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tassadar,
zeratul

First Blink | Text | April 8th

[Absolutely no time had passed in Zeratul’s own universe, but he’d arrived back in Death City last night to find he’d missed three days. Judging by the state of the city and the ruins of the Bazaar off in the desert, he’d missed more than that. Worse yet, every attempt he’d made at communicating with any of Shibusen’s agents near the Kishin Chamber had failed miserably, and he was forced to find another way to communicate. Using the text function of his tiny mirror device was frustrating, but it served its purpose. Before long, though, he knew he was going to need more help than that.]

Adun toridas. I have been absent from the city for several days, and it seems as if BREW has altered my capabilities. While I could speak before, I am no longer able, so I must rely on this device to contact any of you. If anyone capable is willing, I need to confirm that I am still a Meister. I suspect that is no longer the case, but must find out as quickly as possible.

[Private to Tassadar]

I require your assistance, my friend.

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[Tassadar's keeping things close to his chest as things were. Taking a mental note of the information given, he began to pull himself out of his solitude to head towards Zeratul's location.]

Much has happened during your absence, but the city has also gained victory.

You suffered no injury yourself, I trust?

[Otherwise he was going to Tassadar and not the other way around.]

I am without injury, my friend. While the city may look heavily damaged, most were fortunate to leave the battle with little to no injuries.

[While that's mostly true, he is sporting his fair share of scrapes and scratches.]

Good.

[And he leaves it at that. Tassadar can walk faster without trying to type on this ridiculous little thing, after all.]

[He didn't respond any further on the communicator, and instead continued to make his way through what remained of the city streets. Despite the fact that he had his companion back, Tassadar couldn't help but feel unsettled by it all either.

That was something he hid, however, when he approached the park and caught sight of the older male already waiting there. While it may not have been obvious to most, there was a subtle hint of caution in his movements while he approached Zertul's location.]

En Taro Adun.

[Zeratul was sitting on the ground, back against a tree that was nearer to the street. All the rock and rubble from the Bazaar had made a mess of things, and he had no idea if anything more dangerous had fallen with it. Staying out seemed like a better idea.

When he sensed Tassadar's approach, he stood up. At the greeting, the most he could do was incline his head in return.]

[While he had read that the other male had lost his ability to communicate, witnessing it was a completely different thing. Tassadar came to a stop a few feet away when all he received was silence and the incline of the other's head.]

So it is true...

I do not understand why BREW would return you without the basic need of speech.

[While he wasn't always straight foward with the truth, Zeratul was not one to lie about anything, let alone this. Still, he picked up on Tassadar's hesitation about... everything, brow knitting together.

He shook his head in response, shoulders hunching as the anger and frustration he'd first felt about this came back. Humans could be difficult enough to speak with, but his own people? It was almost too much. Zeratul took the few steps that separated them, and raised his hand, waiting for Tassadar to take it.]

[The anger and frustration was palpable in the air, and he found himself both confused and left with a flurry of mixed emotions over this discovery. His muscles tensed when Zeratul approached, knowing full well what the prelate wanted, and did what he could to push down his own torrent of emotions from his thoughts.

He didn't want to burden Zeratul with something he had yet to figure out and answer himself. So when the hands rose up in offering, the templar slowly moved to mimic the gesture before his fingers entwined with Zeratl's own.]

[Zeratul almost pulled his hand away when Tassadar tensed, concerned by the gesture. Despite his claim he'd suffered no harm during the attack on the city, he could see the cuts and scrapes on his skin and armor. He doubted that was the reason for the templar's discomfort, though.

This was likely the first time a Nerazim was so desperate to be able to speak with a Khalai like this. He'd always been withdrawn and solitary, but robbed of the ability to speak was beyond his experience. With Tassadar's hand in his, he opened up enough to let the templar hear him.]

Unless BREW has worse designs, we may still be able to speak if you listen to my thoughts.

[This wasn't the first time he had lost someone here, and it wasn't the first time that he had to remain strong and continue on, but the loss of Zeratul had hit the templar far worse than it had when Selendis had returned. It was something that he didn't want to admit to himself, and Tassadar kept such emotions locked away within as he opened himself up to Zeratul.

He hadn't missed the moment of hesitation, but Tassadar showed no reaction as they joined their hands. Calming his mind, he did what he could not to focus on the physical affirmation that the prelate was in fact physically standing in front of him.]

I hear you.

[Tassadar could feel his chest clench at the sound of Zeratul's voice, but it was a feeling he quickly buried deep inside.]

I do not understand why BREW would return you, and yet strip you of something so important.

[Without any intimate knowledge of the Khala, it was always difficult for Zeratul to determine how open any Khalai really was, Tassadar included. He was used to him being the open book Raynor had thought of him as, easy to read as he was honest. Maybe it had something to do with BREW's tampering, or maybe it was because this connection was tenuous at best, but something about Tassadar felt off. He didn't push after it - not until he knew something really was off.

The confirmation that this worked was a relief, and some of the tension faded from his shoulders.]

Perhaps it seeks to serve some higher purpose, but I am not privy to it, nor am I pleased with it. The timing, I gather, could not have been worse.

[At that, he realized where the potential for harm arose. He had been gone three days, leaving behind a friend that had no guarantees he was even going to return.]

[Tassadar could not understand why BREW would consider stripping anyone of their method of communication, especially from one as wise and knowledgeable as Zeratul was. To him it seemed like a foolish move that would only seek to further isolate his companion and make his life unnecessarily difficult.

Whether he sensed the following realisation within his companion or not wasn't acknowledged, as Tassadar instead answered Zeartul's previous statement.]

Are you aware of what Meister ability BREW has given you to replace the one we both once shared, brother?

[Zeratul grappled with that answer for a moment, caught between responding and asking after Tassadar's experience the past few days. The battle was certainly something worth talking about, but he was more interested in the templar himself. Eventually he glanced back at the mirror he'd left by the tree, and the results of the soul perception.]

I am not, because the machine did not see fit to give me a Meister ability.

[He'd let Tassadar work that one out on his own.]

[He hadn't considered the fact that Zeratul would have returned to Death City as anything but a Meister. That was what he had been previously, along with both Selendis and himself. The thought that one of them could be a Weapon never once entered Tassadar's mind.

That was why he glanced at Zeratul in confusion for a moment before his mind supplied him with the only logical answer.]

It has returned you as a Weapon?

[Zeratul nodded before he could stop himself, since he certainly preferred to say it whenever he could. He'd made enough adjustments and changes throughout his long life, and this was one he did not look forward to in the least.]

Indeed, though my form is still unknown. Quite like the design and whims of BREW itself.

[He squeezed Tassadar's hand unintentionally, that brief moment of anger towards the machine passing as quickly as it had come.]

[His eyes widened at the confirmation before he glanced down to contemplate such an unexpected turn of events. The squeeze to his hand drew his attention back, and he could feel the brief flash of anger Zeratul felt towards such a thing.]

There must have been reason for such a change. Or perhaps you were needed back in our sector of space?

[Unlike with himself, both Zeratul and Selendis still held pivotal parts to play in the unfolding war.]

[He shook his head once, brow furrowed.]

I lost three days here and gained nothing from home. The last thing I remember was leaving the Carnival, and then arriving here for the second time. No, I do not understand it in the least.

[BREW's victims were many, and for that short while he'd considered himself fortunate to have what he did. From one universe to the next, fate simply could not be kind to him at least once.]

[If nothing was gained for their war, then what was the purpose of returning Zeratul? Could it have been purely for the sake of changing his stance here within the city? Such thoughts occupied his mind while he considered all that the prelate said.]

Perhaps there is a far simpler answer, and that it wished for you to fight in this war as a Weapon? Although why it would with your skills is beyond my knowledge.

[The simplest answer may be the correct answer, but the lack of choice or warning made it harder to accept. This sort of thing wasn't unheard of by any means, and not even he knew all the reasons for what happened and why back home. He might have a better understanding than most, but that was useless here.]

You are probably correct, Tassadar, though it is beyond me as well.

[He glanced back over his shoulder, keeping a firm grip on the templar's hand.]

What happened here?

Edited (html why) 2012-11-17 06:28 (UTC)

[There didn't appear to be any other explanation in that regards, and Tassadar wasn't certain if he wanted to search for any other types either. That would mean he had to consider events and options best left ignored for now, and it was a thought that intensified when he felt the continued firm grip.]

The final emitter was located deep within the carnival, along with two witches that attacked the city. What you see is the remnants of the carnival as it fell down and crashed throughout Death City and the surrounding area.

[As much as he wanted to do so, stewing over what BREW had done wasn't going to fix anything. At the very least he could depend on Tassadar's aide, and work through it that way. At present, they were still standing in the middle of a warzone, even if it was quiet now.]

You mentioned Shibusen being victorious, but the price must certainly have been high.

[He gave Tassadar a once over, arching one brow slightly.]

Whatever you faced is presumably in worse shape than yourself.

The price is always high when it comes to war, but the victories are often well worth it.

[For the most part anyway. There were some victories that weren't worth the price paid, even if he and Zeratul might have differed with specific losses and their worth.]

It is unfortunate to inform you that there was little choice but to retreat. I came across one of the menacing black clowns throughout my journey. They were a powerful opponent which left me with no choice but to flee.

[That was something they were both far too familiar with, unfortunately. He could hardly find a floating island crashing down on the city too strange, considering what was thrown their way back home. Zerg and terran and hybrids and now the Xel'Naga... it sometimes felt hopeless to even keep trying.]

There is no shame in that, just as there was no shame in retreating from the Queen of Blades. I am glad to find you safe, despite the dangers brought here.

[While he was a capable fighter, Tassadar also knew that there was value in retreating given the right conditions. There was little point in sacrificing a life when it could be spared to fight another day if the objective had been completed. Granted, there were specific situations where a life had to be given in order to save the lives of others as well. That was something he knew far too well.]

I hold no shame, brother. There is little point in risking a life when there are greater things at stake.

[The mention of Zeratul being pleased he was safe had him peering at the other curiously before he inclined his head.]

I find myself conflicted over your return here, for while your presence is most welcome, I find myself wishing that you were back fighting to protect our people and all life from the threats in our sector of space.

[He expected Tassadar to have learned his lesson back on Char, before they had even considered calling each other allies. Then, Zeratul's words had still been heresy, and Tassadar had struggled to accept the wisdom of one whom he'd been taught to hate. It was a bridge that had been worth every hassle to build between them, and the rest of their people.]

To serve our people is our purpose, Tassadar. While we are here, we must find other ways to serve them.

[Mostly by facilitating the war, and, in a way, serving one another. They could do that much, at least.]

[He couldn't help but nod in return to the words spoken. That was all he focused on doing, or attempted to. For the more work he did here, the faster they could return to Aiur and their fight.]

I have, and always will, fight for Aiur and our people, for I am templar.

Without a doubt, of course. I should very much like to be among our people and prepare them for the days to come, but that is not the case. I ask you to be at peace with my presence here, Tassadar, so that we may fight together and protect those who need it.

[Humans, for all their faults, deserved the same treatment. While Zeratul certainly wasn't going to say or think it, he almost preferred Tassadar being here, than back home.]

[There was almost a flicker of something through their connection as Zeratul spoke, a great feeling of loss and longing wrapped around Zeratul's disappearance, but it was gone just as quickly as it came.]

Your presence has, and always will be, welcome, my friend.

[Zeratul struggled to grasp that something, knowing it was there but failing to catch it before it was gone. He wasn't accustomed to sharing feelings like Tassadar did, and assumed that if it was more important, it wouldn't have been so fleeting. He didn't particularly like assumptions, though, and didn't respond immediately as he thought it over.]

As is yours to me. [He straightened out his shoulders slightly.] The next step, I imagine, is figuring out how to... transform.

I am afraid I hold no such knowledge. There are those during morning training that teach the techniques. I never had a need to observe such lessons.

[He shook his head.]

I do not expect you to have all the answers for me, but would appreciate your presence through this process. If the park is still usable, I will seek out these lessons tomorrow.

It would be my honour, my friend. Whether the park is still usable or not, I believe that they would still hold such teachings.

The one who was once in charge has been returned to his homeworld, but I believe that another has taken his place.

[His brow creased.]

Maito Gai? That is unfortunate. {And given BREW's nature, not all that unexpected, sadly.]

I do not remember him being in charge of the Weapon Transformation section. Maito Gai, who has indeed been returned, was the one who oversaw all the sections.

[Also not unexpected - again, he wondered how BREW intended to fulfill Kid's wish if they couldn't hold together a working army.]

Ah, my mistake. Either way, there must be someone available to assist those of us unfortunate to be stuck like this.

It is without doubt that there would be, my friend.

[He really had nothing else to say about that, which led to the awkward choice of letting go or simply holding on. This was going to be a miserable way to communicate quickly, and he could only type so fast on that tiny little mirror.]

I believe until then, it would be wise to meditate on such a bizarre change. Would you join me?

[There was still much weighing on his mind regarding Zeratul and this world here, but Tassadar kept it locked tightly within for now. He needed time to ponder such things, and attempt to regain control over his emotions.]

I will join you.

[Tassadar began to pull his hands away from Zeratul's own. It would cut off communicators between them, but he couldn't risk allowing his emotion to seep through.]

[Zeratul nodded in acceptance, then let his hand drop, unaware of anything Tassadar might be keeping from him. The very idea of him holding anything back seemed outlandish enough, so he rarely suspected anything of the templar.

Silently, he led the way towards a part of the park that wasn't demolished, where the two of them could meditate in peace.]

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