Author's Note: The next chapter is here everyone! This chapter will end on a note that a lot of people will probably say it's been a long time coming, and I was very happy to write the last part of the chapter myself.

I hope you guys enjoy this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it! Please read and review!

Chapter 23

Dominion Base, Aiur

"General Ridgeway, the air-cav has arrived. Give us a target." A Viking pilot announced.

"Not one minute too soon," the general replied. "Get some fire on those Phoenixes and Scouts! They're hammering us down here!"

"Right away, sir." The squads of Vikings opened up with their lanzer torpedoes at the Protoss ships, and within minutes the sky was filled with the sounds of battle. With the Phoenixes occupied, the marines fought with renewed vigor against the Protoss ground warriors attacking their defense line.

"The siege tanks are in position, sir! Where do you want the strike?"

"Concentrate fire on the Zealots!" Ridgeway ordered. "Do not allow them to charge at the infantry!"

As the Zealots charged forward, the siege tanks opened up with their artillery cannons. The ground shook with the ferocity of battle, as Zealot after Zealot fell to the deadly artillery attacks. The ones lucky enough to survive did not do so unscathed, however, as they were quickly mowed down by the gestalts' miniguns.

The Immortals, however, proved to be a much bigger problem. Their hardened shields prevented the siege tanks from killing them quickly, and although reapers had concentrated their fire on them, their P-38 pistol range was shorter compared to the phase disruptors of the Immortal. As such, the Immortals were able to stay slightly back and pick off the reapers from afar.

"Get the Thors into position!" An officer commanded. "Blow the Immortals to hell!"

"Fear the thunder!" The Thor pilots shouted, as giant mechanical walkers opened up with the Thor's Hammer Cannons. Despite the strength of the hardened shield, even the Immortals could withstand little of such punishment, and within moments, most had been blown apart. The Stalkers rushed in to fill their positions, blinking about to prevent being struck in a similar way, but the Thors simply unleashed their artillery strikes via the shock cannons on their backs. With such a large strike radius, most Stalkers were unable to fully blink out of range and were destroyed in this aspect.

The marauders and firebats continued to do their work on the Zealots, still rushing towards the defensive lines, but the heavy fighting they had sustained prior to the air cavalry's arrival meant their firepower was now much weaker. The gestalts themselves were unable to help, having to concentrate their fire on the Sentries now being warped in via the Warp Prisms.

Vultures continued to lay spider mines on the field, but there were now fewer and fewer of them venturing out there. Not that they didn't have the mines to spare, but although the Phoenix fighters had their hands busy on the Vikings, the Scouts were able to move about with only minor harassment from the air. As such, too many Vultures were being picked off by their photon blasters, and few drivers wanted to continue to run such a gauntlet.

The goliath pilots opened up with their hellfire missiles on the Scouts, but too many of them had already been destroyed prior to the air reinforcements and therefore their numbers posed much less of a threat than what would have been.

Suddenly, a Thor walker nearby exploded in a giant fireball. Ridgeway's eyes widened as he saw what took out such a powerful war machine: Protoss Void Rays were also entered the battle. Although not too effective against thinner armored targets, their prismatic beams were perfect for dealing with the thickly armored vehicles and ships, and the Thors made an excellent opportunity to demonstrate that.

"If those Void Rays take out all our Thors, we're done for!" Ridgeway exclaimed. "We need immediate BattleCruiser assistance, now!"

"Sir, a yamato cannon attack would end up killing all of you too!"

"Use the plasma torpedo barrage then! It's not as powerful, but it gets the job done! Now use it before we're all dead!"

Although in Aiur's atmosphere to better avoid detection from the Protoss capital ships, the BattleCruisers nevertheless were flying high above the battlefield. In multiple flashes of orange lights, their deadly payload was released.

The effect was devastating. Phoenix fighters were immediately ripped apart by the torpedoes, as they had been too preoccupied in fighting the Vikings to notice until it was too late. The Scouts fared little better, as they too felt the blows. The ones that survived were easy prey for the Vikings, their shields completely drained of energy.

On the ground, the results were the same. Half the Zealots attacking the defense line were now charred corpses, and the mechanical parts of Sentries were strewn all across the battlefield. Most of the Stalkers were aflame and no longer able to fight effectively, while the surviving Immortals retreated away, knowing their phase disruptors did not have the range to deal with the terran ships attacking from afar.

"Send the Vikings out and hunt them down!" Ridgeway ordered. The Vikings complied, most of them transforming into their ground mode to unleash the power of their Gatling cannons. As this was not a heavy attack, the Immortals' hardened shields did not activate and therefore most fell prey to the Vikings this way. The Stalkers were more fortunate, as they retained their blinking ability and therefore were able to move away much faster than the Immortals did.

Suddenly, however, a long orange beam of energy fired, and a line of 6 Vikings were immediately blown apart.

"General, the Protoss Warp Prisms!" An officer announced from the Command Center. "They're bringing in the Colossi against us!"

Ridgeway scowled in irritation. This just keeps getting better and better. "Have we at least been able to locate what we've been sent here for?"

"We just have," came the reply. "Took us quite a few scanner sweeps, but I think we've found it. About 15 clicks north of here are some old Protoss temple ruins. I don't know what's so important there, but apparently there's an energy reading there that matches what the emperor wants us to find on Aiur."

"Are you absolutely sure?" Ridgeway demanded.

"The reading is very weak, so I'm not 100 percent sure. We have to go to the ruins to find out."

"What about the Zerg or other unfriendly Protoss? Any of them in the area?"

"No, sir. It's just a bunch of stone ruins, no enemy of any kind nearby. So unless the Protoss attacking us pursue us there, we shouldn't encounter anymore hostility."

"Good enough for me," Ridgeway replied, before sending an order to the BattleCruisers. "Send all the dropships down here right now. We're packing up the base and heading for the ruins."

Xel'Naga Caverns, Aiur

"What do you mean this chamber has dealt with the Sundrop substance already?" Zeratul demanded. "You have come in with no contact with other Protoss, and they were the ones who broken the addiction in the case with Alzadar! There is nothing here that could help you with that!"

"That is because we still have much to learn from our creators, the Xel'Naga," Felanis replied, gesturing to the giant Khaydarin Crystal. "Remember, we did not create the Khaydarin Crystals ourselves, the Xel'Naga did. They had left these artifacts on Aiur many years ago, and we had known of them long before your kind had been exiled from this world. Yet despite all these years we had known of their existence, our history had shown that we have only understood them as a source of energy. We had used them to power our crafts, our buildings, and our weapons, yet virtually none of us seem to understand how to use it in any other way."

Zeratul decided not to mention the usage of the Khaydarin Crystals by the Alysaar on Ehlna, where they had understood how to use the ancient relics as a means to store memory. Although individual Protoss had used the crystals to focus and calm their minds, this application was not of much use in times of war.

"The Xel'Naga, on the other hand, had been able to use these artifacts as a means to store information, although to this day almost no Protoss has ever succeeded in accessing what our fathers had stored in there. What is known is that they have certainly used the Khaydarin Crystals for other purposes, purposes that we do not yet understand."

"What does this have to do with you and your claim of restoration?" the Nerazim asked.

"Apparently different Khaydarin Crystals have different properties," the Tal'darim leader answered. "I had been badly wounded in battle when Alzadar turned my loyal Tal'darim against me. They had underestimated my strength, however, as they had left me for dead, not realizing I was still alive."

"They had their reason, Templar. Your Xava'kai people were nothing but pawns to Ulrezaj, yet you continued to follow him and attacking your fellow Tal'darim brothers simply for thinking otherwise!"

"Unlike the other Tal'darim, Ulrezaj had exposed me to far greater amount of Sundrop than the others. Sundrop is supposed to gradually sever the link to the Khala, but due to such an excess used on me, my link was severed almost instantly. Of course, this was not the only effect Sundrop had. Its second effect was to alter the way of thinking, and the more used, the greater the chances that it will contribute to total irrational thoughts and actions. That was why even after I had discovered the true identity of our Xava'tor, I had remained loyal to him. Fortunately, even he did not fully understand the power of the Khaydarin Crystal before us."

"Are you saying it restored you to your original self?" A Lenassa Dark Templar asked.

"You are correct, dark one." Felanis replied. "Though I still do not fully understand even to this day, the giant Khaydarin Crystal has some form of healing capabilities. When I had been badly wounded in battle in the caverns, after Alzadar and the other Tal'darim had departed, I had retreated down here, to the heart of the ancient Xel'Naga city, despite the fact that our Xava'tor had forbidden us to enter the crystal chamber under the pain of death."

He gazed at the enormous glowing artifact for a moment, before continuing, "Back then, I had no understanding of the relic's potential at all. What I did know however, was that it held power beyond the understanding of any Protoss, perhaps power that could be triggered without me even realizing it. I had hoped its energies would heal my wounds so I could leave the caverns and bring my Tal'darim brethren back. Unfortunately, the crystal healed my wounds only to the point where it was no longer fatal. I had remained weak, unable to fight. Thus I had remained in the chamber in the hopes its energies would fully heal me someday. None of my Tal'darim brothers believed the Protoss that had so cowardly retired to the Dark Templar homeworld would return, and therefore I believed I would get my chance to reacquaint with my clan. Yet during the extended period of time I had spent down here, I had felt the presence of the Sundrop slowly fade from my body, and the gradual feeling of the Khala once again. By now, most of the restoration has been completed, as I feel only minor influences from the Sundrop substance, and a far stronger connection to the Khala."

Zeratul eyed his fellow Dark Templar. None of them had deactivated their warp blades yet. It was clear they were not ready to trust Felanis. To an extent neither was he, but the fact remained that the Tal'darim Templar had spent about a whole year down in the very heart of the Xel'Naga sanctuary. Zamara may have visited this chamber as well, but her stay had been brief, only to carve a crystal fragment off the giant Khaydarin Crystal in order to save the life of Jake Ramsey.

This meant that when it came to knowledge of the crystal chamber along with everything it houses, Felanis knew more than any one of them. Although he knew the Tal'darim leader's word could not be fully trusted, it was essentially the same about the Xel'Naga prophecy. Few Protoss believed the words of the Overmind, but they had reluctantly admitted that it was the only being that held more clues on the matter. Similarly, Zeratul was convinced whatever Zamara had asked him to seek out was in this very chamber. Thus he needed to know everything he can about it, and Felanis was the only one who could give him the answers.

"What do you know of this chamber, Felanis?" He asked finally. "If you have truly been restored to the Khalai Protoss you once were, then you would know it is vital you give us this information."

The Tal'darim leader nodded slowly. "It is better I show you, Prelate Zeratul. I know you and your Dark Templar may not fully believe everything I say, so in order to convince you, I would have to let you see it with your own eyes."

Bridge, Shield of Aiur

Artanis looked over the reports still flowing in to his Mothership from the Protoss Observers. The massive numbers of slayed Zerg continued to be reported by every robotic drone. It's been 3 days since he had sent Executor Selendis to investigate the strange terran presence on Aiur, and during that time, Protoss warriors all over the planet had celebrated at their victory in the sectors they had reclaimed. By now, there were still approximately 133 million Zerg scattered across their homeworld, but if progress continued to be made at this rate, they will all be eradicated within a week.

As such, he had begun to turn his attention to the two Zerg strongholds left on Aiur: Antioch and the Overmind's final resting place. As the capital was less heavily defended, he had given orders to take the city first once the scattered Zerg were dealt with. Nevertheless, he had sent a few Observers to scout out the Zerg defending their dead master, and to see what they would be up against when the time came to cleanse them there.

Those reports were coming in just now, and thus far the picture was grim. Prelate Mohandar was on the communications screen, as the two Protoss discussed the strategy for such an assault.

"The greatest problem in this is that the body of the Overmind must be left intact," the Hierarch explained to the Nerazim. "I know most of our brethren would want to see it completely destroyed instead, but we need the corpse with minimal damage so that we can examine its cortex and learn all of its secrets."

"That will prove difficult," Mohandar replied. "It is highly unlikely the Zerg will leave their fortified positions in protecting their master. During his prior visit, some of them did leave their places to attack Zeratul and his warband, but there are some 600 million of them nestled around the Overmind right now. They would never all leave to attack us, no matter how likely the result that they might prevail."

"It is why I believe it will be necessary for us to assault the target after James Raynor has arrived on Aiur. I have no doubt he would anticipate that we would not be able to fully scour the Zerg by then, and he would lend his forces to assist us to complete the task."

"I have learned the terrans must not be underestimated, Hierarch. James Raynor had defeated Executor Selendis on Haven, and therefore is a testament to their capabilities, despite their inferior technology in comparison to the Daelaam Protoss."

"Hierarch, we have confirmation of what we have been dreading," a Templar announced. "There are three massive Zerg aerial creatures hovering above the rotting mass of the Overmind, each of them far larger than even the mighty Motherships."

"It appears to match the creature James Raynor had encountered on Char," Mohandar observed, looked at the Observer scans from his Void Ray screen.

"They are all more massive in scale," Artanis said grimly. "According to our Observers, the Zerg Leviathan James Raynor had encountered on Char was less than one third this size. It must mean the one he had defeated on Char was merely an infant and had yet to reach its maturity stage. Therefore, it would have been unable to fully utilize it true combat potential, and its strength would have been considerably weaker."

"What can we do against something of that power, Hierarch? The Leviathan is essentially an airborne Zerg hive cluster. The records from the battle at Char clearly indicated that even a youth carried aerial cocoons, and each of them could morph into Mutalisks, Corruptors, and Brood Lords. There is no telling what the sacs of a fully mature adult could carry."

"It is exactly why I had the Furinax Tribe of the Hierarchy began development of a ship vastly more powerful than even that of the Mothership a few years ago," Artanis answered. "By the time we were mustering our forces on Shakuras, the first of such mighty warships was nearing completion. By now, it should be fully operational, ready to begin the warp jump to Aiur."

Hyperion, High Orbit Over New Folsom

Jim looked out the window, sighing at the sight of volcanic planet of New Folsom from his quarters. Their arrival had not been picked up by the Dominion ships, but he had hoped to raid the prison the moment they had arrived.

Matt had convinced him that it's likely they'd only get one shot at the raid, so they would have to make it count. According to Nova who had been fortunate enough to visit the prison during one of such times, the vehicles, ships, and ammunition goods are moved out to the courtyards and out into the open only about 24 hours before the transport ships arrive. That way, in the event of a raid from pirates, mercenaries, or anyone else, the losses will be considered minimal in the event the attack is a success.

According to Swann who had briefly hacked into the New Folsom communications network, the transports will be arriving in two days. As such, it was better to wait until the supplies are moved into the open before the beginning the raid. For now, everyone is waiting aboard the ships, waiting for the sign of the transport activity detected down there. Most of his Raiders and the Dominion troops are asleep by now, ready for the next day.

For him however, sleep was near impossible. Ever since what had happened on Tarsonis, the cruelties and inhumanities of war had burned through him. It had already been too much for him to maintain his decency. Adding the loss of Kerrigan to the list, to which he finally realized he had fallen in love with, it had begun to unhinge him.

Now, he had become almost completely desensitized to war. Even his Raiders who he had valued for fighting with him for freedom and liberty, he had stopped calling them as soldiers, and rather as units. As he had once told Nova, he had ordered good people to their deaths, and virtually nothing had been accomplished. As time wore on, he began to stop mourning for them, and accepted them as necessary losses.

Yet he continued to convince himself that it was for the best. Yes the decisions had been coldhearted, but sending good people to their deaths is part of war, and there are times where cold and calculated decisions have to be made, so the greater number of people would be saved and benefit from it all. In the end, the people needed someone to be sacrificed so all of them could benefit. If he had to be that person, then so be it.

It was among the other reasons he had begun drinking so heavily. He felt that if he kept mourning for them like this, the emotions would eventually shatter him. The lack of emotion may be painful to his Raiders, but it allowed him to get the job done, and that's what counts. Deep down, he knew it was eating away the goodness in him, but it's a sacrifice that must be made. True he did cut down on it somewhat after Char, but he still used it as a means to bury his pains.

To his surprise, he suddenly heard a calming voice in his head just as he thought that.

That will never happen, Jim. I won't let you. I've seen enough people in my life turn to the path of coldness and cruelty. I refuse for it to happen to you too.

Jim lifted up his head and looked around. "Sarah?"

I knew all along what you did on Char came at a cost, but your loss of humanity is something I won't accept. You already gave me back mine, it's my turn to do the same.

The commander was still confused about what she was talking about, when the door suddenly slid open. Sarah stepped inside, looking every bit as confident as when he had first met her on Antiga Prime.

"What are you doing here?" Jim asked, suddenly blushing a little as he realized she wasn't wearing anything.

"What I should have done a long time ago," Kerrigan replied softly, wrapping her arms around him.

Almost instantly, every other thought in Jim's head vanished, as he and Sarah began doing what they should have done, the night before she went down to New Gettysburg by herself. All of his feelings he had for Sarah when he finally admitted it after Tarsonis suddenly rose to the surface, as Jim savored every second the way she explored his body.

Sarah embraced him passionately, thinking back to Char and the moment she was freed from the Zerg. She remembered Jim carrying her across the battlefield, and the joy she felt in Jim's arms. The bliss she had felt in that Jim freed her was more than she could have thought possible. This time, she would be the one to rescue him. She needed Jim to understand how she felt about him.

For Jim, Sarah's touch was like nothing he had ever experienced. He felt her warmth in a way he had never even thought possible, not even when he had married Lidya, and before her death. He closed his eyes and thought only of Sarah, as he felt her soft touch and warmth began to pacify his very soul. He could feel the coldness and cruelness within him gradually fading, replaced by feelings of love and compassion.

Sarah went deep into Jim's mind. She didn't have to read it at all to know he loved her, but she had to understand him. She felt the brightness of his spirit glow even brighter shortly after the two of them had first met on Antiga Prime. She felt his mourning for her after what had happened on Tarsonis, and then on an even greater scale after he had seen her reborn into the Zerg swarm as the Queen of Blades. She felt his determination to get her back when Valerian informed him the Xel'Naga device might be able to restore her. But above all, she felt his love, love that never once faded during the years she had been infested, love that prevented him from even thinking of moving on to someone else, keeping himself for her, in the hopes they would be reunited one day.

Every ice cold feeling in Sarah's heart instantly melted away, and as his thoughts continued to play out in her head, she knew Jim had to see what she should have shown him back on Char, had she had the strength to.

Suddenly, Jim felt Sarah's thoughts in his head, and her emotions flowed through his mind. He felt her struggling with her emotions right before Tarsonis, struggling whether to accept Jim into her life so deeply or not. He felt her psionically screaming for him when she had been imprisoned in the Zerg chrysalis. He felt her love for him as he carried her away from the battlefields of Char, but was unable to get him to feel it because she had been so greatly weakened by the Xel'Naga relic. He felt her despair when Nova had informed her that his humanity was slowly slipping away. And finally, he felt her determination, determination to bring him back just like the way he brought her back.

To Jim, these feelings had confirmed everything he believed and wanted to believe about her, from when she went down to Tarsonis all the way up to when he had found her restored on Char. It wasn't a dream, or fantasy, or illusion, or anything like that. It was real. She loved him.