Artanis blinked. None spoke for a long moment, Xerxes oddly quiet and still, glancing to the others briefly before averting his gaze. Shame, self-loathing and rage fighting for control of his actions, Samateus calmly moving to rest her chin and throat against his headcrest and purring lightly, doing her best to keep him stable.
Rohana and Karax both watched Artanis, Turmalis shaking his head sadly, seeing and understanding Xerxes' plight, having willingly witnessed all he had been through during their earlier interaction. Xerxes had openly shared his memories, and filled in gaps that were too damaging for him to revisit directly, not to mention highly unsettling and would shake the minds of even the most hardened warriors.
Artanis however, had only small glimpses, from when Xerxes had first been freed, yet understanding now that he knew a bit more of the context of his abuse, now seeing his debilitating depression was beyond warranted.
Their own Mother had orchestrated his hybridization, abuse and imprisonment, and their Father, Khaaslyrous, had helped her.
**Amon took her from her crypt, twisted her into a Voidspawn, and used her to lure Father to do his bidding, later snaring me.** Xerxes explained, leaning on his larger forearms, elbows pointing out almost awkwardly as he lay on them crossed beneath him. He even used his wings as support, the thumbs on each curled inward, careful not to puncture his own wing membranes, his tail flat along the ground. Artanis could see this weighed heavily on Xerxes, that because of their own Mother, he had willingly become a Primal Hybrid and began his own brood, which Artanis had yet to understand the context, yet was not curious enough to ask the nuances of this. Xerxes nodded, thanks expressed briefly, yet anxiety still near tangible. Artanis encouraged him to continue, willing to listen and not pass judgement for decisions and events beyond their control, which seemed to releive some of Xerxes' anxiety and tension, lightly rumbling a purr in thanks.
**Most of the time I was their captive, I had been alone, until they brought Corin, formerly my personal bodyguard and aide, to 'help' me. Later, he was taken, I was given other alternatives and kept drugged for a time, that was when Endara had been brought into the compound and placed where Corin and a few others, including Zyl'Orr, were held.** Xerxes paused to steel himself, growling again as he forced something that almost enraged him back down. Samateus let out a concerned croon, thumping her tail briefly.
**I'll be alright. A bit longer isn't going to change anything.** Xerxes tilted his head slightly to gently lift hers, the Taalrulthian curling her neck back to lift her head off his crest, sleepily curling down to rest on her paws. Rohana and Artanis shared a concerned glance, yet did not further pry to Xerxes' sudden and brief rage.
**Once I had been able to directly address what they had done, and came to know the truth, Khaaslyrous managed to arrange for me to escape to Zerus, as I had already resolved to be the one to end their torment and free what little family I had therein. That was when I was double-crossed and the elaborate plans Khaaslyrous had concocted had all but crumpled on him, I was not able to take any action against Vicar before I was placed in that prison.** Xerxes stopped again, myriad of different colours briefly changing his usual violet with his rollercoaster of emotions, yet able to better control them as he felt more comfortable explaining what had happened with each visitation on the subject. **They forced my actions as well, as Endara, Corin and others are in stasis inside the compound Vicar waits within. Amon was taunting me, that much I'm certain, and targeting you to bring me could have only been noted by Vicar. Khaaslyrous wouldn't even acknowledge you, because of what I had done, so he wouldn't recognise you...**
**Why do you not call her Sabine, she-** Xerxes' visible snarl made Karax almost shrink from him, eyes wide.
**She is not Sabine, that twisted Void form is what Amon made her. She is as much a prisoner as I was, even though she shares her memories, her spirit, Vicar is not my Mother.** Xerxes explained, briefly expressing apology to Karax for his ire. Rohana had mainly been watching Artanis and his reactions through all of Xerxes' explanations, the Heirarch showing very little outward emotion.
Artanis did, in fact, not feel anything directly. Xerxes' plight, all he had gone through, it was certainly hard to hear, even harder to witness, yet could not be helped as what had transpired with him, and their parents, had nearly nothing to do with him. He had been blissfully ignorant of his family line, his supposed legacy, and only Xerxes remained here, now, to tell him about the absolutely convoluted, confusing and reality shattering events their parents had orchestrated. Artanis shook his head, sighing deeply, standing to move to crouch closer to Xerxes, who watched him with wide eyes, tensing a moment and leaned back and away from him slightly before Artanis gently placed a hand on his wing-shoulder.
Xerxes slowly relaxed, curiously rumbling a purr, looking his younger brother over cautiously before tilting his headcrest slightly, asking wordlessly why Artanis had come closer. Artanis sighed, letting Xerxes into his mind, letting him see his experiences, how Aldaris and the Conclave had raised him, Tassadar, the loss of Aiur, his shame, all of it. Up until they had freed Xerxes, Artanis had thought himself alone, always feeling out of place, undeserving of his station and the reverence afforded him from his fellows. When Zeratul had appeared before their invasion attempt to reclaim Aiur, he had many mixed emotions, as his old friend had been accused of murdering the previous Nerazim Matriarch. Zeratul tried to warn them, that the Khala would be turned against them, his warning far too late, as Amon had suddenly forced his way into the Khala, turning even the strongest of the Daelaam into his slaves.
Zeratul's sacrifice, to free him from Amon, gave Artanis just enough resolve to keep going, soon coming across Karax, finding a purpose once more leading those who had managed to be freed by their fellows or were already severed, fighting Zerg and their own, to the Ark ship that had been pivotal in him moving past his own depression. Alarak had treated him with thinly veiled contempt, and he had, surprisingly, accepted it as part of his cosmic kharma turning around to punish him. Artanis found an almost kindred spirit in Rohana, so many centuries removed from the days she had lived, something about her had continued to provide him the drive to keep going, despite all the trials and battles they had gone through.
Xerxes purred reassuringly, moving a smaller hand to place it over Artanis' on his shoulder.
**You have done far more than had ever been asked of you, and then some. Like Jim.** Xerxes offered, his pride, contentment and understanding transmitting in his thoughts. Artanis frowned, he had not mentioned the involvement of Terrans, in any form, which earned him an audible and psionic chuckle from Xerxes.
**When Endara showed me her memories of the Exodus, I saw him helping our people, uncaring for himself. Even his own followers did everything in their power to help, his charisma could have made him Emperor, had Valerian not already agreed to take that station, and his hangups regarding Sarah.** Xerxes turned, Rohana deciding she had enough of the odd silence as her cautious prod at him had garnered concern. Artanis had not realised until then that when he had gone to Xerxes, his brother had created a psionic link that only connected the two of them and kept Rohana from hearing or feeling any of what they had shared. Xerxes wordlessly let him know he should talk with her in a more private setting, able to see in their interactions far more than they wanted to admit to feeling.
**Apologies, there are some things even I would prefer to keep more private.** Xerxes explained to the others simply, Artanis wordlessly thanking him for his silence regarding the admission of his emotions, Xerxes simply passing it off as a responsibility of an Older Brother. Artanis could barely hold his emotion then, the realisation finally sinking in that he did have a family, Xerxes quickly rising to embrace him before the others could see, wings wrapped around them both. **You've been holding this in a long time, haven't you?** Xerxes purred loudly, soothingly, Artanis relaxing into him slowly, shuddering once almost painfully as he slowly calmed from the sudden well of emotional relief.
Rohana and Karax were both in awe, yet respectfully waited for the two brothers to finish their private conversation, having never witnessed Artanis showing emotion in such a manner.
Xerxes did eventually pull his wings back and away, forehead pressed gently against Artanis', mandibles strangely sitting alongside his lower jaw, not obscuring his face. He arched his neck up and rocked back on his haunches, meeting Artanis' gaze again. Artanis nodded at an unspoken concern, taking a deep steadying breath before Xerxes stepped back, withdrawing his smaller hands from Artanis' shoulders. Rohana raised a brow, quizzical look earning her a chuckle.
**Even the strongest resolve can be shattered, it's those around us that help put the pieces together once more.** Xerxes offered, Karax nodding almost sagely, impressed and reminded of the lectures Xerxes had once orated. Xerxes blushed, shaking his head, nervecords rattling together lightly. **I was so full of myself then though.**
**I wouldn't say so, you were the only Judicator to speak with us privately after the lectures, to even offer such.** Karax eye-smiled, Rohana gladly moving closer, Xerxes appearing to almost brighten, as though a massive dark cloud had left him. Samateus then let out a growl, turning to stare at the Warp Gate that had otherwise been derelict.
Xerxes turned also, frowning and the blade-edged carapace on his shoulders and wings appeared to curl up slightly, shaking lightly to create a hissing rattle as crimson psionic lightning danced along the curved supports of the warp gate. Void energy could be felt seeping from it as it engaged, the small group suddenly on edge and wary.