The corpse was handed to Abathur for research. After all, the Aeldari were a species genetically modified by the Old Ones. It should strengthen the Swarm, even if just adding a bit of speed or attack power.
As for the Spirit Stone, it was delivered to the Swarm Overmind.
†Interesting. I can sense energy within, perhaps what's called a soul.†
Aeldari individuals almost all possess considerable psychic power. Some individuals' psychic power is so strong they could alter a planet's climate or destroy an army, possibly not weaker than the Overmind's.
†Unfortunately, my psychic power is different from Warhammer 40K's psychic power. Though the manifestations are similar, the principles differ.†
Both sides' psychic powers include basic applications like telepathy and storm generation. StarCraft II's psychic power is more stable; Warhammer 40K's psychic power is slightly more potent, sourced from the Warp.
The Warp's energy is beyond the Overmind's comparison.
"Overmind."
†What is it, Zasz?†
"Zerglings discovered a strange structure on this planet."
†Structure?†
The Overmind's vision linked with the Zerglings again. Then it saw the magnificent archway.
†A Webway gate?! There's a Webway gate on this planet?!†
Killed too early, killed too early!!!
A Webway gate! If that Aeldari had been kept alive, the entire galaxy would be accessible to the Overmind.
Webway gates are distributed on almost all planets, just unknown locations. By activating a gate, the Overmind could travel instantly from this planet to Holy Terra.
†Abathur, Abathur, can you resurrect that corpse?†
"Target unit: vital signs absent. Brain death duration excessive. Neural damage irreparable. But attempt possible."
Truly resurrecting a corpse wasn't feasible. But reconnecting neural networks, reactivating organs, making the dead body functional again—that was within Abathur's capabilities.
A Zerg tube was inserted into the unfortunate Aeldari's neck. The dead body regained vitality. But looking at its vacant eyes, the Overmind knew 'resurrection' had failed.
†Can you extract its memories?†
If resurrection failed, knowing how to use the Webway gate would suffice.
"Target brain death duration excessive. Memory loss. Extraction impossible."
Implied: if the brain were intact, Abathur could extract a life form's memories.
†Can you extract memories from the soul within this Spirit Stone?†
"Soul?"
Abathur emitted a clearly puzzled sound.
Alright. For an Evolution Master, something like a soul evidently didn't align with his scientific worldview.
†Never mind. Opportunities will come later.†
The Overmind knew: Craftworld Aeldari were hard to capture, but Dark Eldar were plentiful!!!
Those Dark Eldar act as pirates across planets, relying on Webway gates connected to Commorragh. Capturing a Dark Eldar shouldn't be difficult.
The current priority: develop, build forces, establish sufficient strength. Though development seemed good, if the Planetary Governor of the neighboring Hive World discovered them, they might bring Astra Militarum and fleets to exterminate them.
Though Space Marines are formidable, in terms of fleet strength, the Planetary Governor surpasses them.
On the other side, Aeldari Ranger Kalesa, after resting overnight, emerged from her room refreshed.
She geared up, preparing for her usual patrol. But at the entrance, she didn't see her fellow guardian.
"Where's Purl?"
"Went to check out the bugs yesterday. Hasn't returned yet." Another guardian said somewhat irritably. "Leaving me to guard alone today."
But Kalesa felt a sense of unease.
Her companion might be in trouble.
"I'll go find him!"
Donning her cloak, Kalesa cloaked and stepped out of the cloaking field. But the moment she left the field, she was startled.
Yesterday, outside the field was rainforest. Now, the area had been cleared nearby. Jet-black Creep covered the ground, stretching into the distance.
The moment Kalesa stepped onto the Creep, Cerebrate Zasz detected another foreign entity.
"Another one."
The Overmind's order: capture alive.
Zasz didn't alert the humanoid. Its alertness was high. He needed to form a large enough encirclement to prevent escape.
To effectively restrain it, the Infestor came into play.
Once the Infestor's tail spike pierced it, a creature of this size would be 100% controlled.
Kalesa warily scanned her surroundings. Stepping on the Creep, its eerie texture disgusted her. The pulsating Creep veins, like blood vessels, seemed alive.
But Creep was alive.
So disgusting. To Kalesa, these things were as repulsive as Warp daemons.
She completely missed the massive encirclement surrounding her. Countless Zerglings prowled the perimeter, blocking any escape route.
Kalesa only saw a large, single-eyed creature in the sky. Yet, this creature negated any possibility of cloaked escape.
[Name: Overseer]
[Length: 50-150 meters]
[Role: Reconnaissance, detection of cloaked units]
[Armament: None]
[Description: Mutated from the Overlord, this creature's carapace is covered with complex neural tendrils and extremely sensitive photoreceptors. Through finely tuned sensory organs, the Overseer can detect burrowed or cloaked units within its visual range. Although the Overseer lost the Overlord's transport and Creep-dropping abilities, it gained new capabilities—creating Changeling.
Changeling: This soft, unstable protoplasmic Overseer product appears non-threatening at first glance. But true to its name, the Changeling can mimic the appearance of the nearest enemy, serving as the Swarm's spy to scout enemy troop deployments. The Changeling lacks an attack system—for enemies, the intelligence it provides is loss enough.]
Kalesa 'easily' reached near the Hive. But the Infestor hadn't arrived yet. Zasz needed to buy time.
The Overseer's Changeling proved useful. A Changeling excreted by the Overseer twisted and transformed, becoming the previously killed Aeldari warrior, even replicating the Aeldari armor.
"Go, leave with her."
Zasz planned to play the long game.
Kalesa soon found her 'companion' near the Hive. He was being dragged by a Zergling, about to be hauled into the Hive.
Without hesitation, Kalesa raised her rifle and fired. A laser shot from the barrel, instantly headshotting the Zergling.
Both power and accuracy were impeccable.
"Purl, wake up, wake up."
Kalesa patted her companion's helmet. 'Purl' awoke.
"What happened to me?"
"Those bugs captured you. You almost got pulled into the Hive. Quickly, let's return. This place isn't safe."