Chapter CCXXXI: Gantrithor Versus Genesis ~Markior

The quickest action he ever did in his entire life... the blast was coming towards the Protoss city... He held out his hands... "R E C A L L ! !" A black portal opened within the Nexus, sucking up the heroes gathered there and letting them appear infront of Markior, within the great Carrier GanthritorII. The Grey Archon saved their lives, but rumbled in anger as the Protoss City was oblitherated. With clenched fists he beheld the massive vessel rise from the ground and destroy what he had created from a single Protoss Probe he had constructed with his bare hands... "Genesis.." Markior rumbled, remembering the very, very short article he had read about the ship in the Templar Archives. The shock created from the city's destruction had a great impact on the Ganthritor, knocking the Uraj and Khalis out of their holds and sending them into the warping unit, which was a transport to the ground, letting the twin crystals fall into the rubble. The sudden loss of power let the Ganthritor slowly lower untill it landed in the burned soil of the crater. The surviving Protoss land-forces quickly entered Markior's flagship and took strategic positions at the monitors of the ship. No-one grieved for the loss of the Protoss who were still in the town. Grief was for later, attaining victory was for now. A Dark Templar yelled something about an Observer spotting a giant bird with a passenger at a certain location, but Markior was dealing with too many things at the time to notice.

He looked around. "Where is the cloaked stranger?" He rumbled, the energy around his body crackling. Aurora looked around, quickly shaking away the effects of the group's near-death experience.. "I... I don't think he made it." She looked around as well. Dragon was the only one that wasn't shivering. "That was cool. Can we do it again?" She giggled. None of them noticed Yoshi6400 being slammed into the side of the Ganthritor. Markior grumbled something unaudible and looked outside. A sudden displacement of air shoved him backwards as he stood in the opening, making him narrow his eyes. The Khalis crystal, above it's twin, was floating in the air, before it fell down after what was about a second. Something ridiculously fast had held it before it jetted off. Markior psychically moved the Twin Crystals back into his hands, and replaced them in their holds, fastening them extra tight this time so they would not get knocked out again. He turned and floated through the cloaked stranger, then... ... o_o ... He floated back and pointed a finger against the cloaked figure's chest. "Yooouuu... are everywhere. How did you survive the blast?" The cloaked stranger simply grinned, amused by the Archon's words. Markior grumbled again. "Never mind.. Okay kids. Hold on tight... because we're gonna take that Adun-forsaken ship down!"

He moved his hand upwards, but stopped in the middle of his action as two Zealots jumped into the Ganthritor through the doorway in the side. "Wait for us, Executor!" They psychically yelled. They each had an arm around a Yoshian, tugging him along inside. The young lad was orange-skinned, though where most regular-coloured Yoshians were colored white, this one was coloured jade. He was wearing casual clothing, and carried along a coloured sword. Markior nodded, thus telling his men to release the Yoshian. Markior crossed his arms. "Greetings." Astra moved up and looked around... He saw the stranger, Ark, Lich, Dragon, Kerrigan, Tob and.. Aurora. "Greetings.." He responded. Markior moved forwards. "The name is Markior Archonius Xel'Naga, lad. You've picked a bad time to go on a Zolott holiday." Aurora blinked and moved forwards, recognising him. Astra looked at Markior. "I'm not sure how I got here, actually.. I am.." He was cut off by Aurora. "... Prince Astra Shivon Yoshima?" Astra turned and looked Aurora into the eyes. "Yes, how do y.. Princess Aurora?" He blinked. The two stared at each other, then simultaineously began; "What're you doing here?" Markior grumbled. "Excuse me, but we have a battle to fight. Now everyone meet with everyone. Lich, tell our guest what has been going on, hrm? I'll just shut the.." He moved towards the door and saw a winged silhouette slumped against the outer hull of his flagship. He moved out.

"Yoshi6400? Is that you? Where have you been while all of this was going on?" asked Markior as he floated closer. "Long time no see, I guess you haven't seen my transformation forms yet but this is not the time to get into detail about that. I was dealing with another evil, Kurayami Yoshi until I arrived here. Kurayami got away because of that Pseudo Havering guy and he blasted me all the way over here. Now there's that thing in the distance and I have no idea what to do now..." Yoshi6400 spoke. Markior nodded. "You just get over there and I'll catch up with reinforcements," he replied, "If I know Multex, he should already be in that thing trying to shut it down." 6400 stood up and nodded. "Okay. I guess I'm on my way..." and with that, Yoshi6400Infinity spread his wings and took off towards the Genesis. Markior quickly turned and motioned Kerrigan and Tob back into the GanthritorII. "Okay, hurry up! Inside, quick." Kerrigan hissed and moved backwards, tugging Tob along. Markior moved into the Ganthritor, shut the doorway and moved over back to the stand. He moved his hands to the side and concentrated, a burst of psionic energy as a shield appearing around the Flagship. "Forwards!" Markior yelled, as the massive ship became airborne and started it's slow pace towards the Genesis.

The GanthritorII, the yellow blimp-like flagship, was about 1 fifth smaller then the Genesis, but also a fifth faster. If they had been child toys, the difference would've been nearly invisible. However, since they were so gigantic, it was plainly noticable. Markior concentrated on steering the Ganthritor well, with the cloaked figure and Tob looking over his shoulders. Way in the back were Dragon, Lich and Ark discussing what to do next. A little further away were Aurora and Astra talking, with Kerrigan looking at them with a grumbling expression. "Executor!" A voice interrupted his concentration. Markior turned. "Yes, Gha'nal?" He responded. "Observer #33 has seen a casualty of war. He's still alive, but nearly. Do you wish for two Probes to pick him up?" Markior blinked his eyes, a screen appearing infront of him of a similar output. He saw Zephirius laying on the ground, one arm and his two legs ripped off. Markior cringed slightly. "Yes. I'm flying low. Gha'nal, let two Probes go down in the transporter beam and carry him upwards in a steady position." The GanthritorII flew by low and the two small yellow robots were deployed. The robots suspended Zephirus between two energy beams, and flew back up to the ship, entering and taking him to an infirmary of sorts. Markior nodded through the screen at Gha'nal. "Place him in a Stasis Cell, and start working on Protoss legs and an arm for him as a replacement... be sure that they suit his body perfectly." Zephirus was placed inside some sort of alien tank, the green liquid surrounding him, and his eyes closed. Opposite of him, four Dragoons and two Reavers stood, watching him as Gha'Nal started to work on the limb replacements.

A screen displaying Havering's face appeared where the screen of Observer #33 was before. "Aah, Markior. Are you challenging me with your Protoss toy?" He grinned. Markior rumbled, his pupiless eyes lighting up brightly. "Yes, I intend to do just that." He responded through gritted teeth. Havering grinned amusedly. "You've got to be kidding... you don't have the firepower." Markior pointed his hand at the screen. "I have the skill. I have the experience. And by Khas, I have the courage." Havering looked at the Grey Archon disgustedly and turned, the screen turning off. Havering grinned towards the infects. "The GanthritorII is no match for the Genesis... watch how I destroy a giant-sized ship and a giant-sized ego with a push of the button.." His hand moved closer to the purple button... before an explosion and a tilting of the Genesis knocked him off of his feet. "ARGH! What the blazes was THAT?!" Vector stopped outside with a sonic boom.. and after the first boom, a second sonic boom followed. His eyes emitted a light similar to the colour of the Khalis crystal. He had ripped through one of the spires of the Genesis, which was now burning, arcs of red electricity sparking from the tower. Havering slammed his fist down on the desk. "Pyrak, Vaurix, oblitherate him!!" His eyes widened as a red light began to flood the room, a metallic ancient voice sounding. "Intruder alert.. Intruder alert.." Havering turned and looked towards a screen, displaying Multex and 6400 with a group following them rip through the defenses scattered around one of the many hallways. "Malus, Spiite!! Hold them back!" He frustratedly said, and turned, gripping the controls of the Genesis. "Okay, Markior.. you want an aerial battle? You're going to get it!"

Markior turned towards the others. "Ok, guys.. This is it. Here we go!" Markior turned the ship upwards and flew towards the Genesis untill the two massive ships were in close range. Havering slammed his fist down on the purple button. "Take this, Protoss!" Markior mentally sensed Havering's action and closed his eyes, his psionic shield around the GanthritorII flaring up. The triangle-cannon didn't respond. "ARGH! Jammed!" Havering yelled out. Markior moved his hand forwards, as hundreds of Protoss Interceptors flew from the Hull of the Ganthritor, firing their plasma cannons at the Genesis. The cannons on the sides of the Genesis took many of the Interceptors out, but also vice versa, the Interceptors in turn destroyed many of the cannons. Havering pressed another button, two green lasers from the tip of the genesis fired at the Carrier. A blue shield appeared around the Carrier. "Shield at 86 percent!" A Dark Templar yelled. Markior rumbled under his breath.. He returned fire, sending bolts of white pure energy from the hull of the Carrier to impact on the Genesis. Havering rammed his fist down on the purple button. "Tri-cannon engaged.." The metallic voice sounded. "Finally!" Havering laughed. At the point of the Genesis's upside down triangle, a purple orb began to form, generating a similar humming sound. Markior's eyes widened and moved his hands upwards. "By Adun.. I need to dodge this!!" The carrier slowly moved upwards. The purple orb grew in size until it was half that of the width of the Genesis. When it was this far along, it fired. The orb raced forwards and impacted on the end of the pointing-upwards Carrier as it ascended. "AARGH!" Markior yelled. The end of the Carrier was crippled, making the steering incredibly hard... Markior began to sweat dark-grey pearls on his fronthead.. many voices surrounding him. "Shields at 0 percent! Damage at steering portion! One of four thrusters shut down!" Markior grumbled loudly and shot another 4 orbs of white energy at the Genesis.. "We can't take another hit like that!" He yelled, as the orbs impacted on the Genesis.