the course of four wars, manipulate events so that he could leave Earth. Earth not of this dimension, but another. Taking him home. To Ulnar. Across time, and across space...right into the talons of Amon, and his hybrid. The Brotherhood had served him a final time, giving their lives in service of their prophet, so that he may survive. So that he may take new form, and survive. To ingratiate himself with a new faction, and steadily gain its leader's trust. And now?
Now Aiur would soon be his. Soon, he'd have a new army to command. Soon, he would make paradise.
His eyes twinkling, the xel'naga resumed walking through the halls of the ship.
Remembering how he, Enak, had once been called Kane...
A/N
So when the short story One People, One Purpose, it was pointed out that the title was similar to Nod's slogan of "one vision, one purpose." Gave me the idea to drabble this up.