StarCraft: Kerrigan's Child

Chapter 98

AN: No this is not a prank or a joke or a new author taking the Story, It's me but I need to clear up the long unannounced hiatus. Short recap for those who read that I had reached the last week of Study course in 2018, well here is the outcome of that. I got screwed over with it the course a Programmers course was introductory course to Programming that i was interested in learning, originally the campus that i was attending had a 12 month and 6 month options for the course, when i enrolled they had gotten rid of the 12 months option. So everyday that the course started the material was rushed i had 3 coding languages i was learning that even my lecturer said it was not possible to learn it in 6 months. Every week was something new no time to let what had been learned previous week sink in, so by the time of my final assignment i had a problem that my Lectuerer suggested i use a different coding method in my assignment program since i was having problems, well that went over my head as i couldn't remember the method since everything was rushed.

That led me to depression and lost of enthusiasm to write that i tried to get into working to get away from IT but that went no where, til last year where i got a job at a lunch bar that my mother and her husband had bought. Building upon that i got a better sleeping pattern, passed my drivers test that i started to slowly write this chapter. Forgive me if its not the same quality as past chapters i am rusty at this point.

Vaulting over the debris in front of him Jim continued to run through the mess of destroyed Terran and Protoss structures that comprised this mental battleground, hearing behind him the heavy and machine-like footfalls of Fenix's Dragoon in pursuit along with his double on his right. The sound of rounds screeching through the air made him aware that his double was trying to flank him, raising his arms up in front of his face he felt as the rounds heavy impacted against his armoured skin before dropping to the ground. "Fenix now!" Jim heard his double shout at which got his attention as he looked over his shoulder to see an incoming Phase Disruptor energy burst arcing downwards towards him from Fenix. Bending his knees Jim jumped up towards a still standing nexus landing on the top taking a quick looking to see that Fenix was approaching towards the Nexus while his double was coming from the left stopping behind some rubble. "What am I supposed to do here?" Jim wondered the previous constructs that were the sources of all his guilt, self-loathing, regret and all the emotions he felt from them. He made peace when he found closure for them but now for Fenix the feeling he had was that he watched as a close friend and brother in arms was killed by the Queen of Blade's Zerg.

Seeing his double moving out of his cover and began firing at him Jim jumped from the Nexus coming down to his double his fist ready as psionic energy built up, he threw his arm forward at a speed that he knew a Terran in CMC power armour would not be able to avoid. Jim watched as a dark aura appeared around his double which turn his body slightly transparent before in a dash of speed that was not possible in anyway, the double suddenly turned into a blur as it moved around out of Jim's sight. Momentarily shocked by the bizarre thing that just occurred in front of his own eyes, he started to hear Fenix's Dragoon leg impacts get louder. Just as Fenix came around a corner of debris. Jim could see that from the glow of the phase disrupter it was ready, seeing it fired straight at him Jim knew that he didn't have enough time to move to avoid it. Bringing his blade wings forwards and materializing his psi wings Jim braced himself as the plasma blast impacted against his wings.

Digging his feet into the ground he braced against the force of the explosion from the plasma blast impacting against his wings. Dust was blown into the air in a large radius around him and it was thick that no human would be able to see through, swinging his wings out and letting them fade Jim watched as the dust that was in the air was blown out giving him visibility of his surroundings. "He was just in front of me?" Jim thought seeing that Fenix was no longer where he was, he couldn't see him or his double at all. The howling of the wind was the only sound that could be heard as Jim looked in every direction, expanding his psionic sense trying to find them but couldn't sense anything. Feeling his instincts suddenly scream at him Jim swung his left arm up behind him before turning his body, to see his double trying to press the gauss rifle's bayonet through his arm but couldn't as the carapace armour on his forearm stopped the blade.

Swinging his blade wings forward with great force from overhead Jim tried to impale his wings through the shoulders of his double. But the moment before his wings were about to touch the shoulder armour of the CMC Suit, the double's hands came up and grabbed the wings by the tips stopping them. But at that moment Jim threw his right fist forward towards the chest of the double his arm brimming with psionic power and at a force that the double had no time to avoid. Watching as his fist made contact with the chest of the CMC suit Jim did not expect for it to remain intact against his blow and not cave in, but it was enough that it looked dented and it sent his double flying back towards some rubble.

Looking up Jim saw three plasma blasts that were arcing down towards him moving his gaze down he could see that Fenix was some distance away but was charging, as fast as the Dragoon was able to move. Looking back at the descending plasma blasts Jim quickly turned around and broke into a sprint, moving through the littered debris ahead as the plasma blasts landed all around him. Rounding on a large pile of debris Jim spun around in mid step already focusing on the pile debris he thrusted it forward in the path he had just come from. Where a split-second later Fenix ran through it the sudden impact from his shield caused some explosions weakening the shields. Jim already jumping up high and manifesting his psi wings for the extra upward momentum as he reached the height of his jump, "If you have the advantage, always capitalize on it" Jim thought remembering the training that Sarah took him through after he came out of the chrysalis the first time.

The Zerg will always capitalize on any advantage when they can if they are facing a problem, raising his right arm back above his shoulder focusing his psionic energy he allowed gravity to pull him down. Watching as Fenix regain his awareness Jim threw his fist towards the phase disrupter once his fall got him close enough. Once his fist made contact with the shields, he felt a strong resistance for a few seconds before it completely shattered after he discharged the psionic energy in his fist. A small amount of the psionic energy lingered after the shields had shattered arcing all around Fenix, Jim saw Fenix looked constricted as the psionic energy arced from all over the Dragoon. Landing just before one of the legs of the Dragoon Jim quickly took hold of the leg preparing to lift it and the entire Dragoon. "Friend Raynor assist me" Jim heard Fenix shout out where he looked over his left shoulder seeing his double charging towards him.

Continuing to lift the leg of the Dragoon Jim eventually got Fenix completely off the ground and moved his left leg back and around, before using all his strength to throw Fenix over him high into the air and towards some ruined Protoss structures. However, Jim focused on his double seeing that he was still charging towards him only now he had a Bazooka over his right shoulder, looking down the target sight. The double pulled the trigger firing the Bazooka. Jim knew that with the distance between him and his double along with the speed at which the anti-tank shell was going at even he would have the reflexes to avoid that. But there was the same dark aura that he had seen earlier on his double now on the shell which accelerated it faster than it was possible.

The shell impacted his chest with the force of something that was much harder then a anti-tank shell and then exploded into a large ball of fire that shot Jim far. He could feel as he went through a few ruined supply depots before being stopped by a barracks, "What was that?" he said confused on what is happening. "How is that other me able to do all this?" Jim thought knowing that even in this mental battleground he was the one in control although the mental constructs are a separate entity. "It's almost like the double can also control the mental battleground" Jim said taking a moment to think back on what he had seen with his double. "Fenix!" the double shouted as watched landed in the Barracks.

But that moment was cut short as he saw a bright blue light off far into the distance where focusing his eyes he saw Fenix with a line of direct vision on him was bracing his legs on the ground, charging a lot of energy "Oh shit!" Jim said as he quickly pulled himself free from the Barracks that he had been blown into. Before he manifested his psi wings and jumped up and flapped his wings to his right as the moment he did, he saw as a tall and wide beam of concentrated energy completely disintegrated the supply depots and the Barracks that he just gotten out of and anything else behind it. "What was that?" Jim said seeing what had just happened to be not possible as a Dragoon would not be capable of firing such a powerful beam. Gliding back down to the ground Jim saw as both his double and Fenix were now charging together towards him. Having his feet touch the ground Jim quickly took a deep breath and let it go before he focused his thoughts and charged towards his Double and Fenix.

SHAKURAS TALEMATROS UNDERNEATH CATHEDRAL

Chaos was permeating through Talematros and the whole of Shakuras as Amon's Zerg and Hybrid were converging onto Talematros, sweeping through everything around the planet to get to the capital of the Dark Templar. "Matriarch Vorazun the first launch bay has been cleared, continue evacuating!" Vorazun heard as Artanis as his forces and the Dark Templar had managed clear the first launch bay of Creep. Evacuation transports were starting to leave the bay and head for the Warp Conduit where the Spear of Adun was waiting to receive them. She kept her gaze on the Kalani runes on the door that sealed whatever was the secret that her mother had kept with her since the Nerazim settled on Shakuras. A couple of tremors was felt as Vorazun could only conclude that those were caused by the Spear of Adun's Weapons, but her eyes were drawn to the floor beneath her feet suddenly light up a dark green the same as their Warp Blades, "What is this?" she thought as the patterns of the lights that were on the floor did look Xel'Naga but the lines of green converged into a Square a few feet in front of her.

A Square that suddenly started to rise out of the floor like a podium that had all manner of Xel'Naga markings, but they converged onto the top of the Podium where it made the Symbol of the Nerazim. "Mother what did you keep secret from our people?" Vorazun said as she raised her left hand and laid against the symbol watching it flicker before more runes started to appear on the podium. Runes that were not Xel'Naga but Khalani "A message?" Vorazun could only think as she began to read the runes only be shocked that it was a message from her mother to her.

"Vorazun I know that in time you will become a leader to our people and that many hardships will come that you will find yourself not ready for, I know that you will feel that you are inadequate to be a Matriarch. But you are not alone the burden of being a Matriarch is not shouldered by you alone, our people are your support and your allies are too. But should ever our people not just the Nerazim but all Protoss alike are facing the darkest hour, then he will answer your call. The Call of a Matriarch" Vorazun read the message hearing the voice of her mother as if she was speaking to her at this very moment. "Mother" she said in fleeting reminisce before there was a shock as she felt the barrier between reality and the Void was torn open again, "A Second Void Thrasher! The Conduit is under assault" She said over the comm feeling the fear that if the Warp conduit is damaged too much or destroyed then the evacuations are finished prematurely. "Matriarch we are doing the best we can" Vorazun heard the psionic voice of one of Zeratul's apprentices as she could only imagine the horror that was happening above.

SHAKURAS TELAMATROS

Seeing the second Void Thrasher rising out of the ground Ailia and Jaze'kar were already sprinting towards it, Dark Templar and Unbound Templar were all converging on the Thrasher. "Warriors be warned, the Spear of Adun is firing a volley at the Thrasher" all could hear the psionic voice of Karax as they looked to the sky to see the bright lights that were the volley from the Spear of Adun's Weapons. All of them stood their ground as the savage roars of the Zerg that had fallen under Amon's Thrall on Aiur, began to charge at them "Slaughter them Brothers and Sisters! They stand in our way to the Void Thrasher" Jaze'kar shouted as he swung his Void Scythe in a wide arc that decapitated 3 Zerglings in front of him. Stalkers and Dragoons were providing support against Mutalisks, Centurions were dashing forward like a battering ram phasing through the wave of Zerglings with the void, before making their first strike at the Hydralisk, unleashing the build-up of Void energy that stunned several Zerg around them. "Hierarch is there any Air support?" Ailia asked as even with the Dragoons and Stalkers there is a large amount of Aerial Zerg in the area.

"There is not Ailia, most of our pilots are still recovering from the separation of the Khala it will be some time till they are ready to join our fight against Amon" Artanis answered as the reaction to the separation of the Khala was still severe for some Khalai that were separated that they were confined to the Medical decks of the Spear of Adun. "Brace yourselves!" Jaze'kar called out as the Volley from the Spear of Adun impacted the Thrasher's Shield before breaking through. The force of the impact on the shield sent out shockwaves that disoriented a few of the Mutalisks close to the Thrasher, while killing a few others along with an old Queen. A large cloud of dust was kicked up into the air that enveloped the area around the Thrasher blinding the Protoss for a moment before the Thrasher let out psionic roar that blew away the dust.

Slaughtering the rest of the Zerg that stood in their way the combined Protoss charged forward to take down the Thrasher, but it was not as stunned and weakened like the last Thrasher. It raised its bladed limbs up and made a swing to the left knocking back or forcing the Protoss to stop their charge and make a retreat, "We don't have the firepower to take this Thrasher down" Ailia said as the Dark Templar that were knocked back got back up on their feet to stare at the Thrasher as it began to bombard the Warp Conduit. "The Spear of Adun's core needs time to recharge the weapons before we can fire again" Karax said as he tried to make adjustments to reduce this but there was only so much that he can do at this moment, with the various energy requirements for the Ship alongside with the less then optimal Solarite quantity that they have, the only remedy was to get more Solarite.

"Then we shall assist Sister!" a dark psionic but slow voice was heard through all the minds of the Protoss warriors around, as several beacon markers materialized that soon warped in tall silver and blue cybernetic walkers that looked like Immortals and some that looked like Khalai Templar, but were not as there were design elements that were not Khalai, but similar to the Nerazim. All of them both Dark Templar and Unbound Templar all looked at them as the large group had warped in, "We are the final voice of the fallen that have not passed" the one that had spoken before said. "We Annihilators are ready to fight" another spoke as suddenly more roars and cries of rage were heard as more Zerg were rampaging towards them. "And we of the Shadow Guard stand ready" a Centurion said as he and his brothers ignited their dual Warp blades in the same fashion as the Templars of the Khalai. "Ra'Kez, Inda'mar what are you doing?" The Annihilator that had first spoken heard the voice of the Matriarch as she spoke to him, "Our Duty as a Dark Templar!" Ra'Kez answered as he and the other Annihilators began to aim their Particle Disruptors at the Thrasher. "Concentrate the Shadow Cannons on the Thrasher Brothers and Sisters! Do not stop until that abomination is dead!" Ra'Kez said as the barrels of the Particle Disruptors began to glow a purple smoky colour as they began to charge.

Jaze'kar twirled his scythe around his body while in motion as he decapitated, dismembered and bisected Zerg around him, Ailia was running forward as she began to quickly blink to several different Zerg making one strike that was mostly to the head of the Zerg before she blinked to another. Coming out of her assault Ailia could see that the Shadow Fury technique that was taught only to experienced Dark Templar was being taught out of a need for survival. She could see that some of the Dark Templar around her were some that had just passed the Shadow walk trial before this madness happened, she also took notice of the Shadow Guard as Inda'mar led them as they charged towards the oncoming Zerg cloaking for the briefest of moments before they unleashed a burst of psionic energy, that from the looks of the Zerg stopped and stunned them in their tracks.

"Fire!" Ailia heard Ra'Kez order as she turned to see the glowing Particle Disrupters of the Annihilators as they fired. All Protoss watched as the barrage of condensed void blasts soared through the air hitting the Thrasher all over its body, inflicting severe injuries to the Thrasher until the last of the Shadow Cannon barrage focused on the head until it exploded in a large blast of Void energy. "The second thrasher is annihilated" Ra'Kez announced as the headless severely injured body of the dead Thrasher fell back into the rip and disintegrated into the Void. "The thrasher has been eliminated. This would be an opportune moment to clear the launch bays" Artanis said as he saw the death of the Thrasher from the Annihilators. "At once Hierarch" Jaze'kar answered as they looked over to the eastern Launch bay close by and began to purge the Infestation off it. Taking only a few moments as the Stalkers and Dragoons began to fire on it, the Dark Templar were blinking all over the Infestation cutting into it with their Warp Blades and Shadow Scythes. Once the last bulging pustule of infestation was removed from the launch bay did the doors open, "Matriarch, Hierarch we have cleared the second launch bay transports are now heading for the Warp Conduit" Ailia reported relieved that this will accelerate the evacuation. "We have secured the second launch bay" Artanis said as he watched from orbit. "Well done. Half of the bays are launching evacuations ships" Vorazun said still following the progress of the evacuation.

Jaze'kar looked over to Ailia, "We should split up that way we can free up the last two launch bays from the infestation" Jaze'kar stated as he looked as his fellow apprentice, "Yes we should, the longer this evacuations goes on the more our people are getting slaughtered" Ailia said agreeing with Jaze'kar's suggestion. As the Dark Templar and Unbound Templar along with the Annihilators split up into two groups with Ailia and Jaze'kar each leading one.

HYPERION BRIDGE

Alarms were blaring and tensions were at maximum but above all that was fear as right now death was advancing, all that Matt could see when he saw the reinforcements of the Protoss was that there was a good chance none of them will survive the hour. "Sir what are your orders?" one of the officers asked as he shouted at Matt knocking him out of what state his mind had stuck him in. Looking at the bridge personal Matt took a deep breath before he steeled himself to do what he knew needed to be done, "Contact the Helios tell them to jump as soon as the evacuation is complete, do not leave the planet just jump, copy to the Eos, Phobos and Bucephalus that once Helios has jumped they are to do the same" Matt said as he looked over to the Star map to see the situation.

"Once the evacuation is complete tell our birds in the air to go and land in the Bucephalus, any of our birds that have landed for repairs and refuelling get them back out there and copy the orders to them" Matt ordered as this drew looks of confusion from everyone on the bridge, "Sir?" Matt's second in command said with just as much confusion everyone else had on the bridge, "But for now tell our birds to target the Interceptors and smaller Protoss spacecraft" Matt said as everyone went to their jobs. "Sir?" Matt heard his second in command say again as he stood behind him, "Right now we need to draw attention away from Haven and the colonists, that fleet will decimate us, and I have a feeling something else is happening." Matt said as he saw on the Star Map the holographic projections of the Wraiths, Vikings and Tac Fighters going after the interceptors of the Carriers and the Phoenixes and Scouts coming out of the Carriers and the Mothership.

"Like what sir?" the Second in command asked as he had no idea what is going through Matt's head right now, "We need to get back to Korhal" Matt simple answered as he saw the formation of the Tempests as they chased after the Hyperion. "Swann can you give me something to use?" Matt asked over the comm as he had a part of an idea but nothing to go with it. "I've just installed the Electric Field Generator that we salvaged from those Pirates we dealt with a couple hours ago" Matt heard Swann's response, but he had a roadblock to that idea "But won't the shields prevent the Electric Field Generator from working?" Matt asked. "I've done a bit of tweaking with the Generator, those Ghosts have special EMP rounds which completely neutralize the Shields on any Protoss, I've changed the Field to have the same result" Swann answered knowing that Matt was going to ask that.

"Alright then" Matt said as he looked at map to see that the Tempests were all close together in formation, close enough that the field's radius would engulf them. "Hope this works" Matt thought as he turned around "Prepare for a Short-range Warp Jump! Swann charge up the Field Generator" Matt ordered as everyone began to move. "What crazy idea are you thinking Matt?" Swann asked as he knew that Jim had his own brand of crazy when it came to plans, but Matt was always the more logical tactical man when it came to planning out strategies. "Hopefully something that will take out those Tempests" Matt answered as he looked at the navigation station "Jump to these coordinates! Count down in 30 seconds, Swann as soon as the Jump is complete activate the generator" Matt spoke as he went down the list of the plan in his mind. "If this goes exactly how I think it will. Those Tempests will be taken care, once the Electric Field Generator has disabled the Tempests, Fire everything we have I want the Yamato Cannon charged and ready to fire" Matt said as Swann listened to the plan. Bringing his right arm up to look at his watch Matt began to time the last 10 seconds of the countdown as he hoped to whatever power out there this idea would work, "Mark" Matt said as everyone felt the sudden sensation of hyper acceleration.

The Hyperion suddenly jumped to warp which the Captains of the Bucephalus, Eos and Phobos all saw as they directed their attention at the smaller Protoss spacecraft heading towards them. Reappearing in the middle of the close diamond formation that the Tempests were moving in, as soon as the Hyperion came to a complete stop from the Warp Jump the Electric Field Generator activated. A wave of electrical energy came out of the Hyperion in all directions that moved towards the Tempests, passing through their shields and covering the hull with crackling energy that powered them down. "Fire everything!" Matt ordered as every battery targeted a Tempest and began firing, the Yamato Cannon started charging as soon as the Hyperion came out of its short range warp jump, aiming at the Tempest in front of the Hyperion was the target of the Yamato Cannon as it fired. Everyone on the bridge watched the energy blast of the Yamato Cannon was heading towards the bridge of the Tempest, with no shields the Tempest was destroyed as the energy blast impacted the bridge before a large explosion enveloped the Tempest. "Focus fire the bridges!" Matt ordered as the Batteries focused their fire on the bridges of the last 3 Tempests that were still disabled.

The bridges of the remaining Tempest were bombarded with plasma rounds inflicting so much that damage that eventually the Tempests just exploded into debris, "Sir the Tempests are destroyed" Matt heard the tactical officer say before everyone felt a large explosion over the front of the Hyperion. "What was that?" Matt shouted as turned to the forward windows of the Bridge, "That was the Mothership! Its firing its purifier beams" the tactical officer answered as he looked over the data. "That took the Defence Matrix down to 45% another few hits and we lose the matrix" the tactical officer continued as he looked at his captain. "Spin up the Warp Drive, prepare for another short range jump get us out of the Mothership's range" Matt ordered as he could see on the Star Map that the Mothership was preparing to fire again.

BRIDGE OF THE BUCEPHALUS

Warfield watched the stunt that Matt had pulled see the quick short range jump into the middle of the formation that the Tempests were moving in, before releasing an electrical field that pass through the Shields and disabled them. Where they were destroyed shortly after "What's the Helios's status?" Warfield asked as hope that the evacuation was almost done, "Helios reports that the Evacuation is 98% done" Warfield heard his comms officer answer him "Order our birds to come back, copy to the birds from the Hyperion" Warfield ordered knowing that with the evacuation nearly done they would be jumping out as soon as the Helios had made its jump. "Open a channel to the Hyperion" Warfield commanded as he saw the Hyperion jump again but this time reappearing on the other side of the Mothership out of range of its weapons. A holographic window opened over the Star map on the bridge that had Matt's face on it, "Admiral the evacuation is almost complete I'm calling your birds to land on the Bucephalus as we speak." Warfield said knowing that in this situation the Hyperion will have no fighter support once they jump out.

SHAKURAS 1 HOUR LATER

In the last hour Ailia and Jaze'kar led their groups towards two other launch bays that were covered in infestation, large amount of Zerg were in their way but that didn't deterred them or halted them as they fought and kill all Zerg in their way. Ailia's group had just finished destroying a small Hive Cluster that was slowly maturing with the help of the Spear of Adun supporting them with orbit strikes. Before they arrived at the Launch bay, "Quickly destroy that infestation." Ailia said as the Stalkers and Dragoons began to attack the infestation while the rest took a defensive position around them, "The Annihilators would cause too much damage to the bay itself if they were to aid in purging the infestation." Ailia thought to herself as the firepower of the Annihilators was impressive, she would say more so then the Immortals of the Khalai but then what the Annihilators had compare to the Immortals was the Shadow Cannons opposed to the Barrier Shields.

Jaze'kar had taken his group to the launch bay that was across Talematros but being the furthest bay from the warp conduit made it a location that the Zerg had reinforced heavily, making it a difficult position to take and even more difficult task of clearing the Launch Bay of infestation. This Launch Bay however was heavily fortified there was no doubt that part of Talematros was one of the first that Amon's Zerg had attacked and infested when the attack began. More of the Annihilators had went with Jaze'kar as their firepower would be better suited for destroying this fortified Hive Cluster.

Standing before the Hive Cluster in question Jaze'kar took a few moments to look at what the Zerg had done to the area, seeing the destruction that has happened to Shakuras infuriated him but this was an inevitable event that was going to happen once Amon made his move after Aiur. "Hierarch can the Spear of Adun fire its weapons?" Jaze'kar asked as looking at the Hive Cluster that stood between him and the Launch Bay it had many Spine and Spore Crawlers around the perimeter. "The Spear of Adun's weapons are ready." Artanis answered getting Jaze'kar's confidences at this idea a boost. "Target as many Spine and Spore Crawlers that are near my position, enough that we can get into the Hive Cluster or finish them off." Jaze'kar requested knowing with those Spore Crawlers his brothers and sisters would be easy targets for the Spine Crawlers and other defenders of the Hive Cluster.

"Consider it done Jaze'kar." Jaze'kar heard the Hierarch say which got him and his warriors to look up, where soon several blue bright lights were seen getting brighter as they got closer, "Ready yourselves!" Jaze'kar yelled as the Unbound Templar and Shadow Guard ignited their blades, the Dark Templar igniting their Shadow Scythes or Warp Blades and the Annihilators priming their weapons. Watching the volley that the Spear of Adun fired descend upon the targets Jaze'kar watched as they hit their targets throwing up a large dust cloud, while also hearing the cries of the injured or dying Zerg that caught near the targets. "Strike now Brothers and Sisters." Jaze'kar said as he took off towards the Hive Cluster seeing out of the targets that were hit, more of the Spore Crawlers were destroyed then the Spine Crawlers but what ever Spine Crawlers were still alive it wouldn't take much to finish them off. Inda'mar followed closely behind Jaze'kar as the rest of the Shadow Guard followed behind him, Stalkers were keeping a good pace as they advanced with the Dragoons and Annihilators at the rear.

"Jaze'kar we have a readings of Brood War's Era Queens and Overseers moving towards your position." Jaze'kar heard as he looked up to the distance over the Hive Cluster and he could see the oncoming Queens and Overseers in the sky coming towards them. "Stalkers and Dragoons deal with the Zerg in the Sky." Jaze'kar shouted as he blinked to a very injured Spine Crawler and swung his scythe through perfectly cutting it in two. "Ra'Kez have your Annihilators target the remaining Spine Crawlers before moving onto the rest of the Hive Cluster." Jaze'kar said as he made another swing this time to his right killing a leaping Zergling that was trying to attack him. "Inda'mar with me!" Jaze'kar said as the Shadow Guard Commander nodded his head as he and the Shadow Guard ran forward with Jaze'kar.

SPEAR OF ADUN BRIDGE

Artanis watched every moment that has happened since the Unbound Templar and Dark Templar were warped down to Shakuras, Seeing that 3 Launch Bays were cleared of Infestation and evacuation Transports were heading toward the Conduit, Already the Spear of Adun has received many transports and already the evacuated Nerazim were finding homes on the ship. "Karax give me a status report on the Warp Gate connected to Aiur?" Artanis ordered, after a few moments of silence Karax reported "The Warp Gate to Aiur is heavily defended I am detecting Hybrid life signs along with a heavy fortified Hive Cluster surrounding the Warp Gate. Numerous Zerg are pouring through it however I am not detecting any of the Templar that are controlled by Amon." Artanis heard Karax report which made him relieved but concerned at the same time. "Amon must be keeping the Templar under his control on Aiur or has sent them out on the Golden Armada." Artanis said hoping it was the former.

"I hope that is the case Hierarch. If Amon had sent the Templar under his control as well as the Zerg then we would be having more casualties." Karax said looking over the readings from the Spear of Adun's sensors. "This is truly a dark time for our people." Artanis heard Fenix say as he materialized on his pedestal seeing his friend along with the Unbound Khalai and Nerazim on the bridge, "It's not just our people Fenix. This is a dark time for all in the Sector." Artanis said thinking about Raynor and how the Terrans are handling this situation if Amon has made a move against them yet. "But right now we must rescue the Nerazim." Fenix said focusing at the task that is in front of them at this moment.

"Hierarch Jaze'kar's forces have nearly finished destroying the Hive Cluster." Karax said still following the Dark Templar Apprentice of Zeratul's progress towards the last Launch Bay. It was sudden as alarms started to sound "Hierarch Void readings just spiked." Karax said as he looked over the readings, "It must another." Artanis said knowing that another Void Thrasher had just rip a hole into reality. "Ailia's forces will deal with the Void Thrasher" Artanis said before being interrupted by the Alarms again, "Hierarch another Void Thrasher has appeared!" Karax said in panic seeing where the second Thrasher has appeared, "It's appeared close to the Conduit!" Artanis heard Karax say feeling the panic and now fear. "Ailia's forces are too far away to intercept the Thrasher at the Conduit" Fenix shout in panic hoping the situation doesn't get any worse. "We will need a Miracle" Artanis said as right now it doesn't look good as the evacuation was not finished and with a direct threat to the Conduit, this evacuation could end.

SHAKURAS SURFACE

"Two Void Thrashers! We don't have time for this" Ailia said now desperate as her forces were making their way to the First Thrasher, but with a second Thrasher unopposed to the Conduit and Jaze'kar's forces on the far side of Talematros with most of the Annihilators. The current firepower they have with the few Annihilators won't be enough to take down a Void Thrasher and then move onto the second Void Thrasher in time to save the Conduit. "We won't make it!" Ailia thought as her forces came into close range of the closest Void Thrasher. "What will we do sister?" an older male Dark Templar asked her everyone knew the situation that was in front of them, "I don't know" Ailia answered as right now it looked hopeless.

SHAKURAS TELAMATROS UNDERNEATH CATHEDRAL

Vorazun felt it as two tears in reality as 2 Void Thrashers had appeared, but it had happened when the Conduit was vulnerable as the main force was divided trying to free the last Launch Bays of infestation. She felt as Ailia's forces were attacking the first Void Thrasher but Jaze'kar's forces were on the other side of the city, there was no way they would be make it back in time to take down the second Thrasher. She could sense `as the second Thrasher was bopping back into the void before opening another tear that was closer to the Conduit, "Is it trying to attack the Conduit directly?" Vorazun thought wondering why the Void Thrasher would do such a inefficient method when it could just attack from a long distance. "But the arm like blades that the Void Thrasher possess would pierce the shield faster" she thought more on as she felt the Void Thrasher moved back into the void before reappearing within striking distance of the Conduit.

"NO!" Vorazun said her fear now at a high as she worried for the safety of her people that have not reach the conduit, turning her eye to the large that door that stood before her Vorazun stepped towards it "I ask you, help us please" Vorazun said in desperation to the door hoping something would happen but nothing happened. "The Call of a Matriarch" the voice of her mother said again in her mind "No I won't ask" Vorazun calming herself said as she pushed her fear and worry away, igniting her mother's shadow scythe she stood in front of the door with pride of not herself but pride in her people and with the promise from Artanis. "I order you, one who is sleeping the darkest hour is coming and both the Nerazim and Khalai need your help" Vorazun said watching the door as a few seconds go by where nothing happened, but before she let the thought of giving up into her mind the green glow from the runes in the room went out.

Only the Runes on the door were still glowing but they glowed brighter with intensity which was followed by a rumbling, Vorazun braced herself as she saw the runes go out as the doors began to split apart she made sure that every second that the doors were opening she would remember. Behind the doors she saw was very large object that was surrounded by four Nerazim runes each one having a meaning, "Protector, Indomitable, Relentless and Strength" Vorazun thought as she looked at the runes before she shielded her eyes as the entire room was covered in a bright light that encompassed everything.

TALEMATROS SURFACE

All Protoss could see whether by their own eyes or with sensors watched as the Void Thrasher was rearing its right blade like arm upwards, readying to bring it down on the Conduit "This can't be, I will not fail the Nerazim like I failed Aiur" Artanis said as he watched what was happening before Karax saw new readings on his sensor station. "Hierarch I reading massive amounts of energy coming from the Cathedral" he said with curiosity, "From the Cathedral?" Artanis answered with confusion until there was a bright pillar similar to a beacon marker, but this one was massive "What is going on?" Artanis thought seeing the Void Thrasher stop as what was warping in began to materialize.

The first that materialize was four long mechanical spider like legs that were similar to a Colossus, but these looked they had more stability and articulation then a Colossus's leg each of these legs had a green glowing spike point at the bottom while it was plated in dark Nerazim coloured Armor. Each of these legs had an arc of void energy that connected each of them to a small plated waist, it had its own arc of void energy that connected to a humanoid looking torso and head, the Torso was similar in design to a high Templar's Armor with the head resembling a Nerazim Design. Attached to the back of the body was a ring like device similar to Artanis, Two arms connected to the body by another arc of void energy were the last to materialize. But in place of hands on the arms each had a large device that two thin blades with a gap that disappear to the tip of the blades.

"What is that?" Artanis said wondering what he was looking at which was the thought of every Protoss seeing this. The Mechanical being took a moment to look around as it turned its head around before locking its focus on the Void Thrasher, both blades on the arms split apart where an emitter extended from the device and from it a large powerful warp blade had formed. "Vindictus Heeds the call of the Matriarch!" Vindictus declared in a deep robotic voice before he charged forward towards the Thrasher already swinging his Warp Blades.

AN: Vindictus has a page on the Starcraft Wik, There is really no lore for Vindictus as he was an artwork in the Protoss section from the Art of Heart of the Swarm.

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