"Don't Mess With the Bengelaas!!!"
-Fizban_
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| Initiation: Part I,II, & III | | | Author: | | | IP: | pppxela0XXXX | | Date: | 07/07/00 02:07 | | Game Type: | Starcraft | | Labels: | none | | Report Rating: , # of Ratings: 1, Max: 7, Min: 7
Lifetime Rating for Cracky_The_Peon: 5.6000 |  |
Authors Note:
Well, I had origionally planned for "Initiation" to be a released in three parts, but not surprisingly, it didn't really catch-on. After putting a lot more effort into each of the individual sections and learning html 0_o, I rethought my approach and decided to release one big fanfic, divided, however, into three parts.
Even though I am re-releasing two things that have already been rated, I was hoping Dref or whoever would look at it again (all together this time). Well...enjoy!
Part I:
The twin suns of the Zi'thma system rose beyond the distant mountains, breaking the tance-like nature of my sleep. Rolling over, I groaned with the realization of the morning. Another sigh escaped my breath as I rose to face another day of boot camp. Fuck...I hit my head on the top bunk again. Just another reason to despise morning.
Breakfast went along as usual. I sat alone, feeling contemplative instead of social. Where was my life heading? What was the point?
The rigorus physical demands of boot camp were only half the battle. The pyscological requirments of the training were equally demanding and just as draining. Day after day of yells, insults, and slavitude for the good of the company were building up...building up to the inevitable breaking point where one must choose: live to fight another day, or die. What would I choose? The life of a marine was advertised as glorious, fighting for the good of the system, fighting for all the things worth defending in our society. What was I fighting for? I knew I had made a mistake...I was escaping the realities of my life back home. But now all I could think was "What had I gotten myself into?"
Boot camp was not the most socially oriented place. Far too often there would be future soldiers like me, soldiers that fought alone, unable to trust those fighting beside him. The virtual reality training simulations I had experieced were unlike field exercises I had taken part in. In the real world, it was every man for himself. Despite the lack of community I felt in the company, I was doing pretty well. My marksmanship had gained the attention of my superiors and I had been recommended for a position as an officer upon my graduation from basic training. I had completed a survival course, the rudimentary requirment for all snipers with perfect marks and recieved an honorable mention. This recognition was not enough. My days were unending, unfilling. There was something missing in my life. It was at my lowest when She came into my life....
She was like a angel mixed with the fury of a demon, in short, a ghost. Beautiful and equally deadly, She was perfection. I had met Her one day at lunch, exhausted from a hard workout and mentally drained from a pyscological conditioning course. She was my first friend, almost the first person to talk to me since I had arrived. She was what I had been looking for. Things between us remained platonic...at best we were best friend, at worst, allies. At the high point of are relationship I made a discovery, a discovery about myself and the company as a whole. The secret.
"Quiet damn you!" Her flaming red hair turned away as she silenced me with a glare cold as ice. My mind began to play games with me, calculating every possiblity for her disturbance of my sleep. They ranged from wild fantasies to downright paranoias...I followed her as silently as possible, but I could never match a ghost for stealth. Countless dark corridors raced past me as we made our way deeper and deeper into the depths of the command center.
At long last we arrived at a thick black blast door marked with strange red symbols.
"Protoss?", I questioned. "Very good...you've been paying attention in your classes...", came the reply. Again, my mind was having a field day with all the implications of the symbols...The outstanding question soon surfaced.
"What are Protoss symbols doing in a Terran training facility?" She turned an smiled, then effortlessly punched in the digital code to unlock the doors. A small hiss of gas signaled a change in pressure as I plunged into the darkness beyond the gateway...
Part II::
The gateway opened into a large, gym-like room. Almost immediately the dark gray walls adorned with other protoss symbols stood out against the soft lighting. The floor was a rich black marble, shining against the lights that lingered high above the gym. Three red circles, freshly painted, contrasted against the marble floor. In one corner, a virual reality simulator lay dormat, ready for its next battle with the flip of a switch. Large black banners hung from the gyms simple rafters, bordered in red and bearing the same foreign marks seen on the door.
"What is this place?" I managed to whisper after a moment. "Follow me." came the reply.
Our footsteps rang across the expanse of the empty gym, resounding with an alarming amount of noise. "I thought we were trying to be quiet" I noted. "In here, it doesn't matter", she said. This new revelation startled me for some unknown reason. Stealth had been the empasis of our trip over here and now 'It doesn't matter'. I smelled trouble...
She made her way to the opposite end of the gym with me close behind her. A blank wall. Not only was I beginning to doubt my own sanity, now the very person who I had been trusting as a guide called hers into question. Placing her hands shoulder width apart, she leaned into the smooth gray wall. An electronic beep sounded from within and a hiss of gas later, we were faced with another doorway. A long dark corridor revealed itself as a series of red floorlights came on. She started walking, and naturally, I followed.
At the end of the corridor an automated door slid back to reveal the adjoining room. She turned to smile at me and then stepped into...a church? My lovely host slowly made her way down the aisle of the sancuatry, but I stoop in awe of the wonder hidden here below the training facility. Stained glass windows illuminated the room with an eerie illumanescant glow that seemed to seep into the cold white marble floor beneath me. The Roman-Catholic gothic catheral-type sancuary was immense. It rose well over three stories high. Huge white marble pillars supported countless rafters, each a work of art. I expected to look to the front and see Jesus himself standing there. Instead, I found something just a bit worse...a protoss high templar. He seemed to tower over me even from across the room. An eerie blue aura seemed to seep from his very being. Large intelligent eyes examained me, glowing faintly red. I did what every red-blooded marine who is worth a damn would do: i fainted.
After I arose from my manly display of terran valor, I sat up to find the protoss still beside me. My mind swam as I tried to recover from the shock and at the same time work the implications of its precense here beneath boot camp.
"No one has ever done that before...I guess its SOMETHING to be proud of..." I turned to face Her. Sense of humor intact, I swavly replied, " I meant to do that...honest..." She grinned down at me and swiftly helped me to my feet. "I'd like you to meet K'tagal, a Protoss High Templar". From the bewildered look plastered on my face, K'tagal could see I was in no shape to respond and gave a slight bow to acknowledge me, his eyes flickering with the strange red light for an instant. A deep, rumbling noise that resembled a voice soon graced my ears: " You have been chosen, my child, chosen to follow the path of the N'gamm, the way of the warrior." It obviously came from K'tagal, but I could not find a question to ask, a response of any type. She turned to K'tagal and replied for me " I'm sure he's honored, but as you may expect, slightly overwhelmed. Perhaps a tour of the training grounds would be helpful answer some of the questions he's sure to have." K'tagal must have agreed, because I saw him float away from me, followed by an eerie blue shadow and then Her. I no choice but to follow. I was only a lowly marine, and here an _actual_ Protoss High Templar was addressing me, telling me I had been chosen! Naturally, I fainted again.
I soon recovered and caught up to K'tagal and Her. They had exited the sancuary from the same way we had entered, so I naturally assumed the gym was the next stop. I turned for a final glance into the sanctuary, noticing for the first time the figures depicted in the stained glass. Protoss. The traditional images of Mary and Jesus and whatnot were filled with detailed views of immense space ships, bloody wars where Protoss fought eachother, and lastly, Terrans.
I turned to follow K'tagal, swallowed immediately by the darkness of the hallway. As I re-entered the gym, I glanced at my watch. 5 AM. I must have been unconsious longer than I thought...The gym was not the empty shell of a room we had left it as. Instead, marines, much like myself, were lifting weights, sparring each of the three red circles adorning the floor and completing tests in the virtual reality simulator. All of this was quite common place and expected, but what I found myself unprepared for were...Protoss? instructors and other warriors training along with them. "You'll be interested in this", She called. I jogged over to where she and K'tagal were standing and traced her eyes to a raised platform the size of a boxing ring. "The object is simple. Knock your opponent off the platform", she explained.
A single Zealot towered over its obvious opponents, two marines. All were unarmed, but I didn't like the marines chances against a Zealot, even unarmed. I had seen footage of these proud warriors fight their way through entire companies of marines, even with firebat support. I knew their power. We were taught to fear them in boot camp. The instructer of a class on Protoss warfare once said to me, " It you ever see a Zealot, fuck the orders...I'd get my ass out of there as fast as I could' Zealots were almost revered in boot camp and I found myself actually enjoying my close encounter with these Protoss. K'tagal spoke in a foreign tongue and the three fighters began circling eachother in the ring. The humans obviously were trying to circle behind the massive Zealot and attack from behind, but for all of their efforts, the Zealot managed to keep both warriors in front of it. In an instant, both humans leapt across the ring, one high and one low. The Zealot leapt into the air and landed gracefully to avoid the assault. The humans regrouped quickly, more intent than ever on the goal at hand. One hopped into range of the Zealots massive arms an began attacking it from melee distance. The brand of martial arts used by the marine that day was more advanced than any of the personal defence/close combat courses I had ever seen. The Zealot flawlessly blocked and counterattacked each assault and in turn, the marine ducked and dogded the Zealots attempts to counterattack.
I had almost forgotten the second marine when he sprang into action. He leapt through the air, tucking his arms close to his body and extending one foot, closely followed by the other. He struck the Zealot directly in the chest, throwing it off balance. For an instant the Zealot hung between falling off the platform and recovering. A swift uppercut delivered by the first marine settled the matter as the giant toppled to the floor. It quickly rose and gave a swift bow to each of the triumphant marines.
I stood for a long while in front of the platform and relived the fight in my mind. Was it possible? How could two men defeat a Zealot? Countless questions flew threw my mind, each carefully regarded and then dismissed in an instant. K'tagal spoke: " I can see you're impressed. That is why we brought you here to see this. To see your potential..." With this, he turned to observe another battle, leaving me to my doubts and donfusion. "I know you are having trouble taking this all in. I know I sure as hell did. But you are one of us now. One of the Chosen. In time, you will understand." She turned to squeeze my shoulder and then resumed her place beside K'tagal.
Part III::
That night I barely slept, after all, how could one sleep with so much to ponder? I have never felt so empty and yet so full all at once. I felt a part of me hidden deep within my thin frame come alive and dance with excitement in my chest like a broodling, but at the same time I felt as if this same broodling would burst from within if I didn't do something. I had seen the next generation of terran combatants, the turning point of the war before my very eyes. I had been chosen, but with that blessing came a burden.
The day passed as any other day would. Training, classes and tactics reviews took my mind off what was happening in the shadows of this facility. Night fell once more and again, I was awakened by Her haunting figure. Silently I obeyed the command to follow. I fully expected to return to the bowels of the camp where I had been the previous night, but instead the light of the stars rose to greet me as I pushed out into the open. At once I recognized where I was. The combat field. It was here that units participated in live fire tests and artillery demonstrations. The night slipped over Her body like a wave of silk as she continued her trek across the open field. I rushed to follow, unsure of anything and anyone. Doubts began to overshadow possibilities and I stopped a moment to think...What was I getting myself into?
"Aren't you coming?" came a voice from the darkness. An echo rebounded and struck me again with the implications of my answer. "Yes...yes, I'm coming..." came my reply. This was it, I thought. From this point on, I can never be the same.
Hours seemed to pass and dawn seemed ready to burst across the sky at will. I had put my fears behind me, fears of the unknown, fears of my burden. Excitement grew in my chest, replacing the anxiety that once filled me. I caught up to my fearless leader just as She stopped on the edge of a small impact crater. "Where are we going?!" I exclaimed, my excitement no longer contained. After hours of the unknown, I needed an answer. She shifted slightly, signaling a reply was imminent. "There" she said, and with that, she swept her arm down to a small pressure lock set at the bottom of the crater. She slide nimbly down the slope and I could only stand and admire the grace she did it with. My attempt to repeat the manuver left me a pile of bones at the bottom, covered in dust. A gentle giggle escaped Her lips as she stepped forward to help me up.
The familiar hissing noise of released gas swirled around me as I opened the pressure lock. She swiftly slid down the waiting ladder and into darkness once more. A sigh that was all too known to me rose from the hole at my feet. "Aren't you coming?" A soft groan was my reply as i was swallowed in darkness.
I followed her into a dimly lit room showered in a soft blue light. A large figure knelt before an alter, softly whispering and unknown prayer to and unknown god. K'tagal rose to greet me, his flowing robes and alert eyes prefectly complimenting his mystic aura. "Greetings, my Child. Are you ready to begin your training?" I turned and looked at Her. She smilied a flickering smirk that rivaled K'tagals eyes in unpredictablilty and gently pushed me forward. K'tagal turned and glided out to the room, leaving me in his soft blue wake. My silence had apparentyl been taken as a "yes".
"I know you have many questions right now and I will do my best to clear your mind from doubt and fear" rumbled K'tagal's voice. "I suspect I have some explaining to do."
"You see, what we are trying to accomplish is something unheard of and unseen. The Protoss and Terran leaders have realized they have a common enemy in the Zerg and needless fighting between each other is futile and only further progressing Zerg interests in this sector. Have you ever heard of the Dark Templar?"
I quickly nodded my reply and drew a sharp breath, waiting for him to continue. " The Dark Templar and especially Tassadar were on to something in allying with the Terrans. Though the actions of our own Conclave condemned them, we now see the full potential in our union. Terran technology is something even we Protoss have trouble fully understanding. Yet you Terrans are a frail race, easily defeated without your machinery - this is precisely what we are hoping to change."
The templars eyes began to glow strangely and he focused on me with such intensity I felt blown back. "Your thoughts turn to your demonstration, do they not?" K'tagal tilted his head slightly and focused again, groaning slightly from his strain. " You still doubt our motives...I can assure you, our one and only objective in this campaign of alliance is to defeat the Zerg wherever they may spawn. Our means are simple. Terrans, such as yourself, are selected based on aptitude of mental strength, for a true warrior relies on his mental powers as much as his physical. We train you to use psi, in a manner of speaking."
K'tagal paused, obviously anticipating a reaction from myself which I presently granted. " I thought only 'ghosts' could harness their mind power the way Protoss do..." With a flicker of his eyes, he continued. " I want to show you something that may help you grasp our tools in this undertaking. K'tagal turned to Her and removed a small belt from her shapely waist, presenting it to me. " This band is what we call a 'psi generator'. In short, it enables its wearer to use a powerful energy shield much like the ones our own warriors generate and also use 'psi blades', the weapon of the Dark Templar."
At this She awarded her arms to K'tagal who pulled back her sleeves and turned over her arms. At the base of her wrist was a small gemstone, an eerie blue that seemed almost liquid against her pale skin.
"Perhaps another demonstration will serve us better", said K'tagal. She closed her eyes a moment and two psi blades materialized before me. K'tagal ran one of his fingers along the blade, chuckling softly at my expression.
"We are a small group of trainees" She said, "but I'm sure you can see our potential now." K'tagal quickly stated: " We are isolated to this one facility, but the project is growing. We are developing a similar generator that will enable full cloaking, much like that of a Dark Templar. "
This was it. This was my purpose in life and the eventuality I had been walking steadily towards. I had been chosen, hand picked and taken a chance on. Now I was going to have to take a chance on them.
Well, I hope you enjoyed it. I had a lot of fun with some of the ideas in the story and I hope to write some things a bit later that follow the same kind of plotline (terran/toss hybrid forces) and add some new things. Comment like the whores you are.
Cracky_The_Peon
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