Chapter 255: Activating the Blackstone and the Zerg Reinforcements
"I am Trazyn the Infinite, Overlord of Solemnace, Chief Archaeovist of the Prismatic Galleries, and a scientist!"
"No," Cawl retorted instantly. "You are an Abomination."
"An Abomination again... Do you humans have no new vocabulary? I am not one of the artificial intelligences you yourselves created. There is a fundamental difference between us!"
Pavian couldn't help but send a sub-vocal reminder to Cawl.
"Archmagos... perhaps a better attitude? We mustn't jeopardize the Lord's plan..."
Trazyn strolled around Cawl, observing him and Pavian. He could sense a type of energy emanating from them that was outside his established knowledge. He raised an arm of living metal and tapped it gently against the surface of a pylon.
"Why have you appeared on Cadia? State your purpose for seeking me out," Cawl demanded, feigning ignorance just as he had with the Harlequin, Sylandri. He was growing to like this feeling, of having complete control over the conversation's initiative.
"You don't seem surprised by my arrival at all, do you?" Trazyn noted. "The previous Magos of Cadia, Klarn, was of a rather poor technical caliber. Even with my deliberate guidance, he was unable to comprehend the mysteries of the Blackstone."
"The mysteries of the Blackstone? It suppresses the warp, does it not?"
"Oh? It seems you already know. As expected of Belisarius Cawl, even I have heard tales of your exploits. But did you learn this on your own, or did those Eldar tell you? This device, the Null-matrix, is a remarkable piece of technology. And its purpose is far greater than that.
"I was present when they were installed on Cadia. At least, that is what my memory engrams suggest. You know how it is; the long slumber often presents us with scenes we would rather not see. You and I have lived long enough to have surely experienced this sensation—the loss of certain memories. I vaguely recall that within those memories were many things I wished to record and preserve. Now they are lost forever. It is a true pity."
Trazyn's voice was filled with genuine regret. He truly mourned the loss of that history.
"Abomination, I have no time to chat with you," Cawl snapped. "Either tell me how to activate the Blackstone, or I will kill you here and now."
"Kill me?! Such a hardliner. We needn't even discuss whether you are capable of it. Even if you succeeded, this is but one of my countless bodies. You are the one who is in a hurry. Do you truly believe this is the proper attitude to take when you require my assistance? Are you not concerned I will simply walk away?"
"Do not threaten me. The fact that you have appeared here without attacking humanity, and even tried to guide Magos Klarn, proves that our interests are aligned. Now, tell me why you are helping humanity, and then tell me how to activate this damned contraption."
"Interesting... Yes, our interests are indeed aligned, but perhaps not as critically as you believe. I could still walk away. You humans are always so impatient. You are truly a race with no patience. But that is to be expected; your short lifespans do not afford you enough time for quiet contemplation.
"As for why I help humanity... even a human would not wish for their 'garden' to be made a mess, correct? The surge from the Empyrean will cause great damage to many of my collections. They know only destruction and ruin. I am not a warmonger; I am a collector. I do not wish to see my precious artifacts destroyed by the entities of the Empyrean. Of course, the history being made here is also worthy of my presence and documentation. However, I also have some bad news for you."
Trazyn's tone shifted.
"'Garden'? Such arrogance. Do you view the entire galaxy as your personal property? Speak your so-called bad news."
"I will overlook your offense. We are far more powerful than you humans can imagine. The Eldar, or even your own Golden Age of Technology, were nothing in comparison. Originally, I came to offer my 'selfless' assistance. But after seeing certain things, I have changed my mind. I intend to propose a trade."
"A trade?"
As he spoke, the SCV, encased in a tesseract labyrinth, appeared in Trazyn's hand.
"It has been a long time since I have seen a piece of technology that interests me so. It is fascinating. I find it incredible that something so crude is impossible for me to override and control. It could repair many of my exhibits. Grant me control of it, or take me to meet the one who created it."
Hearing Trazyn's condition, Cawl knew he had no authority to agree on Lucan's behalf, but Pavian stepped forward.
"That is acceptable," Pavian stated. "Lord Lucan agrees to your request for a meeting. After this war is concluded, he is willing to meet with you."
"Lord Lucan? Interesting... Cawl, it seems you are working for others now as well? I would have thought a mind as brilliant as yours would possess sufficient independence."
"Enough of this nonsense! Give me what I need to activate this thing! Chaos has already begun bombarding this position!"
"I accept your trade. Come, come, let me adjust the frequency of these matrices to be in unison! Only then will they function properly."
"No, no, no, Trazyn," Cawl said, holding up a hand. "Do not approach these constructs. You will instruct me, and I will perform the work."
"By yourself? Do not overestimate your own technical skills. With your ability, even with my guidance, completing the task alone will take several times as long. I am willing to wait, but can those human armies outside afford to? If they are all wiped out, activating the Null-matrix will be meaningless."
"That is not your concern!"
"It seems you have a few cards up your sleeves that I am not aware of."
"Very well, have it your way. I will transmit a data-packet to you. Accept it. Use the data within to establish a void-array, and then I will tell you how to adjust its frequency."
Trazyn was surprised to see Cawl accept without hesitation.
"Are you not afraid I've hidden a data-virus within?"
"You won't do that."
Though Cawl said it with confidence, he genuinely wasn't worried. After being enhanced by the Divinity Machine, his data-processing capabilities were far beyond what they once were.
"Excellent. Then let us begin."
Pavian, meanwhile, relayed a message back to Lucan.
"Trazyn has made contact with Cawl. Guilliman, Ferrus, our job now is to buy them time—to delay until Cawl can decipher the technology and activate the Pylons."
"Trazyn?!" Neither Guilliman nor Ferrus had ever heard the name. At that moment, Guilliman could only wonder just how many secrets Lucan was hiding.
Lucan, in turn, began to contact Kerrigan.
At that moment, Kerrigan was disgorged from a Nydus Worm. She had arrived on Cadia ahead of the others. The entire forge-complex was now occupied only by the Tech-priests of the Cult of the Holy Machine. All other soldiers, including the Cadian Mechanicus members, had been sent to the front lines. The massive subterranean forge was now completely filled with Zerg.
Seeing Kerrigan's arrival, the Tech-priests began operating the controls, opening the forge's immense, sealed metal gates.
"My Queen," a voice hissed. "The Zerg are ready to fight for you."
Zagara had also arrived via the Nydus network.
"You know who the enemy is," Kerrigan commanded. "Relay this to the Swarm: even if you are attacked by human forces, you are not to retaliate. The Protoss will also be fighting alongside us. Have the control strains screen their war machines. Have all Queens maintain the Nydus Worms and continue to transport Zerg forces to Cadia at maximum speed. These numbers are not yet enough."
"The aerial units? Are you referring to those machines called Colossi? Do not worry, my Queen. We will show this world the true power of the Zerg."
The vast network of Nydus Worms could transport immense numbers of Zerg every second. Zagara understood what Kerrigan meant by the Protoss war machines.
"Precisely."
"For the Queen of Blades!"
At Zagara's lead, countless Zerg swarmed out through the open gates. Within minutes, the once-empty forge was again packed to the brim with newly arrived Zerg.
On the surface, Probes began to establish Pylons, and the first of the towering war machines known as Colossi were warped onto the surface of Cadia.
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