So it seems I'm just posting this for my own benefit.
I appreciate any and all constructive criticism, though ask that all remember I am NOT using any characters as fully canon. Alarak, for example, would likely never have agreed to assist, especially after being 'abducted' as he was, and would not have willingly laid his hands on a Hybrid unless intending to kill.
In other words, please take anything I write with a grain of salt.
Additionally; PLEASE let me know if there is a question or situation I don't address, here or in the semi-sequel already in the works.
Alarak then sent a bolt of psionic lightning down after Kul, the light briefly illuminating an Ultralisk and Queen that had the same signs of deterioration as Arska's sibling, Xerxes raising a wing to block and absorb the strike. He glared up at Alarak, his many extra eyes opening and violet energy rippling across his hide.
**Is there a problem?** Xerxes hissed, growling aloud. Alarak held firm, yet could be seen weighing his options, to which Kul barely held a laugh, Xerxes gently cuffing the side of his head with the hand of one of his smaller limbs.
**Your… Son, I assume, abducted me from my fleet in order to free you.** Alarak stated, ire and arrogance tingeing his thoughts as though they should prioritise his needs for using his time. Xerxes then spread his wings and with a powerful downstroke, launched himself up to the platform again, knocking Alarak to his back in a flash faster than any could track with their eyes. Before he could react, Xerxes had pinned Alarak there, one massive forepaw easily dwarfing his head, the two bracket thumbs on his paw having been snapped forward, talons resting on either side of Alaraks head.
**You have no respect for anyone but yourself, it would seem. Far removed from what Khrillian had intended, I'm certain.** Xerxes growled deeply, Alaraks eyes wide, stunned to silence. Those in attendance all know, thanks to Xerxes' sharing of memories earlier, that Khrillian had been Xerxes' younger twin, despite their drastic appearance differences, what Xerxes shared next, made Alarak shudder in disgust.
Khrillian had been given a large portion of Nerthiel loyalists, their tribesmates and those who would follow them with their lives, and sent into the far reaches of the sector to establish a stronghold and extension of their loyal people, all sharing the banner of Ashtareen. Khrillian had worked his way into and became Highlord of the Tal'Darim, attempting to usurp Amons control of them to redirect their beliefs. However the individual strength of each ascendant and their supplicants became more important than the community as a whole and he had been unable to completely change the wayward Protoss before he had been challenged and had to change in turn.
That had occurred some time before the building of the Ark ships had even been a thought. Revealing this, Xerxes added that he had been in stasis for many centuries after his encounter with Rohana, which had occured just before Adun's sacrifice which had named the Spear as it had not yet been given a moniker, returning later to see how their people had progressed in his absence. Appalled at how easily the Conclave had warped their positions to instead of governance over the Protoss, they directly controlled beliefs, information and forced those of certain tribes into caste classifications many did not truly belong in. Such narrow vision had left Aiur open to an almost easy invasion by the Zerg, not seeing the threat until it was under their feet.
Xerxes had seen this change in the Conclave and fallen into a pit of depression he had a very difficult time dealing with, being as physically different as he was. The Conclaves eldest at the time knew who he was, and had him thrown out of the council, placed instead as a leader in Scion province. He had, reluctantly, remained there, interacting instead with those who needed his help, those who had trouble with fully controlling their abilities and other Judicators uncertain how to bring concerns up in council, amongst others.
One thing Xerxes shared, albeit briefly, was after Khrillian had left, Xerxes did remain a part of the Conclave inner council for a time. He met his mate, Edullon, sired twins, who were more innately connected than he had been with Khrillian, however Edullon fell ill, eventually passing away, and Xerxes could not devote his time to the twin boys and their individual needs.
Losing his mate, Xerxes' depression hit harder than the Conclave's near dismissal of all his thoughts and concerns. To protect the two boys, he placed dampening chips -much changed from the one used on Artanis and less likely to cause issues, thankfully due to continued technological breakthroughs- to suppress their innate connection, before he placed the twins in stasis. He intended to remove them later, however he was never able to as he soon learned the Conclave wanted to use his Ark ships for their own devices. He had built the Obsidian Flare in secret, launched it to the distress of some of the Conclave, and generated many specific algorithms and systems that only he could unlock, and connected it to an implant he put into his own skull.
Once the Ark Ships had been built, many were instantly shut down and left unmanned and with none within the hundreds of thousands of stasis chambers within them. Xerxes withdrew from Aiur, placing himself in stasis and ensuring that the Flares' AI system knew to wake him in a few centuries while remaining beyond the reach of the Conclave. Once that time had passed, Xerxes returned to find not much had changed, yet found himself returning to Scion and his temporary replacement, a young Judicator named Turmalis, gladly stepped down.
Xerxes later woke his twins, and left them in the care of another Judicator, Jepok, who Xerxes had befriended due to their very different stature and his ability to predict, deflect and outmaneuver the larger Protoss in a duel. They were, unfortunately, unable to remember their mother, or even that he had been their sire, though at the time Xerxes thought it a blessing.
Xerxes watched from a distance as the templars Taeradun and Nannoth were tasked with the training of his sons under Jepok of Antioch, for some months before Xerxes attempted to reach out to the Conclave again. They shunned him, laughed him out of their chamber for even suggesting the launch of the Ark ships to protect Aiur and their watch-worlds from the Zerg, as none there remembered the significance of the Ark ships. Their preservers knew, as all their species' combined knowledge was open to them, however they had been silent, watching him sadly from their positions near the Conclave eldest.
The Conclave had taken almost everything from him throughout his life; First his Father's legacy, which some of it remained within the Tal'Darim, then his Ark ships were left to rot. His sons, to protect them from the Conclave, his mate, as the Conclave with-held the care she would have needed. Then the Outcasts, later known as the Dark Templar and now Nerazim, with one he cared for deeply, were nearly slain by one the Conclave trusted to enact their will, but instead protected them at the cost of his own life. His outrage later led Xerxes to listen to the whispers of Sevorak, foolishly letting the Voidling take control, who gladly did so and promptly warped and changed his body to the nightmare many knew of as Sevorak of Scion, the Butcher of Shelak.
Xerxes stopped the memory share, Alarak wide-eyed and still, beneath one of his paws.
Alarak knew not what to think, or say, or even do. His reality had been shattered, and yet, he would not change simply because this Hybrid told him to. Nor would he push his followers to do anything differently. Alarak instead began glowering at Xerxes, daring him to harm him. Xerxes simply laughed, moving to sit on his haunches on the platform, letting Alarak rise. Arska soon hopped her way back up the ramp, her brother looking tremendously better following her with Kul, slowly trotting up behind them, eyeing Alarak cautiously.
Alarak rose, attempting to ignite his psi blades, only to find the khaydarin focus crystals within his gauntlets not responding.
**Not in my presence. You can do as you please once we return you to your fleet. Until then, your control crystals will not work.** Xerxes then puffed what appeared to be wisps of violet energy at him, curling his long tail around to rest the end of it near his side. Instead of the thin, whiplike tail they had seen tear free of the bindings, it had become almost as large around as his middle, khaydarin crystal jutting out from the sides in a mirrored pattern from its halfway point to near the tip. Dangerous, obviously, yet beautiful in his own way, Xerxes sat much as statues of felines were posed, forepaws together, hindpaws on either side yet slightly behind, wing wrists lowering to the platform on either side of him.
Karax was the first to wake from the strange connection generated by Xerxes, cautiously approaching the Hybrid. Xerxes seemed to purr, half-closing his eyes and bobbing his head as Karax approached. He thought he recognized the Khalai's voice much earlier, his relief transmitting to Karax now, gladly relaxing now that the ire of Alarak had been quashed somewhat.
**You are far more adept with technology than I could have thought. I am glad I had shared with you.** Xerxes allowed his happiness to waft through his thoughts as he broadcast to them, Karax seeming to swell with the pride Xerxes added in regard to his accomplishments.
**I thank you, Judicator, though I am, admittedly, surprised to see you so comfortable after all… This.** Karax exclaimed, motioning to his form and the prison around them. Karax quickly reached inside his chest armour from under his chin, raising a single thin silver chain with an elaborately carved Khaydarin crystal.
**Ashtareen be praised. I am glad you kept it.** Xerxes purred, nodding pointedly. **I would not have survived the process to become Primal, had I not been comfortable with potentially being shunned.** He explained, motioning for Karax to stop, as he had made move to unclasp the chain on his pendant. **I gave it to you, as a gift, and a safeguard.** Xerxes chuckled, Alarak visibly tense, fists clenched and glare directed at Kul and Xerxes in alternating moments.
**Safeguard?** Rohana hazarded. Xerxes nodded, still purring, as though he knew that they would be more comfortable if he showed he was comfortable, further unnerving Alarak as it almost lulled him into a relaxed state. Artanis remained skeptical, yet open, nodding acknowledgement to Arska and her brother as they approached, sweeping a hand forward to show that he would not stop them from passing. Arska purred a thanks, helping her sibling, who seemed a bit wobbly and weakened still, over to Xerxes, who gently placed one of his small hands atop his crest and stroked him.
**I'm sorry Taluth, we'll get you topside soon.** Xerxes leant down and nuzzled Arska and her sibling, who lay down by his paws, Arska leaning against him as she settled next to them both. Xerxes turned to Rohana, eye-smiling at her. **There is a psionic key in the pendant. It activates when close to the Ark ship, in truth, it's the only reason you were able to get it operating.** Xerxes chuckled, Karax surprised by this admission.
**So even the Ark ships on the surface, if the Conclave or those fleeing the Zerg had thought to launch them, they may not have responded?** Karax frowned, lightly scratching one of the keratin protrusions forming a beard of sorts on his face thoughtfully.
**Likely not, sadly. I was so enraged by my treatment before the Conclave, in retaliation I locked all of my research and findings, blueprints, everything, into the AI system aboard the Obsidian Flare. I kept a remote copy, with psionic unlock protocols, in the pendant.** Xerxes admitted, lowering his head for Rohana, who gently ran her hand along the mandible held flush to his face. Xerxes' eyes closed briefly, purr catching slightly as she touched him. She stopped, thinking she had hurt him to which he leaned into her touch more. **I've not had physical touch in… Gods I don't even know how long.**
**It's been three thousand four hundred two years and eleven days, since we were placed here.** Said one of the other Hybrids, the Queen, who had clambered atop the Ultralisk's headcrest, the larger of the two moving closer to the entranceway, yet remained a bit distant out of respect for the Protoss, Vorazun standing just outside the doorway. Artanis raised a brow at the explanation, so many years they all lived and yet all seemed capable of continuing to live far longer. Egon took the opportunity to quickly quip that Zerg are not able to die from old age, their cellular regeneration and continual evolution, on the part of the Primal Zerg, would allow them to outlive stars, if given the chance.
**Amon would use time dilation to lengthen our stay here… Bastard.** Xerxes sighed, slowly lowering himself down to lie on his belly, covering Arska and Taluth with his wing. Karax and Rohana were perfectly comfortable around Xerxes now, Egon slowly inching his way closer, Artanis watching Alarak from near the door they came through, where Vorazun remained, Valerian approaching Xerxes with just as much confidence as Alarak would have exuded. Alarak fumed, glaring daggers at the massive Primal Hybrid with his arms crossed over his chest, having given up the urge to strike him or Kul, who seemed content to remain with the Ultralisk and Queen, lazily watching Xerxes. Xerxes raised his gaze to meet Valerian as he approached, sniffing the air curiously, looking over his exosuit.
**Certainly an improvement over the usual Marine Walkers. My Apologies for involving you both.** Xerxes bowed his head, raising his hands palms up on either side of him. A gesture of apology and a request for forgiveness, something Valerian knew from what Jacob had shared with him years ago regarding Protoss culture. Valerian bowed, absolving Xerxes of any wrongdoing toward himself and Egon.
"I welcome knowledge in any form. This is the most I've learned about Protoss society in quite some time." Valerian smiled, Egon sheepishly moving to stand next to him, wide-eyed at the Hybrid.
**Well, I am interested to know how much you do know, and what I may impart for your -research- purposes.** Xerxes chuckled, eyeing Egon. **So you were the one who had been on Bel'Shir? Built the machine Zerg?** Wait, how did he know all of this? He had been stuck here in this prison, or so Egon and the others thought. Xerxes simply sent them wordlessly that touching all of their minds had allowed him to learn everything they had experienced in the years he had been absent.
"I - Uh, yes. Yes, though I had to decommission all of them…" Egon stammered, nervously pushing his glasses back up his nose as he stepped forward. Xerxes nodded, turning his gaze to Artanis and Vorazun, the latter scoffing and pushing his calming influence away. Artanis still did not know how to think in regards to all that he had learned in such a short amount of time, Xerxes concerned, and a bit shocked by Vorazun's reaction to his attempt to include her.
**I would expect a closed mind from a Nerazim, though not rejection of invitation.** Xerxes cautiously directed at Vorazun, who frowned and turned only enough to glare.
**The Zerg, nay Amon, destroyed not one, but two, worlds that I could call Home. I am… Reluctant to accept a Hybrid as anything but an enemy.** Vorazun chided, turning away once more.
**Technically, Shakuras was Sacrificed to take a large force of Amon's followers with it.** Kul broadcast, Vorazun scoffed again, Artanis turning to her as well.
**I was under the impression you welcomed that decision…** He almost sounded hurt, which set Xerxes on edge, hearts clenching briefly as he fought to keep himself still. Just sensing Artanis' upset had almost moved him to intervene, reminding himself that his once smaller younger brother had managed to achieve beyond what Xerxes himself could have if given the chance. Vorazun tilted her head, acknowledging Artanis' words, yet did not respond, continuing to stare out the way they had come. Xerxes then sniffed the air, appeared to blush, and shook his head, large armoured nervecords rattling lightly against each other.
**You are Raszagals daughter… I… I apologise, I would not have let her leave had I known she was with child.** Xerxes rose, Kul seeming to start slightly and look at him accusingly. **Yes, after I lost your mother I did, admittedly, look for another companion to fill the void she left.** Alarak was the one to laugh at this.
**A Matriarch sleeping around with a fallen Monarch? I must be dead, this is too good to be reality.** He laughed, Vorazun turning, and stopped by Artanis from doing anything further.
**Vorazun, he did admit to seeing her…** Artanis hazarded, privately, Vorazun barely keeping her rage and upset contained, lightly shuddering under his hand on her shoulder. Xerxes cuffed Alarak, as he had Kul earlier, Alarak attempting to strike him and finding himself held in place psionically.
**Behave. Or I'll leave you in this prison.** Xerxes warned, growling low. Alarak seethed.
**You Dare Threaten the Highlord!?** Alarak summoned his energy again, fueled by his rage for being belittled like a child, and promptly stopped, energy dissipating as Xerxes spun his head to put his face only a handwidth from his, spread his mandibles, peeled back the carapace that acted as lips over the sharp-toothed maw there, and roared. All shrank slightly at the sound, as it was also broadcast psionically. Xerxes drew back, growling, teeth bared in a snarl as Alarak angrily crouched down and crossed his arms again, looking away.