Matuscarantos

  'The Portal emanates energies simir to Xel'naga artifacts. Interesting.' Martann was using some device of his, next to the now open Zemestian Portal. 'However, there are some key differences. Mostly in the Void energy spectrum.'

  'The creators did not make this Portal, but perhaps the species that did was simir? Or was, at one point, closely entwined with them.' Jar'thal postuted.

  I was watching the Probes ferry materials over to the Azeroth side of the opening. The Zealots had preceded them, to make sure the area was secure. They'd reported it was clear, and that the Photon Cannons had defended the area well.

  'Your guesses would be better than mine. However, for our immediate purposes, it does not much matter.' Though it would probably end up mattering a lot. If I had any sense of how these types of things tend to py out.

  'You do not mind if I continue my studies?' The Phase-Smith looked up from his instruments at me.

  'If fact, I encourage them. I am just trying to organize my thoughts. Of all the traits I might have gotten of the Firstborn, your species' more advanced brains does not seem to be one of them. Or if I did, it was not all of the abilities locked within them.'

  'How sad. I hope you are not offended, but only being able to hold one thread of thinking at a time sounds terrible.' Martann shuddered.

  'Terrible indeed, Martann.' Nope, didn't offend me in the slightest. The truth hurts, but I wasn't going to hold that against them. Survival teaches you to be brutally honest with yourself. Or you end up dying, because you thought you could do something that you shouldn't have tried in the first pce.

  'Your mind is very calm, Hierarch. It is a strength that many do not cultivate so young.' Jar'thal added, perhaps trying to offer soce.

  'Someday, my abilities will grow. At some point, I should be able to share the memories of my life with you Praetor. Then you will understand why I am calm now, and why I will not be at other times.' I gave him a grin knowing that the sight of my mouth, and especially my teeth, slightly bothered the Protoss.

  'I look forward to that day.' Jar'thal seemed to withdraw into himself. He was likely meditating on the Kha.

  It only took a little over ten minutes for the Probes to move everything over to Azeroth. Leaving us a little less than ten minutes to cross. We would leave 12 Probes behind to keep harvesting materials while we were gone.

  I gestured for the Protoss leaders to go ahead. Maybe, I should start thinking of them as Hero Units. Haha!

  Once I was alone I gave Ryll some scratches, "You ready, Ryll?"

  She gave what one day might be a fiercesome roar, but for now was a rather adorable squawk. I knew that dragonlings were not fully dragons, and that many of the Sprite Darters never got terribly big. However, some members of their specie had been reported to get at least to human size. I was going to make sure Ryll grew as rge as she wanted.

  We walked through the Portal.

  Everything was much as I'd left it.

  Though now on the shore, the Naga were building something of their own. Composed of twisted warped shells of all manner of sea creatures, it was a tall spiraling tower. I could see various types of manacrystals had been used in its construction. It was a nauseating sight. I wanted it gone.

  'It seems the serpents have a response.' I thought to Martann. 'We will need to prepare for it.'

  'Though I do not quite understand the energy being used, the structure itself is focusing that energy towards the top of the spire. I suggest that we build Shield Rechargers to support the buildings on this side of the pteau.' Martann was studying his devices, "Also getting a Forge online to begin upgrading the shields would be a prudent strategy.'

  'You handle that Martann, I have something I am curious about.' I began to walk to the switchback. I was thinking it was time to start expanding my forces.

  'As you will, Hierarch.'

  Jar'thal fell in beside me as did the Zealots.

  I slowly descended the trail, and entered the small forest.

  "Come out, come out, little ones." I called into the woods.

  Soon a small swarm of Wisps were dancing around me. The Protoss were startled at first, but rexed when they realized there was no threat here.

  "Hello again, little spirits. Can you bring seeds to the top of the Pteau? Can you grow trees to dance amongst up there?" Then we would grow the buildings needed to bring the Night Elves into this fight. I'm sure they would love to hunt their cousins.

  The swarm bobbed and wove around me in what I was sure was agreement. Even in grim times the Wisps represented something whimsical and innocent. I remember hesitating to use them as scouts in Warcraft 3, because I didn't want anything to happen to them. I was so... ridiculous back then.

  I lead them back up the switchback.

  I could sense that Jar'thal wanted to ask about the Wisps, but was waiting to see if his questions would be answered by their actions. His wisdom was impressive. I hoped his fury would match.

  Once near the center of the pteau, I began trying to coax the Wisps into building a Moon Well. I was failing.

  Then I remembered that they needed something to build the well out of. All Night Elf buildings required wood and gold as I recalled. Though I imagine that they should also need stone and other materials here. That said, I had a different idea. I grabbed a Mineral cube from the pile and offered it to them. At first they seemed confused, but as they danced around the cube, they got more and more excited.

  Soon they were shaping the Mineral cube into a Moon Well. Again, there were so many things that didn't make sense here. So many ws of Physics, as I understood them, being vioted. But it worked and that was the important part. So I shoved the part of my brain that kept asking questions aside, and enjoyed the show.

  When they were done, it certainly didn't look like a Moon Well from either Warcraft 3 or WoW. It looked the most like a crystal replica of the Wells from WoW, but not exactly. It was more ordered, the Night Elf style arches towering above us, seemed more in tune with the structure. Moon energy based mana touched water was already starting to gather inside the Well's basin. The expected silvery glow magnified by the crystal walls and casting prismatic effects everywhere nearby.

  Beautiful.

  Next, to ensure a growing popution of Wisps, we needed a Tree of Life. Asking the Wisps to make a Tree of Life felt a little sad, because the ones that helped do so would lose their individual nature. However, they seemed happy and more, ecstatic, to comply.

  This allowed me to have an insight into the nature of the Wisps. I realized that without my guidance the Wisps might never come together to form such Trees. And while some Treants can naturally awaken and eventually evolve into the Elder Treants that served as the Great Trees, that doesn't happen very often either.

  So in essence, I was helping them serve their purpose. Through them, the Forest would prosper, and more life including Wisps would be able to grow here. That helped a little. Old ingrained habits could be hard to let go of.

  Five of the Wisps merged together and sank into the ground at a spot where there was plenty of room for the future Tree of Life to grow.

  Then I had five more Wisps merge to start a Tree of War. We would need the Children of the Stars to aid us. Though given what heppend with the Gateway, I couldn't count on the units being the same.

  With only four Wisps left, I asked them to build a Hunters Hall, offering them Mineral cubes. They happily started their dance. Reshaping the cubes in real time.

  'This is a pleasing structure, Hierarch. There is something about it, that speaks to my mind.' Jar'thal sent, almost whispering while staring deeply at the Moon Well. I sent my agreement.

  I reached into the basin and touched the mana ced waters there. A shock went through my body, then something not unlike a icy breeze blew through me. I felt so much better. A small bit of the water was drained but soon refilled. Healing waters indeed.

  I bid Jar'thal to try cautiously touching the waters.

  He hesitantly did so. His body stiffened before he once again rexed, or returned to what seemed to be his most rexed state.

  'Ah. That is nice. Several of my old wounds feel much better. So this structure has healing properties?'

  I nodded. 'So it seems.'

  It would be quite some time before the Trees had grown, so I asked Martann for a progress report on his projects.

  'The Shield Rechargers and the Forge are active, Hierarch. I have more Pylons and a Cybernetic Core being built now. Also the automatic logistics upgrades are being researched in the Forge.'

  'Thank you, Martann. Do you two want to get a better look at the Vessel?' I was curious what insights they would have about their "kinsfolk".

  'Of course.' Martann with an easy going answer.

  'As you command.' Jar'thal with his discipline.

  We entered the Protoss ship.

  'This craft appears simir to our Carriers, however, nothing here is of Aiur manufacture. Could this be a new branch of our people?' Martann's little probes were darting everywhere, scanning everything.

  'You didn't notice anything odd about the Probes?' Since this is where I'd gotten them.

  'Absolutely, Hierarch. The differences though small, were noticeable. I had at first thought it might have something to do with your presence. Now, I am certain these Firstborn are different from us.'

  He proceeded to point out every difference as we walked. As far as I could tell the differences were all cosmetic. A matter of a slightly different curve here or a small change in the angle there. More accent lines here, less there. The important factors like material composition and energy propagation were exactly the same.

  When we got to the Stasis Chamber, Jar'thal stopped. I could feel his shock.

  'I can feel their sleeping minds... they are from Aiur. But I do not know these Tempr. There is more, they were escorting a... Preserver. Her mind is full of anger. They were betrayed.' Jar'thal staggered. 'It would be unwise to free the Tempr at this time, Hierarch. Their every thought is clouded by her wrath.'

  'We might still have use for their constructs. I will see to activating them and binding them to your control.' Martann said as he gazed as the wall filled with various robotic units.

  I thought about this information. 'Could we repair this vessel and restock their constructs, then send it back to their home?'

  'The Aiur in their memories is not the Aiur I remember. I do not know if this is a matter of time, or simply that this is not our universe. Even these Temprs' connection to the Kha seems odd to me. Sending them home, might not be possible. Or it could be that they were fleeing. I can not tell.'

  I sighed. 'Martann do what you can to awake some of their constructs safely. Do not stay in here long. I suspect the Preserver might be able to influence you the longer you are around her.'

  'Your Will, Hierarch.' Martann replied as he accessed a stasis chamber. Freeing the robot inside, it's a Sentry. It power core burning brightly. It's disk like shape hovering over the ground.

  Sentries could help restore shields and had a disruptor beam that could interfere with electronics and other power systems. They could also create a very temporary shield that was nearly indestructible. All in all, a very useful ally.

  Jar'thal, the Sentry and I left.

  Once we were outside, Jar'thal turned to me. 'Hierarch, even if you release some of the other Tempr in there, never free the Preserver. She would never be able to tolerate your existence, even were she not enraged. Her caste take preserving the Kha and by extension our purity very seriously.'

  'I was not pnning on do so, Praetor. If we can fix their vessel, I was still going to send them away. Their vessel could be set to free them after a time to make sure they are able to choose their next moves.'

  I walked over to the cliffs watching the Naga slither about on their tower. Once the Night Elves added to our forces I was going to push the Naga back into the sea.

  If they knew what I had in mind, they never would have left the water in the first pce.