Geckat
05-28-2004, 10:24 PM
OK I posted a little battle scene and two people read it in a day AND commented, while only one comment sprung from the shadowy depths of Starcraft.Org, where fan fiction goes in, but doesn't come out. So I'm gonna try this here. I wanna be a good author someday in the future, and I'll need good critics to tell me what I do right and wrong while I'm training for those days to come. Here:
Spoken: Of Protoss
Geckat
I
“Execute a meeting at the Base Nexus!” came a booming telepathic voice. The Protoss soldiers awoke abruptly from their sleeps as the night guards lumbered toward the tall triangular building in the center of the Protoss base.
“What could be the problem?” asked one armored Zealot, called Karul’Dai, to a fellow Zealot, who was called Dar’Tal. He was Karul’Dai’s mentor, as well as his good friend
“I don’t know what could be so important as it could not wait until we returned to Shakuras,” came the reply.
The Zealots moved slothfully under the weight of their specialized psionic suits toward the Nexus.
They reached the glimmering metallic building. The Probes continued mining precious minerals and Vespene gas needed to support the base. They hovered a foot above the ground, weaving through the crowd of Zealots, Dragoons in their hard life-support bodies, and newly reunited High and Dark Templar.
“Fellow Protoss warriors!” called the psychic voice from a strong Protoss warrior, “We have yet another crisis on our hands. The Zerg, led by their leader, Kerrigan, have received knowledge of some precious treasure that may be able to lead them to victory. We have gained information of this from the Observers positioned about Kerrigan’s platform. The Zerg swarms are already on their way to the icy southern pole of Tarsonis, most likely after Kerrigan’s prize that is hidden there. But the Zerg mustn’t have it,” The warrior called Fanaris’ voice grew suddenly cold and his stony, mouthless face hardened, “we must postpone our stay on this planet, for now our first priority is to keep the Zerg from retrieving this treasure.”
“We only have time to send a small squardon to Tarsonis. The names called will be sent by Shuttle to Tarsonis immediately…Fratinus,”
A vigilant Dark Templar made himself visible amongst the crowd and advanced toward the nearest golden Shuttle, his cloak billowing behind him.
“…Kasa’For”
A Dragoon marched away from the crowed after Fratinus. If this soldier died, it would be the second and the last time.
“Dar’Tal”
Karul’Dai looked looked at his master. His face was stiff and obedient as his strutted after the Dragoon and Templar. Karul’Dai was certain his tutor would show the enirity of the mass of warriors what it means to be a Protoss soldier.
Fanaris finished the names of the warriors on the skirmish mission to Tarsonis, but Karul’Dai did not care about them. He knew that if his teacher was in the skirmish to Tarsonis, nothing could stand in the Protoss’ way.
II
Days passed. Karul’Dai had not heard any news of the warriors that left for Tarsonis. Perhaps it had taken Dar’Tal some time to find either the Zerg or the loot they were after. He often wondered in his spare time what the treasure could be. He finally rested that it would most likely be some huge mineral or Vespene deposit. But no matter what the stakes were, he would like to see his friend again soon.
…The Zerg…they…they……save us of…
Dar’Tal!
Dar’Tal!
Karul’Dai awoke the next morning. He was stiff and the energy coursing through his body was pulsing madly, though he did not know why. His fellow Zealots who shared his resting quarters were still asleep. It was still dark out. Karul’Dai walked outside. It was cold out and the moon that orbited the planet that they should have left long ago was small in the starry sky. He could see the planet Tarsonis here, and he wondered about Dar’Tal. Wondering if the Protoss were still all right. But he shook his head of these thoughts. The Protoss could never be defeated, especially with Dar’Tal at the head of the skirmish.
Karul’Dai awoke the next morning, still outside. The moon had disappeared and the sun shone bright in the cloudless sky. He went back into the quarters to strap into his suit and start his shift, but he was stopped. A Templar stepped in front of him and spoke, his mental speech echoing in Karul’Dai’s mind.
“Fanaris wishes to speak to you,” said the old Templar, and he pointed a long finger toward the golden Nexus in the center of the base.
Karul’Dai nodded and continued toward the quarters, but the High Templar stopped him again and pointed once more toward the Nexus. Karul’Dai pointed back to the quarters, but the old Templar shook his head and motioned toward the Nexus. Karul’Dai followed.
He stepped into the Nexus, nearly unclothed, and advanced up the psionic elevators that led to Fanaris’ resting quarters.
Fanaris was sitting, but immediately stood up when he noticed Karul’Dai. He motioned toward a large hovering table that was as golden as the Nexus was. Karul’Dai obediently sat. Fanaris sat along with him.
“I suppose you would first like to know what this is about,” Fanaris said, sounding as if to choose his words very carefully. Karul’Dai nodded.
Fanaris continued, “It’s about Dar’Tal.”
Karul’Dai’s energy flow ran quick again.
“Something has happened…”
“He’s dead, isn’t he?” said Karul’Dai.
“Yes,” said Fanaris sorrowfully, “he is dead. The entire skirmish has been destroyed. Sit down, Karul’Dai.”
Karul’Dai sat, though he did not remember rising, “But we can bring him back, right?” asked Karul’Dai anxiously, “He can return as a Dragoon, can he not?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
Fanaris stood up and walked away, and after a few moments said, more to himself than to Karul’Dai, “The Zerg are very relentless and will pay soon. This is the first incidence of a Protoss warrior ever being infested.”
Karul’Dai spat and cursed so loudly the psyonic noise echoed and shook off of the golden Nexus walls. His eyes flared and the veins of energy through his body felt as if they could explode. Fanaris sat back down and covered his face with gray, long-fingered hands. Karul’Dai hated him. He hated Fanaris, the Zerg, Kerrigan, and the entire universe that he knew of.
The nerve of them…infesting his master. They would pay. Eventually they would pay…
When Karul’Dai stopped shouting, Fanaris withdrew his hand from his saddened face and said, “If it’s any comfort, there will be a scouting party to find Dar’Tal and the rest of the party.”
Karul’Dai looked up, “There, will, will there?” he said, his mind unclogging. Artanis nodded.
IV
“You will not fight if you can avoid it. The Observers are too defenseless, so all of your fellow Dark Templar will be included in a scouting party on Tarsonis.” Fanaris was briefing a group of Dark Templar. They nodded, then went in different directions. Karul’Dai withdrew back from his eavesdropping place and back toward the resting areas, hoping he had not been spotted. But when he reached the Zealot quarters, he turned toward the Dark Templar quarters. He was now certain he had not been spotted. He lay in wait in a dark corner.
After what seemed like ages, what Karul’Dai had been waiting for hours arrived. A single unclothed Dark Templar came into the quarters, completely visible. As the Templar turned his back to don his robes, Karul’Dai took this chance to execute his ambush. The unwary Dark Templar was knocked cold. He quickly put on the Templar’s cloak clutched in the motionless hands and ran off toward the shuttles that would carry the search party to Tarsonis—and to Dar’Tal.
When the shuttle was finally in transit for Tarsonis, it was very cramped. None of the Dark Templar spoke, and the shuttle was completely silent except for the mechanical humming coming from the psionic engines, and Karul’Dai was grateful for this. He did not want to speak. He did not want to inturrupt his train of thought and planning, or accidentally reveal himself to the Dark Templar positioned about the shuttle.
At long last it landed and the Dark Templar filed silently through the opening, cloaking themselves. Making sure he would be the last to exit so he would not be spotted, Karul’Dai turned away from the invisible Templar. Keeping out of sight of them, but still heading southward to the icy pole of Tarsonis, he activated the two psionic blades of his Zealot suit. He heard the Templar activate theirs a bit ahead. Karul’Dai made sure to pace himself behind them in spite of the powerful desires clouding his mind, for it would be a long journey southward.
Later, as the invisible Templar stopped to search and rest, Karul’Dai pulled ahead of them powered by his superior suit as well as his overwhelming desire to rescue Dar’Tal.
As he treaded on, he stopped to rest. There had been no blood spills or any signs of battle anywhere, and he was sure this was the route the skirmish had taken, as snow now completely covered the ground. He didn’t feel the cold much through his protective suit and his strong thoughts blocking out much of the physical world. Making sure to keep hidden from the searching Templar, Karul’Dai went to rest his eyes…
Karul’Dai! Dar’Tal! We…Karul’Dai!
No!
Karul’Dai pulled out of his sleep. He remembered the echoing voice in his head. He didn’t recognize it though. Or did he? It was different—yet sort of familiar. Whether he remembered it or not, he could not keep it out of his already overwhelmed mind. He continued onward, the voice still echoing in his head. As a Protoss, he could hear psychic messages, so he didn’t doubt that it did have something to do with Dar’Tal.
Karul’Dai was still thinking of what the voice could have been when he slipped on something on the ground. He looked around him as he got up. A blue fluid was spattered all about the snowy plains. He touched it, and it was frozen, but still evidently Dragoon blood. The aged blood of these reanimated soldiers was splattered about the place, and it was accompanied by other numerous blots of sick purple blood.
Karul’Dai searched the place, looking for traces of what might have happened to his tutor. He could see nothing, but continued to walk about and inspect every inch of the battlegrounds. Then, for the second time in a very short period he fell. Something had hit him hard in his face. There was a crude mechanical structure sitting in front of him as he stood and rubbed his large forehead. It stood quite tall and subtle smoke drifted from a large hole in the roof.
Two hands grabbed Karul’Dai’s arms. He tried to fight, but the gripping arms were stronger than his were. He turned his face to stare into that of a sneering Terran.
“Protoss scout, eh?” said one of them, “He does look to be a bit weak, though. Perhaps it’s something else” Said the other Terran to his right, ”Whattaya think should we do with him, boss?”
A stern looking Terran came from the background to face Karul’Dai. He sighed in thought, then commanded the other two Terrans away, “I don’t think I need backup for this one, thanks boys.”
The Terran smiled, then whispered in a rolling accent, “You wouldn’t happen to be Karul’Dai, now would you?”
Karul’Dai just stared at the man, who continued to smile questioningly, “Well?”
Karul’Dai refused to speak, until the man stopped frowning and gave him an impatient murderous look.
“Yes,” Karul’Dai replied sternly, “I am Karul’Dai.”
The man smiled again, then he broke into a laugh. When he stopped, he held out a friendly hand. Karul’Dai, not quite assured, held out his own. The man gripped his hand hard and said, “Samir Duran.”
Duran released Karul’Dai’s hand then continued speaking, “Well Karul’Dai, you have a friend here who’s apparently been calling for you for some time. I think perhaps you’d like to see him?”
“Dar’Tal?” said Karul’Dai, unsure of the man’s intentions, didn’t speak.
Duran nodded slowly, “Well, he’s found his home here if you wish for me to lead you to him.”
Karul’Dai nodded and followed the man. Dar’Tal had been cured. This man had rescued him and now he was freed from Zerg infestation.
Duran led Karul’Dai through the maze of Terran buildings and crude roads. Duran motioned him into a nearby building, which opened its doors. There was a low howl and Karul’Dai just dodged a large discolored animal that leaped through the open door. He looked at Duran, who was grinning treacherously, far away between two buildings. The creature got up, and Karul’Dai saw with horror that it had bio-mechanical arms covered with pulsing veins. Sharp blades protruded from each of the creature’s arms that rippled with psionic energy. The monster got up and Karul’Dai’s eyes widened as he saw a haunted face. This thing once had a mind.
This possessed creature was once a Protoss soldier.
Dar’Tal!
The creature lunged for Karul’Dai, who dodged again. He felt a quick jolt as his shield absorbed a heavy blow from the bio-psyonic blade. Dar’Tal rolled back to his feet as Karul’Dai activated his psi blades. The infested Protoss warrior dashed one way as fast as lightning, his enhanced muscles pulsing fast. It leaped straight over Karul’Dai and stabbed with both arms behind him. The blow through Karul’Dai against a Terran building.
He opened his eyes to see Dar’Tal rearing over him, his blades glowing and his eyes glaring maliciously. He stabbed at the building, which crumbled but Karul’Dai rolled away and struck at his former master in defense. Its shield deflected the feeble attack and Dar’Tal spun around and sliced at Karul’Dai’s face, but the defender was fast and he dodged to one side.
As he spun for another counterstrike Karul’Dai was knocked off his feet again. Dar’Tal wrestled him to the ground, brandishing its two blades.
The weary face of an old Protoss warrior floated in front of him. The purified face of the warrior that Karul’Dai was now facing for his life. This warrior that once taught him of the energy that flows through all Protoss warriors, that can link them even if they were so distant. That could even manipulate the elements…
Dar’Tal, listen. Remember my voice? Think of it as the voice of freedom. Leave the…
“Augh!”
Dar’Tal had torn through Karul’Dai’s shield, oblivious to his psychic pleads.
The twisted form that was once a nobel Protoss warrior stared into the pained eyes of Karul’Dai. There was no remorse in Dar’Tal’s blank pupils. They dilated, and Dar’Tal trembled as though hit by a shockwave. His pupils dilated faster and faster as if he were having a fit. He threw himself off of Karul’Dai as a wicked roar sounded through the Terran base, and Karul’Dai heard the untainted voice he had longed to hear for days…
Stop! Duran, leave him. Let him be…
Dar’Tal shook with anger and exhaustion while Duran swore loudly behind him. Now Duran’s rolling psyonic voice echoed in his and Dar’Tal’s mind,
Stop! Now, listen to me…
No!
DO IT!
Duran’s eyes flared madly and Dar’Tal gave an unearthly shriek as he tried to stand back up, but fell back.
Listen. Think of my voice as that of freedom. Free yourself from the Zerg strain.
Karul’Dai’s psychic voice joined the fighting ones. The waves bouncing through his head made it hurt, but he knew the time for encouraging Dar’Tal was now.
Free yourself. The Zerg will never harm you again if you try to relieve yourself. Duran will not control you and nor will the terrible Zerg that did this to you. You must…
Bang! Duran had loaded his Terran rifle and shot Dar’Tal. Karul’Dai stopped his psychic urgings and looked quickly toward the wounded soldier. Viscous purple blood was dripping from his right shoulder. The psychic messages had quieted and Duran lowered his gun. Dar’Tal staggered then looked toward Duran. Then he looked towards Karul’Dai, who saw that his eyes were pained and intelligent, rather than blank and haunted. The once-mighty Protoss warrior fell to the ground.
Karul Dai rushed to his revived master’s side. Blood gushed across his crouching legs as he placed his hand on the old warrior’s chest. Dar’Tal looked at him.
“Karul’Dai?”
“Yes.”
“The Zerg. They…”
“I know what the Zerg did.”
“You will avenge me?”
“What are you talking about?”
“I am going to die, Karul’Dai.”
“No.”
“I want to die.”
“Why?”
“By the Protoss code of honor I deserve to die. You will understand as you become the Protoss warrior you were meant to be.”
“But…”
But Dar’Tal’s eyes faded and closed as his head fell back to the blood-spattered ground. Karul’Dai honored his master once more, then looked up fiercly towards Duran.
He wasn’t there anymore.
A swift pain smashed into the back of Karul’Dai’s head and he remembered nothing else.
Kay there's two more ending these stories. They're in Starcraft.Org if you feel like reading them. If you liked or disliked these stories pleez tell me. I need your opinions, that's how I got so desperate as to put them on here, eh? ;)
Spoken: Of Protoss
Geckat
I
“Execute a meeting at the Base Nexus!” came a booming telepathic voice. The Protoss soldiers awoke abruptly from their sleeps as the night guards lumbered toward the tall triangular building in the center of the Protoss base.
“What could be the problem?” asked one armored Zealot, called Karul’Dai, to a fellow Zealot, who was called Dar’Tal. He was Karul’Dai’s mentor, as well as his good friend
“I don’t know what could be so important as it could not wait until we returned to Shakuras,” came the reply.
The Zealots moved slothfully under the weight of their specialized psionic suits toward the Nexus.
They reached the glimmering metallic building. The Probes continued mining precious minerals and Vespene gas needed to support the base. They hovered a foot above the ground, weaving through the crowd of Zealots, Dragoons in their hard life-support bodies, and newly reunited High and Dark Templar.
“Fellow Protoss warriors!” called the psychic voice from a strong Protoss warrior, “We have yet another crisis on our hands. The Zerg, led by their leader, Kerrigan, have received knowledge of some precious treasure that may be able to lead them to victory. We have gained information of this from the Observers positioned about Kerrigan’s platform. The Zerg swarms are already on their way to the icy southern pole of Tarsonis, most likely after Kerrigan’s prize that is hidden there. But the Zerg mustn’t have it,” The warrior called Fanaris’ voice grew suddenly cold and his stony, mouthless face hardened, “we must postpone our stay on this planet, for now our first priority is to keep the Zerg from retrieving this treasure.”
“We only have time to send a small squardon to Tarsonis. The names called will be sent by Shuttle to Tarsonis immediately…Fratinus,”
A vigilant Dark Templar made himself visible amongst the crowd and advanced toward the nearest golden Shuttle, his cloak billowing behind him.
“…Kasa’For”
A Dragoon marched away from the crowed after Fratinus. If this soldier died, it would be the second and the last time.
“Dar’Tal”
Karul’Dai looked looked at his master. His face was stiff and obedient as his strutted after the Dragoon and Templar. Karul’Dai was certain his tutor would show the enirity of the mass of warriors what it means to be a Protoss soldier.
Fanaris finished the names of the warriors on the skirmish mission to Tarsonis, but Karul’Dai did not care about them. He knew that if his teacher was in the skirmish to Tarsonis, nothing could stand in the Protoss’ way.
II
Days passed. Karul’Dai had not heard any news of the warriors that left for Tarsonis. Perhaps it had taken Dar’Tal some time to find either the Zerg or the loot they were after. He often wondered in his spare time what the treasure could be. He finally rested that it would most likely be some huge mineral or Vespene deposit. But no matter what the stakes were, he would like to see his friend again soon.
…The Zerg…they…they……save us of…
Dar’Tal!
Dar’Tal!
Karul’Dai awoke the next morning. He was stiff and the energy coursing through his body was pulsing madly, though he did not know why. His fellow Zealots who shared his resting quarters were still asleep. It was still dark out. Karul’Dai walked outside. It was cold out and the moon that orbited the planet that they should have left long ago was small in the starry sky. He could see the planet Tarsonis here, and he wondered about Dar’Tal. Wondering if the Protoss were still all right. But he shook his head of these thoughts. The Protoss could never be defeated, especially with Dar’Tal at the head of the skirmish.
Karul’Dai awoke the next morning, still outside. The moon had disappeared and the sun shone bright in the cloudless sky. He went back into the quarters to strap into his suit and start his shift, but he was stopped. A Templar stepped in front of him and spoke, his mental speech echoing in Karul’Dai’s mind.
“Fanaris wishes to speak to you,” said the old Templar, and he pointed a long finger toward the golden Nexus in the center of the base.
Karul’Dai nodded and continued toward the quarters, but the High Templar stopped him again and pointed once more toward the Nexus. Karul’Dai pointed back to the quarters, but the old Templar shook his head and motioned toward the Nexus. Karul’Dai followed.
He stepped into the Nexus, nearly unclothed, and advanced up the psionic elevators that led to Fanaris’ resting quarters.
Fanaris was sitting, but immediately stood up when he noticed Karul’Dai. He motioned toward a large hovering table that was as golden as the Nexus was. Karul’Dai obediently sat. Fanaris sat along with him.
“I suppose you would first like to know what this is about,” Fanaris said, sounding as if to choose his words very carefully. Karul’Dai nodded.
Fanaris continued, “It’s about Dar’Tal.”
Karul’Dai’s energy flow ran quick again.
“Something has happened…”
“He’s dead, isn’t he?” said Karul’Dai.
“Yes,” said Fanaris sorrowfully, “he is dead. The entire skirmish has been destroyed. Sit down, Karul’Dai.”
Karul’Dai sat, though he did not remember rising, “But we can bring him back, right?” asked Karul’Dai anxiously, “He can return as a Dragoon, can he not?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
Fanaris stood up and walked away, and after a few moments said, more to himself than to Karul’Dai, “The Zerg are very relentless and will pay soon. This is the first incidence of a Protoss warrior ever being infested.”
Karul’Dai spat and cursed so loudly the psyonic noise echoed and shook off of the golden Nexus walls. His eyes flared and the veins of energy through his body felt as if they could explode. Fanaris sat back down and covered his face with gray, long-fingered hands. Karul’Dai hated him. He hated Fanaris, the Zerg, Kerrigan, and the entire universe that he knew of.
The nerve of them…infesting his master. They would pay. Eventually they would pay…
When Karul’Dai stopped shouting, Fanaris withdrew his hand from his saddened face and said, “If it’s any comfort, there will be a scouting party to find Dar’Tal and the rest of the party.”
Karul’Dai looked up, “There, will, will there?” he said, his mind unclogging. Artanis nodded.
IV
“You will not fight if you can avoid it. The Observers are too defenseless, so all of your fellow Dark Templar will be included in a scouting party on Tarsonis.” Fanaris was briefing a group of Dark Templar. They nodded, then went in different directions. Karul’Dai withdrew back from his eavesdropping place and back toward the resting areas, hoping he had not been spotted. But when he reached the Zealot quarters, he turned toward the Dark Templar quarters. He was now certain he had not been spotted. He lay in wait in a dark corner.
After what seemed like ages, what Karul’Dai had been waiting for hours arrived. A single unclothed Dark Templar came into the quarters, completely visible. As the Templar turned his back to don his robes, Karul’Dai took this chance to execute his ambush. The unwary Dark Templar was knocked cold. He quickly put on the Templar’s cloak clutched in the motionless hands and ran off toward the shuttles that would carry the search party to Tarsonis—and to Dar’Tal.
When the shuttle was finally in transit for Tarsonis, it was very cramped. None of the Dark Templar spoke, and the shuttle was completely silent except for the mechanical humming coming from the psionic engines, and Karul’Dai was grateful for this. He did not want to speak. He did not want to inturrupt his train of thought and planning, or accidentally reveal himself to the Dark Templar positioned about the shuttle.
At long last it landed and the Dark Templar filed silently through the opening, cloaking themselves. Making sure he would be the last to exit so he would not be spotted, Karul’Dai turned away from the invisible Templar. Keeping out of sight of them, but still heading southward to the icy pole of Tarsonis, he activated the two psionic blades of his Zealot suit. He heard the Templar activate theirs a bit ahead. Karul’Dai made sure to pace himself behind them in spite of the powerful desires clouding his mind, for it would be a long journey southward.
Later, as the invisible Templar stopped to search and rest, Karul’Dai pulled ahead of them powered by his superior suit as well as his overwhelming desire to rescue Dar’Tal.
As he treaded on, he stopped to rest. There had been no blood spills or any signs of battle anywhere, and he was sure this was the route the skirmish had taken, as snow now completely covered the ground. He didn’t feel the cold much through his protective suit and his strong thoughts blocking out much of the physical world. Making sure to keep hidden from the searching Templar, Karul’Dai went to rest his eyes…
Karul’Dai! Dar’Tal! We…Karul’Dai!
No!
Karul’Dai pulled out of his sleep. He remembered the echoing voice in his head. He didn’t recognize it though. Or did he? It was different—yet sort of familiar. Whether he remembered it or not, he could not keep it out of his already overwhelmed mind. He continued onward, the voice still echoing in his head. As a Protoss, he could hear psychic messages, so he didn’t doubt that it did have something to do with Dar’Tal.
Karul’Dai was still thinking of what the voice could have been when he slipped on something on the ground. He looked around him as he got up. A blue fluid was spattered all about the snowy plains. He touched it, and it was frozen, but still evidently Dragoon blood. The aged blood of these reanimated soldiers was splattered about the place, and it was accompanied by other numerous blots of sick purple blood.
Karul’Dai searched the place, looking for traces of what might have happened to his tutor. He could see nothing, but continued to walk about and inspect every inch of the battlegrounds. Then, for the second time in a very short period he fell. Something had hit him hard in his face. There was a crude mechanical structure sitting in front of him as he stood and rubbed his large forehead. It stood quite tall and subtle smoke drifted from a large hole in the roof.
Two hands grabbed Karul’Dai’s arms. He tried to fight, but the gripping arms were stronger than his were. He turned his face to stare into that of a sneering Terran.
“Protoss scout, eh?” said one of them, “He does look to be a bit weak, though. Perhaps it’s something else” Said the other Terran to his right, ”Whattaya think should we do with him, boss?”
A stern looking Terran came from the background to face Karul’Dai. He sighed in thought, then commanded the other two Terrans away, “I don’t think I need backup for this one, thanks boys.”
The Terran smiled, then whispered in a rolling accent, “You wouldn’t happen to be Karul’Dai, now would you?”
Karul’Dai just stared at the man, who continued to smile questioningly, “Well?”
Karul’Dai refused to speak, until the man stopped frowning and gave him an impatient murderous look.
“Yes,” Karul’Dai replied sternly, “I am Karul’Dai.”
The man smiled again, then he broke into a laugh. When he stopped, he held out a friendly hand. Karul’Dai, not quite assured, held out his own. The man gripped his hand hard and said, “Samir Duran.”
Duran released Karul’Dai’s hand then continued speaking, “Well Karul’Dai, you have a friend here who’s apparently been calling for you for some time. I think perhaps you’d like to see him?”
“Dar’Tal?” said Karul’Dai, unsure of the man’s intentions, didn’t speak.
Duran nodded slowly, “Well, he’s found his home here if you wish for me to lead you to him.”
Karul’Dai nodded and followed the man. Dar’Tal had been cured. This man had rescued him and now he was freed from Zerg infestation.
Duran led Karul’Dai through the maze of Terran buildings and crude roads. Duran motioned him into a nearby building, which opened its doors. There was a low howl and Karul’Dai just dodged a large discolored animal that leaped through the open door. He looked at Duran, who was grinning treacherously, far away between two buildings. The creature got up, and Karul’Dai saw with horror that it had bio-mechanical arms covered with pulsing veins. Sharp blades protruded from each of the creature’s arms that rippled with psionic energy. The monster got up and Karul’Dai’s eyes widened as he saw a haunted face. This thing once had a mind.
This possessed creature was once a Protoss soldier.
Dar’Tal!
The creature lunged for Karul’Dai, who dodged again. He felt a quick jolt as his shield absorbed a heavy blow from the bio-psyonic blade. Dar’Tal rolled back to his feet as Karul’Dai activated his psi blades. The infested Protoss warrior dashed one way as fast as lightning, his enhanced muscles pulsing fast. It leaped straight over Karul’Dai and stabbed with both arms behind him. The blow through Karul’Dai against a Terran building.
He opened his eyes to see Dar’Tal rearing over him, his blades glowing and his eyes glaring maliciously. He stabbed at the building, which crumbled but Karul’Dai rolled away and struck at his former master in defense. Its shield deflected the feeble attack and Dar’Tal spun around and sliced at Karul’Dai’s face, but the defender was fast and he dodged to one side.
As he spun for another counterstrike Karul’Dai was knocked off his feet again. Dar’Tal wrestled him to the ground, brandishing its two blades.
The weary face of an old Protoss warrior floated in front of him. The purified face of the warrior that Karul’Dai was now facing for his life. This warrior that once taught him of the energy that flows through all Protoss warriors, that can link them even if they were so distant. That could even manipulate the elements…
Dar’Tal, listen. Remember my voice? Think of it as the voice of freedom. Leave the…
“Augh!”
Dar’Tal had torn through Karul’Dai’s shield, oblivious to his psychic pleads.
The twisted form that was once a nobel Protoss warrior stared into the pained eyes of Karul’Dai. There was no remorse in Dar’Tal’s blank pupils. They dilated, and Dar’Tal trembled as though hit by a shockwave. His pupils dilated faster and faster as if he were having a fit. He threw himself off of Karul’Dai as a wicked roar sounded through the Terran base, and Karul’Dai heard the untainted voice he had longed to hear for days…
Stop! Duran, leave him. Let him be…
Dar’Tal shook with anger and exhaustion while Duran swore loudly behind him. Now Duran’s rolling psyonic voice echoed in his and Dar’Tal’s mind,
Stop! Now, listen to me…
No!
DO IT!
Duran’s eyes flared madly and Dar’Tal gave an unearthly shriek as he tried to stand back up, but fell back.
Listen. Think of my voice as that of freedom. Free yourself from the Zerg strain.
Karul’Dai’s psychic voice joined the fighting ones. The waves bouncing through his head made it hurt, but he knew the time for encouraging Dar’Tal was now.
Free yourself. The Zerg will never harm you again if you try to relieve yourself. Duran will not control you and nor will the terrible Zerg that did this to you. You must…
Bang! Duran had loaded his Terran rifle and shot Dar’Tal. Karul’Dai stopped his psychic urgings and looked quickly toward the wounded soldier. Viscous purple blood was dripping from his right shoulder. The psychic messages had quieted and Duran lowered his gun. Dar’Tal staggered then looked toward Duran. Then he looked towards Karul’Dai, who saw that his eyes were pained and intelligent, rather than blank and haunted. The once-mighty Protoss warrior fell to the ground.
Karul Dai rushed to his revived master’s side. Blood gushed across his crouching legs as he placed his hand on the old warrior’s chest. Dar’Tal looked at him.
“Karul’Dai?”
“Yes.”
“The Zerg. They…”
“I know what the Zerg did.”
“You will avenge me?”
“What are you talking about?”
“I am going to die, Karul’Dai.”
“No.”
“I want to die.”
“Why?”
“By the Protoss code of honor I deserve to die. You will understand as you become the Protoss warrior you were meant to be.”
“But…”
But Dar’Tal’s eyes faded and closed as his head fell back to the blood-spattered ground. Karul’Dai honored his master once more, then looked up fiercly towards Duran.
He wasn’t there anymore.
A swift pain smashed into the back of Karul’Dai’s head and he remembered nothing else.
Kay there's two more ending these stories. They're in Starcraft.Org if you feel like reading them. If you liked or disliked these stories pleez tell me. I need your opinions, that's how I got so desperate as to put them on here, eh? ;)