Artanis carefully moved to rise, not realising the full extent of the injury recently inflicted upon him as he stiffened and tensed, pain shooting along his spine, up through his right side, ribcage and through his midsection. Rohana and Karax steadied him, though he frowned, frustrated with himself for being so inept at managing the pain now, when previously injuries had only served to fuel his resolve. Karax bobbed his head lightly, Rohana briefly glancing to him before reassuring Artanis.
**Amon's influence is not usually so pervasive... This parasite they attempted to use, it appeared it was trying to become a part of you so wholly that it would have killed you had Xerxes waited any longer to remove it.** She mused, Artanis nodding his understanding. Not only had Amon attempted to use him again, his followers had tried to completely remove any chance he could resist by physically melding Void energy to his nervous system, or perhaps even his entire body on a cellular level. He shuddered, a chill passing through him, realising that something else had been there, something almost sympathetic to his pain, yet unable to stop Amon, and had dissipated when he had been cut off.
**That reminds me, what was it that Xerxes had said earlier about 'Vicar' as he called her?** Karax asked Rohana, who blinked and looked up at Artanis, who nodded lightly, taking in a steadying breath before cautiously leading the other two outside the curtain, into a larger common area where the other civilians, with Judicator Turmalis' escort, waited cautiously, some occassionally casting curious or cautious glances toward Xerxes, who he could only just make out in the shade of a patch of trees talking with Turmalis. Wait, his eyes were closed. Perhaps he was sharing memories or resting. Artanis eyed the warp gate nearby, the strange Void shaped metal comprising it shimmering lightly as light danced across it. It was nearing sunset now, for this area, when he had arrived with Samateus it had barely been dawn.
Artanis glanced over the clustered Protoss, shaking his head as he could not blame them for their apprehension toward his brother, however he found he thought it more out of cautious respect for his space. Xerxes appeared to almost disappear in the shadows cast by the trees, what little light did touch him appearing to shimmer and twinkle like dew on a field at dawn, shifting between different shades of greens and purples. Artanis looked down at Rohana, who stood almost touching him to his right, then to Karax, who had stepped forward a bit, yet waited for him.
**I think it best if he explains what he told us before he had to help you.** She announced, Xerxes stirring, having fallen asleep himself once Turmalis had sufficiently spoken with him earlier while Artanis recovered. Samateus also woke, curling her neck and lifting her head out from under Xerxes' wing, trilling a quiet greeting before she yawned. Xerxes opened an eye, shifting his head to lie the side of his expansive crest on the ground, regarding Samateus a moment before he realised Artanis was with Rohana and Karax, and they cautiously padded toward him. Xerxes rose quickly, Samateus squeaking because he had been keeping her warm under his wing, the sudden rush of cool outside air making her shiver a moment, fluffing her feathered wings and tucking her head down into her chest fluff. Her almost comical reaction earned her a chuckle from Turmalis and Xerxes both, Turmalis remaining nearby, yet watching the Warp Gate by the trees with concern.
Xerxes crouched in the same manner he had earlier aboard the Spear, watching Artanis stubbornly stride toward him. He could tell, albeit just, that Artanis still felt a great deal of pain, slight limp on his right side, and the contrasting dark spiderwebbing from where the parasite had been. Xerxes had been about to take a step forward, when he spotted the two earlier who had been controlled by Amon, and heard as Samateus hissed.
**Sundrop, I can smell it from here...** She warned both Xerxes and Artanis, the latter frowning as Xerxes growled and nodded. Artanis turned, looking at the two Xerxes had begun to watch, beckoning the two over, both appearing to shrink for a moment before Turmalis became aware of the situation, rising from his meditative position near where Xerxes had been. Xerxes could feel their apprehension, transmitted ever so slightly through the Khala-like connection he had established earlier, yet knew better than to forcibly push into their minds as Amon had. Something he had abhorred being possible when ingorant of Amon, the Conclave using the communal psionic link of all Protoss to force truths from those suspected of treason.
**Come out then, both of you.** Turmalis asked openly, more pointed than Artanis' request, and firm, akin to a teacher with a student. They obliged, reluctantly, cautiously moving to stand near Karax, over to Artanis' left. Samateus could be seen burying her muzzle under her wing, ears flat and lightly glaring at the two. She could smell something in Sundrop that made her and other Taalrulthians very upset, sometimes even violent, when exposed to it directly, and they would avoid it to a point where it would seem silly.
Artanis looked to the pair calmly, crossing his arms lightly and doing his best to stand strong, when he wanted nothing more than to go somewhere quiet and rest. Xerxes cautiously moved closer, standing near yet well behind Artanis, eyes never leaving the pair who had almost crumbled to their knees at this point, holding each other and shuddering in fright. Xerxes looked to Artanis, wordlessly asking if he should speak, Artanis simply offering a glance and nod.
**Who gave you the Salve?** He asked, calmly and as unmenacingly as he could, concerned more for why they would take and use it themselves. He knew what it was, had actually had a hand in its original creation long ago, and had been the first to realise how addictive and damaging it could be. This admission, a brief flicker for those in the vicinity, enough to calm the two and allow them to relax and actually look at their Heirarch, and the Nightmare that protected him.
Xerxes caught this brief and passing sentiment from the two, appearing almost as though he had been slapped, shock and distress nearly tangible as he turned away a bit, almost appearing to darken and fade from view as the shadows deepened around them, the sun setting in the distance. Rohana frowned, realising that Kuldaris had yet to appear since the earlier interaction inside, and further unnerved that Xerxes would take a comment, made not to insult but revere him, as personally as he had. The two shook their heads, expressing a brief apology, they saw him as a Nightmare, only because of how he had shown no care for himself when attacking the other Hybrids earlier.
**See? Give yourself, and them, a chance will you?** Kuldaris then rematerialized near Turmalis, who raised a brow at the youngster, who stood nonchalantly with his arms crossed and watched the whole situation. Xerxes shot him a glance, eyes mere slits, but relaxed, nodding lightly as he cautiously moved closer to crouch before the two, next to Artanis who also had glanced at Kuldaris and nodded acknowledgement to him. The two then informed their fellows that the sundrop had been left in their chambers, a simple note that it may help alleviate some of their anxiety about being severed, having been separated from the Khala previously by chemical treatments, like the Tal'Darim.
Xerxes nodded, frowning lightly, gently taking the two small round glass jars, covered with a specialized seal to keep them as airtight as possible, from the two. They reluctantly agreed to accompany Samateus to meet with her kin, more acutely able to sense Sundrop exposure, and addiction, as well as being extremely good with addiction recovery. Xerxes then moved to give Kuldaris the jars, instructing him to just place them in his workshop on the Flare, before he turned to slink over to the strange warp gate. Kuldaris listened, watching his father pad away without a further word, shaking his head solemnly and shot Artanis a glare before he disappeared, teleported up to the Obsidian Flare.
Artanis looked to Rohana, then Karax, raising a brow. Samateus shrugged when she was glanced at, more concerned with the two needing the help of her kin as they approached her cautiously.
**Now could you explain to me what significance 'Vicar' has?** Artanis asked, Xerxes first stiffening and letting out a low growl before turning back to them, glaring at Karax and Rohana lightly. They seemed to shy away from him, as he turned on his heel and reluctantly returned to them. Artanis kept his one brow raised, confused and concerned by Xerxes' reaction to the name Karax had used earlier, Rohana reluctant to voice what she knew. Xerxes sighed as he sat on his haunches next to Samateus again, motioning for them to come over, the two who were to go with her for treatment settled nearby, thankfully friends who could help each other around others they were unfamiliar with.
Artanis crouched closer to him, Karax and Rohana, and Turmalis who remained vigilant as he could tell something bothered Xerxes a great deal, though he remained excited to learn how he and his beloved Endara would be reunited. Xerxes lightly bobbed his head, Samateus moving a bit closer and arching her neck to nuzzle the side of his face and mandible reassuringly, the much larger Hybrid letting out a low rumble of thanks, as he had become lightly distressed. Just thinking about what he was to explain still shook him to his core, everything that he had become, hinged on his facing this truth, and Artanis deserved to know, despite the damage the truth he was about to reveal would likely cause. Artanis nodded, understanding that Xerxes was doing his best to warn him, inadverdently, without actually saying it, the pain in his eyes speaking silent volumes.
**I had mentioned this earlier to Karax and Rohana briefly, fully expecting to go after Vicar before I saw what they had done to you.** Xerxes paused, shuddering once to squash the emotional turmoil roiling in him, breathing deeply to keep his calm despite his emotions and something else that Artanis and the others did not understand. Artanis nodded, motioning for him to continue.
**Vicar, despite all she did to me, all she forced Khaaslyrous to do to me...** He paused, hearts wrenching breifly. **Is the corrupted form of our mother, Sabine.**

DUNDUNDUN
Yeah, I know, kinda cheesy and people would know this if they read the prequel, though mind I need to go through and label all the Smut chapters from Servant of the Void.
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