ROSING
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Herro.
I owe you all an update. Thanks for being patient, the crazy RL stuff is over now and I can finally get back to what matters: figuring out how to pull off the finale for the longest arc/season/thing and potentially the finale for the story as a whole.
Expect a new chapter two weeks from now on Friday, May 11! Hope you're all doing well and are enjoying Sanctuary Onslaught through its many bumps and scratches (oops wrong Warframe OS to talk about).
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Hey guys,
Appreciate you adding more enemies, but there are certain sanctuary onslaught zones popping up where nothing but grineer drudges (the grunt workers) spawn in idle mode in very small groups, like 3 or 4 in your immediate area every 5 seconds or so, and they just stand in place waiting for you. I lost nearly 75% efficiency in that zone trying to find where they spawned (was doing solo). Needless to say I failed the next zone. Would appreciate if you could address this as soon as possible, it spells certain death if you're unlucky enough to get it--and I got it 2 runs in a row.
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Hey guys, IRL stuff has been ramping up and I've also run out of the head start content that I try to write ahead of time, so there will be a delay of a week or so in publishing this chapter. Sorry for the late notice.
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12 hours ago, NSDBL said:
It's not about not doing it. It's completely forgetting about finishing it.
I have a decently modded Vectis Prime so it was incredibly do-able, it's just that life got so busy that it got wiped from my memory until this morning :/
Yah I missed that. My bads
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Ivara still did the trick, bubble up with a solid enough sniper rifle and you'll be fine. Since there's no damage resistance to it it's not as scary as it sounds.
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1 hour ago, ljmadruga said:
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH YOUR WRITING HAS GOTTEN SO GOOD OVER THE PAST FEW CHAPTERS AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Whoa there man, you're making my day saying stuff like that. Appreciate it!
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New Chapter: 58 Out!
Roll out took a bit longer this time because there were a few scenes I wanted to give a bit more attention to. But with that addressed, Chapter 58: Broken, is now available in the Google Doc or in the spoiler below.
CHAPTER 58: BROKEN
SpoilerTeshin kneeled in front of his desk, facing the shredded door of his darkened office, two sticks of incense and the light from the hallway the only illumination. He took a deep breath and nodded to himself, placing his swords at his side and rising to his feet. “Have you prepared yourself, Romanko?” he said.
“Have you?” Kat retorted, as the remains of the door opened fully for her. She wrinkled her nose at the aroma filling the room. “What’s with this setup? Are you going to make me meditate?”
“Something along that vein,” Teshin said, turning to her. “But after a small trial.” He bent his knees, feet sweeping apart, the tips of his finger grazing the hilt of his sword.
Kat scoffed, claws blazing through the darkness as her eyes turned red. “I was hoping for something like that,” she said, baring her teeth.
This is it, She thought. She relaxed her body, preparing to spring into action at the slightest twitch of his hand. He knows all of my tricks by now, but that doesn’t matter. His technique can’t amount to my strength.
And as for speed, we should be evenly—
She stopped the thought as she realized the back of his blade had connected with her head, just at the base of her skull. Kat stumbled to the side, blindly flailing to retaliate. But he had anticipated the move, and he impaled his short blade into her arm as it passed him. He followed the strike through and pinned the limb to the wall. She cried out, but stopped as he placed the larger sword at her neck.
How? I didn’t even see him—
“Because I didn’t let you,” another voice said. Her eyes widened, and as her heightened vision focused, she realized there was one other person in the room, the light-nodes of a Warframe powering to life and delineating their kneeling profile. Someone else? I should have smelled— her gaze settled on the incense.
The figure rose. “There was no way he could’ve caught you by surprise, Kat. You have the instincts of an apex predator.” They stepped into the light. “But no wild beast anticipates a little psychic warfare,” Nadia said, tapping her head.
Shock, then anger, on Kat’s face. “What do you think you’re doing, Nadia?” she growled. “Messing with my head again?”
“I’m going to be doing a lot worse than that, dear,” Nadia said, approaching her. “And I should be asking you if you know what you’re doing. Making you see what I want you to see is one of the easiest tricks I could pull. It would be child’s play for Nemesis to beat you the way you are now.”
Kat struggled, but Teshin held both blades firm, drawing light blood at her neck. “Save your stamina, Kat,” Nadia said, tracing a finger along the girl’s cheek. “You’re going to need it.”
“For what?” Kat’s eyes were as sharp as her claws.
Nadia’s nerves glowed green, and strands of energy began to spill from her finger, obscuring Kat’s vision. “Why, for your meditation.”
When the green glow vanished, the caw of a bird made Kat open her eyes. A dense forest surrounded her, filled with the cries and chirps of creatures she could not see. Rain poured down around her, puddles covering the ground. As she peered into one of them, she could see not her reflection, but figures. She peered closer, and she recognized Gregor. It was the moment of their reunion, his eyes lighting up in ecstatic relief from the frame of a cell door.
“Recognize it? The jungle outside of your hometown,” she heard Nadia’s voice say. The psychic Tenno was a few feet away, kneeling over another puddle. “The place your mother took you for walks when you were young.” The psychic Tenno faced her. “It’s quite apt to be your mindspace.”
Kat narrowed her eyes. “So this is what you were doing to Victoria? Just going to make me take a trip down memory lane until I start thinking the way you want me to?”
Nadia shook her head. “You’re in a different boat than Victoria. You already know what you should be doing, you just refuse to accept it. Believe me, I’m quite familiar with that situation. Someone other than me must be the one to persuade you.” She turned towards a dense clump of bushes. “Someone who knows you better than anyone else.”
Twigs were trampled underfoot. A pair of bloodthirsty eyes glowed from the darkness. Kat bent down just in time before her assailant burst from the foliage, tackling her. The two rolled across the ground, Kat desperately fighting off blades trying to rip her throat open. Finally, she planted two feet on her opponent’s stomach and launched it away.
A rope shot out from its arm and latched onto a tree, pulling the figure to a branch. Kat nimbly leapt into a ready stance as she locked eyes with another version of her, both with brilliant claws unsheathed. Her doppelganger’s eyes were vicious and had an almost unfocused quality. But it was the opposite. That gaze was fixed upon her, fixed upon the foe, blind to any other thing or person. Do my eyes look like that?
“Take a good long look at yourself,” Nadia said, turning and vanishing into the trees. Her voice echoed over the rain before it faded. “You know what they say. ‘She conquers, who conquers herself.’”
“Thank you, Victoria. You can go now,” Nadia said.
Victoria nodded, glancing to the side at Kat, lying against the wall, the unconscious girl’s healed forearm visible through the gash of her sleeve. “You sure I won’t be needed again? For her, or for you?”
Teshin wiped the blood from his short sword before replacing it in its sheath. “Romanko’s regenerative abilities will intercede when they need to. And she won’t be aggressive when she awakens.”
“That’s if your plan works,” Victoria said, turning to Nadia. “What happens if she loses in there?”
Nadia scratched her head. “Technically, she’ll ‘win,’ either way, but we would probably have to call in the whole first generation to keep her down if her other self gains the upper hand.” She smiled. “But don’t worry. She’ll make it through.”
Victoria pursed her lips. “If you say so. One last question. Does Miyoko know about this?”
Nadia frowned. “No. Are you going to tell her?”
Victoria looked back to Kat. “She’s got enough on her plate.” The girl turned and left.
The psychic smiled and shook her head at the empty doorway. “What a woman.”
“Falling in love again?” Teshin said behind her.
She chuckled. “A different kind, perhaps.”
Teshin blew out the incense. “It’s been some time, since we’ve worked together like this.”
Nadia massaged her eyes, feeling the nerves recede. “It hasn’t been long enough.”
The Dax snorted. “You can stop pretending you don’t relish tasks like this.”
“You just had a way of making fun things like this seem like a ‘task’.”
“And you wouldn’t be allowed any such ‘fun’ at all if you were working alongside Colonel Ford or Takahashi,” Teshin said. “So what persuaded you, in the end?”
Nadia paused. “Authenticity always scared me. It still scares me. I got so used to acting how people wanted me to that I had no idea if I was really capable of any genuine emotion. But…I figured I’d try ‘acting’ the way I feel, and see how that works. If I only do something because I enjoy it, that should be genuine enough, shouldn’t it?”
Teshin nodded. “And how do you know that a feel of enjoyment is authentic?”
The smile vanished, then it was back again. “Oh, how? I mean, this is still helping my friends and all, but…” she looked at the green eye on the palm of her Warframe. “Delving into people’s deepest secrets. Planning out a dream that will tame the monster inside oneself. That kind of feeling? I’ve never felt more alive.”
In the scattered remains of the lab, Sebastian stared at the bins of parts that had been freshly created by the foundry. The machine could’ve assembled the new Transference pod as well, but it didn’t feel right. He took a deep breath, and picked up a piece.
It was a glass plating that had made up the front of the pod door. For a moment, he saw Aung’s panicked face in the reflection, and he dropped it, stumbling and falling back as it clattered to the floor.
He heard someone enter the room. The person approached, and a hand was offered before him.
“Hey, Seb,” Rose said, smiling sadly. “Need some help?”
Sebastian stared at her. “Hey, Rose. I think I’m fine, I should be able to get it done by today.”
“That won’t do,” a new set of footsteps entered the room. Melody bent down and picked up the glass plate. “If I recall, you’re supposed to spar with me later today. Can’t have you dragging your feet.”
He opened his mouth then closed it. Tears slipped down his eyes, and he took Rose’s hand. “Thanks, guys.”
Roland had a holopad tucked under his arm as he made his way to General Aldrich’s office. He buzzed in at the door console and waited for a response.
“It’s been a while since we’ve had a tête-a-tête like this,” Aldrich said as Roland stepped through the door.
“You’ve given me much to think about in our last meetings,” Roland said. “I only just found a new musing to pick your brain with.”
Aldrich laughed. “I’m all ears,” he said.
Roland sat down before the desk. “I’ve been unsure, recently, of our policy towards the Technocyte.”
The general nodded. “It seems many of the other Tenno feel the same, from the debriefing session after Phobos.”
“You mentioned that Coven is looking into the possibility of molding a new leader for the Technocyte, as a way to control them.”
“Just playing with the idea, for now.” Aldrich said, a golden pen threading through his idle fingers. “He wants more specimens before he makes a decision.”
Roland leaned forward. “More specifically, he wants the specimen of the Firstborn.”
Aldrich nodded gravely. “I understand that brings to discussion the uncertain status of Hayden Tenno.”
“Precisely so, sir.”
General Aldrich leaned back in his chair. “If Hayden Tenno is recovered alive and well, he won’t be interred as a test subject. He is put to better use as the figurehead of the Tenno.”
“But if that were to not be the case?” Roland said.
Aldrich dipped his head. “Then we should expend every effort to figuring out how to prevent a tragedy like that in the future. He’ll receive the highest honors the Empire can convey, for his service. But the first Tenno wholeheartedly devoted his body and soul to the empire. I’m sure he’d want the former, in absence of the latter, to continue that service.”
“And if he were recovered alive, and not well?” Roland said quietly. “The way I see it, that condition would be the most ideal circumstance by which Coven could have his ‘specimen’.”
Aldrich paused. “Something tells me you already know the answer to that, White.”
Roland tiled his head. “If this alliance is successful, regardless of what Hayden’s condition is at the end of this, the research on the Technocyte will continue in earnest.”
“Yes,” General Aldrich said. “I’d have an obligation to recommend that in my report.”
“And such a resounding success would mean those higher than the Order would take interest.”
“Of course.”
“In which case, the wishes of the Tenno and the Order as to how best deal with Hayden would be a non-issue. It would only matter how the Thrones see fit to use him. A matter of which factor proved more pivotal. The Tenno, or the virus.”
Aldrich slowly took the glasses from his eyes and polished them. “Very perceptive, White. The decision is out of my hands.”
Roland stood and bowed. “Thank you for your clarifications, General.”
Aldrich smiled. “I think the clarifications came from you.”
“Then your confirmations are what I will thank you for.”
It’s not quite out of your hands, General, the Tenno thought as he left the office. Your report will be the primary source of information from which the Thrones will make their decision.
He took out the holopad from beneath his arm and synced it to a receiver, plugging the latter device in his ear.
“We don’t know what kind of enemy presence is at the core, either. If your squad leader’s information is correct, then Chang has to hold off that Nemesis copy for as long as possible.” The recording of General Aldrich’s voice from the Phobos attack was clipped and calculating. He’s not as warm as he likes to pass himself off as, Roland thought, pausing the recording. Melody might have died in that encounter, just to give Koda only a few more seconds. Was that really the right call to make?
And when the time comes, what kind of call is he going to make next?
“Miyoko, this is a waste of time,” Jason said. “The show’s over, and we can’t afford to keep acting like it’s not.”
Miyoko said nothing, hands clasped in front of her as she stared at the conference room table, feeling the eyes of the first generation Tenno in the room.
“I’m with Jason on this one. Two betrayals in as many days? I know that their leader was the one who warned us, but it’s pretty obvious he doesn’t have the control he thinks he has over the Technocyte,” Joul said.
She looked up at them. “You heard what Aldrich said. No harm, no foul. In fact, they’ve lost more than us from this incident. With the solar rail repaired, we are days away from launching the raid against the Sentients.”
“And what’s going to happen in these next few days?” Jason said. “Maybe they’ll even just launch a direct attack on us and get it over with.”
“Miyoko, it’s not like you to go along with something just because the Order said so,” Koda said.
She turned her gaze on him. “I’m not acquiescing to them. I just happen to agree with them. Let’s complete the raid, and then we will figure out what to do next.”
“What’s to say they won’t pull something in the raid itself?” Jason said. “Who here would trust these guys with our backs? It’s just not going to work out.”
“So what’s your proposal, then?” Miyoko said. “Call it off, burn our resources to destroy every last strand, and then hope we still have energy left to take on the Sentients?”
“We can do it,” Jolla said. “We just got rid of their trump card. We know the location of every ship they have. They’re also down one Variant. If we’re quiet enough about it, we can clean them up before they even know what hit them.”
“There are almost twenty ships, scattered across the sector,” Miyoko said. “Connected by a hive mind that will notice once even a single one is destroyed. Plus, who’s to say the Sentients won’t notice? They will either advance their own attack, or disperse and we will lose our chance.”
“And what do you propose, Miyoko?” Jason said. “Do you really think that staying to the current course is even viable?”
“Are you doubting me?” Miyoko said. She surprised herself at the words and the tone that came with it.
Jason hesitated. “I just…want to do the right thing.”
“As do I. I can talk with Cal, and—.”
“Miyoko,” Jolla said. “I…don’t know if that will do anything.”
“What do you mean?” Miyoko said.
The other girl looked at her. “I just think you trust this guy way too much. He’s not Hayd—” she stopped herself, and the room went quiet.
Miyoko closed her eyes. She put a hand to massage her forehead, idle finger stroking her scar. “I’m well aware he isn’t,” she said. “I also am aware that his lieutenants are not to be trusted. The longer we waffle on this, the less time we have to come up with a plan of action. But if we are too hasty about this, then we may end up worse off than where we are right now. I am prepared to go to war with the Technocyte if it comes to that. But I am not sure we are at that point just yet.”
She reached for a console at the table and tapped it. A holo display of Eris appeared. “Even though the Technocyte were the priority at their appearance, we are fast reaching the point where the Sentient fleet’s threat level surpasses them, if we haven’t already. We don’t know when they are planning to attack; our operation could turn from an ambush to a hasty defense if we don’t pay attention.”
Her eyes flicked to the Ice Tenno. “Darren, you’ve been quiet this whole meeting. What are your thoughts on the matter?”
Darren leaned forward, clasped hands pressed to his mouth. “It’s just…too close. But…the Technocyte may pull something regardless of if we do or not.” He looked at her. “Assuming that’s their course of action, then we must control what that something is.”
Not even Darren sees things the way I do. She closed her eyes. “So you think that’s the best choice to make, too?”
Darren dipped his head. “There are no good options. I’m sorry, Miyoko.”
Miyoko nodded, silent. “What do you propose?”
Darren looked at the others, and Jason nodded. They’ve been planning for this without me, have they? Miyoko thought.
He reached out and tapped a command into the console. The image shifted to a wider view of the sector, yellow blips marking the positions of the Sentient fleet. “Assuming these are still current, their ships are spread out fairly well, but that also means they won’t be able to support one another.” He tapped the holopad, singling out the blips near the edge of the sector. “If we start with the ships closer to the colonies, it’s feasible we can destroy the whole fleet before any one of them reaches a planet.” He tapped in a command, and the ships started converging on Phobos as he crossed out the blips one by one.
“Assuming we divide the second generation into two-man cells and the Warframes stand on their own, we have 10 units at our disposal. We could do it as quickly as two waves, though it will probably be three, since we need some units to defend the Taurus.” He crossed the last blip off just as it approached Phobos.
“And the Sentients?” Miyoko said.
Darren nodded. “We still have the Pluto rail, though it’s under guard by the Technocyte. We’ll dispatch one of the first generation to secure the area with forces from the Taurus, then have reinforcements on standby. We’ll have to expend more forces than we initially planned, but the Legions have the ships to spare.”
There were nods in the room. “We should have done this sooner,” Jason said.
Darren shook his head. “It’s still a risky plan. It relies on the idea that we can destroy the ships fast enough before they can reach the colonies. There’s also the issue of the Variants, not to mention we’ll be going up against that Firstborn. If we’re unlucky, they could stall us out while other ships get passed our defense. And we’re bound to sustain casualties.
“Even if we get passed that, expending more Orokin ships to attack the Sentients will result in much higher Imperial losses across the board, since we’ll likely be sacrificing the element of surprise and the legionnaires will have to bear more of the brunt of the action. The whole point of this operation was to repel the Sentient attack with minimal casualties. In that regard, pursuing this plan of action is to accept the Tenno have failed.” The words hung over the room.
“What other choice do we have?” Joul said.
Darren pursed his lips. “I was considering another plan, but it puts significantly more burden on us—and the Taurus.”
Koda raised an eyebrow. “You want to them to come to us, rather than the other way around.”
“And hopefully the Sentients along with them,” Darren said. “A single, decisive conflict. The Infested and the Sentients would be forced to fight each other as well as us, which could be enough to keep us alive and have them do some of our work for us. It would almost be like what we originally planned with the alliance, except the Technocyte would be trying to kill us too. From there, reinforcements from the Pluto rail could mop up the rest.”
“On the other hand, defending a single capital ship from dozens of hostile vessels would be the most suicidal mission we’ve ever gone on.” Jolla noted.
Darren nodded. “There’s also the issue of how to get both sides to take the bait,” he said. “We definitely won’t be able to protect the Taurus if we were up against only one of them. And the infested is sure to send some of their ships to attack the colonies while their main force engages us. As risky as the first option is, there’s very little margin for error for the second one to be successful.”
Koda looked to the unit leader. “Miyoko?”
She had her eyes closed. “Are you prepared to thoroughly eliminate their forces?”
“Why wouldn’t we be?” Jason said, but Joul gave a quiet inhale.
“Are you talking about Hayden?” he said.
“Assuming he’s still alive, of course.” Miyoko’s voice had taken on a toneless quality as she stared at the table. “But this isn’t like the Nemesis outbreak. If we hope to beat someone with his powers, with how strained our resources are, we can’t hope to deal with him lightly. It’s very probable that whoever faces him will be in a fight to the death.”
Jolla and Darren exchanged glances. Koda narrowed his eyes.
“You all have made good points. We’ll discuss this with the larger group, but I’m sure they’ll agree. And if that is your will, then I will go along with it too. I just want you all to be aware of every consequence our actions will have. For all we know, he may already be gone, and this discussion is irrelevant. But it’s likely we won’t know until it’s too late.” She looked up at them. “To destroy the Technocyte now is to truly give Hayden Tenno up for dead.”
No one spoke. Miyoko maintained her expressionless gaze, eyes hard, her palms folded on top of one another on the table, betraying zero tension. At last, she stood up. “One more day, we can spare. Think on it a little more, and then we will strategize how to take the infestation down tomorrow.” She left the room.
The remaining Tenno stayed seated. “It’ll probably have to be her, too, the one to fight him.” Jolla said.
Koda closed his eyes. “I think she resigned herself to that fact a long time ago.”
“But…do you think she can pull it off, knowing it’s him?” Joul said.
“We’ll probably need one other to support, just to make sure,” Koda said. “Victoria or Roland, maybe even Morgan. If Nadia acts on her own, that leaves one extra person to back Miyoko up.”
“But to have any one of those three accompany her is to risk catching another unit without possible healing support. As is, the majority of us won’t be able to rely on those three being able to heal us if something happens,” Jolla said.
“There’s a lot of risks to splitting up,” Darren mused. “We don’t know which vessels contain the Variants. Gregor almost died defeating the main Nemesis body. I’m not sure what the outcome would be if two Tenno without Warframes went against her. If it was other plan, would give us more room to anticipate their actions.”
“What would we need to do to make the second plan feasible?” Jason said.
Darren leaned back in his chair, hand to his chin. “On the Technocyte side, not much. They could very well decide to get us out of the way before launching an attack on the colonies. Once we’re gone, there’s not much in the Empire that will be able to effectively contain their force.
“As for the Sentients, if they knew we were here it’d be a similar preference, but how to do that, I’m not sure.”
“It’s possible,” Koda said. “I’m liking this option more and more. Are there any other advantages that the first plan has over this one?”
Darren didn’t respond for a while. “Destroying the Infestation and the Sentients separately will have one good side effect.”
“What’s that?” Joul said.
“It will minimize the opportunity for Aldrich to tout the benefits of the Technocyte virus. However much of a risk is put to our ship, even the fact that the Technocyte had a hand in our victory could be justification enough for them to start tinkering around with it again.”
“Even then, I’m sure he’ll be able to spin this some way, especially if our role in repelling the Sentients is not as pivotal as we initially planned,” Koda said, shaking his head. “More is at stake than just our plan to break away from the Order. Who’s to say what the next round of Technocyte experiments might bring, whether they backfire or not?”
Joul nodded. “No matter what, we have to diminish the potential of this virus,” he said. “We can’t allow them to even begin to think it still has any use to the Order.”
“But how can we persuade Aldrich to think otherwise?” Jolla said.
The group was silent. They could think of no acceptable way. And of the unacceptable ways, the one that stood out to each was quickly and independently disposed of.
“Something will come up,” Darren said nervously. “We’ll worry about it when the time comes. Let’s worry about the existing strands for the now.”
Miyoko kneeled again in her room, Warframe wrapped around her. It was inevitable.
She looked at the helmet placed before her, where the small Technocyte nub was still wedged in its back. With a flare of her powers, it lifted as she stood, a skana on the wall gently flying towards her outstretched hand. She poised to strike the blemish off the armor.
What was it, this whole time, that made me cling to this alliance? Was it because I had hoped we could find a way to save Hayden? Had I fooled myself to think that Hayden had lived on in him? Or, did I really think that allying with the infestation was a good idea?
She lowered the blade. How much suffering have we sustained because of this? Sebastian, Rose, Melody, Gregor, Kat, Jason, everyone, really. Did I really think that just because it was Hayden who had been lost, that I deserved to drag them through just as much pain? And how much did we really avoid, in the end? Potentially none, perhaps the situation was only worse because of all this.
Have I failed, as a leader?
As much as I have. She blinked. Her eyes widened as she realized her fingers had reached out to the nub, touching it lightly. It was Cal’s voice.
She smiled bitterly. “So we’re not just disappointments to each other. We’re disappointments to ourselves.” She took the helmet and seated it upon her head.
The HUD fizzled, and as it cleared up, the view of her room was overlaid with a different image. She recognized the infested bridge of the Aphrodite. Seated on the Captain’s chair was the Firstborn.
“It would seem that way.” He sighed. “I thought I had everything figured out. And yet, I’ve lost capable subordinates and spurred the animosity of those who remain.”
“Sounds like we’re in the same boat,” Miyoko said.
“We always have been,” Cal said softly. “You and me. Caught between the obvious choice and what we think is right.”
“And why do you think it was right?” Miyoko said.
Cal shrugged. “Hayden had a good idea of the big picture. I’d like to think he passed it on to me.”
Miyoko tilted her head upwards, view transitioning from fogged and cracked bridge windows to the dull ceiling of her room. “Did he? He could be such an idiot, sometimes.” She closed her eyes. “Just like me.”
A silence passed between them. “The alliance is done for,” she said.
“No,” Cal said, rising. “You and I, we’re still talking. We can figure out—”
“It’s too late, Cal,” Miyoko said. “Too much trust has shattered, too much has been done to prove we were wrong. And we have to own up to that.”
“How can you say that?” Cal’s voice was quiet. “You saw things the same way as I did, as Hayden did.”
“And how did Hayden see it?” Miyoko said. “Did he really see the big picture, as you said? If Hayden really cared about the Empire, then I would be in your clutches, and he would be where I sit. He would’ve let me make my sacrifice. But he didn’t. He let his emotions get in the way.” She brought her head back down. “And maybe that’s what was passed on to you.”
A twitch of his mouth indicated some intense emotion, though with his eyes covered she could not tell what it was. “Are you saying that the choices we’ve made up to now were simply irrational?”
“Rational, irrational, who’s to say? It could be one or the other, so long as the reasons we clung to were. But if I look back, I think what was truly driving us back then was just that, our emotions. I just…didn’t want to lose people I cared about again.”
He said nothing, and Miyoko averted her gaze. “If I were really to consider what Hayden wanted in this situation, he would want me to take a different path, for the ones still fighting alongside me.”
“I will fight alongside you,” Cal said.
Miyoko shook her head. “Cal. You are the enemy.”
He stepped forward, seemingly feet from her when she knew in reality he was much farther away. “Do you really see it that way?”
“Whether I do or don’t doesn’t matter. I must see it that way,” Miyoko said. “We can’t try to have the both of two paths. I don’t fight for Hayden. I fight for the Tenno.”
“So that’s it, then?” He was yelling now. “You turn your back on me? You turn your back on your precious Hayden?”
“I don’t!” Miyoko said, now standing and yelling as well. “To ignore the right thing to do, to continue to be half-committed to two ideals like this, that is turning my back on him.
“Hayden was a hypocrite." The words tasted bitter in her mouth, but she forced them out with equally bitter resolve. "He couldn’t choose between the Empire and his friends. But if you really claim to think like he did, then you know this is what he would have wanted me to do, even if he himself would not have made this choice. And if I am to be the leader that the Tenno need in his absence, then yes, this is what I want as well. That’s what it means to love someone as impossible as him.” She said the words unflinching.
The infested Warframe looked like he had been stung. He took a few steps back, then slowly lowered onto the chair. “Of course,” he said. “Still as ever, pining after him. Pining after who he was.” He lowered his head.
“I wonder, then, if you would still feel the same knowing the state he’s in now.”
Miyoko drew in a breath. “What?”
He raised his head, a cruel smile on his lips. “You’ve been dying to know this whole time, haven’t you?
“He’s not dead.”
The distance between them seemed to stretch without either moving, as she saw that the one before her was not an errant successor. He was a captor. “He…”
“But,” he said. “I don’t know if you could say he’s alive, either. He’s not the man you knew anymore. Nemesis saw to that. By the time I had control, he was already…”
She regained her composure quickly. “I don’t believe anything that witch is capable of could break Hayden.”
“‘Break’?” Cal chuckled. “That’s a nearly appropriate term. But it’s not quite accurate. More like….twisted and drained like a dried out husk.” The last words were spat with venom. “Perhaps your own eyes will do more than my words could.” He reached back into his helmet and clicked a release. The carapace in front of his eyes hissed and cracked open, lifting upwards and peeling back.
Hayden’s once jet black short hair now fell in long, unkempt waves of stained white, like muddied snow. The scars along his countenance were flecked with dried blood and Technocyte residue. But worst of all were his eyes. Dim and lost, not a shred of the focus he once gave so freely to her as his gaze wandered aimlessly, scrunching his brows at the absence of darkness.
“Hayden?” She too, had reverted. The weak, timid girl she had been was surging back, threatening to undo everything she had steeled herself to be. But she could do nothing to hide the tremble in her voice. “Hayden, can you hear me?”
A slurred sound rattled out of his mouth, and she leaned closer. He muttered something again, but she could not make out any words.
“Hayden,” she said, “It’s me, Miyoko. Are you…okay?”
“P-please,” he said weakly. “Help…me…” His desolate words drove stakes in her body.
“Oh, that’s right.” Cal’s disembodied voice was right in her ear. “He must be getting hungry. I’ll send along his usual meal, shall I?”
A scuttling sound could be heard from the recesses of the bridge. Large swaths of Technocyte bugs crawled from out of the darkness, racing towards the captains chair.
“No.” Miyoko took several steps forward, but her feet did not cross into the twisted metal dozens of astronomical units away.
"It's rude to interrupt someone when they're eating, Miyoko," Cal’s voice continued. She watched the bugs crawl up Hayden's seat and his legs, slowly covering his body.
His gaze wandered down towards them, and for the first time, his face registered emotion as a numb fear took shape. "No," he mumbled, "No..."
“Hayden!” Miyoko cried. Her fingers were biting into the hilt of the Skana.
"Relax, it’s been an exciting few days, I haven’t had the chance to feed him recently. This is for his own good." a dark chuckle echoed in the chamber.
“Please…” he croaked. “No more…” he was struggling, faint twitches and spasms of his body, but the Firstborn was still in control, and as the bugs reached his mouth, his weak pleadings gave way to a retching, choking sound.
"Hayden!" She was screaming now. "Listen to me! Fight it!"
His wild eyes locked onto hers, or they held at some point in front of him. But no matter how loudly she yelled his name, his gaze grew no clearer as he gasped for breath through the relentless flood of Technocyte spawn pouring passed his chapped lips.
His struggles increased, but they were desperate, jerky movements. At last he grasped some form of control, but only to fall from the chair and double over on the ground, half choking, half coughing out the bugs. Some dropped to the floor, and at last, the creatures retreated, spilling away from his body and returning back into the darkness. It could not have been longer than a minute, but that was already more than either of the Tenno could bear.
Saliva and a sticky black substance pooled beneath his open mouth. She could see tears join them, as his breath came in ragged gasps.
Miyoko rushed forward, Skana clattering to the ground as she reached for him, trying to hold the space where he appeared before her. “Hayden,” she said, her voice hoarse and feeble, his face so close to her. “Please, wake up.”
A small chuckle came from him, his body shaking slightly. Miyoko backed away as he lifted his head. She watched the eyes change from afraid to derisive. The pieces of the helmet once again crawled back into his helmet, and the laughter grew, echoing across the chasm as the Firstborn stood over Miyoko.
“How touching,” Cal said. “And that’s not even the worst part. You think that if this was all we did to him, he’d be in a state like this? Nemesis was very diligent with him. Day and night, hardly a wink of sleep in between. I bet you can’t even imagine the things he’s gone through. What you saw is just the icing on the cake, the symptoms of his disease.” He spat. “Hayden Tenno, the fearless soldier. Nothing more than a mindless retch.” He laughed once more, as the new unit leader trembled on the ground, clutching herself, her eyes shut tight.
At last, she took a shuddering breath. “Thank you,” she said.
His laughter ceased. “What?”
She was staring at the ground still. “I had been afraid that I was lying to myself. That I really was just a scared and indecisive girl, hiding behind bravado.”
Cal’s lip curled. Through the screen displaying her face, he could see she was baring gritted teeth, her eyes dry and burning. Though she was shaking, it was not from despair.
Miyoko rose to her feet now. “But that’s not the case anymore. That girl…is dead.” The Skana on the floor rose to her hand. “And in her place, I promise you, I will carve your flesh from his body, crush it into oblivion, and destroy every last strand of your rotten horde!” she raised her Skana with one hand as the other tore the helmet from her head. And it fell, she struck, catching the Technocyte nub and cleanly slicing it from the armor. As tumor fell to the floor, she drove the blade into it with a ferocious yell, impaling it to the ground. It cracked and split in half, shriveling immediately.
She panted heavily. Numbly, she heard her door slide open, and people rush in. “Miyoko? Are you alright?”
For a moment she kept her gaze fixed on the shattered remains of the Technocyte node, knuckles white against the hilt of her sword.
A soft hand laid on hers. She blinked, and it was over. She looked up to see Ford, Nadia and Koda gathered around her.
“We….saw the whole thing,” Ford said quietly. Nadia’s grip gently squeezed, the girl’s other arm reaching to touch Miyoko’s face.
She looked at them, still breathing heavily. “What’s Jason’s status?” she said.
“It went off without a hitch. All Technocyte presence at the rail has been incapacitated, and the engineers are getting it fired up again.” Ford said.
“And the others?”
“All suited up and standing by for your orders,” Koda said, handing her the Mag helmet.
She looked at her reflection through the clear blank surface atop it. Her eyes still seethed with rage. She took one last deep breath, and she was fully herself again. Her new self. “Good. Tell Captain Basnet to engage all defenses. It’s a war on two fronts now.”
Questions for discussion:
SpoilerWhat are your thoughts on Miyoko as a leader? How do you think she has lead the Tenno up to now?
Any feedback on the revelations about Hayden's condition? What do you think about how he changed?
See you in the next chapter.
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1 hour ago, samuelx43a said:
I'm afraid of one thing.
once I find a good piece of lore, or a real book to read, I preety much storm through it, and enjoy the lovely sensation that follows afterwards. do you happen to know more pieces of warframe lore that I can digest upon?
PS: as if my reply did not have any meaning, your writing and story telling are nothing short of brilliant (very cool way you did with excal prime not being here any more as it is a founders exclusive, as in not available to anyone any more)
Ahaha, thank you. I feel many of us in the fan art section are just throwing around headcanon (myself included). In particular, I started writing this story before the Second Dream came out, and as such it is now way off from the canon. If you haven't already, check out the synthesis entries and the codex stories in game (or in the wiki), as well as the official Warframe comics that are being sold, but passed that there's not much other official stuff. That being said, there are a lot of capable writers in this section whose ideas and stories about Warframe are excellent. For fan made content about Warframe, both here and the fan zone are the places to look.
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2 hours ago, Cyriann said:
Why can't I say something else for a change...
But that chapter is flipin' amazing !
Glad you enjoyed it ^ ^
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9 hours ago, fleeco1 said:
Really enjoyed this chapter, glad to see your still creating more content for everyone!
In terms of feedback, I actually was starting to wonder if you were going to kill off Melody towards the end. Because of that, I do think the way Melody succeeded was a tad contrived, relying on her opponent to talk and not finish the job, however, I don't see any other way you could have done it. If Koda had come in and saved her that would have undone all the character development you have been working on for Melody in these last few chapters! So I thought it was totally warranted!
Further to that, I did struggle a little bit with the Nadia fight. At times I had moments of "wait, which level are we in again?" in the same way I did watching Inception, but I suppose that comes with Nadia's power-set. That's not to say I didn't enjoy it, because I did! Just a little confusing at times :)
And lastly, whilst I have really enjoyed these last few chapters, I am glad that both Nadia and Melody's on-going fights are both done, and you can move onto more chronological progression. Whilst these last few chapters have been great in terms of character building, and ability discovering, I am ready to progress more with the overarching narrative. I say this with greater reference to Nadia than Melody, as Melody's progression was in the context of a major event in terms of the spread of the infestation.1Having said all that "criticism" I have thoroughly enjoyed these chapters and am keen to read more, and think you are doing an amazing job in creating this story and keeping it updated! So a massive thank you Rosing! I am looking forward to where you go next!
Very much appreciate the thoughtful feedback and the compliments. Clarity and scene execution is something I'd like to improve, especially for fight scenes as complex as Nadia's. Also, I'm happy to say that we are rapidly approaching to final stage of this season, so the central plot will be in the front seat from here on out!
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New Chapter: 57, out!
Hello everyone, sorry for the DElay, but I'm happy to say that Chapter 57, Sacrifice, is available for your viewing pleasure in the Google Doc or the spoiler below:
CHAPTER 57: SACRIFICESpoilerNadia dropped to all fours, clutching her stomach. The high pitch ringing in her ears eclipsed almost all sound. Not much longer. “If you hadn’t used the back of the blade, that would’ve cut me in half,” she said, giving a shaky grin. She looked at the broken fragment of the Dark Sword in her hand.
She could hear her opponent advancing down the aisle towards her. “It really speaks to how nice of a person you are that even your blocks are holding back, Victoria,” she said. “Or, does it speak to how dark a secret you’re hiding that I’m in a state like this?”
The block said nothing as Nadia got her feet. The Tenno paused, then squinted. “Or maybe it’s not about Victoria at all,” she said, “Who might you be?”
The block’s eyes widened. The face framed by the chestnut hair was Victoria’s. And yet, someone else could now be recognized, like the mother-daughter hybrid from before. The third cadet from Victoria’s squad, Cheryl. “The missing piece of the puzzle,” Nadia said, grinning.
“You—” The block darted forward, footwork twisting, Orthos whirling around itself as it swung the blade with the full weight of its body.
Nadia twisted the handle of the broken Dark Sword and pried the bottom blade loose from the remains of the first. This time, though she almost lost her balance from the blow, the sword held.
The Tenno looked into the cadet’s eyes, her single handed grip holding against the block’s strength. “The mind is such a funny thing, isn’t it? It uses the things it fears most as if their strength was its own. Humans can be quite weak like that.”
She drove all of her strength into the blade and pushed against the block. For the first time inside the memory, the cadet was forced back.
Nadia panted, struggling to remain standing. “Alright,” she said, “Do or die.”
Her eyes flashed, and suddenly the window into the cathedral shattered. Behind it revealed a mirror image of the Zariman cabin. The other darkened end of the cabin’s fragment faded as the mirror image stretched out to infinity in an endless hallway.
The block looked around. “You’ve sealed yourself in.”
“No S#&$.” Nadia said, the other half of the Dark Sword repairing in her hands. “It’s a waste of time having to fight my way back in again and again. Besides, I know what I’m looking for now. Cheryl, was it? I get the feeling that once I find out what happened to you, the cat will be out of the bag.”
Cheryl/Victoria bent her knees forward. “You won’t get the chance,” it said. It launched itself at her.
Nadia stepped forward to meet it. Her prying had paid off; it was now weak enough that she could match it strike for strike. Through the whirlwind trade of blows, her eyes swept across the space. Victoria’s memory of the cabin was incomplete. To start with, it’s a relatively small section of the transport as a whole. And also… Small patches of black were scattered here and there, scenes whose details Victoria had forgotten or never really seen. That narrows it down some. I’ll keep my eyes open and try to look for some trace of the girl. She has to be here, some evidence of her at least.
“Well, Melody, the truth is that sometimes…your strength won’t be enough,” Clover Chang said, turning in her sleeping bag to smile at her daughter. “You can never outrun a kubrow, and you’ll never be able to wrestle down a Mataka. But strength isn’t all you have.”
You’ve got your head. As long as you keep that mind of yours sharp, that’s more than any strength could ever give you.
Melody’s body felt aflame. It hurt just to stand up, to raise her hands in front of her and curl her fingers into fists. I won’t last another blow. But I’m still alive. And that’s all I need.Come to think of it, how am I still alive? With how much stronger he is, I should be dead already. Everything about this fight is going his way. What’s he waiting for?
She met the furious gaze of his expression. Anger. Hate. Frustration. What’s with that look? Wipe it off your face! His words spat in her memory.
Ah. I see. The fight isn’t going how he wants it. He wants to see me crack first. He looks down on humans. His superiority complex won’t let him outright kill me if I don’t acknowledge I’m outclassed here.
She narrowed her eyes. I can exploit that.
He leapt to his feet, Tonfas spinning. “If you want to die so bad, then why don’t you just lay down and wait for me to kill you?”
“Where’s the fun in that?” Melody said, blowing a blot of blood out of her nose.
His scowl deepened. “Useless,” he growled, charging towards her.
Melody let out a breath, relaxing her body as much as possible. He came at her in a barrage of clubs, and she reacted instinctively, hands deftly catching the sides of the staves and diverting their course just enough to narrowly pass around her.
She flooded Void energy into her hands, not to gather sound but to power the shield generators on the wrist guards of her armor. Despite the added protection, each impact jarred the bones in her arm, and it felt like they would snap at any moment under the glancing blows. But it was preferable to having them hit her body directly. I was trying too hard to force an opening before. But if just focus all of my efforts into countering his attacks, I can hold him for much longer.
And, he just might give me an opening all on his own.
The infested’s breathing grew more and more furious as she held against him. “You…impudent…human!” he screamed, bringing his club back for a wide swing.
There. Melody rushed forward. But instead of striking him, she slipped behind him. As she did, she reached to grab the handle of her Fang, still lodged in his arm. In a single movement, she drew it and raked the blade down his leg, cutting deep and severing the hamstring.
The infested screamed, and once more, he fell to his knees. Best not to push my luck. She leapt back, and just as she did, her opponent twisted around, swinging a club that just barely passed in front of her face, wind whipping her hair.
He pounded a club on the ground for support, and the tendrils of his other arm shifted to wrap around the wound. Both legs were now covered in writhing Technocyte flesh. Just like the first Nemesis Variant, he’s still human underneath all of that. But that infested tissue can compensate for his injuries. But now none came to close the wound in his arm. He’s all used up. “Strike two,” she said.
“You won’t get a strike three,” he seethed, getting to his feet.
She flipped the lone Fang to a reverse grip. “We’ll see,” she said.
The pounding in Nadia’s head was making it difficult to concentrate. Still, she kept her brain in razor focus, parrying the flurry of strikes the block dealt. The fight had sprawled across the entire cabin, yet there was no sign of Cheryl anywhere. Maybe she got obliterated, or she was in another part of the cabin.
No, she has to be here somewhere. This block wouldn’t be this strong if she wasn’t. There isn’t any other—
In the real world, her head gave a particularly sharp pang, and Nadia winced, her vision going hazy. When it cleared, all she saw was the block’s boot as it connected with her face and kicked her across the room. Her swords left her grasp as she hit an end seat rest and collapsed into the aisle. She looked up to see the cadet charging, Orthos raised.
Her eyes closed, then did not open. The pain of her wounded mental projection faded. But with a thrill of fear, she couldn’t feel her body in the real world, either. She was shut off from all of her senses. Is this what it’s like when my abilities go too far?
She tried looking around, unsure if she was commanding her mental self or her physical body. Only the darkness, or the absence of any sight, responded in unyielding waves. Nadia became aware of something growing dimmer, fading. At first, she thought it was only the headache, soothing itself. But she realized it was everything, the last vestiges of feeling left in her conscience and body. Like the sensation of sinking deeper and deeper into a vast ocean, the light above slowly receding.
Ah, so this is it. Nadia closed her eyes. I guess I bit off more than I could chew here, too. Her father’s face came to mind. I could never do anything but let you down, couldn’t I, Father?
Her body came to rest on something solid. It’s the bottom. The end. Her fingers numbly scraped against the surface. It felt rough and uneven, barely sanded wood, the like the floor her father’s—
Nadia opened her eyes. The sparse beams of the dojo ceiling greeted her. She blinked, then rose to a sitting position.
The racks of wooden swords on the walls, the light from the open windows catching the dust in the air. The bedrock of her childhood looked just the way she had left it when she had departed for the academy. The only hint she had not traveled back in time was the presence dozens of puzzle boxes, scattered across the floor.
“‘Let me down’?” She turned at the familiar voice. Ivo Sudek was perched on his chair, his gnarled hands wrapped around the sheathed sword at his side. “I never told you how proud I was. All the more so now.”
Nadia stared for a moment, then scoffed. “I guess even my own mindspace indulges in flattery,” she said, getting to her feet. “You’re a projection of my mind. Is my subconscious so stupid as to expect me to believe those are his words?”
“When you come to know someone so well, do you really have to hear from their lips to know what is in their heart?” Ivo chuckled. “I taught you better than that, Nadia. You said as much to Koda, didn’t you?”
She blinked, then gave a sad smile. “Why am I here? Is this really my mindspace? Or, is the Void generous enough to have me fabricate my own afterlife?”
Her father smiled. He got to his feet. “I certainly didn’t bring you here. There’s only one person in the galaxy who can put you inside someone’s conscience. And that’s you.”
She shook her head. “Why? I’m done. I overcharged my Void energy.”
“Yes, you pushed yourself too hard,” he said. “That’s why you were brought back inside your own head—to rest. Retreating inside oneself is a mental ability every human can do. It’s a natural reaction to extreme stress.”
“But it’s escapism.” She stepped forward. “That’s what I was doing this whole time—living inside my head, seeing everything through clouded lenses. I need to be out there—fighting.”
Her father’s eyes twinkled. “And you are free to do that. Like I said, all of this is your own doing, subconsciously or consciously. But a little rest may do you good before you dive back in there.”
Nadia let out a breath in frustration. “I don’t imagine it will. I’ve passed my limit already. I got close, but it’s pointless.” She collapsed onto the floor, picking up a puzzle. “That girl’s head is too clouded. I don’t even know if what I see there is truthful.” Her fingers picked half-heartedly at the box. It seemed vaguely familiar, but she could not remember how it was solved.
He nodded. “Then you must look elsewhere to find the truth.”
She sighed. “And where would that be, Father?”
Ivo Sudek blinked, then laughed. It was a hearty laugh that echoed throughout the empty dojo, and the sound filled Nadia with thoughts of a home and a time long gone.
Finally, his laughter subsided. “Good to see you making so many mistakes still, Nadia,” he said. “You already said I’m not your father. You have always been good at fooling others—and yourself.”
Nadia dipped her head. “Don’t I know it,” she said, tears brimming to her face.
“But when you wanted to, you never shied away from the truth, no matter how hard it was. And I think that part of you outshines any lie.”
Nadia looked at him. Then, her eyes widened. She looked down at the puzzle box in her hands. Almost on their own, her fingers twisted and pulled at the contraption, burning through its many layers. Whether by her memory or some other trick of her mind, it opened. Within lay a tiny scene, the darkened cabin of a burning ship.
She looked up to see her father’s seat empty. For a moment, she stared at the space. He was gone. And yet, she could still see him dozing there, a quiet man who had made his peace with his sins and the world.
Thank you, Father.
From here on, there will be no more mistakes.
She looked back down at the open box, then brought it to her eye, peering inside.
In the memory, she was hunched over the harness of her seat, hands clutching her ears in a futile attempt to block out the cries of pain and the voices of the dying aboard the Zariman. But they were not coming from around her. They were inside her mind, persistent, a canon of suffering. And as the hours had dragged on, the only thing worse than feeling her friends’ and classmates’ pain was its cessation, as their consciences winked out one by one.
Nadia lowered her hands and rose. Beside her was Hayden’s seat, severed harness hanging forlorn and empty. He was long gone, somewhere deeper inside the ship. Darkness surrounded her, the only parts of the memory she could see were the floor before her and the place where her closest friend had sat. But tiny blips of light, like numerous stars, dotted around her, made out a patchwork of the Zariman’s cabin. Voices, consciences that had drifted through her mind. And inside each, she could glean their seat numbers and rows, piecing together the unknown around her.
A quick scan of the consciences nearby told her that her initial assumption was correct. She was nowhere near where Victoria and her squad had been seated. But the Void was a powerful curse, and she could see the blips stretch across the entire length of the ship. She closed her eyes, allowing the voices to wash over her. She sifted through the consciences with a clarity her past self had lacked, like a seasoned chef discerning the ingredients of a dish a beginner could barely begin to process.
The taste was bitter, but her mind’s eye faced the suffering unflinching. Where is everyone? Help me. Don’t let me die like this. Gregor, where are you? Dad. Mom. Is this how it ends? Stella! Save me, please. She could recognize the consciences of the Tenno now. The others, dying and panicked. Over and over, she heard them, until…
I’m sorry, Cheryl.
It was faint, but it was Victoria’s conscience, coming from further down the cabin. She turned towards it, staring down the long wake of lights.
Nadia. She froze as she recognized Hayden’s conscience behind her. From the other end of the ship, she could see his light burning clearly, almost illuminating the blackness around it.
Nadia sucked in a breath. His voice continued. Newt. Stella. I hope…you’re all okay. She closed her eyes once more, then took a step in the blackness towards Victoria’s voice.
I’m sorry, Cheryl. I’m sorry, Cheryl. The thought played over and over again in Victoria’s conscience. Near the end of the ship, she could see a cluster of dots burning brightly. Her pace quickened, and as she drew closer, Victoria’s endless chant grew louder. She could hear the other two, Madeleine and Ryan, as they reeled in pain and confusion as they died over and over together with Victoria. And then, close by to them, another conscience.
Four lonely dots lay before her. She knew where the girl was.
Nadia raised an arm. The Orthos sunk into her flesh, but failed to sever the limb. Pain jolted from her arm and through her mental projection, but she was grateful for it. Guess I’m still in the game. She opened her eyes, the blackness falling away to reveal the Zariman cabin, this time in Victoria’s mind, the shocked cadet standing over her.
“Silly me,” Nadia rasped. “I wasn’t thinking straight. Most of the ship can’t be seen because you never saw those parts, or you forgot about them. But parts can also be missing because you intentionally blacked them out in your mind.”
She grabbed the shaft of the blade with her other hand, pulling the block towards her. As it fell, she reached out and touched its head, channeling her Void energy.
A bright flash of green burst from the block’s head. It cried out as it remembered something it wished it hadn’t. And down the aisle, a seat that was previously darkened suddenly illuminated.
“Your memory doesn’t tell you the truth,” Nadia said, getting to her feet and stepping over the fallen block. “It only tells you what you want to remember. But I was there too, Victoria. And I try to make it a habit of remembering the truth.”
She looked at the finally complete scene before her. But as the block’s power dissipated, the healer’s full memory came flooding along with it. Nadia gasped. The sudden revelation, complemented by the grim sight, rooted her in place. “Victoria,” she said, “You…”
Something poked her in the back. Not poked. Ran her through. She looked down to see the Orthos sticking out of her chest, stained with her blood. “Oh.” A fresh spurt of crimson was forced from her lips, and she dropped to her knees.
“F-found your secret,” Nadia said, forcing another grin before collapsing on the ground. She heard footsteps walk around her, a pair of bloodstained cadet boots before her.
In her darkening vision, she saw Cheryl, seated at the end of the row.
“I understand now, Victoria,” she said through gasping breaths. “An ability you locked away. A power that takes the life force of another being…and uses it to enhance your abilities. Creating pure Void energy out of the engine of a human heart. A violation of natural law.”
Unlike the bright green that fell over Ryan and Madeleine, Cheryl was wrapped in a dark blue. Waves of sapphire pulsed out from the girl, and traces of that same hue could be seen mixing with the healing energy at Victoria’s fingertips. Chreyl’s sightless eyes stared dead ahead, blood pouring from her nose and mouth. “It wasn’t just triage. Scarce resources, priority patients…you did more than that. You…chose who was a patient…and who was a resource. Cheryl stood as much a chance of surviving as the other two…but you furthered her end, so that others might live. And you…made that choice, didn’t you?”
She looked up at the one standing before her, squinting through the pain. “That is you now, isn’t it, Victoria?”
Although Nadia’s sight went in and out of focus, she could see the cadet uniform was bloody now, no longer spotless, hair fallen around her and turning white. It wasn’t the mental block.
“I’m—I’m sorry,” Victoria whispered. “I woke up right when she had stabbed you, and I…”
Nadia nodded. “And I take it you’re sorry about what happened here, too?”
Victoria looked around at the suffering and death in the row. Suffering and death compounded by her own hands. She slumped to the ground. “At first, I was able to heal the three of them on my own. But then, I couldn’t keep it up, and by that time, there was no one else around us who I could…so I had to…to…” She reached a hand to Cheryl, then retracted it. “But it didn’t even matter, in the end.”
Tears dropped on floor in front of her. “I’m so ashamed,” she said. “I was arrogant and heartless. I didn’t think twice, once I realized I had these powers, damning some to save others that…I was sure I could do it, but I was so wrong, so foolish…”
With great effort, Nadia lifted herself to a sitting position against the wall. The Orthos was gone now, as was the mental block. The blood continued to pour through her chest, and her breath came in wheezing rasps. “So you decided to never use those powers again, to never abandon another person, even at the cost of your own life. You were looking for atonement.”
“I still haven’t found it,” Victoria said, face buried in her hands. “What I did was…unforgivable. When I think of what their last moments were, my friends…I’m so sorry,” she said, looking up at the memories of the cadets. “I’m sorry for everything I did, to all of you.”
“Victoria,” Nadia said. “What you did here wasn’t wrong. You did your best.”
“It was misguided,” she said.
“It was still what you thought was the right thing to do.”
“That doesn’t matter!” Victoria said, looking up at her with self loathing in her eyes. “I’m no different from the Order. General Thames, General Aldrich, Doctor Coven…they also do what they think is right, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that they’re monsters!”
Nadia stared at the bodies before her. “Victoria,” she said. “Do you think that what the Order does is evil because they are heartless?”
Victoria looked down. “Of course.”
Hayden’s smile looked up at Nadia from a training room floor. “You want to know what I think?” she said. A strange smile was working on her own face. “Whether they do things with compassion, or empathy, or even malice, I couldn’t care less.”
“What?” the other girl turned to her.
“They’re only looking out for themselves. That’s why they’re wrong. You think that we should be more heroic or noble than the Order to be better than them?” Nadia said. “Hayden certainly thought that way. And when I was trying to tell myself that I loved him, I tried to make myself think the same thing.”
She put a hand to her father’s sash wrapped around her. “But what I believe is that the only thing that matters is the greater good. To always act not how niceties, or feelings dictated, but how the optimal result required me to, regardless of what that was.”
Nadia got to her feet. “I was so afraid of Hayden finding out I thought that way, that I tried to lock that part of me away. For years…” She chuckled. “All because…I liked that smile of his.”
She knelt down over Ryan’s body. “We’re monsters, Victoria. There’s no doubt about that. But we’re monsters that are fighting to spare others from becoming monsters, to keep them innocent, by taking all the blood and guilt upon ourselves. That’s the job of a soldier. And it’s all the more true now that you’re a Tenno.”
Victoria was staring at her, eyes wide, mouth slightly open. “We’re going to be doing things that will make most people uncomfortable, or frightened of us, or even hate us,” Nadia said. She looked at the healer and smiled. “But we’ll do it, Victoria. Because that’s what it takes in times like these to keep even a spark of that happiness alive.” Her smile widened. “That was your secret. But it was mine, too. So…don’t hate yourself too much for it. And…”
Nadia vanished. Victoria blinked. “Nadia?”
The mindspace around Victoria crumbled to black, and suddenly the warmth of her sheets wrapped around her, and the room was dark and quiet, the sharp and sudden feeling of waking from a dream. For a moment, she stared up at Kat’s bunk above her. Then her eyes widened. “Nadia!”
Victoria bolted upright to see the Nyx Warframe slumped on the ground beside her bed. She leapt out of the covers, channeling her energy and slamming her hand on the ground. The room was lit in a burst of emerald light. In an instant, she could feel her brain destroying itself, overloading, like a headache splitting her skull in two. But it only lasted for a moment as the healing wave she injected into herself swept away Nadia’s symptoms, dying and coming back to life in a single moment.
She panted heavily, putting a hand to her head as phantom effects of Nadia’s injuries lingered. “Nadia?”
The girl remained still. Victoria bent over her, reaching for the Nyx helmet and removing it. The nerves around Nadia’s eyes were a bright green, but starting to fade. Faint bursts of energy sparked from them, illuminating her face in the dark. Her nose and mouth were covered in blood, but the bleeding had stopped. She lifted the girl’s motionless body and felt along her neck for a pulse.
A strong beat responded back to her. “I told you,” Nadia said, eyes still closed. “If you kill me in there, you’d patch me up again.”
Victoria let out a breath in relief and grabbed Nadia, pulling her into a hug.
“Easy,” Nadia groaned. “You may have healed my real injuries, but I can still feel the mental ones.”
“Sorry.” Victoria let go of her, but the girl continued to lean against her.
Nadia shook her head. “I guess it would’ve been asking too much for your powers to treat that as well.”
“Victoria? Is everything alright?” They looked up to see Kat staring down at them.
“We’re fine, Kat,” Nadia said. “Sleeping okay?”
Confusion worked across the girl’s face. “Nadia? What are you doing here?”
“What does it look like?” Nadia smiled and winked at Victoria. “Victoria and I were just getting to know each other a little better. We were going at it all night.”
Melody noticed his attacks were getting slower. No, not slower. They were still razor quick, faster than her despite the immense weight of the Sentient clubs. But the rate at which they came at her had gone down. It took longer for him to reverse the sweeping momentum of each strike and keep his swings under control.
She looked down at his legs, where the tendrils now wrapped around his wounds. Could it be that those things were augmenting his arm strength? They were giving him more control in his swings.
But he was making up for it by mixing in lightning fast kicks in between his strikes. Now that the augmented power of his tendrils was in his leg muscles, he was making full use of it.
The pace of his new pattern was measured and even, and though fury was still on his face, there were no more slips in his defenses. Looks like he learned his lesson. He’s not that stupid, I guess. She continued to dance out of his attacks, diverting or dodging them.
I’ll have to force one in again. If Koda knows what he’s doing, then I’ll only have one shot at this. It’s a slim chance, and it’s probably not going to come free. I might even…
She slid back, hands shaking from the latest barrage of attacks. Or were they shaking for some other reason? But wasn’t I prepared for that? As soon as Koda left, didn’t I know what the outcome was going to be? Why?
Why do I want to live so badly right now? A heavy feeling weighed down her chest. Why does the thought of dying now make me so…sad?
Melody sucked in a breath. Oh. Well, I guess that makes sense. Because…
The infested twirled his clubs. “What’s wrong? You lost your spirit all of a sudden.”
“As did you,” she said. She let out a long breath. “Say. What happens if you win?”
He raised an eyebrow. “You mean, ‘when’ I win?”
“Sure. Do you think that this plan is going to go off without a hitch? What is your real goal here?”
He narrowed his eyes. Then he shrugged, tonfas spinning to a stop. “To be honest, I already have all I wanted. A ship, a crew. A purpose, shortsighted or not. But…it would do that purpose a disservice not see it out to the end, wouldn’t it?”
“Not if you give it up for a higher one,” Melody said. “You can still back out of this. Your leader, that firstborn. Isn’t he—”
“No,” he snapped. “Sorry, but of the pitiful options you had to persuade me with, that was the worst one. I won’t let myself submit to that thing another second. He is not my leader. He does not act with our people in mind.”
“So it’s really ego.” She took a step forward. “If you had just…let go of your pride, maybe, there would have been a better way out of this.”
A strange smile came to his face. It was tinged with sadness, she realized. A sadness that was her own. “Maybe I could have. If my pride wasn’t the only thing I had left. If I could help being true to who I am.”
She found herself returning the smile, tightening her grip around the Fang. Well spoken.
A groan erupted from deeper inside the ship, as if a gigantic creature screaming in pain. The ground rumbled and shuddered, and the infested stumbled to keep his footing. The cacophony subsided, the echo bouncing off the walls and traveling further down the hall.
For a moment he was still, unable to comprehend what had just happened. “What?” Then his eyes widened. “No…the core—”
Melody had closed the distance between them, fang brought back to strike. Here goes.
His strike caught her on the head, and her vision blacked out as her body flew back. But in her mind’s eyes, she could see her target, and as she fell, her arm flicked upwards, letting the Fang fly.
His second club came up perfectly timed to knock it away. But it was a panicked move, as was the first, his arm swinging back wide as he struggled to keep it under his grasp, the tendrils no longer aiding his control of the massive weapons. Melody’s arm, too, continued to swing up over her back as instinct took over. Her hand found the shaft of an arrow and her elbow snapped back as soon as she closed her fingers around it. In her other hand, the bow was waiting to be loaded, stretched out towards her target. In a swift move, she fired.
The infested, wide open after swinging both his clubs, could only widen his eyes and desperately try to reverse the momentum of his heavy clubs. But they were barely half the distance they needed to close when her arrow found its mark and lodged itself in his throat.
Melody crashed to the ground. Her vision was blurred, unfocused. She could faintly make out the infested in front of her stumbling around. Towards her. Then, she felt a hand close around her neck and tighten.
The Tenno gagged as he lifted her up. He put a hand to his neck, feeling the arrow wedged in it. I missed, she thought. Her entire body was numb. I can barely move…can’t…
The ship gave another rumble. “Congratulations,” the Variant seethed. “I’m finished. Before long I’ll bleed out. And we’ll both be dead.” He gripped her neck tighter, and her cry of pain came out as a croak. “You got your sacrifice.”
Tendrils left the wounds in his leg to wrap around his arm as he lifted her higher. More snaked across the floor to the two corpses of the Sentient scouts further down the hallway, wrenching the heatblasters from their claws. They coiled back and leveled the weapons at the Tenno.
“Any last words, before I annihilate you?” The Variant said.
I did it. I…am strong enough. Melody tilted her head back and looked up at the ceiling.
A chuckle came from her lips, blood bubbling out. “So I’m going to die here?”
The Variant cocked its head, then smiled. “Yes. Do you think otherwise? Your friends are not coming to save you.”
“That’s right,” she whispered. “They aren’t.” She couldn’t even see his arm. She could hear it, though. The subtle cracks of his joints, the flexing of his fingers as they clamped around her. I can…move my arms a little. She rested her hands around the limb.
He scowled. “So then why?” he tightened his grasp on her, and she gasped for breath. “Do you really expect to survive in this situation?”
“You don’t get it,” Melody said. “Because today…is the happiest day of my life. Because I’ve finally found something that I can protect. My whole life, I’ve been powerless to save those I cared for. But that ended today.”
A high pitched ringing gathering in the air as she tightened her grip. “So what if I’m on my own? So what if you’re stronger than me?” She snapped her head back, eyes sharp as daggers as her energy reached its apex. “If you think that I’m just going to go and become someone else’s happy memory, then you’ve got a whole other thing coming!”
A pulse emanated from her hands. The Variant was covered in green light, waves bouncing across his body before rebounding and converging into bright glow around his arm. He looked down. “What—”
Melody twisted her grip, and the Variant’s wrist snapped easily under her last bout of strength. He grunted, loosening his grasp, and that was all Melody needed. She grabbed the arrow sunk into his neck and yanked it out. Her other palm leveled squarely at the Infested’s face and discharged a sonic shockwave. The blow knocked her back just as he fired the heatblasters out of reflex. With both combatants displaced from the blast, the two projectiles sizzled just over Melody’s scalp as she fell.
The Variant gave out a choking cry. Melody landed on her feet, her knees knocking into each other but holding. “You—” He staggered towards her, then stumbled backwards as his wounded legs gave out. His flailing hand made one last attempt to reach her before he crashed to the ground. His body shook and spasmed as he tried in vain to stem the flow of blood from his neck.
He gasped for breath. “Captain,” he whispered, “Fervis—I’m so…sorry.” The last breath left his lips.
Melody panted hard, forcing her body to stand. A shaking arm placed the arrow back into her quiver. She took a deep breath and looked down the hallway. “I’m about to fall. Aren’t you going to catch me?” she said.
Koda materialized into view. He took his helmet off. “I didn’t think you’d need my help.”
Melody forced her feet forward until she was standing in front of him. Then, she put up an arm to lean on his chest. Her legs weakened, and Koda eased himself to a kneeling position as they both lowered to the ground. Melody knocked her head against his shoulder. “I don’t,” she said, a small smile on her face. “But it’s a nice thing to have.”
Questions for feedback:
SpoilerHonestly, did it ever feel like Melody was in danger, or did you have a pretty good idea she was going to survive? Did any of the methods that Victoria or Melody use to succeed feel contrived? Appreciate any feedback you have!
Look forward to the next chapter in 2 weeks!
ROSING
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3 hours ago, FiveHours said:
Hey ROSING, it's been a while but I wanted to check in.
Even though I've stopped my writing, I still love to read yours.
It's simply pleasant and enjoyable; sentences flow together well and nothing seems too forced. You know how to balance action with dialogue. You understand that, like a song or a piece of art, writing breathes - it has moments of silence counterbalanced by intensity.
I would be lying if I didn't feel a bit of nostalgia, too.
No criticism this time.
Keep at it.
This is quite the pleasant surprise, Five. Good to hear from you, and your comments mean a lot to me as always. I hope you just mean stopped writing on these forums, because you've got a pretty good thing going yourself! The Lone Sword is still one of my favorite Warframe stories; reread some chapters for some nostalgia of my own.
To everyone, sorry I'm not on top of my game this week. Work beat the crap out of me so I wasn't able to write as much as I wanted to. The next chapter, Sacrifice, will be out next week. Thanks for being patient!
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Have to say, even with accidentally having to pay an extra 4 bucks due to Steam Wallet issues, I'm not even mad. Every dollar was worth it on these babies.
Harrow Graxx + Tengoken Heavy Blade and Tonaca Syandana
Also, Knightess Trinity + Tengoken = Infinity Blade callbacks
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NEW CHAPTER: 56 OUT!
So I'll try something new. Google Drive is rather picky for mobile users, so now Chapter 56: Inevitable is available in both the Google Doc AND the first spoiler below:
Chapter 56: Sacrifice
SpoilerBlood was running down Nadia’s nose. She could also feel more dribbling down her chin as the toll of various internal injuries forced their way up her throat. Bruises cried out across her body where Victoria’s mental block had scored hits. But this was a real nosebleed, felt by her physical body, whereas these other injuries were only mental manifestations. She had only experienced this once before, during her struggle with Nemesis when they were fighting Hayden and each other.
She let out a breath, looking out from the pillar she was taking cover behind. “Jeez. She could actually kill me here…” It would be a hell of a thing to bleed out from a bloody nose.
No. My brain would probably be jelly long before that happened. She steeled her body, then dashed out into the open, back towards the memory of the Zariman at the end of the hall.
Victoria’s mental blocks were ready for her. The scared child, the fledgling Tenno, the mother-daughter hybrid, numerous versions of each leapt out to stop her, but they barely held her back as she charged forward, sword flashing around her to deflect their strikes.
She made it to the end and leapt through the large stained glass window. Here comes the hard part again. Waiting there was the cadet Victoria, harboring a secret so precious even Nadia could feel her body tremble before the strength of the block.
The block swung an Orthos at her, lightning quick. Nadia dove to the side and narrowly avoided the first blade. But the cadet’s follow through carried the second straight towards her as she fell.
The psychic raised her Dark sword in defense. Unlike her Nikana, the obsidian blade was faring better against the block, although this was the third she’d conjured in the fight. It held long enough for Nadia to be launched further into the cabin by the strike. But as she slid along the floor, she heard the crumbling of metal pieces as it broke apart in her hands.
The Tenno got to her feet quickly, dropping the remains of the hilt and leaping through the frozen bodies and debris. She made it to the Victoria from the memory, bent down over the two cadets. The nerves around her eyes flared, and a green strand siphoned from her palm and into the healer.
A ferocious scream sounded behind her, and Nadia turned and summoned a fourth sword, barely in time to intercept a downward cut. The blow sent her sliding back a few feet along the aisle as she held against it, the block pushing down with all of its might. Nadia could feel herself losing, the blade of the Orthos inching closer to her face. Still, she maintained the mental link to Victoria’s body, fighting to unlock more of the memory at the same time she held against the block’s unyielding strength.
“It’s called triage.”
Victoria’s block raked the polearm along Nadia’s sword and spun in place, delivering a kick that knocked the psychic Tenno sideways through a porthole. Once again, she was tumbling across the pews of the stained glass hallway.
“You prioritize patients based on the severity of their treatment,” Victoria said to the three other cadets at the table tucked into the corner of the academy library. “Your resources are scarce on the battlefield, so you focus first on those who need it the most. Follow so far?”
“I think so,” the girl at the other end said, scratching her head over the holopad in front of her. “But how can you tell who needs it the most?”
“That’s easy,” the boy to Victoria’s right said. Nadia recognized the one the healer had tried to save. Across from him was Victoria’s second failed patient. “You divide them into three categories. Those who will survive without immediate treatment, those whose outcome may be positively affected by immediate treatment, and those who won’t survive, no matter how much treatment is given.”
“And we just let them die?” The first girl said, frowning.
The boy leaned forward in a serious manner. “You’re missing the point, Cheryl. They’re going to do die no matter what. You shouldn’t waste any time on them.”
“Honestly,” the second girl spoke up, setting her holopad down. “You don’t have to sound so heartless about it, Ryan.”
“But I’m right, aren’t I?” Ryan looked back to Victoria.
She nodded, closing her eyes. “Yes. Out in the field, you have to accept that you can’t save everybody.”
“Well, I bet Victoria could save everyone and anyone,” Cheryl piped in. “With how fast you complete all the practicals, you probably won’t even need to do this triage thing.”
“Please,” Victoria said, a small smile tugging at her face. “I’m not a goddess or anything.”
“Your last name means angel, doesn’t it?” the second girl said wryly. “Close enough.”
“Madeleine,” Victoria said, but the smile was tugging ever wider. “I’m only doing the best I can. Just practice more and you’ll get up to my level. Even Cheryl can get there.”
“Hey,” Cheryl pouted, and the other two laughed. Seeing the three of them, a warm feeling rose up from Victoria’s chest, and her smile was a full crescent upon her lips.
“It’s almost time for class,” Ryan said, looking up from his watch. “Don’t forget the terms now, okay Cheryl? You know the prof is going to be asking you first.”
“Yeah, sure,” Cheryl sighed, as the four of them packed their holopads into their bags and headed for the library exit.
At the threshold, Cheryl held back, pulling the hem of Victoria’s uniform. “Victoria,” she said, her expression anxious. “If…if we’re in trouble out there, you’ll be able to fix us up, won’t you? No matter what…category we’re in.”
Victoria opened her mouth, then smiled. “Of course,” she said. “As squad leader, none of you three are dying unless I say so.”
Nadia picked herself up from the ground. “Now we’re getting somewhere,” she muttered. The cadet looked down on her from the fringe of the memory, the other mental blocks advancing, weapons ready. The pounding in her head had magnified, and nosebleed continued unabated.
“I’m starting to get it,” Nadia said, looking up at the cadet. “The more I delve into your memories, the more I understand how your abilities work. Your healing has its limits, and these cadets started deteriorating again right after you’d patch them up. You had to pick who you could save, and who you couldn’t.” What’s so secretive about that? Nadia thought. She shouldn’t feel so bad about treating the ones she could help and abandoning others.
Nadia frowned, thinking. The others.
“The plot thickens,” she said, grinning.
“You’re hurt, Nadia,” the block said. “You should leave now, before it gets worse.”
“If anything happens to me in the real world, I’ll just get Victoria to heal it,” Nadia said, feeling a large bump along the side of her head. “Now hurry up and start trying to break me again.”
The cadet showed reluctance, but it raised the Orthos, and the other blocks charged.
Nadia channeled her absorption ability, taking in their repeated strikes in a spinning emerald orb around her before reflecting the damage outwards. As the other blocks crashed around her, she charged forward.
The child, the Tenno, the mother’s daughter. After stepping into their memories, I’m sure that I’ve seen all of these sides of her come out in who Victoria is today. But I’ve never once seen the kind of person she was back in the academy. She’s thoroughly locked it away, almost blanked it out in her mind. She could picture the girl at the head of the library table. Head held high, a bright smile on her lips. Which of the Void’s horrors took that away?
Nadia leapt towards the window. The cadet lunged with her Orthos once more. But it seemed slower than the last time she had tried to reenter the memory. Nadia didn’t even bother to parry, deftly twisting her body underneath the swipe of both blades and back-flipping passed the block.
Good. That means I’m getting somewhere. The closer I get to the secret, the easier it becomes to deal with her attacks. The less I have to deal with that, the more I can devote to picking her brain.
It’s only a matter of time, unless my body gives out first.
“Melody, run!”
Melody, 13, only panicked, fumbling for critical seconds to nock her bow. She finally succeeded and drew it back to see the Mataka had already covered the forest clearing in those brief moments, almost upon her. She fired more out of fear than because of her training, and fell back. The arrow flew wide past the Mataka’s slobbering jowls, opened wide enough to crush her head whole.
There was a thwack of her mother’s bow and a white shafted arrow embedded itself into the beast’s neck. It yelped and stumbled, momentum sending its body sliding alongside Melody in the dust.
Clover Chang rushed to her, knife drawn in case she needed to finish the job. “Are you alright, Melody?”
Melody glanced over at the Mataka. It was clear her mother’s knife was unnecessary. The arrow had hit squarely at the spine of the large creature, and its head was at a slightly askew angle from the rest of its body. The girl looked up at a large tree trunk, where her own arrow had lodged. She sighed and lay back on the ground, putting an arm over her eyes.
“Ma, will I ever get stronger?” she asked that night.
Her mother looked up from sharpening a hunting arrow and chuckled, looking at her daughter as she stared up into the night sky of the Neptune reserve. “What makes you say that, Melody? Of course you will. You’re still growing. I wasn’t expecting you to take down a Mataka all on your own.”
“How much stronger, though?” Melody said, raising a small hand to the stars. “And will it be enough?”
“Enough? Enough for what?”
“To protect people,” she said, looking up at her. “Ba, you. The town.”
The elder Chang stared at her, then laughed. “What’s gotten you thinking about that, all of a sudden?”
She frowned. “Those Sentient things. They…attacked Pluto, didn’t they? Lots of people died.”
Her mother shook her head. “It’s just another crazy experiment of the Empire’s gone wrong. They’ll have it under wraps soon, it won’t get anywhere near Neptune. It’s not like it’s war, and even if it was, our Legions aren’t pushovers.”
“But if they can’t contain it?” Melody said.
Clover sighed, setting the arrow into her quiver. “You’re a sharp one, Melody. Sometimes, I wish you would just worry about smaller things, like your classes, or boys, even.”
Melody blushed. “But they’re just small things, like you said.”
“Well spoken.” The mother doused the camp fire with a water pail and settled into the sleeping bag beside her daughter. “I’m sure, if you keep thinking like that, you’ll become stronger.”
“And will it be enough, Ma?” Melody said.
Her mother was silent for a while. “Well, Melody, the truth is that sometimes…your strength won’t be enough.”
Present-day Melody stared at the ceiling of the wormship hallway, her vision blurred and fading in and out. She raised a hand to the air, blood running down her arm. How much stronger did I really get?
She scoffed. Stronger than I ever could have imagined.
A figure loomed over her. He raised a club, glinting in the light with the same color of crimson dripping from her palm. But why is still…lacking?
The infested brought it down, leaving a crater on the floor as Melody forced her body to roll to the side. Ignoring the pain that burned inside her, she got to her feet and dove further down the hall as he followed up with another strike. She rolled to a crouch and brought the Euphona to bear, firing two shots in rapid succession. They bounced harmlessly off his clubs as he we wove them in front of himself in a blur.
Why is it never enough? She thought of Neptune, of her Ma and Ba, fallen just weeks before she graduated as a Legionnaire. I lose everything I wanted to protect, just when I become strong enough to try. And now…what’s left for me? What can I even protect? Koda’s figure flickered in her vision. He was replaced by the advancing figure of the Infested, clubs brought back.
She raised her Fang blades on instinct. Crap, I spaced out. His attacks are too— The thought was driven from her mind like the air from her lungs as the blow knocked her off her feet.
It was a struggle to even get to her knees. If I had…helmet…how much shields I have left…probably all gone. She stowed the knives and channeled her Void energy, letting a low, booming warble reverberate through the room. The sound wave hit the Infested dead on. He grimaced, but continued to advance, step by step through the noise.
“What’s this?” he said. “Trying to mute my hearing? All I need is to see you to kill you.”
Melody found herself leaping out the way of his attacks once more. She raised the level of energy and pounded the ground, letting out a high pitched yell that tore at the paneling of the floor and ceiling around her. Is this even enough to faze him?
Her answer came in the form of a boot that connected with her abdomen. She cried out in pain as she rose slightly off the ground before collapsing hard to the floor, hacking and coughing. Her pistol clattered somewhere beside her.
His footsteps paced around her. “So that’s what your scream sounds like,” he said. “Not what I expected, but pathetic all the same.”
She looked up at her opponent and narrowed her eyes.
The infested looked incensed. “What’s that look for? Wipe it off your face!” He drove a club across her cheek, knocking her onto her back. She groaned, fingers scrambling across the ground for the Euphona. There was a rattle as he kicked it farther away.
“I’m just curious,” he said over her. “What rank do they give you Tenno in the Legionnaires? Do they have that sort of thing? Is it, say, that of a field officer? Maybe even a captain? Whatever it is, it’s clearly undeserved. Did you really think you could beat me?”
“It was worth a shot,” Melody croaked.
He snorted, turning from her. “Pointless. You know, I had dreamed of becoming a captain. To have my own vessel, to have people look up to me just as much as I did, to Captain Fervis.” The Infested sighed. “But it seemed I was always destined to never be higher than a communications officer. There was nothing I could do to make them recognize my talent. I had to resort to means such as these to finally have my own command.” He giggled.
“I can see why no one did,” Melody said, reaching into her quiver. “How far do you think you’re going to get? Reinforcements are on their way. They’ll destroy this ship before you even see Phobos. Who would make a half-assed bastard like you a captain?”
He narrowed his eyes and turned. “How dare—”
Her fingers found the fletching of an arrow. She moved swiftly, drawing it out and slicing her opponent’s ankle, cutting tendon. He shrieked in pain as he went down. Melody scrambled for a Fang at her back, leaping to her feet and lunging at her fallen opponent.
A club intercepted her as the tendril of his arm expanded like a coiled spring. It hit her in the gut and launched her further down the hallway. She hit the ground hard, but she forced her fingers to hold on to the dagger.
“I told you, it’s pointless!” he growled. Tendrils receded from his arm and crawled down his body to the injured leg. They consumed the joint, forming around it. He leapt to his feet, his agility returned. “Do you really expect to beat me here, without a Warframe, without any backup, without a chance? You were doomed from the start. And so was your pitiful alliance. Listen.”
There were slight rumbles off the hull, distant explosions. “Looks like your ‘reinforcements’ have arrived,” he sneered. “Or, to be more precise, we’ve arrived at Phobos. They don’t seem to be doing much, do they? If anything, they’ll be even more prey to turn to brethren. And in a matter of minutes, the colonists on the surface will become part of a very different empire.”
Melody closed her eyes. Koda. I’m sorry I’m taking so long. Are you—
“He’s probably dead, isn’t he?” The infested mused.
Melody froze. What? Koda?
“I can’t see what’s going on there anymore, but do you really think he could last that long against so many Sentients? Didn’t you say he was nothing special? He’s gone, already.”
No. He—
The hallway door opened, but no one stepped through. Her breath caught. The door closed, and she strained her ears. For a moment, she heard nothing but the rumbling of the attacking ships.
Faint footsteps grew louder. And just barely within the range of visibility, curls of smoke drew closer.
Koda. I always…
“Koda, I’ve called the attack ships back, they’re not doing any good,” Ford said. A timer appeared on his HUD. “You have less than ten minutes before this ship reaches the surface. It’s all on you, now.”
“You don’t need to remind me,” he muttered. “I’m moving as fast as I can.” He channeled a bullet jump into a quick roll, sliding along the ground before repeating the pattern, clearing sweeping hallways in a matter of seconds. A squad of Sentients appeared in the hallway door ahead of him. The cloaked Warframe teleported behind them and launched into another bullet jump, ignoring the surprised whir as the explosion knocked them to the floor.
“I’m routing your Liset to the nearest extraction point,” the colonel said. “I’ll send Melody’s there too.”
“You still haven’t been able to contact her?” Koda said.
“I’m getting a faint signal, but she isn’t responding.”
His fists tightened. “What’s her location?”
“I have a general area, but I can’t pinpoint it. Her helmet probably has been damaged in the fight.”
“Maybe she’s along the way,” Darren’s voice pitched in. “If she really is keeping that infested distracted, then Koda could—”
“No,” Aldrich said. “Zayati still has a considerable distance to cover. He can’t risk getting into a drawn out fight or alert the enemy to his movements. We don’t know what kind of enemy presence is at the core, either. If your squad leader’s information is correct, then Chang has to hold off that Nemesis copy for as long as possible.”
“Koda can finish it in less than a second,” Jolla said.
“Stop it, guys,” Koda said. Don’t…get my hopes up like that. “Melody isn’t a push over. I’m sure she—”
He entered the next hallway and skidded to a halt. At the end, a human victim stood with his back to him, twin Conculyst clubs at his sides. A few feet behind him, crumpled on the ground, was Melody.
No.
Her eyes widened slightly, and he knew that she had realized he was there. Her body struggled violently, moving with what looked like the last vestiges of her strength to get to her feet, but the Infested smashed the club into her face.
No. Not again. Melody’s body rolled across the floor. For a heart-stopping moment, she was still. Then, she started to pick herself up, but her arms were shaking. Not again, not again, not again...
Melody screamed at her opponent and dashed forward. The Variant intercepted her and grabbed her hand, twisting it. She gasped and a Fang dropped to the floor. She tried to swing the other one, but the Infested blocked it with his arm, letting the blade sink into his writhing tendrils. He kicked her away. His cackle filled the hall as Melody got back up again, knees trembling and only her bow to defend herself with.
NotagainnotagainnotagainNOTAGAIN—Koda’s energy was roiling in his blood now. Without realizing it, his wristblades had slid out, and he began to materialize when he saw Melody look at him. Through the pain, there was something else in her eyes.
Is she…crying?
Koda. I always resented you.
Her eyes widened as she looked at the wisps of smoke. Then she forced her body to stand, despite every part of her aching and just wanting to rest, maybe even forever. The Infested’s clubs slammed into her before she could even straighten her legs.
To be honest, despite what it cost me, I was glad I had been given these abilities. It felt like I was being given a second chance, to become the protector I had wanted to be. She barely felt herself hit the ground, automatically beginning the process of rising again. But then…I was always being saved. Again, and again, and again. And it was always by you. And I realized that to show someone mercy…is to look down on them.
She screamed in frustration, not at the Infested but at her own powerlessness as she ran full pelt at him, not a plan in her mind, just a desire to prove she was able to win a fight she was desperately losing. But I know why you did it. Because you’re just like me, aren’t you? Another orphan from Neptune. I…sympathized with you. No…you’ve lost more than me, haven’t you? And maybe because of that, I thought you would understand. But I realized it only made you even more protective. And I couldn’t stand that. Her opponent caught her thrust and twisted hard enough for the pain to finally register, the Fang clattering to the floor.
In that cell, I was the one with no control over my abilities, and you had been training for a whole year. During the infestation, I was on a suicide mission, and you were the one who had earned a Warframe. The gap between us…seems so vast. She brought the second Fang down, only to have it sink into his arm. He only grinned, and with a snap of his leg she was skidding across the floor again. Just a year of difference between being stored in a cryopod…and living. Losing. I know we can’t help that, but still…she felt tears start to brim on her face as she got up again. I can’t help but wonder if it will always be like this.
Koda’s smoke receded around him as he came into view. His wristblades were drawn. What kind of look is behind the helmet of a knight in shining armor, when he sees a damsel in distress? Certainly she doesn’t have that luxury, does she? Her hands tightened into fists. But do you really understand these tears? Do you know that this is my shame, not my relief? Do you know what this pain is, and how it hurts so much more than any wounds I’ve suffered? She closed her eyes, feeling the first drop slip through her eyelid and down her cheek. Please, Koda. If you truly, truly want to protect me, then please…
He vanished. She heard the light puff of smoke behind her.
For a moment they were still, feeling each other’s presence. She could hear the subtle scrape of his helmet against the armor as he turned to her, as if preparing to say something. Then, another puff of smoke, and he was gone, his light footsteps sounding further and further away as he headed towards the core.
Melody remained standing there. “At last,” The infested said, leering. It was clear he had seen none of what had just happened. “Finally broken inside? Have you accepted your finality? Is that why you’re crying?”
She blinked, realizing the tears were now falling fast down her face.
“It’s only natural.” He chuckled and turned to pace the hall. “You’re the ones with a half-baked plan. Phobos will fall. And when it does, your alliance will fall with it. That’s the trouble with you humans. Too caught up with the sanctity of life. Not willing to sacrifice one thing for another. I was surprised you even chose continuing this alliance over your brain dead comrade…twice. But a whole colony, now that you won’t stand for, even though that’s really the only choice you have.” He swept his arms and turned back to her, smile triumphant. “Against the Sentients and the brethren, you will lose, and at last, we—”
He stopped mid sentence, mouth working noiselessly as he stared at her, all expression of victory sliding off his face. “What’s wrong with you?” His expression twisted, and he screamed, “What’s with that face?”
She was smiling. Her heart was welling up with emotions she couldn’t even begin to process, but not a single one was out of despair. “You’re wrong.”
He blinked, then his face darkened. “What was that?”
She rose. “You’re right, life is precious to us. But that’s just why we’re willing to give up our own to save another’s. To be human is to sacrifice. Things we value, things that are important to us, even others. Have you forgotten that? Even your own captain chose to give up the lives of your entire crew to save millions of lives. No, you knew that. Are you jealous, or did you wish that he had chosen you over the whole Empire? I swear,” she said. “I’ve never met anyone more half-assed than you.”
“Why you,” he snarled, leaping towards her. “You’re dead!”
As he closed the distance, Melody remained standing there. Then, a wave of pure sound burst forth just before he struck. He crashed into the floor, grunting in surprise. He looked up to find Melody’s outstretched palm curling into a fist as she brought both hands into a ready stance.
Her smile widened, tears still falling. “Why don’t I show you,” she said, “What it means to make a sacrifice?”
Questions for discussion:
SpoilerFeedback for Melody's character development and her relationship with Koda?
Any specific thoughts regarding flashbacks? I realize I use them quite often and I want to know if they seem dragging or anything like that.
Catch you guys in two weeks on February 16!
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New chapter: 55 out now!
Yo guys. It's good to be back on schedule. Also, what would you think of cutting chapters in half and putting them up every week? There is a bit of a change to my editting strategy, but I feel like it'll do more for the story if I try it. Dunno, still thinking about it.
Anyways, Chapter 55: Mistake, is now available in the google doc in the link below:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZWWhCKwb-D48cSoz43UNPDe01pcqIeLpcSR1oGZOjqQ/edit?usp=sharing
Questions for discussion:
SpoilerAre there any characters you feel aren't too compelling or don't have much dimension to them? I can think of a few usual suspects but I want to see if anyone really surprises me.
Currently, what do you like most about the story? Either the story overall or this arc right now or this specific chapter, just let me know if there's anything I can focus more on. Conversely, what in this story drags to you?Hope to see you all in two weeks, and thanks for reading as always!
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NEW CHAPTER OUT!
I was hoping editing this chapter wasn't going to take long. Seriously, last I checked it was like maybe 4,700 words. When did it get to 6,000?
Anyone like snipers? I just dusted off my Rubico, and man, that thing is sexy. This has nothing to do with the chapter, but I wanted to get that off my chest. Anyone else have a soft spot for an off-meta weapon?
Anyway, Chapter 54: Bravado, is now out for your viewing pleasure in the Google doc: https://docs.google.com/document/d/16RG7KhMpbm-OQ9tq23_nO0U48Z7ZMSFZgJGBaERWmEg/edit?usp=sharing. *insert some clickbait tagline*
Questions for feedback:
SpoilerSeveral character arcs are reaching their climax in this chapter. (Unfortunately, none of the kind that Evanescent is hoping for). How do you feel the pacing and execution of this chapter was handled, relative to chapters up to this point?
What are your overall opinions on the dynamics between, Rose, Sebastian and Aung?As usual, comments and criticism is greatly appreciated. Look forward to the next chapter in another two weeks!
ROSING
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On 12/23/2017 at 10:55 AM, ljmadruga said:
I’m interested to see how you introduce the focus schools.
Personally, the way I see it, the ones who discover the focus schools will discover the schools closely related to their abilities.
Nadia will discover the Naramon school’s abilities, as they mostly deal with the mind.
Roland will discover Vazarin as he is very gifted as a healer.
Rhino (crap I forgot his name) will discover Unairu after some soul-searching and bring out his ability to endure and survive anything
Limbo (please add him he is BEGGING for a duality of man/ apprentice magician arc) would discover Zenurik through somehow drawing energy directly to the normal plain from the void
Finally, Kat would discover Madurai after fully controlling her hysteria and discover a “hidden power” that, when focused, could increase the damage she deals allowing her to tear through the hills of ships in seconds.
Haven't thought of the focus schools yet, but this is definitely a good idea to think about if I ever do get to them. I do think a lot about if there's anything I can do to bridge the gap between canon and my stories, but at this point I'm focused (no pun intended) on delivering the best story I can first and foremost.
And unfortunately, in accordance with that, I didn't get as much writing as would've hoped for this week, so I'm pushing back the release of Chapter 54 to January 5th. Until then, happy new year, everyone, hope you got that memeing strike you asked for from Santa.
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Appreciate the feedback, guys! Glad to hear you're enjoying the chapters. That's a pretty interesting idea about the triuna, @Akavakaku, I hadn't thought of that before.
read on for the answer for your other question :D
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New chapter: 53 out!
I'm pretty pumped for the new Megalyst and Rainalyst. But you know what I'm even more pumped for? TENNOGEN. Like seriously, definitely buying the Harrow Graxx skin, but the other one that has my eye is the Trinity Knightess. That thing looks dope! Plus there are some sick great sword skins that'll go along with it. I was really sad they didn't mention it during the devstream.
I dunno if it's because these eidolon runs have me using Trinity more or if it's these next few chapters that are giving Victoria a bit more love, but I really can't wait to get that Knightess skin.
Anyway, Chapter 53: Link, is now available in the google docs: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1y6xLtHfegUpUNBjWv3jjaZxR0Wk0BUfreik_xEfjVM0/edit?usp=sharing
Questions for feedback:
SpoilerThe real star of the show of this chapter was Nadia. Boy this girl has given me some grief, but I think I've figured out a way to her heart. The question is, how is the execution of it? What are you thoughts on the pacing of Nadia's character arc this season?
Also going back to Victoria, how do you feel she's progressed as a character up to now?
Apologies for the late update. Will be taking some time off work to spend time with family next week, which will either mean I'll be getting a lot of writing done or no writing at all. Regardless, I'm still going to be shooting for December 29th as the next date for the chapter dropping. As always, thanks for reading, and please drop a comment to let me know how I'm doing! hit the bell Icon to subscribe, and leave a like if you enjoyed this video...
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@EvanescentI'm no Ishida Sui, just letting you know lol
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2 hours ago, fleeco1 said:
Just spent the last few days absolutely absorbed by this work, really really enjoyed it and can't wait for more! Awesome job!
Always makes my day to find I have a new reader. Glad you're enjoying the story, welcome!
And thanks for the responses, Cyriann, Squidsy. Good food for thought for me!
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NEW CHAPTER: 52 Out!
Sup guys,
Hopefully I'll be able to finish my Zaw tonight after publishing this, I found myself doing some mad math trying to figure out the best components to pick. Also, anyone else hyped for Tennogen 11? Honestly I haven't had any previous designs catch my attention, but HARROW GRAXX THOUGH. The Trinity skin was pretty nice too.
Anyway, chapter 52: Minimum, is now available for your viewing pleasure in the google doc.
Questions for feedback:
SpoilerHow are the dynamics between characters like Miyoko and Cal coming along?
How is Nadia in terms of complexity as a character, and what is your perception of her character arc so far?
ORIGIN STORIES POPULARITY POLL!
Lastly, I thought this might be a fun thing as well as a way to gauge feedback in a different way, who is your favorite character in Origin Stories, and why do you like them? And if you want, who is your least favorite character in OS?Catch you guys in another two weeks on December 15th for the next chapter!
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Hello everyone,
I'm trying to build a Zaw using the Mewan and the Kwath, because it looks pretty damn sexy. I'm trying to max out my DPS, but don't know if that means I should go with full crit, full status, or some balance in between. I know a viable build I should gun for has pressure point, fury (both primed of course), and then two elemental + status mods, blood rush, body count (don't have the nightmare equivalent) and then condition overload and organ shatter.
PROBLEM 1: I like to be a strong independent Warframe who don't need no healer so I make life strike a must on my melee weapons. Given that, which of the above mods should I sacrifice in order for me to make room?
PROBLEM 2: Given the above problem, what link combo should I pick? Or rather, what crit/status combination? I'm thinking between either the regular 18%/18%, the 14%/25%, the 25%/14%, or the 32%/10%. If it's one of the first two I'd probably have both condition overload and a crit focus, but if the latter two I may ditch condition overload and add some further boosts to my crit, but still have two elemental mods for corrosive or viral.Thoughts? Thanks in advance for any advice!
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New chapter: 51 out!
Ay, Tenno!
Hope you've been having a ball out there on the plains and its new glistening magnificence. Me, I'm just trying to farm charc eels and find devar to build Gara, and I can't get a single step anywhere without some damn spawn pod dropping next to me and vomitting chargers around me. Screen shake and mining does not go well together.
On the bright side, chapter 51: Recidivism, is now out on the google doc for your viewing pleasure: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1r5QZSieBgG1Vk9XrcoMFOIaQvGX4QJtY2bCXGShtwak/edit?usp=sharing
Also, I forgot to update the title, so some of you (as few as you are) may have passed over last chapter from two weeks ago, which @Squidsy22 so kindly pointed out was our 50TH CHAPTER!! Holy cannoli guys I cannot believe we've come this far. Thanks for sticking with me this long. Look forward to the next chapter, coming to a Warframe Forum near you two weeks from now on Friday, December 1st!
Questions for feedback:
SpoilerBeing Gregor is suffering?
Sho-lah! Back to fishing for me, it seems...
Origin Stories: The First Of Them (Ch. 58: "Broken" Update)
in Fan Zone
Posted
Boy, where to even begin on that one...
I'd say I definitely would've put more independent thought into worldbuilding and such, I really have relied too much on existing lore as a crutch for getting this off the ground. Related to that, I didn't do much in terms of descriptions, as in for characters, settings etc so I would've given that a bit more love.
Story wise I dunno, I feel like most things rolled off how I wanted it, maybe would've toned down some relationships here and there and devoted more time to fleshing out others. Doubling the cast in the span of a season was quite the undertaking, I would've at least put more thought into it and taken lengthier breaks between seasons so I knew where I was going with them. Lot of missed opportunities, especially with the last season.
hindsight is 20/20, but given what I knew back then I think it's all turned out fine and I've at least learned a lot. I got out there and wrote something and received good experience in turn. That's all I can really ask for at my stage.