Chapter Twenty: Full Circle
We're evacuating Aiur. There isn't much else to say.
After all, we've fought for; the High Command has decided the only option is to glass the place from orbit. Maybe they're right. None of the news we've heard is good. Tarsonis is going to have to be rebuilt all over again. Antiga and Mar Sara have held out, but are still hunting down the remnants of the zerg broods.
But I don't think we should be leaving. We've given so much ground to these monsters already. Leaving Aiur seems a step back too far to me. I know it's not rational. But it's what I feel.
Liberty's reports, volume IV.
With the Conclave's departure, Tassadar had gone to gather support. There were many cities and towns which now were leaderless. Tassadar was left as their only option.
While he rallied what troops he could, Fenix and Zeratul had another task. They were to establish a forward base to begin their assault on the cerebrates. There was a tension between them. They had not had the chance to speak alone since before Tassadar had surrendered. And then Fenix had shunned Zeratul when possible.
"So it seems we will fight alongside one another against the cerebrates, Prelate." said Fenix.
"Indeed." said Zeratul.
"Alas, I fear that our offensive will be difficult." said Fenix. "The zerg have established numerous hive clusters in that area. There are no towns or cities that have withstood the onslaught.
"We will have to establish a base camp from nothing."
"My Dark Templar have scoured the region. We have located several abandoned towns which could be a defensible location. From them we could conduct our campaign." said Zeratul.
"Lead on then, Zeratul." said Fenix. "We shall make our base there."
Zeratul led them into the crags between Khor-Shakel and the Heart of the Conclave. As he did so Zeratul approached a group of Dark Templar. "Varsus, take your warriors and scour the north for targets of opportunity. Destroy any zerg left exposed, but do not take any unnecessary risks."
"As you command, Prelate." Varsus saluted, and they departed into the night. As they broke off, Fenix r wanted to demand an explanation, but Zeratul had proven himself. He had not betrayed them yet.
Even so, Fenix mentally directed an observer to track the Dark Templar. it could not hurt to be wary.
The rest of the journey was uneventful. No zerg barred their path or strafed them from the skies. Before long they came to an abandoned settlement. Here they established themselves quickly, repowering the defenses.
Zeratul seemed surprised at how intact it was. "There are no signs of struggle or bloodshed here, Praetor. How is it that so defensible a location was left undefended?"
"When the zerg first came to this world, the Judicator were caught off-guard." said Fenix. "Our response was weak and badly organized. Many settlements were abandoned without a fight.
"This one was evacuated after the fall of Khor-Shakel." He paused — the observer he had sent our reported in. The Dark Templar led by Varsus were launching a raid against the zerg. They were destroying the outer defenses while Overlords were far away.
Fenix felt shame at his suspicions. His mistrust was misplaced again. How many times did he have to be proved wrong? "You and your Dark Templar saved the fleet." he said. "You have my thanks and that of my men."
"It is of no concern." said Zeratul. "Many among my brethren were equally distrustful. Now that I have heard the tales the Conclave tell of us, I see why."
"Some are not merely tales." said Fenix. "Aiur has the scars to prove that."
"Our attack on the khalai was foolish." admitted Zeratul. "However, we did not intend to unleash such storms. Merely to destroy what we regarded as a monster. We thought of the khalai much like you regard the Overmind."
"But they are not the same." said Fenix.
"Not in action." said Zeratul. "But in origin. The zerg were brought about by the fusing of all their minds and wills into a single entity. Is that not the nature of the Conclave."
"The Conclave is misguided." said Fenix. "But it has not sought to assimilate all other wills into itself. Merely to direct things as they should be."
"Is that not merely what the Overmind intends?" asked Zeratul. "It desires to set things as he believes them to be so. In so doing it is willing to override the wills of others to achieve what is regards as perfection.
"Your Conclave understands that this would be an evil. And so they have done all they can to thwart the Overmind."
"Then it seems," said Fenix, "that our difference is one of extremes. The Overmind has gone too far down the path of light. While the Conclave has achieved a balance."
"The path of light?" said Zeratul in surprise. "The Overmind is a being of utter darkness. I touched with its mind."
"I have spoken with Tassadar." said Fenix. "He tells me that you Nerazim value individuality above all else. That is why you chose the darkness."
"This is true." said Zeratul.
"While the Conclave chose the light in pursuit of the good of the many." said Fenix.
"Yes." said Zeratul.
"If darkness represents the one and light represents the many the Overmind must be a being of light." said Fenix. "It is the many in its ultimate form."
"But it is only one, isn't it?" asked Zeratul. "It is the assimilation of its race into a single entity. All that exists within the swarm is but an extension of itself."
"So by embracing the light utterly," mused Fenix, "it became darkness incarnate."
"There is a critical difference." said Zeratul. "I do not believe the zerg choose to become what they are. From the mind of the Overmind, I gleaned that they were created to be directed by a single will by the Xel'naga. They never chose to become what they are."
"Without choice we are nothing." said Fenix.
"…That is not an ideology I would expect from a khalai." said Zeratul.
"The Conclave teaches us that all of us face a choice at some point. To choose between light and darkness. Some say that our souls choose which we will serve before we are ever incarnated in mortal bodies." said Fenix. "The Conclave believes that the light is right and the dark wrong. But also that one cannot be compelled to serve either."
"Wise." mused Zeratul. "But ironic."
"There is something else." said Fenix. "Something that has troubled me since the battle in Antioch."
"Speak, Praetor." said Zeratul.
"You speak of the zerg as though they are merely extensions of the Overminds will." said Fenix. "But I do not believe this to be the case. I met a cerebrate, Kaloth. We have done battle with each other many times. And once we met directly.
"He was very young. Yet immensely powerful. And cunning beyond measure. Few can match him in skill at war."
"The cerebrates are not individuals in themselves." said Zeratul. "Merely aspects of the Overmind's personality. Avatars if you will."
"I do not agree." said Fenix. "Kaloth never targets civilians. And he has avoided needless destruction when possible. When I spoke with him, he demonstrated a personality very different from that of any cerebrate I have met."
Zeratul remained silent. "It is possible that the Overmind has allowed its greater minions to gain some semblance of will. In order to greater its control."
Before Fenix could reply, Varsus appeared out of the shadows. "We have done as you asked Zeratul. The forward defenses have been laid to waste."
"Then now all we need do is await the arrival of Tassadar." said Zeratul.
Tassadar arrived within the hour. He came with many more carriers and ships than Fenix had ever seen in one place. Massed ranks of troops marched with him. Tassadar appeared from above. He nodded to both, seeming in great spirits.
"Well done, both of you." said Tassadar. "However, I bear ill news. Artanis will explain."
"Our problems do not end with the zerg here, comrades." said Artanis. "I am sensing a large force of zerg in orbit, descending toward our location. They are unlike any zerg I have sensed before now."
"It is possible they may be…" He faltered. "The Tiamat Brood."
"That is grave news indeed." said Zeratul. "We must press the assault at once and defeat these cerebrates. I fear that with the Tiamat Brood assembled the Overmind will be invincible."
Fenix considered things. "Something is very wrong."
"What is?" asked Zeratul.
"The Overmind has made no attempt to stop us." said Fenix. "Even during our battle with the Conclave it hardly acted. This sloth is uncharacteristic of it."
"Whatever the reason we must use this time to launch our assault." said Artanis. "The only question is where. There are two cerebrates we may strike. One to the northwest, the other to the northeast. Both are heavily guarded. However, I believe that if we focus our full power against one of them we should be able to destroy one cerebrate.
"From there we will have to move on the Overmind quickly.
"What say you, Tassadar?"
Tassadar remained silent for a moment. He seemed to be wrestling with some inner battle. "Though your strategy is bold, Artanis, it is not bold enough." said Tassadar. "We cannot hope to destroy the Overmind with a foe at our backs. So we must remove both cerebrates at once. Artanis and I will take the air forces across the cliffs and annihilate all that stand against us. You and Zeratul will take our ground forces and move against the other."
"What about me?" asked Raynor. Fenix hadn't noticed him.
"Commander Raynor, I would have you circle around and approach the Overmind from the north." said Tassadar. "Your progress should be made easier by our assault. We will strike at the Overmind with a pincer movement. Destroy all the zerg that stand before you."
"You would have us divide our forces when we are already hopelessly outnumbered?" asked Artanis. "Tassadar this plan is madness."
Tassadar put a hand to Artanis' shoulder. "All things are possible for those who have faith. Our victory today has been preordained. Tomorrow we come to the day of reckoning. That is where things may go ill."
There was silence. They had followed Tassadar this far. They would fall away now. "…So be it." said Fenix. "We will divide our forces and pray that the Gods give us victory in the heart of darkness. It will be a good death if nothing else."
Serena stood on the bridge of the Medea. She knew what she had to report. But she didn't want to report it. She'd lost another friend today. She just hoped she wouldn't lost more.
She looked to Michael Liberty. The cyborg reporter looked down. "Are you all right?"
"No I'm not all right." said Michael. "We're abandoning innocent people to die. I didn't like it when the Confederates did it, and I sure as hell don't like it now."
"We don't have a choice, Mikey." said Emily.
"There is always a choice." said Michael.
"Right," said Tychus, lighting a cigerette, "so I guess we'll just have tea and fruitcake and hope the alien monsters go home. You're just a spineless reporter like all the rest. You get off on feeling all superior while you sit in a nice safe office, asking people their opinions.
"We're the ones' who have our asses on the line. So shut up and sit down."
Michael grew very still. Emily stood up, but Michael put a hand on her shoulder.
"Spineless?" asked Mr. Liberty. "I was reporting the illegal activities of men who could have me murdered when you were selling weapons to the Kel'morians." He stood up and walked toward Tychus. "I was trying to do the right thing when you were sealed in cold storage for war crimes!
"And as for being spineless, my spine is reinforced with steel to compensate for my robotic shoulder! That I got killing zerg in the battle of Tarsonis!
"I invented good journalism in the Koprolu Sector, you idiot! What have you done with your life? Got a lot of soldiers killed to line your pockets! Stolen ships and felt smug because the people you were stealing were no better than you!
"Do you really think you're the only weapons expert in the Koprolu Sector Mengsk could have called in? If you hadn't been buddies with Raynor, you never would have gotten out of prison, let alone been given the job!
"You act like you're this self-sufficient badass whose all things manly! But you only got where you are in life because you've got friends in high places!
"Fuck you, Findlay! You're everything that's wrong with humanity!"
Dead silence overtook the bridge. Tychus opened his mouth, then shut it again. Then he looked away and took a whiff of his cigarette. "Shit." he said.
"I'm fairly certain you've lost this argument, Mr. Findlay." said Serena with a smile. "Feel free to get off my bridge and hang your head in shame any time you want. Morgan, open a channel to the Conclave Flagship."
"Yes, ma'am."
The Voice had its back to her. It stood at the head of its the bridge, looking down on Aiur. The fleets of the Conclave were smaller than had been expected. Many had refused to evacuate and had stayed to fight. These were joining with Tassadar.
However, there were still enough.
The fleets were gathering overhead the heart of the creep. The grayish, violet substance had a center. A place from which all the power of the swarm came. The Voice was looking at this, and it seemed as if its will was being tested against it. It radiated grief and frustration for a moment. Then all that vanished as he turned to face Serena. "So Aldaris has stayed behind on Aiur." It was not a question.
"Yes." said Serena. "I tried to talk him out of it, but he was dead set on it. On a brighter note, we've relocated a large portion of the population of Aiur to outlying systems in your empire."
"The Conclave grieves." said the Voice. "Aldaris was a true servant of the light, and his kind are greatly missed in this world. Even so, we must stand resolute. All that we have planned has come to this motion.
"With the evacuation complete we now move to the next step of our plan. Even now our fleets are taking a position around Aiur. Soon we will focus the full might of the Fleet upon the Overmind. The abomination will be destroyed, and the swarm made vulnerable.
"This is our final hour."
"Still, if the Overmind figures out what we're doing he'll send all his swarms to stop us." said Serena. "It isn't going to just sit back and let itself get obliterated from existence."
"Here Tassadar's treachery may prove to the benefit of the light." said the Conclave. "The Overmind believes the Dark Templar to be the greatest threat to its Dominion. Thus it will spend its wrath on them while the true servants of the light bring about its downfall."
"Even so, I'm posting my wraiths on standby." said Serena. "It's too quiet. I feel as if that thing is just waiting. Why would it be waiting."
"As you will." said the Voice.
At that moment Selendis appeared on the screen. She must have been recalled with all the recent defections. "Judicator, our fleets are in position. We may begin our attack."
The Voice remained silent for a long time. It looked back to Aiur for a long moment, as if conflicted. Then it turned to face her in full. "Begin the bombardment Selendis. Wipe this abomination from the face of the universe."
The ships of the Conclave turned their weaponry upon Aiur. Their own homeworld. They charged their energies, knowing full well what they were doing. And what would happen if they didn't? First Contact had begun with the Conclave obliterating Chau Sara.
Now the Conclave would destroy their own world on the suggestion of a terran. Serena's mind turned back to that confrontation above Mar Sara. How she had ridiculed the protoss for their cowardice. Now, at long last, everything had come full circle.
There was a brilliant flash of light.
Aldaris had taken command of those left behind by the Conclave. He had thrown himself into preparing for war. Readying the troops. And when Tassadar had come among the colonies seeking aid, he had ordered his troops to assist him. Better to give the people some semblance of hope.
It didn't matter. Aiur would burn soon. And all Aldaris' loved come to ruin. He did not want to live beyond that.
All that was left now was to wait. Wait and hope that plans set in motion would work.
And then he saw the light. It shot downwards from the sky. It surged through the clouds, burning them away from the sky as it descended toward the ground. It was targetted directly toward the Overmind and enhanced by the powers of the Conclave. The combined power of the Protoss Fleets, the greatest power in the universe, was firing it.
Nothing could stop such an attack. Nothing. Aldaris sat down and crossed his legs.
The light hit the ground. A massive shockwave was unleashed. Trees around Aldaris were torn from their roots. Mountains splintered and broke. The seas churned and boiled beneath the onslaught.
And then the darkness arose.
A massive wave of dust and stone poured up in front of the light. Huge storms of dust were thrown from the impact, flowing over the plains and covering the skies. Aldaris closed his eyes and waited for the end.
"This shall not be." said the Overmind, voice amused.
Aldaris' eyes opened, and he saw the darkness arise.
It was darkness. Pure, undiluted darkness of such intensity that just looking at it made him wonder if she had gone blind. Then is spread. It spread wider and wider over the continents of Aiur. The seas went still. The earthquakes stopped. Every plant, every animal, every living creature went utterly still.
The light battled against the darkness. And the darkness was winning.
Serena stared in horror. The light was being pushed back. The power of the bombardment was being redirected. It was like in one of those classical animes from the two thousand. Except it was real.
"Mary mother of god." said Tychus, cigarette falling from his mouth.
"What the… that... that's impossible…" said Serena.
She'd seen protoss bombardments in action. They were stronger than nukes by far. At full capacity, they made what was done to Korhal look insignificant. Chau Sara had been hit with half the maximum power, and the landscape had been disfigured. That had been a smaller force than what was arrayed her.
And now the Overmind was defeated the full might of the bombardment. By will alone.
"That… that can't be… This…" Serena heard the Voice speaking.
"Judicator, the Tiamat Brood is adjusting its course." said Selendis. "They are heading directly toward us."
"Battle stations." said Serena. "All terrans ships assist the Conclave against the swarm."
The darkness spread. In a great wave, the utter blackness overwhelmed the light, and the power of the carriers was snuffed. The Overmind was completely unharmed.
And then she felt its presence in her mind. They all did. And she realized that this message was being broadcast across the whole of Aiur and beyond. All the people, every protoss to ever be connected to the khala.
But how? Unless…
The Overmind was seizing control of the khala. It had a presence within. "Behold the futility of your plight, servants of the khala. For though the swarm has purity of form, I am possessed of purity of essence. My limbs are innumerable and extend to every corner of the cosmos. My eternal might could tear this world from its suns orbit with the merest of exertions.
"I am Overmind. There is no other beside me. I perceived your plans when the stars were young. I anticipated every move within this game before it was made. Though you may triumph for a day, against the might of the swarm all that can be wrought is a long defeat.
And he that attempts to thwart my eternal will shall find his designs have served only to bring about the creation of greater strains.
"Truly, there is no injury that can be wrought upon me from which my swarm will not recover stronger. My body is the swarm. If ever its flesh should fail, it shall be made anew in greater form."
The space battle was ongoing. But the zerg were filled with joy and passion. While the protoss were in disarray. Their responses were slow. Only the terrans kept them from being overwhelmed. If the Conclave died then what would happen?
Without their presence, the Overmind would consume the entire protoss race. No one mind could stand against it. Serena ran her options. A tactical retreat would be best. But how to avoid being overtaken and destroyed.
"We're being overwhelmed! We can't hold out!" said Selendis. "Pull back. Jump into warp space and scatter the fleet."
"We'll never be able to make it." said Serena. "Morgan, activate a psi emitter on board the Medea and made a course away from the fleet. We'll try to lead the Tiamat Brood away-"
"No." said the Conclave. And then the light flared anew. Now with a new brilliance, greater than before. It radiated from the flagship, and dozens of zerg were consumed in a single instant. "We are the Conclave. We stand in the light of the khala, and we defy you, mighty Overmind. Though you may triumph in a thousand battles, you will never possess the protoss. For we too can evolve. And though we may die of your evolutions, you will die of ours."
The Overmind laughed. It was terrible and yet there was a compulsion in the air to laugh too. Serena resisted it, but not everyone managed it. Its power was unleashed in greater form as the Carriers began to retreat. "Your pride is but reckless hubris. You are but a failing breed, soon to be overtaken by superior specimens. Long has the Conclave turned its gaze this way and that. You have discerned the future, piercing every pathway of fate, seeking an escape from that which was inevitable.
"Never was your mind on the reality before you. For in your farsighted vanity you fail to understand the means by which I could be brought to harm, and your defeat staved off a while longer.
"You speak of evolution? What evolution has been wrought in the days of decadent stagnation? What has your khala created? What aspect of your vaunted civilization is greater now than it was in your ancient golden age?
"You have failed. Your race has been selected for extinction. Your virtues shall be assimilated into the swarm and weakness purged from the gene pool. Thus shall the ascension the khalai be wrought."
The Conclave's will was being battered down. It could not stand before the might of the Overmind. Soon they would be destroyed, and the Overmind would gain dominance over the protoss. And then the universe. The end was inevitable. "We may fail…" Then the light flared far brighter. "But it will not be today! Calabas, Selendis, depart from Aiur. The Conclave shall not allow this abomination to destroy our greatest hope."
Serena sat back in her chair. They were looking to her with orders. "…To hell with that. Ensign, take us down toward the Overmind."
"You want to go toward it?" asked Morgan incredulously.
"I'll kill that thing if I have to put on a marine suit and shoot it to death." said Serena.
"Now you're thinking like an Alpha Squadron Commander, ma'am." said Emily.
Tychus smiled suddenly. "Screw this strategic withdrawal bullshit." He walked up to Emily. "Permission to join the front ma'am."
"Granted." said Emily.
Michael drew out a cigarette and lit it. Looking at it for a moment he dropped it and crushed it with one foot. "When I signed up to do a propaganda piece on Alpha Squadron this was not what I was expecting."
Sure they were all going to die. But Serena refused to give the Overmind the dignity of admitting it was inevitable.
Author's Note:
This chapter was originally supposed to feature the battle with the cerebrates. But I figured Serena's storyline presented all the excitement we needed for one chapter. Plus I wanted to get the Conclave storyline out of the way before the climax.
Also, I'm getting the sense I should rename this story Philosophy with Fenix. Half the page is discussions on the nature of free will.
Enjoy.