Tactical_Fatty

UPDATE: More story schoon!™

Greetings, My name is Tactical_Fatty and I have not in some time posted on these forums. But lately something hath compelled me to post a story that has been many thoughts in the making. One of intrigue, concepts, betrayal, and freaking lazors. For those that wish to catch early glimpses at the progress of the story (If you like it) please feel free to use the viewable google doc link. For those that wish to read the story progress so far, please feel free to read away. Thank you for your time and I hope you garner happiness from reading this story as much as I have obtained in writing it. Please feel free to leave feedback and critiques. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Warframe That Damned Devil By Tactical_Fatty Be warned, this story may contain violence, swearing, and general mature themes as well as Spoilers for the Endgame of Warframe. You have been warned. It starts as all things start, in the beginning. In the beginning, there was Tenno. Those who were bound to the Orokin through their ways and mishaps and others' words for everything except the proper word for it all; their mistakes. The Orokin either by choice or by happenstance created the Tenno, bastard children sent through a prescient hellscape to become the leading driving force in a war that the Orokin and their ilk sought to not fight. It was never truly real to them, but to one Orokin, a single being pushed beyond his moral and destined limits sought to fight back. His name was Ballas. Not much is known to the system about Ballas, other than The Lotus and the Tenno, and a few scattered entities. No one truly knew who or what he was, or what he was capable of. Certainly, nothing came to mind like the grandiose plans of his which elevated him to the status of near-godlike among beings within the origin system. His "mission" to get to all sacred Tau would be stopped for nothing, stopped at nothing to succeed. Nearly succeed he did, but the Tenno, Lotus, and perhaps even the forces yet we do not know aided in ending Narmer, Ballas' reign. Not before however, Narmer inflicted pain and misery upon many. One such individual whose life was changed simply because his fears were dismissed, will forever know the coldly calculated joy that he saw in Narmer's face the day he was finally caught. This is where we begin our story, with that of a Tenno of broken rapport. One who in spite of their perceived shortcomings made his way in the life he was given by the Lotus. "Lon!" A Sharp crackled voice pierced the crowd's noise thronging Cetus's pathways. The tone carried a sense of Urgency and need. "I hear you Konzu, I am here already!" Spoke a young voice with a sound of happiness and laughter as Konzu suddenly jumped startled by the young man. This is Lon, a recent addition to the lifestyle of Cetus and plains living, but a welcome one to him. "AHH!! Utz! Good that you are here but do not scare an old ostron like that Lon, you are liable to send the Unum to fetch me, child." The voice of Konzu, the leader of Cetus in a manner of speaking spoke happily. "I think the Unum would have its hands full with you then Konzu" Chuckled Lon, the Young tenno who had just a few weeks ago awoken from a damaged transference chamber to a Warframe pulling him firmly but gently from the cold grip of the chamber. It had been rapidly discovered by the Lotus that Lon had no transference, no, void powers like the other Tenno. Confused nonetheless Isou Lon Gran sat gratefully to the Lotus for his rescue. He immediately saw in her what so many others did. A Mother, caring and loving as was her way. "Now Lon, the freighter is about to leave, and I do not like the look of these orange skies that we have this day. Something doesn't feel right, doh-ga Lon get to the ship and be ready, for when you get back there will be a rather large amount of work to attend to I am sure, still khanung lon. be well." Lon nodded firmly to Konzu and hoisted his pack onto his back, His somatic scars tingled more today than normal and it put him on edge but he dared not show this to any ostron, they were all like a fast family to him, a karifamil as was the word for it. So he mustered up his courage and nodded to Konzu before heading to the launchpads at the beach. He waved to each ostrun he knew in Cetus on his way, Nakak, Hok, Hai-Luk, and even Old man Suumbaat gave him a knowing nod and smile which was rare, rarer than most of the gems he mined for! That is because today is a special day for Tenno Isou Lon Gran, he is headed to the Launch pad to meet his first Warframe master. As he crested the walKway and the bEach came into view his Urge to break out into a sPrint was near-boundless but he didn't Lose his cOmposure, Not especially in front of a master Tenno. "Greetings" came a calm collected voice from the Warframe that stood before him. "I am pleased to meet you finally Isou." This was strange something didn't feel right, as Konzu said, something was off, how did this person know Lon's true name? Not even the Lotus knew that... and with a sudden urge to run welling up inside of him the Atlas Warframe lunged forward grabbing both of Lon's forearms in its hands and a seething voice began to pour from the frame. "Did you think you could escape your punishment? Even in a dream? I made your dream you pissant, do you honestly think I would let it be a happy one?" The Voice of Narmer, of Ballas poured through like a choking fog from the frame and as suddenly as he was grabbed the warframe pulled on his forearms with such force, that bone broke and sinew snapped as he felt his arms being sundered. As the pain swept through his body at a lightning pace his eyes too snapped open just as rapidly. "Take it easy, kid, it's just a nightmare" Came a peculiar voice from the dimly lit room. Lon sat up and looked around him, the whole scenario so vivid and genuine in his head. "Yeah, the same nightmare over and over every time I close my eyes." Lon sighed with a contemptuous breath. "When is it going to end, when is..." Lon cut himself off as he looked down a roughshod ramshackle collection of limbs made of scavenged parts and pieces sat before him. Clenching his fists he shook his head the pain in his limbs still filled with searing pain in spite of the lack of actual flesh. Ballas, Narmer, Whatever his name may be now saw fit to relieve Lon of his arms and legs in the most grandiose and showy way possible. "I grow tired of this, Drifter" Said Lon softly in a defeated voice. "Day in and day out we search, and search, but we are never going to find them. Especially with me being barely able to stand. Let alone fight. It has been months, and all you have let me do is sneak around this ship going from cube processor to cube processor stocking up on food and drinks." Lon crossed his arms even though it hurt like hellfire to do so. "Listen kid I don't make the rules, I just know what I know and what I, and WE have to do." said the Drifter munching on a protein cube. "When the time comes we have to be ready for anything, especially in a place like this where almost any..." a faint trilling sound began to chirp around them both cutting the Drifter off as he stood suddenly from his chair and walked to a counter picking up a monitor and smiling. "We got a live one kid, saddle up, this could be the big one!" grinned the Drifter as he tossed the monitor to Lon. "This time though, you are going solo, Call it a test to see what you can do." Nodding Lon gathered himself up and stood onto his legs that felt like they would fall apart at the first strong breeze. "Hey, also, Good luck kid, be strong, be fast, and be good or be good at it." The Drifter chuckled before he began silently eating his cubes. Shaking his head Lon stepped out into the hall of the Zariman Ten Zero. Its cold and empty halls greeted him like an old friend. As Lon stepped out of the dormizone he felt a sense of, sadness come across him. For what reason he did not know. But regardless he began his usual normal trek through the Zariman walking down the familiar yet foreign halls. “What does he expect me to do?” Lon said looking down at the tracking Monitor in his trembling hands following the signal absentmindedly. As he turned a corner however something glinted out of the corner of his eye and caught his attention, but by the time he snapped his head towards it, it vanished. Thinking nothing of it he continued on his journey and managed to get through a few rooms before he saw the glint again. This time he saw it more clearly, it was a void mite, silver, and scaly like a tiny lizard but with no legs. This put sudden urgency in his steps and the protocol that the drifter told him numerous times rang out in his head. “Void mites are your warning beacon, they showcase the coming of something much more large and terrifying than anything you have seen.” Climbing up into the rafters Lon played again in his head the right moves he needed to make. Stillness, Quietness, and above all be ready to run at a moment's notice. Contradictory as that was to him at first he learned day one why it was so important then, as it is important now. Reaching a spot in between a large pipe and the wall he crouched down as comfortably as he could and waited. It did not take long to show up, however, a pack of Void Grels, four-legged beasts warped by the void, they once were house pets, but the void corrupted them into a mass of protruding spikes and grotesque maws of snarling hooked teeth as sharp as razor wire. “The mites must have led them straight to me.” Lon thought urgently looking for the best route out if need be to run. He saw the large pipe had little moss or growth and it would make for a decent path. To which he took to right away as the Grels began sniffing the damp darkness for their prey’s scent. They were near blind in the light you see, and darkness is what brought their vision forth. But Lon dismissed that from his mind as he focused on making his shaky prosthetic legs move him one by one step across the large pipe. He sighed a sound of relief as he neared the far side of the path, but a lump formed in his throat, and his breath rose up out of him as he felt his right leg go out from underneath him and sent him falling to the main floor. “Son of a…!” he yelled out as the pain throbbed in his back and he writhed on the ground for a brief moment when the sudden sharp barking growl came forth snapping his mind to the present” “Oh no…” He said before he stood and took off in as fast a run as he could manage his arms moving and legs rattling as he pulled every ounce he could from his being to put distance between him and the Grels. “Light, light, I need light!” Lon Panted as he ran the only thing that would fend off the Grels long enough for him to get away would be a bright light of some kind, something to blind and hopefully scare them away. If Lon could not find anything, however… well he did want to think of that. “As he rounded a corner he tried to hide behind a vending dispenser in hopes that the Grels had lost his trail. He fought hard, hand on his chest to control his breathing, having barely kept a turn ahead of the beasts which pursued him. The inhales soothed and the exhales burned as he slowly let the thought of safety creep into his head, but it was once again too soon as he looked up and stared right into the growling face of a Grel. “S#&$!” Lon screamed out as he dove forward into a makeshift roll a loud creaking snap rang out as he felt his left arm rickety itself off into mangles pieces. Thinking fast Long picked up the now loose limb and began swinging it at the Grel snarling and snapping at him while he backed away. “Why the hell did Drifter send me out here alone?!” Lon yelled out in frustration as he stepped back tripping over something on the ground causing him to fall once more. The Grel seized this opportunity and lunged forward biting hard onto Lon’s right wrist. Letting out a sharp yell Lon struggled against the macerating teeth and pulled only to have the feeble machinations of his limb give out and his arm snapped off sending him hurtling backward in a tumble before his back hit the cold cool surface of the wall. Laying meagerly for a brief moment Lon looked up to see the Grel growling and snarling at him gnashing its teeth at the air before slowly backing away from Lon and turning to run away in the other direction. “Huh, guess you didn’t like how I tasted huh yah mangey mutt?” Lon chuckled and moved to his knees before slowly standing himself up on his pathetic legs. Stretching what remained he groaned as his head began to pound and the somatic scars on his neck and back of his head throb and pulse. “Guess I hit my head too, this can’t get any worse” Lon sighed as he began his trek back to Drifter’s Dormizone. It then hit him, however, the throbbing in his head, and the pulsing on his neck seemed almost rhythmic, like a heartbeat. A sharp absolute zero chill ran up Lon’s spine as he froze in place. It wasn’t himself that scared away the Grel it was something far more monstrous, and dangerous to himself than any other creature known to exist. Turning slowly for what seemed like centuries Lon eventually out of the corner of his eye landed his gaze onto that which hummed… a Void Angel. “Me and my big mouth…” Lon whispered to himself. There is not much known about Void Angels, other than three rules Drifter told Lon to adhere to even if it cost him his life. For in the event these rules were broken. His life would be gone regardless. Those rules are simple. 1. Avoid the Holdfasts, they ask too many questions. 2. Never go near a reliquary storage facility, the Angels like that stuff. Lastly, number 3. Never, NEVER wake an angel. It will mean your death. Lon knew these rules and saw their importance time and again with Grineer. Corpus, even the occasional Infested ilk being obliterated by an Angel without it ever even moving. But now Lon is faced with a new problem that caused his face to turn paler than it already was, and with any of the hair he had, he was sure it turned white because, he could swear that this angel, was staring right at him, and breathing. “No… plea…” Lon didn’t know what came over him, begging an angel, an emotionless void entity that sought only destruction, a being that could rend him apart in seconds doesn’t reason with begging. This realization came almost in slow motion as the angel let out its soul-shattering roar and swung its wing connecting with Lon right in the chest. As the air left his lungs and he was hurtled to who knows where he could think of only one thing, fear. The fear gripped him so tightly that his impacting the wall and shattering countless bones in his body barely registered within his mind. “H…He…Help!” He choked out through bloodied lips and shattered ribs, the pain excruciating but the fear of his impending death made all of that moot. He screamed, as loud as he could, as best as he could muster but deep down inside he knew it fell on deaf ears for there was no one around him to come to his aid. Or so he thought as he closed his eyes and consigned himself to his fate. It was then that the sudden silence around him made his eyes snap open. ”W..what?” he said softly to himself as he looked around, the angel that was hurtling towards him stopped, the rhythmic beating ceased, and everything around him went, grey. Time itself had frozen it seemed and he thought that this is the time when your life flashes before your eyes which garnered a chuckle that sent electrifying pain jumping all over his body. He looked down at his mangled soon-to-be corpse and shook his head. “How did it come to this I bet you are wondering?” The sudden voice snapped Lon back to reality as he swiftly turned his head to look around himself. “Oh you are not dreaming my dear sweet child, you are not.” The soothing almost melodic voice spoke again. “What is happening?” Lon choked out moving himself to sit up but looking down he saw that his legs too were mangles beyond repair, his arms, and legs both out of commission he laid his head back and sighed. “Well, you are about to die.” Said the voice that seemed to be coming from everywhere around him. “Unless that is, you do not wish to depart this mortal void?” There was a sense of giddiness in the voice as it spoke the last bit. “You know, I have been thinking about that, what reason do I have to stay alive? What reason do I have to keep going on here? For all that I have tried nothing has ever gone my way, I am Focus-lost, frameless, and limbless because of some pedantic pontificating bastard of an Orokin freak!” Lon roared out the pain infuriating him beyond even his own belief until he realized something, something rather large and life-changing. “There you go deary, you thought of something worth living for.” The voice seemed to delight in Lon’s sudden realization as if it already knew what line of thinking his brain would turn to. This came as a surprise to him as well, he never thought once that getting revenge on Narmer, Ballas, the Pedantic piss ant, was ever possible. “Y…Yes, I want to live…” Lon said softly laying his head back against the wall. How am I going to do that though? I have no arms, no legs, and countless bones in my body are broken. I can do nothing…” Lon said almost entirely defeated. “The power of one’s focus and strength relies on their will. The stronger the will stronger the power. At least that is what I have seen over the eons.” Spoke the disembodied voice. Which grew louder and louder by the moment as Lon noticed a figure walking towards him seemingly out of thin air. It didn’t walk so much as it seemed to glide across the ground towards him. Its body, covered in a pure white almost porcelein robe stopped just short of Lon. Looking up with what strength he could muster Lon placed his gaze upon the expressionless blank face of the being that spoke to him. “Who or what I am is of no importance right now Lon.” The voice spoke no longer disembodied. “We must act with haste, I am powerful do not get me wrong, but even I cannot hold such an angel at bay for long.” the figure gloated eagerly. “What must I do?” Lon asked meagerly, his strength waning and his consciousness giving way to the pain of his arms and legs pulsing through him. “It is simple really, all you must do is accept my name and I will grant you the capacity to manifest your own rescue. Whatever that may be, is entirely up to you.” Lon heard the being speak, and immediately he, nodded, and as best he could he pulled himself up to sit in any manner he was able. “I am ready… What is your name?” Lon asked half dazed and near loss of consciousness, not really expecting an answer from this, entity. “Eoricha, Female member of the Splintered. So you Isou Lon Gran accept my offer and wish for power?” Spoke the being now known as Eoricha. Lon nodded yes and spoke as clearly as he could. “I Isou Lon Gran accept your offer of power… Now give me a hand and get me out of here.” Lon croaked softly spitting away some blood to his left and turning his head to the woman as he wiped his chin… He wiped his chin… shocked Lon looked down and saw that metallic material, be it essence, metal, or whatever Lon didn’t know what it was but it was taking the form, and rapidly at that, of arms and legs upon his residual limbs. “Wha…What is this?!” Lon cried out the sudden sharp sensations of feeling once again in his arms and legs were nearly overwhelming his senses. In that instant, he shot up standing tall on his legs, as if before he never lost them… and touched his face with his hands. The soft almost warm metal of whatever embodied his new limbs tingled with goosebumps as his newfound again sense of touch returned rapidly. “Your wish for power has been granted, that is all I know Lon.” Eoricha said with a gentle tone. “Now, however, might I suggest running away?” Eoricha chuckled and before Lon could ask what she meant by that time began to move again at an accelerated pace. The angel let out an ear-numbing roar and began looking around the ground for any sign of its shattered prey, but it could not find it for it was not where it was but a moment ago. Lon realizing this as well took this opportunity to take off running away from the angel. This caught the angel’s attention once more and it pursued Lon like a starving beast. Fear, terror, and instinct drove Lon forward on his new legs, the resounding strength and speed of his legs made him barely keep ahead of the swings from the Void Angel’s wings. This was enough however for Lon to push himself even farther, He knew not how but he would survive and take what was coming to him to the man that put him through so much hell back on Cetus. Lon couldn’t think about that now. the rhythm of his running feet plinking on the Zariman’s floors was like a symphony of music to Lon’s ears. “Come and get me you piece of sh…!” Lon turned and called back to the Angel but was cut off as he was suddenly yelling and falling forth over a broken walkway rail and with a rather large thud landed himself on something hard yet giving. Thankful for the somewhat soft landing he felt around now in the pitch dark, still amazed at the return of his feeling and sensation. Not being able to see a thing he felt around more and more until suddenly a wash of pale blue light poured over him, and looking up the angel was there gazing down at him. With a leap, Lon saw the angel crest the railing and come hurtling towards him. Panic beset him rapidly as time seemed to slow to a crawl his eyes rapidly scanning the area around him for some way out, some way to escape. “Sta..nd…and… fi..ght!” Came a voice out of nowhere. Lon looked around trying to see what made those words only to find nothing but a decrepit and worn down Excalibur warframe. Not knowing what to do and acting on instinct Lon thrust his hands forward touching the warframes chest and in a sudden bright burst of energy, the angel was knocked backward away from Lon. Lon shielded his eyes out of reaction at first, but slowly he lowered his hands to reveal before him a glowing mass of light swirling and pulsing with symbols he had never seen before. In its center, there was some form of a medallion with five rings interlocked together with a sixth ring circling all of those rings entirely. Not knowing what to do Lon reached out and grabbed the medallion-like object and in another flash of blinding light the Warframe that Lon touched lit up like a Winter Solstice tree and started shimmering rapidly before disintegrating and warping into the Medallion Lon still held. “Ake ud wjstd js ryos…” Some form of words rang into Lon’s ears before suddenly the back of his neck and his scars began to throb and burn just as his arms and legs did the same. Like Hellfire his limbs burst into a royal blue light and began to change shape morphing and shifting into armored limbs, and a shielded face resembling the Excalibur warframe that seemed to activate this phenomenon. Looking around the room through the helm now on his head Lon landed eyes on the Angel that was rapidly regaining its composure. Rapidly Lon inspected the room and found what looked like the blade of a broken skana. “This will have to do..” Lon said as he picked up the weighty blade, though surprisingly it was a lot lighter than he remembers it being when he handled one before. Nonetheless, he readied his make-shift blade and took a defensive stance as the angel roared out again and charged him. Then as Lon lunged forward to attack he felt his body encase in energy and tingle as he shot forward at breakneck speeds towards the Angel, and thinking quickly he slashed at the Angel with the broken skana handle. As luck would have it Something connected somewhere and Lon heard the angel bellow in pain as it took a step back and fell to one knee. Using this opportunity Lon lept up and plunged the broken blade into the shoulder of the wounded Angel and in that instant, it let out a thunderous roar warping space and time as a void bubble formed pulling its void self into another space. Terrified, Lon knows what waits in the Void. For him being without Focus, without Transference would cause him to hurtle through the chaotic masses of entities unknown. As he turned to run away Lon felt himself being pulled in and upwards towards the bubble. Fighting the current of pulls that Lon felt he took step after step forward pushing himself to not get taken by the void. Just then out of the corner of his eyes he saw a rift tear itself open and reveal familiar buildings on the other side. “Cetus?!” Cried out Lon in awe and amazement. Without hesitating, Lon hurtled himself towards the rift not knowing what would happen but anything else would be better than getting lost in the Void. Then everything went black around Lon his sense turned off like someone hit a switch and turned them off. “Where… where am I?” He said softly looking around himself. This wasn’t Cetus, nor was it the void. It felt strange, yet familiar, however, and Lon was sure he smelled the sweet scent of hot chimurr. So he followed his nose and took step after step walking for what seemed like ages before he noticed a glint of light in the distance. Hopeful for answers Lon took off running and eventually came to a table with a tea set and a Lamp shining pale warm light into the surrounding area. Pondering for a moment what he was seeing Lon took a step toward the table only to stop suddenly when he noticed what looked like his reflection on the other side but, whatever he did, it did the opposite. “Who are you?” Lon called out to the doppelganger but got no response. Stepping forward apprehensively Lon watched as the reflection did the same as he. Reaching the table Lon pulled out the chair and slowly sat himself down to which the copy again, did the same. “This is weird,” Lon said out loud before shaking his head not knowing why he spoke those words for who or what was before him, might not be listening or even capable of hearing. Then suddenly an unknown sensation welled up inside of him, deep in his core, a warm tightening of something clamping down as he began to get dizzy and sweat dripped from his forehead. “She… found… you, even here…” Lon snapped his head upwards as the copy of him spoke, its eyes now gleaming and glowing a puce like yellow as a devil-like grin came to the copy’s face. “You better wake up fast before you forget how… Kiddo.” The doppelganger let out a mischievous chuckle that turned into a cackle of uproarious laughter before the entity slapped the table and waved goodbye. Just as Lon was about to speak to the entity something broke through the darkness like tendrils and latched itself around Lon’s chest and yanked him back hard and fast knocking the wind out of his lungs and causing them to burn. Clenching his eyes shut at the pain he suddenly snapped awake and sat up gasping for air as if he had never breathed before. “Lon!” Called a very very familiar voice. He turned his head gasping still to land eyes on Konzu, “Konzu!” Cried out Lon still coughing he reached out and hugged the man tight before letting go and looking around. He was in his hut, his home. Everything seemed the same, but that was impossible Lon thought. “Aye oh, my boy, you have some explaining to do. Kruna metta.” Konzu had a deep look of worry on his face for reasons Lon couldn’t quite understand. Just though as he was about to speak the door to his hut was opened with force and in stepped Onkko and several other quills that Lon did not recognize. “With us, you will accompany,” spoke Onkko rather swiftly and with authority. “With haste.” “What is going on? I don’t know how I got here…” Lon spoke moving a hand to hold his head and then he saw his arm, still made out of that shimmering metal gifted to him by Eoricha. All of the past happenings on the Zariman flooded forth in his mind and his face grew pale. Nodding Lon stood up and started walking out with the Quills. Giving a nod to Konzu on his way. “It will be okay Konzu, I do not know what is happening but it will be okay.” Lon reassured him as he stepped towards the Quills. Without warning however, the Quill nearest to Konzu took Lon by the arms and forced them behind his back and bound the tightly, while as well putting a blindfold over his eyes just the same. “What, what are you doing?!” Lon fought back in vane to his bindings ad blindfold. “What we must” Spoke the quill as it took Lon by the arm and began leading him out of the hut. As Lon stepped blindly around he could feel the sweet sea breeze of the ocean on his face and in his nose once more and he realized he had indeed somehow made it back to Cetus. This filled him with a manner of hope, but also despair, last that he recalled Cetus was besieged, torn asunder by Narmer’s forces. Everyone was forced to wear veils and do his bidding. Something wasn’t right here. As several moments passed Lon was led to the Quills study where he was put into a chair and his blindfold was pulled off rather suddenly. “Speak now, transgressor, who are you, and what have you come here now for?” Spoke the Quill that had pulled off his blindfold. “I do not know how I came here, but I am Lon, friend to Ostrun and Quill, member of Cetus and alike. You do not recognize me Onnko?” Lon spoke looking to the Quill standing behind his desk the curtain behind him swaying briefly in the wind as he shook his head. “This one knows Lon, well. Focus Lost, Transference denied, Dead in this plane and the next” Spoke Onkko so abruptly that the word dead came as a slap to Lon’s face.