Xerxes gladly sat and spoke with Graveheart, Jade, Cryos, Femur and Pelvus regarding the message Zera had managed to send through before being cut off, the small party sitting in the Table room on the Aurora as the ship slowly returned planetside. Cryos thought it best for the entire ship and crew to make an appearance, to show the solidarity of the alliance and elaborate his point of allowing Ice to continue as the central hub for the entire alliance. Graveheart agreed, reluctantly, as the ship had been in spacedock intentionally beforehand, however making a show of the ship and its new design which clearly held bits from every one of the spacefaring peoples within the alliance would be beneficial in getting their point across. Xerxes nodded, adding that he and Capacitor would remain, the young Tekian getting to work with Tekla on figuring out the issues with the weapons systems and remedying them before another battle sees them on the front lines.
"So you're sure that the Beast can't use the teleport pads like we can? We saw them get into the engine chamber on planet Fire before." Jade frowned, disbelieving that any could transmit their thoughts without the use of any devices even after seeing Zuma do so herself. That Xerxes and Samateus, two they supposed were leaders of their respective peoples, were able to do so at a whim, even through shielding like that protecting the Ice capital, worried her to no end. Not having her suspicions supported by her fellows furthered her ire. Xerxes' expression softened, seeing her concern and understanding that she was a warrior first, and taking the crown of Rock still weighed on her.
"We've attempted to connect to them at a distance, using one we lifted from the remains of another world that attempted to surprise the beast by lining their world with explosives. Without the world engine powering it, it's inert, just a beautifully built piece of technology, and linked to a system we are still working on understanding ourselves." Xerxes explained calmly, crouched beside one of the chairs as they were not designed to accomodate his size, or form, situated a few paces from the others.
"The teleport engine is a different matter entirely. It doesn't resemble what we use, nor what is used by the teleport pads connected to each world engine. It wouldn't be able to, say, move itself within the fleet, around one of your worlds, or even directly in the path of the alliance's travel, not without potentially making a mistake and phasing itself partially into something. Imagine what would happen if a stone -for the sake of this argument, please indulge me-" Xerxes offered a brief smile to Graveheart and Jade, who finally cracked a smirk. "were to be teleported into a wall of ice. We've actually attempted something similar, and it was not pleasant to think of the implications if applied to living organisms. The different densities of the two items would collide, and the ice would explode outward in the same amount of force as a projectile." Femur made a show of shuddering at the idea, Pelvus swallowing down the bile that welled up in his throat, the implications of such happening to one of them, or a beast drone, simply sickening.
"So it wouldn't attempt such, not if it possibly risks itself. Its forces however, say perhaps one of their generals?" Cryos asked, having decided not to allow his mind to wander to the what-ifs involved with the teleporting of items into each other.
"It might, if it knew the location ahead of time and could expend the energy. One thing I believe to be hindering the Beast currently, is that it relies on its own energy to power everything it does. We've studied it a long time, and have logs dating back centuries, millenia even." Xerxes' admission made Graveheart blink.
"So wait, you've been leader of your people how long?" Graveheart asked the question the entire group were dying to know, after Xerxes had mentioned how long he and his people had been watching the Beast. Xerxes smirked, letting out a sigh as he knew this would be coming, and had hoped to be able to explain it all at once, instead of in pieces, with the entire group of the Alliance leaders present.
"I was there when my people needed to move our entire people to a spacefaring lifestyle when our star went Supernova. I was there when we saved the Taalrulthian's from their oppressors on their homeworld, and I've watched as the Beast made its way through the galaxy, from a small asteroid eating moon, to what it is now. In all, four Millennia, give or take a few decades." His wry smile at the expressions of disbelief and awe disuaded any concern from them, chuckling lightly at the shared glances between the group and mixes of shrugs, shaking heads and slight gape from Pelvus and Femur as almost a mirrored expression. "My people normally don't live as long as I have, admittedly, but Samateus and I... We have a history and need to remain where we are, and have been gifted more time by a power greater than ourselves."
"A diety? If the Beast lives, why has that force not intervened?" Cryos caught on immediately, frowning and grimacing at the idea that something that could simply wipe all existence clean had done nothing to stop the Beast planet and all the warring that he had seen before it's arrival. Xerxes sighed, shaking his head.
"Yes, however that is why Samateus is here." Xerxes waited for the others to calm, especially Cryos, whose frown deepened. "She is an Avatar."
Zera and Pyrus opened the door to the training room, Sternum stepping out and around the edge of one side and checking the hall in both directions. He lowered his borrowed weapon, nodding to the others as he moved toward the direction of the central control room, where Zera assumed Frost would be hiding out in the midst of the chaos he had wrought. Civil war had once broken out on Bone, one group seeing Sternum's return and, instead of Femur killing him or vice-versa outright, thought it to be a affront to their very way of life. That change in the way the leadership of Bone was to be handled moving forward had brought on a wave of further changes that put Bone's people at a greater ease and calm than ever before, though not without significant outcry.
That civil war was quickly ceased by the arrival and solidarity of the rest of the alliance and those on Bone who had fought alongside members of the other races speaking of their bravery in battle in a public spectacle, coupled with the recent return to peace, had further bolstered the peoples of the entire alliance, and discouraged such from occuring elsewhere. Frost obviously had seen it differently, turning instead to the greed and petty revenge he had held onto since his youth, using it to his advantage and furthering dissent secretly while Cryos had been preoccupied. Zuma would not have uncovered a plot against them, as she and her people were visibly pacifistic, by preference, and only the brief lapse in Frost's judgement recently had given Zera and Cryos an idea of what was going on in their own home.
As Zera, Pyrus, Zuma and Samateus followed Sternum and Blaze toward the control room, Sternum motioned for everyone to stop and listen.
"You promised I would have Ice! That I would rule Ice and be allowed respite, why are your forces here!?" Zera knew that voice, and Sternum nodded when he met her gaze as she grit her teeth and could be seen holding herself back when another voice, feminine with a heavy accent or lilt, nearly made her collapse and wish to melt into the wall. Samateus visibly snarled, also recognizing the second voice.
"You were promised power, you were not promised anything more." The slightly hampered speech with a familiar lilt paused as a gasp and a choking sound could be heard. "I will give you said power, in exchange for your devotion." The echoing cackle was interrupted by Samateus launching herself into the corridor, facing the two just around the corner. "YOU!"
"Lamprey! Unhand him, and I may spare you!" Samateus' command made even the agent of the Beast pause, Sternum and Blaze moving to cover Samateus, one glancing down the hall going the opposite way, the other three moving so they could see Lamprey where she held Frost against the wall effortlessly with one hand. His throat was darkening with bruising, and hairthin cracks were spidering on his exoskeleton as his eyes rolled back into his head. Samateus growled, golden arcs of electricity dancing within her maw and along the back of her neck, the gemfire glow of her eyes almost blinding.
"Fine, have him. Enjoy your time together, it will be brief." Lamprey released her hold and promptly floated backwards as swiftly as she could, Samateus launching a blast of golden light from her maw at the retreating form as Frost crumpled to the ground limply. Lamprey uttered a shriek as she disappeared, Samateus growling deeply and remaining tense as Zera quickly ran over to check on Frost. Pyrus followed, keeping his distance and looking around, spotting the silouette of Lamprey on the wall nearby where the Beast agent had been blasted back to whence she came, Blaze and Sternum remaining on high-alert, Zuma moving to Samateus' side hesitantly. She observed the arcs of electricity dancing between the five pairs of spines mirrored along either side of the back of Samateus' neck, cautiously reaching out to stroke the side of the Taalrulthian's neck. Samateus stiffened, breath hitching slightly before she relaxed, the arcing electricity fading as she thanked Zuma wordlessly for bringing her out of her rage, trilling a brief concern to Zera.
"He's alive, barely. Might not be able to speak for a while..." She sighed, moving to stand and glare at the group that approached, seeing their leader on the ground, with their princess and a group of off worlders. Rysint raised his weapon and levelled it at the massive blue-furred beast before him, attempting to give the impression he had come at the sound of battle.
"Commander Rysint, stand down. She's an ally." Zera commanded, unaware of the underlying attempt at subterfuge that he had been involved in. Samateus, however, had no reason to withold her knowledge, instead sharing with Zera that Rysint had been helping Frost, their families very closely tied by marriage bonds, as Samateus discovered with a brief mental scan of the commander. **You're certain?** Zera asked hesitantly in her own head, figuring that Samateus would hear her. She had been practising reaching out to Zuma over larger distances, so she did not need to strain too much, and being safe in the knowledge that Samateus did not appear hostile nor in a position to do her harm, she felt comfortable offering her thoughts to the large being.
**Yes.** Came the simple response, Samateus shifting her position, as noted by the sound of her armoured paws on the ice, her eyes locking on Rysint, who refused to meet her gaze. Those with him were wavering, some outright lowering their weapons and kneeling after meeting the intense gemfire eyes of Samateus. As with Sternum, each were forced to view the things they regretted and feared most when her eyes bored into them, as though she brought out their wrongdoings intentionally to show them they were not worthy of what they aspired to.
"Princess, with all due respect, how can you trust-"
"I'll stop you right there, she is not a beast, she's worthy of my respect for more than once saving our lives and protecting our home when your, Justicar here, turned off the live scanner feeds to the rest of the alliance." Zera challenged, a partial bluff as she wasn't certain exactly what Frost had done yet, motioning to the unconscious form of Frost next to her. That she knew this, forced Rysint to look to her with confusion, before he returned his gaze to Samateus, and made the mistake of meeting hers. Instantly, he let out a gasp and backpedaled a few feet, flattening against a wall in abject terror, blaster clattering to the floor harmlessly. All eyes turned to him, realising he was transfixed by Samateus' gaze in only a moment. "Sam? What are you doing?" Zera sounded calm, yet everything in her worried that she may have made a terrible mistake, the others having differing yet similar thoughts, though Blaze thought it fitting, and more a righteous aura from the large being forcing the young Icean to see his mistakes or greatest fears.
**Rysint is seeing what he would encounter in his afterlife, were he to continue on this flawed endeavour. The others, like you Sternum, have been seeing the decisions that they regret or have put permanent marks on their souls, be they intentional or not.** Samateus broadcast to those near her, the others kneeling before them briefly startling when they realised it was the large blue-furred being that had spoken within their minds. Rysint himself slowly slid to the floor, curling his knees up and hiding his face behind his crossed arms atop his knees. Samateus straightened up, eyes half-lidded as she watched them for a moment, before she turned her head, craning her neck past Zera to lightly nose at Frost's throat. **I can heal him, if you wish.** Zera frowned, Blaze scoffing.
"Let him suffer the pain he brought himself." The firian General muttered, Sternum and Pyrus agreeing. Zera thought it over, and nodded to Samateus.
"He will suffer plenty in a prison cell. I want to be able to talk to him before he's tossed in one." Zera said after a length of time, knowing that her father had always been lenient, and would likely wish to speak with Frost himself. Samateus took this as an acceptance of her offer, the female Taalrulthian taking in a deep breath and exhaling glowing golden smoke over Frost's bruised and cracked throat. The smoke seeped into and clotted over the injuries before smoothing out and becoming the same colour as the rest of his skin, with thin lines of gold showing where his exoskeleton had been cracked and healed as though they would be a permanent reminder of his foolishness in thinking he could trust Lamprey.
Pyrus shuddered, reminded by Samateus' healing breath of the first time he and Zera had been fighting Beast drones together. He had been wounded, badly, and Zera had breathed her nanites on him to heal his injury in moments. He still thought it disgusting, however, even though it had saved his life, and the nanite technology had saved likely thousands more.
"A very wise decision. What I want to know most, is how Lamprey even got in here." Sternum mused after a moment of silence, mostly brought on by the awe at Samateus' abilities continuing to amaze and impress, and concern those who were not familiar with her. Blaze remained quiet, something about this winged female quadruped felt familiar, yet he did not dare meet her gaze again, the image of his Prince's eyes filled with the pain of his betrayal hurt him deeply, even now.
"I believe that is actually what Xerxes is discussing with the others on the Aurora, which is only a few minutes from landing." Samateus stated, switching back to verbal speech to make the rest less uncomfortable, able to tell psionics were not common and that Zuma had been very restrained in her using her own abilities. Zera frowned and shared a glance with Pyrus, Sternum shaking his head.
"They are landing the Aurora? Here?" Zera had not expected her father to opt to do something that would be seen as a public spectacle, yet realised after a moment he had done so to attempt to protect her. She stiffened as she felt fur on her arm, then relaxed when she realized Samateus had arched her neck around her, gently pressing her cheek against her arm.
"Yes. They are doing so in order to show that Ice has always been deeply respected within the alliance, and seem to need to remind your people of that respect."