The Birth of Fire (Madeline)

[Phaedra Amaryllis]

Phae could feel so many emotions, memories and stories flowing through her from the spirits she consumed. The darkness of what happened here, sank down into her body and slowly she began to understand the magnitude of what happened here. Kerrigan was horrific. A terror and a monster unleashed on the galaxy.

In a few small visions from the spirits she had consumed, she could see a redhead in the distance but for the moment she did not recognize her just yet. That might take a moment or two longer.

"Won a great victory? But at what cost?" The little woman seemed utterly disgusted. At least the danger from the spirits themselves seemed to have passed. "The scars that are left on this place are awful." It was starting to come to her, that the redhead in her mind was familiar. "Coryth was here too, wasn't she?" Phaedra finally asked.

[member="Illyria"] | [member="Enyo Typhos"]

 

[Enyo Typhos]

[member="Phaedra Amaryllis"], [member="Illyria"]


All the emotions and memories had flooded her mind when she gourged herself on the spirits. The sensation was almost overwhelmning and left her with a headache. It would take time to process them all, make sense of what she had seen and, above all, put it to good use. But she could see the destruction Kerrigan had caused. The woman was a terror, a force of nature.


The one she wanted to see dead. However, there was something else she felt, too. A strong feeling of covetuousness. A deep craving. "It's horrible. But she's powerful. We have to be stronger," she spoke, sounding determined. With every step she took, she seemed to despise Kerrigan more, yet also envy her, though she'd probably never admit that.


"She brought ruin and destruction wherever she went, yet many still follow her. So many of the soldiers here idolised her, before she abandoned them. They'd been better off if they hadn't." It seemed to confuse her a fair bit, as she beheld Kerrigan led the spectral armies to glory and bloodshed. Again and again, she could rally them for a great charge, even as the casualties mounted. To many she'd been more than a commander, she'd been an icon.


She had been so focused on the sight that she only realised rather late that another familiar face was there amongst the shades. "Your sister was here, too? Small world," she said sardonically. She doubted it was a coincidence.

 

[Illyria]

[member="Phaedra Amaryllis"] [member="Enyo Typhos"]

“When people look back they see ‘great’ victories not in the way we might. They see great as momentous, no matter the lakes of blood spilt to achieve it. Kerrigan is strong, and so is Coryth. But together you can be stronger…one mind, one purpose, one goal – the complete and utter destruction of Siobhan Kerrigan and all her rancid empire. Whilst she indulges in flattery and sycophancy you will become stronger until the time is right.”

“People with no ambition or power flock to those who have both. Blind devotion is what she demands, and she provides rewards and victory…to any who survive.”

“Come, we are not finished. You will need your breath masks for this next stretch. They have an intercom in them.”

Passing past more horror they came to a heavy door, firmly shut. However, there was a control panel which opened it, and another on the other side.
On that other side was a hot, dead atmosphere, the planet’s surface.

The sight was pitiful. Before them was the wreckage of vehicles, craters, other refuse of battle.

Only those vehicles which could be repaired had been salvaged. The rest were left to rust.

“Behold the glory of Kerrigan’s great war.”

 

[Phaedra Amaryllis]

Phaedra nodded, listening carefully to what Talsir had to say. "She was here, yes." It seemed now at this point that the small redhead put something else together. Coryth wasn't just her sister. "Coryth's my twin." She said quietly, softly, finally as she recognized exactly who Coryth looked like. That was more than a small shock to her.

"They didn't mention that. Sister, sure... twin ... makes matters so much worse." She was angry, at both Archangel for not mentioning it and further than that, Coryth. Livid that someone that she shared the womb with, could dream of doing what was done to her. Phaedra wasn't too sure how to process or even manage what she felt and empathic anger spilled out to the others around her. With her fists clenched tight, she soon swallowed the anger, burying it within her. There wasn't time to deal with that now.

She gave a nod and slipped the breath mask on, following behind Talsir, out the heavy door and onto the field. So much wreckage, horror and death had happened here. And even now, it hung in the air like a thick, heavy smog, threatening to choke all who entered here. Her lip curled in revulsion as she looked over what had been left behind. "This isn't glory. It's just death, and suffering." She growled.

[member="Illyria"] | [member="Enyo Typhos"]

 

[Enyo Typhos]

[member="Phaedra Amaryllis"], [member="Illyria"]


"Sorry, I don't know," Enyo said feelingly. As dark as she was getting, she clearly still cared about her 'sister'. "Welcome to 'I have a heartless evil twin' club." She winced strongly when some of Phaedra's empathic anger spilled over to her. It gave her a bit headache and made her feel even more pissed off. She wanted to grab Coryth and throttle her. Crush her windpipe.


She took deep breaths. Fortunately Phaedra was swallowing her anger and Enyo could calm down. She awkwardly patted the little redhead on the shoulder. "Hey, I'm here for you, ok," she said quietly as they stepped out and beheld the biggest scrapyard this side of the 'verse, after slipping her breath mask on.


Wrecks, death and destruction. It was like the air was clogged. "Looks like the 'road to glory' is paved with lots of corpses, coated in blood and leads to a scrapyard," she said cynically. "I'd wonder how those two can live with themselves, but I guess Kerrigan lives the high life and never bothered look back."

 

[Illyria]

[member="Phaedra Amaryllis"] [member="Enyo Typhos"]

“Those who become leaders are a special class of people, especially those who grasp at power they were not born to. Either they want revenge and power over the galaxy for their disadvantage, or they think they know better than anyone else how to run it. The worst kind are those who are both, and Kerrigan is of that type.”

They headed back inside. “Now you see why Archangel wished me to train you? You’ve seen how merciless they are. Kerrigan and Elaris will stop at nothing to purge you if they discover you, blood or know. They will butcher you because they cannot control you.”

“But I think this is enough for today. Tomorrow we will go to the showpiece, the final battle.”

 

[Phaedra Amaryllis]

Phaedra glanced to Enyo for a moment. "She's my flesh and blood and she left me to die. How can anyone be so heartless?" It was a crushing shock to the small redhead. Though, at this point there was nothing that she could do about it. Training was the only option.

She gave a nod at the pat on her shoulder. "Thanks." She muttered so softly, clearly still upset. It was taking a lot just to keep herself relatively calm.
Phaedra sighed. Talsir had a point. She hadn't had any desire really to train her skills until now. She'd quite frankly wanted to hide from them especially after the accident with the man in the hallway in what seemed like forever ago.

"Tomorrow then." She said quietly, just wanting to get back to her room and not have to think about all of this for a moment or two.

[member="Illyria"] | [member="Enyo Typhos"]

 

[Enyo Typhos]

[member="Phaedra Amaryllis"], [member="Illyria"]


"They will butcher you because they cannot control you." She could imagine Kerrigan lazing around on a throne in a fancy palace. Surrounded by fawning lackeys and slaves who hung on her every word. It just made her hate the woman even more, as if that were possible. It pained her that she could not help Phaedra more after the redhead had experienced such a crushing shock. Another reason to make Kerrigan pay.


Her revenge would be sweet. "Yes, tomorrow. Let's go back. Come on, dear," she said quietly and took Phaedra's tiny hand into her larger one, giving it a gentle squeeze. So the three turned away from the massive scrapyard, leaving the wrecks of forgotten, apocalyptic battles behind them. The ghosts had fallen silent because they'd been eaten a couple minutes ago. Soon they were back in their rather Spartan base. The clones would have some peace and quiet, before it was time for the showpiece.

 

[Illyria]

[member="Phaedra Amaryllis"] [member="Enyo Typhos"]

Talsir nodded. “Let us go. Follow fast.”

The Eldorai led the way back until they came finally to the base, passed through, and the clones were dismissed to their rooms.

Talsir returned to her room, and once there she compiled her notes on the day and sent them on to her employer. Then, retiring to bed, she slept until she was awoken the next morning by her alarm. The next day was here.

 

[Phaedra Amaryllis]

Phaedra walked close to Enyo, keeping her hand wrapped tightly in the taller woman's hands. For now things could be forgotten. For now. Quickly she followed behind the Eldorai woman and soon enough they were back in their room.

Phaedra sighed and sat down on her bed feeling exhausted and worn. "This place, I don't know. The whole thing is haunted by past battles and spirits left behind." She said quietly.

[member="Illyria"] | [member="Enyo Typhos"]

 

[Enyo Typhos]

[member="Phaedra Amaryllis"], [member="Illyria"]


And so it was the dawn of a new day. The Dashdae Eldorai and the two clones would probably not notice the difference, for the rays of sunlight would not reach the caverns deep beneath the surface of Gehenna.


Unlike her counterpart, Enyo was a light sleeper and probably more disciplined. So her slumber ended early in the morning and she stirred, even though she had not set the alarm. Her eyes fluttered open and she stretched. Her rest had been less than peaceful, for yesterday's events still weighed heavily on her and she doubted that today's trials would be any easier.


"Wake up, sunshine. Gotta be ready soon," she spoke to. Loud enough to be heard, but not to a degree that it would startle the little redhead. That done, she went through a series of morning exercises in form of push-ups on the floor to properly wake up her body. Once that was done and Phaedra had arisen, she'd head over to breakfast.

 

[Illyria]

[member="Phaedra Amaryllis"] [member="Enyo Typhos"]

Talsir was waiting for them as they entered. Their breakfast, as unappetising and nutritional as could be, sat waiting for them. Droids understood that organics valued things like taste and colour in food, but grey protein paste was what the clones would be getting.

“Today I will be testing you both further, both in endurance and capabilities. Your strength both of body and mind will be strained. Today we go to the scene of the final battle. You will be strong or it will claim you as its victim.”

Such a reassuring start to the day.

 

[Phaedra Amaryllis]

Phaedra groaned, not wanting to leave the warm comforts of her bed. She wasn't as eager as Enyo to wake, or exercise. Unlike her counterpart, she didn't wake with the rise of the sun but yearned to sleep as long as she could. Finally with a little more urging she rose from bed and got dressed.

Alongside her sister, she headed down to breakfast with her. And there, they met the strange teacher they had. At least Phae considered her strange. And as for food, the breakfast if it could be called that didn't seem like the sort of thing fit for consumption but she was stuck unfortunately.

Sitting down she poked at it a little uncertain if she'd actually eat it. Alas if she wanted food she was going to have to eat it and final did manage to force some of it down. Hearing what Talsir said, wasn't encouraging. "Oh, so rainbows and butterflies. This is going to be a lovely day." Her voice dripping with sarcasm.

[member="Illyria"] | [member="Enyo Typhos"]

 

[Enyo Typhos]

[member="Phaedra Amaryllis"], [member="Illyria"]


Enyo sat down at the table and scrutinised the food. She looked a bit suspiciously, but then began to eat. After all, she was hungry. Siobhan would have crinkled her nose in disgust, but Enyo was not familiar with gourmet food.


The grey protein paste was as unappetising as it could be, but it was what she was getting. Perhaps the fact that Enyo was making a conscious attempt to be as different from her counterpart as possible helped.


She shot Phaedra a slightly disapproving look. As much as she cared about her sister, they were not here for fun. "Where Kerrigan fought Abaddon and Cavalry Base was destroyed? Right. Gonna give us a hint of what we might face there?" she asked the Dark Eldorai. She doubted the elf would reveal much, but if there was going to be a horde of monsters it would be nice to know.

 

[Illyria]

[member="Phaedra Amaryllis"] [member="Enyo Typhos"]

Talsir did not have much of a sense of humour. That which she did have was rather more bitter and cruel than what most found humorous.
“It is going to be a lovely day, but instead of rainbows and butterflies there will be skeletons and wrecks. I’m sure I know which is more useful for you to learn about.”

“You have already spelt it out yourself, Enyo. But more than that, you will see what happens. Now, let’s move.”

She said no more, added no clarification.

 

[Phaedra Amaryllis]

Phae gave a sigh and followed the other two women. "Skeletons and wrecks. Cute." She mumbled beneath her breath. She had little urge to go out on this little adventure but there wasn't a lot of choice in the matter.

She glanced to Enyo, "Well, sounds like we'll have some fun at least." She might have been just a touch sarcastic. Still at least it was bound to be interesting.

[member="Enyo Typhos"] | [member="Illyria"]

 

[Enyo Typhos]

[member="Phaedra Amaryllis"], [member="Illyria"]


Enyo was all business now. "I'll go grab my gear," she said simply. At this stage she wasn't in the mood to make snarky comments and witty comebacks. They had another quest ahead of them. It would involve seeing unpleasant things and facing trials that would test them. More horrors, more pain...but it would be worth it.


So she went back to her room and grabbed her weapons, along with a light suit of armour. By now she'd gotten a routine and was more familiar with the dangers of Gehenna than before, so it did not take long. Soon the merry band of three would be on their way into the deepest caverns of Gehenna. The site of the Final Battle awaited them.

 

[Illyria]

[member="Enyo Typhos"] [member="Phaedra Amaryllis"]

Talsir made no comment to the replies, merely turned and left, meeting them at the gate.

Their procession was long and tiring, but at the last they came down through the lava tubes to areas even more peopled with wrecks and damage. Finally, as they approached the former throne room of the Bando Gora Talsir stopped.

“Here, here the final battle took place. With ruin and destruction all around the Reavers made their final stand, only to be purged.”