After sharing brief formalities, and explaining what Valerian, Artanis and the others had found when pursuing the Hybrid Zergling, Arska, earlier, a brief quiet fell over the assorted leaders of their respective factions and peoples. Zagara seemed concerned, knowing that this 'Xerxes' had likely evaded them in order to find somewhere to replenish himself, as he had likely used all the energy he absorbed from Alarak in order to regenerate. Once certain they had given her as much information as she would need to understand what Samateus would explain to all three faction leaders, and their present allies, Samateus turned to the silent, dark, ship between the Hyperion and the Spear. It appeared to come to life in that instant, Zagara briefly startled by it. Her Leviathan had been unable to see it beforehand, having seen it as open space.
**Apologies, the Ahr'Aht are very cautious, almost moreso than the Protoss.** Samateus explained, Artanis raising a brow. **The Ahr'Aht are serpentine Psionics that helped save my kin, Taalrulthians as we have been called by our Goddess, Ashtareen, from our homeworld. Yes, we follow Ashtareen as Xerxes, and some other Protoss, are known to.** She paused, winking at Karax who blushed.
**I and my kin were slaves on our homeworld, to another race that we had attempted to help that instead turned into vicious and malicious followers of Set, another incarnation of Amon from my realm.** Samateus paused, holding back a memory that she did not appreciate rising to the forefront of her mind, a brief flash sent to those psionically connected to her, showing her bound, stomach cut open and a smallish version of her, likely an infant, sacrificed by obscured forms. Even Alarak appeared stunned by this, furthering his curiosity over rage at this Dragon that had twice threatened him. Though, in her defence, he did deserve it.
**Apologies, I do try and keep that from coming up…** Samateus appeared ashamed, bowing her head a moment. **They were horrendous, and were it not for Ashtareen's light, I would not be here.** Another pause, as Samateus took a deep steadying breath before continuing.
**I hope everyone is familiar with Multiverse theory?** She hazarded, earning many nods, Karax and Egon both a bit excited to learn that it was, in fact, true. That every decision had consequences and caused a spiral of different realities to branch off from that one decision.
**There are two dimensions that exist between every reality; the Void, which you all are familiar with, and the Luminous, where Ashtareen dwells.** Egon could be seen entering information into his tablet again, Karax barely containing his enthusiasm for learning more on what he was hearing. Artanis and Zagara were concerned by this, if Amon had existed in the Void, and it lay between different realities, how much could have gone differently? Could he have succeeded in his plans elsewhere?
**He has.** Samateus sadly added, addressing the concern of the two leaders. **However, that's why this reality is particularly important to us.** Another pause, where she turned and scowled at the silent ship, shook her head, and returned to her conversation.
**Apologies.** She sent briefly before continuing. **Ashtareen, long before I and my kin existed, created a species that could freely open portals between realities. However, they were not able to procreate with each other as well as she had hoped, so to keep their numbers fairly stable, they were gifted with the ability to shapeshift, though in a different manner than I am able to.** Samateus paused, Kemet letting out a croon of concern. **I'm alright, something is nagging at -him- but he can WAIT.** She directed this last thought most pointedly at the ship near them again.
**They have less time than you think Sam, we need confirmation to send to Leon.**
**Xer- Surriel… Do -you- want to come up here and explain this instead?** This time she turned to look at the ship completely, crossing her arms. No response, though the allied leaders of the Koprulu sector seemed at first concerned, then relaxed, when Samateus had begun to use the name of Artanis' missing Hybrid sibling.
**I thought not.** Samateus huffed, closing her eyes a moment in thought before continuing. **Some realities are so different and varied, their active sentient species of so many types and creeds, that those Ashtareen created could find some that were more open to strangers in order to procreate with other races. Though some were seen as hostile or a threat and were often killed simply because they appeared different.** Artanis frowned, is this what Xerxes had meant in regard to his inherited difference from their mother? Surely not, he and Khrillian both appeared completely normal, though Xerxes had mentioned their sister had appeared different, more like he had once. Samateus met his gaze briefly, almost appearing saddened, before continuing with yet more of her explanation.
**She called them Illithichtiels, or Astrals as some have nicknamed them, and she gave them their shapeshifting to allow them to procreate with other species. Their offspring would have a chance to inherit their abilities, usually denoted by some physical difference that would set them apart from others of their kin.** Samateus paused, Artanis crossing his arms over his chest, of course that explained much of Xerxes and his tale.
**Leon, born human, is one such.** Samateus added, sighing. **Our reality has a twisted void-creature that devours entire worlds threatening our existence at every turn. We hoped to bring our kin and allies here to this realm, if you would allow.**
"How do we know it won't follow your allies through?" Valerian spoke, all slowly absorbing the information.
**It cannot. The rifts an Astral creates are very particular, any that enter must be acknowledged by the creator of the rift, else they be lost in the realms between the one they left and their intended target. Leon is particularly skilled with rifts and barriers, and has ensured that no Void can seep through either.** Samateus waited, knowing likely more questions would arise.
**If we allow this…** Artanis paused, thinking of how the Terran Dominion's space stretched over many systems to find the most habitable worlds, or even some that were not but had other desirable resources, to place colonies. The Protoss had many worlds under their watch as well and Zagara would likely not wish to be further enclosed around. **Where do you intend to go?**
**That, we hoped, you may choose. Though, honestly, we -the Taalrulthians and Ahr'Aht- are nomadic. We have, moreso they have-** She paused to motion to the allied ship. **Several world-ships. Leon, admittedly, has a ship nearly twice as large as they are, with several worlds of his own needing refuge.** She then psionically shared an image from just before she had come here and met Mira, where she looked over the array of ships, the one near them seen as barely a speck against the side of one of the World Ships that matched its design, with large petals akin to the ones seen on the Obsidian Flare spinning around them. Four planets with what appeared to be engines and a massive triangular ship stretching further than she could see, rainbow patterns glowing along its surface akin to her armour, sat amongst the Ahr'Aht fleet.