"My Brethren, have any of you seen Praetor Zeratul?" asked Artanis.
"We searched his shuttle after we chased their back-up force and found no Zeratul, Praetor Artanis." replied Mojo.
"Do not worry Praetor Artanis, I am sure that he survived." said Edwarg.
"I believe that Praetor Edwarg is correct." said another Protoss.
"Good, Let us fight then. En Taro Adun, my brethren!" shouted Artanis.
"En Taro Adun!" replied all the fighters. The scouts of the Auriga fleet had spotted the back-up fleet and had chased them away. Now they were heading into the main battle, the space battle above Auir's dark, lifeless moon. Artanis was not near any of them, he was just psionically linked with them. He didn't know of the back-up fleet and went straight into battle and later learned of the back-up fleet.
Artanis went forward and shot his anti-matter missiles at a Terran Wraith ahead of him. The Wraith fired back with its Gemini missiles. Artanis corkscrewed his scout and tried to dodge the missiles but he knew his shields were hit when his ship shuttered.
He looked on his viewscreen to see that he hadn't received much damage. He flew downwards and saw three Valkyries coming at him. They started to shoot their Halo Rockets.
Artanis felt his ship shake again. He tried to aim at one of the Valkyries but his ship shook too much. He saw a blue scout moving in behind one of the Valkyries. A Valkyries exploded into flames. Then another and finally the third blew up.
"You should watch where you are going Praetor Artanis." said Edwarg.
"You could have blown to pieces." said Mojo.
"Thank you, Praetor Edwarg." replied Artanis.
"The back up has arrived." said one of the Protoss Scouts.
Three Arbiters flew forward. They recalled fifteen carriers, thirty corsairs, and twenty scouts. The Terrans tried to escape but were quickly stopped by the reinforced Protoss.
"My brethren, I am glad to say that we have won this battle, but of course we have lost Zeratul..." Artanis said.
"He is alive, Praetor Artanis. For now, let us rest. We will find him, alive." replied Edwarg.
"Praetor Edwarg is correct, Artanis. Let us rest for now." said Mojo.
"Then let us go my brethren." Artanis replied.
Artanis, Mojo, Edwarg, and the remaining Protoss fleet flew towards the planet of Dalomir. Dalomir was a desolate planet, filled with deserts and little water. It had no continents for the planet was nothing more than sand and dried dirt. The Zerg once infested this place but soon left when there was nothing there.
The Protoss however, found a Xel'Naga Temple on Dalomir. They wanted Zeratul's help to know how and when it was built, but he had disappeared. After a few hours they reached the Spaceport on Dalomir. They would have warped here if they had a Stargate but at this point the Protoss could not afford to build more things off of Auir. Artanis was the first to land but he did not leave his ship. He reached out as far as he could with his mind but he could not feel Zeratul's presence. He must of lowered his power thought Artanis.
Edwarg got out of his ship and looked at Artanis' ship. How will a Zealot such as Artanis ever become a great warrior? he asked himself. He is too weak and he worries to much... as the Terrans say "what a wuss." Edwarg replied to himself. He walked forward and headed towards the Xel'Naga Temple. Mojo also got off his ship and headed for the same temple as well.
Mojo caught up with Edwarg.
"What's wrong Praetor Edwarg?" asked Mojo.
"It's just Artanis. He's too weak to be a warrior. He should just be a Judicator or a High Templar, he annoys me whenever I see him." replied Edwarg.
"I do agree slightly but he is my friend and he is a great scout pilot." said Mojo.
"Whatever." replied Edwarg with a bit of an edge to his voice. He ignited his Psionic Blades and made a mark on the ground, so that they would not get lost. They had to walk all the way because any vehicle would break down for some unknown reason when they tried going in the direction of the temple.
Mojo eyed Edwarg. Mojo wanted to know the real Edwarg. He wanted to be Edwarg's friend, however Edwarg was not a Protoss who wanted friends or allies, he was a loner. Edwarg seemed like a Dark Templar sometimes.
After a few hours Mojo and Edwarg reached the Xel'Naga Temple. They then sat on one of it's steps and waited for Artanis.
"Do you think Artanis is following the trail?" asked Mojo.
"I do not know. I really do not care." replied Edwarg.
"Oh, by the way, Praetor Edwarg, your weapon, is it a warp blade?" asked Mojo.
Edwarg looked at Mojo.
"What if it is?" asked Edwarg.
"Huh?"
"What if it is a warp blade. Would you leave me if I were a Dark Templar?" asked Edwarg.
"No, no that's not it... I just.. um... there were rumors about you, so..." replied Mojo, his voice sounding wierd, even to him.
"Rumors? No, it is not a warp blade. Now quit asking stupid questions." answered Edwarg, who was becoming a bit agitated. (Did I spell that right?) He hated disputes between Dark Templar and Templar. His only wish was for it to stop.
A familiar form began forming over the horizon. The sad eyes and teal armor quickly showed that it was Artanis.
"Took him long enough." muttered Edwarg.
"Let's go meet him." said Mojo excitedly. But Edwarg was already heading towards the door that led to the inside of the Xel'Naga Temple. Mojo however, didn't follow Edwarg, he ran towards Artanis.
"Artanis, what has taken you so long?" asked Mojo.
"Sorry, I was thinking." replied Artanis blankly. They both walked across the sand and headed for the entrance.
They walked inside and were instantly cooled down. Mojo felt like a heavy weight was lifted off his back. They slowly walked through the mysterious Temple, the temple seemed to light up their way. Each step they took made the ground, roof, and walls around them light up with the power of the Khaydarin Crystal.
"This place gives me the creeps." muttered Mojo.
"Do not worry my old friend. The Xel'Naga have yet to put weapons in their temples." said Artanis.
They soon reached Edwarg's location.
Edwarg was busy looking at the intricate (Spelled right?) designs along the walls of the Xel'Naga Temple, translating some words he knew. He looked back to see Mojo and Artanis.
"So have you found anything?" asked Mojo eagerly.
"Nothing much. I can't translate the entire message here." he said while pointing at a wall full of wierd yet beautifully designed letters. "It says something about the Temple of Light and... some kind of crystal... and... this is interesting." he continued.
"What?" asked Mojo.
"It seems as though one of the Xel'Naga saw a glimpse of the future and saw... Hybrid? That doesn't make any sense."
"Hybrid? Is that the name of someone? Or a thing?" asked Artanis.
"I'm not sure, but there's a crystal in here, this temple, designed to destroy it, or them." Edwarg said. "But I don't know the location." he quickly added.
"Hybrid... Two molded into one... maybe an infested Terran?" asked Mojo
.
"Can't be... or could it? Isn't the all mighty Queen of the Zerg an infested Terran?" added Edwarg.
"So this writing may or may not contain the location, am I right Edwarg?" asked Artanis.
"Yes." He replied.
"Then we must find someone with very good training in the arts of the Xel'Naga." Artanis continued.
"Someone like Sianon?" asked Mojo.
"Yes, Praetor Sianon! He's in our fleet. He must still be in space." said Artanis excitedly.
"I'll stay here and try and learn more." Edwarg said.
Artanis and Mojo both ran out the temple and towards their Scouts in the Spaceport. A few hours later they reached the Spaceport.
"Hmm.... Sianon is a Dark Templar. He should be in a Corsair." replied Artanis.
"A Corsair? That really narrows it down. There's about a thousand Corsairs out there." said Mojo.
"Don't worry. I can already feel his presence. Let's fly." said Artanis.
Artanis and Mojo both lifted off into the sky and towards space. Artanis didn't know much about Sianon and he wanted to hurry up and get him. Sianon was a dark templar who used a Corsair like most Dark Templar. He was in one of the major battles at New Antioch and he had rescued Zeratul from certain death.
Artanis' ship rocked slightly when he got into space.
"Hey there's another battle going on out here!" shouted Mojo.
"Praetor Mojo, Praetor Artanis, welcome to the battlefield. We are under attack by the Zerg now. We have no idea where they came from and why." said a voice on the intercom.
"This is Praetor Artanis, how many Zerg are out there?" Artanis paused. "Praetor Sianon? Is that you?" asked Artanis.
"Yes I am he. But there is no time to speak at the moment." replied Sianon.
Mojo looked up and saw Sianon's Corsair fly by his Scout and shoot Neutron Flares at an Overlord.
"Well? What are you both waiting for? Get out there and fight!" shouted Sianon.
Artanis and Mojo both flew forward leaving behind Sianon. Artanis was almost hit by the acid spores from a Devourer. Artanis quickly corkscrewed his Scout and moved toward the Devourer. He shot his Anti-Matter missles at the Devourer. The Devourer quickly responded and moved upwards, dodging the missles by mere inches. Artanis also flew upward and shot more missles. A few of them hit the Devourer.
Artanis grew happy and went after the Devourer. All of a sudden his ship rocked. His shields went crazy. He manuevered around to see that he was hit by Glave Wurms. He moved upward and when he was high enough he stopped his engines. The Mutalisks that were behind him flew past him and couldn't stop. Artanis aimed carefully and shot. The Anti Matter missiles hit their targets. The Mutalisks all exploded, only one getting away. The leftover maneuvered away.
Artanis' ship was hit again from above. He maneuvered around and tried to see what was hitting him. He saw a glimpse of a Mutalisk. It seemed to be bleeding and still trying to hit him with glave wurms. Artanis couldn't make it to the Mutalisk and he was continually being hit. He tried the trick he had just done but this time it didn't work. The Mutalisk flew toward Artanis but then it exploded.
"Praetor Artanis. Are you all right?" asked Mojo.
"Thank you Praetor Mojo. I am alright." replied a surprised Artanis.
Mojo stayed beside Artanis and shot at more incoming Zerg. Mojo and Artanis were too busy firing at Mutalisks and devourers that they didn't see the scourge coming right towards them.
"Look out!" shouted Artanis.
Mojo quickly maneuvered his scout away from the Scourge but knew they were right behind him. He thought he was going to die but then saw a corsair fly above and past him. It shot the Scourge and started to run the other way, the scourge following it.
Artanis took this chance to aim carefully and unload most of his missiles on the Scourge, which quickly died.
"Do not get to cocky, Praetor Mojo." said a voice.
"Thank you Praetor Sianon." replied Mojo.
"Praetor Sianon, we have news to give you." said Artanis.
"Yes? What is it?" asked Sianon.
"The Temple, it con-" Artanis couldn't finish his sentence, Sianon's ship had disappeared.
"Wha- Where's Sianon?" asked Mojo.
Mojo looked behind him to try and see if he could see Sianon's Corsair, but there was nothing but space and zerg guts. He turned back around and looked forward to see devourers. They shot their acid spores and they hit their target. Mojo tried to get away but the acid spores were already burning through his ship's hull. He had let his guard down for a second and now he was going to pay. His ship's controls started to flare and spark.
"Praetor Mojo! Get out of here! Go back to Edwarg! You'll never survive if you stay here!" shouted Artanis.
"But... Praetor Artanis..." With that Mojo maneuvered his badly damaged Scout out of the battle and back to Dalomir.
Artanis watched Mojo fly back to Dalomir. He looked forward and started to fire at the Zerg.
* * *
Edwarg looked around the huge temple. Nothing much was left to see after the wall that had the writing. Edwarg turned to walk out but tripped and bumped his head against some kind of stick on a wall.
He looked at it. Why would there be a stick here? he asked himself. He pulled the stick and it fell out but nothing else happened. Funny he thought. He threw the stick at the wall and saw it go right through it. Amazing! he said to himself.
He put his hand into the wall and soon found that he too could walk through this wall. He went through and saw one of the most amazing sights of his life...
