StarCraft Chronicles Episode 11: The Gate of Shakuras Passed by Refugees

This is a fan narrative newly written based on the events of the original work. The characters' emotions, dialogues, and the atmosphere of the scenes have been reconstructed, and it includes major endings.

The Despair of Aiur, Where the Zerg Swarm Remains Even After the Overmind's Death

The skies of Aiur were still bruised by the flash left behind by Tassadar's sacrifice. The once golden-glowing land was now covered in gray dust and dark red creep, revealing hideous scars. Around the massive remains of the Overmind, ceaselessly burning flames spewed acrid smoke, bearing witness to the downfall of the Protoss.

Artanis stood atop the ruins of a shattered temple, looking down at the endless ruins. The young Executor's shoulders were weighed down by a heavy sense of guilt for failing to protect the empire. Wherever his gaze fell, the bodies of his brethren and hideously torn mechanical fragments lay scattered in disarray, creating a gruesome sight.

The Overmind had been destroyed, but that did not mean the complete annihilation of the Zerg. The feral Zerg swarms, having lost control, swept across Aiur with even greater ferocity, destroying everything in their path. Their horrific noises, howling like starved beasts, tore through the minds of the survivors via the Khala's network.

"We were victorious, yet we have lost everything," Artanis murmured softly toward the shadow that approached his side. His voice was steeped in irrepressible grief. He still found it difficult to fully accept the reality that a glorious empire spanning thousands of years had turned to ashes in just a matter of days.

Emerging from the darkness, Zeratul nodded silently. As a Prelate of the Dark Templar, he had foreseen this tragic outcome to some extent, but the actual devastation of his homeland unfolding before his eyes chilled even his ancient heart. He pulled his worn cloak tight and stared at the blood-red horizon.

"We cannot let Tassadar's sacrifice be in vain, Executor." Zeratul's voice was calm, yet carried a resolute strength. "Aiur is already dying. We cannot allow those who remain to become food for the beasts in this cursed land. We must make a decision."

Artanis clenched his fists. The fear and despair of the survivors transmitted through the Khala scraped sharply against his nerves. The Zerg encirclement was tightening by the minute, and defensive lines were already collapsing in various places. Holding out on this planet any longer was nothing more than a futile act of suicide.

"Where would we go? This is our only home," Artanis asked in despair, to which Zeratul remained silent for a moment. Soon, his eyes gleamed coldly in the darkness. "Shakuras, the place where my people dwell. We must open the warp gate there and evacuate the survivors."

Artanis and Zeratul Gather the Surviving Protoss to Prepare for Evacuation

At the mention of the name Shakuras, Artanis's eyes wavered slightly. Heading to the sanctuary of the Dark Templar, who had been exiled from Aiur over a thousand years ago, was something unimaginable for the Khalai Protoss. However, the current situation was not leisurely enough to assert ancient dogmas and pride.

"We must confirm if the Great Gate is still intact." Zeratul turned and pointed toward the outskirts of the ruined city. "We must rally the survivors before the Zerg completely seize that area. The more time is delayed, the number of our brethren we can save will decrease exponentially."

Artanis nodded with resolute determination and sent an urgent pulse through the Khala's network. Scattered Protoss warriors and refugees began to emerge cautiously from their hiding places in response to the Executor's call. Their faces were heavily etched with fatigue and fear, but their will to survive was clear.

The procession of survivors was utterly wretched. Wounded Zealots supported one another, while children and the elderly followed behind the warriors, paralyzed with fear. Looking at their miserable state, Artanis bit his lip once more. Fear preceded him as he wondered if he could lead them to a safe escape.

Zeratul led the Dark Templar at the front of the evacuation procession, carving out a path. Whenever his psionic blade flashed in the darkness, ambushing Zerg swarms fell silently. The stealthy and lethal combat style of the Dark Templar served as a reassuring shield for the panicked refugees.

At last, the Great Gate, a massive ancient structure, revealed its majestic presence before them. Fortunately, the gate itself was not destroyed, but countless Zerg swarms had already set up camp around it. Artanis drew his blade and ordered the warriors to form a battle line. The final bloody battle for escape was about to begin.

"I need time to activate the gate!" Zeratul shouted as he approached the gate's control mechanism. Awakening the ancient energy required a complex procedure, and in the meantime, someone had to hold off the waves of Zerg attacks. Artanis stepped to the front and charged toward the pouring swarms of Zerglings.

The refugees gathered in a circle around the gate, trembling and praying. The shouts of the warriors and the screeches of the Zerg blended together, creating a horrific cacophony. As a blue light slowly began to glow at the center of the gate, a faint spark of hope flared in the eyes of the survivors. However, the Zerg offensive was growing fiercer by the moment.

Raynor and Fenix Decide to Guard the Rear on Aiur

With blue energy swirling, the warp gate finally opened. Artanis instructed the refugees to hurry and leap into the gate. However, the Zerg swarms were endless, and the defensive line was gradually pushed back, on the verge of collapse. If someone did not remain behind to hold them off, everyone would be slaughtered.

Just then, with a heavy mechanical hum, a massive Dragoon stepped to the very front of the defensive line. It was Fenix. His mechanical chassis was already scorched from multiple attacks, but his spirit was fiercer than any warrior on Aiur. "I shall remain, Artanis. Lead our people and depart quickly."

"Fenix! I cannot allow this! I cannot lose you again!" Artanis cried out urgently, trying to dissuade him. But Fenix, with a resolute motion, fired his phase disruptor, shattering the approaching Hydralisks into pieces. Not a shred of hesitation could be heard in his synthesized voice.

"This is my choice, and the glory of the Templar. Someone must hold back these cursed beasts, must they not?" Beside Fenix, a Terran Vulture slid into view with a familiar engine roar. It was Jim Raynor. Raising his helmet's visor, he flashed his characteristic easygoing smile.

"My men and I will stay behind too, Executor," Raynor said over the communicator. "If we leave, I figure this big guy will get too lonely by himself. Besides, we're not the type to live with unpaid debts." Behind him, Terran Marines and Siege Tanks arrived one after another, beginning to establish a defensive line.

Artanis was choked up with emotion before the noble decision of the two heroes, unable to speak. Even a Terran, an outsider, was risking his life for the survival of the Protoss. Zeratul approached and placed a heavy hand on Artanis's shoulder. "We must not let their sacrifice be in vain. We must survive to secure our future."

"En Taro Tassadar. En Taro Adun." Artanis saluted Fenix and Raynor with deep respect. Fenix raised his heavy arm in return, and Raynor waved his hand nonchalantly. Suppressing his rising sorrow, Artanis turned and threw himself into the vortex of the warp gate.

Watching the last of the surviving Protoss disappear beyond the gate, Fenix and Raynor gripped their weapons anew. Facing the endlessly surging tidal wave of Zerg, the eyes of the two commanders burned not with fear, but with resolute fighting spirit. The desperate defensive battle of those left behind on Aiur raised its curtain.

Refugees Entering the Unfamiliar Shakuras Through the Warp Gate

The moment he passed through the warp gate, Artanis felt an intense dizziness as if all his senses were being warped. After a brief instant where the boundaries of time and space collapsed and light and darkness intersected, he tumbled onto the rough ground. When he opened his eyes, what welcomed him was not the warm sunlight of Aiur, but a sky of eternal twilight.

The air of Shakuras was cool and dry, and the scent of the unfamiliar planet pierced his lungs. On this sunless planet, faintly glowing nebulae and strange bioluminescent plants were the only light sources. The Khalai refugees who emerged from the gate afterward were overwhelmed by the unfamiliar environment, looking around with anxious eyes.

"Is this truly the home of the Dark Templar?" a High Templar muttered in disbelief. For those who had lived in the warm light of the Khala for thousands of years, the deep darkness of Shakuras evoked an instinctive fear. Some refugees collapsed onto the barren earth, weeping in grief over their lost homeland.

Zeratul slid out of the darkness and stood before the trembling crowd. His presence was like the only familiar signpost in this alien world. "Do not fear, my brothers. The darkness of Shakuras is merely a shroud that hides us; it will never harm you. Follow me."

Guided by Zeratul, the refugees began to walk along a rugged rocky canyon. A harsh sandstorm whipped their worn robes, and their fatigue-laden steps were infinitely heavy. Artanis brought up the rear of the procession, guarding against potential dangers and encouraging the survivors. In a corner of his heart, worry for those left behind on Aiur still lingered.

As they emerged from the canyon, the entrance to a massive underground city appeared before them. The structures, elaborately carved into the side of a sheer cliff, exuded a cold and mysterious beauty entirely different from the golden temples of Aiur. It was the proof of survival achieved by the Nerazim during their thousands of years of exile.

As they reached the city entrance, dozens of green eyes flashed in the darkness. Warriors of the Dark Templar stood on high alert, watching the unfamiliar visitors. The warp blades in their hands vibrated with a menacing hum. The refugees instinctively stepped back, catching their breath in terror.

Zeratul stepped forward, spreading his arms. He shouted something in the unique language of the Nerazim, causing the wary warriors to hesitate. However, the hostility and vigilance in their eyes did not easily subside. Inviting those who had cast them out thousands of years ago into their own home was by no means an easy task.

The Nerazim and the Khalai Face Each Other, Bearing the Ancient Schism

The Nerazim warriors slowly revealed themselves, surrounding the Khalai crowd in a circle. Their faces were covered in cloth, but the cold aura they exuded was threatening enough. The Khalai warriors also instinctively reached to ignite their psionic blades, and a hair-trigger tension sliced through the cold air.

"Sheathe your weapons!" Artanis shouted urgently, stepping in front of the Khalai warriors. "We have not come to fight. We are merely refugees driven from our lost home." Despite his desperate plea, the Nerazim warriors did not lower their weapons. The chasm of resentment built over long ages was that deep.

A Nerazim elder stepped forward and spoke in a chilling voice. "Do those who drove us into this barren land now come to seek our protection? Did not the Conclave hunt us, calling us heretics? Why should we take you in?"

At those words, several Khalai survivors trembled with shame and anger. Yet, they could not refute it. They themselves realized all too painfully that the arrogance of the Conclave had ultimately brought about the ruin of Aiur. Zeratul stepped before the elder and spoke quietly but firmly.

"The Conclave has fallen, Mohandar. Aiur has been trampled under the feet of the Zerg, and these are the last of our surviving brethren. Tassadar sacrificed his own life to save us all. The sacrifice he showed proved that the Khalai and the Nerazim are by no means different."

At the mention of Tassadar's name, a subtle stir went through the Nerazim warriors. Even to the Dark Templar, Tassadar was widely known as the only High Templar who had understood and respected their power. His noble death began to create a small crack in this long-standing wall of resentment.

Artanis placed his hand over his chest and bowed his head deeply. "I will not deny the mistakes made by our ancestors. But now, we are brothers pursued by the same enemy. Please, show us mercy. I do not wish to stain this barren land with our blood."

At the young Executor's heartfelt appeal and Zeratul's endorsement, the murderous intent of the Nerazim warriors softened slightly. Finally, at the elder's gesture, the warriors sheathed their weapons and cleared a path. The taut tension dissolved, and the Khalai refugees breathed a sigh of relief. However, the true test still lay ahead.

Raszagal Accepts the Refugees and Discusses Mutual Survival

Guided by the Nerazim warriors, the refugees entered the heart of a massive underground citadel. There lay a wide plaza adorned with softly glowing crystals, and upon a dais in the center of the plaza stood an elderly female Protoss of unapproachable dignity. It was Raszagal, the Matriarch of the Dark Templar.

Raszagal's piercing gaze slowly scanned the procession of refugees. Her eyes were deep and serene, as if holding thousands of years of history. Artanis and Zeratul stepped forward to the dais and paid their respects. A heavy silence fell over the plaza, so profound that not even the sound of breathing could be heard.

"Zeratul, my old friend. The state of the guests you lead is indeed wretched." Raszagal's voice was gentle, yet carried an undeniable power. "I have heard the news that Aiur has fallen. It is indeed a grievous tragedy."

"Matriarch, though I know it is shameless, I have led them here." Zeratul replied with his head bowed. "The threat of the Zerg is beyond our imagination. If you do not take in these survivors, the very lineage of the Protoss race will be severed."

Raszagal turned her gaze toward Artanis. "Young Executor, the burden upon your shoulders seems far too heavy. Though the arrogance of the Conclave ultimately birthed this tragedy, I will not hold these poor souls accountable for that sin. Are we not all the Firstborn of the Xel'naga?"

At her generous declaration, Artanis suppressed a sudden surge of emotion. "I will never forget your grace, Matriarch. We will abide by the laws of Shakuras and do our utmost not to disturb your peace. Our blades will now be wielded for Shakuras."

"Well spoken. Our future is far too dark to remain bound by past resentments." Raszagal raised her hand, making a benevolent gesture toward the refugees. "My Nerazim brethren, provide shelter and sustenance to these wounded souls. From this day forth, they are our guests and companions with whom we shall live."

Upon the Matriarch's command, the Nerazim residents approached to support the exhausted Khalai refugees and begin treating their wounds. It was a moment where two factions, severed for thousands of years, finally shared each other's warmth. Watching this scene, Artanis felt a deep sense of relief, as if a heavy burden had been temporarily lifted.

The Crisis of the Zerg Following the Refugees and Contaminating Shakuras

However, the moment of peace was far too brief. A sharp alarm from the outskirts of the plaza tore through the silence of Shakuras. A Nerazim Dark Templar who had gone out on patrol rushed in, covered in blood, and cried out urgently, "Matriarch! The warp gate... the gate has opened again!"

Artanis's heart sank. Since Fenix and Raynor were guarding the rear, the gate should have been safely closed. Bewilderment also clouded Zeratul's face. "Who has crossed over? Could it be the survivors left on Aiur?"

"No, it is the Zerg! Countless Zerg swarms are breaching the gate and pouring into Shakuras!" At the scout's desperate report, the plaza instantly turned into a scene of chaos. The refugees, who had barely found stability, began to scatter once more, screaming in terror.

"How can this be... Have we brought the beasts to this sacred land?" Artanis was overwhelmed by a crushing sense of guilt. His fingertips trembled slightly at the thought of driving the homeland of the benefactors who had saved them into ruin. The relentless pursuit of the Zerg was beyond imagination.

Raszagal's expression hardened formidably. "Do not panic, warriors of the Nerazim! Establish a defensive line immediately! Warriors of the Khalai, raise your weapons as well! We cannot surrender our home to those filthy beasts!" The Matriarch's thunderous command instantly rallied the panicked crowd.

Artanis and Zeratul immediately led the warriors and rushed to the canyon where the gate was located. The scene unfolding before their eyes was horrific. The warp gate, which had been spewing blue energy, was already covered in red creep, and beyond it, endless swarms of Zerg were pouring out, advancing through the sandstorm.

Hideous Hydralisks fired spines, destroying the Nerazim defense towers, while flocks of Mutalisks screeched and dived from the sky. The clean air of Shakuras was instantly contaminated with the smell of blood and the stench of creep. The Khalai and Nerazim warriors stood shoulder to shoulder, waging a desperate defensive battle.

Artanis's psionic blade danced, cutting down the approaching Zerglings, but the enemy's numbers were overwhelming. At this rate, it was certain that Shakuras would meet the same fate as Aiur. As the desperate battle raged on, a strange and powerful psionic wave swept through the center of the battlefield.

Kerrigan Warns of a New Overmind and Proposes an Alliance

The Zerg swarms, which had been fiercely attacking, stopped in their tracks in an instant. As if a massive invisible hand had grabbed their leashes, the once-ferocious beasts simply stood in place, growling softly. In the bizarre silence that fell over the battlefield, the warriors could not hide their bewilderment as they gripped their weapons tighter.

The center of the Zerg swarm parted, and a familiar yet alien figure slowly walked out. A being with the silhouette of a human female, but draped in wings of bone and a spiked carapace. It was Kerrigan, the Queen of Blades. A relaxed and arrogant smile spread across her lips.

"Kerrigan!" Zeratul spat out a shout filled with rage as he stepped forward. He knew well the tragedy of the Terrans who had abandoned her to the Zerg on Tarsonis. Artanis also immediately aimed his blade, about to order the warriors to attack. It was certain that this horrific monster was the culprit behind this entire situation.

"You'd best lower your weapons, Templar." Kerrigan's voice echoed directly in the minds of the warriors. Seeming to feel no threat at all, she made a graceful gesture, causing the surrounding Zerg swarms to back away. "I didn't come here to fight you. In fact, I came to help you."

"Lies, corrupted one! Does a puppet of the Overmind dare to deceive us?" Artanis snapped fiercely. But Kerrigan scoffed and shook her head. "The Overmind is dead. Thanks to your heroic Tassadar, that is. I am a free agent now."

At her words, the Protoss commanders fell into confusion. Kerrigan leisurely continued, as if enjoying their agitation. "But it's too early to celebrate. A new Overmind is growing on Char. Daggoth and the other Cerebrates are trying to use that young Overmind to control the Zerg once again."

"A new Overmind?" Zeratul's eyes wavered. If that were true, it meant all the sacrifices the Protoss had made would go down the drain. Kerrigan stared straight at Zeratul with her glowing red eyes. "Yes. Once that thing fully awakens, I'll become a slave again too. I don't want that."

"That's why I need your help," Kerrigan proposed, slowly spreading her arms. "You want to drive these tiresome Zerg swarms off Shakuras, and I want to destroy the new Overmind. Our goals are the same. What do you say we form an alliance?" Before her chilling smile, the Protoss leaders fell into a deep silence.

Verified Sources

Official Blizzard StarCraft Chronicles

Official StarCraft: Brood War Game Introduction

Official Story Direction and Reference Images of the Remaster

Official StarCraft: Brood War Download and Remaster Purchase