StarCraft Chronicles Episode 12: The Two Crystals and the Matriarch's Silence

This is a newly written fan narrative based on the events of the original game. The characters' emotions, dialogues, and scene atmospheres have been reconstructed, and it contains major spoilers.

The Uraj and Khalis Needed to Activate the Xel'Naga Temple

Matriarch Raszagal looked at the dimly glowing hologram of the Xel'Naga Temple and spoke with a heavy heart. Her voice had lost its usual gentleness, carrying an strangely resolute resonance. She argued that to drive away the Zerg Swarm blanketing Shakuras all at once, they had to awaken the ancient energy sleeping in the heart of the temple. Zeratul, standing in the shadows, was weighing the dangers of that proposal.

To activate the temple, they needed two massive crystals left behind by the ancient Xel'Naga: the Uraj and the Khalis. Raszagal explained that the two crystals contained the energy of the Khala and the Void, respectively, and that only by combining them could they unleash a wave of purification. Artanis nodded at the necessity of retrieving the lost relics, but he expressed strong aversion to the uninvited guest who suddenly intruded upon their council.

Sarah Kerrigan, the Queen of Blades who styled herself the ruler of the Swarm, stood in a corner of the chamber with a relaxed smile. She claimed that a new Overmind was growing on the planet Char, and that she too needed the strength of the Protoss to destroy the Cerebrates controlling it. Kerrigan asserted that she knew the current locations of the Uraj and Khalis, and offered to willingly serve as their guide.

Deep suspicion clouded Zeratul's eyes. The very fiend who had trampled Aiur and slaughtered countless of their brethren would not offer goodwill now. He stepped forward, warning that they must not be deceived by Kerrigan's cunning tongue. However, Raszagal firmly cut off Zeratul's objections, insisting that this was a time when they had to join hands even with an enemy for the sake of survival.

Artanis could not hide his bewilderment at the Matriarch's decision. Aldaris, formerly of the Conclave, also stood beside Raszagal with a face contorted in anger. Yet, no one had the authority to defy an official command issued by the leader of the Nerazim. Deep within Raszagal's eyes, a fleeting, alien gleam flickered for an instant, but those crushed by the desperate state of the war failed to notice this subtle change.

Kerrigan shrugged lightly, as if enjoying the distrustful glares of the Protoss commanders. She added that their first target, the Uraj crystal, was hidden on the frozen planet of Braxis. Zeratul bowed his head, stating he would obey the Matriarch's will, but deep in his heart, an ominous premonition was blooming like a poisonous mushroom. He felt as though this alliance, from start to finish, was merely dancing to someone's meticulous calculations.

As the meeting ended and the commanders dispersed to prepare for departure, Zeratul stared at Raszagal's retreating figure for a long time. The wise and benevolent Matriarch of the past was nowhere to be seen; instead, only a stranger consumed by blind purpose seemed to stand there. He desperately hoped that his suspicions were merely nervousness born from the grief of losing his homeland.

Artanis boosted the warriors' morale as he ordered the fleet to prepare for launch. Although it was a humiliating mission that required them to accompany the vile Zerg, they had no other choice if they were to protect the survivors of Aiur who had taken refuge on Shakuras. At the bows of the Protoss fleet leaping into the cold abyss of space, hope and anxiety crossed paths precariously.

Securing the Uraj Crystal Against Human Forces on Braxis

What welcomed the Protoss fleet as it entered the orbit of the planet Braxis was an endless, raging blizzard and biting cold. The surface was covered in thick glaciers, and the atmosphere was filled with the howling of harsh winds. Artanis tracked the energy signature of the Uraj crystal through the sensor grid, searching for a landing zone. However, blocking their path was an unexpectedly massive Terran orbital defense network.

The Terran forces stationed there were none other than the military of the Terran Dominion, led by Emperor Mengsk. Artanis realized that the Dominion was establishing a new foothold on this frontier planet and attempting to seize the ancient relic. Zeratul, cloaking himself in the shadows, scouted the enemy lines and confirmed that the Dominion forces kept the Uraj crystal at the center of a heavily fortified stronghold. The Protoss had to penetrate the tight Dominion security to retrieve the crystal.

A frontal assault would undoubtedly result in massive casualties. Artanis proposed a plan to use the main body of the fleet as a decoy to distract the Terrans. Meanwhile, Zeratul and a small band of Dark Templar would infiltrate the rear of the fortress to seize the crystal. Kerrigan mocked their plan over the communications network, but the Protoss commanders ignored her derision and silently put the plan into action.

Descending through the blizzard, the Protoss warriors launched a fierce assault on the Terran defense towers. The blue flashes of the Zealots' psionic blades cut across the frozen earth, and the antimatter rounds of the Dragoons shattered bunkers. The Terran forces also put up a stubborn resistance, establishing a heavy curtain of fire. The snow-covered battlefield instantly turned into a chaotic scene of explosions and flames.

While the battle raged fiercely at the front, Zeratul merged with the shadows and scaled the fortress walls. The footsteps of the Dark Templar left no trace upon the snow, and their blades silently cut the throats of the guards. As Zeratul navigated the labyrinthine interior of the fortress, a clear and pure psionic energy began to touch his senses. The Uraj crystal was drawing near.

Deep within the fortress, which they finally reached, a massive blue crystal floated in the air, radiating a brilliant light. The Uraj crystal, containing the essence of the Khala, emitted a warm and magnificent pulse strong enough to push back the surrounding freezing cold. Just as Zeratul cautiously approached to retrieve the crystal, hidden elite Terran forces revealed themselves all at once, surrounding him.

Deflecting the hailing Gauss rifle fire with his psionic shield, Zeratul lunged into the enemy ranks like lightning. Cold steel armor was torn apart, and screams echoed inside the fortress. He broke through the encirclement in an instant and cradled the Uraj crystal in his arms. The moment the crystal touched his hand, long-forgotten, glorious memories of Aiur flashed through his mind, sending a powerful thrill through him.

With the signal that the crystal had been secured, the Protoss forces quickly disengaged from the battlefield and returned to orbit. Terran anti-aircraft fire chased after them, but the fleet, having achieved its objective, leaped away from Braxis without hesitation. Artanis breathed a sigh of relief upon confirming the pristine state of the Uraj crystal. Now, only the Khalis crystal, hidden in the hellish fires of Char, remained.

Securing the Khalis Crystal on Char: Sensing the Threat of the New Overmind

Arriving in the orbit of the planet Char, the Protoss fleet was met with a horrific sight that was the polar opposite of Braxis. The entire planet was burning red, covered in boiling lava and thick volcanic ash. The stench of sulfur hung in the air, accompanied by the echoing, ferocious roars of the Zerg Swarm. Zeratul stared out the window, feeling a chilling shiver run down his spine. It felt as though the nightmares of the past were coming back to life.

This was no ordinary Zerg swarm. The massive, oppressive will of the Overmind, which they had thought dead, was pulsing once more in the core of Char. Although it was not as complete as the Overmind of the past, the terrible wave of thought binding countless Zerg together was undeniably present. Zeratul realized with bitter clarity that the threat of the new Overmind Kerrigan had warned them about was by no means a lie.

Kerrigan explained that the renegade Cerebrates had rallied around the new Overmind to oppose her. The Khalis crystal was located right near the nest where this new Overmind was growing. To obtain the crystal, they had to fight their way through endless waves of wild Zerg and the Cerebrates' guardian forces. Artanis gripped his blade with a resolute expression and ordered his warriors to prepare for descent.

Landing on the burning earth, the Protoss forces immediately clashed with a tidal wave of Zerg rushing from all directions. Zerglings burst through the lava, throwing themselves at the Zealots' defensive lines, while Mutalisk acid glides rained down from the sky. Kerrigan's own Zerg forces also supported the Protoss, engaging in a horrific fratricidal slaughter. The battlefield was a literal hell, a chaotic mix of blood, acid, and lava.

Zeratul pushed through the chaos, following the energy of the Khalis crystal deep into a cavern. The Khalis, harboring the energy of the Void, emitted a murky green light, creating a strange resonance with the surrounding Zerg creep. Guarding the crystal were massive tentacles protecting the new Overmind and hideous mutant Zerg. Holding his breath, he glided silently through the shadows.

The moment the Dark Templar's surprise strike pierced the vital points of the guardian forces, the entire cavern vibrated as the Zerg erupted in a furious roar. Zeratul dodged the incoming enemy attacks by a hair's breadth and reached for the Khalis crystal. The energy of the Void flowed through his body, infusing him with a heavy power. Gripping the crystal tightly, he ran outside, dodging the collapsing debris of the cavern.

Having secured the Khalis crystal, the Protoss forces quickly retreated to avoid further attrition. As Zeratul boarded the dropship, leaving the lava fields behind, the immature yet overwhelming mind of the new Overmind vented its fury behind him. He was seized by a sense of urgency that they must complete the purification of Shakuras before this terrible monster fully matured. Time was not on their side.

A heavy silence hung inside the fleet returning to Shakuras with both crystals secured. Kerrigan wore a satisfied smile, as if she had achieved her goal, which only made Zeratul more anxious since he could not fathom her true intentions. What did she truly want? Returning home with these questions, what awaited them was a betrayal by their own kind, far more horrific than the threat of the Zerg.

Aldaris Senses Raszagal's Abnormality and Rebels

What welcomed Artanis and Zeratul upon their return to Talematros, the capital of Shakuras, was not a greeting of welcome, but the flames of civil war. Throughout the city, Protoss warriors were pointing their blades at one another, and the debris of explosions littered the streets. Artanis was horrified by the devastation before his eyes and scrambled to assess the situation. The one who led the rebellion was none other than Aldaris, a survivor of the Conclave.

The faction of Khalai survivors led by Aldaris had rebelled against Raszagal's rule and seized key strongholds in Talematros. Zeratul could not understand Aldaris's actions, showing such fierce hostility toward the Matriarch who had willingly taken in the refugees of Aiur. He tried to establish communication with Aldaris's camp with a voice full of anger, but he was met only with a resolute silence.

Raszagal was commanding the suppression of the rebels from her fortress headquarters. No mercy or sorrow could be found on her face; only a cold, cruel anger lingered there. Branding Aldaris an ungrateful traitor, she issued a horrific order to execute him and all of his followers. Zeratul could not believe his ears when he heard the Matriarch order the slaughter of their own kind.

Artanis strongly protested Raszagal's order. Even if Aldaris had started a rebellion, he was once a Judicator who led Aiur, and those who followed him were also brethren they were sworn to protect. Despite Artanis's earnest pleas to resolve the misunderstanding through dialogue, Raszagal remained unyielding. She threatened that if he disobeyed the order, she would consider even Artanis a traitor.

Zeratul closely observed the strange glow emanating from Raszagal's eyes. This was an extreme decision that the Matriarch of the past would never have made. It was clear that somewhere within her soul, she had been fatally twisted. However, they needed the Matriarch's authority to activate the Xel'Naga Temple and stop the Zerg immediately, and internal division from a rebellion would inevitably bring catastrophic results.

Ultimately, Artanis and Zeratul had to shed tears of blood and raise weapons against their own kind. They resolved to capture Aldaris with minimal casualties to uncover the truth. The steps of the Protoss forces marching through the narrow alleys of Talematros were as heavy as lead. The tragedy of brothers who stood shoulder-to-shoulder yesterday having to plunge blades into each other's chests today stained the night of Shakuras red.

The rebels' resistance was far fiercer and more desperate than expected. Aldaris's followers held their positions without retreating, like martyrs fighting against a great evil. In their eyes, there was no greed for power, but rather the desperate sense of duty of those who had witnessed some horrible truth. Every time Zeratul stepped over the corpses of his enemies, he felt a sharp, cutting pain in a corner of his heart.

After a fierce battle, Artanis's forces broke through the rebels' final line of defense and reached the heart of the citadel where Aldaris was staying. In the center of the empty hall, Aldaris stood alone, waiting for them. His worn robes were stained with the marks of battle, but his straight back and unwavering gaze showed that he had by no means yielded. It was the moment of an inevitable confrontation.

The Truth Behind Raszagal's Mind Control by Kerrigan: Aldaris Attempts to Speak

In the cool air of the citadel, Zeratul and Artanis surrounded Aldaris. Despite Artanis's shout to lower his weapons, Aldaris shook his head with a bitter smile. He made it clear that the reason he fought this reckless battle, even at the cost of being branded a traitor, was not out of a lingering desire for power. In his voice, instead of the arrogance of the days when he led the Conclave, there was deep sorrow and lamentation.

Aldaris pointed a finger at Zeratul, warning him that the leader of the Nerazim had been consumed by a terrible darkness. He made the shocking claim that Matriarch Raszagal harbored a dark secret she had kept hidden, and that she was being controlled by an unidentified evil entity. However, before he could utter the specific name of the mastermind, the air inside the citadel grew heavily oppressive.

Zeratul felt something beyond mere traitorous madness in Aldaris's resolute demeanor. The alien cruelty and arbitrary decisions Raszagal had shown recently flashed through his mind, but the claim that the Matriarch was under someone's mind control was a shock difficult to readily accept. Zeratul pressed Aldaris, demanding the identity of the controller and clear evidence.

Artanis also sheathed his blade and listened to Aldaris's revelation. If the reason a former Judicator of the Conclave had made the extreme choice of civil war was due to the Matriarch's abnormal behavior, this was a grave matter concerning the fate of the entire Protoss race. Artanis anxiously awaited Aldaris's next words to confirm the reality of the suspicions he harbored.

Aldaris attempted to reveal the clues he had found by closely observing the Matriarch's mind. He sought to expose the traces of the evil will lurking deep within Raszagal's consciousness and prove the deception of the entity they believed to be an ally. However, just as he was about to utter the decisive evidence and the name of the mastermind, the shadows all around began to shimmer strangely.

Zeratul swallowed hard in tension, feeling the weight of the truth Aldaris was trying to convey. If the Matriarch was indeed being controlled, then all the missions they had carried out so far might have been the result of playing right into the enemy's hands. Zeratul shouted at Aldaris to quickly reveal the identity of the mastermind.

Aldaris finally parted his lips to expose the name of the mastermind. At that exact moment, the air in the hall froze cold, and an ominous psionic energy tore through the space. At this sudden, unexpected intrusion, Zeratul and Artanis instinctively raised their weapons, but a sharp figure emerging from the darkness was already striking Aldaris from behind.

Appearing in an instant, Kerrigan, the Queen of Blades, cut off Aldaris's breath. Aldaris collapsed to the floor with a painful groan, unable to deliver the most crucial piece of the truth. Zeratul and Artanis, utterly shocked by the horrific sight unfolding before their eyes, let out cries of fury.

Kerrigan Murders Aldaris to Conceal the Truth

Under Kerrigan's merciless blow, Aldaris lost his life in vain. The last Judicator of the great Conclave collapsed, bleeding on the cold floor, without fully revealing the nature of the darkness surrounding the Matriarch. Zeratul trembled with rage as he ignited his psionic blade, and Artanis, equally infuriated by the slaughter committed on his people's sacred ground, glared fiercely at Kerrigan.

Zeratul poured out his intense fury at Kerrigan. Her act of arbitrarily intervening in the critical internal affairs of the Protoss and murdering their kin was an unacceptable insult. Zeratul commanded her to leave Shakuras immediately, warning her never to appear before the Protoss again.

Kerrigan merely wore a relaxed smile even in the face of Zeratul's wrath. She shamelessly retorted that she had simply disposed of Aldaris, who was a nuisance and a traitor to the Protoss. She added that since she had already achieved her desired goal—weakening the renegade Cerebrates loyal to the new Overmind—she would leave without regret, and vanished into the darkness.

In the space where Kerrigan vanished, only a heavy silence and Aldaris's cold corpse remained. Zeratul fell into deep anguish, pondering the warning Aldaris had left just before his death. Although the specific mastermind and evidence were gone, the very fact that Kerrigan had silenced Aldaris so urgently served as proof that the suspicions surrounding the Matriarch were true.

Artanis closed Aldaris's eyes in grief and self-reproach. Although he wanted to check on the Matriarch's condition and uncover the truth immediately, they could not delay the purification process while the Zerg Swarm blanketing Shakuras was surging toward the temple. Burying their boiling doubts deep in their hearts, Zeratul and Artanis resolved to head to the Xel'Naga Temple first to save the planet.

The two commanders felt the weight of the secret Aldaris had sacrificed his life to warn them about with bitter clarity. Although they could not definitively verify whether Raszagal was under mind control right now, they had to uncover all these suspicions once the crisis was resolved. Leaving their complicated feelings behind, they gathered the Uraj and Khalis crystals.

Their steps as they left the citadel were far heavier than before. The scars of a civil war stained with the blood of their own kind and a deep distrust of the Matriarch weighed heavily on their souls. Yet, to save the survivors of Shakuras, there was no alternative other than activating the Xel'Naga Temple. They rallied their warriors to prepare for the impending final battle.

Aldaris's tragic death left an indelible wound and a massive question for the Protoss commanders. Looking toward Raszagal's fortress on the path to the temple, Zeratul vowed that he would surely uncover the true nature of the darkness consuming the Matriarch's soul. Now, before them lay the battle to defend the temple, which would decide the fate of the planet.

The Protoss Combine the Two Crystals at the Temple to Stop the Zerg

Before the Protoss forces marching toward the Xel'Naga Temple, a massive Zerg army gathered from all over Shakuras surged like a pitch-black wave. Wild Zerg that had lost control after Kerrigan's departure and swarms controlled by the new Overmind tangled together, surrounding the temple with fierce momentum. Artanis took the lead, ordering the fleet to concentrate all firepower to clear a path to the temple.

Swarms of Scourge covering the sky launched kamikaze attacks on the Interceptors, while on the ground, the massive scythes of Ultralisks ruthlessly trampled the Zealots' formations. The Protoss warriors channeled the grief of losing their home and the rage born from the tragedy of fratricide into the tips of their blades, charging toward the heart of the Zerg. Every time a Psionic Storm swept across the earth, mountains of Zerg corpses piled up layer upon layer.

Using the desperate defense of their guardian forces as a shield, Zeratul and Artanis began to ascend the massive steps of the temple. In Zeratul's embrace was the blue-glowing Uraj, and in Artanis's hand was the green Khalis. As they drew closer to the temple, the two crystals resonated with each other's pulses, emitting a dazzling light. That powerful energy pressed down on the bodies of the two commanders, exerting immense pressure.

When they reached the middle of the steps, a pack of Zerglings that had breached the defensive line ambushed them from behind. Artanis, holding the Khalis crystal in one hand, swung his psionic blade with his free hand to cut down the enemies. Zeratul also used shadow steps to slip into the enemies' blind spots, protecting the Uraj crystal. It was a desperate struggle of those standing on the edge of a cliff, where not a single mistake was permitted.

Finally reaching the altar at the summit of the temple, the two men gasped for breath. In the center of the altar, massive grooves were carved to house the two crystals. Below the temple, the Protoss defensive lines were gradually collapsing, and a tidal wave of Zerg was surging up the steps. There was no time. Zeratul and Artanis exchanged glances, hardening their resolute determination.

As Zeratul slotted the Uraj crystal into the left groove of the altar, the clear and pure energy of the Khala began to flow through the veins of the temple. Subsequently, Artanis placed the Khalis crystal into the right groove. The heavy, deep energy of the Void intertwined with the light of the Khala, creating a massive vortex. It was the moment when the legacy of the Xel'Naga, which had slept for thousands of years, finally broke its long silence and awakened.

The energy unleashed by the combination of the two crystals created a wave that defied imagination. The air around the altar contorted, and a powerful electromagnetic storm enveloped the summit of the temple. Zeratul and Artanis held fast to the altar, enduring to avoid being swept away by the torrent of immense power. The Zerg swarms climbing the outer walls of the temple began to incinerate into ashes the moment they touched the emanating light.

A single, massive beam of light shooting from the heart of the temple pierced the dark sky of Shakuras and soared into space. That light soon transformed into a colossal wave, spreading across the entire planet at terrifying speed. Within the intense flash that made it impossible to even open his eyes, Artanis sensed that this light was a miracle of the Xel'Naga, targeting and destroying only the genetic makeup of the Zerg. The purification had begun.

The Temple Purifies the Zerg of Shakuras, Leaving Kerrigan's Calculations: Raszagal's Death is Not Yet

The lands of Shakuras, swept over by the wave of purification, were strangely silent. The Zerg swarms that had covered the sky vanished without a trace, and the creep that polluted the earth dried up and crumbled away. Only the gray ash scattering in the wind proved that those terrible monsters had ever existed there. The Protoss survivors erupted in cheers at the miracle of their victory.

Zeratul looked down at the purified land from the summit of the temple and let out a deep sigh. Though immediate destruction had been averted, a heavy stone weighed on his heart instead of the joy of victory. In the distance, he could see the figure of Matriarch Raszagal standing alone on the balcony of her fortress. She was safe, but in Zeratul's eyes, she was no longer the wise leader he once knew.

Raszagal stared blankly at the purified sky. Her eyes were still unfocused, and her soul seemed trapped in some deep abyss. Recalling Aldaris's final warning, Zeratul felt a bitter despair. Kerrigan had departed, but the terrible chains she had planted in the Matriarch's mind remained unbroken, tightening around the heart of the Nerazim.

Artanis approached and placed a hand on Zeratul's shoulder. The two commanders said nothing to each other, but they instinctively felt the harsh fate they would have to bear in the future. They had joined hands with an enemy to save their people, and in return, they had lost a loyal subject who tried to speak the truth, and had the Matriarch's soul held hostage. This victory was by no means a complete salvation.

In the darkness of space light-years away, at the heart of a massive Zerg leviathan, Kerrigan watched the purifying light emanating from Shakuras and wore a satisfied smile. Her plan had worked flawlessly. By borrowing the power of the Xel'Naga Temple, she had succeeded in wiping out the renegade Cerebrates and their swarms nesting on Shakuras all at once.

The Protoss had eliminated Kerrigan's rivals with their own hands, and she had significantly weakened the forces of the new Overmind without lifting a single finger. Furthermore, she had eliminated Aldaris, who had caught onto the truth, safely maintaining her control over Raszagal. To her, the Protoss were merely useful pieces on a chessboard. Everything was proceeding according to her exquisite calculations.

Leaning back on her throne, Kerrigan envisioned her next prey. A new Overmind was still growing on Char, and the movements of a new human faction targeting the Koprulu Sector were also being detected. Yet, she was not afraid. As long as she held the powerful card that was Raszagal, the Protoss would have no choice but to move according to her will at any time.

The twin moons of Shakuras cast a pale light over the purified land. Zeratul glared at the phantom of the Queen of Blades who had vanished into the darkness, vowing that one day he would surely extract a blood price for all this deception and sacrifice. The ominous seed conceived within the Matriarch's silence had not yet sprouted. The true tragedy had only just begun.

Verified Sources

Blizzard Official StarCraft Chronicles

StarCraft: Brood War Official Game Introduction

Official Story Presentation and Reference Images from Remastered

StarCraft: Brood War Official Download and Remaster Purchase