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Face it, most of you probably clicked to this out of all the parts in the book. Well, here ya go!
The Templars
Today was a day of celebration. It was a day of religious rites, and as religion and government were intertwined, a national holiday.
Among the futuristic and impossibly clean buildings, the people in red robes cheered, numbering about a hundred devoted believers gathered round the middle of a square. Their faces were very fair, with nary a scar or dirt mark on their pale skin or slightly pointed ears. Their robes they wore were fine and made of a velvet-like material, modeled in a way to imitate their religious leader, the High Priest.
Unfortunately, as the High Priest was a very reclusive person, he was not actually at the event. However, one of his many second in commands was taking his place, walking calmly up to the podium set up by the security troops to address the people. The loyal followers shouted in happiness as they saw him raise his arm, showing off the loyal security troops that had followed him: masked people wearing bright red clothing with dark colored armor, weapons hidden under the vibrant clothes.
Of course, it was not only the believers he was talking to, but also those who were impartial and watching a bit further away with more stoic expressions. They were easily distinguishable by the absence of red robes and instead wore far more casual outfits, usually robes or a cloak of some sorts. It was a myriad of colors here, with little uniformity or conformity to a single style.
Except for a trio in the crowd. They were standing close together, giving a sense of companionship as they looked on at the High Priest's proxy talk about how the Void has blessed them all with the birth of the High Priest years ago, and how his plans were to bring prosperity. With a glance to each other, they began to slowly walk forward, pulling away from the crowd and into the sea of red supporters, being stark contrasts as they moved.
All of them had green cloaks, with brown leather boots and belts. Shadows of the cowl hid their faces, leaving no distinguishable features in sight. The one in the middle, leading the three of them forwards, had a few black pieces of padded armor not unlike that of the High Priest's troops while the other two's armor was a pure white color. One of them was obviously a female judging from the way her outfit hugged her curves, along with the slender legs in tights. The other two were men, their legs being covered by baggy trousers that matched the rest of their clothes. On their wrists were gauntlets, but they were crisscrossed with metal strands and had a far more sinister purpose than one would expect from a glance. All three had a braid of hair coming out from underneath their hoods, a sign of their rank in the Order.
Seeing the three newcomers, two of the guards standing in front of the follower crowd realized the threat and drew their weapons: two small batons. But before they could activate their psi-blades or combat shields, the woman stepped forwards and placed her hands on their chests. With a quick shink, the two men stiffened as pain suddenly blossomed in their chest, the bodies falling lifelessly to the ground as the three continued walking on.
The crowd parted as they realized just who had arrived, the followers of the High Priest suddenly afraid as they watched the three make their way to the podium. Nobody tried contesting them, nobody tried stopping them as they walked calmly on. The two men and woman had parted the sea of red just by walking through it, no need for violence or words as they exited the crowd again.
The two guards were facing the wrong way when they realized something was awry, and they turned the leader was already upon them. Like his companion, he placed his hands on the guards and pushed, a quiet shink the only sound as they fell backwards. Of course, the guards were dead, two bleeding holes in their chest as the cause of death.
Seeing the man murder their comrades, two of the guards at the podium's base yelled through their masks and drew small batons. With a flick of the wrist, red psionic blades of energy shot out from each side, creating an energy sword of sorts. They charged, but didn't get far before one of the three responded.
The man who had been hanging back and letting his companions take care of things now changed his mind, stepping forwards and thrusting out his arms. Quicker than the eye can catch, two shimmers of light flew through the air from his gloves, taking shape into two daggers made out of pure light that embedded themselves into the exposed throats of the guards. They fell forwards, the bodies sliding forwards from momentum as their psi blades fizzled out as they clattered to the ground, the source of energy cut.
Before anything else could happen, the sound of footsteps was heard as men emerged from both sides of the square, clad in red and black as they took positions on the sides and lined up, presenting energy rifles and aiming at the three attackers. The High Priest's subordinate himself laughed as he stepped down from the podium, making a mocking clap as he leisurely walked off. Immediately, two men in heavier armor appeared and flanked him, ensuring that the three in green cloaks made no moves. "He was right! You are brave, but quite foolish to attack on this day! And they only bothered to send apprentices! I applaud your guile…Templars!"
At that shout, the officers from both lines shouted and the men fired, trying to catch the three in the ensuing crossfire of bright laser beams. The two men immediately backed up to their female companion and, ensuring that her friends were close enough, she threw her hands out. Immediately, a spherical shield surrounded the three and the shots pinged off it uselessly, reflecting into the ground with no effect.
Meanwhile, the man with the blades of light drew out what looked to be a small stone knife, much like those used in rituals of sacrifice. He held it out and energy immediately began to condense into the dagger, gathering up in his hand as he molded and shaped the weapons of his choice. With a swift arm wave, the energy suddenly exploded outwards in both directions, separating into balls of light that then turned into daggers of light that impaled the firing lines in their chests. However, as they were all wearing combat shields, all it did was knock them off their feet and onto the ground.
But it stopped the constant firing. Seeing that there was a break in the firing, the leader of the group took his chance. He ran out of the reflective field, towards the High Priest's subordinate with little regard to his own safety as he crossed wide open ground. A few shaky shots were taken at him, but there was nothing they could do to pierce his combat shields as he approached his target.
Seeing the attacker draw near, the High Priest's man shouted and the two heavily armed guards charged in response to the order. At this, the man in green and black flicked his hands, light shimmering in his gloves as an elaborate black blade of sorts appeared. It was long and thin, with a hilt that seemed to twist and curve in its structure but the blade itself was the most interesting feature. The dark metal was straight until about three quarters up the blade, where the straight line ended and formed a series of diamonds that topped the blade. In each diamond frame was a pure white metal filling, sparkling as the man swung.
The blade cut through the shield and dispelled it immediately, then following up by cutting through the guard's superior armor like a knife through hot butter. The hooded man then ducked as the other guard swung a spear with an energy blade top, kicking the corpse of the guard down to the floor in the same movement as the body fell into two pieces. Without any hesitation, the Templar quickly stood up, whirled around, and thrust forwards with a foot stomp, again breaking the combat shield with a single strike. The diamond tip went through the guard's helm, shattering his back skull and brain as the blade dip briefly before the owner yanked it out, his blade devoid of all blood as it claimed the lives of two.
All that was left was the Head Priest's lackey. But he wasn't defenseless. The man drew an energy blade and snarled, holding the sword up in a ready position. The Templar paused, noting the obvious skill and training this man has with a psionic blade before lunging with his own black blade. The two weapons sparked as they touched, the energy blade trying to shear through the impossibly strong metal weapon. Both swung with all their might as they fought, attacking and receiving in an attempt to break their foe's guard.
But already, it was obvious the green hooded man was losing as he was pushed back by the flurry of attacks. There was no doubt about it as he was forced to counter more than to match, stepping back as he was forced to give ground, blocking swing after swing by angling his blade. Eventually, the Templar found himself pressed up against the podium and was forced to throw himself on it to avoid a thrust to the stomach. By the time he got back onto his feet, his foe had already climbed on and was bearing down upon the swordsman with no mercy.
Eventually, the blades met in the middle of the podium as they struck, but the High Priest's man smirked and deftly twisted his wrist, knocking the black blade out of the Templar's grasp as it was wrenched from his gloves. The hooded man made no response to the sudden disbarment save staring at his executioner. The red robed man couldn't help himself. "I'll enjoy ending you, traitor!" He shouted, lunging forwards with the energy blade.
The Templar immediately sidestepped, holding out one hand against the energy blade. With a green flicker, the hidden psi blade in the gauntlet under his wrist came to life and sizzled against the larger sword, keeping the High Priest's man from swinging it back as the green hooded man stepped in closer, pulling back his other arm. Too late, the swordsman man realized there was a green flicker in the underside of the gauntlet before the other hidden psi blade dug into his shoulder.
The High Priest's man screamed as he was suddenly lifted up and over, the Templar using his psi blade embedded in the shoulder as leverage to toss him off the podium and sprawling on the ground. The energy blade clattered and was disabled as its owner squirmed on the ground, obviously in pain from the shoulder wound. However, that was the least of his concerns as he looked up to see the Templar leaping off the podium, black blade in both hands as it was thrust downwards in a stabbing motion.
It sank into the subordinate's chest with no resistance, the victim of the black blade jolting as his chest was pierced. A gargled cry filled with blood was all that the High Priest's proxy could do before his entire body seized up and fell limp, only weakly jolting as the Templar yanked his blade back out the chest. There was no sign of emotion at the assassination of the man, merely business as the black blade shimmered out of existence.
With the killing, the High Priest's men turned and ran tail, as well as the crowds. Soon, the entire square was deserted in fear of the killers in green. But just as the last civilian exited, the government military stepped in. They marched in with pulse rifles and combat shields at the ready, prepared to arrest the murderers that dared threaten their religion in power.
And yet, the square was completely devoid of all life. As the soldiers fanned out in an effort to catch a glimpse of the killers, none of them bothered to look up where the male and female Templars were standing on the rooftop of a building. A second later, the swordsman Templar joined them, patting both his companions on their shoulders as they turned and left the scene of the crime.
A/N: Well, I hope you enjoy that sneak preview of the Protoss Rebirth! I wonder, how many of you were able to catch what orders I based the Templars off?
Anyway, thank you for reading the Terran Holiday 2014 Fan book! If you want to support the series, remember to leave a review, they are always appreciated! Happy holidays to you all!