Subject: [FFML] [Fanfic][Slayers/SC][Draft 1] Last Train To Oblivion Chapter 2
From: StudioPC
Date: 7/24/2005, 5:46 AM
To: FFML


Disclaimer: Slayers is the property of Software Sculptors. The Protoss
are the property of Blizzard Games. No money is being made from this
and no such intent should be inferred.

Amelia had heard many wild stories in the past ten years. Been  
involved in even wilder ones. But Khadgar's tale, as the saying went;  
took the cake.

As he told it, the Protoss had recently (if a thousand years ago  
could be called recent) suffered through a period of civil warfare.  
He did not specify what exactly had caused the war, but it was plain  
that it had been extremely violent and deadly.  With the war over,  
the Protoss now dedicated themselves to exploration of the stars and  
rediscovery of knowledge lost due to the war.

Which was how the Protoss had come to be in Seyrun's backyard.

Normally, they traveled from star to star using a combination of  
unmanned ships and something called warp gates. However, it was  
occasionally needful to send a fully crewed colony ship instead.

Khadgar's ship was just such a craft. It's mission had to been to  
journey to one of the stars at the edge of their explored space and  
establish a colony.

"There was some sort of an accident," Khadgar said, concluding his  
explanation. "We were knocked off course and crashed on your world."

"An unpleasant tale, Executor," Lady Jensen, the sole woman on the  
Council said. "But what exactly do you need from us?"

"The Protoss subsist on energies generated by certain crystals,  
minerals and gases," Zelgadis said. "As well as psychic energies.  
However, in the crash, their supply of minerals and gas was almost  
destroyed. Essentially, they'll starve to death unless they can  
rebuild those supplies." Zelgadis took a deep breath. "The minerals  
and gases can be found on any world with what he calls 'carbon based  
life'. The odds are high that what they need is here. The crystals,  
however . . . I examined the few they have left. It's Magestone, or  
something very close to it."

The council murmured quietly. Magestone was a fairly rare and  
powerful crystal that was capable of amplifying and channeling  
magical energy tenfold that of the person using it. When fused with  
Orihalcyon, the results were spectacular. An imperfect version could  
be created by an Alchemist, but that kind of impure Magestone wasn't  
as effective and the process was long and fairly dangerous.

"Zelgadis tells me that Seyrun has a great deal of this Magestone,"  
Khadgar said. "Name your price and I will surrender to you if need  
be." He made a gesture that had to be one of helplessness. Please,  
Matriarch. I beg of you. Save my people."

Amelia stared at him, a great well of sympathy welling up inside her.  
It was plain that the Protoss were a proud people. To be forced to  
beg for help must be terribly humiliating. The Amelia of old was  
already shouting at her to strip the city of Magestone and be damned  
the cost. But she wasn't that Amelia anymore. She knew too well the  
risk of stripping the city of Magestone and that would only stave off  
the Protoss' doom for a time. On the other hand, she couldn't simply  
dismiss them either. Her father would rise from his grave and beat  
her senseless if she did that.

"I will consult with my council," Amelia said. "If you would excuse us?"

"Of course," Khadgar said.

Sendar rose from his place. "If you will follow me, Executor, I will  
show you a place where you can wait."

Once Sendar had led them to an anteroom and then rejoined them,  
Amelia looked at Zelgadis. "What do you think, Zelgadis? Is he being  
honest?"

"Without a doubt," Zelgadis replied. "Which is exactly why you  
shouldn't listen to me." He folded his hands on the table. "They're  
telepaths to the man. Powerful telepaths. Khadgar learned our  
language by reading my mind and there's no telling what he put in  
there. I could turn into a mindless killer at any moment." He looked  
around the table. "He could have also done the same to any of you."

The councilors looked at each other worriedly.

"We can't afford to start second guessing ourselves," Jensen said.  
"If he has ill intentions towards us, placing himself totally at our  
mercy makes no logical sense. Furthermore, if he's powerful enough  
and/or inclined to control minds, why didn't he simply make us give  
him what he wants? She looked around the table. "Does anyone feel an  
urge to help them that doesn't seem motivated by simple compassion?"  
There was a chorus of shaken heads. "Then he's telling the truth."

"Giving them the Magestone they need would be . . . costly," said the  
Exchequer. "As well as leave the city without some of it's defenses  
until more Magestone could be found to replace it. That would also be  
costly."

"If I may," said the Foreign Minister. "I believe I have a solution."

****

*You have lost your mind, Khadgar,* Mague snapped as soon as they  
were alone.

Khadgar did not immeditly answer the Judicator. Instead, he slowly  
began to inspect the chamber they had been escorted too. It was  
large, at least for people of human size, or so he supposed. Perhaps  
five strides by six strides. Interesting. He examined a tapestry hung  
on the wall. Such excellent weaving. His mother, Adun bless her,  
would have loved to have met the weaver.

*Khadgar,* Mague tried again. *Answer, me. That's an order.*

Now Khadgar spun to face Mague. *Order?* He repeated. *I accept no  
orders from you, Judicator. Until contact with the Conclave is  
established, as Executor, my word is as law, countered only by the  
Conclave on Auir.*

*That word is only acceptable when given by one who has not lost  
their mind! You propose slavery to these barbarians!*

Here Khadgar sighed and laid his hand on the Judicator's shoulder.  
*The idea sits no better with me, Old Friend, then it does you. But  
what choice do we have? Storm the city and take what we need? Injure  
or kill innocents?*

*No, of course not. But to sell our people . . .*

*I was not selling them, Mague, I was selling myself.*

*But you told them--*

*I told them I would pay any price to save my people. And I will. So  
long as they survive, I am content with what comes.*

*You shame me, Khadgar,* Mague said. *You bring honor to the name of  
Templar.*

*I do my duty, Mague. As you must yours. If I am to be their slave,  
returning our people to Auir becomes your responsibility.*

*But how?*

*That is for the gods to decide. What you must do is keep them alive  
until that happens. If they seek my service, leave this place by any  
means necessary, with the magestone if possible. Use combat only as a  
last resort. Return to the ship and lead our people into the  
mountains, away from these humans. Above all, survive and spare no  
thought for me.*

Mague nodded. *Yes, Executor.*

At that moment, the door opened the male human the Matriarch had  
referred to as Sendar stood there. "Her Highness has made a  
decision," he said. Khadgar nodded and led his fellow Protoss back  
into the larger chamber.

****

Amelia watched as the Protoss returned. She hoped she wasn't making a  
huge mistake.

"Executor Khadgar," she began. "I regret to say that we cannot save  
your people."

"I--" Khadgar began and stopped when Amelia flicked her finger up, a  
gesture she had picked up from Xelloss, of all things.

"We can, however, teach you how to save yourselves," she continued.  
"What I propose is an exchange of knowledge. There is a way to make a  
substance similar to Magestone which will hopefully suffice for your  
needs. We will teach it to you. In return, you show us some of  
your . . . technology? Is that the word?" Khadgar nodded and Amelia  
smiled in satisfaction. "In the meantime, we will supply you with a  
small amount of Magestone so that you can survive. In the future, I  
would like to set up trade between our peoples once you have settled  
in the valley. Which brings me to another point. Your ship crashed  
into Thromkir Valley. Travelers use it in the winter when the pass  
becomes clogged with snow. It's considered neutral territory."

"Then you wish us to leave?"

"On the contrary. I will have to consult with Rigying, who controls  
the other end of the pass, but I believe they will be amicable. What  
I propose is that we pay you a small fee to keep the pass clear  
during the winter snows if at all possible. If not, provide shelter  
to any travelers. Do that, and you can live in the valley until Auir  
finds it's lost children."

Khadgar's eyes closed for a moment, and then he opened them and  
nodded. "It seems we have an accord, Matriarch."

"Then so be it," Amelia replied.

And that, was that.

****

Rigying was indeed amicable, but amicability seemed to be their  
natural mood. Their only term was that the Protoss sign the Thromkir  
Pact, a treaty between Rigying and Seyrun that pledged all to their  
mutual defense. Khadgar was more then willing to sign.

Privately, Amelia suspected Khadgar was so desperate to save his  
people, she could have gotten anything she wanted out of him. But she  
never said that aloud. She had no wish to offend their new allies.

As it turned out, Alchemist Magestone worked fine for the Protoss,  
though many of their machines had to be adjusted and weren't as  
powerful as they could have been. Still, New Antioch thrived.

Lina and Gourry left as soon as it became clear the Protoss weren't  
going to self-destruct and headed towards Sairag. Amelia wasn't  
surprised, Lina and Gourry had a list of enemies that would stretch  
from one end of Seyrun to the other, staying in one place for very  
long would bring those enemies down on them like a boulder.  
Furthermore, by wandering, the roads were far safer. Few were willing  
to risk meeting "The Slayers" in open ground, so they tended to find  
other things to do when rumor had it that the Slayers were in the area.

"Keep an eye on Brodaboon," Lina said to Amelia as she and Gourry  
prepared to leave.

"I know, Lina. 'Once spring starts, so do wars.' My father said the  
same thing."

"Phil was a wise man."

The Protoss, ever hungry for new knowledge, were soon a common sight  
in Seyrun's Temples and libraries. They were never intrusive and very  
formal, but they still soaked up whatever knowledge they could.  
Particularly magic. They were very good at black magic. Especially  
the younger ones.

In turn, the Protoss showed them new ways of farming and healing.  
Zelgadis found the information they chose to share interesting, ("Its  
as though they're trying to keep us from learning new ways to kill  
each other.") but otherwise kept to himself.

When winter had become spring, Khadgar extended a formal invitation  
to both Amelia and King Rhodar of Rigying to come to New Antioch for  
a state visit. Rumor had it Rhodar took one look at the note and  
asked when he needed to leave.

  * * * *

*Humans? Here?* Mague asked incredulously. *Now I know you have lost  
your mind. Bad enough we share our secrets.*

*They have extended the hand of friendship to us, Judicator,* Khadgar  
said wearily. *Invited us to share knowledge, welcomed us to their  
cities. It would be remiss if we did not reciprocate. This is the way  
of the Dae'uhl, The Great Stewardship.*

*It is the way of madness!* Mague snapped, slamming his fist down on  
Khadgar's desk. *They are primitives at best. It is like letting  
Kasah Rats loose in a Khaydarin Crystal mine. They will destroy all  
that we have built here!*

*First you question the Executor's sanity, then you insult my people,  
Mague.* The third Protoss in the room was powerful and heavily built,  
his skin mottled with signs of age. Aegeon led the Khalai caste of  
the colony, and he had been Mague and Khadgar's teacher when they  
were still younglings, before they had chosen their path in life.  
Though it had been many years since either had called him teacher,  
Aegeon still commanded respect from both Khadgar and Mague. *Perhaps  
the Dark Ones have possessed your thought. My people do not do work  
that is easily destroyed.*

Mague quailed and bowed his head. *I am concerned for the security of  
New Antioch and we still know so little of this world. I meant no  
offense.*

Aegeon glared at Mague for a moment longer and then looked at  
Khadgar. *Mague has a point, lad. The humans are clever and  
adaptable. I don't doubt Amelia, but this Rhodar fellow is an  
unknown. The fact that Amelia trusts him speaks well, but even Adun  
agreed that you can never truly know someone. Not even yourself.*

*Exactly my point!* Mague jumped back in. *Perhaps Amelia has been  
deluding us. Perhaps she is the one who forced us to crash. She may  
even be in league with the Dark Ones . . . yes! They forced us to  
crash here! To weaken us and then take this ship for themselves.*

*They have their own ships, Mague,* Khadgar said. *What need would  
they have for a single colony vessel?*

*And how would you know, Khadgar? Perhaps you are not the exception  
to your family that you claim?*

Khadgar's eyes blazed with anger. *YOU PRESUME FAR TOO MUCH UPON OUR  
FRIENDSHIP, MAGUE!* Khadgar thundered, psionic lightning arcing off  
his body and onto the walls and floor. *I HAVE MADE MY DECISION AND  
YOU WILL ABIDE BY IT!*

*Then I will take my leave, Executor,* Mague said. *Prime,* he nodded  
at Aegeon and left Khadgar's office.

*Adun give me strength,* Khadgar sighed, sinking into his chair,  
shoulders slumped in weariness. *Never have I had to use my rank as I  
have with him.*

*He's scared, Khadgar,* Aegeon said. *We all are. But you've done  
well by us. We survive and we prosper.*

*Do we?* Khadgar asked. *I begged for help from the humans, took  
their pity and used it to survive.*

*You sought help when you needed it,* Aegeon said. *Let the  
conservatives rail all they want, they weren't in your position.*

Khadgar let his finger trail over his desk. *Do you think the Dark  
Templar had a hand in our being here?*

*And if they were, you're worried about your family being here?*

*Yes.*

*I think you can rest easily, Khadgar. Their only real crime was to  
disagree with the Conclave.* Aegeon shook his head. *That's beside  
the point, though. You're eager to thank the humans for their help,  
but that doesn't mean we should be letting them run rampant either.  
You have to give some thought to security, Khadgar. If Amelia or  
Rhodar is planning some evil, we should be ready.*

Khadgar stood up and stared out the window at the gleaming golden  
buildings of New Antioch. *Such a strange world,* he mused. *And you  
are right, Master Aegeon, we cannot relax too much.* He straightened  
up.  *Have the Probes bury the Pylons underground where they can't be  
seen. I want the city Forges either shut down or turning out only  
tools and farming items. Make sure the Cybernetics Cores are secure,  
and halt production of Dragoon Exoskeletons.* He thought for a  
moment. *When the probes are done with the Pylons, have them see to  
the city walls and Photon Cannons. Finally, more Observers and . . .*  
He took a deep breath. *I want those extra Observers armed with  
singularity charges with myself the only one who can set them off.  
When they're ready, send them out to find both Amelia and Rhodar. If  
they are up to evil, likely they'll be discussing it while they can  
do so out of our hearing.*

*I'll see it done, Khadgar,* Aegeon said, standing up and then he  
paused. *Why the singularity charges?*

Khadgar slowly turned to look at Aegeon. *If there is treachery  
afoot, they'll not make it inside our walls.*

Aegeon bowed his head and left, leaving Khadgar alone. The Executor  
turned back to the window, staring out at the city.

Such a strange world . . .

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