**Finally.** Alarak took the opportunity to leap off the platform of the Spear and void-blinked close enough to be caught in the gravity of the Flare, yet fell from above Xerxes, blades igniting as he lunged for the Hybrid. Xerxes, also weakened and far from wanting to battle with anyone at the moment, simply moved and stepped back to fall off the platform, swung under it and back around once Alarak had landed upon it.
Xerxes spread open the mandibles protecting his face, opened his maw and issued forth a brief psionic blast that blew Alarak off the platform and out of its shield. Alarak quickly reshaped his psi-blade, turned it into a whip and attempted to strike Xerxes with it from afar, to which Xerxes stood up to his full height, grasped it in his left 'paw' that had once been his off-hand and pulled. Alarak readied himself, other blade ready as he was pulled toward his target, figuring it to be a mistake that Xerxes had decided to pull him in as though to spare him.
As Alarak reached a few paces of Xerxes, the Hybrid curled open his right forepaw and, as he engaged his dampening field of sorts to disable the Khaydarin crystals near him, much to Alarak's chagrin, grabbed ahold of his chestplate, as though he were palming a ball. Alarak struggled and clawed uselessly at the massive paw holding him before Xerxes moved to slam him on his back against the platform to his left, knocking the Highlord unconscious with a swift slap to the right side of his head with a smaller hand. While Kul raised a brow at keeping him alive, Xerxes cautiously removed his forepaw and slowly lowered himself back to all fours as he turned from Alarak's unconscious form. Light enveloped Alarak a moment, Kul teleporting him to a holding area of the Flare to keep him out of the way.
**Gods did he ever deserve that.** Kul chuckled, briefly looking up to the Spear and their allies. Xerxes shook himself, moving to lie down next to and almost protectively around Samateus, appearing drained and tired, Kul moving to check on him as he lay his wing over the Taalrulthian.
**While his actions justified it, I will not presume to be the one to determine his fate. You do realise he's of the same bloodline as we are?** Xerxes breathed, Kul moving to crouch near him as he lay his throat and head on the cool platform below him.
**Yes, I figured as much by his similarity to…** Kul trailed off, referring to Khrillian, who he had never actually met. Xerxes sighed, aware but not bothering to rise, as Artanis and Vorazun teleported to them. Xerxes curled his tail back so it hung over the side of the platform, shifting slightly to regard Artanis and Vorazun calmly with one eye.
Kul took this as a sign he should back off, but was stopped by Artanis moving to crouch with them, concerned, much to Xerxes' thinly-veiled surprise.
**You could have fled, to leave us to our own fate, yet remained. While I am, admittedly, concerned, even as weakened as you appear, Amon has no sway over you, and you have trained your… Children, to block him out as well.** Artanis created a small closed psionic link, including Kul and Vorazun as he spoke with Xerxes. Xerxes closed his eyes and tilted his head to one side, an agreement with Artanis' words, reopening them as he let out a sigh.
**What is your intention now? You had mentioned others that had been with you, if it is not to… painful for you to speak on, where are they?** Vorazun asked, surprised at the almost defeated appearance to the Hybrid Judicator before them. Xerxes appeared to smile, then visibly had to hold back a snarl.
**That is where things are going to get a bit more confusing, and far more unsettling. Admittedly, I am far too spent to show it all at this time… And we should likely move a bit, the Allies Sam was working to bring here will need a bit of space to reorganise themselves.** Xerxes shifted his head as the holographic image of the Flare's AI system moved to crouch with them, Xerxes purring lightly. **I'll be alright Aurei, I just need to rest.**
**I know, but you should really tell him.** She responded, her voice cheerful and concerned. Before Artanis could ask what she referred to, all those in the area were then jolted psionically by an alert from the Ahr'Aht ship, a warning that the rift for their fleet had nearly been opened. Ulnar itself had spread apart and appeared as it had when Three factions had unified to enter the Void and confront Amon, though the rift that it supported, powered not by Ulnar but by the device Mira'Han had built for Samateus, appeared as though it were a thin sheet of white rippling water.
Kul directed the Obsidian Flare to a further position, Zagara's Leviathans and the Dominion fleet also moving away, a large portion of it returning to prior locations via quick warp jumps, Valerian and Matthew dismissing them. Mira's Mercenaries also departed, returning to their previous activities and assignments. The Spear of Adun moved last, to remain closer to the Flare, so Karax and Rohana could monitor what was going on with Artanis and Vorazun.
Short Chapter, sorry folks! I've gone through the interaction of Alarak and Xerxes fighting so many times now, however this appears the best outcome of such. Sorry to those who think he would never have picked a fight or been beaten so easily, however Xerxes does have several thousand years on the Highlord, and Khaydarin crystal as a part of his very being.