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.

Author's Note: I lost my game book which described the history of the  
Protoss and their culture, so I was working from memory. As such,  
some of it may not be one hundred percent accurate.

***********

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. He didn't say it, but Amelia was fairly sure that  
there was a military reason for doing it that way.

"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. But the Protoss would survive. That  
was the important thing.

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 and back again via the scenic  
route. 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 they 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, now you invite them to  
live among us?*

*They have extended the hand of friendship to us,* Khadgar said  
wearily. *Invited us to share knowledge, welcomed us to their cities,  
allowed us to live among them. 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, Khadgar. The humans are clever and  
adaptable. 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?*

*Doubtful, but if they were, you're worried about your family?*

*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, Prime, 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 . . .

* * * *

The Observers found no intention of treachery, and so the humans were  
welcomed inside New Antioch's walls. By necessity, the humans brought  
their own food, but the one part of the visit that truly concerned  
Khadgar was Mague's almost outright rudeness. He snubbed the humans  
at every opportunity, was just shy of condescending and bordered on  
insulting. Perhaps worse, many others were following his lead and the  
tension was mounting.

*Perhaps I can have them arrested for endangerment of the colony,*  
Khadgar said to Aegeon on the third night of the human's visit. The  
two Protoss sat in Khadgar's quarters, and despite the lateness of  
the hour, Khadgar couldn't sleep.

Though he must have roused the older Protoss from much needed sleep,  
Aegeon had come when Khadgar asked him too, and as he had when  
Khadgar had been a youngling, sat and listened.

*You are Executor, Khadgar,* Aegeon said when his former student had  
finished. *I cannot tell you what to do. Nor can I make judgement on  
Mague.*

*But you are the Khalai Prime,* Khadgar said, *it is your right by  
custom and tradition to speak your mind to me as the need arises.  
Please, my old teacher . . . my friend . . . help me find my path.*

At that moment, there was a chime and then the computer spoke. *Human  
designate Amelia and companion Biped designate Zelgadis express  
desire to enter and speak with Executor Khadgar.*

*Of course,* Khadgar said as he and Aegeon rose. "Enter."

"I apologize for disturbing you so late," Amelia said.

"Not all," Khadgar said, "please, sit."

When they were all seated, Amelia nervously smoothed her tunic.  
"Executor . . . I have come to apologize."

"For what?" Khadgar asked.

"I'm . . . not sure. But since our arrival, there have been  . . .  
incidents, and if it is something we have said or done . . ."

"Say no more," Khadgar said. "It is nothing you have done, or said."  
Khadgar was silent for a moment. "We have spoken of my people's  
history and the wars which plagued us for so long."

"The Aeon of Strife," Zelgadis said. "Which was ended by the  
establishment of the Castes and the Conclave."

Khadgar nodded. "Not all of the Protoss accepted this, or the  
restraints of the Khala. They refused to submit their passionate,  
free spirits to the new way of life and lived for many years in  
hidden Enclaves in the wastelands created by the Aeon of Strife. I  
was born in one of those Enclaves. When I was a youngling, the  
Conclave discovered the Enclaves and sent a punitive force under Adun  
to eliminate us once and for all. But Adun could not commit such an  
act of genocide. Instead, he plead our case to the Conclave and so  
rather than kill us, we were exiled to the stars. I chose to stay  
behind."

"And you were not killed?" Zelgadis asked incredulously.

"Even throughout the Aeon of Strife, we have long held that a  
youngling of a certain age may choose a path aside from the one of  
their parents," Aegeon said. "The exiles claimed that their decision  
to ignore the Conclave stemmed from this right and Adun based his  
arguments on it when he pleaded with the Conclave to spare the exiles."

"Mague's father led the Templar who found me and he chose to raise me  
as his own son, alongside Mague," Khadgar said. "When we were of age,  
we were faced with the choice of which caste we would enter. Mague  
assumed we would both be Judicators as we both possessed the needed  
psychic abilities, but I chose the path of the Templar and I fear he  
has never completely forgiven me for it."

"Then he was rude because of your old disagreement?" Zelgadis asked.

"It is more complicated than that," Khadgar said. "Before the Exiles  
left, they cut off their neural strands," he indicated the long, hair- 
like strands hanging down from the back of his skull. "In doing so,  
they also cut themselves off from all Protoss. It is believed that  
they then began to draw their power from the cold void of space. Over  
time, they have come to be seen as nightmares, a horror and perverted  
mockery of life."

"Mague fears the Dark Templar, as they came to be known," Aegeon  
said. "He believes that they may have had a hand in our coming to  
your world and that humans are their creatures. He was opposed to  
your visit."

"I'm curious," Zelgadis said to Khadgar, "Why did you stay behind?"

"For as long as I can remember, I was never fond of leaving things  
unordered," Khadgar said. "More to the point, the stories of the  
horrors of the Aeon of Strife compelled me to do whatever it takes to  
prevent that kind of chaos from happening again. But there are those  
who . . . question my true loyalties."

"Because you grew up in the Enclaves," Zelgadis mused. He leaned  
forward. "This is your first command, isn't it? Everything you've  
worked for hangs on the survival of the colony."

"And your rank," Amelia said. "Mague technically outranks you and  
it's only because you're still 'at sea' that you're able to keep him  
from acting on his fears."

"You are perceptive, my friends," Khadgar said and then leapt to his  
feet as an alarm wailed. He crossed to the wall in two strides and  
pressed the com switch. *Khadgar. Status?*

*Judicator Mague is leading a large group in the square, Executor!  
They are massing in front of the humans' residence. The humans have  
massed at their door and their weapons are at the ready. There is no  
fighting as of yet.*

*Get between them, you are authorized to use force if either side  
attempts to attack. I'm on my way.* Khadgar made sure the com was off  
and then allowed himself one curse.

"Khadgar?" Amelia said as he turned back to face the room. "What is it?"

"Mague has acted on his fears," Khadgar said, and reached for his armor.

* * * *

In the square, they found a double line of Protoss Templar armed with  
pikes. One of the lines faced the humans, the other faced what could  
only be called a mob. Several Dragoons were at the edges of the  
square, their weapons ports open, sensor pods twitching.

"Put up your swords!" Amelia shouted, as she marched towards her  
people. "Put up your swords!"

"But highness!" a knight protested. "They --"

"Put up your sword, Sir Knight!" Zelgadis roared. "We have yet to be  
attacked and Seyrun does not attack first." In a lower voice, he  
spoke quietly to a captain. "Where's Rhodar?"

"Inside with his troops," the captain replied with a tight grin. "We  
drew straws."

*Dragoons are to stand down!* Khadgar bellowed and then looked at  
Mague. *Explain yourself, Mague.*

*I owe you no explanations, traitor!* Mague shouted back. *You have  
sullied the honor of all Protoss and spat on the Dae'uhl! You are not  
Templar, Dark One Spawn and I declare you unfit to be Executor!*

*These are unusual circumstances, Mague, and so I will make  
allowances, but I will not tolerate outright traitorous behavior!*

*There is no betrayal in overthrowing a madman!* Mague shouted back.  
*You claim to have saved us, but how is this saved? We owe our lives  
to primitives, we survived because they consented to throw us scraps,  
which YOU lapped up like some sort of animal!*

*Hear me, all of you,* Khadgar said. *What has happened to us is  
unprecedented. As Executor, it my duty to ensure the survival of this  
colony at all costs. Had that meant making war on the humans, so be  
it. But that is also what led to the Aeon of Strife and we cannot  
make those same mistakes. We must remember the way of the Khala and  
the lessons taught to us by Adun. I chose the path of peace, and I  
would do so again. We must not let violence be the first answer, the  
Aeon of Strife must not happen again.*

The numbers of the Mob began to dwindle as Khadgar continued to  
speak. Eventually, the Mob numbered only fifty.

*And now Mague, I command you; Disperse! You know I am not  
unreasonable, we can discuss this in the Nexus meeting halls. But for  
now, disperse.*

*No! You will step down, Khadgar! You will step down and the humans  
will leave this very instant!*

*Disperse, Mague, I give you ten seconds to do so and if you remain,  
you will be placed under arrest.*

The seconds ticked by and then Khadgar beckoned to one of the  
Templar.  *Praetor, you are to escort the Judicator and his  
associates to their residences where they are to remain until further  
notice. You will also clear the square by any means necessary.*

*Je Hous!* The Praetor responded and began issuing orders.

* * * *

Amelia and Rhodar left the next day, claiming that they needed to get  
back to their peoples. Amelia had wanted to stay, but Zelgadis and  
Rhodar had convinced her otherwise. At the moment, staying would only  
hinder Khadgar.

Three days after the incident, Mague and his associates were gathered  
in the Nexus, and Khadgar, in his full formal robes and armor, stood  
before them.

Seen in the harsh lighting of the Nexus, Mague's mob was largely made  
up of older, conservative Protoss and brash younglings.

*You have all been charged with failure to obey lawful orders,*  
Khadgar said. *You are also charged with failure to respect the  
tenets of the Dae'uhl and as Executor of New Antioch, I have no  
choice but to declare you guilty.*

*And thus the tyrant speaks!* Mague said mockingly. *Now we shall be  
marched into the square and executed for the crime of thinking.*

*On the contrary, Mague, you are to be exiled. You will be given one  
Probe and a single hover sled's worth of supplies. You will then be  
escorted to the edges of Thromkir Valley where you will construct a  
settlement and stay there until contact with Auir is established. At  
the point, you will be remanded to the Conclave for formal trial. En  
Taro Adun!*

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