Chapter Thirty-Two: Parallel Universes

Aedion Star – Dimensional Observation Platform

Ever since the Protoss Empire gained knowledge of parallel universes, they had been consumed by curiosity for these similar yet divergent worlds. However, due to the Temporal Management Regulations issued in the same year, the Empire had long restrained its urge to traverse these alternate realities, fearing their interference might affect the development of parallel worlds.

Yet, after a period of dialogue with Agamotto, the Guardian of the Time Stone, the Protoss Empire’s understanding of parallel universes evolved. From the river of time within the prime universe, countless parallel realities would branch out. The notion of “interfering” with a parallel universe was, in essence, an illusion; for every universe that was “affected,” others would exist that remained untouched. As long as the prime universe endured, parallel worlds would endlessly emerge and perish.

Thus, the Empire prepared an exploration fleet to venture into a parallel universe, hoping to glean intelligence about foes lurking in the shadows.

Lacking the aid of the Time Stone, they could not predict how these “influenced” parallel universes would unfold. Therefore, they established a Dimensional Observation Platform on Aedion Star, designed specifically to observe the futures of parallel worlds.

According to Agamotto, the closer a parallel universe was to the prime, the more similar its temporal flow; the farther away, the faster time moved. Through this temporal disparity, those who studied enough parallel universes could discern what most called the path of fate.

Although the future of the prime universe lay in the hands of its denizens, observing a sufficient number of parallel worlds could still offer insight into what might await.

This time, the Empire’s target was a parallel universe exceedingly distant from the prime. Current observations indicated that this universe lay tens of thousands of years ahead.

As the dimensional teleportation matrix flared to life, an exploration fleet in high orbit above Aedion Star traversed the quantum realm, crossing into this new universe.

“Engage cloaking field, update starmap array,” Executor Wells commanded as soon as they reached their destination. Given the unknowns of this universe, caution was paramount.

Minutes later, the probes refreshed the local star charts. They were now at this universe’s Aedion Star—yet detected no structures or personnel belonging to the Protoss Empire.

Though they had entered a parallel world, Wells could still feel the presence of the prime universe’s Khala. However, the barrier of time and space prevented swift communication with their kin. Discovering that no Protoss constructions existed on this Aedion Star, Wells ordered the fleet to head directly for Aiur. Strangely, he could not sense this universe’s Khala at all—a result diverging from what the Science Academy had hypothesized. Theorists had believed that, should a parallel world possess a Khala, one traversing universes would connect to both simultaneously, though perhaps unable to access the prime’s Khala. Now, finding no trace of the Khala here, Wells felt a deep sense of unease.

Not only was there no Khala connection, but the mothership could not access the Protoss psionic matrix either. To determine what had transpired, the fleet made only a brief stop at Aedion Star before tearing open space itself to reach Aiur.

The sight before them filled them with horror and fury. The once-beautiful planet had been shattered, reduced to drifting ruins in the void.

“This? How is this possible?” Though this was merely a branch of a parallel world, Wells could scarcely believe his eyes. “Proceed immediately to Urna.” Collecting himself, he ordered the fleet to depart. If Aiur had fallen, there could be only one place in this universe where survivors might yet remain.

Approaching the Otarian Rift, torrents of high-energy particles battered the mothership’s shields, yet could not halt her advance. At last, they arrived at Urna.

Urna itself had not been destroyed, but the devastation was evident in its fractured remains. A heaviness weighed on Wells’s heart.

“Scanning in progress. Life signs detected.” The sensor’s report brought a flicker of hope. As long as there were survivors, the truth could be uncovered.

A blue warp beacon flickered to life. Wells personally led a team to Urna, intent on meeting these survivors face to face.

“Who are you? Why have you come to Urna?” Perceiving their approach, an aged female Nerazim assumed a defensive stance. Her eyes were veiled with milky haze—she seemed to have lost her sight.

“I am Executor Wells of the Protoss Empire. Are you a survivor? What happened to Aiur and Urna?” Wells projected his goodwill. The Nerazim woman’s reaction was immediate and agitated: “Protoss Empire?! There is no Protoss Empire! All is lost!” She staggered, shaking her head. “Why torment this old woman? Tell me, who are you really?”

Wells and his companions exchanged glances, once more conveying their sincerity: “We are indeed of the Protoss Empire, but we hail from a parallel universe. What happened here?”

At the mention of parallel universes, the Nerazim froze, her disbelief palpable. “Parallel universe? En Taro Tassadar?”

“Yes, En Taro Tassadar. You know of us?” Wells regarded her with a mix of suspicion and hope.

“At last, you have come,” she murmured, tears slipping from her vacant eyes. Overwhelmed by emotion, she fainted.

The team hurried to support her. Feeling how frail she was, Wells called for a tractor beam to bring this weak Nerazim to the medical bay.

Gazing at her, immersed in the restorative fluid, Wells’s expression grew complex. The phase technician had just informed him that this Nerazim was only five hundred years old, her life force so depleted she had less than a century remaining.

Whatever her tribulations, Wells could only sigh. If she was truly the last of her kind in this universe, how much torment must she have endured? What had kept her from seeking the final embrace of Aiur?

Verlit opened her eyes. Though she was blind, old habits remained. She sensed she was submerged in some kind of fluid, which receded as she awoke.

“You’re awake?” The voice recalled the moments before she’d fainted. Her excitement returned; she had survived alone on Urna, awaiting this very moment.

“Praise the gods, I have finally lived to see your arrival.” Verlit stepped from the medical pod, advancing eagerly.

“Forgive my rudeness—I have not introduced myself. I am Verlit, leader of the Nerazim, and a seer.” Settling herself with assistance, she took a seat.

“A seer?” Wells couldn’t help but recall the Seers of the prime universe. That the sole survivor was a seer explained her debilitated state.

“I found you across countless futures,” Verlit began, her voice steady. “After the coming of the Apocalypse War, our surviving kin gathered on Urna, but the evil King Fangs would not let us go.”

King Fangs? That name, both familiar and strange, told Wells much about what had occurred in this parallel universe. “And your condition?”

“After losing Aiur and all my kin, I once wished for death. Yet I could not forget the agony King Fangs inflicted. My anger spurred me to seek vengeance.” Her tone was calm. “I was not always the last. Others gave their lives in the quest for hope. I am what remains.”

“By sacrificing our lives, I saw myriad futures. In those futures, I saw your arrival.” With a bitter smile, Verlit shook her head. “Even if that future was but one among infinite possibilities, I always believed you would come.”

Wells fell silent. As an observer of parallel universes, he understood Verlit’s reference to countless futures—she must have gazed into myriad parallel worlds, a feat demanding tremendous energy.

“Can you tell me where King Fangs is? How did he destroy Aiur and Urna?” This question had haunted Wells; he could scarcely imagine the power required to obliterate Aiur.

“King Fangs commands a fleet. It was with that fleet he laid waste to Aiur and Urna. We had no means to resist. Our ships could only warp via jump points, but his fleet could jump at will. Our shields could barely withstand his firepower.” Verlit’s words left Wells incredulous.

“You never established a psionic matrix? Only jumped via fixed points?” Remembering the lack of construction on Aedion Star, he shook his head. “How does King Fangs jump at will?”

“That, I do not know. Our scientists believed he possessed a powerful energy source, enabling free jumps. Our fusion reactors could not support such feats.” Verlit’s ignorance was clear.

“Fusion reactors? Unimaginable. You never studied Khaydarin crystals? What about solarite? How did you reach Urna?” Wells’s curiosity grew regarding this universe’s divergent development.

“All the Khaydarin crystals were stolen by King Fangs.” Verlit dropped her gaze. “Solarite? I know it not. We were sent to Urna by the High Preservers, who gave their lives to bring us here.”

So, Wells thought, he understood this world at last. The Protoss here had made no technological leaps, still relying on fusion reactors for power. Their abilities were far inferior—no wonder they had fallen to King Fangs.

“Where is King Fangs’s fleet?” Now, his purpose was clear. With the facts before him, only one thought remained: to destroy King Fangs.