Trinity - Fiction - Escape From Char

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IN RETROSPECT...

In this story I explored the relationship between the Dark Templars Tokorn and Reskorn as they sought to escape the events spiralling out of control upon Char during the original StarCraft campaign timeline.

The quality is not what I look back with satisfaction, but I believe that's hindsight for you. The only editing I've done here is some breaks to space out the text, as before it had none at all and makes it much easier to read.

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As a prologue for Invaders II: Trinity, Magic takes us back months before the campaign takes place, as two Dark Templar begin a journey that will change them forever...

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The lava flowed like a river, quite elegantly, over the broken terrain below.

The makeshift camp had been hastily constructed right into a small set of caves, combining years of smooth erosion from the lava-flow with Protoss robotic technologies. Caves with metal doors were common throughout the base.
Within the overlooking cave, a figure moved closer to the edge of the small balcony and looked down below. Despite looking like the typical Dark Templar, he had even more of a continued sense of concern and weariness about him. He watched a lava bubble gently burst and then noticed a nearby, tiny rock island surviving the constant flow of ever coming magma.

Perhaps that represents us. he thought, unable to break his stare from it.

A tiny piece of insignificance, standing alone, surrounded by that which tries to destroy it. Eventually, it probably will. Why, it doesn’t even destroy it. It actually intakes the rock itself into the flow. Absorbs it.

He sighed.

And I used to think things were too quiet. Then again, we were quite busy enough trying to stay safe from persecution of our so-called brothers. Pah.

At that moment, he sensed motion far behind him, near where the door to his chamber was. His senses served him well, considering all the pressure and worrying swirling in his mind lately. It grew more and more audible as his senses detected whom it was. There was a voice- a worried one, yet it contained a distinct boldness to it. Tokorn broke his stare from the river and stared across the bleak canyon, noticing a wandering Mutalisk far, far away in the distance.

‘...even if Tassadar manages to cause a distraction with the concubine, Zeratul could end up stranded within one of the largest Broods we know of!’

The voice belonged to Barakus- one of the Khalai Fleet’s Praetor’s. He was the typical, young Protoss leader, ready to jump into combat in a millisecond. However, unlike most of Tokorn’s newly found Khalai brethren, Barakus was actively and happily working alongside his new allies. Most assumed there would be a high regard of mistrust and suspicion despite Tassadar and Zeratul’s example, but he was certainly proving it wrong for the time being. He stood out from the others and Tokorn admired him. All across the face of his beloved homeworld there were hundreds more like Barakus- a tiny minority of them were ready to adapt for change swiftly. He had proved that in his co-ordination with the rest of the overall Protoss forces, since where others had misgivings Barakus was working swiftly. He was dressed in the standard armour, shining there in the dimly lit cavern.

Unity...at least it appears so. I never, ever believed it would happen ...and so far away from Shakuras, let alone Aiur.

Yet of this is what it is worth, this great, great feeling, then so be it.

The figures grew closer as the conversation continued. Tokorn heard a familiar voice.

‘All the broods are essentially the same- the daunting, impending fear would be just the same for Zeratul...he sees no alternative. Times are difficult so difficult tasks must be attempted.’

It was his close friend, Reskorn. If every Protoss had a companion they could stick to through any given circumstance at any time, it would be he. They had lived through much together, from their young years on Shakuras, through the Mendalon rite of passage, all the way to Zeratul’s expedition to Char. He had a surprisingly bright look on him, as the Argus stones on his robe reflected the cavern’s artificial lights now and again.

‘What if the Zerg attack us here? Our efforts to survive this predicament will be completely vulnerable!’

‘Do not be concerned over the odds, Praetor. You’ll find our combined forces, and potential energies, are supreme against any force of Zerg. As long as our forces are alert and united!’

Tokorn, believing the conversation to be boring and near an end, looked back down at the lava river he had been observing. He found that he could no longer make out where the hopeful rock had been so it must have been destroyed.

‘Destroyed? No, it has not been destroyed...’

‘Until Zeratul battles through the Zerg to the Cerebrate creature, we should be safe upon his return as our forces appear to be prepared.’ Reskorn reassured his Aiuran friend.

Barakus appeared to change his expression from worry to hope. A small one at that, but still quite significant. He didn’t appear to have anything else to say so Tokorn decided to speak to him.

‘I advise you check our Dragoon’s are recalibrated with your own technologies. Any foolhardy Zerg would be weakened whilst our combined warriors seal their doom in close quarters.’

‘Very well, Tokorn.’

With that, Barakus slowly turned and left the room. Tokorn sensed he was deep in thought.

He has each and every right to be. He was never trained to fight like we are resorting to today and will thus be exceptionally daunted.

There was a moments pause, as Tokorn returned to studying the lava and as he heard the door quietly shut.

‘Do you not think you are spending enough time meditating here?’ Reskorn queried.

Tokorn replied with a quiet tone. ‘I understand your concern...but I’ve been thinking...of how our brothers might benefit more if the Khalai ones were leading the organisations.’

‘Most interesting.’
Reskorn stepped next to Tokorn, deciding to see what he had been looking on at.

‘...yes, I think you are right. The time of reunification is at hand and so we must act united from the very moment we meet.’

‘You were speaking to Barakus about Zeratul...?’ Tokorn asked.

‘He is worried. Surprisingly more for Zeratul than Tassadar.’

Tokorn, intrigued, thought upon that. More for Zeratul than Tassadar.

‘...But remember that that is just Barakus - he is unlike the others. There will be more quite opposite him on Aiur. Should we return to Aiur, as Tassadar plans, I believe we underestimate how difficult things will be there.’

‘...Not as difficult as now...here on this forsaken world.’ Reskorn added.
Tokorn turned, looked at Reskorn, who was now staring into the river just as he had did, compelled by it’s diversity of shifting patterns of red and orange. He walked forward towards the door, just wanting to break the lack of motion his body had had for the past hour.

As he neared the door, he heard Reskorn speak once more. ‘Aiur.’
There was a pause, as Tokorn was unsure what Reskorn meant. He had been the one who had always been sceptical over returning to their glorious homelands... now Tokorn found the roles reversed, in a sense.

‘A return to our homeworld...it seemed inevitable.’ Tokorn added.

‘If we survive this, that is.’

Tokorn, trying to escape the nearing pessimistic tone of the discussion, decided to talk about something else.

‘Do you remember when this expedition began?’

‘Of course.’

‘Do you remember it all distinctly?’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Things were...different back then. We had a great sense of hope, as we heard Zeratul having his orders confirmed in the ceremony for the final time and everyone raced to their ships.’
Reskorn, intrigued, made no gesture but kept listening.

‘Now look at us. On a weary planet filled with our newly found nemesis. We are confined in the depths of this world like some sort of animal. Do you think this has been worth it?’

‘Certainly an interesting situation, my friend.’

‘Reskorn, we had a purpose on this world, yet it seems lost within the strife we endure today. Do you remember what our mission was itself?’

‘Yes, I do actually. Various individuals felt the distinct emanation of power from the other side of the sector. Oh, the Matriarch was the most curious I’ve seen in years. Thus the expedition was formed...’

‘If only we knew what was to come, don’t you think it’d be different?’ Tokorn asked.

‘Indeed. But we had no idea we’d encounter the Zerg in particular, or that our Aiuran counterparts would do the same as us. Or even that Zeratul would meet with their Executor. Do you remember the meeting?’

‘Very much, as I was the one who discovered the transm-‘

The door behind Tokorn slammed open. He whirled to see reeling violence- a mass of painful psionic calling, the clash of warp blades into flesh and faces grimacing in the passage. He heard the voice of a Dark Templar cry out as he perished amidst several roaring Zerg. With Reskorn behind him, Tokorn leapt for the door, seeing Barakus blocking the passage, his blood-pitted eyes there visible through a shield blur, claws beyond him, arcs of the Zerg weapons of bone chopping futilely at the shield. Barakus’s blades were through it all, flick-flicking, red dripping from them. Then Reskorn was beside Tokorn and they threw their weight against the door.

Tokorn had one last glimpse of Barakus standing against a herd of Zerglings- his jerking, controlled staggers, the long, black hair with a red blossom of death in it. Then the door was closed and there came a fearful snick as Reskorn activated the locking device.

‘All we can do is but hope Zeratul did what he intended to do. That and flee. There is no point in us remaining here.’
Tokorn cut him off, already knowing what Reskorn’s plan was, and began moving.

‘To the tunnels!’ he cried out.

They turned and the door to the dank hallways opened, as they began hurrying. Tokorn advanced before Reskorn, as the weary glow of the artificial lights cast a shadow over them. They shortly came to a crossroads and before he could think of anything else, Tokorn was caught only thinking of Barakus.

‘Activate your cloaking.’ Reskorn solemnly advised, and they did so, faintly making out one another.
Poor Barakus. I’m sure he desired to sacrifice himself eventually. Though I hardly knew him...it seemed like part of his character, in his blood. These Khalaian’s surprise me profoundly in their atonement.

‘This way!’ Reskorn shouted, as they made their way to the left, Tokorn’s sensing knowing exactly where he was.
A viscous scream echoed throughout the cavern, coming from where they had came. But it was not another stalwart Protoss defender falling. No, it was Zerg, calling out for more beings to slaughter.

‘We must move even swifter, for it appears the Zerg are spreading into these caves.’ spoke Reskorn, as he increased his pace. Tokorn adapted, matching speed.

‘Have you any idea where you are taking us?’

‘Only vaguely, unfortunately...an observer did a quick reconnaissance of these tunnels, but much of it was missed off due to the size.’

‘So where are we going?’

‘To the fleet area. We must get to the orbital platform where Tassadar said he’d retreat to. Our craft should provide us with adequate timing to meet up with him before he decides to act.’

‘Don’t you think we could tr-‘

Suddenly, the wall to their right ripped open and as a hissing, sinister scream erupted as a huge Zerg creature came crashing through, tumbling rocks onto the ground that only narrowly missed both Protoss. It stared at them for a brief moment, as they backed away from it, fiercely growling.

‘What is this Zerg monstrosity?’ Tokorn called out, as he abruptly unsheathed his Warp Blade.

‘Some sort of filthy maggot!’ Tokorn called, impressed of the insult, but then he was unsure if Reskorn even heard him.

Tokorn saw Reskorn amidst an indistinct sound of flickering.

‘Our shadow aspect has dissolved!’ Tokorn shouted.

‘Must be Zerg detecting beasts above... but we will make do!’ he cried, preparing his blade and preparing his stance, reminding Tokorn of early combat lessons very briefly.

As Reskorn dodged to the side of the beast, it unleashed a fire of lethal venom in their direction. Tokorn jumped the other way, yet the beast turned its attention to him anyway. As it screamed out again and continued its attack on him, he flipped back to where he had been, narrowly missing the lethal green projectile. The creature then glanced to its side and made a short scream, followed by a high pitch one. Reskorn had slashed one of its ugly arm-blades clean off in a perfect jumping slice manoeuvre. As it turned its head whilst screaming out, Tokorn seized his chance and leapt forward and plunged his blade into its forehead, instantly spraying blood onto his chest and onto the floor. Tokorn swiftly tore it down through it’s cranium, one side of its head now burst open. It jumped back for a moment, as the Templar backed off, then roared out in agony once more. Both Dark Templar realised it no longer wanted to fight as it screeched highly further, then keeled over, blood rapidly seeping out of its neck.

‘Come, we must press on!’ Reskorn told Tokorn hastily, who was staring at the beasts fading eyes. He turned and they began their trek into the tunnels once more. Also once more was another roar of a Zerg, yet a much louder, deeper one, though containing the same brutal harshness.

‘More Zerg to slay, Reskorn?’

‘There always will be, Tokorn.’

As they neared the corner, Tokorn tried to prepare himself for whatever would be next...yet no amount of readiness would steady his nerves for the sight. As they rounded the corner, before them was a side view of a mammoth Zerg creature- an Ultralisk. Tokorn’s eyes widened instantly, in awe of its size at this proximity. He had seen these creatures at a distance...and up close they were even more overwhelming. He managed to turn his attention briefly to Reskorn, noticing his eyes had but thinned.

What is Reskorn thinking? Oh, I see. I still know him well- whenever his eyes thin out, like that, his mind is but busy finalising a cunning plan.

The creature had sensed their approach and turned, issuing forth an almighty roar that almost deafened their ears and made some rubble fall from the cave’s ceiling. It’s huge tusks vibrated as it prepared to attack, snorting and snarling. Tokorn looked away from it again to face Reskorn, who was already on the move.

‘Reskorn, wait! That creature is-’ Tokorn muttered as he realised there was now no stopping his friend from doing whatever he intended to do. Reskorn, his blade readied in front of him, was not actually charging towards the huge beast. It charged forward, believing it had easy prey, but it was proved wrong as Reskorn instantly dodged upwards and sideways, evading past the beast in a flip. Tokorn then noticed the tunnel wall- there was lava seeping through. As the Ultralisk turned to face him, Reskorn slashed his blade, yet not at the Zerg but at the wall. In a matter of seconds, Reskorn had his blade in the wall and slashed circuitously several times, upwards and sideways, and then jumped away at the last moment- as the beast charged forward- only for it to be engulfed by a mass of magma, instantly streaming out from the wall.

It didn’t even have enough time to call out in agony, as its remains simply dissolved from the intensely hot substance. Tokorn knew, without beginning to look that Reskorn would be immensely satisfied. However, the magma was more than Reskorn expected and now blocked him from reaching his friend.

The lava was making a loud gushing noise as Tokorn called across ‘Reskorn, we are separated! What shall we do?’
Reskorn stepped forward, onto the edge of the stream and studied it for a moment. He then looked up and called back across.

‘Do not worry. You can make your way to the surface by escalating the cliff to the side of you.’
Tokorn turned, noticing an amount of niches that would actually let him climb. He looked upward and could make out the dark surface of the scorched world above. He turned back to Reskorn.

‘But what of you?’ he issued back.

‘Again, do not worry. I believe there is a way for me to return. Get yourse-’ Reskorn halted instantly and twirled round, to discover a trio of Zerglings snarling at the end of the cave on his side of the magma stream.

‘Reskorn!’ Tokorn cried out.

Reskorn hastily shouted, as he readied his blade. ‘Run, Tokorn, run!’ he said as he turned ‘One of us must get to the fleet!’
Tokorn hesitated, but the sight of a pack of more Zerglings on his side approaching hurried him. He jumped up onto the rock surface, a few dozen inches away from the now small, falling of magma. Beginning his ascent with guile, he looked back down, yet could not stop an ominous feeling being cast unto him when he realised he could not see Reskorn anymore. Only the chasing Zerglings desperately clawing at the bottom of the cliff. Tokorn continued, knowing he could not go back...


--



There was blood on the floor below, as Reskorn finished slaying the last of the inane Zerglings. Wiping a smear of fresh blood off his face and flicking it onto the floor, he wasted no time and, stepping over one of the mutilated corpses, continued down the passageway with his warp blade ready.

‘No amount of Zerg will get in my way!’ He thought to himself.

He hurried down a passageway, then rounded another corner coming into face of a large cliff, but one not as vertical as the one Tokorn was forced to climb. This one looked as if it were simply a hundred boulders piled onto each other, with a encircling ledge going up into the heights as far as he could see like a spiral. Only a potent light shining down towards the centre of the lower area to a nearby puddle of lava was particularly visible. It bubbled away steadily.

‘Ah, the mettle still flows through me once more. I feel like I could take on the entire Swarm...!’ he spoke, the adrenaline of the combat pulsing.

The entire room was like the inside of a spiralling tower he realised.

‘...ahh, here I am, like some young, naive warrior...’ he thought once more, stepping forward and peering upwards. ‘oh, but you are much more than that Reskorn.’ he said as he approached the centre, still gazing upward.

‘Indeed you are.’ called out a whispery voice, echoing calmly across the area.

‘Who goes there?’ Reskorn called out, still trying to reckon where the voice came from exactly.

There was a crackle of laughter.

‘Show thyself!’

And with that, a figure appeared far above, two ledges above, but he could hardly make it out.

‘Hah, irony is on the other side now! Now it is the Dark Templar’s enemy that is covered in the shadows!’

‘I detect anger.’ Reskorn thought, as he then called out again ‘I said show thyself!’ The feeling frustration grew, as he began trying to shelter his eyes from the light shining down, wishing it shone to the other area so he could see this figure.

The figure moved closer to the edge. It was a slender figure of some sort, Reskorn made out, but the light was still too strong.

‘I believe you know me, but we haven’t been formally introduced, Protoss.’

Reskorn narrowed his eyes, wondering. ‘Why do I feel as if she enjoyed saying that?’ he thought.

‘The last event of your life will be your making acquaintance with the Queen of Blades!’

‘Kerrigan. Why was I so blind? Of course! It was so obvious...but my mind is muddled. All the current events confuse my archaic mind. Blasted conglomerated beast!’ he muttered to himself in the back of his mind.

‘You are to serve a great purpose. Think of yourself as the ‘prime subject’.’
Reskorn didn’t like the way she said those last words. Whatever she was talking of, he did not really know and instead concentrated on using his vast mind to detect any further foes in the area. Then he felt a sensation writhing in his soul. At first, it felt like fear, the typical emotion of fear, yet after a moment he felt it was just something much more. He then quickly turned his attention back to the Zerg.

‘Come down here, mistress of the Zerg and we shall settle this matter face-to-face!’

A tremendous, hissing echo called out all around the cave. Reskorn recognised it as the same sound of the type of creature that had attacked him and Tokorn earlier, but this time there were more than one around him.

‘You know what? I don’t need to, just as your Tassadar didn’t need to fight me! Infernal Protoss...’

Reskorn grimaced, thinking back to the past. He noticed the pool of lava once more, bubbling intensely. The Hydralisks cackled once more in the darkness and Reskorn, peering all around him, sensed several movements all around him. He remembered that he had a dark secret of never wanting to die alone, and now no one would ever know it.
Kerrigan spoke once more.

‘You’re mine now.’

--




There was a sparkle in the twilight above, as Tokorn grabbed another rock hold. Yet though he could see little, he could hear quite a lot more. A battle of some sort raged above him.

It matters not what is above. Whether friend or foe, I will still be glad to escape that labyrinth in the least.
Tokorn reckoned he had been climbing for a good dozen minutes, as he grabbed another firm handhold and pulled himself onto a ledge. The sudden outburst of activity and the climb had wearied him to an extent and so he decided to rest a moment.

Need ...time...to collect my thoughts.

He looked around him. Darkness, yet he didn’t feel at home as he typically would.

Pah, but what is typical of our species?

He looked back down, from whence he had came. Nothing was visible, only the brief outline of his ascension.

Must press on. Must get to fleet. But what of Reskorn? ...Oh, Reskorn will be fine. He always is. ‘Reskorn the Resolute’. You must press on.

With that consideration of his friend, he looked up and began climbing once more. He climbed at a significant rate and soon neared the top of the cliff face, the noise of conflict becoming louder. He reached an inclining surface leading diagonally upwards. After clambering up and starting the walk upwards he neared the top and finally recognised some of the sounds.

Why did I not realise this sooner? I must be so concerned over Reskorn that I didn’t realise that I can hear gunfire! Machinery! There must be Terrans on Char... Meddlesome critters. Why oh why do they not stick to their own conflicts?

With the entry a metre away, Tokorn attempted to activate his cloaking once more.

There is only doom for them here on Char.

It flickered and he relaxed for a moment ...soon he saw his form disappeared as his field powered up. Cautiously peering his head around the corner, before him was the sight of a pure warzone. There was a large compound stretched out before him. A dozen buildings with a line of Bunkers blitzing away into a wave of enraged, approaching Zerg. There were many Terran vehicles approaching the front line in an attempt to reinforce it.

Quite a significant base ...for a relatively insignificant species, I think.

Tokorn noticed a far off volcano in the distance- Shadow Peak. A large mountain that overlooked a small lake of lava. Memorable, because nearby it was the Protoss fleet! Tokorn passed a large building, central in the camp. He noticed various crude, metal crafts still docked at some sort of landing pad as he continued hurrying towards the direction of the mountain. Behind him, the sounds of the bases defences continued.

These military forces of theirs must have arrived fairly recently. Surely we would have detec- oh, I remember, we had a Zerg attack at that time and lost most of the over ground Observers and could not continue exploring our perimeter...

As he edged passed the side of the Star Port, he realised that the way forward for him was clear and he continued on.
The lava violently jumped like a storm, quite roughly, over the intense lake of lava as two more Shuttles flew over it and then skyward, up into the atmosphere.

Tokorn, after a few minutes and tired of running, slowed down his pace as he reached the outer perimeter of the encampment. Nearby the closest building was a Khalai warrior who approached him.

‘En Taro Adun, brother.’ he said to him, in but a mild tone.

He called me brother. Perhaps more are adapting to unity than I thought.

Tokorn left little time for unneeded formalities. ‘En Taro Adun. How is the evacuation proceeding?’

‘Word has just came- Tassadar and some of his own forces have disappeared and not been heard from since ascending into orbit.’

‘What?’ Tokorn asked. He was exhausted and didn’t have time to think of what could have occurred. The Khalian continued speaking to him.

‘We believe they have been stalled somehow. Perhaps Zerg have encircled them...As well, Zeratul is gone also.’

‘Fear not, the good Prelate is a most erudite soul. I’m sure Tassadar and his company will find him before they begin their own retreat.’

The Khalian looked mentally muddled in his complexion. Probably too much action has scrambled his thinking. Understandable.

‘I hope so...’ He mumbled.

‘Has a Dark Templar named Reskorn made his way to the camp yet?’

‘Ah, to answer that inquiry you should travel to the group of Protoss outside the Nexus. They are gathered there before we make the flight. Once the Zerg have beaten past the Dominion forces, we’ll instantly begin our retreat up to the atmosphere.’

‘Surprisingly sounds like everything is organised here... Thank you.’ Spoke Tokorn as he began walking away, towards the cluster of Protoss buildings.

--




The shuttle raced forward, striving to catch up much lost ground.

‘I can see the remains of the fleet ahead!’ Tokorn exclaimed, as a new hope arose in him and his thoughts.
Reskorn remained motionless, staring into the void that was space.

‘Oh, I so feared we had it on that forsaken world...’
Once more, Reskorn was without motion. His eyes flickered like shining ice.

‘Reskorn?’

Tokorn, trying to concentrate on the ships controls, for he was never much of a pilot, successfully put it into auto flight and turned around to face his accomplice.

‘...Reskorn?’ he asked once more.

‘...What?’ was the solemn reply. Tokorn didn’t notice, as he glanced at one of the ships monitors.

‘Do you wish to make the transmission to the rest of the fleet? I believe you are the rightful new leader for the time being, with our Prelate missing.’

‘...the fleet...’

Tokorn stepped to the controls and flicked a switch, enabling a psionic transmission to reach the craft, and an image of a Khalai Protoss appeared on the video screen.

‘En Taro Adun, fellow Protoss.’ Began an aged voice, one that had seen much action.

‘Welcome to the fleet. This is Templar Carthag speaking.’

‘Greetings, Templar. This is Tokorn and Reskorn, from Tassadar and Zeratul’s forces-’

The Khalian interrupted.

‘-We can’t afford to wait much longer here. The Zerg will soon move in on our position. We plan to head away from here. Some Protoss will live to tell the tale today.’

‘...very well, Carthag. We will be docking shortly.’
Tokorn pressed a switch and the weary image of the Protoss dissolved as he turned and looked out the window.

‘It’s going to take quite a while, but we will get home eventually. No one knows whether our warp devices will still function, as I heard the Zerg suicide flyers attacked it. At least we will report on what has happened to our Matriarch. I just wish we could do more...’

Tokorn wanted comforting somehow and turned to look at Reskorn, who was yet again staring out of the porthole on his side of the craft. Tokorn felt anger as though he wasn’t arrogant, he believed, he didn’t like being ignored, especially in times of peril, especially by his close friend.

The ship zoomed forward and began automatically docking upon one of the few carriers in a rapid order.

‘Our journey has begun. ’ was Tokorn’s sole thought, as he noticed various other ships in the small fleet nearby began powering up away from Char.

‘I think our very destiny has been shaped on this infernal planet, Reskorn.’

‘Oh, I know it has.’ was his only reply, as Tokorn looked on at him from behind.

--

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