Chapter 1: On Route to Home

In an uninhabited star system, the darkness of space rippled as a flotilla of golden ships appeared. Most of the larger craft were split-ellipsoids, while the rest bore resemblance to beetles or moths. The entire fleet surrounded a massive disc-shaped vessel, known to its creators as the Mothership.

On the bridge of the Shield of Aiur, Executor Edullon stared out at her fleet’s current location while her crew did their routine activity. Five planets orbited around a single white dwarf star, the last two being the only ones to support life.

The female Templar closed her eyes as she pondered deeply. It was odd that two days ago, they had been fighting for their lives against a Zerg Brood. The Khalai and their Eldar allies had banded together to escape, but were quickly overwhelmed by the endless hordes of organic monstrosities. It was only Zeratul’s slaying of the Cerebrate that allowed them to survive.

And yet all this had happened from rescuing a single Protoss. Edullon had aided High Templar Jhanna in finding a missing Khalai named Telandril. From what she told her, the Protoss had a potential to be one of the best warriors of the Templar. Understanding the need of soldiers for the weakened sons and daughters of Aiur and the children of Shakuras, the Executor had wholeheartedly agreed.

The subsequent rescue mission was followed by an attack on a Protoss colony by the extremist Fists of Ulrezaj, Dark Templar who despised the Khalai for demonizing their ancestors. Hundreds of Aiur Protoss were killed, and Edullon’s original flagship was destroyed. Even after they acquired the Mothership, they only barely escaped the Khali rebels.

Even worse, the Fists were plotting an attack on the Khalai capital of New Antioch, and the damage to their navigation systems only lessened the chances for the Hierarch to be warned. The Executor was now hoping that the extremists haven’t unleashed their latest weapon yet. It was terrifying enough to encounter them on that moon; she did not want to imagine how her people would hold against an army.

Edullon felt someone tugging at her mind, and she turned to see Praetor Taldaros looking at her with concern. The Executor quickly assured the older Protoss that she was fine. But despite those assertions, she wondered if there was still a Shakuras to go home to.


-+-


As his mind left the gentle flow of the Khala and returned to reality, the young Templar quickly tried to shrug off the effects of prolonged immersion. Arms and legs were flexed as blue eyes blinked to regain focus on the surroundings. The Khalai balanced the thoughts swirling around his mind in an effort to regain balance. It had been so long since he could peacefully be absorbed into the collective psyche of the psionic gestalt.

For the first time in what seemed like an eternity, Telandril had managed to reach a state of inner peace. Being captured by humans twice and living far from other Protoss had worn him out a great deal, and only now did he get the opportunity to properly immerse himself in the Khala.

His inner conflicts didn’t ease up when he had been dealing with the changes in his relations, his feelings of Elandra at the top. For as long as he could remember, he had admired the female Templar a great deal, but he never had the courage to admit them.

It all changed during that Zerg invasion on Barabor II, when Executor Edullon’s forces braved endless waves of the Swarm in order to liberate him. Elandra, herself, was instrumental in the mission’s success, as it turned out that Telandril shared an instinctual bond with her. That bond was the reason why the Protoss had managed to find the Zealot, as well as his group of companions that included a Jedi Knight and several genetically-engineered clone soldiers.

Thinking about what he had went through quickly brought up memories on Rolin Kar, one of the famed Jedi Knights of the Galactic Republic. Out of all the humans Telandril had met, he was the one who was easiest to relate to. Both had very similar personalities, and they also had an unwavering loyalty to their peoples.

Two days had already gone by, and while the void had filled, the Zealot still missed Rolin a lot. They had become brothers-in-arms, comrades whose friendship was forged in blood. Telandril knew that the human and his fellow knights were leading the Republic’s forces against the Imperium, but every now and then he wondered how he was doing.

As he continued musing, the Khalai couldn’t help but think back to what had happened after he escaped from the Space Marines. Slowly, he began to remove the upper portion of his armor. While many of his injuries had healed, some never really faded.

Scars ran across his chest, slash and stab marks of various shapes and sizes. These were proof of what he had endured in that time, but the knives and syringes were only part of it. He had been put through electrocution, hypnosis; the psychic torturer even went so far as to damage his mind directly.

Telandril clenched his fists as he remembered the torment with anger. Even now, he could still see the Librarian’s face; see the expression of disgust that dominated his features when he tried to break him. At the very least, the Zealot managed to kill him as he escaped.

In the past, he believed that humans in general were untrustworthy. But that view had been tested many times on his stay in Barabor. True, meeting Rolin had eased up much of his prejudice, but he was not the only human responsible for his more open regards to mankind.


-+-


Barabor II, a week before Rolin Kar’s arrival

Tired, bruised, and severely dehydrated, Telandril could barely stay conscious as he went down the hillside. A simple trek for most people had become a painful trip for the wounded Zealot.

Iridescent blue blood trickled from his wounds, leaving a trail behind the Khalai as he staggered all the way to the city. Telandril’s sight blurred and re-focused at such an erratic pattern, that it hindered him greatly.

The ground suddenly crumbled on him, and the Templar screamed as he fell and rolled all the way to the base of the hill. Dirt and blood caked Telandril’s face as he felt his entire body aching, but he forced himself to get up.

The Zealot painfully got into a sitting position as he fought to stay awake. He had to get to the city, and find some medical equipment. He still had a duty to his people, he shouldn’t die now. With all the effort he could muster, he got up and continued limping towards the city.


-+-


The avenue he walked into was completely devoid of life. Everywhere Telandril looked, he only saw abandoned buildings, and deteriorating streets. Once it was probably a bustling place but now it was a decaying urban landscape.

Feeling his consciousness ebbing away with each step, the Khalai frantically looked around for anything that looked like a clinic. If he could just get a few dressings and bandages to clot the wound, he’d be good. Telandril saw closed down shops and houses, but nothing that bore resemblance to a health center.

Things weren’t good. The Protoss’ vision suddenly went blurry, and he felt his muscles numbing up on him. Telandril quickly went on his knees as his legs froze first, with the arms following suit.

So this is it, the Zealot thought as the rest of his body deadened. I’m to die here, alone and far from my home.

As his blackening vision registered a light of sorts, Telandril felt the last traces of consciousness slip away from him. I have failed my people, I have failed my friends. That was his last regret before darkness finally overtook him.


-+-


The man’s eyes widened as they rested upon the prone, bleeding form on the ground. Instinctively, he rushed to the being’s side and placed his lantern on the ground. He quickly checked his life signs and found them to be very faint. At least he was alive, but he needed to be treated right away.

With a great deal of effort, the man half-dragged half-carried the alien and made a beeline towards his house. The wounded being was of a race he had never seen in the myriad of Barabor’s citizens, but it didn’t matter. He needed help, and fast.