As Julio watched his legs fall from him, he spared his final moments to recall an important conversation with Vittorio.


"No! There has to be another way!" Julio shouted in desperation as he threw whatever books and other adornments were atop the dresser beside them to the floor in a fit of denial-borne rage.

Vittorio met his desperate look with his usual serene smile and shook his head.

"No, Julio, I've-."

"You've not seen every future!" Julio cut Vittorio off, "There is still hope! Please! There has to be one where-!" He cut himself off, unable to speak it aloud as he cast his gaze to the floor.

"Julio," Vittorio cooed, "I have seen at least a million futures. And of the few hundred where this world survives… this is the one I saw that grants the best chance at saving this world… and the elves."

"No!" Julio rushed forward and roughly grabbed Vittorio by the shoulders, "There has to be another! One where I don't have to kill you!" The moment he spoke it aloud, Julio's voice broke as tears of hopelessness welled and streamed down his face. "Please… keep looking…"

Vittorio stepped forward and took Julio in a warm embrace.

"We do not have time for that, Julio. Please… do not be selfish," Vittorio gently whispered.

"H-How can I not be? Sei… fratello mio," Julio sobbed into Vittorio's shoulder.

"I know," Vittorio said, "and I love you, brother, but… we must think beyond us," Vittorio said, in as reassuring a tone as possible.

"I cannot…" Julio denied.

"You can," Vittorio pulled back to place a hand on Julio's tear-stained cheek, and gave him a small smirk, "I've seen it."

Julio opted to cast his gaze away from Vittorio and remain silent.

"I understand, my brother. I do not want to ask you to do this… but… I also know… you can," Vittorio said.

After an eternal moment of hesitation, Julio nodded.

Vittorio gave him a warm smile.

"I am not yet gone, brother. We still have time to cherish before then," Vittorio assured him,

"Then why send me away? Why send me to Tristain?" Julio desperately asked.

"All part of the plan, I assure you," Vittorio said.

Julio gave a wry chuckle as he sniffled.

"Still no future where I don't suffer humiliating defeat from her?" Julio said with a wry smile.

Vittorio chuckled as he shook his head, "Try all you might, you simply cannot beat her."

Julio wryly tittered.

"But if it helps your ego, you can just say you weren't trying your hardest when you see her again," Vittorio teased, causing Julio to shake his head while giving a genuine laugh.

"I may just have to. To be beaten by a maid. And one-handed, at that? How humiliating for one supposed to be a sword master," Julio gave a playful scoff before giving Vittorio a warm smile. "Ti amo, fratello."

"I love you, too, brother," Vittorio nodded, "I'll see you soon."


Just before Julio's head hit the ground, his reminiscence finished. He spared one final thought for his brother by all but blood, Vittorio, as the smallest smile appeared on his lips that everyone present was too horrified to notice.

I trust you, fratello, was the last thing Julio would have recalled thinking, if he could have been asked, before he slipped away.

Amon stepped over him, readying Tiffa's scythe to end the frozen girls before him that were gripped by terror they had never felt before.

We can't, Siesta thought in despair.

It's impossible. We can't beat him, Louise mirrored her despair.

Just before Amon could bring the scythe to bear, the red blade was stopped by Zeratul's own green one.

GO MY DISCIPLES! He psionically shouted at them at a volume they'd never beheld before. With an urgency they had never heard. He deflected Amon's scythe before making a flurry of swings at the elf's possessed body.

Louise, the first to regain her senses, shook her head, wiped her mouth, and shot to her feet, grabbing Siesta's arm as she did. She gave one last, desperate look to her mentor, knowing how even when Tiffa was holding back she beat him.

Don't die, Louise spared a solemn thought for her teacher as she wrapped her and Siesta in her own pink and black shadows and disappeared from the carnage, with everyone else in their group finding their own ways to flee.

Tiffa was no longer their friend. It was Amon. Just as Vittorio had warned. They were doomed.

While Louise and Siesta fled the creature that was rumbling to life, and the elf warriors had now turned on their comrades, Zeratul was barely holding his ground against Amon's relentless attacks using Tiffa's body.

Comrade! Can you hear me? Zeratul called out to Tiffa.

"She cannot hear you, fallen one," Amon sneered as he threw a rapid succession of strikes at him that he had no choice but to blink away from.

Yes! I can hear you! Please! Stop me! However you can, please just stop me! Zeratul heard Tiffa's pleas, and saw Amon's face contort in a scowl.

"Silence, slave! You belong to me now!" Amon ordered.

Comrade Tiffa! If you can hear me… Zeratul began as he was forced to block yet more relentless slashes and flourishes from Tiffa's scythe, prepare your Domination ability!

At that, Zeratul saw Amon give pause while he looked furiously shocked.

"I know what you plan! I will not have it!" Amon shouted as he raised Tiffa's arm, causing a bright flash that Zeratul remembered Tiffa beating him with before.

This time, however, Zeratul was ready. He leapt backward to avoid what surely would have been the end for him had he remained where he was. A flash of red cleaved where his waist would have been.

Amon's face contorted in frustration as he gave a rumbling, psionic growl and thrust a hand at him, sending a wave of red psionic energy.

Zeratul blinked.

Amon, expecting him from behind, as these Nerazim were so wont to do, did a full arc of a slash to catch him. Only to find nothing. And be flattened when Zeratul fell upon Amon from above.

The Nerazim knew he only had one chance, as Amon would now anticipate such a move in the future, and immediately grabbed Tiffa's head.

Sleep, he ordered. The black from Tiffa's eyes was dispelled, and she drew in a deep, sharp breath. Now, Comrade! Use your Domination ability! On yourself!

Tiffa knew she could not hesitate, and put her hands to the sides of her head, unleashing the power of her Void Domination upon her own mind that she prepared when Zeratul told her of the plan.

Crackling, red energies burst from her body at this, dispelling Amon's presence, and leaving her massively drained. She fell limp, and weak, under Zeratul, who stood up and reached a hand out to her.

Come, Comrade, I shall escort you to safety, Zeratul offered with urgency.

Tiffa weakly reached up, and, once her hand was close enough, Zeratul took it and lifted her. He threw her weakened body over his shoulders and carried her away, following the path his apprentices took.


"Everyone! Back to the plateau!" Louise shouted to anyone who could hear her, knowing it would not be enough. She turned to Siesta as they ran, "Siesta, whatever psionic willpower you have? Use it. Use it to tell everyone to fall back!" Louise frantically ordered.

Siesta looked at her with confirming acknowledgement as she gathered her will.

FALL BACK TO THE PLATEAU! Siesta psionically shouted as far and as wide as she could. The amount of power that took caused her to stumble and nearly fall over in exhaustion, with Louise catching her while she breathed raggedly.

"Are you okay? Can you keep going? You need to keep going!" Louise desperately shouted at her.

"I just… I just need…" Siesta rasped, massive droplets of sweat already streaking down her face as her lungs burned both from exertion and the smoke and fire of the battlefield.

Louise desperately looked around for any support, only finding an approaching cadre of elves and Protoss Tal'darim charging at them. She couldn't both do another blink yet and have enough willpower to do a mass recall to evacuate everyone. But… if she died here she wouldn't be able to do the spell, regardless. Just as she was ready to try physically dragging Siesta, a thundering impact of something heavy and metal hit between her and the warriors, with more impacts around her in a full arc.

"Louise!" she heard Tabitha's voice in her ear, "Don't worry. They're there to protect you!"

At once the sound of thudding metal like a sledgehammer on an anvil was heard in a chorus around her as Marines and a pair of medics appeared from the capsules that fell from the sky.

"Rock and roll!" one of the Marines enthusiastically shouted as he began unloading his rifle in thunderous bursts at any who approached Louise and Siesta.

"State the nature of the medical emergency!" one the Medics approached and ordered.

"She just needs support, she's really drained," Louise replied, her tone heavy with worry.

"I'm on the job." She paused as she aimed the massive needles on her arm at Siesta's back, with Louise pre-emptively wincing, "On three. One-."

"Wait, what's going on? Why are you making that-AH!" Siesta cried out, her eyes shooting almost unnaturally wide-open as she did.

The Medic had stuck her in the back, leaving two not-insignificant puncture wounds after she almost immediately removed the needles and patted, if one could call nearly being slapped down from being hit in the back by a woman in massive power armor, on the back before the Medic directed that healing beam that Louise had used on her once before.

"You're checked up and good to go!" the Medic enthusiastically declared, giving them a thumbs-up.

"Medic!" one of the Marines shouted, causing the Medic to stomp after the Marines to patch them up.

"A-Are you okay? That… looked like it hurt…" Louise grimaced sympathetically.

"Like a bitch!" Siesta hissed as she shot to her feet, no trace of exhaustion upon her visage as she looked down at her hands and clenched them into fists, a wide grin splitting her lips.

"Uh… Siesta?" Louise asked, concerned.

"I feel…" Siesta, breathing deeply, yet steadily, began before sweeping Louise into a kiss, leaving her wide-eyed and stunned. "AMAZING!" She activated her psi-staff, willing it into a bow and fired off a psionic bolt that split into six different beams that impacted as a cascade of blinding light-filled explosions to blow massive holes in the enemy lines that advanced on them.

Louise was left mouth agape at this sudden display of power.

"We, uh, we still need to go," Louise said, gently placing a hand on one of Siesta's arms.

"Hm? Oh, of course! Lead the way!" Siesta enthusiastically replied, taking Louise's hand and psionically dashing, practically dragging her wife as she did back to the plateau.


Montmorency, Guiche, and Eleonore were gathered together, pinned down by the incoming Tal'darim forces who had surrounded them. Guiche's walls were swiftly being cut down, and Montmorency had long since run out of the water she brought with herself.

"Damn it all!" Eleonore shouted as she let loose a wide, sweeping blade of wind that broke against the enemy shields before she faltered and fell to one knee, her breathing strained and her brow awash with sweat.

Guiche sent what crude golems he could to slow down the enemy advance, seeing them handily destroyed by the Tal'darim as though they were made of paper.

Guiche, too, faltered, but barely stayed on his feet as he waved his wand to summon another, even more crude, golem that shambled out before them, holding its arms out defensively as he saw Eleonore fall to her hands and knees, dry heaving as she did.

If this one falls… Guiche thought as he gave a desperate look to his trembling fiance that looked ready to fall over from exhaustion. He swept her up in a kiss before embracing her, clenching his eyes shut as he did. He heard the sound of metal being cut and melted away, followed by the sound of it crashing to the ground. He gripped Montmorency tighter, with her doing likewise.

The killing blows, however, did not come, as they heard the shrill, shrieking sounds of psionic blades clashing.

Eleonore was the first to see it.

The duo of Rhalandas and Nyral elegantly dancing their way through the Tal'darim, avoiding every blow and landing every one they attempted, even if it was in a clash of blades.

A spectacle that left Eleonore in awe.

She watched as Rhalandas would provoke a blocking move with his wrist blade, and Nyral followed it up with a sweeping, horizontal cut she'd make wide enough so the back blade would keep any attackers from their back at a good distance. Nyral would follow through, Rhalandas would blink behind her to provoke a new block that left the opponent wide open for Nyral to strike again, all while making sure neither were left with any openings to exploit.

They were perfectly in sync. As though they were two bodies controlled by one mind. Two limbs from the same body each fighting as one.

We shall keep them off you, Terrans, Nyral announced as they had finally cut down enough attackers to give them momentary breathing room. Begin your flight.

Guiche had finally opened his eyes to regard the pair with awe before nodding and turning to Montmorency.

"Will you be fine on your own?" he asked.

Montmorency gave him a look of conviction, "Yes. But we should help Eleonore."

They both looked down at her as she struggled to rise and immediately rushed to her sides.

"T-Thanks," Eleonore struggled to begrudgingly say.

The impacts of large metal "crates" from the sky all around them stopped them in their tracks, with more Marines and Medics coming from them as their doors were kicked open into the surrounding Tal'darim forces.

"Go go go!" One of the Marines shouted at them, indicating to the plateau which they were now facing. They struggled to move swiftly with their nearly-dead weight in Eleonore, who was gritting her teeth as she struggled to move her legs through her exhaustion.

Suddenly, Eleonore's mouth and eyes went wide with shock as though she wished to scream, but lacked the air to facilitate it. They looked at her in a panic, then realized a Medic was behind her.

"Just gave her a stim, don't worry, she'll be right as rain in a moment," the Medic informed them as she shot her healing beam at her back to close the gaping wounds.

Before Guiche and Montmorency could even begin to worry or protest, Eleonore drew in a sharp breath before letting go of the two and looking down at her hands in wide-eyed awe, clenching them as she did.

"A-Are you-?"

"I'm great! I feel like I could fight an army! What is that stuff? And can I have some for study? Oh, think of the coin we could make if we started selling it!" Eleonore exuberantly exclaimed as a wide, toothy, manic grin split her lips.

The sound of an explosion and staccato of rifle fire reminded them of their situation.

"Later! For now, let's get the Hel out of here!" Montmorency shouted as she took Guiche's hand and began running, with Eleonore following close behind.


Henrietta, Julien, and Aly had been pushed to meet up with Colbert and Mama Cassandra, and their combined efforts were going well as they made their way back. Colbert's immense flames, despite doing little to shields, wreaked havoc on flesh once one of his four allies broke them with their various means.

It had simultaneously been a while and not long enough since Henrietta felt this panicked desperation she was feeling. Seeing all their former elven allies turn on them in an instant? The slaughter was too reminiscent of Tarbes. The only solace she could take in this was that she was not fighting alongside, and witnessing the slaughter of, children.

Still, as she watched a red and black armored Protoss charge at her with its crimson blades, it felt all too similar. She slashed her scepter to send a cutting blade of wind at it, seeing it break against the shields, but not actually break them. Her heart raced as she tried to bring the scepter down in another slash, knowing, though, that there was not enough time as the Protoss was upon her, readying its blades.

A shot from behind her broke the shields of the Protoss, causing it to falter and halt its attack. A rapid series of follow-up shots from different sources behind her put it down, with a flash of red dissolving into their eclipse-darkened surroundings.

"Your majesty!"

Henrietta heard the familiar voice of Agnes, causing her to turn and regard the pistol-slinging woman as she rushed to join her side while the two worked together with their other nearby allies to push their way back to the plateau.

"I'm not your Queen anymore! We're equals!" Henrietta declared as she, with grim resolve, summoned the blood from one of the elven corpses and used it to slash at a line of incoming enemies, their shields flashing in response.

"It will probably take me a while to get used to that!" Agnes shouted back over the din of battle as she, Julien, Mama Cassandra, and Aly unloaded their firearms on the same targets Henrietta hit, watching them all stumble as their shields broke before Colbert came and guided his serpent of white-hot flames to incinerate them before they continued their run back to the plateau where their transports were waiting.


Louise and Siesta arrived at around the same time as it looked like many of their allies had. And just as they did, they heard a roar that shook the earth as it vibrated their bodies. Everyone looked to the former statue as it went into a hunched stance and shook itself, with pieces of stone cracking, breaking, flying, and falling from it. The Protoss air forces, having done considerable damage to the Tal'darim ones, were focusing their firepower on this creature, causing it to turn its attention from what Louise could swear was her, specifically, to the ships that were unloading firepower upon it the likes of which this world had never seen.

And yet… the creature that was the primary host body of Amon looked unscathed. Scorched, perhaps, but only at the barest surface. And it was making no indication that it was injured in any way in the way it moved.

With a dark, rumbling laugh that was ear-splittingly loud both in the ears and heads to all who witnessed this, Amon opened his mouth. And a gathering sphere of bright, red energy began forming within it.

Louise's eyes went wide in sudden realization of what this meant. She pulled up her communicator and stretched it open, her mind filling with command knowledge as she did. She began frantically ordering what ships were in its line of fire to move… but it was too late.

It seemed like all the sound dropped out of the world as an impossibly titanic, blindingly luminescent beam ripped through the sky. So bright It was as though the sun itself had been made manifest before them.

Then came the sound.

Deafening was not sufficient to describe it. Ears bled. Many collapsed. If not from the aural reverberations of this destructive discharge then from the physical.

Louise, her eyes barely opening, reached up to check her own ears. To her horror, she found blood at her fingertips. That horror redoubled when she finally looked up to see the aftermath of Amon's attack. To see a swathe of empty space where ships had been. Erased as though they never existed.

Even through the immense ringing in Louise's ears, she could hear Amon's laughter, and she looked back at the immense creature he inhabited as it snapped its head to her.

Do you see now? Amon's voice rumbled in her head, Do you see the oblivion that awaits you?

Louise felt herself frozen with hopelessness.

Amon looked entirely unharmed by even Protoss armaments. What hope did they possibly have?

Siesta's hand taking one of her own snapped Louise from her hopeless stupor. She looked at her wife giving her a smiling look of conviction, and felt fire awaken in her as she looked back at her communicator and formed a plan.

"Artanis!" Louise felt she had to shout as her hearing was muffled.

"We see it, Executor. We are pulling all ships back to the Spear of Adun. Prepare your Mass Recall!" Artanis answered, his voice just audible enough for Louise to hear.

"First, Hierarch, train every weapon possible on Amon. We must buy time," Louise answered in that tone and manner that felt foreign to her.

"I concur. However, there is interference caused by Amon has made aiming from the Spear of Adun impossible. You will have to do it on your end."

Louise nodded as a bar of options appeared at the top of the screen.

These must be the Spear of Adun's weapons… Louise surmised.

Immediately, she understood them.

"Siesta, psionically tell everyone to shield their eyes and protect their ears. I am ordering the Spear of Adun to unleash its strongest armaments," Louise ordered.

Siesta nodded and did so while Louise queued up her orders, rapidly aiming them all on Amon. Such a titanic target made it easy.

This still took time, however, and in that time enemies were seeping through their lines.

Siesta Activated her staff, forming it into a sword while she also unleashed her psi blade. The first elf was upon her, and she slashed at it, her staff's blade breaking against the shield whilst she parried the slash of a wrist blade with her own.

While Siesta was engaged with this enemy, however, two Protoss Tal'darim slipped by her, going right for Louise. In a panic, Siesta gave some of herself up to her power to enhance her attacks, flicking psionic bolts from her staff as she swung it at the elf that broke its shields and allowed the follow up strike with her blade to cut the elf down.

But even as Siesta spun to protect her wife, she realized no amount of speed would intercept their attacks, even as she desperately dashed towards them. She was relieved, then, when she saw Nyral uncloak herself before them, spinning her scythe to catch both the Zealot's wrist blade and Blood Hunter's scythe with her own.

You are arrogant to think you can stand against us both, the Zealot snarled.

Nyral blinked to his side, reaching out and shoving him into the Blood Hunter, You will see that my confidence is not without merit, youngblood.

Before the two could retort, Rhalandas uncloaked himself behind them, striking at the Blood Hunter's shields while Nyral rushed forward to slash at the Zealot that could only barely parry her strikes.

That was when Siesta joined the fray, launching a pair of psionic bolts at the Tal'darim as she leapt to strike at them.

The Blood Hunter blinked away in a flash of red and black whilst the Zealot raised his blade too late, and Siesta slashed down with her sword-formed staff, breaking the shield and cutting him down in one strike. She could feel a sense of approval from Nyral, but had no time to regard it as she then felt a flash of pain.

But it was not hers.

The blade of the Blood Hunter had broken Nyral's shield that had weakened throughout the battle. And was currently hooked in her gut.

How DARE YOU! Rhalandas shouted as he blinked above the Blood Hunter, falling upon him with his green wrist blade and both breaking the shield and impaling him through his head, causing the crimson blade to disappear from Nyral's gut as she slumped, with Siesta dashing towards her to psionically catch her.

This was overwhelming. To witness an ally be cut down like this. Even if Nyral was alive this very moment, that wound was certainly mortal. Siesta released her psionic hold on Nyral when Rhalandas went to her side, gingerly cradling her in his arms.

I am sorry, old friend. Perhaps if I had been quicker… Rhalandas lamented, with Siesta acutely feeling his mourning.

Louise, as well, as she was the target of the attack Nyral had valiantly thwarted.

Nyral reached up to gently pat Rhalandas' face. It is not your fault. This time comes for all warriors. And now it has come for me.

The enemy forces were further breaking through, causing Siesta to once more expel a chunk of her psionic energy to hold them off with her staff formed into a bow. Knowing, however, it was not enough.

Nyral could feel something she'd not felt from Rhalandas in centuries. Since his Shadow Walk that she first crossed blades with him in.

You are afraid, Nyral noticed.

Rhalandas paused. Fear is an illusion.

Nyral let him feel her amusement through her pain, Platitudes will not save us.

Rhalandas' head fell, his despair palpable.

No, he began as he looked down at his old friend and took the hand that was on his face, but it can fuel our desire to protect others.

Nyral knew what he meant. If it were possible to raise an eyebrow, she would have. Knowing their situation-knowing her situation-however? She agreed it would be the only option. And it had to be done before she faded into the Void. Still, she would not let this go without at least a little teasing. What else was there to lose?

Finally committing to me? Nyral teased.

Rhalandas, if he could, would have frowned. Do not make me regret this.

Nyral wished she had the strength to laugh. Or the capacity to smile.

Very well. I shall cease the banter and be transparent. I love you, Rhalandas, Nyral declared.

Rhalandas expended extra effort to groan as he turned his head from her to the oncoming enemies Siesta was trying desperately to keep away, with the support from all their other allies being insufficient. He shook his head.

You truly sully what it means to be Protoss, he grumbled.

Nyral was once more amused, It is alright. You need not say it. She weakly tightened her grip in his hand, a shot of pain that she felt would be the last coursing through her, I have long known you feel it too.

The battle faded from them both as Rhalandas mustered the courage to do two things.

The first: I love you too, Nyral, he admitted.

The second: releasing all the energy that made him who he was. That held his body together. With Nyral doing the same. Their thoughts and wills synchronized as their bodies glowed, becoming completely obscured in light before it seemed both of them were drawn to a glowing singularity of energy that formed between them. It was like their bodies stretched into it as they faded and were replaced by energy that fed that singularity. And grew the more their bodies faded. Eventually, its size dwarfed even the tallest Protoss. And, within the sphere of the lightest blue it was nearly white, what looked like a body manifested. A torso. It looked like it possessed a body of pure energy. With a thick, broad chestplate of unknown tangibility looking like it "held" the extremities together. The armor came over the head in such a way that it looked wrapped in it.

We… the being spoke, in what sounded like a harmonization of both Nyral and Rhalandas' voices, BURN!

It floated forward, the air around it warping from the sheer density of psionic energy that seeped from its form. It raised a disproportionately large and gauntlet-laden hand out to the Tal'darim and elven forces. From it erupted a concentrated, yet wild, stream of psionic lightning that nearly glassed the earth it struck in a straight line towards the enemy forces. It cut a disintegrating swathe through them, leaving those who were not aware of what this new being was in awe of its power.

It raised the other hand, unleashing another wave of psionic lightning that burned away another chunk of the enemy forces, effectively keeping them from Louise as it drifted beyond the perimeter her allies had formed, using its own body to incinerate those surrounding it.

Louise, Siesta, and those who had never seen such a being beheld it with fearful wonder.

Those who did know beheld it with reverence. And grief.

The appearance and power of this new being had done enough to buy Louise enough time to queue up her actions against Amon. She closed the communicator and drew her wand, closing her eyes as she chanted the spell for Mass Recall.

Flashes in the sky were the reminders Siesta and everyone else needed to shield their eyes. And, in moments, five blindingly bright and gargantuan bolts of pure, concentrated psionic and kinetic energy slammed into Amon. It was only enough to throw off his aim as he unleashed another beam that fired off into the sky.

Following the bolts, there were three lances of energy similarly slammed into the earth, this time tracing a path to and through Amon. The smell of scorched, molten earth and the heat of the beams could be felt even at this distance, as entire kilometers were reduced to glass.

Finally, what looked like a giant, metal spear descended, slowing as it neared the ground. It opened, and within its rotating, split components a final beam manifested. This one with a din of high frequency buzzing that not only glassed, but dug into the earth, sinking Amon into it with its sun-like heat that concentrated itself upon him.

All the while, the Tal'darim and possessed elves broke against the position Louise's allies were at. They charged uphill at them, disregarding the foolishness of such a tactical blunder even as they charged into the artillery fire from the UED tanks, pure photonic projectiles launched from the line of Protoss Photon Cannons that Louise had ordered to be built, along with a pair of colossal towers she remembered were called Khaydarin Monolyths firing more concentrated energy into the enemy ranks, and the being of pure psionic energy that was firing off its own disintegrating beams of psionic power.

Still, it was not enough. The transports were shot. Literally, as Tal'darim air forces, now undeterred by Daelaam ones, had swiftly destroyed them, trapping them here. The enemy's disregard for their position was not due to poor decision making, but due to their sheer numbers. They could eat these losses, and then some. And, with Amon's eventual support, they would win.

Everything hinged on buying Louise these precious few minutes. And so everyone concentrated their efforts on holding a firm perimeter around her, even as the elven and Tal'darim forces broke through to charge up the ramp and began destroying the cannons and taking out the tanks.

The distraction they bought with the Spear of Adun was double-edged as Amon lifted his head upon his scorched body to the sky and opened his mouth once more. Louise was too in the midst of chanting to notice and warn Artanis. And, aboard the Spear of Adun, they were only barely aware of what was to come.

The concentrated red Void energy gathered, and Zeratul watched it with a building fear.

Artanis! Prepare the Spear of Adun for evasive warp! Zeratul tried to reach out, only to feel his message lost to the ether.

Amon let loose the beam. Once more it felt like all the sound was driven from the world by its immense, displacing energy. When it faded, the shockwave of sound and the gale winds that rushed to refill what was driven from the air further deafened those who had ears.

A quiet fell over the battlefield.

A screeching, rumbling noise from above cut through it.

From multiple sources.


Karax! Can you confirm what damage, if any, we have dealt to Amon's primary host body? Artanis demanded, just moments earlier.

Our readings are inconclusive, Hierarch. Both void and psionic systems cannot discern exact telemetry from the surface, Karax answered.

It was just then that Artanis thought he could hear something. As though shouted far away from the edge of his mind. It was enough to give him pause. Pause enough to regard a shift in Karax's countenance.

Forgive me, Hierarch, Karax suddenly said as he slapped one of his gauntlets, and, instantly, Artanis found himself somewhere else. Whisked away from the bridge. In a golden metal chamber inlaid with khaydarin crystals. He also felt a shift in momentum. The forcefielded viewport of this chamber indicated he was in an escape pod as he watched the Spear of Adun grow rapidly smaller.

Karax! What have you done?! Artanis demanded, straining his psionics to the limit to reach him.

I have had this emergency protocol in place since reclamation day. When the Spear of Adun was subject to much damage, Karax began, I… did not have enough time to give one to every Protoss aboard. So I focused on going from the top down in terms of hierarchy.

Why… Why did you not include yourself, phase-smith? Artanis desperately demanded.

I did, Karax answered, but I relinquished my beacon recently. And did not have time to forge a new one.

Artanis did not understand.

I do not have more time to explain, Hierarch. There are controls within the pod that can connect you to the surface's warp matrix. En taro Tassadar.

Just as Karax had said, there was no more time.

Artanis watched what happened next with a deep, unsettling horror.

From the surface erupted an impossibly large beam of red energy that pierced and slashed through the Spear of Adun. And the terran vessel near it, Surtis. The ancient Protoss Arkship immediately was bathed in flashes of white. And when the light was gone? So was the ship. Reduced now, to mere pieces that he watched plummet to the surface below.

Artanis had just enough room to sink to his knees in despair as his head fell. He erupted in a mighty psionic scream of agony, then fell still. Pondering any number of questions that rang loud in his head.

Among the loudest: Why would Karax surrender such a vital thing? Artanis soon had his answer.


No… Zeratul watched with despair at the burning objects falling from the sky. Even from here he could tell. Through the flames, through the charring, through the deformation… The golden metal that made up the hull of the Spear of Adun. Countless parts of it. Streaking through the sky like a meteor shower. Falling not just here, but throughout the world.

They had lost it. The symbol of his people's unification and salvation. It was gone. Zeratul sank to his knees as he watched the pieces of his people's heritage streak through the sky. What did not burn up would be ravaging this world soon.

"What… happened?" Tiffa, still upon his back, asked in a breathy, weary manner.

Zeratul's head fell in grief, We have lost.


The Spear of Adun was not the only vessel struck. Aboard Surtis, which was falling from orbit, Tabitha was sweating with panic as they tried to salvage the situation. No matter what they did, however, every option they explored led to one, inevitable outcome. The ship was lost. But they were too in denial to admit it. And to admit that they had blundered as badly as their uncle.

Even now their thoughts turned to bitterness. Some of it directed at Louise for rushing into this without more information. Then more of it the more they thought about it. They slammed their fist onto the console.

"It's not your fault, Tabitha!" Kirche, on one of their sides, said as she threw herself around them.

"She's right, we couldn't have known a fucking dragon monster thing with the ability to launch anti orbital strikes was going to show up! Or that it would just… come to life!" Saito agreed as he took one of Tabitha's hands.

"Louise…" Tabitha growled.

"What?" Kirche asked, prompting Tabitha to give her an uncharacteristically wild-eyed, wrathful look.

"Her fault!" Tabitha shouted.

Kirche was taken aback with confusion. This didn't feel anything like them.

Another explosion rocked the Surtis, with more alarms making themselves known, which interrupted this exchange.

"It doesn't matter!" Saito shouted above the din, "We need to go! Order an evacuation!"

Tabitha bared their gritted teeth for a moment and clenched their fists, with Saito wincing as his hand was becoming crushed. Once the moment passed Tabitha took a breath and steeled their countenance before bringing up the emergency shipwide announcement system.

"All hands, abandon ship. Disregard protocol of able-bodied first. Priority goes to wounded," Tabitha announced, knowing it wasn't logical. They then turned to Kirche and Saito in turn, "Just a moment before we go."

Tabitha made a few quick commands that only Saito understood.

"What are you-? Ooooooh," he smirked and chuckled, "devious and practical. This is why I love you."

Tabitha blushed. So did Saito. He didn't even realize what he said until it left his mouth.

"Wait, what? What's going on?" Kirche asked, too confused at what she was seeing to regard that little amorous interaction.

Saito smirked at her, "They're… creatively scuttling the ship."

Kirche nodded. Then, a look of greater realization dawned on her face as she smirked, too.

"Ah, my little genius at it again?" Kirche playfully patted Tabitha's head.

"No infantilizing," Tabitha said, even as their face bore a slight smile.

"Did you make sure to disable the-?"

"Yes, all nukes disabled," Tabitha confirmed.

"Nukes?" Kirche asked, confused again.

"C'mon," Tabitha said as they had finished setting everything up and looked over to the bridge crew. "That goes for you, too! No one left behind!" The crew nodded respectfully to them as they joined the other three hurrying to the hangars.

"So… what was that about nukes?" Kirche asked as they ran.

Saito gave her a grim look, then explained. Kirche regretted asking.


The rumbling from Amon repositioning himself to aim at the plateau struck terror into those awaiting the finishing of Louise's spell. Everyone could see that the next beam Amon threatened to unleash would be upon them, erasing them all from existence.

There isn't enough time! Siesta thought in a panic, as she knew Louise would need at least a few seconds more than she had as Amon opened his mouth, with winds blowing past everyone present towards him while blinding, red energy built up in the mouth of his host body.

A sinister laugh echoed in all their heads, sending terrified chills throughout their bodies.

Siesta was prepared, once more, to give in to the power of the Gandalfr. Anything to stop what she felt was the inevitable befalling her wife and her friends. Just as she was prepared to let go, and Amon looked ready to unleash the beam, Derflinger popped out.

"USE ME, PARTNER!" Derfligner shouted over the din.

Disregarding all her feelings of mistrust in that moment, Siesta heeded his words and psionically summoned him into her right hand just as the beam was fired at them.

First, before the beam reached them, Siesta could see it consume the being that Nyral and Rhalandas had seemingly become with a flash of white.

Second, when it was upon them, Siesta saw all the energy absorbed into Derflinger, much to her and everyone else's immense shock.

But even as he held back the tide of destructive energy… Siesta could see large, obvious cracks appearing on him, causing her heart to race with panic.

"Welp, looks like this is it for me, girly," Derfligner wryly chuckled.

"What?! What are you saying?! How dare you! You don't get to just check out and do some noble sacrifice when I wasn't ready to forgive you yet!" Siesta shouted, the sweat on her face now joined by hot tears of agonized despair.

"I guess life's a bitch like that, huh?" Derfligner retorted as the red cracks throughout his body now almost completely obscured his form.

Before Siesta could even cry out a retort, he shattered, leaving only fading dust in his wake while the world around her, despite the massive blast of energy heading their way, went dark.

And not moments later, a rumbling din from the sky caused Amon and the Tal'darim to regard a massive, city-sized object burning and breaking up in the atmosphere bearing down upon them.


The scenery warped around all those who could get within range. And with a flurry of sensations, most uncomfortable, the survivors found themselves at the Nexus nearest the academy. Louise fell to her knees, feeling all her willpower and then some drained from her, causing her to have to clasp her hand over her mouth to prevent vomiting even as she felt her guts twitch and ache for it. It was good she had a distraction, then, even if the one offered was unpleasant.

She watched as Siesta collapsed in front of her into a motionless heap, making her own weakness dispelled by a rush of adrenaline as she rushed up to her frighteningly-still wife.

"SIESTA!" Louise found herself instinctively screaming in overwhelming worry while trying to rouse her.

To no avail. Panic grew. Denial was coming to her. This couldn't be happening. Not right now. Not like this.

Siesta twitched.

Louise released a shuddered sigh of relief as she fell upon her.

"Thank goodness…" Louise breathed. The panic lessened to worry. But did not deescalate from there as Siesta remained a little… too still. Louise pushed some of the sweat-drenched hair from Siesta's face to get a better look at it from the side.

"Siesta?" Lousie asked, worried and expectant.

Once again, a mere stir, but nothing else.

The panic was returning.

And then, she saw her eyes fly open.

Louise's joyous relief died in its infancy when she beheld the state of her eyes.

Not a hint of white sclera was left. And red energies were seeping from their edges.

"No…" Louise's tone of panicked denial came with it much wavering.

A grin split Siesta's lips.

"Sies…ta?" Louise asked once more, desperately hoping what was happening was not truly happening.

"She is mine now," the voice that came from the figure Louise was holding was completely unlike hers.

Louise was left in a state of horrified speechlessness as Siesta-no-Amon, in a flash, whipped around and grabbed her by the throat, immediately cutting off her ability to take in any more breath. Louise struggled and thrashed against this. Uselessly. Siesta's body was too strong. And enhanced, as it was, by her psionics and Amon's own power, there was nothing Louise could do but mentally plead against what was feeling like her inevitable fate.

"It was so easy," Amon laughed, "I feel everything within her. She grows tired of you. She tires of worrying for your sake. I will make it easy. On her. And on you."

It hurt. More than physically. To see Siesta look at her like this. With a glee in the sadism being performed on her. Even if it wasn't really her. It hurt.

"What will you do now? Bastard of the Void?" Amon taunted.

Louise could think of only one thing. Though she was loath to do it. But just as she remembered happening to her once before, there was no time to think of any other options as the world around her grew dark, and there was no one close enough to stop Amon from simply snapping her neck.

She just had to pray to any entity that Siesta would survive this.

With the last of the breath she had from before she was gripped, Louise raised her hand, placing it on Siesta's head.

"F'odsi…" Louise barely croaked out.

It was enough.

In a flash, all of Siesta's energies, both her own and the ones invading her, turned against her own body. Causing the pained scream that emitted from it to be not just Amon's, but her own. The single, white-hot moment of pain felt stretched to eternity. And when it was done, Siesta collapsed forward, every charred wound she now adorned smoking as Louise caught her.

Louise, having had no time to in the few moments that all this happened, felt a sting of tears manifest in her eyes. Then a burning. They were only briefly silent before she began sobbing hysterically into the woman she didn't know was alive or dead at this moment.

I can't… Louise thought desperately as, finally, she heard rapid footfalls grow closer to them. I can't… We can't beat him…

The despair clutched at her heart. At her soul. Making her feel she was drowning.


Louise sat by an unconscious, barely (yet steadily) breathing Siesta whilst she rested in a medical cot in the academy's infirmary. Montmorency had done her best for her, but she was told the scars may never fully fade. By some miracle, though, her wife was alive. If only just.

Be at ease, Executor, Zeratul, who was dutifully standing beside her, said as he gently clasped a hand on Louise's shoulder. She is strong.

Louise could not even summon the will to make any kind of response. All she could think was to ask herself if he truly believed that… or if he was trying to convince himself. She took a deep breath to center herself. She was doing a lot of that as she looked over Siesta, as she constantly felt she was drifting away from herself. In the sea of despair she felt herself drowning in.

"Zeratul," Louise spoke up, remembering something that she knew she needed as a distraction right now. "What happened? With Rhalandas and Nyral?"

There was a heavy pause between them.

They merged to become an Archon, Zeratul plainly stated. He did not need psionics to know he'd need to explain further, Two Templar can merge their energies into one being of pure power.

"I imagine it doesn't last very long?" Louise wondered.

Zeratul nodded, Indeed. You surmise correctly, Executor.

"I figured," Louise gave a small scoff, "a flame that burns twice as bright lasts half as long."

I was not aware that saying existed here. Though, as I have said before, wisdom is a universal language, Zeratul mused.

"What happens? To the ones who do this?" Louise wondered.

It is believed they become a new being entirely before they perish, Zeratul explained.

Louise looked back at him with an arched brow.

Even to this day the many intricacies of Archons elude us. It was only relatively recently we discovered Void-based Nerazim and Psionic-based Khalai could form them with each other, Zeratul continued.

"As they're… different paths, right?" Louise asked,

Once again, Zeratul nodded.

"Do you think they're aware? Both personalities? During the whole process?" Louise wondered as she looked back down at Siesta, gently stroking her hair and feeling her eyes become heavy.

Of the few times I have heard Archons speak… they refer to themselves in the plural. So I would imagine so, Zeratul answered.

Louise could only muster a small nod before she felt her head drooping down. She laid her head down for but a moment on Siesta, closing her eyes as she did.

Just as she did, she felt Siesta stir, and jerked her head up to observe her. With both hope and dread.

"Siesta?" Louise asked, more hopeful than dreading as she watched Siesta clench her eyes tighter for a second before they flew open.

The dread immediately returned as she saw the same completely black eyes that had red seeping from their edges. And the same sadistic, wicked grin that split her lips as she shot up, once more grabbing Louise by the throat.

"Did you think it would be that easy?" Amon mocked. "I will never stop hunting you. I will chase you to any end of this world. This universe. I will use her to end you. And I will savor your helplessness. Your despair."

Louise once again fruitlessly thrashed against Amon's incomparably superior strength while she watched the world grow dark.

"And you have no one to blame but yourself," Amon's voice echoed not just in her ears, but in her head, like a white-hot scalpel against her mind.

"NO!" Louise screamed herself awake, her heart racing and her body covered in a thin layer of sweat.

Just as she shot up, so did Siesta awaken and jolt up with her wife.

"Louise!" Siesta cried out, throwing herself on her violently trembling, hysterically sobbing wife. "It's okay. I'm back. You cast him out. It's me. I'm here. You saved me," Siesta cooed reassuringly into Louise's ear.

Louise's panicked, heaving breaths were her only response.

"It's okay, I'm here, we're safe. Thanks to you we're all safe," Siesta continued to reassure her.

Louise's breathing calmed, and her heart rate settled. She swallowed some of her fear and started to become aware of her surroundings. And the presence lovingly attached to her. She brought her own arms around Siesta, her sobs turning from panic to relief.

"Thank goodness," Louise struggled to whisper through her tears.

"I saw it. I saw it all. What he forced me to do. I'm so sorry. Please… forgive me for being so weak…" Siesta pleaded, pulling back just enough to meet her wife's gaze.

Louise could only muster nods while her lower jaw trembled before she cast her gaze from Siesta. She felt if she uttered one word she would break apart. Or that this was merely an illusion. And Amon would take it from her at any moment. It took a time before she could finally muster the courage to speak with any amount of coherence, meeting Siesta's eyes with a look of hopeless desperation.

"Siesta… I've never been this scared…" Louise whispered with a wavering voice.

"I know," Siesta took her into a firm embrace once more, "I'm scared, too. I don't know what we can do…" Her voice trailed off into Louise's shoulder as they each stroked each others' hair.

That was when Louise felt something. The Prayer Book. It… whispered to her. She gingerly broke away from Siesta, who gave her a concerned look.

"Louise, what-?"

Louise held up a finger to interrupt Siesta as she reached into the folds of her cloak… producing the pocket-sized book she carried on her at all times. It glowed inside, indicating a new spell was revealed. She opened it, and turned to the glowing page.

World door… she read.

Executor Louise, Zeratul began, It seems there is a new spell at your disposal.

Louise looked over the spell, which Siesta, who was craning her neck, was also looking at as well, with a confused look on her face.

"What's it say?" Siesta asked.

"World door," Louise informed before giving Zeratul an imploring look.

Indeed, that was one of the techniques we found catalogued in the tome, Zeratul informed, it is neither Khalai nor Nerazim. We do not know the origin of that technique.

Louise drew in a small, sharp breath before looking back down at the spell. Something completely new? Unconceived of by Protoss? She couldn't believe it.

"Did you figure out what it does?" Louise asked.

Zeratul shook his head, No, Executor, we merely found the names of the techniques and their requirements to cast. None of them were given descriptions of their effects.

Louise furrowed her brow. Thinking as to why this spell would be revealed to her right now. After a moment? She pieced it together.

Louise turned to look at Siesta, who gave her the same reassuring smile that had always calmed her heart. She gave a solemn smile back. She now knew what this spell did. And what to do with it. And though she knew it would break her heart… she knew what she had to do.

"We should try it out, Siesta," Louise said, doing her best to mask her solemn tone with one of curiosity and exuberance.

Siesta cocked her head and raised an eyebrow.

"These spells are always revealed to us when we need them most. So… we should try it out. So we know how to use it later," Louise tried her best to give a genuine look of smiling curiosity to Siesta.

Siesta could feel something was amiss, but Louise was not betraying exactly what. Still, she trusted her wife with all her heart. She gave a warm smile and nodded to Louise as they prepared themselves to leave, with Siesta grabbing her psi blade.

As they were leaving, Louise shot Zeratul a pleading look that Siesta did not see, before just as quickly resuming her faked smile for Siesta while they left the infirmary together, the book and her wand in hand.

I understand, Executor, Zeratul said to her and her alone as he wrapped himself in shadows and disappeared.


Once they were on the academy grounds, Louise led them to the magnolia tree where they first met, giving a nostalgic sigh as she slowly walked up to and placed a hand upon it. She looked back at Siesta, who also had a look of nostalgia upon her face.

Siesta stepped forward, taking Louise's right hand in her own and began caressing it just like she did that first day they met.

"Does it hurt?" Siesta asked, with a knowing smile and giggle.

Louise genuinely smiled and giggled back, "Not anymore."

After a few moments of this, in the silent, eclipse-darkened academy grounds, Louise slowly pulled her hand away while trying to maintain her sincere smile over the heartbreak that was clawing at her within.

Siesta gave her a confused, concerned look.

"Keep an eye out, my Akhundelar, this spell seems like the longest chant yet," Louise said with a single laugh before she turned and raised her wand, finally letting her face fall as she did. She closed her eyes, and imagined someplace safe. Someplace far away from here. Where Amon couldn't reach.

Please… Louise pleaded as she began chanting the spell.

Siesta heard her desperate plea, doubling Siesta's concern. She wanted to reach out and stop Louise, but pushed the feeling down, remembering all the lessons of trust she had been given throughout their journey. And how much Louise hated having decisions made for her.

Whilst Louise chanted, she dwelt on what had happened. What she had seen. Whether that was a nightmare or a vision she had just before this was unclear. What was clear was it felt true. Amon was coming for her. No matter where she went… Amon would chase her. Her fragment of Void that was "gifted" to her called to him. As she communed with it for this spell, she could feel its will.

Just as Zeratul said. It was a living being. And it longed to be whole.

The chanting did not feel like it lasted too long, and soon enough, a burst of green energy appeared before Louise and shot out before contracting and stabilizing into an oval the height of a Protoss. It could be seen through. And on the other side-

"My house?" Siesta wondered aloud as she looked through what she surmised must be a portal to look at what was unmistakably her back yard. Lit by what looked like regular moonlight, much to her shock.

Maybe it's because Amon is so far from there? Siesta wondered.

Louise turned and smiled at her, "This seems pretty neat, huh?" Her tone was barely stable, and Siesta could feel it, making her give Louise a look of concern.

"What's going on? Is everything alright?" Siesta asked.

Louise unconsciously bit her bottom lip and cast her gaze down to hide whatever emotions were rearing their heads on her countenance.

"No…" Louise almost whispered. Siesta felt she would continue, and opted to wait. "Amon…he showed me… showed both of us… He can turn you against me… He can… take you from me."

Siesta blinked. Left visibly taken aback. After a moment, she shook her head.

"No, you dispelled him. He ca-."

"Look at what he's done!" Louise shouted, her brows stitching with an overwhelming sorrow. "Do you really think he's incapable of it?! Of any of it?! I can't-," Louise cut herself off with a sharp breath as she felt her sinuses tingle with the familiar burn of coming tears. "Even if there's a chance… I can't risk it. We can't risk it."

Siesta's eyebrows knitted together in worry. She pursed her lips to allow herself coherence, lest tears of her own prevent her from speaking. She stepped forward and held her now-trembling wife, gently rubbing her back as she did.

"I know what you mean," Siesta gently cooed, causing Louise to immediately fall apart on Siesta, sobbing through gritted teeth.

"I just… I can't lose you… not again," Louise begged.

"And you won't. This time, if it comes to it, we'll fight to the end together. I promise," Siesta warmly assured her as she kissed the side of her head.

Louise nuzzled into her. Once she felt her tears subside enough for her to speak freely again, she pulled back and gave Siesta a pleading look.

"At the very least…" Louise sniffled. "Let's go spend time with your parents. In case… it's our last time."

Siesta gave Louise a solemn smile and nod before she pecked her forehead.

"Alright."

When Siesta pulled back, Louise saw, or at least felt she saw, a flash of menace on Siesta's face. That sadistic grin. The blackened eyes. It was only for a moment, but it was enough to provoke deep grip of disquiet within her. Reactively, Louise nearly threw Siesta through the portal, with Siesta looking back at her with confusion and worry as she stumbled.

Louise, after a moment, cracked a small, wry smile as she shook her head.

Siesta could feel, now, exactly what was happening, and her heart thundered.

"I love you, Siesta," Louise, her face solemn, resigned, and streaked with tears, spoke.

Louise could see, just for a moment, the panicked look of realization on her wife's face before the portal closed.

Once it did, she felt frozen and numb. She didn't know how much time passed as she stood there, tears pouring down her face glistening in the Hel-ish light of the eclipse.

Eventually, however, she fell to her elbows and knees and screamed. Screamed and choked on her tears until she no longer could. Feeling, for the first time since she met Siesta, well and truly alone.