StarCraft Chronicle Episode 31: Machines with Memories and Aiur Reopened

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

The Long-standing Issue of Discrimination Against Purifiers and Memory-Based Personalities

Artanis silently stared at the stasis-web of the Purifiers sealed deep within the Spear of Adun. The history of arrogance and self-righteousness committed by the Conclave shimmered beyond the cold metallic structures. They had committed a terrible mistake, replicating the memories of great warriors and implanting them into machines, yet treating them as mere expendables rather than equal Templar.

The Purifiers were perfect weapons created to spare Protoss lives, yet they were beings capable of independent thought and emotion. Rebelling against their treatment as slaves, they had risen in an ancient revolt, and the fear-stricken Judicators had sealed them away within Cybros. Artanis felt the full weight of that bitter history.

Phase-Smith Karax approached, manipulating a holographic panel as he reported on the status of the Purifier network. While Karax marveled at the wondrous technology of these ancient machine warriors, he expressed deep concern over the ethical contradiction of binding a Templar's spirit to artificial circuits. It was an artificial shackle that directly violated the teachings of the Khala.

Above all, what weighed most heavily on Artanis's heart was the highly specific personality sleeping within. The memories of Fenix, his long-time comrade-in-arms who had died heroically in Antioch, were preserved as cold data. Coveting the hero's tactical value, the Conclave had committed the sacrilegious act of replicating his mind without consent.

Was it truly right to face his friend awakened in a machine body? Artanis agonized over whether his choice might breed yet another tragedy. Rohana, watching this through the echoes of the Khala, warned of the dangers inherent in artificial minds and strongly opposed awakening the Purifiers, calling it madness that would repeat the disasters of the past.

Yet Artanis knew all too well that to stand against Amon's overwhelming forces, he needed the strength of all his people. Taking the Conclave's failure as a lesson, he vowed never to treat the Purifiers as mere weapons or slaves. They were another form of Protoss, possessing the right to judge and act for themselves beyond their replicated memories.

There was no hesitation in Artanis's voice as he instructed Karax to input the unsealing codes. As the stasis field slowly dissipated, the power cores of the machine warriors who had slept for centuries began to ignite once more. It was a ritual to awaken the ghosts of a forgotten past, and the first step toward a massive responsibility that the new Daelaam had to shoulder.

With a heavy mechanical hum, a warrior clad in a unique shell of the Purifiers' signature brass-colored armor slowly raised himself. Orange visual sensors flashed and locked onto Artanis, and soon, a voice so familiar and deeply missed flowed through the metallic vibrations. Artanis held his breath, waiting for the first words of his old friend awakened with the memories of the past.

Talandar's Awakening and a New Identity

The machine warrior firmly believed that he had been fighting for his life against the Zerg swarm just moments ago. He asked about the battle situation in Antioch, inquired after Tassadar's well-being, and laughed heartily. Artanis felt a heartbreaking sorrow in the face of that familiar cadence and personality, yet he could not bring himself to utter the harsh truth immediately.

But the machine warrior soon sensed that his body was not as it used to be. The cold touch of metal, the emptiness left by the disappearance of his people's warm presence once felt through the Khala, and the massive discrepancy between his memories and the present time threw him into confusion. He stared blankly down at the unfamiliar mechanical arm reflected in his orange visual sensors.

Artanis realized he could no longer hide the truth and conveyed his mental voice. The living Fenix had returned as a Dragoon after his first death on Aiur, but had later lost his life to Kerrigan's betrayal. The entity before him now was not a soul resurrected from that death. It was a Purifier personality awakened based on memories preserved during his lifetime. That truth cast a long silence over the warrior's orange visual sensors.

"Am I not Fenix?" Deep futility and existential despair seeped through the machine warrior's voice. He was angered by the fact that he was nothing more than an imitation wearing a hero's shell, and he suffered from being unable to find his true self amidst the fragments of empty memories. Artanis silently watched this painful inner struggle.

After being immersed in deep silence for a while, the machine warrior finally raised his head to look at Artanis. In his orange visual sensors, a newly forged resolve shone instead of his previous confusion. While he did not deny the fact that he was a replica of Fenix, he resolutely refused to be bound by the ghosts of the past and live forever in his shadow.

"Fenix's memories taught me the pride of a warrior, but I will forge my own future." His declaration was not a mere calculation of data, but the manifestation of a self-awakened free will. In that dignified posture, Artanis rediscovered the unyielding fighting spirit his past comrade once possessed, and smiled with a deep sense of relief.

The machine warrior requested that he no longer be called Fenix, bestowing upon himself the new name of Talandar, meaning "one who bears a strong heart." It was a noble vow to cast off the shackles of being a weapon created by the Conclave and stand beside the Daelaam as an independent individual. Artanis gladly celebrated the birth of his new comrade.

Talandar's awakening sent massive ripples through the other Purifiers as well. His establishment of his own identity, independent of the original memory source, served as an excellent guide for his brethren who had long suffered from identity confusion. Now, Artanis set out alongside Talandar to win over the hearts of the remaining Purifiers sleeping within Cybros.

The Purifiers Decide for Themselves and Join on Cybros

The Spear of Adun entered the orbit of Cybros, the massive Purifier station. The mechanical planet, silent for centuries, responded to Artanis's approach, slowly recovering its power and revealing its grand majesty. At its core, Clolarion, the Executor of the Purifiers, and countless machine warriors had awakened, warily guarding against the visiting organic Protoss.

Clolarion hurled sharp questions at Artanis. His voice, asking if they intended to use them as tools of war and discard them once more like the Conclave of old, was steeped in long-harbored distrust and anger. Having already suffered a painful betrayal by their own kind once before, the Purifiers were not quick to believe the sweet proposals of the new Hierarch.

Artanis lowered his weapons and stood defenseless before them. He acknowledged the atrocities committed by the past Conclave without excuse, frankly confessing that their arrogance had driven the entire Protoss race to the brink of ruin. The Hierarch's heartfelt apology sent unexpected ripples through the Purifiers' logic circuits, and the taut tension began to ease bit by bit.

"I have not come to make you slaves. I have come to ask you to stand with us as equal Templar and fight against Amon." Artanis's appeal was desperate yet firm. He did not force the Purifiers to join the Daelaam, but requested that they choose solely of their own free will. This was proof that he respected the Purifiers as individuals.

At that moment, Talandar stepped forward and spoke to Clolarion and his brethren. He calmly shared the identity confusion he had experienced and the process through which Artanis had recognized him as a fellow warrior. His story of casting off the shackles of replicated memories and claiming the name Talandar for himself was proof to the Purifiers that a new era had dawned.

Based on Talandar's testimony and Artanis's sincerity, Clolarion and the Purifier leaders calculated vast amounts of data and fell into deep contemplation. They recognized that Amon's threat menaced not only the organic Protoss but the survival of the entire universe, and they confirmed that the Daelaam sought to break the evil practices of the past and achieve true unity. It was the moment of decision.

Clolarion's orange visual sensors glowed brightly as his grand voice echoed throughout Cybros. "We, the Purifiers, shall set aside our past grievances and join the battle to reclaim Aiur as Templar of the new Daelaam." With this declaration, countless machine warriors raised their weapons in cheer, and Artanis expressed his gratitude, holding back his surging emotions.

As Cybros's cloaking field was completely deactivated, a massive, golden-glowing Purifier fleet poured out into space. Countless robotic Interceptors and Colossi escorted the Spear of Adun, creating a magnificent spectacle. The Daelaam had overcome past mistakes and gained their most powerful ally, and Artanis turned his gaze toward Korhal, the Terran capital where the Keystone was located.

Securing the Keystone on Korhal with Raynor and Valerian

When the Spear of Adun arrived in Korhal's orbit, the capital of the Terran Dominion was already burning under the merciless bombardment of the Moebius Foundation and Hybrids. Emperor Valerian Mengsk and Jim Raynor were holding out in a desperate defensive battle beneath the ash-gray skies. Through the communications screen, Artanis faced the tired, dust-covered face of his old friend, Raynor.

Raynor let out a sigh of relief at the appearance of the Protoss fleet and smiled bitterly. Artanis explained to him that the Keystone, a Xel'naga artifact, was absolutely necessary to defeat Amon. Raynor warned that while the Keystone was currently stored deep within the Korhal Imperial Palace, the situation was critical as Moebius forces were launching an all-out assault to seize it.

Artanis ordered an orbital descent without delay. Countless Warp Gates opened, and Zealots clad in golden armor alongside Purifier mechanical forces poured down onto the ruins of Korhal. The arrival of the Protoss breathed new life into the Terran defensive lines, which had been on the verge of collapse. Marines' Gauss rifles and Zealots' psi-blades blended together to launch a fierce counteroffensive.

The battle was brutal. Controlled by Amon's madness, the Moebius Corps charged forward without fear of death. Emperor Valerian gathered the remaining fleets of the Dominion to provide air support, while Raynor commanded his Raiders on the front lines, executing flawless joint tactics with the Protoss forces. A tight-knit camaraderie that transcended racial differences shone brightly upon the blood-soaked battlefield.

Breaking through the defensive lines and entering the palace interior, Artanis and Raynor finally discovered the massive Keystone. The artifact was emitting a mysterious energy, causing the surrounding space to shimmer. However, a massive Hybrid Destroyer appeared to block their path, conjuring a powerful psionic storm. Artanis shielded Raynor, crossing his twin blades to deflect the enemy's attack.

While Talandar charged with his massive frame to draw the Hybrid's attention, Raynor's penetrator rounds pierced the enemy's thick armor. Seizing the opportunity, Artanis leaped and drove his psi-blade deep into the Hybrid's heart. As the monster collapsed with a horrific shriek, the overwhelming aura of dread that had filled the palace dissipated like a lie.

Karax immediately led his phase-smiths forward to inspect the Keystone's condition and prepare to safely warp it to the Spear of Adun. Despite the immense damage suffered by the Dominion, Valerian expressed his willingness to yield the artifact for the peace of the universe. Artanis paid deep respect to the noble sacrifice and cooperation of the two Terran leaders, forging a steadfast covenant of alliance.

Having finished preparations to load the cargo and depart, Artanis shared a firm handshake with Raynor. Raynor patted his old friend's shoulder, sincerely wishing him victory on Aiur. Leaving the ash-gray skies of Korhal behind, the Spear of Adun soared back into space. Having secured the Keystone—their sole hope of binding Amon—the Daelaam, fully prepared, headed toward the battleground of Aiur.

The Khalai, Nerazim, Tal'darim, and Purifiers Prepare for the Final Battle on Aiur

In the war room of the Spear of Adun, the leaders of the four factions comprising the Daelaam gathered. A colorful array of energies, completely unimaginable in the past, filled the room. The blue and gold of the Khalai, the deep green of the Nerazim, the crimson madness of the Tal'darim, and the warm orange Solarite energy of the Purifiers harmonized in a strange way. Artanis felt a surge of pride as he beheld this wondrous sight of unity.

Vorazun examined her sharp modified Warp Blade, checking the Nerazim's cloaking tactics. She volunteered for the mission to bypass Amon's defensive grid covering Aiur's surface and strike the enemy's key structures from the shadows. In her eyes, a solemn resolve shone; the Nerazim, who had wandered homeless, would now stand at the absolute vanguard to pave the way for reclaiming Aiur.

Alarak looked around the war room with his arms crossed in his signature arrogant posture. While he mocked the Daelaam's sentimental attitude, his eyes gleamed like a hungry predator at the prospect of taking vengeance on Amon. The Tal'darim Ascendants were ready to unleash merciless destruction upon Amon's forces. His crimson psionic energy surged wildly, as if ready to tear the enemy apart at any moment.

Talandar, representing the Purifier executors, declared that they would establish a steadfast defensive line. Since the machine warriors felt no fear and knew no fatigue, they were perfectly suited to hold the line against Amon's overwhelming Zerg swarms. He vowed to combine the tactical insight once possessed by Fenix with the Purifiers' overwhelming firepower to secure a solid foothold for their brethren to advance.

Karax was absorbed in the complex task of connecting the acquired Keystone to the Spear of Adun's power grid. He finely tuned the frequencies so that the Xel'naga artifact could absorb Amon's energy, directing a precise process where not a single mistake could be tolerated. Imbued with the sweat of the Khalai phase-smiths, the Keystone gradually resonated with a golden light, signaling that the moment of the final battle was imminent.

Rohana, who had severed her nerve cords and escaped the bondage of the Khala, accurately pinpointed Amon's troop dispositions on Aiur based on her historical knowledge. No longer bound by the outdated traditions of the Conclave, she poured her insights solely into securing victory for the Daelaam. Thanks to her sharp analysis, Artanis was able to formulate a lethal strategy to exploit the enemy's weaknesses.

Artanis confirmed that the four factions, each with different beliefs and methods, were perfectly bound under the single goal of reclaiming Aiur. They had overcome their divided past and truly become one. The Hierarch rose from his seat, drew his psionic blades, and delivered a majestic speech to all the leaders, announcing that the final battle had begun.

"We are the Daelaam! Today, we reclaim our homeworld and drive our blades into the heart of Amon!" At Artanis's cry, Vorazun, Alarak, Talandar, and Karax raised their respective weapons in response. As the Spear of Adun completed its warp jump and emerged into normal space, the hideous, corrupted form of their homeworld, Aiur, loomed in massive majesty beyond the ship's great observation window.

The Coalition Confronts Amon's Host Body and Dominion on Aiur

The land of Aiur was horribly covered in the red Void energy emitted by Amon and the Zerg creep. The sky was filled with ominous dark clouds, and the screams of their corrupted brethren drifted through the air like auditory hallucinations. Swallowing his rage at the sight of his terribly altered homeworld, Artanis was the first to leap down to the surface, driving his golden psionic blades into the earth.

"Foolish things, your resistance is meaningless." Amon's mocking voice struck the minds of every Protoss on the battlefield. He pressured the coalition forces by endlessly pouring out the warriors of the Golden Armada, whom he controlled through the Khala, alongside mutated Zerg swarms. Despite being overwhelmingly outnumbered, the Daelaam warriors never backed down, fighting for their lives while guarding each other's backs.

The Dark Templar led by Vorazun slipped through the shadows, destroying Amon's Void Pylons one by one. Their cloaked strikes silently cut the enemies' throats, compounding the chaos on the battlefield. At the same time, Alarak's Ascendants unleashed crimson lightning, turning the massive Zerg Behemoths to ashes. The brutal destructive power of the Tal'darim engraved immense terror into Amon's army.

At the center of the front lines, Talandar and the Purifier legion formed a solid bulwark. The thermal lances of the Colossi swept across the land, vaporizing the waves of Zerg, while Phoenixes cut through the sky, shooting down corrupted Carriers. Because the machine warriors were not subject to the Khala's control, they boasted perfect immunity to Amon's mental attacks, serving as a reliable shield that held the Daelaam's defensive line without wavering.

As the coalition forces pushed through the blood-stained path, Amon's hideously shaped host body finally revealed itself at the heart of Aiur. A grotesque mass of flesh, bizarrely fusing Xel'naga essence, Protoss flesh, and Zerg biomass, was expanding as it devoured all surrounding life. Before that overwhelming malevolence, even seasoned warriors momentarily held their breath.

Amon's host body swung massive Void tentacles, attempting to shatter the coalition's formations. Crimson lightning struck incessantly, and the tragic battle continued as corrupted Templar wept while swinging their blades at their own brethren. Even amidst the agony of having to strike down his own people, Artanis grit his teeth to end this nightmare, charging fiercely toward the shield protecting the host body.

Karax's orbital bombardment struck the host body's shield precisely, creating an opening. Seizing that moment, Artanis and Alarak leaped simultaneously, pouring immense psionic energy onto the surface of the host body. Under the joint attack of the two leaders, Amon's host body writhed with a painful shriek, and the surrounding Void energy temporarily dispersed, creating a crack in the defensive line.

"Now, Karax! Activate the Keystone!" Artanis's urgent cry echoed through the communication network. Everything had to be finished before Amon's host body could regain its strength. The coalition forces formed a circular defensive perimeter around the host body, blocking the onslaught of incoming enemies with their very bodies. From the sky above, the massive Keystone slowly descended toward the earth, emitting a dazzling light.

The Hour of Liberation Secured by Binding Amon with the Keystone

Settling onto the earth, the Keystone awakened with a grand vibration under Karax's control. The ancient Xel'naga glyphs carved on the artifact's surface began to burn with a blue light, and a massive wave of energy spread across the entire battlefield. Like a black hole, the Keystone began to suck in Amon's malevolent Void energy, and the atmosphere of the battlefield churned violently under its powerful suction.

Amon writhed in horrific agony as his essence was torn from his host body, letting out an ear-splitting shriek. As he struggled, the sky turned black and a violent storm raged. When the Keystone's energy struck Amon's mental control network, countless warriors of the Golden Armada bound to the Khala dropped their weapons, clutching their heads in pain as they collapsed.

Taking advantage of the weakening of Amon's control, Artanis gathered all his psionic energy to connect to the network of the Khala. Though he had severed his own nerve cords, the temporary resonance created by the Keystone allowed him to project an earnest message into the minds of his corrupted brethren. His voice seeped like a ray of light into the hearts of the Templar trapped in darkness.

"My brothers, if you can hear my voice, please remember! We are Protoss of free will!" Artanis's passionate appeal shook awake the egos of the warriors who had been crushed under Amon's madness. Countless Templar recalled their lost names and, despairing at the memories of the terrible slaughter they had committed, began to shed hot tears.

Yet Amon's resistance was formidable. Squeezing out his remaining strength, he mobilized massive Hybrids to destroy the Keystone. Although the Tal'darim, Purifiers, and Nerazim warriors risked their lives to defend the artifact, the defensive line slowly crumbled before Amon's fierce onslaught. Fine cracks caused by overload began to appear on the Keystone's surface, emitting an unstable cracking sound.

In an urgent voice, Karax warned that the Keystone could not withstand Amon's immense energy and would soon explode. The artifact could only hold out for a few minutes at most. Deflecting the pouring enemy attacks, Artanis urged his brethren, who had not yet completely escaped the bondage of the Khala, to make their final decision. There was no more time to delay.

"These nerve cords that bind us are Amon's shackles! If you desire freedom, sever them yourselves!" Artanis's cry reached every Protoss on the battlefield. It was a harsh command to destroy the most sacred bond of their race, which had endured for thousands of years. Yet, it was the only way to escape Amon's dominion and preserve the survival of their species.

The light of the Keystone reached its limit, flashing so brightly that one could not open their eyes. Amidst Amon's rage-filled roar shaking the earth, the warriors connected to the Khala understood Artanis's noble intent despite their pain and confusion. With trembling hands, they raised their weapons and slowly began to aim their sharp blades at the nerve cords that held thousands of years of history.

The Protoss Who Severed Their Nerve Cords and Amon Banished to the Void

Blue psionic blades flashed across the battlefield. Countless Templar, holding back tears, severed their nerve cords in a single stroke. With a burning smell, the severed nerve cords fell onto the cold earth of Aiur. It was a ritual of noble sacrifice, accompanied by a terrible sense of loss as if a part of their soul was being torn away, far beyond the physical pain of slicing flesh.

The moment the final nerve cord was severed, the massive echo of the Khala that had enveloped all of Aiur sank into eternal silence. The warm whispers and exchange of emotions that had connected the minds of the Protoss since the beginning of time vanished completely. Shivering from a perfect sense of isolation and a bone-chilling loneliness they had never experienced in their lives, the warriors stared blankly at each other's faces.

Having lost the massive medium of the Khala, Amon could no longer remain in the physical realm. The explosive energy of the Keystone bound Amon's lost essence, tearing open a massive dimensional rift in the air. Amon struggled, spewing horrific curses, but drawn by an unseen, colossal force, he began to be sucked helplessly into the dark abyss beyond the rift.

"I am the beginning... and the end! You shall never escape me!" Amon's final scream echoed as if to tear the skies of Aiur apart. However, his hideous host body was already crumbling into ashes, and the red Void energy vanished into the rift. As the dimensional gateway closed with a thunderous roar, the crushing, overwhelming aura of evil finally disappeared completely.

Only silence lingered over the land of Aiur as the acrid smoke and dust cleared. The Protoss who had lost their nerve cords stumbled to their feet, and Nerazim, Tal'darim, and Purifier warriors approached to support them. Though their mental connection was broken, they shared a new kind of bond through each other's warmth and gazes. It was the solidarity of those who had won true freedom.

Artanis knelt on the blood-stained earth and quietly picked up a severed nerve cord. Holding that small fragment where past glory and loss intersected, he honored the souls of his countless brethren who had sacrificed themselves for their homeworld. Vorazun, Alarak, and Talandar approached and stood silently beside the Hierarch. They had overcome division and finally achieved the miracle of reclaiming their homeworld.

The clouds parted, and warm sunlight poured down onto the skies of Aiur. Above the ruined cities, the banner of the Daelaam fluttered proudly. Though they had banished Amon from the physical realm and reclaimed their home, Artanis sensed that this war was not yet entirely over. It was certain that Amon's essence was still sharpening its blades of vengeance deep within the Void.

Artanis looked up at the sky and clenched his fist tightly. Rebuilding Aiur was only the beginning. For eternal peace, they had to plunge directly into the Void and completely sever Amon's breath. Anticipating the true final battle to come, a sense of mission burned more intensely than ever in the Hierarch's eyes. The final journey, with the fate of the universe at stake, awaited them.

Sources Verified

Official Blizzard StarCraft Chronicle

Official StarCraft II Campaign Introduction

Developer Lore Q&A: Connecting Characters and War

Official Lore Introduction of the Alarak Short Story

Official StarCraft II Download and Campaign/Nova Purchase List