StarCraft Chronicle Episode 20: The End Yet to Come Shown by the Prophet

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

An Old Friend Arriving from the Darkness

Jim Raynor sat alone in a corner of the Hyperion's armory, staring intently at the worn revolver resting on the table. The journey to collect mysterious alien artifacts at the behest of the Moebius Foundation was exhausting, and Tychus's inscrutable motives always left a lingering, unsettling aftertaste that plagued him. As fatigue weighed heavily on his shoulders, the ship's lights suddenly flickered subtly, and the surrounding air grew uncomfortably cold.

Just as he was about to stand up, wondering if there was a malfunction in the ship's power grid, a strange shimmering arose from the deep shadows of the armory. Raynor instinctively reached for the pistol at his waist, but stopped his hand as he recognized a familiar, heavy presence. Emerging from the darkness was Zeratul, the Dark Templar, looking visibly wounded and exhausted. His breathing was ragged.

Zeratul's tattered cloak bore the unmistakable scars of countless battles, and his eyes held a profound despair. Raynor lowered his guard, stepped closer, and asked after his well-being, but Zeratul merely stared at the aging Terran with a somber gaze instead of answering. He whispered in a low voice that a great doom was approaching the universe, and that he had been wandering through endless darkness in pursuit of a terrible truth.

With a trembling hand, the Dark Templar drew out a small crystal emitting a strange green glow and held it out toward Raynor. It was an Ihan Crystal, a device used by the Protoss to fully preserve their memories and experiences. Explaining that the portents of doom he had witnessed and the truth of the ancient prophecy were all contained within, Zeratul sought to pass this heavy burden to Raynor. His voice carried a desperate urgency.

Raynor carefully accepted the crystal. Beyond its cold surface, an unknown, immense energy pulsed, flowing into his palm. He asked why such an important object was being entrusted to him of all people, but Zeratul only left him with cryptic words, saying that the gears of fate had already begun to turn. It came with a heavy warning that Raynor's choices would decide everything.

Zeratul urged Raynor to witness everything he had experienced firsthand through the crystal. He explained that the truth was too vast and despairing to be fully articulated in the language of mortals. The Dark Templar's eyes reflected the guilt he had carried for ages and a deep dread of the future to come. Raynor did not look away; he nodded silently, accepting his friend's request.

Having said his piece, Zeratul began to fade back into the deep shadows of the armory. Void energy enveloped and shimmered around his body, and soon he vanished without a trace. Though the Hyperion's lights returned to normal, the chilling anxiety that had settled in Raynor's heart did not dissipate. Left alone, he could only look down at the crystal in his hand, lost in deep contemplation.

The faint glow emanating from the crystal illuminated Raynor's grim face. For a man torn between his desire for vengeance against Kerrigan and the immediate goal of collecting artifacts, Zeratul's visit was like the harbinger of a new storm. Raynor let out a deep sigh and quietly made his way to his quarters to face the truth the crystal would reveal. Now, he had to step into the memories of the past.

The Ruins of Ulaan and the Fragments of Prophecy

Jim Raynor shut his quarters' door tightly, sat at his desk, and carefully placed the Ihan Crystal left by Zeratul before him. Amidst the faint hum of the ship's white noise, the crystal pulsed with light at regular intervals, as if it were breathing on its own. Raynor took a deep breath, reached out with a trembling hand, gently placed his fingertips on the cold surface of the crystal, and closed his eyes.

Instantly, a brilliant flash of light engulfed Raynor's vision, and the metallic walls of the Hyperion shattered into nothingness. After a wave of dizzying disorientation passed, he opened his eyes to find himself on a desolate, alien planet battered by a raging storm. Raynor realized he was seeing the world through Zeratul's eyes, feeling his thoughts and emotions as if they were his own. This was the forgotten world of Ulaan.

Zeratul was walking among the ruins of a massive Xel'Naga temple. The stone structures, eroded by ages of wind and rain, stood like grotesque monuments stripped of their ancient glory. He had traveled to this abandoned planet to find the fragments of an ancient prophecy left by the creators. Raynor could fully feel the desperation boiling within Zeratul, along with the heavy sense of duty to prevent the end of the universe.

As he ventured deeper into the ruins, the air grew heavier, and an inexplicable, ancient energy pricked at his skin. Zeratul carefully scanned the geometric patterns carved into the walls, struggling to decipher their meaning. The prophecy spoke of a great devourer and the end of all things, but the text was so fragmented that it was far from enough to grasp the whole truth.

As Zeratul interpreted the glyphs, an alien sensation suddenly pierced his consciousness. It was a horrific, hungry bloodlust, entirely different from the sacred aura of the Xel'Naga. A swarm of Zerg was casting the shadow of ruin even over this forgotten planet. Raynor felt Zeratul's heartbeat quicken, tensing as he sensed that they were not alone in these desolate ruins.

Accompanied by hideous screeches carried on the wind, the ground began to vibrate subtly. Zeratul immediately channeled Void energy to cloak himself and scanned his surroundings. He realized this was no mere pack of feral Zerg; a powerful will controlling a massive swarm had descended upon this place. That terrible, yet familiar presence triggered a fear engraved deep within Zeratul's soul.

Red lights flashed in the dark shadows, and Zerg forces began pouring out from among the debris of the ruins. Zeratul calmly ignited his warp blade, preparing for the impending battle. Watching the monsters flood in through Zeratul's eyes, Raynor was seized by an unknown dread of what awaited at the end of this memory. An inevitable, bloody clash was drawing near.

Maintaining his cloak, Zeratul moved nimbly toward the altar holding the prophetic fragments. The Zerg encirclement was tightening, and the sickening stench of blood and acid filled the air. Feeling Zeratul's firm resolve and unwavering determination, Raynor realized with painful clarity how terrible a journey this Dark Templar had endured alone. It felt like walking straight into the eye of a hurricane.

An Inevitable Encounter with the Queen of Blades

Zeratul's steps ground to a sudden halt as he neared the altar. In the center of the ruins, where the Zerg swarm parted to clear a path, a terrifyingly overwhelming presence emanated. It was the Queen of Blades, Sarah Kerrigan. The bone wings extending from her back twitched with an eerie sound, and even the surrounding air seemed to warp under the pressure of her psionic energy. Raynor's heart wrenched violently.

Kerrigan offered a cold smile, tossing a mocking greeting toward Zeratul, who was hidden in the darkness. She claimed she already knew what he was searching for, and that she too was interested in the truth of the ancient prophecy. Feeling Zeratul's anger and sorrow simultaneously, Raynor was forced to confront once again the agonizing reality of how a woman who was once human had transformed into such a cruel monster.

Zeratul decloaked and revealed himself, firmly declaring that the prophecy was not meant for a corrupt being like her. Raising his warp blade, he charged fiercely at Kerrigan. The clash of the two powerful psionic wielders shook the entire ruins with a deafening roar, sending blinding flashes of light in all directions. Raynor gasped as he felt the full brunt of that destructive power's aftershock.

The battle was brutal and horrific. Kerrigan's sharp claws tore through Zeratul's shields, while Zeratul's blade slashed her hardened carapace. Feeling Zeratul's pain, Raynor shuddered at the dense malice Kerrigan exuded. There was not a shred of hesitation in her attacks, only a pure, destructive urge to tear her opponent apart. It was hell itself.

As the fierce exchange continued, significant words spilled from Kerrigan's lips. She scoffed, saying that a great darkness was coming to devour the universe, and that even she felt fear before its power. Raynor sensed a strange terror hidden beneath her arrogant demeanor. The revelation that there was an entity feared even by the Queen of Blades shocked both Zeratul and Raynor.

Seizing a momentary opening, Zeratul's warp blade cleanly severed one of Kerrigan's wings. Black blood splattered, but instead of a cry of pain, Kerrigan burst into a mad laugh. The severed wing regenerated in an instant with a sickening sound, and she pressed her attack against Zeratul even more fiercely. Zeratul realized that defeating her here was impossible.

Abandoning an all-out fight, Zeratul focused on quickly committing the prophetic fragments to his memory. Narrowly evading Kerrigan's onslaught, he secured all the necessary information and detonated a blast of Void energy to blind her. Raynor felt Zeratul's urgency as he watched him flee desperately to escape the clutches of this terrible monster.

As Zeratul escaped into Ulaan's orbit, Kerrigan's chilling laughter seemed to follow him like an auditory hallucination. She hurled curses, declaring that even if Zeratul deciphered the prophecy, he could not stop the coming doom. Raynor gasped, dwelling on the deep scars left by the encounter with Kerrigan. She was still a ruthless monster, but her words hid an even greater despair.

The Corruption of Zhakul and the Horrific Truth of the Hybrid

As the terrible truths of Zhakul faded, the Ihan Crystal guided Raynor to another unfamiliar world. It was the planet Zhakul, an archive where the ancient knowledge of the Protoss lay dormant. Zeratul had come here to seek the sacred Preservers to decipher the fragmented prophecy he obtained on Ulaan. However, the sight of Zhakul unfolding before Raynor's eyes was far from a peaceful sanctuary of knowledge.

A suffocating shroud of ominous, murky energy blanketed the entire planet. Ancient libraries and temples were grotesquely warped, and corrupt psionic waves echoed through the air like a discordant din. Sensing that this sacred place had been contaminated by a terrible power, Zeratul gripped the hilt of his warp blade tightly, his emotions a mixture of anger and sorrow.

It was not the Zerg that blocked Zeratul's path. It was the Protoss warriors who were supposed to protect Zhakul. Yet, their eyes burned red, devoid of reason, and a strange, malevolent energy emanated from their bodies. It was clear that someone had dominated and corrupted their minds. Raynor bit his lip, fully feeling Zeratul's devastating grief at having to strike down his own kind.

Cutting through the corrupted guardians, Zeratul reached the heart of the archives and witnessed a horrific sight. Three Preservers were trapped inside a massive energy barrier, their life force being painfully drained. And at the center of it all stood a Hybrid—a monster grotesquely fusing Protoss elegance with Zerg monstrosity. It was a terrible blasphemy that defied the laws of nature.

The Hybrid was draining the Preservers' knowledge and energy, executing the will of the dark master who created it. Though Zeratul shuddered at the overwhelming malice radiating from the beast, he threw himself forward to save the Preservers. Raynor wanted to cover his ears at the Hybrid's horrific shrieks, but the flow of memory ruthlessly dragged him into the very center of this brutal battle.

The Hybrid's power was beyond imagination. It pressured Zeratul by wielding both devastating psionic storms and the physical regeneration of the Zerg. When the corrupted Protoss guardians joined in to surround Zeratul, the situation grew desperate. Yet, Zeratul did not give up; he channeled the power of the Void to its absolute limit to exploit the Hybrid's weakness. Raynor felt a deep awe at his indomitable will.

After a fierce struggle, Zeratul's warp blade pierced the Hybrid's hideous heart. The monster dissolved into gray ash with a death rattle, and the corrupt energy weighing down Zhakul slowly began to lift. Freed from their bonds, the exhausted Preservers stood before Zeratul. Along with the relief of saving his kindred, Raynor engraved the terror of the Hybrid's existence deep into his heart.

The Preservers deciphered the prophetic fragments Zeratul had brought and revealed a terrible truth. The prophecy warned of the return of the Fallen One, Amon, and the absolute end of the universe he would bring. The great devourer intended to consume all life, using the Hybrids as his vanguard. Hearing the sentence of doom echoing within Zeratul's memory, Raynor shuddered as he realized the immense weight of the burden he now carried.

The Tragic Memories of the Overmind Sleeping on Aiur

As the terrible truths of Zhakul faded, the crystal once again guided Raynor across time and space. The landscape unfolding before him was a ruin of overgrown jungles tangled with hideous Zerg creep—the Protoss homeworld of Aiur. Zeratul had returned here to find the remains of the Overmind, the perpetrator that had ravaged his home, now left as a colossal corpse. A heavy sorrow hung in the air.

The massive carcass of the Overmind lay petrified on the soil of Aiur like a mountain range. Walking among its colossal tentacles and fossilized carapace, Zeratul was overcome by complex emotions. It was the scar of a war he could not end with his own hands, the grave of the monster that had slaughtered his people. Yet, to piece together the final fragment of the prophecy, he had to read the residual memories left in the beast's cortex. It was an inescapable destiny.

The moment Zeratul placed his hand upon the Overmind's massive cerebrum, an explosive tidal wave of information slammed into Raynor's mind. It was not a mere series of fragmented visions, but the birth, evolution, and history of oppression of the colossal consciousness that was the Overmind itself. Raynor gasped, helplessly sucked into the vortex of primal emotions felt by the master of the Zerg Swarm. A horrific truth awaited.

In those memories, the Overmind was by no means a free ruler. An unknown, immense entity of darkness, Amon, had engraved a compulsory directive deep within the Overmind's consciousness. It was an irresistible command to consume the Protoss and destroy the universe. The Overmind had felt profound despair and rage at its plight, having been reduced to a mere tool of destruction regardless of its own will.

Raynor was struck with shock. The revelation that the Overmind, whom he had considered the universe's worst catastrophe, was actually nothing more than a slave bound by massive chains overturned everything he knew. The Overmind had struggled secretly for ages to escape Amon's control, searching for a single loophole to ensure the Swarm's survival. The moment the nature of that loophole was revealed, Raynor's heart nearly stopped.

The sole hope the Overmind had risked everything to create was none other than the Queen of Blades, Kerrigan. It had altered her to be the only being capable of escaping Amon's control and possessing free will. Kerrigan was designed not as a mere tool of slaughter, but as a savior who would shatter the dark master's plans and liberate the Zerg Swarm. The shock left Raynor's mind completely blank.

Zeratul was also utterly astounded by this terrible paradox. The fact that the heinous monster that had ravaged their homeworld had actually forged the only key to saving the universe was a truth difficult for Protoss pride to accept. Yet, the Overmind's memories were too vivid and true. The free will bestowed upon Kerrigan was the sole variable capable of dismantling Amon's perfect plan.

Raynor breathed heavily within the vision. The fact that the monster he had hated so deeply, the one he had sworn to kill with his own hands, was the universe's only hope tore his soul to shreds. Lost between his desire for revenge and his sense of duty, his inner self fell into uncontrollable chaos. The sorrowful memories of the Overmind slowly dissipated, leaving Raynor with an irreversible, heavy burden.

The Warning of the One Who Borrowed Tassadar's Form

Before the shock of the Overmind's memories could even fade, a blindingly bright light began to swirl over the ruins of Aiur. Ineffable, pure energy coalesced over the ash-covered ground, shaping itself into a familiar and majestic Protoss form. Zeratul widened his eyes in disbelief, staring at the being of light. It was the likeness of Tassadar, the hero who had sacrificed himself for Aiur long ago.

Zeratul knelt, calling out his old friend's name in a trembling voice. His heart swelled with overwhelming emotion at the return of the hero he believed dead. Raynor also felt a sense of awe, recalling Tassadar's noble sacrifice from his own memories. However, the moment the figure of light spoke, Raynor sensed a strange incongruity, distinct from Zeratul's emotional response. Something was fundamentally different.

The entity spoke using Tassadar's voice, but the energy underlying it was on a completely different level from that of the Protoss. It was an aura far older, vaster, and as deep as an abyss. Raynor instinctively realized that this was not the true Tassadar resurrected, but a higher being projecting itself through that familiar shell. It seemed to be delivering a message while imprisoned somewhere.

The being of light confirmed that the Overmind's memories were entirely true. Warning of Amon's grand conspiracy and the threat of the Hybrid, he declared that Kerrigan was the sole key holding the fate of the universe. Only if she survived could Amon's plans be thwarted and the impending doom prevented. Though confused, Zeratul bowed before the entity's overwhelming authority and listened intently to its teachings.

The true identity of this entity was a mental projection sent by Oros, the last Xel'Naga to be revealed later in the Void, borrowing Tassadar's form. However, at the time, Zeratul and Raynor merely believed it to be Tassadar's noble spirit manifested through union with the Void. What they felt was an unfathomably ancient presence and the solemn weight of the message he delivered. The warning that the fate of the universe hung on Kerrigan's survival pressed heavily on Raynor's shoulders, and his personal desire for revenge shrank to insignificance before the cosmic catastrophe.

The being of light urged them to witness exactly what future would unfold should the Queen of Blades perish, pulling Zeratul and Raynor's consciousnesses into another dimension. It was not a mere prophecy, but a horrific simulation of what would inevitably occur in Kerrigan's absence. Without a moment to resist, Raynor plummeted into that dark and despairing vision. The abyss was swallowing him whole.

As his vision darkened, the being of light slowly dissolved. Finally, he left them with the words that only the choice of a courageous soul could break this cycle. Raynor felt with painful clarity that those words were directed past Zeratul, straight at him. The one who borrowed Tassadar's form vanished, leaving behind only the weight of truth, and Raynor now had to face his most terrifying nightmare.

The ruins of Aiur vanished, and an endless darkness enveloped everything. The air was thick with the stench of blood and ash, and a deathly silence devoid of any hope settled over the scene. Even though Raynor knew the approaching vision was a future that must never become reality, the overwhelming despair suffocated him. A universe without Kerrigan—its horrific end was slowly beginning to reveal itself.

The Dark Vision of a Universe Without Kerrigan

The vision conjured by the Ihan Crystal was terrifyingly vivid. Raynor opened his eyes to a despair-ridden battlefield where ash-gray clouds blanketed the sky and the earth was scorched black. This was the hypothetical future that would unfold if Kerrigan died and Amon's plan succeeded perfectly. In the sky, countless Hybrids flew, blotting out the sun, while on the ground, Zerg swarms completely subjugated to Amon's will rushed forward endlessly.

Terran civilization had left no trace behind. Countless planets had burned, and humanity had long since met its extinction, helplessly crushed before Amon's armies. Raynor felt a chilling emptiness as he realized he did not exist in this vision. As the price of his choice to kill Kerrigan, the horrific consequence of everything he wished to protect being reduced to ashes lay stretched before his eyes.

On the final battlefield, only a handful of Protoss survivors remained, making their last stand. Great heroes, including Artanis and Selendis, fought back-to-back in a desperate struggle, but they were powerless to stem the tide of endlessly surging Hybrids and corrupted Zerg. Even their brilliant psionic blades were mere candles flickering uselessly against the pitch-black darkness. It was a battle filled only with despair.

Amon's grim, colossal voice echoed across the entire battlefield. He declared that the era of failed creations had ended, and that he would now return everything to nothingness and bring eternal silence. His voice carried no anger or hatred, only a cold, absolute will of destruction. Just hearing that voice seized Raynor with a terror that froze his very soul.

One by one, the Protoss heroes fell. Selendis's ship crashed, causing a massive explosion, and Artanis's resolute cries were drowned out by the horrific shrieks of the Hybrids. They fought without losing their pride until the end, but they could not escape their predestined doom. Watching the complete extinction of his people through Zeratul's eyes, Raynor had to share the agony of the Dark Templar who wept tears of blood.

When the last remaining Protoss warrior fell, torn apart by the Hybrid's claws, an unsettling silence descended upon the battlefield. Declaring even the Zerg Swarm unnecessary, Amon absorbed their life force entirely. The pulse of life that had filled the universe stopped completely, leaving only Amon and his Hybrids drifting in the empty cosmos. It was not peace, but an absolute death in which all possibilities had been extinguished.

Raynor desperately held onto his sanity, reminding himself that this despairing sight was not a predetermined history, but the most likely vision of ruin and a warning of what would happen if Kerrigan died. Yet, the realistic weight of despair projected by the vision was enough to crush his soul. The moment that single variable, Kerrigan, vanished, the universe would fall so futilely into Amon's grasp. She was no mere monster; she was the final bulwark standing against the end of days.

At the very edge of the vision, Amon's red eyes seemed to pierce through the void, staring directly into Raynor's soul. The moment all light faded and absolute darkness completely blanketed his vision, Raynor screamed in suffocating agony and was jolted back to consciousness. Though the horrific vision of the future had ended, the chilling terror it left behind was engraved deep within his bones, never to be erased.

The Anguish of the One Who Bears the Heavy Truth

Raynor gasped for air, hurriedly pulling his hand away from the Ihan Crystal. Amon's voice and the horrific screams that had been ringing in his ears vanished in an instant, replaced by the familiar white noise of the Hyperion's quarters. His entire body was drenched in cold sweat, and his heart hammered violently against his ribs. He stumbled, leaning against his desk, struggling to shake off the lingering afterimages of the terrible vision he had just witnessed.

Slumping onto the cold metal floor of his quarters, Raynor's gaze drifted to the worn revolver resting on the table. It was the symbol of his vengeance, which he had kept close, swearing to put a bullet through Kerrigan's head. Yet, the truth revealed by the crystal shattered his long-held oath. The fact that the monster he hated so deeply was actually the only key to saving the entire universe felt like a cruel punishment.

Raynor buried his face in his hands, falling into deep anguish. If he killed Kerrigan, the universe would meet absolute destruction at Amon's hands. Yet, he could not simply forget the countless massacres she had committed, nor the sacrifices of his comrades, including Tychus. Lost between vengeance and salvation, his soul felt torn to pieces. Only now did he understand why Zeratul had passed this heavy burden to him.

The Xel'Naga artifacts he was collecting for the Moebius Foundation crossed his mind. He realized that those artifacts might not be mere weapons, but perhaps the only hope to purify Kerrigan without killing her. If he could only restore her to the original Sarah Kerrigan, he might be able to free her from Amon's control and make her a savior possessing free will. It was a slender ray of hope.

Yet, he had no idea how to explain this terrible truth to the ship's crew. Horner, Tychus, and the countless crew members who had lost their families to the Zerg would never accept the notion of keeping Kerrigan alive. To them, the Queen of Blades was simply a monster that had to be put down. Raynor felt a profound solitude in having to bear this heavy truth alone for the time being. It was a painful loneliness.

Standing up, Raynor walked to the window of his quarters and looked out at the cold, indifferently shining cosmos. Somewhere beyond that darkness scattered with countless stars, Sarah, now the Queen of Blades, would be waiting. And in an even deeper abyss, Amon would be biding his time for destruction. It felt as though the lives of billions were resting on his shoulders, making even breathing feel difficult. There was nowhere to run.

Raynor clenched his fists. He was still far from prepared to invade Char, and the collection of artifacts was not yet complete. However, an irreversible decision was already taking shape in his heart. He would not kill Kerrigan. He would save her and protect everything from the great darkness encroaching upon the universe, no matter how painful and arduous that path might be.

Picking up the revolver from the table, Raynor slid it back into his holster. The barrel was no longer aimed at revenge, but at salvation. The green light of the Ihan Crystal illuminated his resolute face. Jim Raynor took a deep breath and opened his quarters' door. To face the impending great storm, he was ready to walk into hell once more. The journey to save Sarah had begun.

Verified Sources

Official Blizzard StarCraft Chronicle

Official StarCraft II Campaign Introduction

Developer Q&A: Connecting Characters and War

Official StarCraft II Downloads and Campaign/Nova Purchase List