Artanis dissipated his blades, Xerxes uncurling from his embrace of Sabine, who cautiously stood on her own, one hand on him to keep herself steady, Xerxes using his own body to keep her naked form mainly covered. As he moved closer, Artanis could only just see the scar on her lower right abdomen, questioning glance to Xerxes receiving a nod in response. The scar having been left when Xerxes had saved Artanis from dying with her, what had ultimately started all of their problems. She looked up at him, her green eyes shining lightly, however she looked away, ashamed of her actions, Xerxes quickly warning her not to go too far into the emotional pit he himself knew all too well.
**We can talk later, for now, we need to leave.** Xerxes announced, turning to Khaaslyrous who stiffened and obediently went to the warp-gate nearby, in truth where Vicar had been hiding beforehand, the gate having been obscured by void energy as it had seeped out from her. Sabine, shakily and nervously, leaned into Xerxes, expressing that something else was wrong with her, unsure what it could be, afraid that death would claim her again too soon. Xerxes rumbled, turning to curl around her, took in a deep breath, dipped into his psionic power, ever so slightly expending some of it for her to absorb, which gladly coiled and enveloped what little remained within her and melded with it. The energy almost blinded those there, as it increased in strength and began enveloping her form.
Artanis and the others watched nearby, concerned as Xerxes moved back and Sabine appeared to glow, her form obscured and warping as they watched, Khaaslyrous pausing in his task to watch, frown furrowing his brow. The glow faded slowly, revealing a creature very similar to Samateus, with silver-grey fur, feathered wings and elaborate curved horns. Sabine opened her eyes, stretching out her wings and letting out a vocalization of elation and pride before she moved to nuzzle Xerxes.
**Thank you son. I had not the energy to return to this form previously...** She turned to Khaaslyrous, who blinked comically. Sabine giggled lightly at his reaction, Xerxes simply shaking his head. Artanis cautiously stepped closer, realising that Sabine looked eerily similar to LeonLocke, the strange draconian that had aided in bringing Samateus and their allies through, as it was he who owned and operated a massive ship that appeared like a black three-sided spearhead. Xerxes nodded, the Illithichtiel alternate of his having helped him understand a bit more about his predicament, and his abilities.
**There are others? I've not seen others of my kin in... Goddess knows how long.** Sabine purred, ears perking up and long tail swishing lightly behind her. Xerxes chuckled lightly, then stiffened, as light appeared to pierce through the void beyond the compound. Sabine and Khaaslyrous appeared to shrink down from it, Xerxes curious and Artanis almost groaning, which confused Xerxes. Then he realised, they were within the Void, where Sarah had taken Amon out, and assumed his role within it.
Xerxes quickly alerted the others, who clustered close to him, Khaaslyrous and Sabine -in her True form- standing near him, yet still away a bit as the light continued to grow, Artanis lightly averting his gaze as the energy of the Void receeded from their compound, the dome appearing to melt away. Soon, a humanoid form coalesced near the warp-gate, which had still not engaged, brilliant golden glow fading down to reveal Sarah Kerrigan herself, as she had been when Human, and another with her, a young male with dirty-blond hair and smiling blue eyes.
"Hey Artanis, been a while." Said the male, the voice instantly recognizable to the Hierarch as that belonging to James Raynor, Jim as most knew him. That realisation passed to Xerxes, who relaxed and appeared to perk up, tilting his head to one side lightly. Jim nodded to him, then motioned to Sarah with a grin, her lightly punching his arm.
"You didn't tell me about him." She hissed, sensing the Primal Zerg infestation in the strange violet-eyed Hybrid surrounded by Protoss that were obviously infested, Hybrids themselves really, yet were free of Amon's influence and even Artanis did not appear bothered by them. What bothered her most, was the strange dragon-like creature with the Protoss near him. Jim chuckled at her, shaking his head.
"I didn't, but I never really -met- him before, just knew about him from my mom's stories..." Xerxes rumbled a purr, glad that Trace had mentioned him, if only as a tale for a small child. Sarah seemed to accept this explanation, shaking her head at how absent-minded the former Marshal could be, Jim gladly walking alongside her, extending a hand in greeting to Artanis first, the Heirarch at first dubious, yet gladly returned the handshake.
**I had heard you disappeared, now I see why.** Artanis bowed lightly, in reverence, to Sarah, who blushed lightly and waved it off, not feeling she deserved the sentiment. Her gaze met Xerxes', the Primal Hybrid ducking his head down slightly before he finally uncurled and moved the mandibles covering his face to instead frame his lower jaw.
**Ouros, he was the last?** Xerxes asked simply, Sarah blinking comically, not realising she had left her mind open to a quick scan, this Primal hybrid strangely able to do so to her without even alerting her. He expressed an apology for intruding, only to her, not wishing to cause conflict after what he and Artanis had just been through. He briefly explained their relation, letting her into his memories, which surprised her, and she did go through them, briefly, eyes going wide and raising a hand to her mouth as Jim too learned all she had through their direct connection.
"Shit... That all happened here? Wait, are they-" Jim started, Xerxes raising a hand when Jim visibly started to grow angry on his behalf, the Xel'Naga -Sarah and Jim, being two parts of one being would denote both as being such- completely appalled and enraged by the atrocities that had been done to him, further angered that his own parents had done such.
**We will deal with our familial issues, I admittedly no longer hold a grudge. Amon orchestrated all of it, his will and influence.** Xerxes explained, Sabine letting out a sad trill, ears flat in shame and Khaaslyrous simply content to be with her. Jim stiffened, grinding his teeth a moment, before nodding, slowly relaxing, Sarah offering a light nod.
"Amon is dead, yet how?" She looked at Artanis and glanced over the dark spiderwebbing on his exposed lower right side, raising a brow as he shook his head, Xerxes grumbling lightly.
**Sadly, the Void, like the Luminous, connects to and blurs the lines between realities, which means the Amon you faced, was simply one of many...** Xerxes offered, Sabine nodding agreement, wordlessly adding this had to be the case, as she had been from the Luminous before becoming Protoss. Sarah raised a brow, skepticism fading as she realised the extent of what that could mean, and how it explained all that they had been dealing with themselves. Xerxes trilled curiously, asking her to explain what she referred to. She shared a glance with Jim, who smiled and nodded, chuckling.
"Yeah I trust him, he saved my life before I even knew what a damn tit was." Xerxes laughed at his vulgarity, Artanis simply confused.
**I was merely returning the favour. Trace gave me somewhere to hide while I was, admittedly, having some technological problems with my control panel connection to the Obsidian Flare. Thankfully it was on a fringe world of the Confedaracy at the time, a farming planet, I had noted the plantations and became curious.** Xerxes explained, offering a memory of the world Jim had grown up on, when it still had some greenery and life to it, where he had been making observations in person and received a rather nasty shock from his control panel that knocked him unconscious.
Xerxes had awoken to two strange bipeds, one showing early signs of psionic potential, the other brandishing a weapon at him as he sat up. Trace had told her husband to go wait outside, that their visitor likely could kill him before he pulled the trigger. Xerxes listened to their speech, translated by his lightly touching both minds, to understand the sound to go along with their intended words, soon learning they had brought him here after finding him in their fields. He had light solar-exposure burns on his side and back, Trace informing him that he had been out there for hours before they came across him, offering a bottle of a green substance for his 'sunburn' and respectfully keeping her distance.
Xerxes stopped the memory, Jim nodding and smiling widely.
"That's my ma', always looking out for those who need it." He chuckled with his country drawl, smirking. "So you just gonna leave? I mean, where're you gonna go?"
Xerxes sighed, glancing to Sabine and Khaaslyrous, then Artanis. Artanis offered him no response, light shrug showing he had no opinion on the matter, deferring instead to Xerxes' choice on the situation. He inhaled deeply, thinking a moment, sighing at length.
**Honestly, I am quite content to remain with our new allies, Samateus and the Taalrulthians, on one of their world-ships... I suppose it is best to remain there, as I cannot return to Aiur, nor would I impose.** Xerxes looked to Artanis, who nodded in sympathy, saddened by his choice, yet understanding that he would likely be harassed or attacked regularly if he were to even visit Aiur. Khaaslyrous scoffed, shaking his head at how easily Xerxes had given up his birthright, Sabine taking the initiative to lightly cuff the side of his head with her tail and hiss at him audibly. Sarah smirked, nodding her head.
"Well I'll say this, knowing that there is a reason I keep coming across pockets of Amon's influence, instead of thinking I'd missed something, certainly helps me feel better. But I can't be the only one fighting this bastard." Sarah crossed her arms, closing her eyes, Xerxes smirking himself.
**Perhaps knowing you aren't fully alone in such may help further?** Xerxes earned himself a confused stare from all of those around him, chuckling. **Samateus, an avatar of Ashtareen, has been kind enough to help me, I'm certain she has ways to help you as well.** Artanis raised a brow, having momentarily forgotten about the pull the blue-furred draconian appeared to have, remembering the physical form Ashtareen had manifested in her place once. Sabine leapt up, eyes wide and blinking as she had not seen Ashtareen herself before, fur and feathers rising as a chill swept over her. Khaaslyrous appeared confused, attempting to calm her, Sabine shaking her head almost violently before Xerxes quickly hopped over and pressed his forehead to hers. She stilled, shaking visibly in place before slowly sliding to lie on the floor once more, Xerxes nuzzling the top of her head gently. He withdrew, glaring at Khaaslyrous dangerously a moment, before he returned to the others, Jim and Sarah raising a brow almost mirroring each other comically.
**The sight of Ashtareen to those who are not prepared can be... Damaging, please do be careful brother.** Xerxes explained, eyes softening when Artanis appeared ashamed. **Not your intent, Mother has always been very astute in listening to surface thoughts and viewing memories... She doesn't fault you, just needs to realise she should be a bit more reserved with such.** Jim and Sarah chuckled, reminded of their first encounter. Xerxes chuckled at the recollection as well, shaking his head. **Can you blame him though?** Sarah blushed, Jim laughing heartily, earning him a light punch to his arm again and Xerxes gently resting a hand on his shoulder, eyes crinkled in a smile. **As much as I am enjoying this, we shouldn't linger here too long.**
"Yeah, I know. We, know. If you can get her to yank on whatever strings she has to pull, I'm sure we'd be happy for any help." Jim responded, still lightly chuckling.
**And I would be happy to do so. Thank you, Sarah, for doing what I could not.** Xerxes bowed deeply before the two, Sarah blushing more furiously and lightly waving a hand.
"Hey, don't do that. I... I guess I felt like I had to, like I was supposed to." She shyly responded, seeing in him more humility than anyone she had ever encountered. Human or otherwise. Xerxes straightened up, smiling that she would be so humble despite having enough power to simply wipe all of them from existence if she pleased.
**Fate, Destiny, whichever moniker one may use, we are all tied into something far, far greater than ourselves. We just need to make certain we don't lose sight of that, becoming selfish or complacent.** He responded sagely, Sarah and Jim smiling and nodding as Artanis blinked lightly, impressed. Even Khaaslyrous could not find fault in Xerxes' words, his own selfishness had brought about most of what had befallen his family, had given Amon's influence a niche to fill in his very being.
"Don't think I can top that one. But we need to destroy this place, you good to go back right to where you came from?" Jim asked, Sarah willing instead to send them back through without the warp gate, Xerxes gladly agreeing to make certain the one that had brought him and Artanis to the Void in the first place, would be destroyed. Jim shook hands with Xerxes, then Artanis, the two waving a light farewell as the area around the Protoss Heirarch and his entourage of sorts; blurred, went black, then blindingly white, before fading to a warm late-night jungle atmosphere.
A Bit hurried, but otherwise fills a few gaps I know people would be asking about eventually, if anyone were interested in my work.