Several long minutes passed as Ulnar held the white rippling portal open, Artanis and Vorazun speaking with Xerxes and watching over Samateus, who remained unconscious. Valerian and Matthew were busy on the Hyperion working to get it back to working shape, Rory Swann seen in brief instances to bring up supplies and help move rubble. Zagara's forces had been torn through and lost a significant amount of biomass, however were able to recover without any detriment. The Protoss, thankfully, had not needed to summon the Golden Armada, as doing so likely would cause further problems for Artanis, as all amongst the Armada would see him with a Hybrid in this moment.
Those aboard the Spear of Adun were those Artanis and his closest advisors, being Karax, Rohana and Vorazun, Talendar and Selendis only sparingly, and none of those mentioned nor their advisors, would question his decisions, even if his own brother had allowed himself to become a Hybrid. None would share what they learned from Xerxes unless given express permission, as they had formed an oath of their own, to never deceive or decry another amongst them.
Xerxes actually fell asleep lightly while waiting for their new allies to arrive, attempting to recover some of his expended strength. Arska and Taluth, who looked tremendously better when compared to how he and they had appeared in the Prison earlier that day, moved to lie with Xerxes, watching Vorazun and Artanis cautiously but did not speak.
Tension started to become tangible as all associated parties became aware that a significant amount of time had passed since the rift was established and the Ahr'Aht ship went silent as Samateus fell unconscious. Before Valerian could express his concern to Karax and the Protoss, the white rippling rift appeared to shatter, revealing space beyond, several smaller ships quickly leaping through, as though passing through a pane of glass made of light.
More arrived, of so many styles and different shapes that denoted at least a half dozen other races quickly turning to move away from the standing forces of the Koprulu sector, some moving to the Ahr'Aht ship for further instruction.
**Hierarch Artanis? Could you perhaps, attempt to rouse Sam for us? I need her a moment.** Surriel reached out, his psionic voice sounding distant and strained. Artanis raised a brow, looking at the ship as it remained where it could stay connected to the device alternately powering and controlling Ulnar. Artanis moved to gently place his hand on Arska, who had curled up right against Samateus' neck and face, the small Hybrid turning and nuzzling the side of Samateus' face. While still armoured, Kemet could feel what Arska and Artanis desired, the shadow gently nudging Samateus, which appeared as though she jolted slightly in her sleep, which also woke Xerxes who leapt up with a start, nearly falling from the platform.
**Hmm?** Samateus sleepily yawned, stretching out her limbs before she realized Artanis and Arska were both staring at her, and at Xerxes who stood over her looking as though he had been stabbed with a cattle-prod.
**Sam, some of the ships are having trouble adjusting their shields, I need you to-** Surriel began, Xerxes interjecting.
**Kul, send the Ahr'Aht the resonance frequency we use, that should help.** Xerxes directed, calming significantly as he realised what their issue was. Samateus rolled to lie on her belly, as Taluth remained doing the same, both watching Xerxes a moment as Kul worked at the control console nearby.
**Perfect! I would expect no less, from my alternate.** Surriel sounded like he was purring, Xerxes chuckling lightly.
**I surmised as such, using Ashtareen's visage as basis for a ship design had been one thought I had while young.** Xerxes slowly laid back down, rumbling lightly when Samateus moved to rub the side of her face against his gently.
**Indeed. I am Xerxes Surriel, apologies for arousing any concern earlier. I'm certain you will enjoy the World Ships, once they are through.**
**That does indeed explain a great deal.** Karax added, Xerxes Nerthiel, the Hybrid Judicator, turning to Samateus and then cautiously reached one of his smaller hands to grasp Artanis' arm. Artanis had been distracted, watching the newcomers to their sector, turning to regard Xerxes calmly, tensing a brief moment as he felt brief rage and hate wash over him before dissipating as though it had never been. Samateus purred, armour appearing to wash away to reveal her blue-furred form, her wings also the same blue with feathers that were mimicked by the armour. Xerxes craned his neck, spotting something on her back hidden by feathers and fur, which she flexed slightly to let him see the isopod-like construct that sat along her spine.
**It's akin to a suit of armour with its own personality… Almost like the Warp Prisms used on the field, the information and such is held in a crystal matrix at its core. Surriel was kind enough to put them together for myself and my kin.** Samateus purred, curling her neck around to groom some of the fur and feathers out of the way with her tongue, which Xerxes and Artanis could see had small barbs, like that of a feline. **Only downside is, it's minorly parasitic, but in return also boosts my healing and can, in a lesser form, control my movements if I'm not coherent and in danger. Kemet is my last line of defense though.**
At his mention the Shadow Dragon rematerialised atop her horns in his smaller form, angling curiously to sniff at Xerxes. Xerxes nodded, tilting his head as Artanis seemed mildly unnerved.
**What was that, before she showed us her armour?** He asked almost sheepishly, the two chuckling.
**That was what was left of Amon's influence, a small bit of Shade and Void he left behind. I apologise, I hadn't had enough time to readjust earlier…** Xerxes admitted, ashamed for being unable to do further to help Artanis, when he had likely been the reason so much darkness had befallen their people. Vorazun, surprisingly, was the one that came over and gently placed a hand on Xerxes' shoulder where he lay, at first not meeting his gaze, but slowly raised it.
**Amon has done harm to you that would have killed any of us, a small consolation I'm certain, yet you persist and you humble yourself almost to the point of detriment. Why?** She asked, genuinely concerned. Her mother had been very reserved and humble, before Kerrigan, as the Queen of Blades and then-pawn to Amon, had taken control of her and twisted her mind.
**As much as I was a Leader, I was also supportive of my people and tribesmates. I'd place myself between Amon and them, in any capacity, no matter the cost. I…** Xerxes paused, squashing his anger quickly. **I could not stop them from being -tortured- in the same way I had been, to an extent, but we all kept our resolve and our minds. We… No, I, severed them from the Khala, to keep them from -him-.**
**Xerxes, hey, don't get worked up… Leon will help us get that rift open once everyone is settled, promise.** Samateus leaned into him gently, rumbling purr helping him calm. She had noticed the light dancing along his hide and sparks of psionic energy along his nervecords.
**I know, Sam, I know… Waiting for as long as I have has been taxing on my emotions, and my children.** Xerxes admitted, nuzzling Arska when she moved to curl up on his paws. **I'm surprised you didn't get any bigger while topside without us.** He quickly changed the subject to keep his emotions in check.
**I didn't stay visible as much as I wished, too many eyes around…** Arska replied sheepishly, trilling happily as Xerxes used a hand to gently stroke her head crest.
**I apologise for attempting to strike you…** Vorazun and Artanis expressed, blushing lightly as they had apologised to Arska simultaneously. Samateus giggled at them, Arska purring lightly.
**None needed, though Accepted.** She purred, looking to each briefly before she turned to Samateus and watched as she yawned widely. Arska briefly shared with Samateus what had happened before Xerxes had been freed from his prison, where she had dodged strikes from both Artanis and Vorazun, and even Alarak later. Samateus grinned, especially smirking at the moment when Vorazun had very nearly hit Arska, where Arska had expertly used her surroundings as a distraction. Vorazun blushed at the memory, Xerxes chuckling deep in his chest.
**You did not know. Besides, I should have been more aware of how she'd be viewed by others.** Xerxes reassured the Nerazim Matriarch, his possible Daughter, leaning the side of his throat and face against her arm where she crouched next to him.
Before they could continue their little conversation, Kul rapidly moved the Obsidian Flare, causing the artificial gravity to skew slightly, nearly knocking them all over into each other. A massive ship, dwarfing even the Spear of Adun, warped through the Ulnar Rift, slowly coming to life near them as another, and another, until a total of Seven massive World-ships had made it through. The first few, once recovered and back online, quickly used short-range warp to move away from Ulnar, to allow four actual planets, with visible engines, and three small moons to match, to pass through the rift.
Xerxes watched them with interest, glad that, should things not work out with the Daelaam, he would have somewhere to go. Artanis queried why Xerxes would think he would not be welcome, quickly looking to Arska and Taluth, then back to Artanis, and raised a brow.
**I remember how Xenophobic many are. I'd rather not create a public scene at your expense.** Xerxes sent privately, Artanis saddened but nodded his understanding, as Xerxes would likely be correct with the assumption that he and his little family, and whoever he intended to retrieve with Samateus' assistance, would not be welcome back to Aiur or any Protoss world.
The four planets with their accompanying fleets turned and moved well aside as the last ship, the one Samateus had said belonged to her Illithichtiel friend Leon, began to move through the rift. Its downward-pointed triangular forward end appeared almost flat from the front, yet as it moved forward details could be made out in its surface, a small bridge viewport just above the centre within a visage of Ashtareen surrounded by rippling panels of ebony black metal that shimmered with iridescence along its surface, many lines of control track-lights running in a pulsing rainbow pattern from the front to its furthest visible end. Kul had to move the Obsidian Flare again, as the last ship turned out to be the largest any had thus far seen. It was easily twice the length of the Ahr'Aht World-Ships, very different in design and, at first glance, appeared unmanned.
As its furthest end left the rift, a shadow stretched up from the back of the ship, in a shape vaguely similar to Samateus or Kemet, just far, far larger, one fore-paw raised to the rift, a glowing circle appearing with a slowly rotating seven-pointed sigil at its center. The paw appeared to turn to a perfect ninety-degree angle, the circle disappearing as the rift appeared to shatter and disperse. The snowflake device powered by the Aht'Aht ship then disengaged, Ulnar slowly returning to its original placement.
The shadow that spread across the last and largest of these new ships coalesced closer to where the bridge of it appeared, a pair of brilliant radioactive green gemfire eyes peered out at the others. It locked on Samateus and Xerxes, appeared to ripple, then shot forward faster than the eye could track, landing on the forward-most paneling of the Obsidian Flare. It reared up, spreading wings that appeared to be feathered, like Samateus', but were obscured by shadow.
Xerxes tensed, then relaxed, raising a brow as Samateus watched the display disinterestedly, her relaxed demeanour showing Xerxes and the others they need not be concerned. Kul had recoiled, nearly losing his footing to scramble back as the shadow slowly flowed along the ships stern and into the command area past him toward Xerxes.
**Well you're no fun.**
**At least I'm not trying to intimidate my alternate.** Samateus smirked, shaking her head.
**Oh!** The shadow straightened up, withdrawing and slowly reforming a draconic form not too dissimilar to Samateus, with large branched horns, mirrored on either side merging the curled forward horns of a Ram and the backwards arching S-shape Samateus sported, instead having a thick mane of golden-brown fur with thinner, lighter golden brown fur over the rest of its extremities. Blue and dark golden markings covered the feathered wings, mimicking the pattern of a Magpie, and a long tail with several sharp mirrored spines near its end covered with a carapace-like armour kept it balanced.
**Apologies, my name is LeonLocke. Most call me Leon for simplicity…** He said, bowing as Samateus had earlier to Karax, moving cautiously closer to Xerxes, who raised his head. He did not rise, as he simply had no energy to do so, meeting Leon's gaze evenly, curious about the other Illithichtiel before him. Leon fluffed his feathers and puffed out his chest proudly, almost comically, the two sharing memories and experiences without words. Artanis and Vorazun shared a glance, none daring to interrupt until a sizable explosion from within the deeper parts of the ship caused the Obsidian Flare to shudder.
Hate and Rage emanated from the location where the explosion had occurred, Kul appearing to shrink and even Xerxes turned in concern.
**I believe Alarak is awake…** Aurei chimed, the hologram having disappeared earlier when Kul had to move the ship out of the way.