Beast drones had hit the main engine on his ship, he knew he was bleeding, but Pyrus stubbornly kept flying. He swore he felt another drone getting to close to hitting them, tilting the ship slightly to avoid a bolt of null energy that he could barely make out streaking past the edge of his vision to his left.
"We've been singled out by a bunch of drones, Taal are around doing what they can, but we need help!" Zera cried before another blast jolted the ship and he fought to keep his hands on the control yoke before him, gritting his teeth and forcing down the painful cough that tried to distract him. A Flash of light, blinding and warm, wafted over them briefly, he swore he felt better after it passed, but only a little.
**Pyrus!** Xerxes' voice rang in his head, but he could not respond, too focused on getting the ship over the bluff looming before them. If he tried to veer off, look for a strip in one of the ravines, he was likely to crash headfirst into a wall, so he fought with everything he had to get the ship to rise. He knew Zera was there, had to keep her safe, there was no way he could live with himself if anything happened to her.
**Pyrus, you need to veer off! I'm almost there, you're not going to make that bluff!** Xerxes sounded almost like his father that time. No, he was going to make it. For Zera's sake.
The ship jolting alerted him to something else, realising that the Beast drones were no longer in pursuit as he swore the ship moved with greater speed suddenly than it had been able to manage before. When had the beast drones been destroyed? Zera braced herself at the edge of his vision as Pyrus felt the underside of the front of the ship connect with solid rock, they had made it past the edge of the bluff!
Pyrus tried to look up and around, realising that smoke had built up in the cockpit, and felt as the ship was pitched up and forward, over sideways and crumpled. He lost consciousness a few moments, he was certain, feeling a coolness spreading through his chest as large warm hands quickly unhooked his seatbelt and heaved him up. He almost felt safe at that moment, as though his father carried him and the vicious icy pain giving way to pleasant numbness through his abdomen and sides were just a dream.
Light made him squint, and a high pitched whine made him stiffen, though he fought the black threatening to take over his vision as he cracked open an eye. A Firian was definitely carrying him, but how? Did Xerxes finally shapeshift just to give him a reason to fight harder, and he had been a part of the crash? Pyrus hissed lightly from sudden blossoming pain as he was laid on the stone breifly and the high-pitched whine grew in volume, managing to get a look at the one who had carried him from the ship.
"Dad?" Pyrus breathed, recognising the four ear-spines and the crown ever so barely visible as a golden filigree along the male's brow, Pyrus cursing as his vision blurred and cleared as he blinked furiously. His eyes, which Pyrus recognised then as Xerxes', were deeply saddened. Perhaps he was dead and had mis-remembered something about his dad, that made more sense than him being here now.
**I'm sorry Pyrus, for hiding this from you... I hope you can forgive me in time.** Xerxes' voice, coming from his dad? No. This was why he refused to shapeshift into a Firian in front of him? His father had been an alien to their people, how?
Magmus/Xerxes stepped away and turned to the ship as it erupted in a brilliant explosion, the flames appearing to curl lovingly around him and directed by simple open-handed gestures to a large ball of writhing swirling flame as Pyrus watched, more focused on the injury to Magmus/Xerxes' back. Magmus/Xerxes then swiftly turned and directed the ball of flame well out and harmlessly past the Aurora above them, as though throwing the ball of flame, Samateus watching nearby and shielding something under her. Pyrus slowly lost consciousness as Magmus/Xerxes fell to a knee next to him, looking to Samateus briefly before he also collapsed onto his side, Pyrus briefly glimpsing Zera, unharmed and distraught, with the Taalrulthian, as his vision was enveloped in black.
"Hey, you're awake." Samateus purred lightly to Pyrus' right, the Firian tensing as he felt pain blossoming through his entire body as he regained consciousness slowly, wincing at the bright light above him, which was promptly dimmed to a less offensive level. Pyrus moved to sit up, hissing at the pain that worsened as he tensed, stopping and turning his head toward her instead. Zera was curled up against Samateus' side, likely asleep, as the Taalrulthian lay with her left side against another infirmary bed. His eyes widened and he tried to rise again, a gentle hand on his left encouraging him to stay still as he realised that he had not been dreaming after the crash, his father, thought dead years ago, on the bed to Samateus' left.
"I'm sorry Pyrus, we wanted to tell you..." Pyrus turned to Cryos who had been sitting to his left when he woke, the Icean withdrawing his hand and moving to stand near the other three. Machines monitoring heartrate, blood pressure, oxygen levels and IVs were hooked up to Magmus, who he remembered had been Xerxes the entire time prior to the crash, and it could be surmised that he was in far worse condition. Samateus gently nudged Zera who woke with a jolt, gasped, likely from Samateus telling her Pyrus was awake, and was on her feet and at his side in a breath.
"You're not hurt, are you?" Pyrus asked, ignoring himself for the minute and offering a smile through the face mask giving him extra oxygen. Zera frowned lightly, but offered her best yet strained smile she could, nodding.
"Unlike you..." She smirked, moving to gently take his hand, where he could feel a cast over his skin except his fingers and thumb, Zera's slightly cold fingertips brushing over his. Pyrus heard a door sliding open before another Firian entered, quickly retrieving the chart from the foot of the bed he lay on, glanced over it, and moved to stand closer to Zera.
"You gave us all quite the scare, my Prince. I am physican Ryme, I've been looking after you and your father since the crash..."
"How... How long?" Pyrus rasped, coughing lightly a moment, Zera tensing and eyes going wide. The cough cleared quickly, Ryme appearing unconcerned, but looked over the monitors above and to Pyrus' left.
"You've been in recovery for four days. It took us half a day to get you stable..." Ryme explained, looking to Cryos who moved closer as Samateus stood and stretched, shifting to her bipedal form after a moment. "I believe there are others waiting to hear how you are faring, shall I go inform them they may enter?"
"Only if you're up to it Pyrus, you've been through quite the ordeal." Cryos hazarded, Pyrus frowning and glaring at him lightly. Cyros noticed the glare, sighing lightly and nodding. "Yes, he told me beforehand... Only in the event something this drastic happened and he could not address it himself..." Pyrus closed his eyes and turned away from the two Iceans then, clenching his left fist as he knew his right would be hampered by the cast. Samateus sighed, lightly shaking her head at Cryos who met her gaze sadly, questioningly, likely asking her if he should leave.
"You very nearly died, several times, during the procedure my Prince. Were it not for his directions, we may not have been able to keep you alive." Ryme broke the uneasy silence that lingered, Pyrus' frown softening only slightly as he opened his eyes again and looked up at the physican as he continued. "One of your kidneys had to be removed due to the amount of damage and shrapnel, part of your Liver was septic-"
"Ryme, please. I don't think now is the time to go over all of his injuries. I know the extent, I'll let you know if we need you." Samateus stopped him from continuing, motioning him aside as the door opened again, Graveheart and Femur entering from the hall. Ryme offered a light bow before returning the chart to the foot of the bed and checking on Magmus/Xerxes before departing again, Femur moving to where Ryme had been a moment prior.
"Hey Pyrus, how ya feelin?" Femur offered his best smile, ignoring all the machines and the massive patches of gauze over most of Pyrus' abdomen. Pyrus managed a slight smile, sighing lightly as he tested his toes, flexed what he could and was thankful nothing too drastic had changed. From what Ryme had started to explain, Pyrus knew that to save him, they must have taken a lot from Magmus/Xerxes to repair what had been damaged or destroyed in the crash. Without asking directly, He felt the bed lightly tilting, so his head was up more so he could see the others better, Samateus remained close to him, having used the bed controls to help them all out. Samateus wordlessly let him know Zera had been there since the crash with her, the two only leaving sparingly when Cinder could cover for them, or Blaze and Flare on occassion, while Pyrus had been recovering.
"Here... At least." Pyrus swallowed down the taste of blood in the back of his throat, likely remnants from the crash. Femur's smile deepened as Graveheart chuckled, nodding a bit understandingly at Cryos who appeared a bit lost, almost ashamed. Pyrus realised it was because Cryos had kept Magmus/Xerxes' secret from everyone, he passingly wondered how that conversation had gone.
"Gave us a scare, a few times. I'm glad you're awake." Graveheart's jaw tensed, Pyrus could tell he fought down his own emotions, watching with concern as Zera moved to Samateus again, the female Taalrulthian gladly wrapping a wing around her.
"He's not going anywhere, go sleep." Samateus chuckled, gently nudging Zera who barely managed to remain on her feet, turning to rebuke the older female.
"But-"
"I'm okay Zera... Just, tired." Pyrus offered, managing to give her a proper smile despite himself, pain slowly increasing as he became more aware of just how much damage must have been done to him from the crash. Zera nodded, lightly waving as Samateus nudged Cryos to go with her, Cryos appearing to retort and frowned at her, Samateus lightly hissing and swivelled her right ear back lightly before Cryos offered a light bow and followed his daughter. Pyrus looked up at Samateus accusingly, her chuckling lightly.
"Both have been here almost as much as I have. He's worried about her and neither are really eating, hopefully now that you're awake and recovering they will both stop worrying themselves sick." Samateus explained, leaning lightly on the side of the infirmary bed.
"We try to come by daily, just to check in, the others will be happy to hear your're awake." Graveheart added, Pyrus lightly nodding as he fought down the pain slowly reaching a point of making his vision swim, Samateus moving to check one of the IV lines and unhooking the pinch to let the liquid there drip down. She waited, smirking lightly at him as he visbly relaxed, the pain subsiding then slowly as a painkiller spread through his system.
"Thanks..." He muttered, Samateus offering a purr.
"I've had my share of ICU visits, for myself and others. They must've had it stopped because you were sleeping alright, too much and you could potentially stop breathing." Samateus explained, using her tail to pull a chair closer so she could sit next to him, gently unhooking the guardrail and lowering it out of the way so she could lean her arm against his lightly. "I'm sorry Pyrus, if anyone should have been hurt after all that, it should've been me."
"Blaming yourself is no better than him doing the same Sam, c'mon." Graveheart admonished, frowning lightly at her. Pyrus raised a brow, side-eying her as Femur shook his head and smirked.
"He called on Ashtareen, you were just the conduit, from how you explained it. Blame should be directed at the Beast, period." Femur briefly motioned to the bed on the other side of the room, crossing his arms after and frowning lightly at Samateus who sighed and nodded.
"Point... Anything you want to know? I know Blaze and Flare are busy right now, I've let them both know you're awake, Pelvus is talking with Tekla and Capacitor currently, Jade is... indisposed?" Samateus grinned facetiously at Graveheart who chuckled.
"More like stressing herself to dust over the Wedding, which she still refuses to set a date for."
"Probably... Waiting on me." Pyrus chuckled, tensing at a sharp pain in his lower right. Samateus picked up on his motion and gently moved her right palm over the bandage, frowning lightly.
"Careful, some of the stitches inside are a bit loose, nanites aren't yet working like they're supposed to. Probably have him to blame for that." Samateus sighed, looking sadly to the other two after motioning to the bed behind her. Pyrus nodded lightly, refusing to look over to the other bed in the room as he knew who lay there, the revelation still unsettling to him and knowing he would likely get worked up and hurt himself if he did. Femur fidgeted lightly before he sighed and moved to gently pat Pyrus' shoulder, thankful that his upper left arm was fairly clear of bandages.
"I'll go let Sternum know you're awake. See if we can get some of those cannolies you like, for when you feel up to eating." Femur nodded and stepped back, moving to leave the room after Pyrus nodded and smiled in acknowledgement. Samateus shared a glance with Graveheart, her responding with a toothy grin.
"Go on, I'll keep him company." Samateus smiled, Graveheart briefly moving to do the same as Femur before heading out of the room. Once he was certain Graveheart was gone, Pyrus hazarded looking over at the bed on the other side of the room, Samateus shifting her chair over so she could do the same, while still facing him.
**You're not seeing things, it really is him.** Samateus' sadness was almost tangible under her thought-speech voice in his head, Pyrus frowning but offered a slight nod.
**The others... They were pretty mad, weren't they?**
**More like Infuriated. I thought most of them were going to turn into Firians themselves, they were so angry at Khilseith. He showed everyone how he looks as a Firian, made Cinder do a double-take, he looks so much like you.** Samateus explained, doing her best to lighten the conversation as she understood that Pyrus himself would be upset and feel betrayed, amongst other things. His smile let her know he understood, appreciated her humour layered into the information, and a raised brow spoke of his desire to see Khilseith for himself.
**I'm here, just a moment.** Khilseith's voice sounded strained, tired, like he had just woken up. Samateus explained wordlessly that Khilseith had been staying on the Aurora since the crash himself, not wishing to be too far from either his father or younger half-brother. He had only left that day with Blaze to help explain everything to Flare, as his appearance as a Firian being so similar to Pyrus' aiding in the conversation to help Flare understand the need for secrecy before Khilseith had made arrangements to be away from his duties to the Ahr'aht in order to remain on the Aurora. Khilseith walking in as a Firian a few minutes later piqued Pyrus' interest, his brows shooting up as he got a good look at what he could only see as an older doppelganger of himself. Khilseith chuckled lightly as he stepped over to stand next to Samateus, smirking down at Pyrus slightly, though Pyrus understood it was more because Khilseith was just as uncomfortable as he felt.
**I've always wanted to meet you as your brother, but not like this.** Khilseith looked away briefly, pinching the bridge of his nose and taking in a deep breath. Samateus offered a low croon of concern, turning in her chair to look up at him.
"I'm okay, I'm okay... Just, flashes of bad memories..." Khilseith's voice quivered lightly as he fought down the upset wrenching in his chest.
**Molostroi... He must've had a scare like this too?** Pyrus asked, knowing the two would hear him, Khilseith nodding solemnly. He held a smirk however, surprised every time one of the two younger members of the alliance leadership showed just how frighteningly astute they were.
**Yes... It's been several hundred years, I suppose I'm still not over it.** Khilseith offered a slight smile, swallowing down the last of his upset as best he could. **I'm just glad you're recovering, him... Time will tell.**
**Zera... She... She was acting weird on the flight before the crash... Is she okay, I mean really okay?** Pyrus asked Samateus after a lengthy moment of silence, Samateus sighing and nodding.
**She's growing up, something she kinda needs to keep private is going on and she's going to look almost completely different once it's done with, but otherwise no, she's okay. No injury in the crash, but there was a close call during that crash. Had she been any bigger or over a couple handwidths to her right, she'd be worse off than either of you...** Samateus explained, having helped Zera through nightmares the first two days, seeing her memories relived over and over. **She also gave you enough time to get to the infirmary... Vented her Nanites into you.**
**Gross...** Pyrus smirked, secretly thankful for her saving his life twice now.
**You saved hers in that crash too. You have more power than you know Pyrus, and that factored into how the ship landed.** Khilseith lightly admonished, chuckling himself at the confusion and blush on Pyrus' face. **Let's just be glad it is subtle and not full blown, being a psionic without training can be quite the headache.**
**Sometimes literally. You should know, just as an aside, many Firians have been acknowledging Ashtareen of late, asking her to help you recover...** Samateus purred lightly, gently bumping the side of her headcrest against Khilseith's arm. **This one has been hesitant to make anything else known, at least for now.**
**Probably best, I don't know how the rest of house Blaze and Inferno will take it... Probably try and claim outsider interference and have me denounced.** Pyrus sighed, closing his eyes and looking away from them. He almost felt as though he deserved it, the potential backlash and outing of his secret to the public, for failing his people so many times. Samateus frowned, about to retort when Khilseith clenched a fist angrily.
**Never going to happen, not on my watch. I'll die with this secret instead of seeing someone like Hest take over.** Khilseith growled audibly, Pyrus smirking and Samateus chuckling lightly. Khilseith moved to sit in the chair Cryos had vacated earlier, on Pyrus' left, sighing a bit. **I should have pushed him to go back, when we realised how much danger you all were in, but he didn't wish to cause undue stress. He trusted Coal, trusted that beacon, too much so it seems.**
**Beacon? The medallion he wore?** Pyrus asked, hesitantly meeting Khilseith's gaze, slightly frowning.
**Yes, an emergency subspace beacon. He probably activated it when you weren't looking. Or, waited until the last possible second.** Khilseith explained, sitting back and crossing his arms lightly, right leg lifted to rest crossed over his left casually. **We know it was the day that Fire was sacrificed, based on alliance records and the subspace timestamp, but not when exactly. Regardless... We should have done more, I am sorry...** Pyrus could only nod, understanding that Khilseith also felt responsible for him and the Firian people, not just because of the alliance and his position in it, but as a worried older sibling. Pyrus' thought made Khilseith laugh lightly, smiling at Pyrus when he opened his eyes to glare.
**You are my younger brother. No matter what any may say or think or try and interject, we are brothers. Despite our upbringing and how drastic of an age difference, I think our appearance can testify to that. Samateus has been like the Aunt I've never had, just as protective as a parent though.** Khilseith grinned, Samateus sticking her tongue out at him ever so slightly.
**I've had too many close to me almost die over stupid shit, you're no exception.** She grinned toothily, glad to see Pyrus interested in their conversation and taking his mind off Magmus/Xerxes. Khilseith chuckled, shaking his head at her lightly as Samateus continued. **This one, way back, I think he was closer to your age actually, went out joyriding and stranded himself in a system too far from comms. Took us a week to find his ass, half-frozen and starved in his ship.**
**Yes, at least I knew to ration my food supply, but I was also angry for wanting to be with Molostroi while he was in classes but had become too much of a distraction for him. Though understandably he was quite upset with me after that, as it had been Father who covered for him, I found out later he was planning a surprise for me and it was ruined by my disappearing.** Khilseith scoffed, sighing as he shook his head. **Sorry, trying to keep from talking about him...**
**It's okay... I... I'm still angry he didn't tell me... But I understand now why. And why he would tell Cryos over anyone else.** Pyrus responded after a few moments, turning to look at Magmus/Xerxes on the other bed on the further right end of the room, and infirmary, as Pyrus assumed. He looked exactly as Pyrus remembered, those four ear-spines a dead giveaway, the fine filigree denoting the crown only barely visible over his brow, the swirling markings on his cheeks. Then Pyrus noticed the bioscan near him, showing red over eighty percent of his body, Pyrus cautiously sitting up, Samateus trying to keep him still and gasping, recoiling and right ear flat back when she focused on the bed near his right arm.
**You didn't bring the blade in here did you?** Samateus arched her neck to peer at Khilseith who shook his head, eyes wide. Pyrus raised a brow, looking to his right and cautiously shifted his right arm over slightly, confused that the Obsidian Blade, still in its scabbard, lay alongside him on the bed. It almost appeared to glow, the swirling galaxy on its scabbard swirling and moving on its own as he watched.
**No, I remember Cinder had to move it aside when Ryme asked, bloody thing almost burned him... How!?** Khilseith blinked almost comically, having not noticed it until Samateus motioned to it. Pyrus smirked, resting his right fingertips on it, which appeared to calm whatever forces were making the markings of it swirl and glow, the intensity of the galaxy on its scabbard fading ever so slightly.
**We're three days out from the Ark still, right? Maybe he had something to do with it?** Pyrus surprised both with him, Samateus chuckling and nodding once the initial shock wore off.
**Wouldn't put such past him. He might not be able to act on things as he would like, I'm sure, but I am confident he's aware of what is going on, and is just as livid as I am when it comes to how things have been progressing.**
**And he can't come and help us now? Help him?** Pyrus frowned, motioning to his and Khilseith's father nearby. Samateus and Khilseith shared a glance, Khilseith glaring lightly at her when she shook her head.
**He can't.**
**Can't Or Wont?** Pyrus was getting angry now, gritting his teeth and ignoring the reblossoming of pain from his right side and arm.
**Can't. As with my devotion to Samateus, he can't go against the rules he set for himself.** Kemet materialized from shadow next to Samateus, sitting in a smaller version of his draconic form. His crimson eyes were deeply saddened, turning his head to glance at Magmus/Xerxes before returning his gaze to Pyrus who slowly lay back again. **There is something you need to know however, about the Maker.**
"Kemet..." Samateus warned, lightly growling, Kemet glaring right back at her a moment. She frowned, sighed and eventually nodded, sitting back again, though her displeasure almost radiated off her.
**You're familiar with tales of blood drinkers? Vampires?** Kemet asked, Pyrus narrowing his eyes, but nodded anyway. Vampires and the drinking of blood was obscene and dangerous, in different forms amongst the races of the alliance, any seen as such were considered demons. **In a way, we are. Demons, that is.** Pyrus tensed, Samateus reassuringly placing a hand on his arm, nodding that it was okay and that Kemet would not harm him. **Never. I interfere only at the express request of Samateus in anything, remember the pillar collapse on Rock? She didn't even want to wake me. I only require a blood donation infrequently, and only if I ask. The Maker? He is also Vampiric, and will ask of such from you, if you choose to wake him.**
**And if I don't?** Pyrus shuddered lightly, he lost plenty of blood in that crash, he was certain, and Pyrus remembered what Kemet had been able to do to the tons of rock that had been on and around Samateus almost two months ago.
**It may be possible to coax his ship to follow the alliance to keep the Beast at bay, however if he remains asleep, he can do nothing to help. If it worries you that he needs to take blood from you, I can reassure you he hates doing so. Fiercely independent, often to his own detriment. For now, rest, think on it. You have a few more days to make your choice.** Samateus calmly explained, Khilseith also nodding when Pyrus glanced questioningly at him. Pyrus simply nodded, fingertips idly stroking the scabbard at his side.