Chapter 34: Removed (The removed earthquake/captured slave scene)

Disclaimer: Starcraft is the property of Blizzard and Gate is the property of Takumi Yanai. I own neither.

A/N: Remember how in chapter 17 I noted that I would be removing the earthquake/captured slave scene? I couldn't help but wonder just how it would play out if it had actually happened. Note that this chapter does not follow the timeline that I consider to be my canon story.

Thanks for sticking we me so far. But before we begin, own up: after reading the last chapter, how many of you went back to see if Artanis was actually interrupted in every chapter that he appears in?

The earth shuddered and shook.

The Protoss were unused to the phenomenon, as their planets' crusts were stabilized with their advanced technology, but they were prepared for it. Scanners told them everything: its time of arrival, the length of the quake, its magnitude, the number of aftershocks and just about everything else. With their structures generally highly stable already, there was little risk of damage. It was a natural event, nothing more. The simple earthquake was nothing compared to a wall of Ultralisks burrowing out from under one's feet. They could wait it out and carry on with their activities.

The natives of Falmart, however, were a different story. The demihumans, those more sensitive to such phenomena, felt that something was amiss. But without concrete proof of the upcoming disaster, their warnings went unheeded. So when the earth shook like it was possessed, they didn't know what to do; what to think. The shaking itself lasted for less than a minute, doing some damage. Loose items shook and fell, while weaker structures collapsed completely. Overall, however, the physical damage was slight.

Mentally, however, it was devastating. Over the years, the residents of Falmart had developed several fundamental principles of the world. One of them was that the earth was fixed; an unmovable object. So when it shook and writhed like a living being, everything that they knew was called into question. Some prayed for salvation from the gods, while others simply collapsed.

Pina, out of courtesy, was warned of the event, and although she didn't quite believe it at first, the shaking soon convinced her otherwise. When the aftershocks were brought up, she quickly decided to visit her father, the Emperor, and warn him.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Tetgyr decided to follow her in order to begin talks with the Emperor of the Empire.

When they arrived at the Imperial Palace, it was a mess. Many loose items had fallen on the ground, shattering into pieces. Instead of cleaning the place up, however, the servants were nowhere in sight, while the guards, supposedly the best in the Empire, were standing around in a stupor.

Pina walked along, accompanied by Hamilton, Tetgyr and invisible Dark Templar guards, going straight to the throne room without being interrupted. Shaking her head, she muttered, "The quality of these guards has really dropped."

Pina began ordering the guards, telling them to clear up the area and prepare the chamber for Tetgyr's introduction. Their training taking over, the guards hurried to carry out the Princess' orders. As they got to work, Pina turned to Tetgyr, saying, "Can you please keep quiet while I do the introductions? My father is already worried, I think your mind-talking would be too much for him."

"Of course. I will follow your lead," Tetgyr replied. With a nod of thanks, Pina led the way into the throne room. Emperor Molt was there, sitting in his throne with a worried expression.

"Ah, Pina! It is good to see you unharmed," he called out as the Princess of the Empire entered.

Giving a quick bow, Pina ordered the guards into motion, sending them scurrying around. Seeing the display, Molt was impressed at the maturity of his daughter.

"You have certainly grown, Pina. Who is this..." Molt paused, searching for a word to describe the floating, two-meter tall being beside his daughter, "...thing."

A glance at Tetgyr showed that he didn't seem to take offense, so Pina answered, "Allow me to introduce Tetgyr, special envoy of the Daelaam Protoss."

"Daelaam? Wait, is he one of those 'Men of Light' I've been hearing so much about?"

"Yes, father," Pina replied, "He has information about the earthquake that may prove valuable."

"Oh? Then why does he keep silent? Can they not talk?" Molt wondered.

"They talk mind-to-mind. It is disturbing to those who are unprepared, so I have requested that he keep silent until you are ready."

"Well then, I am prepared," Molt decided, turning to face Tetgyr, "Tell me, what do you know about this ground shaking?"

"Greetings, Emperor," the sudden voice in his head made Molt flinch, despite his mental preparations. Ignoring the reaction, Tetgyr continued, "The most important piece of information about the earthquake now is that there will most probably be a number of aftershocks, each with-"

"What? More?!" Emperor Molt exclaimed.

Tetgyr didn't get to answer as the throne room doors were slammed open.

Bursting into the room, surrounded by his lackeys in various states of preparedness, Zorzal shouted, "Father! Are you all right?"

In his hand, he held a number of chains, each connected to the collar of a naked slave that he dragged along with him, including the once queen of the warrior bunnies, Tyuule. Tetgyr internally grimaced but held his (figurative) tongue. His talks with the Emperor would hopefully help the poor slaves.

What came through after them, however, immediately caught his attention. Limbs bound by layers upon layers of crude metal chains, along with a thick collar with iron rods attached, allowing four humans to control her, struggling against her strength.

The captured Protoss and Tetgyr's eyes locked, and time seemed to freeze.

Her nerve cords, already severed once before, now showed further damage. Scars lined her body, many still healing. Her skin, mottled and cracked, showed dehydration. Her psionic signature was weak. Far too weak.

With every sign of his brethren's mistreatment, Tetgyr's anger steadily grew.

"Help me."

Tetgyr's rage overcame his control, and time seemed to flash into motion.

"You dare?!" Tetgyr thundered, psionic energy flooding off him. Eyes blazing and lightning crackling between his palms, he began rising, levitating higher in the room. The very air was charged with electricity as he unleashed his rage, interrupting any conversation.

Without being told, the Dark Templar burst into action around their captured sister. Warp scythes flashing, they used a few precise slashes to free her from her restraints, the metal falling apart. One of the Dark Templar uncloaked, allowing the captured Protoss to lean on her, and they began to leave, the others forming an invisible protective ring around them.

"What are you doing? Stop those demihumans!" Zorzal screeched.

His lackeys drew their swords, moving to block the way out. The Dark Templar readied to cut their way through, but Tetgyr beat them to it. Waving his hand, he directed a wave of psionic lightning at the humans, turning them to ash instantly.

"Bring her to safety," Tetgyr ordered, his voice rumbling like thunder. The Dark Templar gave a nod in reply before they quickly exited the room.

Meanwhile, the humans stared in various emotions. Pina gulped, worried about the relations between the two species. She had to keep the Protoss satisfied. Molt stated in awe at the casual display of power. Just what were they capable of?

And Prince Zorzal's anger and indignation overruled his sorely lacking common sense. "Where do you think you're going with my property? Bring her back, now!"

Lightning struck the roof of the palace, blowing a hole clean through. Overhead, the sky darkened, a second away from unleashing its wrath. Tetgyr reflected that state, turning to face Zorzal and his few remaining guards with rage in his eyes. Electricity flared around his floating form.

"Property?! Unforgivable!" he whispered, the sound far more terrifying than the loudest shout. He raised a hand, crackling with energy, to point at Zorzal.

"Wait! Please!" Pina cried out. While her father seemed frozen in his throne, the princess had snapped to her senses and ran between her brother and the enraged Protoss. "This... This must be a misunderstanding! If -" her pleas were cut off by Tetgyr's very gaze, the twin orbs of his eyes seeming to stare into her soul. She gulped, falling silent.

Noticing his effect on the terrified Pina, Tetgyr closed his eyes and willed himself to calm down. His sister had been rescued. There was no point in-

A spear bounced off his plasma shield.

"Enough!" he bellowed, eyes snapping open. Above him, the storm burst into life, raining down lightning bolts, each accompanied by roaring thunder. Around the palace, screams began to sound out as the lightning struck the building, setting it aflame. Tetgyr cared for none of that.

"You!" The force behind the word made Zorzal wince, the cowardly prince running back to cower behind a guard. The guards, fearful as they were, gathered around Zorzal to protect him, as their training dictated.

"Coward!" A chain of lightning burst forth from Tetgyr's outstretched arm, striking the guards and killing them instantly. Zorzal screamed in fear, scrabbling for a weapon while begging for someone to stop him.

"You dare enslave my people?!" More lightning rained down, shattering the roof of the palace. Under nature's wrath, the building was collapsing, entire sections of it falling apart. Fires burst into life.

Pina and Molt were both frozen by the terrifying fury of the Protoss. Zorzal, fearful as he was, still couldn't keep his mouth shut. "It was my right," he claimed.

In reply, there was a blast of thunder, so loud that it left everyone's ears ringing. Without a further word, Tetgyr unleashed all of his psionic power onto Zorzal, a mighty wave of energy that swept him away.

Pina looked on in horror. Amid the destruction of the palace and the fires taking root, Tetgyr floated above it all, crackling with blue lightning. A god among men. A vengeful one, and Pina couldn't help but worry for the Empire.

"They did what?!" Yalara hissed. With the other executors, Selendis, Talandar, and Vorazun, along with Hierarch Artanis, she had just heard the news.

The Citadel had been a scene of barely contained rage ever since Tetgyr's report.

"This cannot go unpunished," Talandar declared, and the others easily agreed.

"Indeed. But first, we must know if there are any more of our kind who have been taken," Artanis said, "Selendis, have you found any others?"

Selendis nodded, speaking in a growl, "Observers have scanned every surface of the planet. Two others were taken. They have all been rescued and are undergoing treatment."

"Good. Now we must decide on an appropriate response."

"I say we just glass them!" Yalara exclaimed.

"Agreed," Vorazun added, "Quick and decisive. Teach them a lesson they will never forget."

There were no objections, so the order was given.

Hymos was more than happy to carry out the orders that Selendis passed down to him. The primitives dared enslave his kin? They would soon see the folly of their actions.

The Shield of Aiur floated towards the Empire's capital city. Easily rivaling the city in terms of sheer size, the golden Mothership drew the eye of every citizen in the capital. After the recent events of the earthquake that rocked the city and the unnatural storm that ravaged the palace, the people looked on in fear of another disaster. However, the rumors of the 'Men of Light' had taken root. Such a magnificent vessel must belong to them; perhaps they brought relief and answers in this time of great need. They looked to the sky, eyes shining with hope.

The people soon found that the first response was more appropriate. Although, was there an appropriate response for the destruction of such scale?

Parking itself directly over the Imperial Palace, the Shield of Aiur began to charge its purifier beam. A soft hum could be heard, steadily growing louder as the Khaydarin crystal that powered the ship began to glow, channeling the massive energies soon to be released.

The hum reached a crescendo as the purifier beam was unleashed, intense energy streaking down. It burned through the remains of the Imperial Palace with ease, before pushing on. The intense heat of the beam caused entire houses to spontaneously combust, while the unlucky victims were turned into ash. Soon even the ash was annihilated, leaving nothing of the capital but scorched earth.

The Empire, once unchallenged, had been utterly crushed in a single blow. Falmart was in an uproar. With such a huge power vacuum, many smaller forces now squabbled for control.

Above all, however, they all learned to fear the Protoss. The 'Men of Light' who wielded the power of the sun. Fearing holy judgment, many kings sent messengers to ask them what they desired, to prevent the annihilation of their own countries. The answer was always the same: not gold, not titles, but the end of slavery, and the birth of a world free from discrimination and prejudice.

It was a tall order, one that essentially required an overhaul of the current system. But it was carried out nonetheless, shaking the foundations of every society. It took centuries of the looming Protoss threat before the goal was accomplished, and a new Falmart was born.

Having completed their task, the Protoss left, returning to the Koprulu sector to allow the planet to grow without their interference. One day, they would overcome the wishes of the Falmartean gods and achieve space capabilities. One day, millennia in the future, the Protoss would see the fruits of the civilization that they had seeded. One day, a new power would join the Terran, Zerg, and Protoss in forging a better future.

Well, assuming they didn't destroy themselves first.

A/N: Sometimes, a show of brute force does wonders. Speak softly and carry a big stick, according to President Theodore Roosevelt, and sticks don't get much bigger than Protoss Arkships. That's why you don't piss off the Protoss. Hope this makes up for some of the 'Protoss softness' you complained about.

This is the last chapter. The story finally ends now. For now, I've got some exams to deal with, but I'll have another story up eventually. Thank you for joining me throughout this journey.

Also, I recommend you check out 'Gate: Thus the Dominion Fought There' by TheWatcher2785 and 'Gate: Thus the Swarm Consumed All' by inphernalmenace, if you haven't already. From the titles, it's rather obvious that they are the Terran and Zerg versions. Have a read.

All the best.

-Sav