AN: I really wish that the owners of this site would at least address some of the problems that arise from daily activities. I also wish I could add more than just two crossover titles and a handful of canon character names here, as there are so many interwoven universes in my headworld, another being mentioned in this chapter that isn't mentioned elsewhere as yet.
Regardless, I hope that people are enjoying, though this story is still, ultimately, for my own enjoyment. I even worked two of my past furbabies into this.
Once the excitement of the Firians at having their illness remedied almost immediately had died down and families began feeling better and going about their lives, Pyrus walked with the others, Blaze in tow, Xerxes to his left. Xerxes remained quietly listening as Pyrus explained the history of the firian royal families, omitting relations to his mother or himself in the off chance that someone listening would use that information to their advantage, and his detriment.
"So there used to be seven royal bloodlines and only three are left?" Zera asked incredulously, surprised that the Firian people had been so badly ravaged throughout the war.
"Yes, two died out quickly after the first few generations following the Maker's departure, they didn't wish to intermingle with the other families, and the other two were wiped out at different times during the warring. One was because they helped get groups of civilians to the capital, the other was from digging in and fighting for their home in an outer community that was overrun. The rest; Houses Blaze, Pyre and Infernus keep to themselves, but will marry into the others just to keep from the obvious interbreeding." Pyrus explained, Graveheart, Jade, Sternum and Cryos listening as well from behind and alongside Blaze, Femur and Pelvus with Tekla and Capacitor bringing up the rear. Zuma had disappeared with Samateus as Xerxes asked to see the rest of the Second ring where the Firians were living.
During different times of Pyrus' story, Xerxes' eyes appeared to glaze over slightly with tears, though Cryos could tell it was from pride at how well Pyrus had grown up despite all the problems he had faced. Infrequently, rage almost stopped Xerxes from continuing on their walk, seeing groups of children stuck playing with items that had become so damaged they were almost afraid to rough-house for fear they would lose what remained of their homeworld. His crossed arms, hands holding each elbow, were seen as meaning different things amongst the other leaders, Pelvus most easily noticing it was from unease and restraint.
"It is a blessing and a curse then, for the Emperors to take on so many wives." Xerxes chuckled, Pyrus smirking at him playfully.
"Well, I don't intend to further the trend anytime soon. Too much else to focus on, I don't want any females waiting on me or trying to help if they don't understand... No offence Zera." Pyrus' mood improved drastically after the revelation that his people had sacrificed far more than before realised, but that they could recover some of that sacrifice had given him more hope than meeting Xerxes and seeing their world ships had. His playful mannerism had taken a significant nosedive after the Beast planet had been thought gone, his shift to politics and governance having taken a toll none of the others had expected.
Pyrus had taken on a lot from the Vizier even before the Beast had appeared, though was given a great deal of autonomy due to his age, even at nearly sixteen he wanted to take on more, but the Vizier had shown him only the surface of the politics involved in being Emperor of Fire. In his actions the day of the evacuation, the Vizier had been confident that Pyrus could learn no more from his leadership, and did not wish to further stifle his Prince. Few would ever know this, however, yet Samateus did, and she wanted to show this in a way only she could, though knew Xerxes would likely help her. Xerxes' sudden stop at one point raised the concerns of the others, Capacitor the first at the large serpentine beings' side and cautiously encouraging him to sit as he wheezed slightly. Blaze had stiffened, noticing the harsh wet cough that followed as being frightfully similar to something that had claimed the life of a close family member.
"Here, I knew you'd need this..." Capacitor took a small circular device from a storage slot, held it to Xerxes' lips, the Ahr'aht cautiously wrapping his fingers around it and inhaled through the device as he carefully lowered his rump to the floor, tail curling around his feet as his back arms lowered to the floor to keep him steady, the wicked talons there large enough to wrap around the skull of most humanoids.
He lowered the device, holding it cautiously in his left hand as Capacitor held his right wrist and counted his heartbeats, watching Xerxes closely as the others clustered around. Xerxes shuddered lightly, breathing deeply for a long moment before he gently shook the device and inhaled through it again, Capacitor explaining quickly that it was a medical inhaler.
"Too much... Excitement of late... Apologies." Xerxes breathed, Samateus appearing in a flash of light momentarily, frowning at him and still in her biped-form. Thankfully, Zuma had expressed desire to return home in order to inform her people of the developments with Samateus and the Ahr'aht, which is where Samateus had disappeared to.
"I warned you, that last treatment still hasn't taken fully. You shifted twice when Sai told you to avoid doing it." Samateus' angry yet concerned tirade alerted the others to an underlying problem, some realising that Molostroi's illness, likely also affected Xerxes, just on a lesser scale. Cryos was about to object that Xerxes had shifted a Third time, when Samateus met his gaze and warned him that their private conversaion and Xerxes' display had to be omitted for now without actually saying a word to the Icean, Cryos simply nodding slightly and observing silently.
Xerxes appeared to deflate, sadly nodding, his pinions almost limp at his sides. A small female Firian then cautiously approached with a glass of water, offering it with a bow. Xerxes perked up slightly, thanking the youngling and gently taking the small glass before carefully drinking it down. He visibly relaxed, the liquid helping wash back down the metallic taste of blood in his mouth, holding the glass out to return it to her.
"Thank you youngling, You do your people proud." His underlying purr and bobbed head in a mimicry of a bow to her, made her blush and curtsy as she reclaimed the glass and returned to her mother in one of the makeshift homes nearby. Capacitor, having none of Samateus' standoffish behaviour, glared lightly at her but did not move as he monitored Xerxes' pulse, sighing and releasing the Ahr'aht's wrist after another long moment.
"Your pulse has gone back to normal, we'll have to check in with Sai later..." Capacitor gently took back the inhaler when it was returned to him, Xerxes appearing ashamed for a long moment before he cautiously rose again, slightly shaky. Pyrus moved to help steady Xerxes, his smile at the female that had come to the aid of a stranger with the water gave him hope that his people would be receptive and move on from the old bigotry.
"What was that about?" Jade asked at length, giving Xerxes a moment to recuperate, the Ahr'aht lightly shaking himself and carefully returning his back limbs to their relaxed position. Some remembered hearing similar coughs from family members who had lung injuries or diseases, and hearing such from one who had lived already over four thousand years, worried them that he might not last much longer.
"Akin to my eldest son Molostroi, I have the strange auto-immune disorder that plagues some of the members of my bloodline. Some are more manageable than others. Khilseith is unaffected, Molostroi could not live without discomfort and almost constant monitoring even using the medicines I do. Sairyllia, one of Samateus' kin, has been one of our leading science officers and developed a treatment that has been keeping me stable, though not without occasional hiccups like this. I apologise for worrying all of you." Xerxes' restrained and cautious speech showed he had been pushing himself a bit overmuch, Samateus' knowing and concerned smile letting the others know he was genuine, and felt as though he had worried them all for no reason.
"I'm just glad it's manageable. Really had me worried for a second there..." Pyrus' smile had different reactions in Xerxes, the one that he kept hidden most was his pain at seeing the concern in Pyrus' eyes. Samateus broke the odd silence that lingered, shaking her head.
"You haven't eaten either, have you?" Xerxes slight hiss and glare made her roll her eyes. "That's what I thought. I haven't either, though I don't know if Lichen would work for us..." Samateus playfully smiled at Pyrus who chuckled.
"Well, I'm not against trying new things, if you're offering." Pyrus' playful grin made Samateus laugh, looking amongst the others.
"I adore having guests for meals, just makes it less tedious." She encouraged the group to gather around Xerxes, who happily returned the embrace Zera cautiously initiated with him to let her know he would be alright. Cryos and Zera saw him as family, and only having just met him herself, meant Zera would be immensely distraught were he to be lost to them so soon. Samateus reached out to one of her kin then, the group teleported suddenly to another of the world ships, planetside, to her home.
The floors were black ceramic tile with charcoal grout, walls of stonework that blended with wooden latticework where dark violet tapestries and viewscreens cycling an array of photographs of places Samateus had visited covered most of the walls. A fireplace in one wall burnt low, Embers and glowing flame-eaten logs there showing it had been some time since she had returned here, and wrought iron wall sconces came to life with white-gold flames that emitted more light than would have been expected of simple candle flame. Lounge furniture and large floor pillows with fabric an array of brilliant colours -some even arguably eye-burning Orange and Yellow hidden in the mix- were arranged around the walls and floor, well enough away from yet still in reach of low tables, only about knee height, that sat in the centre of the room, four different segments pushed together into a single larger table. The ceiling, visibly about as high as the common areas on the Battle moon, slightly higher than three full metres, was visibly discernable as being built by the Ahr'aht as it consisted of metal panels akin to that seen on the case that Xerxes had brought that turned into the tree for the insectoid light-emitters.
The wall with the fireplace, which had a partial shield to keep embers or sparks from being kicked out into the seating area near it, had a hallway in one corner that led to another set of rooms, and a washroom at the end that would make anyone jealous with its massive jacuzzi tub, glass-walled shower stall, private toilet and sink. A cupboard recessed in one wall had a temperature and moisture controlled shield to keep towels dry and warm for anyone bathing while in Samateus' home, the side rooms a bedroom and a spare for guests. A strange crying noise from one room made Samateus laugh, where she moved to open the door to her room and a small black and white tuxedo feline with a black chin surrounded by white followed by another with siamese and swirled silver tabby markings moved to greet her, rubbing against her legs happily as she crouched down and stroked their backs gently.
"Sorry you two, did Sai feed you this morning for me?" She asked the small felines, not really expecting a response, and received trills and gentle head-bumps to her hands and knees from the two. Zera took interest immediately as Xerxes led the others into the living and seating area, where he sat cautiously on a plush half-couch in the furthest corner from the hallway, relaxing thankfully. "This is Gabriel, and Tessa. I have three others in my smaller apartment in the ground-level living area, these two are parents to two of the three. They're fixed now, so they don't have so many babies that I can't take care of them all." Tessa sniffed at Zera's outstretched hand before moving to gently rub her head under Zera's hand and over her back to encourage her to give the cat attention. Zera did as the cat had suggested, lightly stroking Tessa's back and smiling at the pleased purring and pacing of the cat to make certain she had Zera's undivided attention.
"She's fond of cold, so you don't have to worry about her too much. Gabe here... He was found outside with frostbite on his ears and tail tip, so he's not fond of cold or being outside much." Samateus enjoyed taking the other's mind off more worrysome and depressing subjects, and introducing her cats to others helped the mood of all improve after the revelation that Xerxes was quite ill, despite his attempts to seem otherwise.
"You have an apartment? At ground level... then where exactly are we?" Zera worked through, antennae twitching and one curling back curiously.
"We're in the upper levels of the Citadel, on the Taalrulthian World ship, at the center of the city Samateus and I have worked hard to build to make all who live here feel at home. Most of the Tekians and other races of the maker's worlds we've come across are in this city, some living in the ground-level apartments, these upper areas are reserved though." Xerxes explained, curling his tail around the side of his couch and draped over the back and lying on his side where he relaxed, eyes half-lidded more as he felt exhausted from the earlier coughing fit and was rather comfortable. Samateus smirked, gently picking Gabriel up and draping his forepaws over her left shoulder, supporting his hindpaws and rump with her left hand where he purred happily near her ear and watched the others with his green-gold eyes, before she led Zera over and sat on one of the plush chairs herself.
"Don't go nodding off yet, food should be ready soon." Samateus playfully jabbed, Xerxes wrinkling his muzzle indignantly at her. She nuzzled Gabriel before setting him down, the two felines making their way through the room to greet all the new people, uncaring for appearance and Gabriel finding he enjoyed being with Pyrus and Blaze, the two Firians quite warm and gentle, as the older tomcat preferred. Tessa, knowing him more, went to Xerxes and hopped up to his lap, the Ahr'aht gently stroking the small feline as she reached out a paw to gently tap his closest hand to her with her toes.
"You always know when I'm not feeling well, don't you?" Xerxes chuckled at the cat, who seemed to trill a response at him and continued purring as Samateus moved to sit near Tekla and Capacitor near the doorway and hall beyond. Jade and Graveheart had taken one corner, Femur, Pelvus and Sternum between them and Xerxes, Cryos and Zera near him, leaving Tekla and Capacitor sitting with Samateus on the opposite side of the low table from Xerxes. Soon, platters stacked with foods Samateus' guests had never seen before appeared on the table, each with a placard that had been designed to be readable by any race, a psionic reactive plate of sorts that would change based on the viewer.
Xerxes leaned forward to gently take one of the wrap-like sandwiches from a platter near him, smirking when a tall glass with a violet liquid appeared on the edge of the table nearest him and nodded to Samateus. Samateus explained that much of the food here would be plant based, in order to make it not too dissimilar to what they were accustomed to, so as to not shock their digestive systems, motioning that the thin bread-like wrapping was primarily grain based, the filling a mix of lettuce, sliced carrot and celery with a rich sauce that was both tangy and creamy, from the light seasonings in it. Xerxes took a rather small bite, chewing thoughtfully as the others cautiously tried one themselves, the varying exclamations of enjoyment making Samateus smile as she grabbed one herself, Zera noticed something else though, there were smaller dishes that had what looked like tiny cannoli worms in them, filled almost to overflowing, but not wriggling as she was used to seeing the worms from Bone still alive when served as meals.
"Those are mealworms, high in protein, they're treated so they're clean and free of any potential viruses or parasites. There are different flavours though, these are lightly salty, these reddish ones are spicy, and those yellowed ones are sweetened with honey." Samateus pointed at each of the three different dishes, gently taking a couple of the salted ones between two fingers and popping them into her mouth and made a show of crunching down lightly on them. Xerxes was watched at different times by everyone in the room, Capacitor and Tekla watched on calmly, the Tekians not really requiring food intake but would likely need a recharge later in their own way. Drinks, fruit juices of varying sources and enjoyed by those who assumed each of the appearing glasses near them were intended as theirs, were also enjoyed as the group relaxed slowly, for the first time in a while, despite knowing that the Beast planet had begun to follow them once more, content with their place in the alliance.
"Xerxes... I can't thank you enough, for helping with those lights. I know Blaze has done a lot to help since we were displaced by the War, but I couldn't help but notice you wanted to tear a strip out of Hest and the others..." Pyrus announced at length, Xerxes smirking and nodding. "I know I... I can't hope to replace the Vizier, and all he helped me with, but I don't think I can trust any of the other royals to act on my behalf with my interests as I view them... As my Father would have wanted. Could I confide in you, if I'm uncertain about a decision?" Xerxes' feathers standing on end made Pyrus think he made a mistake in how he asked, Xerxes shaking his head and quickly swallowing the mouthful of liquid he was drinking when Pyrus made his question.
"No, no, you said nothing wrong. I was not expecting such without making it known I'm not really leader of my people. I wanted to ease into that but I suppose it makes sense to explain that now." Raised brows and skepticism radiating from some of the others made Samateus flatten her good ear back warningly, Gabriel hopping away from Blaze and returned to her, insisting on being on her lap while she finished eating. "I represent the Ahr'aht, but Khilseith is their 'Emperor' so to speak. I am Adjudicator, a position where I can move about freely and make decisions that can affect our alliance and people as a whole, extend aid to others as needed or go on research trips. That's why I was able to be in the cluster with my two companions some decades ago." His smile, calm and inviting, relaxed Pyrus from his brief anxiety and settled the concerns of Jade and Sternum, Blaze unreadable and more focused on Pyrus and his reactions.
"I did make this known to Graveheart in private earlier, but I encourage, if any of you are uncertian about things, wish to have a outside view of decisions made or needing to be made, I am here to listen and provide advice in any way I can. At any time, within reason of course." Xerxes' purr returned, Tessa trilling at him and flopping more on her side in his lap to prompt him petting her again. "I'm still working out a better communications system than the scale-stones however, one that isn't as reliant on technology and allows us to reach each other over distances as the Taal can."
"Xerxes, you keep forgetting I have a buffer. You don't like giving mine out so I hold onto them." Samateus rolled her eyes, shaking her head lightly and reached under her right wing, to the armour on her back, and withdrew a small case that she placed on the table before her. "I have enough for everyone here, with a couple extra." Xerxes gaped, shaking his head and smirking.
"I hadn't forgotten, though I'm surprised. You were still making them while away?"
"Why wouldn't I? Rafael has one, I've given one to each of the Cybertronians I brought with me, and I'm pretty sure I gave one to you-know-who and his sister before he went topor." Xerxes' wide-eyed expression at her clued in the rest that he had no idea just how much time she had spent elsewhere, her smirk widening to a grin as she took a sip of her drink and scratched Gabriel behind the ear gently. Xerxes chuckled after a moment, shrugging lightly before he moved to grab himself another wrap, having finished one and given it a moment to settle before chancing having more to eat.
"I suppose I glazed over some of the information from your last reports, like the timestamps." He smirked, taking a bite and chewing thoughtfully as Samateus chuckled, swallowing down her last mouthful of veggie wrap.
"One thing I need to do though for these is to make a clasp and put them on chains. They work best if against skin, Capacitor is exempt, like the Cybertronians I mentioned. They're from my travels abroad, not this universe." Samateus explained, Tekla's eyes widened.
"Are you suggesting that you were in a parallel universe? How is that possible?" Tekla's question had varied reactions in the group, Graveheart almost choking on his drink and Cryos stopping mid-bite.
"Ashtareen has reach through many things, even the veils between alternate universes. Yes, multiverse theory is a reality, though difficult to prove scientifically." Samateus paused, taking a sip of her drink again. She watched the liquid spiral lightly in the glass a moment, thinking over just how much she should share at this time, to avoid overloading the rest. Xerxes remained silent, watching her as the others glanced between the two, the silence almost deafening and Pelvus even jumped slightly when Samateus spoke again.
"I've lived about fifty years, give or take a few months, in other universes helping allies and alternates of Ashtareen wherever I was needed. Some of the scars I have are from those battles and encounters, however they get lost in the rest I often forget which scar is from which event. The one thing that kept me grounded though was knowing I had somewhere to return to, people that rely on and worry about me." She paused, right ear flicking lightly as she looked around the room, smiling at each she met the gaze of. "I can think of no better reason to use the stones I've accumulated during those years."
"Agreed, though I suppose we should also elaborate on our issue?" Xerxes nodded, Samateus rolling her eyes at him.
"Just had to stir the pot, didn't you?" Xerxes grinned playfully at her as she groaned, lightly shaking her head. The others just shared glances amongst themselves yet reserved their comments, all interested in hearing what Samateus had to say. "While this world-ship is very open and aware of the outer workings and universe beyond the sky of this world, the Ahr'aht on the others are... painfully ignorant, almost like the Sun people, and their leadership is so fractured we mainly leave them to their own devices. Some even whisper that they're in a simulation or that their world is flat, which is so farfetched we wonder how things have been allowed to get so bad. While not an issue as a whole, some have been doing their best to hide the fact that the atmosphere is almost completely destroyed due to regression to combustion engines and usage of damaging chemicals and plastics that have destabilized their ecosystems and ravaged animal populations."
"To be as blunt as possible without seeming insensitive, we were honestly thinking on waiting for the planet to reach critical before stepping in, though wanted to ask your opinion. We don't want to offer evacuation without consequence, and don't wish to take it out on the civilians for the perpetuated ignorance of their ruling class." Xerxes added, Samateus nodding at his words and the others at a loss. These two ancients were asking a group with a combined age less than a tiny fraction of the overall they had each lived, for their opinion on a situation similar to yet vastly different from that faced by planet Fire not quite two years ago.