The sound of Zerg seemed to still ring in Artanis' ears, and the image of the Zerg/Protoss Hybrid kept flicking in Zeratul's mind. Both sat in their quarters on board a shuttle, both of them trying to read the other's mind. Artanis decided to break the silence.
"Master Zeratul, what troubles you?" asked Artanis.
"Nothing Praetor... nothing." Zeratul replied in a low voice inside Artanis' head. Once again the shuttle became silent, only the low rumbling of the shuttle's engines being heard. After a few hours the sound of the engines became silent. Zeratul looked up and said, "It seems we have arrived, Praetor."
Both Artanis and Zeratul walked to the shuttle exit and got off the shuttle. Artanis wanted to know what bothered Zeratul so much, but he could not. He could only watch Zeratul walking ahead of him, his ragged cape flowing behind him. He heard footsteps to the left and looked to see Zenox, a powerful Zealot warrior who had helped dearly in the war against the Zerg.
"Praetor Artanis, I see that you are troubled because of Zeratul. I guess I was not the only one." Zenox said into Artanis' mind.
"So, you are troubled as well. Something is just not right." replied Artanis.
Zeratul walked forward, he had "heard" what Zenox and Artanis had "said" but he ignored both of them. He didn't wish to tell any of them about the hybrids and Samir Duran. He concentrated slightly and turned invisible, then kept walking towards the ruins of Antioch...
Jim Raynor looked up, hoping to see Fenix, but instead saw Artanis.
"Hey man. Mind if I stay here too? I've got no where to go." said Raynor.
"Of course. Your mind seems ravaged, not only by pain but of loss as well." Artanis said into Raynor's mind.
"Yeah. I've got nothing against you, but can you..." Raynor was cut off by Artanis.
"Yes I can leave. I know of your sadness as well." And with that Artanis turned around to walk out.
"I'm sorry Artanis, I... I just don't know... I've lost my home, family, friends- including Fenix, and... and... I think that this whole war started because of me." stated Raynor before Artanis walked out.
"It isn't your fault, it is ours, for not seeing the Zerg as a threat before everything started." said Artanis. Raynor tried to reply but the door closed and Jim Raynor sat still in his dark room, thinking...
Artanis walked out of the worn out Protoss building. Many building were unpowered and now there was no where to warp the pylons from. They had to build the pylons now. One by one, Artanis had never gotten fond of Fenix but he knew that this great warrior, inside a cold shell of a Dragoon, had bravery which empowered him and maybe even warmed the cold shell he was in.
He heard footsteps running towards him and sensed that it was one of his old friends, Mojo.
"Hello Mojo. You seem to be in a rush."
"Yes old friend. Have you seen Edwarg, he's been missing for such a long time. I've sensed the aura of the Dark Templar around him and wish to-"
Artanis cut Mojo off with a bit of edge in his voice.
"To what? Bring him back? Why? Why are we still discriminating the Dark Templar? If it wasn't for them we may not have survived."
Mojo sighed. "I'm sorry. It's just... we of the Protoss of Auir have always been taught that the Dark Templar were the broken ones. The ones who did not follow the light."
Artanis' eyes flashed for a second. "Yes, we the Protoss of Auir have always believed in our religion. I doubt Adun ever did."
"Well, since Edwarg is not here. Artanis, my old friend, it seems that Ardarris is on his way here, to Auir."
"Ardarriss? The son of Judicator Aldaris? No, this is grave news. We must send an observer to search for Zeratul."
"Why?" asked Mojo.
"Because my old friend. I am sure Judicator Ardarriss is mad at Zeratul... for killing his father."
"Excuse me?" asked an amazed Mojo. 'Excuse me?' was not a usual phrase for a Protoss to use but Mojo had been with Terrans for such a long time that Terran phrases were embedded into his language.
"Ah, I guess you haven't heard. It seems that the Dark Templar killed Judicator Aldaris. Of course this is only a rumor. I hear it happened on Shakuras. Aldaris had split the Protoss. Templar and Dark Templar."
"Amazing... I didn't know..." Mojo turned his head and reached out with his mind for a second. "Edwarg is here."
Edwarg jumped off his shuttle before it even landed. His blue armor was cleaned and remade. The Sargas tribe's insignia was engraved on his right shoulder-pad in gold. He was one of the most strongest and successful Zealots in the whole Sargas ground force. He was their pride and their bravery.
He ran across the desolate fields of the area that once held a beautiful city; Antioch. The outer regions were still being rebuilt, but the inner area was no where near completion. He stopped for a second and looked down. He sensed something erie underneath him. Before he could check what it was Mojo called after him.
"Edwarg! You've arrived. I have been waiting for you. It seems Judicator Ardarriss is on his way here, to Antioch."
"Yes I am aware of that. I cannot meet him though. We must go on our way to the Xel'naga temple on Dalomir." replied Edwarg, matter of factly.
Mojo ran towards his new cyan colored scout and on his way he saw one of the older Dark Templar. "Dark Praetor Sianon?" asked Mojo.
"Just Praetor please. Yes I am Sianon. You are?" asked the corsair pilot.
"I am Mojo. Leader of the scouts in the Auriga Fleet above Auir."
"You called me because?" asked the greenish corsair pilot with slight irritation in his voice.
"I wished only to say hello. You are one of Zeratul's students, and maybe well I thought we could get to know each other. Even though you are around 100 years older than me."
"Of course. Maybe when this Dalomir project is done."
"You are heading there too?" asked Mojo excitedly.
"Yes I am going there for early escort. Now if you don't mind I must be on my way." replied a very tired and irritated Sianon.
Edwarg had already gotten into his blue scout, which had the Sargas tribe insignia on each wing in gold.
"Hurry up Praetor Mojo. We must head toward Dalomir. It is a long ride."
"Ok, I'm on my way. You are surely impatient." replied Mojo.
