sorry for the late update, but I had a lot of stuff I needed to do today. I promise I won't make a habit of it. today I have completely overhauled the Prophecy missions, making them much less... shall we say... prophetic, and changing Kerrigan's involvement. that's to change it up for you readers, as I figure you don't want a retelling of the Dark Voice story in it's entirety, so in my usual fashion, I have provided many more details. enjoy, or don't, it's your choice.
Turtwig, I agree that it was boring, but unfortunately exposition type material needs to happen. there isn't a lot I can change in that particular mission, although I did what I could. Korhal is coming, probably next chapter, and the one after that.
Read and Review, I really enjoy reviews.
I cannot walk by the lab now without feeling more drained. The third artifact increased the capability of the other two tremendously. Its range has been dramatically increased, as has its power level. There are five of these pieces, or so I've heard. At the fifth piece, I think it could kill me. That's a frightening thought. Xil was not the best mission we've ever had, but it was far from the worst. Even with the energy-draining alien artifact we picked up at the end. It may be after-mission jitters, but there have been rumors flying throughout the ship that a Protoss was onboard talking to Raynor. That would explain the feeling I had last night. Dark Templars have a very specific feeling to their minds, and it is like that, dark, cold and alien. The reason I didn't pick it up instantly is because the last time I had felt it, it was only communication. Based on John's recommendation, I had my Psi-index reevaluated, and it turned out as a 4. That is exponentially higher than what I was before. Traumatic experiences can cause those mind-altering effects. Some people just "snap", their latent Psionic energies coming forth when needed. Apparently I am one of those, although why it has not been picked up before is beyond me. I've confirmed that the Zerg did not have anything to do with my spike, though. The presence I felt was familiar, I've fought with Dark Templars before, throughout the Brood War we were on the same side in many conflicts. If I were to put a face to this feeling, I would use the Prelate Zeratul's. I can only hope that he sees us in a better light than Selendis.
I am in the secondary lab currently, talking with Hanson and looking over the mutative code within the Zerg virus. We're still trying to figure out how to even begin with a cure. The virus mutates randomly, without a set pattern. A single generation will have very little in common with the next. However, they all use a base sheath that is similar. That is how my Nerve cells are able to keep subsequent strains of the virus out. That is a weakness for it, and we don't want to pursue it too vigorously, or else it might decide to mutate more drastically. Doing so would possibly render the Cure inoperable against subsequent strains of the virus. That is an eventuality, of course, but there is no need to rush it. The Virus is gone from our bodies, thankfully, leaving behind its changes. That's the way it works, growing in a signal-cascade to change the body to the Zerg's specifications, and then disappearing once its work is complete.
We make some progress, identifying the signal-receptors that allow the Viral Agent's entry into the cell, something that also remains the same in almost every iteration, before our work is cut short. The Night cycle will be beginning shortly, and we still need sleep, so I bow out, and head back to my barracks. The same presence I felt this morning washes over me again, and I look around, hoping to see the Prelate. No such luck, unfortunately, and the presence recedes until I cannot feel it any longer.
Dave has been released back to our Barracks, and is sleeping in his bunk again. He seems to be a different person completely though, laughing and joking with his friends. It is a lot more like what he was like before I was taken. That must mean he's finally decided to trust me. I'm glad of that, and it will make life aboard the ship much more pleasant for all concerned. Our squad is tired, most of us having fought for our lives within the last half an hour. There is still an air of camaraderie and celebration over a mission well done, however. I quickly join in, moving over to my friends. Zeke greets me with a raised hand, and I smile and sit down. He is in the middle of a story, and I listen in to see what I can catch. It's one of our Brood War era exploits, a joint venture between the Protoss and us Raiders. The Raider forces were on the planet Aiur, along with the Protoss survivors of the Zerg attack. In their company was the leader of the Dominion, Arcturus Mengsk. The UED was looking to capture them both. I remember the battle, very messy, with a lot of losses. We managed to get off world in a transport ship, watching from behind us as the encampment, and the UED's base burned beneath an assault of Zerg. Most of the story was rather lighthearted, with frequent allusions to Mengsk's absolute terror and cowardice, with a healthy side of feigned Protoss superiority. All in all, it was a surprisingly accurate representation of what happened, although I don't think Mengsk ever had to change into "brown trousers, as the alternative was to have the ones he was wearing end up brown". It's a good story though.
I take over the storytelling after we escape, as Zeke was on medical leave for the next part. My tone makes the story more serious though. I talk about the betrayals of the Zerg, how Kerrigan manipulated us all masterfully, and then graciously let us live at the end. By the end of the telling, which spanned the entire conflict, no one was laughing, and the atmosphere had grown deathly quiet. I finish with "but, now we're ready and able to fight back. We're wiser for the experience, and we know who and what we're dealing with. This time, we won't stop, and we won't compromise our ideals. We will have peace, and freedom, both from outside influences, and from within. It won't be easy, but what in life is? I've been burned by the Zerg in a very deep and personal way, but that has only strengthened my resolve. We're all here because we've experienced something similar, although maybe not on my scale, and maybe not from the same enemy. We're all in this together, and I wouldn't want to be here with anyone else. Thank you for allowing me back on, thank you for allowing me your trust again. I swear to you, unlike what happened four years ago, I will not betray it. Good night."
"You know, that's not exactly where I had planned this story to go." Zeke says as he walks over to me.
"I know. But it's all connected. I felt that they needed to hear what happened, most of those men outside Andrew, you, me, Blake, and Dave haven't been out here for more than a couple weeks. They need to know what happened."
He nods, and then smiles "you did good though, especially that part at the end. I've always said you're a great speaker, but wow, that one would give Raynor a run for his money."
I chuckle at that "I don't know so much about that, but I do try." After which, we return to our separate bunks, feeling more sober, but more reassured, and I drift off to sleep.
Raynor stares at the Ihan Crystal in the empty Laboratory. It's late, Stettman had turned in for the night and Hanson didn't come here anymore. Zeratul had seemed extremely urgent about the contents of this crystal, and anything that could upset his friend like that was something he needed to see. Kerrigan… what was so important that She had to save them from it? This reeked of the Brood War, which is not a conflict he would want to relive. Finally, he shakes himself from his reverie, and mutters "Zeratul... what the hell have you gotten yourself into?" he activates the crystal, which begins to glow, and then he feels himself falling.
"Friend Raynor, long has it been since we stood together against the Swarm. Since then, I have wandered the void, searching for fragments, clues from the Xel'Naga, which may be invaluable to surviving the coming conflict. My Sojourn lead to the remote world of Ulaan, where I discovered something which may shift the balance of power within the Galaxy as we know it, and, if what is outlined is to be believed, twist the cycle which gave birth to both the Protoss and the Zerg into something terrible. Yet, I was not the first to discover it. It falls to you, now, old friend… to relive my memories… and believe."
Zeratul examines a carving, depicting both the Protoss and the Zerg, ascending before becoming one being. Inside his head, Raynor hears Zeratul thinking. "A Cycle which has existed for millennia, two species, championed by the Xel'Naga, would ascend to perfection, and Unite to become the next incarnation of the Gods themselves. This time, the Cycle was broken. Time alone will tell whether it will be reforged, and if so, in what way?" suddenly, alarm flares inside Raynor's mind, Zeratul has sensed something. He moves away from the shrine, having gleaned all he can from its inscriptions, the warning of danger which he sensed returns, and he is attacked by four warriors of the Zerg Swarm. These are mere hydralisks, however, and dispatched with ease.
When the last one falls by its brother's talon, a echoing, bone chilling laugh fills the silence of the dark world. "do you hear them, Zeratul? Whispering in their infancy? The Harbingers of His perfection. The Galaxy as we know it will be reshaped at their coming, a new Order, a new Cycle imposed. He will reign supreme, not only for this cycle, but for all of them." Zeratul recognizes the signs, Kerrigan's mind is being dominated, the Master manipulator is herself being played like an instrument.
"Perhaps," he shrouds himself from her eyes, and moves through the Void to a position above her. "But you won't live to see it!" he shouts as he jumps at her, intending to cut off the head of the snake, and collect vengeance for Raszagal. She is not so easily duped, however, and catches him mid motion in a web of Psionic power, of such strength that it threatens to tear him limb from limb.
"Please, killing me will do nothing. I will be reborn in His presence. He will grant me vengeance, and then Peace. Fitting, that the last hope of the Xel'Naga will be destroyed by the Promised of the Amon'Tai" with that, her mental concentration slips a fraction, and Zeratul is able to break it.
"Never!" he shouts mentally as he lunges at her again. His deadly blade of Psionic energy whistles through the air, before contacting carapace, ending the Zerg threat forever. He then flips backwards, pushing himself against the Queen's body, now, if his strike succeeded, little more than a corpse. He lands, and pain sears through his right arm. He looks up to see Kerrigan still standing. Then, what he hit becomes obvious as one of her bone-wings slide off, and it falls to the ground. He phases through the Void out of range of any counterattacks, and then observes as one of the Zerg walks up to her. She pets the creature, looking at her damaged appendage.
"His arrival cannot be stopped. He is coming, and when he is here, I will embrace perfection." Her wing regrows, removing the little damage the Prelate's attack had caused.
Zeratul mutters to himself "not while I am alive, Kerrigan" before climbing out of the cavern, and onward to the rest of his task on this world.
The other shrines held similar inscriptions, detailing how the cycle was supposed to occur. Apparently the Xel'Naga survivors had fled to this world after being ambushed by the second born. Here, they laid out instructions, details about the Traitor, Amon, his plans, his abilities, and his inherent weaknesses. The Zerg were defacing the shrines as he arrives at them, destroying the message found within at their deranged leader's command. He fights through the hordes, aided by several other Protoss lead by Karass. He reaches the first and second shrines, each one giving him more information about his Enemy. Hidden within the communications is a secondary message as well, one he does not understand. He would investigate it later, once he has stopped the destruction of the Shrines. The third and final shrine is heavily guarded, but the main force of Protoss is there as well. He fights through the lines of the enemy, reaches the third shrine, and collects what information he can from it. With the data, which may be the last hope of his people, he flees. Karass and his Templar cover his retreat. Zeratul cuts down the remaining enemies, boards his craft, and exits the archive world.
Raynor comes back to himself, stunned. A rogue, living Xel'Naga, one with enough power to enslave kerrigan's mind to his. This was not good. He understand what Zeratul meant, however, when he said she must not die. None of this was her fault, she might have been his captive in mind since she was Infested. His mind is both worried, and strangely eased by that fact, it means that the woman he loved didn't kill his friend Fenix, or slaughter millions, at least, not of her own volition. It also means he must find a way to destroy this "Amon" if he wants to get her back.